Well, then we are essentially in agreement. I'll gladly stipulate (and in fact already have) that "Atlas Shrugged" is less than a literary masterpiece; will her ardent critics similarly stipulate that her works, literary warts and all, were widely influential and on balance were beneficial in the fight for personal liberty over the forces of collectivism?
I think Rand has said that she choose to embody her philosphy in a novel instead of an essay because she knew that essays were not widely read, and thus would not have the potential to have the same degree of influence as a novel would.
The validation of her decision lies in the volume of books she sold, and which curiously continue to sell even to this day. The mere fact that this thread even exists, and that the number of people who are on it discussing works that were written some 50 years ago is evidence her novels have a legacy of influence, despite their literary shortcomings.
Now, if we could only get Michael Mann to make "Atlas Shrugged" into a film in a manner similar to the miraculous transformation he made with "Last of the Mohicans" we'd have the best of Rand in an enjoyable and less turgid format.
er, make that "chose".....
"Atlas Shrugged" doesn't have a movie in it I think.
Or it would require a really excellent writer to find one and still deliver the message.
"Fountainhead" is better for that, and the movie wasn't half bad. It could stand a re-make.
"Anthem" is interesting. A real creative fellow could make an interesting and effective animated short out of that one.
"We the Living" had a rather good Italian movie made of it I understand.