Looking for obscure, dialogue-heavy novels

Antagon · 10.17.2020, 02:30 PM

So I need to draft a translation of a novel chapter (fiction/non-fiction, genre doesn't matter, shouldn't be a script for a play or a movie though) for an interactive university lecture. The requirements are where things gets tricky:

It should've been released rather recently (though anything after 2000 goes from what I was able to gather), should be dialogue-heavy (we're talking at least 50-60% dialogue here) and preferably obscure enough that there haven't been any major translations of note yet (or at least not in German, which kind of is the same thing, because German is usually one of the first languages a major piece gets translated into).

That's a trifecta that kind of makes it tough to find anything of use, especially due to the latter point. But I figured with some literary aficionados here, someone may be able to recommend me some nice gem. Bonus points if it's a gripping read.

Edit: Goes without saying, but it should be in English

!@#$%! · 10.17.2020, 03:21 PM

obvious question: why does it have to be a novel and not a play or screenplay? i mean... that’s a genre built on dialogue.

Antagon · 10.17.2020, 03:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by !@#$%!

obvious question: why does it have to be a novel and not a play or screenplay? i mean... that’s a genre built on dialogue.

That question is not only obvious, but also very legitimate. I have no idea. Probably because then it wouldn't feel like looking for a needle in a haystack. Also, I remember a lecture in a similar vein dedicated to play scripts some time ago. If that's a thing again, they probably wanted to avoid overlapping content.

!@#$%! · 10.19.2020, 10:17 AM

it’s a form of fuckery in my opinion. so the real point is not the translation, but the search, yeah?

demonrail666 · 10.19.2020, 11:55 AM

Maybe one of Richard Price's lesser known novels? I checked Ladies Man, and that doesn't seem to have been translated. 50-60% dialogue is probably pushing it with any novel but Price puts a far heavier emphasis on it than most.

Antagon · 10.20.2020, 04:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by !@#$%!

it’s a form of fuckery in my opinion. so the real point is not the translation, but the search, yeah?

I don't think it's intentional fuckery, but in the end, the effect is pretty much the same. Don't think any of the other teams had a smooth search either. Anyway, good thing is, I only have to translate one chapter. So in theory I could probably pick out one that is heavily focused on dialogue, while other chapters are more descriptive. Think I found something now. Thanks for lending an ear.

Antagon · 10.20.2020, 04:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by demonrail666

Maybe one of Richard Price's lesser known novels? I checked Ladies Man, and that doesn't seem to have been translated. 50-60% dialogue is probably pushing it with any novel but Price puts a far heavier emphasis on it than most.

I'm looking into "Apathy and Other Small Victories" by Paul Neilan right now. But I'll keep that option in mind, if "Apathy" doesn't quite fit the bill. Thanks.

!@#$%! · 10.21.2020, 01:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Antagon

Thanks for lending an ear.

im sorry i couldn’t lend more than that. i was gonna suggest you cheat by translating a graphic novel.

best luck with the 60% quota.

10.17.2020, 02:30 PM	#1
Antagon invito al cielo Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Vienna, Austria Posts: 2,585	So I need to draft a translation of a novel chapter (fiction/non-fiction, genre doesn't matter, shouldn't be a script for a play or a movie though) for an interactive university lecture. The requirements are where things gets tricky: It should've been released rather recently (though anything after 2000 goes from what I was able to gather), should be dialogue-heavy (we're talking at least 50-60% dialogue here) and preferably obscure enough that there haven't been any major translations of note yet (or at least not in German, which kind of is the same thing, because German is usually one of the first languages a major piece gets translated into). That's a trifecta that kind of makes it tough to find anything of use, especially due to the latter point. But I figured with some literary aficionados here, someone may be able to recommend me some nice gem. Bonus points if it's a gripping read. Edit: Goes without saying, but it should be in English __________________
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10.17.2020, 03:21 PM	#2
!@#$%! invito al cielo Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: mars attacks Posts: 42,648	obvious question: why does it have to be a novel and not a play or screenplay? i mean... that’s a genre built on dialogue.
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10.19.2020, 10:17 AM	#4
!@#$%! invito al cielo Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: mars attacks Posts: 42,648	it’s a form of fuckery in my opinion. so the real point is not the translation, but the search, yeah?
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10.19.2020, 11:55 AM	#5
demonrail666 invito al cielo Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 18,510	Maybe one of Richard Price's lesser known novels? I checked Ladies Man, and that doesn't seem to have been translated. 50-60% dialogue is probably pushing it with any novel but Price puts a far heavier emphasis on it than most.
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