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Then why defend him? fionwe1987 Send a noteboard - 18/09/2009 12:14:35 AM
If you agree that Dan Brown sucks, why make this post defending him? I know you claim that critically acclaimed authors have similar faults, but can you name any that do have the same faults and then back that up with examples? No.
I'm just also not one of the morons who voted for WoT as the best fantasy series ever on the Quickpoll.

Good for you. Though why this irrelevant detail is being included in this debate is beyond me. Its not like I mistook you for a great fan of Jordan before.
Of course Brown doesn't develop his characters as much - he writes essentially stand-alone thrillers. To my mind, that makes Jordan's failure as a writer even more egregious. He had the opportunity and he certainly took the time. He meandered his way through five books (7-11) with actual action that could have been condensed to one if they were as tightly written as books 1-6.

They might be stadalone thrillers, but several of them have the same character, and anyway, being a standalone is no excuse for terrible characterization.
And what you're discussing is pacing, not characterization. Before you start yelling at others for disliking Dan Brown, it might be helpful to understand the difference.
My point isn't that Brown is great. It's that virtually everything that people accuse him of can be found in the other writers that the critics like. Period.

So, its more of whining that everyone is picking on baby Dan?
Do name some authors that carry all the literary flaws of Brown and make ridiculous claims to being historically accurate. Then we'll talk.
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Why is it that so many people hate Dan Brown? Tom - 14/09/2009 09:24:31 PM 2441 Views
His prose is bad. Very bad. Rebekah - 14/09/2009 09:28:28 PM 1306 Views
It's not any worse than Robert Jordan's prose. I'd say it's better, in fact. Tom - 14/09/2009 09:30:17 PM 1176 Views
Re: It's not any worse than Robert Jordan's prose. I'd say it's better, in fact. Camilla - 14/09/2009 09:32:44 PM 1333 Views
In defense of italics... smaug - 14/09/2009 11:58:35 PM 1255 Views
Re: In defense of italics... Camilla - 15/09/2009 08:02:56 AM 1265 Views
I just rechecked... smaug - 15/09/2009 11:17:23 AM 1173 Views
Thereby... Wibble - 15/09/2009 10:31:44 PM 1198 Views
I have a problem with comparing those italics. Rebekah - 15/09/2009 10:33:53 PM 1205 Views
Oh probably Wibble - 15/09/2009 10:40:15 PM 1204 Views
Hehe Rebekah - 15/09/2009 10:42:23 PM 1293 Views
In defense of nothing in particular... smaug - 15/09/2009 11:16:09 PM 1271 Views
Ah. Leroux did publish it as a serial in magazine first so that makes sense. *NM* Rebekah - 15/09/2009 11:19:40 PM 577 Views
Re: Thereby... Camilla - 16/09/2009 10:40:18 AM 1343 Views
I love that line, and nothing you say will change that. Legolas - 15/09/2009 11:15:29 PM 1192 Views
That line is great smaug - 15/09/2009 11:21:03 PM 1216 Views
Jordan didn't have the good sense TO FINISH ANY FUCKING PLOT THREAD Tom - 15/09/2009 04:46:06 AM 1186 Views
Wow, the vehemence. Craig - 15/09/2009 05:55:38 AM 1251 Views
Riddle me this, Batman - if he weren't dying, would he have even done that? *NM* Tom - 15/09/2009 01:53:57 PM 679 Views
Yes. Werthead - 15/09/2009 03:38:34 PM 1185 Views
burn *NM* LadyLorraine - 15/09/2009 04:24:49 PM 558 Views
Relevant post as always Celia *NM* Walker_Boh - 15/09/2009 11:36:34 PM 637 Views
So you say... Tom - 16/09/2009 02:17:47 AM 1176 Views
No, he didn't. Werthead - 16/09/2009 04:44:31 AM 1248 Views
Re: Jordan didn't have the good sense TO FINISH ANY FUCKING PLOT THREAD Camilla - 15/09/2009 08:05:26 AM 1201 Views
His attitude to history isn't really any different from that of most writers Tom - 15/09/2009 01:54:55 PM 1191 Views
Except Camilla - 15/09/2009 04:56:23 PM 1193 Views
And ALSO except Tom - 17/09/2009 02:59:03 PM 1287 Views
Re: And ALSO except Camilla - 17/09/2009 05:27:40 PM 1193 Views
I vehemently disagree with this! Rebekah - 14/09/2009 09:33:05 PM 1461 Views
How many chapters of Aes Sedai dresses and horse names did we go through in his books? Tom - 15/09/2009 04:45:04 AM 1229 Views
I'd have a slow moving plot to fast moving nonsense any day. fionwe1987 - 15/09/2009 05:36:20 AM 1293 Views
With Jordan, that movement was glacial Tom - 15/09/2009 01:58:08 PM 1174 Views
so...your problem with jordan is that you're impatient? LadyLorraine - 15/09/2009 04:26:07 PM 1131 Views
How many of us can say we're not antsy to know what happened? nossy - 15/09/2009 05:03:24 PM 1188 Views
So plot progression is all that matters? What about the other stuff I mentioned? *NM* fionwe1987 - 15/09/2009 04:50:06 PM 569 Views
Jordan's characters are just as two-dimensional as Brown's Tom - 16/09/2009 02:17:19 AM 1149 Views
Bull... fionwe1987 - 16/09/2009 03:15:49 AM 1166 Views
No, I think you're just blinded by liking WoT Tom - 17/09/2009 03:00:28 PM 1151 Views
No, you seem to be blinded by disliking him, more like. Legolas - 17/09/2009 06:25:21 PM 1158 Views
It's not hyperbole. Tom - 17/09/2009 08:13:47 PM 1179 Views
Yes, it is, and you're really going to have to back your stance up with arguments. Legolas - 17/09/2009 09:21:56 PM 1216 Views
No it isn't, and I won't. I'm bored with this debate. *NM* Tom - 18/09/2009 02:57:00 PM 601 Views
Yeah like that's not the case with you and Dan Brown. fionwe1987 - 17/09/2009 06:56:37 PM 1224 Views
I don't think Dan Brown is a stellar writer. Tom - 17/09/2009 08:11:41 PM 1182 Views
Heh. It was "favourite" fantasy series not "best". Rebekah - 17/09/2009 08:19:02 PM 1151 Views
Then why defend him? fionwe1987 - 18/09/2009 12:14:35 AM 1138 Views
No Camilla - 18/09/2009 10:09:02 AM 1298 Views
Examples. Werthead - 17/09/2009 01:53:21 AM 1383 Views
LOL Rebekah - 17/09/2009 03:16:23 PM 1213 Views
Because he is shit? Camilla - 14/09/2009 09:38:59 PM 1443 Views
Camilla, you've read shit before and liked it. Tom - 15/09/2009 04:43:24 AM 1215 Views
Re: Camilla, you've read shit before and liked it. Camilla - 15/09/2009 08:04:18 AM 1173 Views
Yes, I was talking about the book. Tom - 15/09/2009 01:58:54 PM 1158 Views
Re: Yes, I was talking about the book. Camilla - 15/09/2009 04:56:53 PM 1107 Views
Also Camilla - 14/09/2009 09:41:25 PM 1227 Views
Hate is a strong word. PhotoJim - 14/09/2009 09:44:02 PM 1284 Views
Nicely put. *NM* Rebekah - 14/09/2009 09:46:03 PM 580 Views
*NM* Tashmere - 15/09/2009 04:16:35 AM 597 Views
He still didn't dick around with us as long as Robert Jordan did. *NM* Tom - 15/09/2009 04:41:01 AM 606 Views
I'm not disagreeing with you on that one. *NM* PhotoJim - 15/09/2009 12:12:52 PM 636 Views
Elitism and frustration he sells so much and better authors don't? Legolas - 14/09/2009 09:51:39 PM 1130 Views
I think so. Tom - 15/09/2009 04:40:20 AM 1224 Views
you thought meyers was entertaining???? LadyLorraine - 15/09/2009 04:28:48 PM 1149 Views
You thought it wasn't entertaining? Darth_Katie - 15/09/2009 07:42:06 PM 1145 Views
I would phrase that 'better' authors Wibble - 15/09/2009 10:29:54 PM 1154 Views
Okay, fair enough. Legolas - 15/09/2009 11:16:56 PM 1117 Views
Given that I know nothing about Dan Brown nossy - 14/09/2009 09:54:15 PM 1267 Views
Pfft! ~locks your reply~ Rebekah - 14/09/2009 10:00:23 PM 1170 Views
ooo, lock me baby! nossy - 14/09/2009 10:12:48 PM 1238 Views
A couple of the above points, and Suspension of Disbelief. Craig - 14/09/2009 10:23:26 PM 1242 Views
Good point about the "Ridiculous Things", that bugged me too. Legolas - 14/09/2009 10:35:32 PM 1286 Views
there is a difference between a book, which is a respectable medium, and a hollywood movie. jh - 14/09/2009 10:41:06 PM 1161 Views
There is really only a difference if you're looking for some higher learnin' nossy - 14/09/2009 10:52:39 PM 1232 Views
That statement makes no sense. *NM* jh - 14/09/2009 10:55:53 PM 497 Views
She must have been reading too much Dan Brown. Rebekah - 14/09/2009 10:58:51 PM 1143 Views
Yes it does nossy - 14/09/2009 11:00:41 PM 1138 Views
Only to the strangest of elitists. *NM* Ghavrel - 15/09/2009 12:49:53 AM 622 Views
Go read screenplays for fun, populist. *NM* jh - 15/09/2009 10:20:01 AM 624 Views
Ghavrel - 15/09/2009 06:25:26 PM 1165 Views
Oh, I am sorry. jh - 16/09/2009 11:11:07 AM 1053 Views
Well... Craig - 14/09/2009 11:16:00 PM 1143 Views
I accept your points, but also your final statement Tom - 15/09/2009 04:38:46 AM 1136 Views
More to the point then... people don't really need a good reason to hate something in particular. Craig - 15/09/2009 06:00:33 AM 1213 Views
You didn't even like him as Mugatu in Zoolander? *NM* Tom - 15/09/2009 01:47:57 PM 578 Views
Now, now. Craig - 15/09/2009 07:03:48 PM 1139 Views
Suspension of disbelief is a relative thing random thoughts - 15/09/2009 11:25:32 PM 1219 Views
Damn near everything is a relative thing. Craig - 16/09/2009 05:25:48 AM 1187 Views
I'm indifferent to him Larry - 15/09/2009 01:14:37 AM 1189 Views
If you're indifferent, you are apparently in a minority. Tom - 15/09/2009 04:36:28 AM 1149 Views
To put Brown's mediocrity in perspective, read Da Vinci and then Foucault's Pendulum by Umberto Eco. *NM* RandAllThor - 15/09/2009 01:32:11 AM 603 Views
Eh, I enjoyed DaVinci better. You can all crucify me now. Craig - 15/09/2009 01:49:28 AM 1123 Views
Re: Eh, I enjoyed DaVinci better. You can all crucify me now. RandAllThor - 15/09/2009 01:54:17 AM 1278 Views
Re: Rose Craig - 15/09/2009 02:16:53 AM 1143 Views
As someone who appreciated Foucault's Pendulum I don't argue his mediocrity. Tom - 15/09/2009 04:30:31 AM 1027 Views
I agree with your last sentence strongly. Joker - 26/09/2009 08:18:42 PM 1375 Views
I don't hate him, and I've never read any of his books Brian - 15/09/2009 01:45:37 AM 1143 Views
He was over hyped to me. Tashmere - 15/09/2009 04:15:32 AM 1167 Views
Da Vinci, not "Da Vinchi". The latter would be pronounced like "Da Vinki" in English. *NM* Tom - 15/09/2009 04:32:40 AM 577 Views
I will fix it for for you. I just didn't care enough to look up the spelling on it. Tashmere - 15/09/2009 02:49:08 PM 1255 Views
I agree it was way overhyped. everynametaken - 16/09/2009 02:12:39 AM 1093 Views
Heh, I actually had the opposite. Craig - 16/09/2009 05:26:55 AM 1182 Views
The thing I hate the most is actually the fans who suddenly "know" stuff.... Sophy - 15/09/2009 07:49:22 AM 1302 Views
Yes! *NM* Camilla - 15/09/2009 08:06:35 AM 575 Views
I try to avoid stupid people like that altogether Tom - 15/09/2009 01:49:53 PM 1090 Views
And move to a deserted island? Sophy - 15/09/2009 02:33:01 PM 1376 Views
Those people are everywhere, but you don't have to talk to them Tom - 17/09/2009 03:02:24 PM 1225 Views
Lol. I agree wholeheartedly. everynametaken - 16/09/2009 02:17:51 AM 1219 Views
My take on why Dan Brown is so disliked. MightyYT - 15/09/2009 08:51:04 AM 1268 Views
As I've said before, I don't disagree that he's a mediocre writer Tom - 15/09/2009 01:52:23 PM 1151 Views
He 'true' book claims 5 million women were killed during the witch hunt AgentOrange - 15/09/2009 11:55:40 AM 1143 Views
I would hardly say I hate him Mark - 15/09/2009 02:33:13 PM 1209 Views
I think it's more the totally inexplicable nature of his success Werthead - 15/09/2009 03:48:28 PM 1295 Views
Eragon and Twilight indicate all that is evil to me in the world LadyLorraine - 15/09/2009 04:33:29 PM 1275 Views
I hardly think it's that inexplicable. Legolas - 15/09/2009 04:33:39 PM 1143 Views
Honestly, his works play on a very basic fact of human psychology., everynametaken - 16/09/2009 02:23:56 AM 1274 Views
Misplaced superiority. Jacob - 15/09/2009 05:10:34 PM 1197 Views
Well, regarding goodkind... jh - 15/09/2009 05:23:34 PM 1208 Views
I couldn't say... Jacob - 15/09/2009 05:57:12 PM 1227 Views
well, you stuck with the poor quality books longer than me. *NM* jh - 16/09/2009 12:39:23 AM 580 Views
It's pure literary snobbery Wibble - 15/09/2009 11:08:44 PM 1221 Views
I agree with you 100%. Tom - 16/09/2009 02:20:11 AM 1100 Views
Very nice summary. everynametaken - 16/09/2009 02:32:38 AM 1266 Views
That's more than a little unfair. Craig - 16/09/2009 05:29:59 AM 1162 Views
Dan Brown is a snob. Sophy - 16/09/2009 06:32:21 AM 1333 Views
Where does the rule come from that you can't read good books while travelling? It is nonsense! Camilla - 18/09/2009 10:16:56 AM 1379 Views
because all of the cool kids hate him random thoughts - 15/09/2009 11:17:29 PM 1050 Views
He has an enormous schwanzstucker. *NM* TaskmasterJack - 16/09/2009 01:18:37 AM 810 Views
I figured that'd set most guys against him. *NM* rebelaessedai - 16/09/2009 01:51:56 AM 605 Views
I don't get it either. everynametaken - 16/09/2009 02:01:04 AM 1118 Views
I think you'll appreciate this Tom Geoff - 16/09/2009 03:03:24 PM 1387 Views
Hmm. The sneerathon seems like a good idea. jh - 16/09/2009 03:52:15 PM 1162 Views
That was lovely, thank you! Tom - 17/09/2009 03:04:46 PM 1141 Views
My pleasure Geoff - 17/09/2009 03:58:31 PM 1292 Views
I don't. I think he's just average, though occasionally fun for an easy read/skim *NM* IndigoAjah - 17/09/2009 12:39:05 AM 611 Views
Plenty of them probably don't. They just don't have the guts to say what they truly think. *NM* Vodalus - 17/09/2009 10:10:39 PM 563 Views
And yet there's still no "Why do so many people hate Faile?" post on the WoT board... *NM* TaskmasterJack - 18/09/2009 04:05:26 PM 810 Views
How do you know? *NM* jh - 18/09/2009 04:57:15 PM 602 Views
I pop in there on occasion. TaskmasterJack - 18/09/2009 05:09:59 PM 1521 Views
Oh, it's a job. jh - 18/09/2009 07:35:32 PM 1274 Views
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