why are you so bothered by people being unimpressed with Roberts?
darius_sedai Send a noteboard - 10/04/2010 02:19:08 PM
But when someone points out perceived flaws and doesn't praise what you praise, it's okay to roast that person without giving due consideration to what s/he has observed?
I think you missed out on the fun a few years ago of the "great clodding foot of nerdism" that another author, M. John Harrison, wrote in regards to "worldbuilding." Sometimes, less is more and more is much, much less.
I think you missed out on the fun a few years ago of the "great clodding foot of nerdism" that another author, M. John Harrison, wrote in regards to "worldbuilding." Sometimes, less is more and more is much, much less.
No I just have no interest in a sarcasm filled pseudo-review that has not a single original criticism in it. Show me something new or a fresh take on something and I'm happy to take it seriously. Show me a foot stamping poorly thought out whine about something and I'm going to dismiss you as uninteresting.
Or it's just a sign that he wrote MOR fantasy that most readers read as an equivalent of a popcorn flick. They don't want or care to think too much about it. Similar to how most of Terry Goodkind's readers are not supporters of his Objectivist-leaning thoughts, despite those opinions shaping several of his SoT novels.
Spending 20 years reading a series is not my idea of a fun time. Have too many books to review, short fiction to read for anthologies, and translations to be done in my spare time to spend too much time on any particular author or literary genre. But if that floats your boat, OK, but I just wouldn't think that would be SOP for most readers.
Spending 20 years reading a series is not my idea of a fun time. Have too many books to review, short fiction to read for anthologies, and translations to be done in my spare time to spend too much time on any particular author or literary genre. But if that floats your boat, OK, but I just wouldn't think that would be SOP for most readers.
Yet note that Roberts doesn't point any of these things out in his review? Don't you find it interesting that millions of readers are out there snapping up RJs work despite it's rather obvious flaws? Shouldn't Roberts at least bother with that question? If it's such utter trash, why then have so many people spent so many years with it? No one is arguing that WoT is a great work of literary achievement, or that RJ was more than an average writer.
IMO these books are all about simple enjoyment. Much like seeing a blockbuster film. I still don't see why you bother reading the series if you are time pressed, don't enjoy them and think they are poorly written. If you just want to see how the story ends (which btw tells me you are more vested than you let on) there are a million places to find out online.
It is quite amusing how some think that just because one pays closer attention to how a story is constructed that s/he cannot appreciate the story being told as well. I'd argue that in several cases, the enjoyment can be heightened from being more aware of these things. I heard the audio samples and thought they were tedious. Of course, I can finish the typical book in about 2-3 hours if I decide to spend that much time on a work, so the audio parts tend to be too slow for my liking
Then you aren't reading enough types of fantasy, then. The books I mention in that link are very, very different from epic fantasies.
I burned out on the research parts 13 years ago, after I earned my MA in History
Then you aren't reading enough types of fantasy, then. The books I mention in that link are very, very different from epic fantasies.
I burned out on the research parts 13 years ago, after I earned my MA in History
I find it amusing when writers/reviewers spend so much time working themselves up over poorly constructed sentences and minor plot lines that they lose track of the central themes of a work. Or are so focused on attempts at humor (IMO Sarcasm is difficult to pull off in writing) that they lose control of what they are writing. I'm also not a fan of reviewers that add nothing to the longer conversation. Don't re-hash the same arguments 50 other reviews have put out there and expect me to be impressed.
I agree, the audiobooks aren't really floating my boat, but I thought I'd give them a shot ... I don't hate them, but I'd rather just read the book.
Do you have a Fantasy novel you would recommend?
Domani Drag Queen in the White Tower ... Aran'gar watch out!
Author Adam Roberts tackled the WoT.
19/03/2010 09:30:25 PM
- 12265 Views
Heh, While I agree with him about it being derivative, I still encourage people to read it.
20/03/2010 02:36:47 AM
- 2088 Views
My problem with the reviews:
20/03/2010 06:29:08 AM
- 2731 Views
Hear Hear !!! ....................... = ........................ *NM*
20/03/2010 06:37:11 AM
- 1310 Views
well I agree and disagree
20/03/2010 06:51:29 AM
- 2481 Views
Re: well I agree and disagree
20/03/2010 02:12:43 PM
- 2017 Views
I'm amused by some of the responses
20/03/2010 07:20:03 PM
- 2418 Views
Are you suggesting that we are unqualified to disagree with him ?
20/03/2010 11:21:44 PM
- 2173 Views
No, I said rather that it's ridiculous to make such disparaging comments about his takes
20/03/2010 11:37:56 PM
- 2180 Views
I will reply to myself: What's the problem McFly , chicken ?
21/03/2010 12:29:36 AM
- 1972 Views
My sister called me chicken once
10/04/2010 01:18:31 AM
- 2010 Views
Re: I'm amused by some of the responses
23/03/2010 04:50:42 PM
- 2061 Views
And I'm even more amused by this response
24/03/2010 01:11:50 AM
- 2005 Views
On a completely unrelated note...
24/03/2010 06:15:25 AM
- 1854 Views
Ha!
24/03/2010 06:34:48 AM
- 1913 Views
My congratulations then . *NM*
24/03/2010 06:36:11 AM
- 1825 Views
Wow, you guys have completely missed the point of the Wheel of Time series
22/03/2010 05:28:07 PM
- 2057 Views
There's a point to it?
22/03/2010 06:47:12 PM
- 2023 Views
Yes, RJ has explained it at least a few times and the main sequence of each book invokes his message *NM*
24/03/2010 02:09:01 AM
- 1280 Views
You're not taking me seriously now, are you?
24/03/2010 02:54:37 AM
- 1968 Views
I meant the reason why RJ wrote WoT in the first place
24/03/2010 06:39:47 AM
- 1923 Views
And which, arguably, could be viewed as being done in a hackneyed way
24/03/2010 07:15:55 AM
- 1984 Views
I thought the point was to write about a bunch of stuff happening?
09/04/2010 03:42:49 PM
- 2014 Views
pfft wth-ever
26/03/2010 12:35:53 AM
- 1829 Views
Dude's been up for more awards for his writing than RJ ever was
26/03/2010 12:28:19 PM
- 2083 Views
bla bla bla
29/03/2010 06:17:07 AM
- 1946 Views
Wow. That post was more entertaining than Mr. Roberts' review. Thank you *NM*
29/03/2010 08:23:41 AM
- 1448 Views
You must have low standards for entertainment
29/03/2010 08:54:03 AM
- 1873 Views
Re: You must have low standards for entertainment
29/03/2010 09:13:44 AM
- 1987 Views
I know you were, thus the at the least of my comment
29/03/2010 09:19:30 AM
- 1841 Views
Unimpressed
29/03/2010 10:50:07 PM
- 2263 Views
Isn't that a bit uncharitable, Dom, considering how much you approved of what I did with CoT?
30/03/2010 12:03:48 AM
- 2277 Views
Re: Dude's been up for more awards for his writing than RJ ever was
29/03/2010 04:32:23 PM
- 1972 Views
Might want to re-read their Wikis again.
29/03/2010 07:07:11 PM
- 1881 Views
Awards
29/03/2010 07:42:03 PM
- 1838 Views
That link is out of date
29/03/2010 07:54:56 PM
- 1814 Views
Re: That link is out of date
29/03/2010 08:22:03 PM
- 1934 Views
This is a battle of win/lose?
29/03/2010 08:47:54 PM
- 1851 Views
Re: This is a battle of win/lose?
29/03/2010 09:03:07 PM
- 1901 Views
*considers employing the Chewbacca defense*
29/03/2010 09:28:06 PM
- 1880 Views
Re: *considers employing the Chewbacca defense*
29/03/2010 09:44:58 PM
- 2030 Views
The final point explains the "defense"
30/03/2010 12:24:56 AM
- 1769 Views
Re: The final point explains the "defense"
30/03/2010 01:33:04 PM
- 1765 Views
No, no, no
30/03/2010 06:38:41 PM
- 1824 Views
Re: No, no, no
30/03/2010 07:51:34 PM
- 1934 Views
Still continuing, huh?
31/03/2010 02:10:13 AM
- 1881 Views
Re: Still continuing, huh?
31/03/2010 03:56:57 PM
- 1835 Views
He's now reviewed the third book
26/03/2010 12:27:16 PM
- 2080 Views
Well, this time I must disagree with him .
29/03/2010 07:31:40 AM
- 1811 Views
I don't think he was claiming that RJ was alone in doing that
29/03/2010 07:44:07 AM
- 1778 Views
Hah!
29/03/2010 06:07:28 PM
- 1832 Views
Well...
29/03/2010 06:52:10 PM
- 1751 Views
Differing perspectives, I guess.
29/03/2010 07:58:13 PM
- 1891 Views
I suppose
29/03/2010 08:50:43 PM
- 1806 Views
Re: I suppose
30/03/2010 12:18:30 AM
- 1968 Views
Hey, DomA, do you know why the Shienarans randomly speak in the Old Tongue?
30/03/2010 12:52:01 AM
- 1749 Views
Re: Hey, DomA, do you know why the Shienarans randomly speak in the Old Tongue?
30/03/2010 07:45:08 AM
- 1960 Views
But why only them?
30/03/2010 08:07:00 AM
- 1851 Views
The Shadow Rising review
02/04/2010 09:42:53 AM
- 2063 Views
I wonder if this borders on trolling
02/04/2010 02:29:58 PM
- 10609 Views
That would be a mistake
02/04/2010 09:16:25 PM
- 2080 Views
Re: That would be a mistake
02/04/2010 10:28:56 PM
- 1808 Views
I agree, Roberts is more and more coming across to me as just bitter
10/04/2010 01:24:52 AM
- 1950 Views
Little late to this one as well
10/04/2010 11:12:04 AM
- 1970 Views
Perhaps you should have led with this bit
10/04/2010 02:52:23 PM
- 2017 Views
I guess I just presumed that people would read the header to his blog
12/04/2010 03:54:10 AM
- 1893 Views
What review? I couldn't find one...
02/04/2010 08:00:45 PM
- 2039 Views
Re: What review? I couldn't find one...
02/04/2010 09:22:13 PM
- 2014 Views
See my comment below
02/04/2010 09:32:54 PM
- 2095 Views
Re: See my comment below
03/04/2010 09:31:22 AM
- 2426 Views
Sorry I'm late in responding, but I've been quite busy this week
07/04/2010 09:45:48 PM
- 2259 Views
Speaking of irritation
02/04/2010 10:50:04 PM
- 2017 Views
To be fair, even among the RaFOers there have been tons of posts that missed certain events
09/04/2010 03:47:30 PM
- 1838 Views
Commentary, then?
02/04/2010 09:27:18 PM
- 1834 Views
Here's the thing...
02/04/2010 10:11:18 PM
- 1831 Views
Re: Here's the thing...
02/04/2010 10:31:56 PM
- 1686 Views
Re: Commentary, then?
05/04/2010 03:44:07 PM
- 1825 Views
for a man that bitterly complains about an author who is padding his work
08/04/2010 09:41:07 PM
- 2006 Views
1400 words is long-winded?
09/04/2010 10:07:41 AM
- 2026 Views
since you can sum up those 1400 words in about 25 yes that's longwinded
09/04/2010 01:36:16 PM
- 1900 Views
Except I didn't really sum it up, as I left out quite a bit
10/04/2010 11:15:42 AM
- 1960 Views
You are very defensive over this
10/04/2010 01:54:15 PM
- 1734 Views
Nah, more of a devil's advocate than anything else
12/04/2010 03:57:12 AM
- 1812 Views
Well Larry I have started reading Gradsil by Adam Roberts
07/04/2010 08:59:28 PM
- 1958 Views
I demand a paragraph by paragraph review, with footnotes!
07/04/2010 09:50:39 PM
- 1825 Views
Re: I demand a paragraph by paragraph review, with footnotes!
08/04/2010 01:06:20 PM
- 1704 Views
Which Invisible Man?
09/04/2010 09:58:44 AM
- 1922 Views
He brings up some interesting points, if in an unnecessarily rude manner
08/04/2010 12:42:25 PM
- 1886 Views
To be honest, I doubt most readers of the series obsess over it that much
09/04/2010 10:05:49 AM
- 1891 Views
Re: To be honest, I doubt most readers of the series obsess over it that much
09/04/2010 01:28:17 PM
- 2436 Views
Re: To be honest, I doubt most readers of the series obsess over it that much
10/04/2010 11:40:22 AM
- 1868 Views
why are you so bothered by people being unimpressed with Roberts?
10/04/2010 02:19:08 PM
- 1885 Views
Not bothered as much as I am bemused by the ad hominems, to be honest
12/04/2010 04:11:12 AM
- 2184 Views
And in vol. 5, Roberts discovers the horrors of the circus
09/04/2010 09:57:03 AM
- 1847 Views
Basically he just states the "nothing happens"-argument...
09/04/2010 03:26:02 PM
- 1747 Views
Well, what was really resolved here?
10/04/2010 11:25:25 AM
- 1826 Views
Well...
12/04/2010 05:05:20 PM
- 1929 Views
So very little was resolved and much was set into motion, then?
12/04/2010 06:55:45 PM
- 1935 Views
Yes...
12/04/2010 10:51:08 PM
- 1660 Views
Ever read Umberto Eco's How To Travel with a Salmon?
12/04/2010 11:07:19 PM
- 1963 Views
I guess...
13/04/2010 10:03:03 AM
- 1962 Views
Sounds like you value prolixity for the sake of prolixity, to be honest
13/04/2010 04:41:07 PM
- 3104 Views
Nah...
13/04/2010 05:29:34 PM
- 1694 Views
He's read and enjoyed Proust, among others
13/04/2010 07:37:39 PM
- 1768 Views
Ah, well...
13/04/2010 09:45:45 PM
- 1723 Views
Dismissive, much?
13/04/2010 10:52:30 PM
- 1862 Views
About that bifurcation...
14/04/2010 02:02:15 AM
- 1832 Views
Sorry that I was busy yesterday and didn't have a chance to reply until now
15/04/2010 01:46:54 PM
- 1955 Views
I'm sorry, but he's totally right. "The Circus" made me put down this series for 5 YEARS.
09/04/2010 03:38:16 PM
- 1831 Views
Lord of Chaos commentary
16/04/2010 03:39:39 PM
- 1824 Views
No no. It was Lord of Heaven!
16/04/2010 05:51:11 PM
- 1740 Views
Yeah, I noticed that
16/04/2010 11:16:26 PM
- 1663 Views
I would love the see him review Goodkind...
16/04/2010 11:51:07 PM
- 1847 Views
I don't wish that on anyone who doesn't have copious amounts of alcohol
16/04/2010 11:57:41 PM
- 1806 Views
A Crown of Swords - or is it deco-porn?
23/04/2010 08:36:17 AM
- 1948 Views
Re: A Crown of Swords - or is it deco-porn?
29/04/2010 06:02:28 PM
- 1887 Views
I disagree
29/04/2010 09:34:49 PM
- 1700 Views
The Path of Daggers commentary
07/05/2010 10:39:03 AM
- 1977 Views
Winter's Heart
21/05/2010 12:46:14 PM
- 1965 Views
I think WH was my least favorite of the WoT novels I re-read
21/05/2010 04:49:31 PM
- 1822 Views
Re: I think WH was my least favorite of the WoT novels I re-read
25/05/2010 05:05:09 PM
- 1986 Views
WH was my least favorite novel in the series, and that is saying a lot.
28/05/2010 03:15:13 PM
- 1876 Views
I completely agree with his KoD post. Here is my favorite quote:
28/05/2010 03:08:31 PM
- 2149 Views
Roberts reflects back on WoT 1-11, with answers to questions asked of him
25/06/2010 12:51:29 PM
- 1938 Views
This guy should be burned at the stake
25/06/2010 03:22:34 PM
- 9358 Views
Are you done making a fool out of yourself, Mark?
26/06/2010 06:53:37 PM
- 1876 Views
Oh come on...
26/06/2010 09:06:01 PM
- 1956 Views
Well, the burning at the stake was a bit much...
26/06/2010 10:19:40 PM
- 1975 Views
Well, really! You brought the comment to his notice...
26/06/2010 11:34:08 PM
- 1979 Views
And your point is...?
27/06/2010 12:37:00 AM
- 1999 Views
Well...
27/06/2010 05:38:12 AM
- 1955 Views
Indeed... I think it's rather clear that Larry's goal has been to cause trouble
27/06/2010 10:57:36 AM
- 2091 Views
It's not about honour being beschmirched. It's about poor quality arguments. *NM*
30/03/2011 04:09:23 PM
- 1137 Views
One year later...
27/03/2011 03:40:29 AM
- 1813 Views
Re: One year later...
28/03/2011 05:03:32 PM
- 2018 Views
I see you subconsciously support critical takes.
28/03/2011 11:41:48 PM
- 2028 Views
No I conciously support telling you and him that you are pathetic, arrogent, & jelous. *NM*
30/03/2011 01:40:36 PM
- 1175 Views
Jealous?
30/03/2011 05:20:32 PM
- 1815 Views
You both are jelous of Jordan's tremendous succes.
30/03/2011 10:27:36 PM
- 1837 Views
Please learn how to spell the word "jealous" before tossing it about in the cavalier fashion you do
30/03/2011 10:54:36 PM
- 1843 Views
The fact that you teach is supposed to be a surprise?
31/03/2011 01:23:45 PM
- 1772 Views
After reading the standard-issue checklist of generic, tossabout pejoratives...
01/04/2011 03:06:18 PM
- 1911 Views
I agree, I didn't even notice it was an old post, definitely did not deserve to be revived. *NM*
30/03/2011 02:41:12 PM
- 1098 Views
Now I notice as well that this is a year old. You're very silly, Larry, very silly. *NM*
30/03/2011 04:13:38 PM
- 1227 Views
Yep!
30/03/2011 05:16:38 PM
- 1751 Views
He's not an "author", he's just a stupid troll, do not feed him *NM*
30/03/2011 02:39:19 PM
- 1112 Views