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That's fine with me Larry Send a noteboard - 13/04/2010 06:31:41 AM
All stuff with implications for later. What was resolved?

Given that you seem to be saying that this is something bad, I assume it would also be applicable to other books. And I also seem to recall that you did not share my perception that Scott Bakker's The Prince of Nothing series was one of the most detestable stories I have had the misfortune of subjecting myself to. So, if we were to use the first book, The Darkness That Comes Before (because it's the only one I've read the conclusion of, having thrown the second book against a wall at some point mid-read), and apply that same criticism, wouldn't you also find the book lacking?

As I recall, absolutely nothing is resolved in that book. It almost reads like a prequel, getting all the main characters to Constantinople (I forget many of the names in that series, given that they're the kind of names that make my players roll their eyes if I ever try to use them in a D&D game) so the Holy War can start... next book. Nothing about the characters is resolved either. I guess there's a resolution to the Byzantine court intrigue to place the Emperor's nephew in command of the armies in exchange for the liberation of imperial cities held by the Muslims, but that hardly qualifies as a significant plot point.


I read the first two books within a week of each other, so before I had much time to reflect on the weaknesses of the first book, I had already read the second. But I wonder what a re-read would do now; I haven't re-read any of that trilogy since 2006. Hrmm...Maybe after I re-read Dune and possibly WoT...
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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Author Adam Roberts tackled the WoT. - 19/03/2010 09:30:25 PM 12469 Views
A question for Larry - 19/03/2010 09:40:37 PM 2940 Views
Roberto Bolaño - 19/03/2010 11:09:57 PM 2755 Views
I completely agree with his review. - 19/03/2010 11:11:17 PM 2887 Views
Ouch! Somebody pull that guy off RJ! *NM* - 20/03/2010 03:47:07 AM 1432 Views
Can't say that I really disagree. - 20/03/2010 05:19:26 AM 2206 Views
My problem with the reviews: - 20/03/2010 06:29:08 AM 2867 Views
Hear Hear !!! ....................... = ........................ *NM* - 20/03/2010 06:37:11 AM 1371 Views
I agree - 20/03/2010 11:19:29 AM 2325 Views
You know what else I'm finding annoying? - 07/04/2010 07:29:37 AM 2254 Views
Fully Agree *NM* - 21/06/2010 12:41:05 AM 1254 Views
well I agree and disagree - 20/03/2010 06:51:29 AM 2622 Views
Re: well I agree and disagree - 20/03/2010 02:12:43 PM 2138 Views
I'd say just The Eye of the World - 20/03/2010 05:26:19 PM 2189 Views
Indeed - 21/03/2010 12:34:19 AM 2110 Views
These reviews are pathetic - 20/03/2010 12:52:22 PM 2123 Views
I'm amused by some of the responses - 20/03/2010 07:20:03 PM 2547 Views
+1 *NM* - 20/03/2010 10:48:14 PM 1587 Views
Are you suggesting that we are unqualified to disagree with him ? - 20/03/2010 11:21:44 PM 2287 Views
No, I said rather that it's ridiculous to make such disparaging comments about his takes - 20/03/2010 11:37:56 PM 2289 Views
I considered doing so - 21/03/2010 12:27:27 AM 2149 Views
I will reply to myself: What's the problem McFly , chicken ? - 21/03/2010 12:29:36 AM 2110 Views
My sister called me chicken once - 10/04/2010 01:18:31 AM 2157 Views
what's wrong runt... are you yellah? *NM* - 10/04/2010 10:40:16 AM 1334 Views
NICE! *NM* - 10/04/2010 02:19:44 PM 1195 Views
Re: I'm amused by some of the responses - 23/03/2010 04:50:42 PM 2195 Views
And I'm even more amused by this response - 24/03/2010 01:11:50 AM 2122 Views
Re: And I'm even more amused by this response - 24/03/2010 03:03:28 AM 1991 Views
Nah, TGS was the only serious review of the series I've done - 24/03/2010 04:31:28 AM 2083 Views
On a completely unrelated note... - 24/03/2010 06:15:25 AM 1995 Views
Ha! - 24/03/2010 06:34:48 AM 2032 Views
My congratulations then . *NM* - 24/03/2010 06:36:11 AM 1943 Views
You say it as if I had been condemned to hell! - 24/03/2010 07:13:45 AM 1851 Views
No. Well, maybe. - 24/03/2010 06:52:28 PM 2032 Views
! - 24/03/2010 06:54:34 PM 2039 Views
Re: Author Adam Roberts tackled the WoT. - 22/03/2010 02:47:23 PM 2158 Views
Re: Author Adam Roberts tackled the WoT. - 23/03/2010 01:53:16 PM 2131 Views
Wow, you guys have completely missed the point of the Wheel of Time series - 22/03/2010 05:28:07 PM 2172 Views
There's a point to it? - 22/03/2010 06:47:12 PM 2142 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 1336 Views
You're not taking me seriously now, are you? - 24/03/2010 02:54:37 AM 2087 Views
I meant the reason why RJ wrote WoT in the first place - 24/03/2010 06:39:47 AM 2067 Views
I thought the point was to write about a bunch of stuff happening? - 09/04/2010 03:42:49 PM 2133 Views
Re: Author Adam Roberts tackled the WoT. - 23/03/2010 04:54:38 PM 2095 Views
pfft wth-ever - 26/03/2010 12:35:53 AM 1967 Views
Dude's been up for more awards for his writing than RJ ever was - 26/03/2010 12:28:19 PM 2213 Views
bla bla bla - 29/03/2010 06:17:07 AM 2085 Views
Usually, it's spelled "blah" - 29/03/2010 07:03:51 AM 2058 Views
Wow. That post was more entertaining than Mr. Roberts' review. Thank you *NM* - 29/03/2010 08:23:41 AM 1512 Views
You must have low standards for entertainment - 29/03/2010 08:54:03 AM 2020 Views
Re: You must have low standards for entertainment - 29/03/2010 09:13:44 AM 2149 Views
I know you were, thus the at the least of my comment - 29/03/2010 09:19:30 AM 1968 Views
Unimpressed - 29/03/2010 10:50:07 PM 2419 Views
Thank you - 30/03/2010 12:35:39 AM 1869 Views
*Standing ovation for DomA* - 30/03/2010 07:36:59 AM 2160 Views
Yes. Also, Roberts is a wanker. *NM* - 05/04/2010 09:28:57 PM 1344 Views
Re: Dude's been up for more awards for his writing than RJ ever was - 29/03/2010 04:32:23 PM 2116 Views
Might want to re-read their Wikis again. - 29/03/2010 07:07:11 PM 2001 Views
Awards - 29/03/2010 07:42:03 PM 1961 Views
That link is out of date - 29/03/2010 07:54:56 PM 1948 Views
Re: That link is out of date - 29/03/2010 08:22:03 PM 2076 Views
This is a battle of win/lose? - 29/03/2010 08:47:54 PM 1996 Views
Re: This is a battle of win/lose? - 29/03/2010 09:03:07 PM 2026 Views
*considers employing the Chewbacca defense* - 29/03/2010 09:28:06 PM 2001 Views
Re: *considers employing the Chewbacca defense* - 29/03/2010 09:44:58 PM 2176 Views
The final point explains the "defense" - 30/03/2010 12:24:56 AM 1898 Views
Re: The final point explains the "defense" - 30/03/2010 01:33:04 PM 1887 Views
No, no, no - 30/03/2010 06:38:41 PM 1939 Views
Re: No, no, no - 30/03/2010 07:51:34 PM 2066 Views
Still continuing, huh? - 31/03/2010 02:10:13 AM 2011 Views
Re: Still continuing, huh? - 31/03/2010 03:56:57 PM 1977 Views
Those were polls - 31/03/2010 08:46:07 PM 1985 Views
Re: Those were polls - 05/04/2010 03:22:13 PM 1935 Views
Does it gives him right to insult me? - 13/04/2011 02:10:32 PM 1975 Views
I wouldn't know. Was he speaking directly to you? - 14/04/2011 11:28:16 PM 2077 Views
He's now reviewed the third book - 26/03/2010 12:27:16 PM 2201 Views
Well, this time I must disagree with him . - 29/03/2010 07:31:40 AM 1930 Views
I don't think he was claiming that RJ was alone in doing that - 29/03/2010 07:44:07 AM 1928 Views
Hah! - 29/03/2010 06:07:28 PM 1967 Views
Well... - 29/03/2010 06:52:10 PM 1863 Views
Differing perspectives, I guess. - 29/03/2010 07:58:13 PM 2036 Views
I suppose - 29/03/2010 08:50:43 PM 1956 Views
Re: I suppose - 30/03/2010 12:18:30 AM 2103 Views
True - 30/03/2010 12:23:28 AM 1938 Views
Hey, DomA, do you know why the Shienarans randomly speak in the Old Tongue? - 30/03/2010 12:52:01 AM 1905 Views
Re: Hey, DomA, do you know why the Shienarans randomly speak in the Old Tongue? - 30/03/2010 07:45:08 AM 2065 Views
But why only them? - 30/03/2010 08:07:00 AM 2002 Views
Re: But why only them? - 30/03/2010 03:56:54 PM 1952 Views
Re: But why only them? - 30/03/2010 08:29:37 PM 2063 Views
I really liked a lot of the minor characters in The Great Hunt. - 30/03/2010 12:49:03 AM 1979 Views
I barely thought twice about those, to be honest - 30/03/2010 06:39:55 PM 1998 Views
I can't wait what he's going to try to do with TFoH and beyond - 28/03/2010 08:18:59 PM 2089 Views
Glad you enjoyed it - 29/03/2010 09:33:43 PM 1909 Views
The Shadow Rising review - 02/04/2010 09:42:53 AM 2184 Views
I wonder if this borders on trolling - 02/04/2010 02:29:58 PM 10744 Views
You want complaining? You got it... - 02/04/2010 06:38:09 PM 2070 Views
That would be a mistake - 02/04/2010 09:16:25 PM 2196 Views
Re: That would be a mistake - 02/04/2010 10:28:56 PM 1951 Views
I agree, Roberts is more and more coming across to me as just bitter - 10/04/2010 01:24:52 AM 2076 Views
Little late to this one as well - 10/04/2010 11:12:04 AM 2093 Views
Perhaps you should have led with this bit - 10/04/2010 02:52:23 PM 2164 Views
Re: I wonder if this borders on trolling - 04/04/2010 09:16:22 AM 2056 Views
What review? I couldn't find one... - 02/04/2010 08:00:45 PM 2157 Views
Re: What review? I couldn't find one... - 02/04/2010 09:22:13 PM 2169 Views
See my comment below - 02/04/2010 09:32:54 PM 2222 Views
Re: See my comment below - 03/04/2010 09:31:22 AM 2570 Views
Sorry I'm late in responding, but I've been quite busy this week - 07/04/2010 09:45:48 PM 2412 Views
Yes, I can probably agree with what you say here. - 08/04/2010 12:29:16 AM 1874 Views
- 08/04/2010 12:32:53 AM 2018 Views
I agree completely. *NM* - 02/04/2010 09:53:44 PM 1237 Views
Speaking of irritation - 02/04/2010 10:50:04 PM 2129 Views
Commentary, then? - 02/04/2010 09:27:18 PM 2002 Views
Here's the thing... - 02/04/2010 10:11:18 PM 1944 Views
Re: Here's the thing... - 02/04/2010 10:31:56 PM 1792 Views
Re: Here's the thing... - 03/04/2010 01:34:05 AM 1856 Views
I somehow overlooked this last week, it seems - 10/04/2010 11:01:17 AM 2158 Views
Indeed - 02/04/2010 10:34:00 PM 1844 Views
Re: Commentary, then? - 05/04/2010 03:44:07 PM 1929 Views
for a man that bitterly complains about an author who is padding his work - 08/04/2010 09:41:07 PM 2131 Views
1400 words is long-winded? - 09/04/2010 10:07:41 AM 2169 Views
since you can sum up those 1400 words in about 25 yes that's longwinded - 09/04/2010 01:36:16 PM 2048 Views
Except I didn't really sum it up, as I left out quite a bit - 10/04/2010 11:15:42 AM 2080 Views
You are very defensive over this - 10/04/2010 01:54:15 PM 1892 Views
Nah, more of a devil's advocate than anything else - 12/04/2010 03:57:12 AM 1929 Views
Re: Nah, more of a devil's advocate than anything else - 12/04/2010 05:30:53 PM 1859 Views
You sound like a Goodkind webmaster from a couple of years ago - 12/04/2010 06:58:42 PM 1964 Views
You don't come across as a devil's advocate - 30/03/2011 03:07:32 PM 1943 Views
Well Larry I have started reading Gradsil by Adam Roberts - 07/04/2010 08:59:28 PM 2110 Views
I demand a paragraph by paragraph review, with footnotes! - 07/04/2010 09:50:39 PM 1975 Views
Re: I demand a paragraph by paragraph review, with footnotes! - 08/04/2010 01:06:20 PM 1824 Views
Which Invisible Man? - 09/04/2010 09:58:44 AM 2072 Views
Re: Which Invisible Man? - 09/04/2010 01:26:42 PM 2019 Views
I have a very different take on that book - 10/04/2010 11:17:13 AM 1897 Views
Re: I demand a paragraph by paragraph review, with footnotes! - 09/04/2010 01:45:44 PM 1980 Views
Hrmm... - 10/04/2010 11:19:01 AM 1815 Views
Re: Well Larry I have started reading Gradsil by Adam Roberts - 12/04/2010 05:37:36 PM 2045 Views
He brings up some interesting points, if in an unnecessarily rude manner - 08/04/2010 12:42:25 PM 2006 Views
To be honest, I doubt most readers of the series obsess over it that much - 09/04/2010 10:05:49 AM 2001 Views
Re: To be honest, I doubt most readers of the series obsess over it that much - 09/04/2010 01:28:17 PM 2546 Views
Re: To be honest, I doubt most readers of the series obsess over it that much - 10/04/2010 11:40:22 AM 2013 Views
why are you so bothered by people being unimpressed with Roberts? - 10/04/2010 02:19:08 PM 2033 Views
I don't understand it either - 11/04/2010 12:44:25 PM 1998 Views
right? - 11/04/2010 02:13:00 PM 2028 Views
Nah - 12/04/2010 04:13:44 AM 1819 Views
And in vol. 5, Roberts discovers the horrors of the circus - 09/04/2010 09:57:03 AM 1991 Views
5 reviews without saying more than "I hate the series" - 09/04/2010 01:31:13 PM 1844 Views
Basically he just states the "nothing happens"-argument... - 09/04/2010 03:26:02 PM 1888 Views
Well, what was really resolved here? - 10/04/2010 11:25:25 AM 1968 Views
Well... - 12/04/2010 05:05:20 PM 2047 Views
well exactly - 12/04/2010 05:33:11 PM 2115 Views
So very little was resolved and much was set into motion, then? - 12/04/2010 06:55:45 PM 2046 Views
Yes... - 12/04/2010 10:51:08 PM 1796 Views
Ever read Umberto Eco's How To Travel with a Salmon? - 12/04/2010 11:07:19 PM 2116 Views
I guess... - 13/04/2010 10:03:03 AM 2110 Views
Sounds like you value prolixity for the sake of prolixity, to be honest - 13/04/2010 04:41:07 PM 3227 Views
Nah... - 13/04/2010 05:29:34 PM 1802 Views
He's read and enjoyed Proust, among others - 13/04/2010 07:37:39 PM 1882 Views
Ah, well... - 13/04/2010 09:45:45 PM 1829 Views
Dismissive, much? - 13/04/2010 10:52:30 PM 2008 Views
About that bifurcation... - 14/04/2010 02:02:15 AM 1959 Views
I'm rather moderate - 14/04/2010 10:11:30 AM 1876 Views
I'm just a liberation theologist at heart - 15/04/2010 01:51:16 PM 2798 Views
So, if you don't mind... - 13/04/2010 05:51:06 AM 1988 Views
That's fine with me - 13/04/2010 06:31:41 AM 1959 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 2007 Views
I didn't find it quite that bad, but... - 11/04/2010 08:27:52 AM 1992 Views
LoC represented a sharp drop in quality!!? - 19/05/2010 03:27:21 PM 1990 Views
And ignores everything else... - 09/04/2010 05:10:00 PM 2036 Views
Inchoatus went offline a couple of years ago - 10/04/2010 11:42:26 AM 2928 Views
This guy is going to get what he deserves... - 09/04/2010 10:26:14 PM 1967 Views
I'm waiting with bated breath for his CoT review *NM* - 10/04/2010 01:00:59 PM 1309 Views
Just wanted to point out that he is not reviewing the series. - 16/04/2010 04:04:49 PM 1911 Views
Lord of Chaos commentary - 16/04/2010 03:39:39 PM 1963 Views
He has reached - The Hump. - 16/04/2010 03:55:51 PM 1925 Views
Re: He has reached - The Hump. - 18/04/2010 08:08:59 AM 2363 Views
No no. It was Lord of Heaven! - 16/04/2010 05:51:11 PM 1871 Views
Yeah, I noticed that - 16/04/2010 11:16:26 PM 1790 Views
I would love the see him review Goodkind... - 16/04/2010 11:51:07 PM 2009 Views
Finally re-read that post - 20/04/2010 09:35:45 PM 1996 Views
The magic items are mostly irrelevant... - 21/04/2010 03:37:36 AM 1963 Views
A Crown of Swords - or is it deco-porn? - 23/04/2010 08:36:17 AM 2070 Views
Re: A Crown of Swords - or is it deco-porn? - 29/04/2010 06:02:28 PM 1999 Views
I disagree - 29/04/2010 09:34:49 PM 1817 Views
I agree. - 29/04/2010 09:45:29 PM 2032 Views
Took me a moment to realize with whom you were agreeing - 29/04/2010 10:19:05 PM 1949 Views
Well, I did mention the necklines get overdone... - 06/05/2010 06:17:46 PM 2234 Views
Well, there's now also the tea to comment about - 07/05/2010 11:29:03 AM 2066 Views
A bit of a stumble this week - 30/04/2010 01:53:31 PM 2095 Views
The Path of Daggers commentary - 07/05/2010 10:39:03 AM 2137 Views
You'd think a Brit would like the tea... *NM* - 11/05/2010 04:05:42 PM 1178 Views
Maybe he's just a contrarian? - 11/05/2010 07:55:43 PM 1893 Views
Winter's Heart - 21/05/2010 12:46:14 PM 2111 Views
To be fair - 21/05/2010 01:56:49 PM 2226 Views
I think WH was my least favorite of the WoT novels I re-read - 21/05/2010 04:49:31 PM 1970 Views
Re: I think WH was my least favorite of the WoT novels I re-read - 25/05/2010 05:05:09 PM 2120 Views
WH was my least favorite novel in the series, and that is saying a lot. - 28/05/2010 03:15:13 PM 1986 Views
I completely agree with his KoD post. Here is my favorite quote: - 28/05/2010 03:08:31 PM 2295 Views
CoT, you mean (link to actual post included) - 28/05/2010 04:56:10 PM 2129 Views
Yep, I meant COT. *NM* - 28/05/2010 07:02:48 PM 1185 Views
Knife of Dreams - 18/06/2010 09:07:27 AM 1999 Views
Re: Knife of Dreams - 19/06/2010 05:49:38 AM 2080 Views
Agree... - 19/06/2010 05:08:44 PM 2014 Views
Roberts reflects back on WoT 1-11, with answers to questions asked of him - 25/06/2010 12:51:29 PM 2081 Views
This guy should be burned at the stake - 25/06/2010 03:22:34 PM 9521 Views
Are you done making a fool out of yourself, Mark? - 26/06/2010 06:53:37 PM 1995 Views
Oh come on... - 26/06/2010 09:06:01 PM 2096 Views
Well, the burning at the stake was a bit much... - 26/06/2010 10:19:40 PM 2087 Views
Well, really! You brought the comment to his notice... - 26/06/2010 11:34:08 PM 2095 Views
And your point is...? - 27/06/2010 12:37:00 AM 2098 Views
Well... - 27/06/2010 05:38:12 AM 2065 Views
Indeed... I think it's rather clear that Larry's goal has been to cause trouble - 27/06/2010 10:57:36 AM 2234 Views
There is no "borderline" about it. - 28/03/2011 05:17:15 PM 1926 Views
Ridiculous - 27/06/2010 06:38:46 AM 2000 Views
I like his FAQ and his overall musings on its' popularity. - 29/06/2010 06:35:10 PM 1996 Views
One year later... - 27/03/2011 03:40:29 AM 1927 Views
Re: One year later... - 28/03/2011 05:03:32 PM 2173 Views
I see you subconsciously support critical takes. - 28/03/2011 11:41:48 PM 2168 Views
No I conciously support telling you and him that you are pathetic, arrogent, & jelous. *NM* - 30/03/2011 01:40:36 PM 1242 Views
Jealous? - 30/03/2011 05:20:32 PM 1931 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 1161 Views
Seconded. - 30/03/2011 04:04:36 PM 1877 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 1288 Views
Yep! - 30/03/2011 05:16:38 PM 1875 Views
Jeez Larry, you're starting to sound like a GRRM detractor. - 31/03/2011 03:01:38 PM 2060 Views
Nah, no detractor - 01/04/2011 03:00:41 PM 2052 Views
Could a thread be locked? - 31/03/2011 07:48:26 PM 1916 Views
Re: One year later... - 01/04/2011 02:55:02 AM 2288 Views
Yep - 01/04/2011 02:57:52 PM 2057 Views
He's not an "author", he's just a stupid troll, do not feed him *NM* - 30/03/2011 02:39:19 PM 1173 Views

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