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I object, sir! People don't read WoT for the way it's told? newyorkersedai Send a noteboard - 24/02/2011 12:58:58 AM
Let me start by just saying that I am not so wowed that I simply need to read this story:
Super-advanced, super-civilized and peaceful people who use magic found a way to contact what is basically, a hyper-powerful Satan, and the result was that the world went from utter peace to massacres and anarchy. Everyone nearly died trying to stop it, but they didn't put the world back in order and Evil was still a powerfully-influential force. Nearly 3000 years later, this 17-century European-like continent has women who control all the magic in the world. Men who have magic are dangerous and feared and bad, but Good relies on the reborn spirit of the most famous man ever who won a Pyhrric victory in stopping Evil the first time is the only guy who can stop it this time. But he doesn't know anything about this! And the legions of Evil are everywhere and powerful! And even the other good guys are scared of him or want to control him in a way that may not be for the best! And he's just an ignorant youngster with no education but a lot of heart!

I don't care if it's a movie series, a "quality" syfy show (hahaha!), or a novel: I don't find that plot - even throwing in cool things like Lanfear, Ishy, gholam, sangreal, or Mat, or other juicy "cool stuff" - to be so interesting that I have to try it. Or have to keep enjoying it.

It's the way the story was told that made it so addictive. The more I think about it, the more I feel that the beast got away from RJ after LoC. Because I have read lots of literature, and a bit of trash too, but I found TEotW, TGH, TDR, and TSR, to be completely engrossing.

I think I found LoC the same way, but I can't quite remember and I should reread before I opine. I'm sure that ACoS onward sees the series take a dip in many ways. It's more like the 6th series of a tv show - it's extremely rare that it makes successful efforts and good experiments; or doesn't lapse into been-there-before in a way that either (a) indicates they didn't pull off what they were going for or (b) have run out of ideas.

Although RJ had clearly not run out of ideas - even up to the end (dammit) - his execution was not so strong as the series went on. Things he tried for didn't work, some choices could have been handled differently (impliedly also: for the better), and the level of "drag" or repetition really does mount to the degree of "kinda unacceptable."

I'll address the rest in part 2
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Can someone explain to me how Jordan is not a particularly good writer? - 21/02/2011 05:41:31 PM 3339 Views
I personally see it as more of RJ being a fantastic story teller, but not a well structured writer. - 21/02/2011 06:44:21 PM 1735 Views
Re: I personally see it as more of RJ being a fantastic story teller, but not a well structured - 22/02/2011 10:59:25 PM 1359 Views
What do you think about the Southern Gothic authors? - 23/02/2011 08:08:26 AM 1239 Views
Re: What do you think about the Southern Gothic authors? - 23/02/2011 10:51:57 AM 1321 Views
Oh, it really depends. - 23/02/2011 05:39:07 PM 1092 Views
thanks, I'll have a look *NM* - 23/02/2011 05:40:50 PM 838 Views
For the same reason that most people think they have above average intelligence. - 21/02/2011 11:13:34 PM 1701 Views
Thank you. - 21/02/2011 11:43:08 PM 1432 Views
Well Said! - 22/02/2011 02:42:22 PM 1356 Views
I can take a shot at that, since nobody else seems willing to. - 22/02/2011 07:29:20 AM 1755 Views
Do you enjoy reading Robert Jordan's ... - 22/02/2011 04:31:28 PM 1450 Views
Not particularly. - 22/02/2011 10:22:00 PM 1557 Views
Agreed. - 22/02/2011 10:37:08 PM 1294 Views
As far as I'm concerned, the only way to gauge whether an author is good or not is ... - 22/02/2011 03:58:17 PM 1291 Views
Amen *NM* - 22/02/2011 04:32:50 PM 822 Views
Re: Can someone explain to me how Jordan is not a particularly good writer? - 22/02/2011 06:27:11 PM 2165 Views
Brain overload! This is really well thought out. - 23/02/2011 10:22:37 PM 1346 Views
thank you for the insight into the outside view lol - 24/02/2011 04:34:57 PM 1384 Views
I think DomA answered the question best, but the "do you like it" argument is weak. - 22/02/2011 10:32:51 PM 1552 Views
Re: I think DomA answered the question best, but the "do you like it" argument is weak. - 22/02/2011 11:16:24 PM 1497 Views
The Necronomicon isn't actually a book, you know. *NM* - 22/02/2011 11:28:29 PM 741 Views
There are nine, actually... - 23/02/2011 12:04:55 AM 1528 Views
I hope I am misunderstanding you. - 23/02/2011 10:57:47 PM 1217 Views
Re: I hope I am misunderstanding you. - 24/02/2011 10:41:09 AM 1348 Views
If the core of the story is all that matters, why read a book - 24/02/2011 10:32:01 PM 1310 Views
Re: If the core of the story is all that matters, why read a book - 24/02/2011 11:23:42 PM 1154 Views
So wait, style is good? - 25/02/2011 12:32:07 AM 1533 Views
Re: So wait, style is good? - 25/02/2011 08:53:55 AM 1185 Views
I'm not trolling - 25/02/2011 11:57:18 PM 1208 Views
That depends... - 23/02/2011 03:00:35 AM 1445 Views
the "do you like it" is the most important criterion - 23/02/2011 10:45:17 PM 1305 Views
Re: the "do you like it" is the most important criterion - 24/02/2011 01:53:59 AM 1290 Views
Thumbs up - IMHO, all discussion can end here - 28/02/2011 05:45:34 PM 1423 Views
Not for quality of writing. - 24/02/2011 05:17:52 PM 1246 Views
Those who can do, the rest are critics. *NM* - 24/02/2011 07:55:50 PM 799 Views
I object, sir! People don't read WoT for the way it's told? - 24/02/2011 12:58:58 AM 1356 Views
If you don't mind me asking... - 24/02/2011 01:05:12 AM 1126 Views
Re: If you don't mind me asking... - 24/02/2011 02:19:17 AM 1243 Views
I still don't get it. - 24/02/2011 08:27:50 AM 1143 Views
Re: If you don't mind me asking... - 24/02/2011 11:29:14 PM 1189 Views
I don't mind that you ask, but I'm not going to engage in a defense of literature. - 24/02/2011 05:35:27 PM 1140 Views
Re: I don't mind that you ask, but I'm not going to engage in a defense of literature. - 24/02/2011 11:26:55 PM 1289 Views
I'm sure you have a wonderful job awaiting in fast food service. - 25/02/2011 01:57:15 AM 1329 Views
Re: I'm sure you have a wonderful job awaiting in fast food service. - 25/02/2011 08:56:06 AM 1242 Views
Jack @$$ snobbery at its best. WOW *NM* - 28/02/2011 05:48:43 PM 828 Views
... - 25/02/2011 01:07:22 AM 1190 Views
Maybe you should have used better prose? - 25/02/2011 01:23:17 AM 1033 Views
It is not a serious question. - 25/02/2011 01:53:59 AM 1182 Views
How so? - 25/02/2011 02:59:05 AM 1313 Views
I have every right to use that tone. - 25/02/2011 03:08:14 PM 1270 Views
Is that so? - 25/02/2011 05:58:31 AM 1281 Views
I'm not fixated with Jordan. - 25/02/2011 03:13:56 PM 1278 Views
Then why do you keep trying to qualify the passage in relation to him? - 25/02/2011 06:29:31 PM 1324 Views
You're conflating two things. - 25/02/2011 07:32:59 PM 1310 Views
All right, now we're getting somewhere. - 26/02/2011 12:40:57 AM 1234 Views
you raise very good questions... *NM* - 26/02/2011 09:21:13 AM 739 Views
Okay, here you go. I am giving you the benefit of the doubt as to your sincerity. - 26/02/2011 03:20:44 PM 1049 Views
Thank you, and I agree with all your explanations. *NM* - 26/02/2011 07:28:09 PM 749 Views
Glad to hear that. - 27/02/2011 03:42:33 AM 1138 Views
No problem, these things happen on the internet. *NM* - 27/02/2011 04:36:57 AM 804 Views
No, it is a serious question, just one that can never be seriously answered. - 25/02/2011 03:28:48 PM 1207 Views
Your opinion isn't as valid as anyone else's if that's your opinion. - 25/02/2011 04:44:57 PM 1360 Views
Jack @$$ snobbery at its best. WOW *NM* - 28/02/2011 05:51:48 PM 660 Views
double post. oh my! *NM* - 28/02/2011 05:52:17 PM 688 Views
Just makes you right twice *NM* - 28/02/2011 09:42:19 PM 791 Views
Re: ... - 25/02/2011 08:59:37 AM 1233 Views
And part 2, on the analysis of writing. - 24/02/2011 01:16:20 AM 1261 Views
Florid desciption is usually not a good thing. - 24/02/2011 05:30:30 PM 1213 Views
Re: I find this whole thing elitist and more than a bit silly - 23/02/2011 06:45:05 AM 1359 Views
Why do you think mind-expanding literature is restricted to the classics? - 23/02/2011 08:03:59 AM 1178 Views
Re: Why do you think mind-expanding literature is restricted to the classics? - 23/02/2011 09:25:10 AM 1365 Views
Of course people read for pleasure. - 23/02/2011 09:04:24 PM 1144 Views
Ok... - 24/02/2011 08:59:27 AM 1176 Views
"Yeah well, that's, like, just your opinion, man." Good argument. - 24/02/2011 03:43:24 PM 1255 Views
*NM* - 24/02/2011 05:37:02 PM 702 Views
I find your above average tastes and intelligence uninspiring. - 24/02/2011 08:42:03 PM 1116 Views
I'm curious to hear who Tom and DomA consider a "very good writer"? - 24/02/2011 05:49:13 PM 1244 Views
Among living writers? - 24/02/2011 08:16:08 PM 1304 Views
No Rushdie? - 24/02/2011 09:22:46 PM 1190 Views
I was considering mentioning Rushdie. - 24/02/2011 09:32:20 PM 1143 Views
My list would be similar... - 26/02/2011 07:24:11 AM 1405 Views
That was a very good list. - 26/02/2011 03:07:31 PM 1263 Views
Re: That was a very good list. - 27/02/2011 04:51:43 AM 1309 Views
Once I finish Hugo I'm probably going to read Druon. - 27/02/2011 02:30:03 PM 1099 Views
Oh, and another question - 27/02/2011 05:28:47 PM 1060 Views
Re: Oh, and another question - 01/03/2011 03:42:02 AM 1248 Views
One final question, if you'll indulge me... - 01/03/2011 06:43:23 PM 1122 Views
Well, until I have time to return to your previous post but... - 01/03/2011 07:45:13 PM 1281 Views
I think the two of you have taken too narrow a meaning of 'great' - 27/02/2011 11:14:30 AM 1426 Views
You like Solzhenitsyn but not other Russian writers? - 27/02/2011 02:43:46 PM 1263 Views
Re: You like Solzhenitsyn but not other Russian writers? - 02/03/2011 11:47:19 PM 1432 Views
Re: I think the two of you have taken too narrow a meaning of 'great' - 28/02/2011 11:51:49 PM 1378 Views
Re: I think the two of you have taken too narrow a meaning of 'great' - 03/03/2011 12:01:30 AM 1346 Views
Link to DomA Post from up above: - 03/03/2011 12:20:11 AM 1520 Views
He's a great storyteller, but his prose is somewhat uninspiring. *NM* - 27/02/2011 07:28:00 PM 829 Views

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