(Brief) Theory of the novel

NOVEL n. 1 a fictitious prose story of book length. 2 (prec. by the) this type of literature. [It. novella (storia story) fem. of novello new f. L novellus f. novus]

— The Concise Oxford Dictionary

Some definitions offer a useful starting point. In the case of the novel, the Latin root (novellus) "new" provides the essential meaning. Although the novel is centuries old, any novel you consider "good" is likely doing something new. It's exploring new territory, opening up new ground—more precisely: articulating something new about human existence.

Is there really anything new under the sun? Yes, every day reveals something new to millions of people. Don't film, TV and digital media make the novel obsolete? No, and they never will. The only situation that might destroy the novel is one in which humanity loses the ability to read and write. And if that happens, we will enter a very dark age indeed.

Only the novel can transport the reader into the narrative consciousness of another mind. Music can make you feel. Paintings can offer you a vision. Movies can help you observe behaviour. In fact, film and video can permit you to observe the tiniest nuance of human behaviour. But only fiction can align your thoughts with the "story-telling" stream-of-consciousness of another person.

So why is a novelist dabbling with digital media like this web site, you may ask. My view is that text belongs in many places. For example, text conveying data, facts, analysis and opinion work very well on the internet—so well that we may soon see the demise of print newspapers as news corporations make their final transition to web-based delivery.

Novels, however, inhabit a special text niche. Because novels build bridges from one mind to another—one at a time—people attach themselves to novels as personal experiences. They store their novels on special bookshelves or lend them to friends or give them as gifts, prizes and awards. They take them to bed. They carry them in purses and backpacks. They bring them along for company to a quiet restaurant. Rarely do they read novels on computer screens.

So ... enough of this web site. Turn off your computer now. Go to your bookshelf, find that book you've been meaning to read. Settle into your favourite chair, adjust the lamp. There are no commercials to deflect. No one to distract your imagination from entering another realm. You will cross a bridge into another world and if the book is good and your mind is clear, your understanding of humanity will expand accordingly.