Any CURRENT AUTHORS who write epic poems?

[Prefx]

I was just wondering if there are any current authors who write epic poems? The epic poem has existed for thousands of years, but I haven't seen many done recently. It's not really a big surprise, actually. I wonder how many publishers would actually look at them these days.

 

[GOLLUM]

What an interesting topic this is Prefx!!

I'm not really sure who writes EPIC (I assume you mean in terms of length and perhaps content? ) poems like say Beowulf these days?

Certainly many authors have songs in their books and some have poems but not lengthy works if that's what you have in mind.

I'm curently going through the work of Clark Ashton Smith who certainly had a decent body of poetry in addition to his writings but he's not a modern day author.

I'll try to see if I can come up with something...

 

[StevenSavile]

The only one I can think of is Guy Gavriel Kay.

 

[GOLLUM]

The only one I can think of is Guy Gavriel Kay.

Ah well I've read a number of Guy's works so are you referring to a particular book Steven or does he write actual books of poetry as well???..

 

[Prefx]

It would be interesting to see an author attempt to write an epic poem these days. I have come across a lot of novels concerning the Ramayana, and it sort of sparked a new interest in me. Rereading Keats didn't help either.

 

[StevenSavile]

Golum - Guy actually writes and sells separate poetry, not tied to his novels.

Last year when Alethea and I were editing Elemental (coming out via Tor in a couple of months) we talked to Guy about getting one of his epic poems in the antho but we couldn't quite get everything to align just right to allow it.

Guy's an amazing writer and his poetry actually goes a long way to showing just how amazing.

I've been wracking my brains for the last few hours trying to think of another fantasy writer who also does poetry - you have Steven Erikson who published a couple of books in Canada a few years ago under his real name... Steve Lundin... but I really can't come up with anyone else...

 

[Culhwch]

The only epic-ish poem I know of is 'Voyage of the Artic Tern' by Hugh Montgomery. Though I think it's more aimed at kids, it's a pretty entertaining read....

http://www.goldcreek.act.edu.au/yara/pages/reviews/verse/r_voyage_of_the_arctic_tern.htm

 

[GOLLUM]

Golum - Guy actually writes and sells separate poetry, not tied to his novels.
Last year when Alethea and I were editing Elemental (coming out via Tor in a couple of months) we talked to Guy about getting one of his epic poems in the antho but we couldn't quite get everything to align just right to allow it.
Guy's an amazing writer and his poetry actually goes a long way to showing just how amazing.
I've been wracking my brains for the last few hours trying to think of another fantasy writer who also does poetry - you have Steven Erikson who published a couple of books in Canada a few years ago under his real name... Steve Lundin... but I really can't come up with anyone else...

You're certainly a font of information Steve...

I never knew Guy wrote seperate poetry, most interesting. I agree that Guy is a very talented writer, my favourite sereis by him has always been the Fionavar Tapetsry read in my late teens, a great memory. Probably followed closely by his classic standalone Tingana.

Also you're probably aware by now like most members, that Steven Erikson and his Malazan series is my fav fantasy series of all time. I knew he'd written as Steve Lundin but never read anything under that name to date, so something else for me to look forward to now....

 

[StevenSavile]

Heh - I do my best but there are an awful lot of grey areas where my knowledge is lacking...

But if I do 'know' anything I will do my best to share!

 

[Jay]

I've been wracking my brains for the last few hours trying to think of another fantasy writer who also does poetry

While not epic poetry, Catherynne M. Valente, Paul Auster, and Theodora Goss write poetry - not to mention Ursula Leguin and Ray Bradbury.

In egards to the orignal question, I profess no expertise in poetry, and I'm not sure if it's considered 'epic', but you may want to check out one that I think fits the bill by James Merrill, The Changing Light at Sandover (although he is predominately a poet - not an author - and I believe dead (thus not current)

 

[Gary Wassner]

Alison Croggon is a poet in her own right.

I include quite a bit of poetry in most of my books.

 

[Jay]

Found some!

I have been wanting to got back to this thread and reply, as a couple days after I replied the first time, I got an email about a series of poems being written (after I was jealous wih envy seeing someone else had read it), the first by the exceptional Catherynne M. Valente. You can read about it, and the project, at the publisher site here.
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Hal Duncan commented on the poem, here. I commented on the poem here (which turned into a lovefest for Valente's work admittedly). I don't pretend to be an expert on poetry, but Valente's work kicks major ass in general.