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As I've said in the past, I'd be scared if anyone agreed with me anywhere approaching 100% Larry Send a noteboard - 12/12/2011 06:33:52 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.


Maybe so, but I do keep that part of my life largely separate from online activities, which might lead to distortions, I guess.

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


I rarely get upset when people disagree and certainly not when it's just a difference of opinion being expressed and not ad hominems.

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 ;) ).


I don't think of Sanderson as anything more than a slightly more creative version of the same old, but he does know how to plot a novel fairly well. Now if only I could get more people to try reading Michael Cisco...

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.


I'll try to have something more to say later today. Have a few things to do shortly before I go buy my drugs in preps for my dental surgery tomorrow. Might not be a good idea for me to write anything the next two days :P
Illusions fall like the husk of a fruit, one after another, and the fruit is experience. - Narrator, Sylvie

Je suis méchant.
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Aren't the Tolkien comparisons getting a little...old? Dark Knight - 09/12/2011 09:51:39 PM 3256 Views
The comparison bothers me, but not because Tolkien isn't relevant. lord-of-shadow - 09/12/2011 10:05:22 PM 2093 Views
I agree with this. Nate - 09/12/2011 10:21:34 PM 2158 Views
Re: I agree with this. DomA - 10/12/2011 07:09:33 PM 2101 Views
Exactly *NM* ironclad - 12/12/2011 12:09:19 PM 1108 Views
Only when shit works are being compared to him Larry - 09/12/2011 10:22:26 PM 2043 Views
Larry, Macharius - 10/12/2011 01:13:18 AM 2049 Views
Snide dismissal that will be passed off as for his own entertainment. Ghavrel - 10/12/2011 04:55:43 AM 1917 Views
We get a lot of that around here. *NM* lord-of-shadow - 10/12/2011 05:18:01 AM 867 Views
makes me wonder... LadyLorraine - 10/12/2011 04:37:33 PM 1933 Views
Re: makes me wonder... James - 11/12/2011 03:03:15 AM 1886 Views
Well-deserved condescension. Tom - 11/12/2011 03:54:27 AM 2076 Views
You're sure about that? A Deathwatch Guard - 11/12/2011 04:20:26 AM 2325 Views
Re: You're sure about that? James - 11/12/2011 05:25:08 AM 1995 Views
Re: You're sure about that? A Deathwatch Guard - 11/12/2011 06:03:02 AM 1924 Views
i think you shouldn't judge a whole world's school programs on your school LadyLorraine - 11/12/2011 06:42:30 AM 1931 Views
Yeah, I'm limited in my knowledge, lol A Deathwatch Guard - 11/12/2011 08:03:26 AM 1951 Views
My school was...not great. James - 11/12/2011 04:02:36 PM 1955 Views
I'm 24. James - 11/12/2011 03:49:06 PM 1902 Views
If you're arguing that children should be able to read genre fiction, fine. Tom - 11/12/2011 08:52:27 PM 1795 Views
Well, I suppose it depends on the type of genre being read Larry - 11/12/2011 09:36:16 PM 2041 Views
How often do you hear the challenging writers mentioned at this site? Tom - 12/12/2011 02:03:05 PM 1797 Views
Only when you, me, and a couple others write reviews Larry - 12/12/2011 04:21:14 PM 2191 Views
Oh, it was the same as it always is Tom - 12/12/2011 05:23:56 PM 1853 Views
True Larry - 12/12/2011 06:29:10 PM 1982 Views
One note nossy - 13/12/2011 12:17:48 AM 1981 Views
Perhaps Larry - 13/12/2011 12:49:34 AM 1938 Views
*Sighs* Such is the plight of those shining few intelects... Narg - 23/12/2011 01:15:47 AM 1982 Views
Much of the actual "Classics", that is, Greek and Latin originals, kids would eat up. Dan - 12/12/2011 03:13:03 AM 1812 Views
Try teaching Apuleius in schools... *NM* Tom - 12/12/2011 04:12:49 AM 978 Views
Plato is exciting, brutal and scandalous? Legolas - 12/12/2011 09:59:13 PM 1902 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 1035 Views
Uhh...uh... Larry - 11/12/2011 05:34:23 AM 1889 Views
this is a bit off topic, but out of curiousity... LadyLorraine - 11/12/2011 06:28:35 AM 2015 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 2021 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 1912 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 1060 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 2042 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 1952 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 1032 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 950 Views
No, just with respect to you. *NM* Tom - 12/12/2011 02:00:15 PM 1003 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 1045 Views
Once again, I really don't care what you think. *NM* Tom - 12/12/2011 03:37:40 PM 1003 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 955 Views
As well read as you seem to be, you think you'd be smart enough... MonCul - 11/12/2011 06:20:06 PM 1891 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 1789 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 1850 Views
That statement has just confused me. Tom - 12/12/2011 04:06:53 PM 1802 Views
Re: That statement has just confused me. Macharius - 12/12/2011 04:14:27 PM 1843 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 1757 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 1984 Views
There's an unintentional irony in what you say, alas Larry - 13/12/2011 12:44:26 AM 1876 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 2127 Views
With such comeback skills, you must have ruled the playgrounds as a kid, no? Larry - 13/12/2011 05:21:42 AM 2053 Views
I thought it was a pretty good comeback. MonCul - 13/12/2011 12:37:15 PM 1997 Views
Think again, Skippy Larry - 13/12/2011 01:34:41 PM 1908 Views
There are no special snowflakes, are there? Larry - 11/12/2011 09:39:21 PM 1820 Views
There are many way of widening one's horizons and broadening one's mind. Legolas - 11/12/2011 10:08:24 PM 1569 Views
I said as much in my comment Larry - 11/12/2011 10:20:03 PM 1802 Views
What I don't like- rebelaessedai - 12/12/2011 04:28:55 AM 1941 Views
Why don't you name something, then? Tom - 12/12/2011 04:40:29 AM 1874 Views
Sure. rebelaessedai - 13/12/2011 07:30:56 AM 1720 Views
Mentioning Ender's Game pretty much shot your argument in the foot. Tom - 13/12/2011 02:02:59 PM 1825 Views
You dismiss the entire video game medium because many games lack value. lord-of-shadow - 13/12/2011 03:59:11 PM 1959 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 1722 Views
McDonalds food is inherently unhealthy. lord-of-shadow - 13/12/2011 06:02:18 PM 1950 Views
For the sake of argument ... Nate - 13/12/2011 04:09:51 PM 1906 Views
Stephenson is not literature, that's for damn sure. Tom - 13/12/2011 05:49:24 PM 1753 Views
Thank you, The Voice of Lews Therin. *NM* Vivien - 16/12/2011 05:14:42 AM 1061 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 1958 Views
that's alright. I really have no desire to stroke your twit-ego. *NM* LadyLorraine - 10/12/2011 04:36:56 PM 836 Views
Considering the firestorm I appear to have touched off, that may be best. Macharius - 12/12/2011 12:57:49 PM 1879 Views
I know, John Larry - 12/12/2011 04:27:04 PM 1789 Views
Re: I know, John Macharius - 12/12/2011 05:06:26 PM 1916 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 1790 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 1859 Views
Same guy Larry - 12/12/2011 07:26:13 PM 1913 Views
Ha! Excellent point. *NM* Tom - 11/12/2011 03:44:52 AM 978 Views
Blurbs are not generally very original in their comparisons - would kind of defeat their purpose. Legolas - 09/12/2011 10:42:17 PM 1908 Views
I have to agree. ? - 09/12/2011 10:54:06 PM 1892 Views
They're there for marketing A Deathwatch Guard - 10/12/2011 12:20:17 AM 1898 Views
Most of those comparisons are like that anyway DomA - 10/12/2011 05:32:45 PM 2074 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 983 Views
To be fair, a lot of it isn't. rebelaessedai - 11/12/2011 04:06:07 AM 1869 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 1790 Views
That's true. rebelaessedai - 11/12/2011 11:08:01 AM 1760 Views
But see, that's where things start to get referred back to Tolkien. Tom - 12/12/2011 04:30:12 AM 1948 Views
Maybe they mean something else by using his name. Cannoli - 11/12/2011 03:50:15 AM 1923 Views
When they don't work, yes. nossy - 11/12/2011 03:18:44 PM 1877 Views
The Tolkien fanaticism gets old. And yes, for me it is unreadable. everynametaken - 11/12/2011 11:37:53 PM 1814 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 1904 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 1789 Views
Yes *NM* Hieshyn - 22/12/2011 07:08:38 PM 1098 Views
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