Rating: 
Summary: A wonderful, inspiring guide!
Review: Like one of the other reviewers, I came to this book as a devotee of Gardner's fictional works. Other reviewers who complain that Gardner is exacting, demanding, and challenging are correct. Yet these traits enhance rather than detract from the work. I believe that Gardner is correct in stating that excellent writing is difficult to achieve. As for the many literary references, I felt not discouraged, but encouraged to sample unfamiliar authors and improve my own sensibilities. In sum, Gardner has inspired me to begin my first novel, and I am certain that I will find his "writing bible" indispensible.
Rating:
Summary: The best book on fiction writing I've ever read.
Review: My summary pretty much says it all; no fiction writer should be without this book. I first read it almost 20 years ago, and every few years I re-read it to refresh myself. It offers both mentally stimulating exercises, as well as clear rules for writers to follow. For aspiring fiction writers who heed its wisdom, this book gives you one of the best gifts imaginable: it makes you *think* like a great writer as you sit down to put words to paper. (In addition, I recommend Gardner's "The Art of the Novel" as well.)
Rating: 
Summary: Good, not god-like
Review: Okay, first the negatives. Mr. Gardner is (was) a hard-core literary snob. He has no use for 'pornography', horror, science fiction, romance, or anything like that, and at times seems to view the whole purpose of writing as more an extension of the practice of philosophy than as either an art or a craft.However, within that context he still has a lot of good advice that any writer, including what Gardner would describe as a 'trash' writer, would do well to consider. His chapters on fiction as the art of producing a credible dream-like state in the reader are right on target, and his discussion of the roots of various types of fiction (the short story, the folkloric tale, etc.) are highly edifying. His Helen of Troy example of step-by-step story building could be used to add depth and complexity to even the most straightforward of genre tales. Overall, I must give hearty approval to this book, even though I feel sure that the author would not give hearty approval to me!
Rating: 
Summary: Not so good
Review: There is some very good information in this book but, in general, I did not like it. I found it sometimes too abstact, sometimes simplistic. Moreover, I think that the author is right when he says that writing very long sentences may be a good exercise, but I just wish he had not done it so often in his text.
I much prefer David Lodge's "The Art of Fiction"
Rating:
Summary: Not for young writers
Review: This book contained some fascinating insights into the art of writing fiction, but frankly, I thought it was written very poorly(!). I did not flow at all and read much like some of the worst textbooks I've seen. He obviously has read a wide variety of books, but he assumes the reader is familiar with them. I think this may be a good book for English majors or experienced writers, but not for young writers. For us young and inexperienced writers, he talks above our heads. Even the style can scare a person away. He writes in the style of John Smith and others who could fit maybe one paragraph on a page. It's just not conducive to digesting the material. In short, if you're a young writer, go trying "Writing Fiction Step By Step" by Josip Novakovich or something like that. But experienced writers, you may enjoy this.
Rating:
Summary: Helpful
Review: This book explained to me why there are books I pick up and immediately put back down, why there are books I loose sleep just to read, and why there are books that I have to put down in order to think. It's also the first book on writing I've ever read that explains (so I can understand) about texture, layering, symbols, integrating all that, and how to rewrite smoothly, and how to give a story more depth. I feel like I can write now, without feeling so lost.
Rating:
Summary: good points included
Review: This book is more gentle than I imagined something from the famously egomanical John Gardner would be. And it does have some good advice. But I DO think that one should consider that 1) Gardner notoriously said, "I am the greatest writer since Chaucer." 2) Almost all of Gardner's many novels and short-story collections are already out of print. Hardly Chaucer-like!
Rating:
Summary: Grumpy Old Man Delivers
Review: This guy is grumpy. And he tells you you won't make it and to forget writing and no one can write and he tells you what good fiction is and you won't be able to create "it." He talks of the necessity of the plot and the correct use of grammar and how style is important and they all merge to create the final product. I found it to be one of the best books on how to write that I ever read, and it helped me definitely. There are exercises included, and they were ones I found to be good working models for writing, rather than just the freestyle/free-association type. Need a book on how to write? get this one. His negativity may help spur you on as well.
Rating: 
Summary: old-fashioned elitist boredom
Review: This is a fairly helpful book for those born before the '70s-- a time when "a yarn" wasn't an archaic term. Does it give some helpful hints? Sure, there's the obvious ones like show don't tell and all characters have free will. But fiction has changed a lot since Henry James (thankfully), and this book might be better left unread. Plus, I don't buy the "only people who aren't well-read don't like it" argument. I've read nearly all the books mentioned and I still wish I never bought this book.
Rating:
Summary: old-fashioned elitist boredom
Review: This is a fairly helpful book for those born before the '70s-- a time when "a yarn" wasn't an archaic term. Does it give some helpful hints? Sure, there's the obvious ones like show don't tell and all characters have free will. But fiction has changed a lot since Henry James (thankfully), and this book might be better left unread. Plus, I don't buy the "only people who aren't well-read don't like it" argument. I've read nearly all the books mentioned and I still wish I never bought this book.
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