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
13320 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
2663 Views
My problem with the reviews:
- 20/03/2010 06:29:08 AM
3302 Views
Hear Hear !!!
.......................
=
........................ *NM*
- 20/03/2010 06:37:11 AM
1580 Views
.......................
=
........................ *NM*
- 20/03/2010 06:37:11 AM
1580 Views
well I agree and disagree
- 20/03/2010 06:51:29 AM
3003 Views
Re: well I agree and disagree
- 20/03/2010 02:12:43 PM
2545 Views
I'm amused by some of the responses
- 20/03/2010 07:20:03 PM
2965 Views
Are you suggesting that we are unqualified to disagree with him ?
- 20/03/2010 11:21:44 PM
2668 Views
No, I said rather that it's ridiculous to make such disparaging comments about his takes
- 20/03/2010 11:37:56 PM
2710 Views
I will reply to myself: What's the problem McFly , chicken ?
- 21/03/2010 12:29:36 AM
2504 Views
My sister called me chicken once
- 10/04/2010 01:18:31 AM
2572 Views
Re: I'm amused by some of the responses
- 23/03/2010 04:50:42 PM
2606 Views
And I'm even more amused by this response
- 24/03/2010 01:11:50 AM
2538 Views
- 24/03/2010 01:11:50 AM
2538 Views
On a completely unrelated note...
- 24/03/2010 06:15:25 AM
2464 Views
Ha!
- 24/03/2010 06:34:48 AM
2437 Views
- 24/03/2010 06:34:48 AM
2437 Views
My congratulations then
. *NM*
- 24/03/2010 06:36:11 AM
2370 Views
. *NM*
- 24/03/2010 06:36:11 AM
2370 Views
Wow, you guys have completely missed the point of the Wheel of Time series
- 22/03/2010 05:28:07 PM
2581 Views
- 22/03/2010 05:28:07 PM
2581 Views
There's a point to it?
- 22/03/2010 06:47:12 PM
2565 Views
- 22/03/2010 06:47:12 PM
2565 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
1525 Views
You're not taking me seriously now, are you?
- 24/03/2010 02:54:37 AM
2476 Views
- 24/03/2010 02:54:37 AM
2476 Views
I meant the reason why RJ wrote WoT in the first place
- 24/03/2010 06:39:47 AM
2477 Views
And which, arguably, could be viewed as being done in a hackneyed way
- 24/03/2010 07:15:55 AM
2537 Views
I thought the point was to write about a bunch of stuff happening?
- 09/04/2010 03:42:49 PM
2537 Views
pfft wth-ever
- 26/03/2010 12:35:53 AM
2348 Views
Dude's been up for more awards for his writing than RJ ever was
- 26/03/2010 12:28:19 PM
2615 Views
bla bla bla
- 29/03/2010 06:17:07 AM
2511 Views
Wow. That post was more entertaining than Mr. Roberts' review. Thank you
*NM*
- 29/03/2010 08:23:41 AM
1700 Views
*NM*
- 29/03/2010 08:23:41 AM
1700 Views
You must have low standards for entertainment
- 29/03/2010 08:54:03 AM
2452 Views
Re: You must have low standards for entertainment
- 29/03/2010 09:13:44 AM
2562 Views
I know you were, thus the
at the least of my comment
- 29/03/2010 09:19:30 AM
2375 Views
at the least of my comment
- 29/03/2010 09:19:30 AM
2375 Views
Unimpressed
- 29/03/2010 10:50:07 PM
2853 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
2849 Views
Re: Dude's been up for more awards for his writing than RJ ever was
- 29/03/2010 04:32:23 PM
2578 Views
Might want to re-read their Wikis again.
- 29/03/2010 07:07:11 PM
2409 Views
Awards
- 29/03/2010 07:42:03 PM
2360 Views
That link is out of date
- 29/03/2010 07:54:56 PM
2343 Views
Re: That link is out of date
- 29/03/2010 08:22:03 PM
2503 Views
This is a battle of win/lose?
- 29/03/2010 08:47:54 PM
2373 Views
Re: This is a battle of win/lose?
- 29/03/2010 09:03:07 PM
2424 Views
*considers employing the Chewbacca defense*
- 29/03/2010 09:28:06 PM
2417 Views
Re: *considers employing the Chewbacca defense*
- 29/03/2010 09:44:58 PM
2610 Views
The final point explains the "defense"
- 30/03/2010 12:24:56 AM
2333 Views
Re: The final point explains the "defense"
- 30/03/2010 01:33:04 PM
2272 Views
No, no, no
- 30/03/2010 06:38:41 PM
2353 Views
Re: No, no, no
- 30/03/2010 07:51:34 PM
2452 Views
Still continuing, huh?
- 31/03/2010 02:10:13 AM
2393 Views
Re: Still continuing, huh?
- 31/03/2010 03:56:57 PM
2375 Views
He's now reviewed the third book
- 26/03/2010 12:27:16 PM
2596 Views
Well, this time I must disagree with him
.
- 29/03/2010 07:31:40 AM
2308 Views
.
- 29/03/2010 07:31:40 AM
2308 Views
I don't think he was claiming that RJ was alone in doing that
- 29/03/2010 07:44:07 AM
2322 Views
Hah!
- 29/03/2010 06:07:28 PM
2335 Views
Well...
- 29/03/2010 06:52:10 PM
2254 Views
Differing perspectives, I guess.
- 29/03/2010 07:58:13 PM
2445 Views
I suppose
- 29/03/2010 08:50:43 PM
2348 Views
Re: I suppose
- 30/03/2010 12:18:30 AM
2480 Views
Hey, DomA, do you know why the Shienarans randomly speak in the Old Tongue?
- 30/03/2010 12:52:01 AM
2326 Views
Re: Hey, DomA, do you know why the Shienarans randomly speak in the Old Tongue?
- 30/03/2010 07:45:08 AM
2509 Views
But why only them?
- 30/03/2010 08:07:00 AM
2411 Views
The Shadow Rising review
- 02/04/2010 09:42:53 AM
2605 Views
I wonder if this borders on trolling
- 02/04/2010 02:29:58 PM
11145 Views
That would be a mistake
- 02/04/2010 09:16:25 PM
2623 Views
Re: That would be a mistake
- 02/04/2010 10:28:56 PM
2371 Views
I agree, Roberts is more and more coming across to me as just bitter
- 10/04/2010 01:24:52 AM
2482 Views
Little late to this one as well
- 10/04/2010 11:12:04 AM
2495 Views
Perhaps you should have led with this bit
- 10/04/2010 02:52:23 PM
2596 Views
I guess I just presumed that people would read the header to his blog
- 12/04/2010 03:54:10 AM
2411 Views
- 12/04/2010 03:54:10 AM
2411 Views
What review? I couldn't find one...
- 02/04/2010 08:00:45 PM
2556 Views
Re: What review? I couldn't find one...
- 02/04/2010 09:22:13 PM
2570 Views
See my comment below
- 02/04/2010 09:32:54 PM
2636 Views
Re: See my comment below
- 03/04/2010 09:31:22 AM
2970 Views
Sorry I'm late in responding, but I've been quite busy this week
- 07/04/2010 09:45:48 PM
2826 Views
Speaking of irritation
- 02/04/2010 10:50:04 PM
2526 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
2430 Views
Commentary, then?
- 02/04/2010 09:27:18 PM
2411 Views
- 02/04/2010 09:27:18 PM
2411 Views
Here's the thing...
- 02/04/2010 10:11:18 PM
2354 Views
Re: Here's the thing...
- 02/04/2010 10:31:56 PM
2206 Views
Re: Commentary, then?
- 05/04/2010 03:44:07 PM
2319 Views
- 05/04/2010 03:44:07 PM
2319 Views
for a man that bitterly complains about an author who is padding his work
- 08/04/2010 09:41:07 PM
2546 Views
1400 words is long-winded?
- 09/04/2010 10:07:41 AM
2578 Views
- 09/04/2010 10:07:41 AM
2578 Views
since you can sum up those 1400 words in about 25 yes that's longwinded
- 09/04/2010 01:36:16 PM
2460 Views
Except I didn't really sum it up, as I left out quite a bit
- 10/04/2010 11:15:42 AM
2482 Views
You are very defensive over this
- 10/04/2010 01:54:15 PM
2284 Views
Nah, more of a devil's advocate than anything else
- 12/04/2010 03:57:12 AM
2345 Views
Well Larry I have started reading Gradsil by Adam Roberts
- 07/04/2010 08:59:28 PM
2507 Views
I demand a paragraph by paragraph review, with footnotes!
- 07/04/2010 09:50:39 PM
2400 Views
Re: I demand a paragraph by paragraph review, with footnotes!
- 08/04/2010 01:06:20 PM
2258 Views
Which Invisible Man?
- 09/04/2010 09:58:44 AM
2467 Views
He brings up some interesting points, if in an unnecessarily rude manner
- 08/04/2010 12:42:25 PM
2400 Views
To be honest, I doubt most readers of the series obsess over it that much
- 09/04/2010 10:05:49 AM
2405 Views
- 09/04/2010 10:05:49 AM
2405 Views
Re: To be honest, I doubt most readers of the series obsess over it that much
- 09/04/2010 01:28:17 PM
2944 Views
- 09/04/2010 01:28:17 PM
2944 Views
Re: To be honest, I doubt most readers of the series obsess over it that much
- 10/04/2010 11:40:22 AM
2412 Views
- 10/04/2010 11:40:22 AM
2412 Views
why are you so bothered by people being unimpressed with Roberts?
- 10/04/2010 02:19:08 PM
2413 Views
Not bothered as much as I am bemused by the ad hominems, to be honest
- 12/04/2010 04:11:12 AM
2731 Views
And in vol. 5, Roberts discovers the horrors of the circus
- 09/04/2010 09:57:03 AM
2402 Views
Basically he just states the "nothing happens"-argument...
- 09/04/2010 03:26:02 PM
2293 Views
Well, what was really resolved here?
- 10/04/2010 11:25:25 AM
2387 Views
Well...
- 12/04/2010 05:05:20 PM
2504 Views
So very little was resolved and much was set into motion, then?
- 12/04/2010 06:55:45 PM
2475 Views
Yes...
- 12/04/2010 10:51:08 PM
2190 Views
Ever read Umberto Eco's How To Travel with a Salmon?
- 12/04/2010 11:07:19 PM
2527 Views
I guess...
- 13/04/2010 10:03:03 AM
2526 Views
Sounds like you value prolixity for the sake of prolixity, to be honest
- 13/04/2010 04:41:07 PM
3640 Views
Nah...
- 13/04/2010 05:29:34 PM
2209 Views
He's read and enjoyed Proust, among others
- 13/04/2010 07:37:39 PM
2328 Views
Ah, well...
- 13/04/2010 09:45:45 PM
2243 Views
Dismissive, much?
- 13/04/2010 10:52:30 PM
2437 Views
- 13/04/2010 10:52:30 PM
2437 Views
About that bifurcation...
- 14/04/2010 02:02:15 AM
2403 Views
Sorry that I was busy yesterday and didn't have a chance to reply until now
- 15/04/2010 01:46:54 PM
2530 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
2409 Views
Lord of Chaos commentary
- 16/04/2010 03:39:39 PM
2386 Views
No no. It was Lord of Heaven!
- 16/04/2010 05:51:11 PM
2266 Views
Yeah, I noticed that
- 16/04/2010 11:16:26 PM
2199 Views
- 16/04/2010 11:16:26 PM
2199 Views
I would love the see him review Goodkind...
- 16/04/2010 11:51:07 PM
2425 Views
I don't wish that on anyone who doesn't have copious amounts of alcohol
- 16/04/2010 11:57:41 PM
2317 Views
A Crown of Swords - or is it deco-porn?
- 23/04/2010 08:36:17 AM
2443 Views
Re: A Crown of Swords - or is it deco-porn?
- 29/04/2010 06:02:28 PM
2389 Views
I disagree
- 29/04/2010 09:34:49 PM
2218 Views
The Path of Daggers commentary
- 07/05/2010 10:39:03 AM
2538 Views
Winter's Heart
- 21/05/2010 12:46:14 PM
2515 Views
I think WH was my least favorite of the WoT novels I re-read
- 21/05/2010 04:49:31 PM
2378 Views
Re: I think WH was my least favorite of the WoT novels I re-read
- 25/05/2010 05:05:09 PM
2521 Views
WH was my least favorite novel in the series, and that is saying a lot.
- 28/05/2010 03:15:13 PM
2364 Views
I completely agree with his KoD post. Here is my favorite quote:
- 28/05/2010 03:08:31 PM
2689 Views
Roberts reflects back on WoT 1-11, with answers to questions asked of him
- 25/06/2010 12:51:29 PM
2507 Views
This guy should be burned at the stake
- 25/06/2010 03:22:34 PM
9970 Views
Are you done making a fool out of yourself, Mark?
- 26/06/2010 06:53:37 PM
2420 Views
Oh come on...
- 26/06/2010 09:06:01 PM
2486 Views
Well, the burning at the stake was a bit much...
- 26/06/2010 10:19:40 PM
2486 Views
Well, really! You brought the comment to his notice...
- 26/06/2010 11:34:08 PM
2487 Views
And your point is...?
- 27/06/2010 12:37:00 AM
2511 Views
Well...
- 27/06/2010 05:38:12 AM
2456 Views
Indeed... I think it's rather clear that Larry's goal has been to cause trouble
- 27/06/2010 10:57:36 AM
2633 Views
It's not about honour being beschmirched. It's about poor quality arguments. *NM*
- 30/03/2011 04:09:23 PM
1387 Views
One year later...
- 27/03/2011 03:40:29 AM
2313 Views
Re: One year later...
- 28/03/2011 05:03:32 PM
2558 Views
I see you subconsciously support critical takes.
- 28/03/2011 11:41:48 PM
2553 Views
No I conciously support telling you and him that you are pathetic, arrogent, & jelous. *NM*
- 30/03/2011 01:40:36 PM
1426 Views
Jealous?
- 30/03/2011 05:20:32 PM
2340 Views
You both are jelous of Jordan's tremendous succes.
- 30/03/2011 10:27:36 PM
2344 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
2368 Views
The fact that you teach is supposed to be a surprise?
- 31/03/2011 01:23:45 PM
2292 Views
After reading the standard-issue checklist of generic, tossabout pejoratives...
- 01/04/2011 03:06:18 PM
2441 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
1338 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
1463 Views
Yep!
- 30/03/2011 05:16:38 PM
2275 Views
- 30/03/2011 05:16:38 PM
2275 Views
He's not an "author", he's just a stupid troll, do not feed him *NM*
- 30/03/2011 02:39:19 PM
1350 Views

