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Re: I know, John Macharius Send a noteboard - 12/12/2011 05:06:26 PM
It's just that I know there are some who are reluctant to accept that I can have strong opinions about something they like without judging them by it, so they are likely to respond by calling me "arrogant," "self-serving," "judgmental," and so forth. Best to permit them that comfort than to argue, I suppose.


Knowing about some of your work with children for much of the past decade, I'd find it hard to believe any of those labels came anywhere near the truth.

I freely admit I disagree with you from time to time, but neither do I take umbrage about that fact. ;)

What I said on Twitter is that I may appear to be an asshole in being so direct (I linked to this post), but I believe that one sometimes has to "slaughter sacred cows in order for there to be progress," meaning that I am not a fan of works that slavishly emulate a particular work and that sometimes reading should be more than wanting more of the same. It's not a personal judgment against others, but rather a statement of personal taste.


Bold and underline are my emphasis, about which I totally agree. I said to Tom that I don't read much anymore - and what I do is sci fi or fantasy, but it's pretty rare for me to find a title that's both new and interesting for precisely this reason because I do want something new for my imagination to explore instead of a barrage of the same, rehashed tripe. It's one reason I do enjoy Sanderson: all the different magic systems whatever his other flaws as a writer (dialogue, I believe, is one of your sticking points with him ;) ).

Also, going back to your first statement, Tolkien is a sacred cow that needs to be slaughtered to some extent. Respected as a "founder father", sure... but the story and writing of the Lord of the Rings really isn't all that and a bag of chips, either.

I replied to your reposted reviews, which you've likely seen by now - so we can discuss further in that thread, if you want.
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Aren't the Tolkien comparisons getting a little...old? Dark Knight - 09/12/2011 09:51:39 PM 2863 Views
The comparison bothers me, but not because Tolkien isn't relevant. lord-of-shadow - 09/12/2011 10:05:22 PM 1729 Views
I agree with this. Nate - 09/12/2011 10:21:34 PM 1759 Views
Re: I agree with this. DomA - 10/12/2011 07:09:33 PM 1693 Views
Exactly *NM* ironclad - 12/12/2011 12:09:19 PM 861 Views
Only when shit works are being compared to him Larry - 09/12/2011 10:22:26 PM 1621 Views
Larry, Macharius - 10/12/2011 01:13:18 AM 1636 Views
Snide dismissal that will be passed off as for his own entertainment. Ghavrel - 10/12/2011 04:55:43 AM 1551 Views
We get a lot of that around here. *NM* lord-of-shadow - 10/12/2011 05:18:01 AM 645 Views
makes me wonder... LadyLorraine - 10/12/2011 04:37:33 PM 1536 Views
Re: makes me wonder... James - 11/12/2011 03:03:15 AM 1501 Views
Well-deserved condescension. Tom - 11/12/2011 03:54:27 AM 1671 Views
You're sure about that? A Deathwatch Guard - 11/12/2011 04:20:26 AM 1893 Views
Re: You're sure about that? James - 11/12/2011 05:25:08 AM 1622 Views
Re: You're sure about that? A Deathwatch Guard - 11/12/2011 06:03:02 AM 1484 Views
i think you shouldn't judge a whole world's school programs on your school LadyLorraine - 11/12/2011 06:42:30 AM 1537 Views
Yeah, I'm limited in my knowledge, lol A Deathwatch Guard - 11/12/2011 08:03:26 AM 1549 Views
My school was...not great. James - 11/12/2011 04:02:36 PM 1575 Views
I'm 24. James - 11/12/2011 03:49:06 PM 1491 Views
If you're arguing that children should be able to read genre fiction, fine. Tom - 11/12/2011 08:52:27 PM 1419 Views
Well, I suppose it depends on the type of genre being read Larry - 11/12/2011 09:36:16 PM 1650 Views
How often do you hear the challenging writers mentioned at this site? Tom - 12/12/2011 02:03:05 PM 1390 Views
Only when you, me, and a couple others write reviews Larry - 12/12/2011 04:21:14 PM 1794 Views
Oh, it was the same as it always is Tom - 12/12/2011 05:23:56 PM 1502 Views
True Larry - 12/12/2011 06:29:10 PM 1591 Views
One note nossy - 13/12/2011 12:17:48 AM 1595 Views
Perhaps Larry - 13/12/2011 12:49:34 AM 1531 Views
*Sighs* Such is the plight of those shining few intelects... Narg - 23/12/2011 01:15:47 AM 1577 Views
Much of the actual "Classics", that is, Greek and Latin originals, kids would eat up. Dan - 12/12/2011 03:13:03 AM 1403 Views
Try teaching Apuleius in schools... *NM* Tom - 12/12/2011 04:12:49 AM 763 Views
Plato is exciting, brutal and scandalous? Legolas - 12/12/2011 09:59:13 PM 1467 Views
You're upfront and honest about it; he isn't. The difference matters to me. *NM* Ghavrel - 11/12/2011 05:18:42 AM 813 Views
Uhh...uh... Larry - 11/12/2011 05:34:23 AM 1503 Views
this is a bit off topic, but out of curiousity... LadyLorraine - 11/12/2011 06:28:35 AM 1611 Views
I've discussed this dozens of times at this site. Perhaps you've missed all of the posts. Tom - 11/12/2011 08:57:44 PM 1553 Views
mk I'll go look. I probably did miss it (or at least don't remember it!) LadyLorraine - 11/12/2011 09:08:02 PM 1516 Views
I have a successful career that was inspired by the video games I played as a child. *NM* lord-of-shadow - 11/12/2011 05:52:21 PM 842 Views
Now let's get all the people who just pissed their lives away with video games and see the %. Tom - 11/12/2011 08:58:42 PM 1653 Views
The majority of players neither waste their lives nor make a career out of it. lord-of-shadow - 11/12/2011 11:29:29 PM 1547 Views
Yeah, sorry, I don't think you could say that with a straight face in real life. *NM* Tom - 12/12/2011 04:13:52 AM 778 Views
Then you have a closed mind on the subject. Ironic, considering your stance on edification. *NM* lord-of-shadow - 12/12/2011 05:47:50 AM 719 Views
No, just with respect to you. *NM* Tom - 12/12/2011 02:00:15 PM 764 Views
Tom, you pulled the "Say that to my face!" line. You lost the right to talk about respect. *NM* lord-of-shadow - 12/12/2011 03:20:15 PM 812 Views
Once again, I really don't care what you think. *NM* Tom - 12/12/2011 03:37:40 PM 771 Views
Did I imply that you did? My apologies. I'd hate to insinuate that you'd stoop that low. *NM* lord-of-shadow - 12/12/2011 04:13:25 PM 737 Views
As well read as you seem to be, you think you'd be smart enough... MonCul - 11/12/2011 06:20:06 PM 1496 Views
I thought I have made it clear that I don't care if people don't like me here. Tom - 11/12/2011 08:44:58 PM 1420 Views
Re: I thought I have made it clear that I don't care if people don't like me here. Macharius - 12/12/2011 04:04:37 PM 1475 Views
That statement has just confused me. Tom - 12/12/2011 04:06:53 PM 1427 Views
Re: That statement has just confused me. Macharius - 12/12/2011 04:14:27 PM 1437 Views
I never learned Hittite. I had a book on pre-order for a long time but never ended up getting it. Tom - 12/12/2011 05:41:03 PM 1383 Views
What you have made clear, I think, is the fact that you deal in generalizations and stereotypes. MonCul - 12/12/2011 10:12:12 PM 1538 Views
There's an unintentional irony in what you say, alas Larry - 13/12/2011 12:44:26 AM 1456 Views
Tom, Dick, or Larry...you may use your true first name, but you're still an anonymous entity to most MonCul - 13/12/2011 04:49:35 AM 1664 Views
With such comeback skills, you must have ruled the playgrounds as a kid, no? Larry - 13/12/2011 05:21:42 AM 1669 Views
I thought it was a pretty good comeback. MonCul - 13/12/2011 12:37:15 PM 1630 Views
Think again, Skippy Larry - 13/12/2011 01:34:41 PM 1483 Views
There are no special snowflakes, are there? Larry - 11/12/2011 09:39:21 PM 1418 Views
There are many way of widening one's horizons and broadening one's mind. Legolas - 11/12/2011 10:08:24 PM 1178 Views
I said as much in my comment Larry - 11/12/2011 10:20:03 PM 1446 Views
What I don't like- rebelaessedai - 12/12/2011 04:28:55 AM 1532 Views
Why don't you name something, then? Tom - 12/12/2011 04:40:29 AM 1484 Views
Sure. rebelaessedai - 13/12/2011 07:30:56 AM 1312 Views
Mentioning Ender's Game pretty much shot your argument in the foot. Tom - 13/12/2011 02:02:59 PM 1423 Views
You dismiss the entire video game medium because many games lack value. lord-of-shadow - 13/12/2011 03:59:11 PM 1568 Views
You're like the McDonald's paid advocate trying to say Big Macs are actually healthy. Tom - 13/12/2011 05:46:37 PM 1374 Views
McDonalds food is inherently unhealthy. lord-of-shadow - 13/12/2011 06:02:18 PM 1516 Views
For the sake of argument ... Nate - 13/12/2011 04:09:51 PM 1418 Views
Stephenson is not literature, that's for damn sure. Tom - 13/12/2011 05:49:24 PM 1366 Views
Thank you, The Voice of Lews Therin. *NM* Vivien - 16/12/2011 05:14:42 AM 830 Views
I'll leave it up to others to define as they wish against their self-conceptions of me Larry - 10/12/2011 10:52:54 AM 1529 Views
that's alright. I really have no desire to stroke your twit-ego. *NM* LadyLorraine - 10/12/2011 04:36:56 PM 623 Views
Considering the firestorm I appear to have touched off, that may be best. Macharius - 12/12/2011 12:57:49 PM 1515 Views
I know, John Larry - 12/12/2011 04:27:04 PM 1406 Views
Re: I know, John Macharius - 12/12/2011 05:06:26 PM 1468 Views
As I've said in the past, I'd be scared if anyone agreed with me anywhere approaching 100% Larry - 12/12/2011 06:33:52 PM 1401 Views
Re: As I've said in the past, I'd be scared if anyone agreed with me anywhere approaching 100% Macharius - 12/12/2011 07:13:37 PM 1480 Views
Same guy Larry - 12/12/2011 07:26:13 PM 1526 Views
Ha! Excellent point. *NM* Tom - 11/12/2011 03:44:52 AM 750 Views
Blurbs are not generally very original in their comparisons - would kind of defeat their purpose. Legolas - 09/12/2011 10:42:17 PM 1505 Views
I have to agree. ? - 09/12/2011 10:54:06 PM 1520 Views
They're there for marketing A Deathwatch Guard - 10/12/2011 12:20:17 AM 1505 Views
Most of those comparisons are like that anyway DomA - 10/12/2011 05:32:45 PM 1638 Views
Maybe if so much of the genre weren't crap derivative works it wouldn't be so common. *NM* Tom - 11/12/2011 03:44:24 AM 745 Views
To be fair, a lot of it isn't. rebelaessedai - 11/12/2011 04:06:07 AM 1455 Views
I suspect that if it really isn't derivative it's not being compared to Tolkien in the first place. Tom - 11/12/2011 04:18:57 AM 1387 Views
That's true. rebelaessedai - 11/12/2011 11:08:01 AM 1375 Views
But see, that's where things start to get referred back to Tolkien. Tom - 12/12/2011 04:30:12 AM 1531 Views
Maybe they mean something else by using his name. Cannoli - 11/12/2011 03:50:15 AM 1460 Views
When they don't work, yes. nossy - 11/12/2011 03:18:44 PM 1462 Views
The Tolkien fanaticism gets old. And yes, for me it is unreadable. everynametaken - 11/12/2011 11:37:53 PM 1446 Views
No, because the movies are very contemporary and relevant, thus he will remain so for quite a while. Dan - 12/12/2011 03:14:53 AM 1505 Views
Disagree all you want, but LotR is still the touchstone when it comes to works of fantasy. Vodalus - 12/12/2011 03:48:20 AM 1417 Views
Yes *NM* Hieshyn - 22/12/2011 07:08:38 PM 864 Views
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