Is longer better?

[mer_duff]

One of the books I've loved since I was a teenager for its cheekiness is Shrink Lits by Maurice Sagoff. "70 epic tales & heroic myths, dense theories & windy texts, oral traditions & really long novels - all reduced to 34 minutes reading."

In response to the thread that I couldn't help replying to over at hw_reqs (mostly because the longer=better correlation never ceases to annoy me), here is the prelude, based on The Elements of Style by Strunk and White.

"Omit needless words!"
Said Strunk to White.

"You're right,"
Said White,
"That's nice
Advice,
But Strunk,
You're drunk
With words --
Two-thirds
Of those
You chose
For that
Fiat
Would fill
The bill!

Would not
The thought
-- The core --
Be more
Succinct
If shrinked
(Or shrunk)?"

Said Strunk:
"Good grief!
I'm brief
(I thought)
P'raps not...
Dear me!
Let's see...
Okay!
Just say
'Write tight!'
No fat
in that!"

"Quite right!"
Said White,
"Er -- I mean 'Quite!'
Or, simply, 'Right!'"

Comments

[nightdog-barks.livejournal.com]

Heh! Those were wise guys, those Strunk and White. And Shrink Lits sounds really good!

[mer-duff.livejournal.com]

You might appreciate this one :D

Caesar's Commentaries on the Gallic Wars

Omnia Gallia in tres partes divisa est...

Caesar cari dona militar orgi versus Belgae,
Helvetii, Germani, Venetii, Britanni - iunemit.
"Romis glorius," sed Caesar, "Nomen me impunit!"
Meni tridit - Vercingetorix, forin stans -
Caesar noctim sili fors ticinis nec aut.
Ab ludi, nervi felo, Caius Julius, iubet.

(edited because there is a difference between bold and italics!)