I picked up Jacques'
Mossflower (one of my absolute favorite authors), curious which camp he falls in.
Two chapters and nine pages later, I do not know, because I've only caught him using a dialog tag
once--and then, not even a generic "said." (For the record it was "Gingivere answered.") And these were not description or action scenes or some sissy two-character dialogs: in the first, Gonff is talking to
the entire Stickle family, and in the second, Martin has been captured and brought before Verdauga, his two kids, our two shadowy Rasputin knock-offs, and a whole castleful of assorted henchmen.
There is never any difficulty telling who is saying what. (The occasional line goes unattributed, but if so, it's by some extra who doesn't matter anyway.) How does he do it? Usually with this pattern:
X did some action. "Dialog."
No need for "said." They are replaced by a constant stream of small acts. The characters come to life. Action and dialog have become one. Talking is no longer a
Free Action.
I am in awe.