Active Users:192 Time:19/05/2024 01:45:36 AM
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 12006 Views
A question for Larry - 19/03/2010 09:40:37 PM 2733 Views
Roberto Bolaño - 19/03/2010 11:09:57 PM 2513 Views
I completely agree with his review. - 19/03/2010 11:11:17 PM 2701 Views
Ouch! Somebody pull that guy off RJ! *NM* - 20/03/2010 03:47:07 AM 1316 Views
Can't say that I really disagree. - 20/03/2010 05:19:26 AM 2007 Views
My problem with the reviews: - 20/03/2010 06:29:08 AM 2652 Views
Hear Hear !!! ....................... = ........................ *NM* - 20/03/2010 06:37:11 AM 1270 Views
I agree - 20/03/2010 11:19:29 AM 2108 Views
You know what else I'm finding annoying? - 07/04/2010 07:29:37 AM 2030 Views
Fully Agree *NM* - 21/06/2010 12:41:05 AM 1145 Views
well I agree and disagree - 20/03/2010 06:51:29 AM 2407 Views
Re: well I agree and disagree - 20/03/2010 02:12:43 PM 1938 Views
I'd say just The Eye of the World - 20/03/2010 05:26:19 PM 1938 Views
Indeed - 21/03/2010 12:34:19 AM 1913 Views
These reviews are pathetic - 20/03/2010 12:52:22 PM 1917 Views
I'm amused by some of the responses - 20/03/2010 07:20:03 PM 2326 Views
+1 *NM* - 20/03/2010 10:48:14 PM 1481 Views
Are you suggesting that we are unqualified to disagree with him ? - 20/03/2010 11:21:44 PM 2096 Views
No, I said rather that it's ridiculous to make such disparaging comments about his takes - 20/03/2010 11:37:56 PM 2102 Views
I considered doing so - 21/03/2010 12:27:27 AM 1919 Views
I will reply to myself: What's the problem McFly , chicken ? - 21/03/2010 12:29:36 AM 1884 Views
My sister called me chicken once - 10/04/2010 01:18:31 AM 1932 Views
what's wrong runt... are you yellah? *NM* - 10/04/2010 10:40:16 AM 1223 Views
NICE! *NM* - 10/04/2010 02:19:44 PM 1095 Views
Re: I'm amused by some of the responses - 23/03/2010 04:50:42 PM 1983 Views
And I'm even more amused by this response - 24/03/2010 01:11:50 AM 1925 Views
Re: And I'm even more amused by this response - 24/03/2010 03:03:28 AM 1795 Views
Nah, TGS was the only serious review of the series I've done - 24/03/2010 04:31:28 AM 1868 Views
On a completely unrelated note... - 24/03/2010 06:15:25 AM 1767 Views
Ha! - 24/03/2010 06:34:48 AM 1835 Views
My congratulations then . *NM* - 24/03/2010 06:36:11 AM 1727 Views
You say it as if I had been condemned to hell! - 24/03/2010 07:13:45 AM 1655 Views
No. Well, maybe. - 24/03/2010 06:52:28 PM 1784 Views
! - 24/03/2010 06:54:34 PM 1792 Views
Re: Author Adam Roberts tackled the WoT. - 22/03/2010 02:47:23 PM 1947 Views
Re: Author Adam Roberts tackled the WoT. - 23/03/2010 01:53:16 PM 1896 Views
Wow, you guys have completely missed the point of the Wheel of Time series - 22/03/2010 05:28:07 PM 1958 Views
There's a point to it? - 22/03/2010 06:47:12 PM 1939 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 1240 Views
You're not taking me seriously now, are you? - 24/03/2010 02:54:37 AM 1894 Views
I meant the reason why RJ wrote WoT in the first place - 24/03/2010 06:39:47 AM 1844 Views
I thought the point was to write about a bunch of stuff happening? - 09/04/2010 03:42:49 PM 1926 Views
Re: Author Adam Roberts tackled the WoT. - 23/03/2010 04:54:38 PM 1891 Views
pfft wth-ever - 26/03/2010 12:35:53 AM 1743 Views
Dude's been up for more awards for his writing than RJ ever was - 26/03/2010 12:28:19 PM 1991 Views
bla bla bla - 29/03/2010 06:17:07 AM 1861 Views
Usually, it's spelled "blah" - 29/03/2010 07:03:51 AM 1821 Views
Wow. That post was more entertaining than Mr. Roberts' review. Thank you *NM* - 29/03/2010 08:23:41 AM 1405 Views
You must have low standards for entertainment - 29/03/2010 08:54:03 AM 1794 Views
Re: You must have low standards for entertainment - 29/03/2010 09:13:44 AM 1902 Views
I know you were, thus the at the least of my comment - 29/03/2010 09:19:30 AM 1763 Views
Unimpressed - 29/03/2010 10:50:07 PM 2180 Views
Thank you - 30/03/2010 12:35:39 AM 1686 Views
*Standing ovation for DomA* - 30/03/2010 07:36:59 AM 1907 Views
Yes. Also, Roberts is a wanker. *NM* - 05/04/2010 09:28:57 PM 1247 Views
Re: Dude's been up for more awards for his writing than RJ ever was - 29/03/2010 04:32:23 PM 1899 Views
Might want to re-read their Wikis again. - 29/03/2010 07:07:11 PM 1800 Views
Awards - 29/03/2010 07:42:03 PM 1751 Views
That link is out of date - 29/03/2010 07:54:56 PM 1735 Views
Re: That link is out of date - 29/03/2010 08:22:03 PM 1864 Views
This is a battle of win/lose? - 29/03/2010 08:47:54 PM 1771 Views
Re: This is a battle of win/lose? - 29/03/2010 09:03:07 PM 1813 Views
*considers employing the Chewbacca defense* - 29/03/2010 09:28:06 PM 1800 Views
Re: *considers employing the Chewbacca defense* - 29/03/2010 09:44:58 PM 1957 Views
The final point explains the "defense" - 30/03/2010 12:24:56 AM 1687 Views
Re: The final point explains the "defense" - 30/03/2010 01:33:04 PM 1682 Views
No, no, no - 30/03/2010 06:38:41 PM 1748 Views
Re: No, no, no - 30/03/2010 07:51:34 PM 1846 Views
Still continuing, huh? - 31/03/2010 02:10:13 AM 1797 Views
Re: Still continuing, huh? - 31/03/2010 03:56:57 PM 1755 Views
Those were polls - 31/03/2010 08:46:07 PM 1767 Views
Re: Those were polls - 05/04/2010 03:22:13 PM 1748 Views
Does it gives him right to insult me? - 13/04/2011 02:10:32 PM 1756 Views
I wouldn't know. Was he speaking directly to you? - 14/04/2011 11:28:16 PM 1877 Views
He's now reviewed the third book - 26/03/2010 12:27:16 PM 2001 Views
Well, this time I must disagree with him . - 29/03/2010 07:31:40 AM 1749 Views
I don't think he was claiming that RJ was alone in doing that - 29/03/2010 07:44:07 AM 1715 Views
Hah! - 29/03/2010 06:07:28 PM 1765 Views
Well... - 29/03/2010 06:52:10 PM 1676 Views
Differing perspectives, I guess. - 29/03/2010 07:58:13 PM 1800 Views
I suppose - 29/03/2010 08:50:43 PM 1729 Views
Re: I suppose - 30/03/2010 12:18:30 AM 1903 Views
True - 30/03/2010 12:23:28 AM 1733 Views
Hey, DomA, do you know why the Shienarans randomly speak in the Old Tongue? - 30/03/2010 12:52:01 AM 1662 Views
Re: Hey, DomA, do you know why the Shienarans randomly speak in the Old Tongue? - 30/03/2010 07:45:08 AM 1880 Views
But why only them? - 30/03/2010 08:07:00 AM 1777 Views
Re: But why only them? - 30/03/2010 03:56:54 PM 1749 Views
Re: But why only them? - 30/03/2010 08:29:37 PM 1845 Views
I really liked a lot of the minor characters in The Great Hunt. - 30/03/2010 12:49:03 AM 1765 Views
I barely thought twice about those, to be honest - 30/03/2010 06:39:55 PM 1794 Views
I can't wait what he's going to try to do with TFoH and beyond - 28/03/2010 08:18:59 PM 1866 Views
Glad you enjoyed it - 29/03/2010 09:33:43 PM 1676 Views
The Shadow Rising review - 02/04/2010 09:42:53 AM 1968 Views
I wonder if this borders on trolling - 02/04/2010 02:29:58 PM 10534 Views
You want complaining? You got it... - 02/04/2010 06:38:09 PM 1854 Views
That would be a mistake - 02/04/2010 09:16:25 PM 2007 Views
Re: That would be a mistake - 02/04/2010 10:28:56 PM 1733 Views
I agree, Roberts is more and more coming across to me as just bitter - 10/04/2010 01:24:52 AM 1859 Views
Little late to this one as well - 10/04/2010 11:12:04 AM 1896 Views
Perhaps you should have led with this bit - 10/04/2010 02:52:23 PM 1948 Views
Re: I wonder if this borders on trolling - 04/04/2010 09:16:22 AM 1824 Views
What review? I couldn't find one... - 02/04/2010 08:00:45 PM 1962 Views
Re: What review? I couldn't find one... - 02/04/2010 09:22:13 PM 1940 Views
See my comment below - 02/04/2010 09:32:54 PM 2014 Views
Re: See my comment below - 03/04/2010 09:31:22 AM 2355 Views
Sorry I'm late in responding, but I've been quite busy this week - 07/04/2010 09:45:48 PM 2176 Views
Yes, I can probably agree with what you say here. - 08/04/2010 12:29:16 AM 1646 Views
- 08/04/2010 12:32:53 AM 1772 Views
I agree completely. *NM* - 02/04/2010 09:53:44 PM 1115 Views
Speaking of irritation - 02/04/2010 10:50:04 PM 1946 Views
Commentary, then? - 02/04/2010 09:27:18 PM 1762 Views
Here's the thing... - 02/04/2010 10:11:18 PM 1755 Views
Re: Here's the thing... - 02/04/2010 10:31:56 PM 1614 Views
Re: Here's the thing... - 03/04/2010 01:34:05 AM 1673 Views
I somehow overlooked this last week, it seems - 10/04/2010 11:01:17 AM 1967 Views
Indeed - 02/04/2010 10:34:00 PM 1637 Views
Re: Commentary, then? - 05/04/2010 03:44:07 PM 1745 Views
for a man that bitterly complains about an author who is padding his work - 08/04/2010 09:41:07 PM 1927 Views
1400 words is long-winded? - 09/04/2010 10:07:41 AM 1944 Views
since you can sum up those 1400 words in about 25 yes that's longwinded - 09/04/2010 01:36:16 PM 1816 Views
Except I didn't really sum it up, as I left out quite a bit - 10/04/2010 11:15:42 AM 1889 Views
You are very defensive over this - 10/04/2010 01:54:15 PM 1641 Views
Nah, more of a devil's advocate than anything else - 12/04/2010 03:57:12 AM 1746 Views
Re: Nah, more of a devil's advocate than anything else - 12/04/2010 05:30:53 PM 1660 Views
You sound like a Goodkind webmaster from a couple of years ago - 12/04/2010 06:58:42 PM 1731 Views
You don't come across as a devil's advocate - 30/03/2011 03:07:32 PM 1739 Views
Well Larry I have started reading Gradsil by Adam Roberts - 07/04/2010 08:59:28 PM 1873 Views
I demand a paragraph by paragraph review, with footnotes! - 07/04/2010 09:50:39 PM 1746 Views
Re: I demand a paragraph by paragraph review, with footnotes! - 08/04/2010 01:06:20 PM 1625 Views
Which Invisible Man? - 09/04/2010 09:58:44 AM 1848 Views
Re: Which Invisible Man? - 09/04/2010 01:26:42 PM 1778 Views
I have a very different take on that book - 10/04/2010 11:17:13 AM 1704 Views
Re: I demand a paragraph by paragraph review, with footnotes! - 09/04/2010 01:45:44 PM 1756 Views
Hrmm... - 10/04/2010 11:19:01 AM 1602 Views
Re: Well Larry I have started reading Gradsil by Adam Roberts - 12/04/2010 05:37:36 PM 1842 Views
He brings up some interesting points, if in an unnecessarily rude manner - 08/04/2010 12:42:25 PM 1797 Views
To be honest, I doubt most readers of the series obsess over it that much - 09/04/2010 10:05:49 AM 1805 Views
Re: To be honest, I doubt most readers of the series obsess over it that much - 09/04/2010 01:28:17 PM 2365 Views
Re: To be honest, I doubt most readers of the series obsess over it that much - 10/04/2010 11:40:22 AM 1785 Views
why are you so bothered by people being unimpressed with Roberts? - 10/04/2010 02:19:08 PM 1813 Views
I don't understand it either - 11/04/2010 12:44:25 PM 1774 Views
right? - 11/04/2010 02:13:00 PM 1816 Views
Nah - 12/04/2010 04:13:44 AM 1614 Views
And in vol. 5, Roberts discovers the horrors of the circus - 09/04/2010 09:57:03 AM 1751 Views
5 reviews without saying more than "I hate the series" - 09/04/2010 01:31:13 PM 1645 Views
Basically he just states the "nothing happens"-argument... - 09/04/2010 03:26:02 PM 1675 Views
Well, what was really resolved here? - 10/04/2010 11:25:25 AM 1739 Views
Well... - 12/04/2010 05:05:20 PM 1850 Views
well exactly - 12/04/2010 05:33:11 PM 1892 Views
So very little was resolved and much was set into motion, then? - 12/04/2010 06:55:45 PM 1864 Views
Yes... - 12/04/2010 10:51:08 PM 1589 Views
Ever read Umberto Eco's How To Travel with a Salmon? - 12/04/2010 11:07:19 PM 1867 Views
I guess... - 13/04/2010 10:03:03 AM 1883 Views
Sounds like you value prolixity for the sake of prolixity, to be honest - 13/04/2010 04:41:07 PM 3022 Views
Nah... - 13/04/2010 05:29:34 PM 1614 Views
He's read and enjoyed Proust, among others - 13/04/2010 07:37:39 PM 1688 Views
Ah, well... - 13/04/2010 09:45:45 PM 1643 Views
Dismissive, much? - 13/04/2010 10:52:30 PM 1787 Views
About that bifurcation... - 14/04/2010 02:02:15 AM 1755 Views
I'm rather moderate - 14/04/2010 10:11:30 AM 1671 Views
I'm just a liberation theologist at heart - 15/04/2010 01:51:16 PM 2589 Views
So, if you don't mind... - 13/04/2010 05:51:06 AM 1770 Views
That's fine with me - 13/04/2010 06:31:41 AM 1732 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 1750 Views
I didn't find it quite that bad, but... - 11/04/2010 08:27:52 AM 1771 Views
LoC represented a sharp drop in quality!!? - 19/05/2010 03:27:21 PM 1780 Views
And ignores everything else... - 09/04/2010 05:10:00 PM 1814 Views
Inchoatus went offline a couple of years ago - 10/04/2010 11:42:26 AM 2734 Views
This guy is going to get what he deserves... - 09/04/2010 10:26:14 PM 1750 Views
I'm waiting with bated breath for his CoT review *NM* - 10/04/2010 01:00:59 PM 1210 Views
Just wanted to point out that he is not reviewing the series. - 16/04/2010 04:04:49 PM 1708 Views
Lord of Chaos commentary - 16/04/2010 03:39:39 PM 1735 Views
He has reached - The Hump. - 16/04/2010 03:55:51 PM 1693 Views
Re: He has reached - The Hump. - 18/04/2010 08:08:59 AM 2144 Views
No no. It was Lord of Heaven! - 16/04/2010 05:51:11 PM 1658 Views
Yeah, I noticed that - 16/04/2010 11:16:26 PM 1586 Views
I would love the see him review Goodkind... - 16/04/2010 11:51:07 PM 1769 Views
Finally re-read that post - 20/04/2010 09:35:45 PM 1767 Views
The magic items are mostly irrelevant... - 21/04/2010 03:37:36 AM 1762 Views
A Crown of Swords - or is it deco-porn? - 23/04/2010 08:36:17 AM 1866 Views
Re: A Crown of Swords - or is it deco-porn? - 29/04/2010 06:02:28 PM 1806 Views
I disagree - 29/04/2010 09:34:49 PM 1615 Views
I agree. - 29/04/2010 09:45:29 PM 1808 Views
Took me a moment to realize with whom you were agreeing - 29/04/2010 10:19:05 PM 1695 Views
Well, I did mention the necklines get overdone... - 06/05/2010 06:17:46 PM 2058 Views
Well, there's now also the tea to comment about - 07/05/2010 11:29:03 AM 1822 Views
A bit of a stumble this week - 30/04/2010 01:53:31 PM 1858 Views
The Path of Daggers commentary - 07/05/2010 10:39:03 AM 1889 Views
You'd think a Brit would like the tea... *NM* - 11/05/2010 04:05:42 PM 1073 Views
Maybe he's just a contrarian? - 11/05/2010 07:55:43 PM 1673 Views
Winter's Heart - 21/05/2010 12:46:14 PM 1888 Views
To be fair - 21/05/2010 01:56:49 PM 2020 Views
I think WH was my least favorite of the WoT novels I re-read - 21/05/2010 04:49:31 PM 1737 Views
Re: I think WH was my least favorite of the WoT novels I re-read - 25/05/2010 05:05:09 PM 1912 Views
WH was my least favorite novel in the series, and that is saying a lot. - 28/05/2010 03:15:13 PM 1802 Views
I completely agree with his KoD post. Here is my favorite quote: - 28/05/2010 03:08:31 PM 2063 Views
CoT, you mean (link to actual post included) - 28/05/2010 04:56:10 PM 1906 Views
Yep, I meant COT. *NM* - 28/05/2010 07:02:48 PM 1072 Views
Knife of Dreams - 18/06/2010 09:07:27 AM 1780 Views
Re: Knife of Dreams - 19/06/2010 05:49:38 AM 1848 Views
Agree... - 19/06/2010 05:08:44 PM 1817 Views
Roberts reflects back on WoT 1-11, with answers to questions asked of him - 25/06/2010 12:51:29 PM 1860 Views
This guy should be burned at the stake - 25/06/2010 03:22:34 PM 9267 Views
Are you done making a fool out of yourself, Mark? - 26/06/2010 06:53:37 PM 1786 Views
Oh come on... - 26/06/2010 09:06:01 PM 1869 Views
Well, the burning at the stake was a bit much... - 26/06/2010 10:19:40 PM 1889 Views
Well, really! You brought the comment to his notice... - 26/06/2010 11:34:08 PM 1899 Views
And your point is...? - 27/06/2010 12:37:00 AM 1929 Views
Well... - 27/06/2010 05:38:12 AM 1880 Views
Indeed... I think it's rather clear that Larry's goal has been to cause trouble - 27/06/2010 10:57:36 AM 2016 Views
There is no "borderline" about it. - 28/03/2011 05:17:15 PM 1726 Views
Ridiculous - 27/06/2010 06:38:46 AM 1767 Views
I like his FAQ and his overall musings on its' popularity. - 29/06/2010 06:35:10 PM 1831 Views
One year later... - 27/03/2011 03:40:29 AM 1751 Views
Re: One year later... - 28/03/2011 05:03:32 PM 1931 Views
I see you subconsciously support critical takes. - 28/03/2011 11:41:48 PM 1960 Views
No I conciously support telling you and him that you are pathetic, arrogent, & jelous. *NM* - 30/03/2011 01:40:36 PM 1139 Views
Jealous? - 30/03/2011 05:20:32 PM 1733 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 1063 Views
Seconded. - 30/03/2011 04:04:36 PM 1679 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 1194 Views
Yep! - 30/03/2011 05:16:38 PM 1666 Views
Jeez Larry, you're starting to sound like a GRRM detractor. - 31/03/2011 03:01:38 PM 1822 Views
Nah, no detractor - 01/04/2011 03:00:41 PM 1832 Views
Could a thread be locked? - 31/03/2011 07:48:26 PM 1695 Views
Re: One year later... - 01/04/2011 02:55:02 AM 2048 Views
Yep - 01/04/2011 02:57:52 PM 1823 Views
He's not an "author", he's just a stupid troll, do not feed him *NM* - 30/03/2011 02:39:19 PM 1073 Views

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