tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8068873.post2845594966842417710..comments2024-02-14T01:50:56.112-06:00Comments on The OF Blog: Reviewing pitfallsLarry Nolenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16001420558511460998noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8068873.post-40814572267752221572010-10-19T21:18:43.327-05:002010-10-19T21:18:43.327-05:00The squirming isn't the fun part. The fun par...The squirming isn't the fun part. The fun part is getting people interested in less high-profile works that I think are worthy of attention.<br /><br />Shortly, I'm going to be posting a series of pics of the Ballantine Adult Fantasy books I've managed to collect. Something like 31 books in that specific edition, most with some very cool late 60s/early 70s cover art. Just don't make covers like these anymore, it seems.Larry Nolenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16001420558511460998noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8068873.post-24653823213923278762010-10-19T20:45:21.151-05:002010-10-19T20:45:21.151-05:00I think I need to check my grammar before I post. ...I think I need to check my grammar before I post. I don't think you should keep any ARCs a secret. If you ask me it would be more fun telling everyone you have one and watching (or reading I guess) them squirm!Philipnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8068873.post-58687438953667589252010-10-19T11:21:17.596-05:002010-10-19T11:21:17.596-05:00Thought the review was good. Don't take the v...Thought the review was good. Don't take the voraciousness of the internet too seriously. It is behavior best ignored. <br /><br />I once worked as a moderator on a tech forum, and after I deleted a post comparing African-Americans to monkeys, the author of the post flamed me endlessly for weeks (he went right back to the well, unsurprisingly, and called me a "monkey," amongst other things). <br /><br />In sum, people are batshit crazy and behavior over the internet must be ignored ;)Esqnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8068873.post-12789036643282169502010-10-19T02:19:36.388-05:002010-10-19T02:19:36.388-05:00So I'm learning, Philip. Apparently I'm &...So I'm learning, Philip. Apparently I'm "classless", among other things because I slipped up and said more than I originally meant and trying to redress that led to even more foul-ups. Next time, I think I won't even acknowledge receiving any review copy of any higher profile release until after the review is posted.Larry Nolenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16001420558511460998noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8068873.post-62846982166583245172010-10-18T20:09:02.618-05:002010-10-18T20:09:02.618-05:00Hmmm now I feel bad about sending you the PM about...Hmmm now I feel bad about sending you the PM about the mess up with the autographed copy. I think the root of the problem is starvation. The fans have been waiting for years and they seem to be like men lost in a desert. They will grasp at anything if they think it will quench their thirst (I seem to be one of them). I want to say that I appreciate your reviews and I always keep an open mind. If you enjoy or like the books are not don't mean you are giving them a bad review. I believe in an open mind. MandragPhilipnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8068873.post-30749082386777990022010-10-18T20:08:00.505-05:002010-10-18T20:08:00.505-05:00This comment has been removed by the author.Philiphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07560207716142565438noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8068873.post-52334580692014588982010-10-18T18:45:07.785-05:002010-10-18T18:45:07.785-05:00Say what? Some people are crazy. A review is a rev...Say what? Some people are crazy. A review is a review. I'd rather see an objective review than a raving one from a hard-core fan any day thanks!Amyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18102250492155489672noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8068873.post-81627689877777547082010-10-18T15:07:22.382-05:002010-10-18T15:07:22.382-05:00I disagree, Ken. But I'll save that for the a...I disagree, Ken. But I'll save that for the actual review.<br /><br />Umm...Kevin...ever heard of "tongue in cheek"? I was quoting Monty Python's <i>The Life of Brian</i>, after all...<br /><br />And please learn how to use the word "pretentious" correctly the next time you cavalierly toss it about. Some might wonder if you have pretensions to an actual education otherwise...Larry Nolenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16001420558511460998noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8068873.post-40326559259486739202010-10-18T13:01:05.801-05:002010-10-18T13:01:05.801-05:00Larry, as I haven't read the book yet there is...Larry, as I haven't read the book yet there isn't much basis for me to argue with the opinion of someone who has. Actually I suspect that your review makes some good points however the attitude you've thrown around post review sucks. And now I see you've told a population that I count myself a member of to fuck off. I just wanted to say, fuck you, you pretentious asshole. Have a pleasant day :)Kevinnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8068873.post-1977787064201912362010-10-18T11:48:34.105-05:002010-10-18T11:48:34.105-05:00Larry, I understand your attitude there, but don&#...Larry, I understand your attitude there, but don't you think when your dealing with the 13th book in a series that an attitude like that isn't all that productive?<br /><br />People who read this book will be fans - it's not going to be something picked up unless you've read the previous 12. It seems that a different reviewing perspective would be a good thing, no?Nethhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16963540055415924510noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8068873.post-30694793763164792932010-10-18T11:44:39.988-05:002010-10-18T11:44:39.988-05:00Not really upset, more like a mixture of confused ...Not really upset, more like a mixture of confused bemusement and slight irritation at myself over not thinking that such a thing might happen. No anger at all toward anyone else.<br /><br />As for reviews and hardcore fans, my attitude generally is a non-personal "fuck 'em" :PLarry Nolenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16001420558511460998noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8068873.post-52773971327296260462010-10-18T09:17:34.582-05:002010-10-18T09:17:34.582-05:00Larry,
If you didn't want the sort of reactio...Larry,<br /><br />If you didn't want the sort of reaction you got from WOT fandom, then why did you post a bunch of stuff in a WOT forum that is notorious for that sort thinking. You encouraged the reaction you got, so I'm really confused why you seem upset about it.<br /><br />I agree with Adam on your reviews of WOT - while I often don't agree with you thoughts, I do consider them fair evaluations. But from the perspective of the mega-fans on forums, your reviews are not what they are looking for and they consider them unfair and out of touch. While that level of fandom is a minority, when dealing with book 13 of a series that's been around for 20 years, you're going to have a lot more of that than some debut trilogy by fantasy author x.<br /><br />So, really, while I see your point here, I think its a bit disingeneous for your get upset about something that you openly envited.Nethhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16963540055415924510noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8068873.post-43493837638282026442010-10-18T06:34:14.175-05:002010-10-18T06:34:14.175-05:00Harry,
What I alluded to is usually found on the ...Harry,<br /><br />What I alluded to is usually found on the back covers of American editions :P<br /><br />Adam,<br /><br />Thanks for the compliment! There certainly will be discussion of both the good and the bad in my review. It's one of those "interesting" books in not just content, but also in structure and writing.Larry Nolenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16001420558511460998noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8068873.post-76164574758968512972010-10-18T04:12:36.953-05:002010-10-18T04:12:36.953-05:00For a reviewer who is often characterised as someo...For a reviewer who is often characterised as someone who is solely into 'literary' books, I think your previous analysis of the WHEEL OF TIME series has been even-handed and fair, pointing out the good and the bad. As such, your views on the books are worth considerably more than, for example, the only review published so far of the book (which comes from a very biased source, although they freely admit that).Adam Whiteheadhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11383677312079611311noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8068873.post-72712641689980918532010-10-18T01:18:24.907-05:002010-10-18T01:18:24.907-05:00@ Harry: Foucault's Pendulum is Briljant! Don&...@ Harry: Foucault's Pendulum is Briljant! Don't be put of by the first few pages and you'll be in for a great story.Gerardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15926772984892241397noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8068873.post-76163467521479387212010-10-18T00:19:50.151-05:002010-10-18T00:19:50.151-05:00Goddamn it, Larry. I just bought Foucalt's Pen...Goddamn it, Larry. I just bought Foucalt's Pendulum at a second-hand bookstore. I am going to take that obscure little allusion that I do not understand as ruining the whole plot. Grrrrr. You bastard, going all spoiler on me! ;)<br /><br />By the way is it good? Foucalt's Pendulum, that is? (I know I'll enjoy Towers of Midnight, but that'll be my dirty little secret:) I assume Foucalt's Pendulum is good, but just checking, because it is what I'm reading just after I finish my exams.Lord Nerevarhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08783296875792398224noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8068873.post-63373703060622449362010-10-17T18:13:05.696-05:002010-10-17T18:13:05.696-05:00It's something that mostly those who suffer fr...It's something that mostly those who suffer from Poetic Lassitude or Chrono-Unific Deficiency Syndrome have been drawn toward. I'm just merely studying these poor souls.Larry Nolenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16001420558511460998noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8068873.post-18792250358322457162010-10-17T17:55:59.707-05:002010-10-17T17:55:59.707-05:00Larry--I'm a little confused. This Wheel of Ti...Larry--I'm a little confused. This Wheel of Time thing. Is it a relatively obscure, cult thing? I don't think I've heard of it before. JeffVAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com