Local author writes to inspire a
renaissance
Elliot McGucken, UNC Chapel Hill
professor, encourages college students to read his novel
'Autumn Ranger'
Leigh Ann Vanscoy / Features
Editor
In such a fast paced world, many students forget the
importance of pleasure reading. Reading a book with
generational connections, a renaissance and love could be
just the ticket to staying less stressed this school year.
"Autumn Ranger" is just that book.
"Hollywood is in decline. N.Y. publishing is in
decline. The traditional family is in decline," author
Elliot McGucken said. "As Aristotle observed thousands
of years ago, when storytelling goes bad, the result is
decadence."
In an e-mail interview, McGucken said that his book is
important for college students. "This generation needs a
renaissance. We need to move beyond postmodernism in our art
and literature, in our relationships and lives."
He believes that as a society we have forgotten how to tell
stories. He says that even the Hollywood box-office has just
suffered its worst year and the literary novel has long ago
gone out of vogue. He blames this on postmodernism.
"The nihilistic idea that higher truths and values
don't exist. The eternal ideals must be perpetually
performed in the living language, and that's what Autumn
Rangers does."
His book is about U.S. Marine Ranger McCoy who invented
April, an advanced computer with artificial intelligence.
While he is serving overseas as a fighter pilot, Silicon
Virtue Inc. steals April from his MIT lab.
He is shot down over Afghanistan and then takes a
journey home. He meets Autumn, a mysterious folk singer with
knowledge ranging from classical art to the martial arts.
They fall in love and hope to save his invention.
McGucken explains that there are very important lessons
established in the novel.
"Truth is beauty and beauty truth. People might try to
tell you otherwise, but call their bluff," McGucken
said. "Become that Autumn Ranger, win Autumn's
heart, and save April's soul."
"Autumn Rangers" is meant to inspire students to
create a Hollywood renaissance. "Head west and become a
director, a producer, or screenwriter and revive the classic
myths in the living language. Or journey up to New York and
become an editor, agent, writer, or
publisher," McGucken said.
This is McGucken's fourth book. He has previously
published a novel, a poetry book and a collection of essays.
McGucken attended Princeton and later received his Ph.D.
from UNC-Chapel Hill.
"I majored in physics but took a creative writing class
each semester," McGucken said. " I had Joyce Carol
Oates, Russell Banks and Toni Morrison as professors."
He now teaches physics and programming at UNC-Chapel Hill.
His books can be found at any bookstore.
Contact Leigh Ann Vanscoy at pendulum@elon.edu or
278-7247.
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