I’m doing some research. So far, I know that Elmore Leonard has a good reputation about it, but I was wondering who else is known for their expertise in dialogue.
Thanks in advance.
Well, when I saw the thread title I was on my way in to say… Elmore Leonard. I always liked Raymond Chandler’s dialogue as well.
I find Tom Robbins to be quite good with the verbal gymnastics, if a touch odd.
Robert A. Heinlein is my favorite for snappy patter.
Denis Johnson. Jesus’ Son is my evidence.
Henry Green has some of the most convincing dialogue I’ve ever seen. I also like Ivy Compton-Burnett - no one actually talks like this, but it cuts to the heart of her characters’ psychology and the essence of situations in a really amusing way.
Dashiell Hammett’s dialogue (and plots) are better than Raymond Chandler’s.
N.B. Dashiell Hammett’s best-known works are the novels The Glass Key, The Maltese Falcon, The Thin Man.
I see we’re excluding plays, but Oscar Wilde was a master (e.g. The Importance of Being Ernest).
Terry Pratchett writes fabulous dialogue. His characters have some of the most distinctive voices in memory (even if we ignore his love of character-specific fonts/ CAPITALIZATION).
Richard Price, Anne Tyler.
Charlie Huston’s dialogue is great, once you get used to the absence of quotes and attributions.
Gotta be George Lucas.
I like Andrew Vachss and Kinky Friedman.
For the win.
I enjoy Elmore Leonard quite a bit.
Even I ain’t gonna say Ayn Rand. Some friends & I watched The Fountainhead and one said “Ayn Rand characters don’t have conversations. They make speeches to each other.”
Yep.
That’s pretty much why I generally *don’t *care for his dialog except as a device to move the plot along, or as exposition (and I like Heinlein). Real people don’t talk that way. Elmore Leonard is still the king in my book. You can tell who is talking by not only what they say, but how they say it, and it can be pretty subtle.
“Best” dialogue: beats me.
The one that comes to my mind: Joseph Heller.
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Based on The Last Picture Show, Lonesome Dove, Texasville and Hud, I’m rather partial to Larry McMurtry.
As was mentioned above, playwrights don’t appear to be fair game.
It won’t stop me from submitting Edward Albee. He has an undeniable genius for scathing dialogue.
I’m voting for Stephen King. He writes like people talk. To me, that’s good dialogue. John Irving isn’t bad either.
I love, love Larry McMurtry, but his dialogue gets a little wonky at times, which pulls me out of the story.
He also wrote short stories. “Lord Arthur Savile’s Crime” has some good dialog.