I also like to read stand-alone novels or shorter series. My point is that if the plot, the characters & the world interest me, I'm not scared of reading such a monster series, even if one has to deal with some slower parts, has to keep lots of plot-lines, characters, etc., in mind, and be rather patient for the resolutions.
I don't think "scared" would be the applicable word in talking about what he and perhaps others feel toward the series. Length is not a virtue, nor is it necessarily a vice. But making something lengthy just to cram in more elements of one's devised setting might appear to be quite pointless.
On the other hand, I would argue that simply the length of a series like WoT is wearing Roberts down, especially if he normally reads shorter works with less details, perhaps has a shorter attention span and might be easily bored (as you said, he e.g. probably didn't even realize what the damn point of the plot in TFoH is). This is supported by Roberts' "reviews", which in my view become more and more sketchy, mediocre and contain mistakes, probably because he is only able to read the books very superficially. If he would devote just a bit more time to really read the books, he might eventually see some worth in WoT (and e.g. maybe even get why the 5th book is called "The Fires of Heaven"..). Of course, Roberts actually doesn't want to give WoT this chance, so his "reviews" might be mildly amusing in some parts, but overall they are pointless.
Or maybe it's just that he's become bored with it all? And that the boredom has little to do with not grasping the main events but rather thinking that they are ultimately trivial? And it's ironic that you use "pointless" to describe his point of view (presumed), as "pointless" has been lobbed by many toward those überfans that spend so much time on the minutiae of the WoT series that others begin to wonder just what the point is in obsessing over trivial details of plot and character.
Illusions fall like the husk of a fruit, one after another, and the fruit is experience. - Narrator, Sylvie
Je suis méchant.
Je suis méchant.
Author Adam Roberts tackled the WoT.
- 19/03/2010 09:30:25 PM
13194 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
2616 Views
My problem with the reviews:
- 20/03/2010 06:29:08 AM
3261 Views
Hear Hear !!!
.......................
=
........................ *NM*
- 20/03/2010 06:37:11 AM
1559 Views
.......................
=
........................ *NM*
- 20/03/2010 06:37:11 AM
1559 Views
well I agree and disagree
- 20/03/2010 06:51:29 AM
2963 Views
Re: well I agree and disagree
- 20/03/2010 02:12:43 PM
2505 Views
I'm amused by some of the responses
- 20/03/2010 07:20:03 PM
2912 Views
Are you suggesting that we are unqualified to disagree with him ?
- 20/03/2010 11:21:44 PM
2631 Views
No, I said rather that it's ridiculous to make such disparaging comments about his takes
- 20/03/2010 11:37:56 PM
2657 Views
I will reply to myself: What's the problem McFly , chicken ?
- 21/03/2010 12:29:36 AM
2454 Views
My sister called me chicken once
- 10/04/2010 01:18:31 AM
2515 Views
Re: I'm amused by some of the responses
- 23/03/2010 04:50:42 PM
2562 Views
And I'm even more amused by this response
- 24/03/2010 01:11:50 AM
2481 Views
- 24/03/2010 01:11:50 AM
2481 Views
On a completely unrelated note...
- 24/03/2010 06:15:25 AM
2379 Views
Ha!
- 24/03/2010 06:34:48 AM
2384 Views
- 24/03/2010 06:34:48 AM
2384 Views
My congratulations then
. *NM*
- 24/03/2010 06:36:11 AM
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. *NM*
- 24/03/2010 06:36:11 AM
2315 Views
Wow, you guys have completely missed the point of the Wheel of Time series
- 22/03/2010 05:28:07 PM
2533 Views
- 22/03/2010 05:28:07 PM
2533 Views
There's a point to it?
- 22/03/2010 06:47:12 PM
2512 Views
- 22/03/2010 06:47:12 PM
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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
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You're not taking me seriously now, are you?
- 24/03/2010 02:54:37 AM
2433 Views
- 24/03/2010 02:54:37 AM
2433 Views
I meant the reason why RJ wrote WoT in the first place
- 24/03/2010 06:39:47 AM
2433 Views
And which, arguably, could be viewed as being done in a hackneyed way
- 24/03/2010 07:15:55 AM
2485 Views
I thought the point was to write about a bunch of stuff happening?
- 09/04/2010 03:42:49 PM
2496 Views
pfft wth-ever
- 26/03/2010 12:35:53 AM
2306 Views
Dude's been up for more awards for his writing than RJ ever was
- 26/03/2010 12:28:19 PM
2565 Views
bla bla bla
- 29/03/2010 06:17:07 AM
2462 Views
Wow. That post was more entertaining than Mr. Roberts' review. Thank you
*NM*
- 29/03/2010 08:23:41 AM
1677 Views
*NM*
- 29/03/2010 08:23:41 AM
1677 Views
You must have low standards for entertainment
- 29/03/2010 08:54:03 AM
2408 Views
Re: You must have low standards for entertainment
- 29/03/2010 09:13:44 AM
2510 Views
I know you were, thus the
at the least of my comment
- 29/03/2010 09:19:30 AM
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at the least of my comment
- 29/03/2010 09:19:30 AM
2331 Views
Unimpressed
- 29/03/2010 10:50:07 PM
2809 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
2808 Views
Re: Dude's been up for more awards for his writing than RJ ever was
- 29/03/2010 04:32:23 PM
2524 Views
Might want to re-read their Wikis again.
- 29/03/2010 07:07:11 PM
2352 Views
Awards
- 29/03/2010 07:42:03 PM
2313 Views
That link is out of date
- 29/03/2010 07:54:56 PM
2304 Views
Re: That link is out of date
- 29/03/2010 08:22:03 PM
2449 Views
This is a battle of win/lose?
- 29/03/2010 08:47:54 PM
2341 Views
Re: This is a battle of win/lose?
- 29/03/2010 09:03:07 PM
2381 Views
*considers employing the Chewbacca defense*
- 29/03/2010 09:28:06 PM
2368 Views
Re: *considers employing the Chewbacca defense*
- 29/03/2010 09:44:58 PM
2578 Views
The final point explains the "defense"
- 30/03/2010 12:24:56 AM
2276 Views
Re: The final point explains the "defense"
- 30/03/2010 01:33:04 PM
2234 Views
No, no, no
- 30/03/2010 06:38:41 PM
2299 Views
Re: No, no, no
- 30/03/2010 07:51:34 PM
2406 Views
Still continuing, huh?
- 31/03/2010 02:10:13 AM
2361 Views
Re: Still continuing, huh?
- 31/03/2010 03:56:57 PM
2326 Views
He's now reviewed the third book
- 26/03/2010 12:27:16 PM
2561 Views
Well, this time I must disagree with him
.
- 29/03/2010 07:31:40 AM
2274 Views
.
- 29/03/2010 07:31:40 AM
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I don't think he was claiming that RJ was alone in doing that
- 29/03/2010 07:44:07 AM
2278 Views
Hah!
- 29/03/2010 06:07:28 PM
2294 Views
Well...
- 29/03/2010 06:52:10 PM
2204 Views
Differing perspectives, I guess.
- 29/03/2010 07:58:13 PM
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I suppose
- 29/03/2010 08:50:43 PM
2307 Views
Re: I suppose
- 30/03/2010 12:18:30 AM
2447 Views
Hey, DomA, do you know why the Shienarans randomly speak in the Old Tongue?
- 30/03/2010 12:52:01 AM
2279 Views
Re: Hey, DomA, do you know why the Shienarans randomly speak in the Old Tongue?
- 30/03/2010 07:45:08 AM
2464 Views
But why only them?
- 30/03/2010 08:07:00 AM
2365 Views
The Shadow Rising review
- 02/04/2010 09:42:53 AM
2550 Views
I wonder if this borders on trolling
- 02/04/2010 02:29:58 PM
11095 Views
That would be a mistake
- 02/04/2010 09:16:25 PM
2561 Views
Re: That would be a mistake
- 02/04/2010 10:28:56 PM
2323 Views
I agree, Roberts is more and more coming across to me as just bitter
- 10/04/2010 01:24:52 AM
2429 Views
Little late to this one as well
- 10/04/2010 11:12:04 AM
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Perhaps you should have led with this bit
- 10/04/2010 02:52:23 PM
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I guess I just presumed that people would read the header to his blog
- 12/04/2010 03:54:10 AM
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- 12/04/2010 03:54:10 AM
2364 Views
What review? I couldn't find one...
- 02/04/2010 08:00:45 PM
2516 Views
Re: What review? I couldn't find one...
- 02/04/2010 09:22:13 PM
2520 Views
See my comment below
- 02/04/2010 09:32:54 PM
2592 Views
Re: See my comment below
- 03/04/2010 09:31:22 AM
2917 Views
Sorry I'm late in responding, but I've been quite busy this week
- 07/04/2010 09:45:48 PM
2781 Views
Speaking of irritation
- 02/04/2010 10:50:04 PM
2485 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
2361 Views
Commentary, then?
- 02/04/2010 09:27:18 PM
2360 Views
- 02/04/2010 09:27:18 PM
2360 Views
Here's the thing...
- 02/04/2010 10:11:18 PM
2314 Views
Re: Here's the thing...
- 02/04/2010 10:31:56 PM
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Re: Commentary, then?
- 05/04/2010 03:44:07 PM
2272 Views
- 05/04/2010 03:44:07 PM
2272 Views
for a man that bitterly complains about an author who is padding his work
- 08/04/2010 09:41:07 PM
2492 Views
1400 words is long-winded?
- 09/04/2010 10:07:41 AM
2537 Views
- 09/04/2010 10:07:41 AM
2537 Views
since you can sum up those 1400 words in about 25 yes that's longwinded
- 09/04/2010 01:36:16 PM
2409 Views
Except I didn't really sum it up, as I left out quite a bit
- 10/04/2010 11:15:42 AM
2436 Views
You are very defensive over this
- 10/04/2010 01:54:15 PM
2240 Views
Nah, more of a devil's advocate than anything else
- 12/04/2010 03:57:12 AM
2296 Views
Well Larry I have started reading Gradsil by Adam Roberts
- 07/04/2010 08:59:28 PM
2468 Views
I demand a paragraph by paragraph review, with footnotes!
- 07/04/2010 09:50:39 PM
2347 Views
Re: I demand a paragraph by paragraph review, with footnotes!
- 08/04/2010 01:06:20 PM
2208 Views
Which Invisible Man?
- 09/04/2010 09:58:44 AM
2434 Views
He brings up some interesting points, if in an unnecessarily rude manner
- 08/04/2010 12:42:25 PM
2363 Views
To be honest, I doubt most readers of the series obsess over it that much
- 09/04/2010 10:05:49 AM
2369 Views
- 09/04/2010 10:05:49 AM
2369 Views
Re: To be honest, I doubt most readers of the series obsess over it that much
- 09/04/2010 01:28:17 PM
2896 Views
- 09/04/2010 01:28:17 PM
2896 Views
Re: To be honest, I doubt most readers of the series obsess over it that much
- 10/04/2010 11:40:22 AM
2373 Views
- 10/04/2010 11:40:22 AM
2373 Views
why are you so bothered by people being unimpressed with Roberts?
- 10/04/2010 02:19:08 PM
2373 Views
Not bothered as much as I am bemused by the ad hominems, to be honest
- 12/04/2010 04:11:12 AM
2693 Views
And in vol. 5, Roberts discovers the horrors of the circus
- 09/04/2010 09:57:03 AM
2357 Views
Basically he just states the "nothing happens"-argument...
- 09/04/2010 03:26:02 PM
2244 Views
Well, what was really resolved here?
- 10/04/2010 11:25:25 AM
2337 Views
Well...
- 12/04/2010 05:05:20 PM
2461 Views
So very little was resolved and much was set into motion, then?
- 12/04/2010 06:55:45 PM
2416 Views
Yes...
- 12/04/2010 10:51:08 PM
2154 Views
Ever read Umberto Eco's How To Travel with a Salmon?
- 12/04/2010 11:07:19 PM
2482 Views
I guess...
- 13/04/2010 10:03:03 AM
2464 Views
Sounds like you value prolixity for the sake of prolixity, to be honest
- 13/04/2010 04:41:07 PM
3606 Views
Nah...
- 13/04/2010 05:29:34 PM
2165 Views
He's read and enjoyed Proust, among others
- 13/04/2010 07:37:39 PM
2270 Views
Ah, well...
- 13/04/2010 09:45:45 PM
2208 Views
Dismissive, much?
- 13/04/2010 10:52:30 PM
2391 Views
- 13/04/2010 10:52:30 PM
2391 Views
About that bifurcation...
- 14/04/2010 02:02:15 AM
2358 Views
Sorry that I was busy yesterday and didn't have a chance to reply until now
- 15/04/2010 01:46:54 PM
2481 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
2368 Views
Lord of Chaos commentary
- 16/04/2010 03:39:39 PM
2335 Views
No no. It was Lord of Heaven!
- 16/04/2010 05:51:11 PM
2231 Views
Yeah, I noticed that
- 16/04/2010 11:16:26 PM
2148 Views
- 16/04/2010 11:16:26 PM
2148 Views
I would love the see him review Goodkind...
- 16/04/2010 11:51:07 PM
2375 Views
I don't wish that on anyone who doesn't have copious amounts of alcohol
- 16/04/2010 11:57:41 PM
2272 Views
A Crown of Swords - or is it deco-porn?
- 23/04/2010 08:36:17 AM
2401 Views
Re: A Crown of Swords - or is it deco-porn?
- 29/04/2010 06:02:28 PM
2345 Views
I disagree
- 29/04/2010 09:34:49 PM
2170 Views
The Path of Daggers commentary
- 07/05/2010 10:39:03 AM
2491 Views
Winter's Heart
- 21/05/2010 12:46:14 PM
2469 Views
I think WH was my least favorite of the WoT novels I re-read
- 21/05/2010 04:49:31 PM
2324 Views
Re: I think WH was my least favorite of the WoT novels I re-read
- 25/05/2010 05:05:09 PM
2472 Views
WH was my least favorite novel in the series, and that is saying a lot.
- 28/05/2010 03:15:13 PM
2318 Views
I completely agree with his KoD post. Here is my favorite quote:
- 28/05/2010 03:08:31 PM
2640 Views
Roberts reflects back on WoT 1-11, with answers to questions asked of him
- 25/06/2010 12:51:29 PM
2438 Views
This guy should be burned at the stake
- 25/06/2010 03:22:34 PM
9915 Views
Are you done making a fool out of yourself, Mark?
- 26/06/2010 06:53:37 PM
2375 Views
Oh come on...
- 26/06/2010 09:06:01 PM
2448 Views
Well, the burning at the stake was a bit much...
- 26/06/2010 10:19:40 PM
2448 Views
Well, really! You brought the comment to his notice...
- 26/06/2010 11:34:08 PM
2447 Views
And your point is...?
- 27/06/2010 12:37:00 AM
2459 Views
Well...
- 27/06/2010 05:38:12 AM
2411 Views
Indeed... I think it's rather clear that Larry's goal has been to cause trouble
- 27/06/2010 10:57:36 AM
2589 Views
It's not about honour being beschmirched. It's about poor quality arguments. *NM*
- 30/03/2011 04:09:23 PM
1358 Views
One year later...
- 27/03/2011 03:40:29 AM
2277 Views
Re: One year later...
- 28/03/2011 05:03:32 PM
2512 Views
I see you subconsciously support critical takes.
- 28/03/2011 11:41:48 PM
2514 Views
No I conciously support telling you and him that you are pathetic, arrogent, & jelous. *NM*
- 30/03/2011 01:40:36 PM
1407 Views
Jealous?
- 30/03/2011 05:20:32 PM
2283 Views
You both are jelous of Jordan's tremendous succes.
- 30/03/2011 10:27:36 PM
2299 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
2329 Views
The fact that you teach is supposed to be a surprise?
- 31/03/2011 01:23:45 PM
2246 Views
After reading the standard-issue checklist of generic, tossabout pejoratives...
- 01/04/2011 03:06:18 PM
2405 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
1316 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
1441 Views
Yep!
- 30/03/2011 05:16:38 PM
2225 Views
- 30/03/2011 05:16:38 PM
2225 Views
He's not an "author", he's just a stupid troll, do not feed him *NM*
- 30/03/2011 02:39:19 PM
1330 Views

