25||0|963|0|yes
0|0|0|||||Least Favorite Author Rant...|DocMui||17:55:04|05/31/2002|I%27ve come to the disturbing conclusion that there is at least one professional author whose work I despise.  If there were a court for offenses to prose%2C he%27d be convicted of gross character manipulation%2C overloaded descriptions%2C extreme amounts of repetitive text%2C and a glacial pace.%0D%0A%0D%0AI really %5Bb%5Dhate%5B%2Fb%5D Harry Turtledove%27s %22Worldwar%22 series.  Even William Forstchen%27s worst Wing Commander novel%2C %22Heart of the Tiger%22 was better than this%2C if only because it was self-contained.%0D%0A%0D%0AThe thing that grated on my nerves was the blatant manipulation of a character against their personality.  Spoiler space will be provided...%0D%0A%0D%0A%0D%0A%0D%0A%0D%0A%0D%0A%0D%0A%0D%0A%0D%0AOne of the characters%2C a physicist%2C is essentially sent out on a wild goose chase across a war-torn landscape%2C and is inevitably held up.  On the homefront%2C his beautiful wife is waiting for him...until a grungy ex-baseball player who is serving in the Army wears her down.  Thinking that her husband is dead%2C she marries the ball-player...and when the physicist finds out%2C there is a contrived set of events that makes him into a %22defector%22 and has him killed in the most stupid manner.  The ballplayer and his new wife%2C however%2C have a kid%2C and live happily ever after.%0D%0A%0D%0ASorry%2C but I had to vent for a bit.%0D%0A%0D%0A--DocMui
1|1|0|||1||RE%3A Least Favorite Author Rant...|trigger||18:16:28|05/31/2002|%0D%0AI will second the general comment that Harry Turtledove sucks.  Alas%2C he%27s been recycling plots since his %22Videssos%22 cycle books ended years ago.  What was diverting at 12 is not diverting at 27.%0D%0A%0D%0AOh%2C and for the poorly planned demise of characters - add in David Eddings to your curse list.%0D%0A%0D%0At.%0D%0A%0D%0ATrigger Argee%0D%0Atrigger_argee%40hotmail.com%0D%0AManon%2C Maccadon%2C Orado%2C etc.%0D%0ADenton%2C never leave home without it.%0D%0A%0D%0A%22Pretty ambitious for a tree%2C isn%27t it%3F%22%0D%0A%0D%0A
2|2|1|||||RE%3A Least Favorite Author Rant...|WengFook||04:22:51|06/02/2002|Oh%2C and for the poorly planned demise of characters - add in David %0D%0A%3EEddings to your curse list. %0D%0A%3E%0D%0A%0D%0Ahey%21 what%27s wrong with Eddings%3F 
4|3|2|||1||RE%3A Least Favorite Author Rant...|trigger||12:25:32|06/03/2002|%0D%0A%3Ehey%21 what%27s wrong with Eddings%3F %0D%0A%0D%0AHaven%27t you noticed that all his plots and characters are the same with the exception of Sparhawk and Garion%3F  And it%27s always a big self-aware chunk of stone that messes with your destiny.  The hero has no ambitions and would like to stay home with the wife and kids that he really didn%27t want but doesn%27t mind now that deus ex machina has forced him to have some.%0D%0A%0D%0AGreat when I was 12%2C bad at 27.%0D%0A%0D%0At.%0D%0A%0D%0ATrigger Argee%0D%0Atrigger_argee%40hotmail.com%0D%0AManon%2C Maccadon%2C Orado%2C etc.%0D%0ADenton%2C never leave home without it.%0D%0A%0D%0A%22Pretty ambitious for a tree%2C isn%27t it%3F%22%0D%0A%0D%0A
5|4|4|||||RE%3A Least Favorite Author Rant...|drakensisthered||17:38:42|06/03/2002|%3E%3Ehey%21 what%27s wrong with Eddings%3F %0D%0A%3E%0D%0A%3EHaven%27t you noticed that all his plots and characters are the same %0D%0A%3Ewith the exception of Sparhawk and Garion%3F  And it%27s always a big %0D%0A%3Eself-aware chunk of stone that messes with your destiny.  The hero has %0D%0A%3Eno ambitions and would like to stay home with the wife and kids that %0D%0A%3Ehe really didn%27t want but doesn%27t mind now that deus ex machina has %0D%0A%3Eforced him to have some. %0D%0A%3E%0D%0AHe%27s writing High Fantasy according to the %27Hero%27s Journey%27 style %28I read that in Rivan Codex%29. Basically you plug in the hero %28one of four%2C he%27s used three or four depending on if you count Garion twice%29 a widget %28gems twice%2C books once%29%2C a wizard %28which he skipped once to confuse his critics%29 and various others to round out the necessary skills.%0D%0A%0D%0AAnd then%2C the difficult bit%2C he wrotes a story about them. Mostly I read it for the story because I like the way he writes. Plot is secondary but then%2C I%27m weird like that.%0D%0A
6|5|5|||||RE%3A Least Favorite Author Rant...|WengFook||07:01:04|06/04/2002|[updated:LAST EDITED ON 06-04-02 AT 07:01 AM (EDT)]%3E%3E%3Ehey%21 what%27s wrong with Eddings%3F %0D%0A%3E%3E%0D%0A%3E%3EHaven%27t you noticed that all his plots and characters are the same %0D%0A%3E%3Ewith the exception of Sparhawk and Garion%3F  And it%27s always a big %0D%0A%3E%3Eself-aware chunk of stone that messes with your destiny.  The hero has %0D%0A%3E%3Eno ambitions and would like to stay home with the wife and kids that %0D%0A%3E%3Ehe really didn%27t want but doesn%27t mind now that deus ex machina has %0D%0A%3E%3Eforced him to have some. %0D%0A%3E%3E%0D%0A%3EHe%27s writing High Fantasy according to the %27Hero%27s Journey%27 style %28I %0D%0A%3Eread that in Rivan Codex%29. Basically you plug in the hero %28one of %0D%0A%3Efour%2C he%27s used three or four depending on if you count Garion twice%29 %0D%0A%3Ea widget %28gems twice%2C books once%29%2C a wizard %28which he skipped once to %0D%0A%3Econfuse his critics%29 and various others to round out the necessary %0D%0A%3Eskills. %0D%0A%3E%0D%0A%3EAnd then%2C the difficult bit%2C he wrotes a story about them. Mostly I %0D%0A%3Eread it for the story because I like the way he writes. Plot is %0D%0A%3Esecondary but then%2C I%27m weird like that. %0D%0A%0D%0AJust to prove your point I reread the first five books and i am starting %0D%0Ato agree. Good at 10 not 19..%0D%0AI blame Clancy for raising my literary level.
7|6|6|||1||RE%3A Least Favorite Author Rant...|Pasha||15:04:18|06/04/2002|%3E%3EAnd then%2C the difficult bit%2C he wrotes a story about them. Mostly I %0D%0A%3E%3Eread it for the story because I like the way he writes. Plot is %0D%0A%3E%3Esecondary but then%2C I%27m weird like that. %0D%0A%3E%0D%0A%3EJust to prove your point I reread the first five books and i am %0D%0A%3Estarting %0D%0A%3Eto agree. Good at 10 not 19.. %0D%0A%3EI blame Clancy for raising my literary level. %0D%0A%0D%0AOk%2C wait.  You%27re talking about %2Atom%2A clancy%3F  And then you complain about DE reusing plot and characters%3F  Sheesh.%0D%0A%0D%0AAnd%2C as  fan%2C yes%2C I%22ll agree that DE is semi repedative in his writing.  %28It%27s actually in the alt.fan.eddings FAQ.%29  But%2C he manages to make the characters human.  And to make the reader care about them.  Hell%2C I %2Astill%2A re-read the books %28Although%2C mostly the Elenium%29 on a fairly regular basis.%0D%0A%0D%0A-- %0D%0A-Pasha%0D%0ARabid Crack Weasel %23357%0D%0A%22I invented Warp Drive%2C whatta ya got%3F%22%0D%0A%22I%27m the Norse God of Mecha.%22%0D%0A%22Well%2C I guess you win then.%22
8|7|7|||||RE%3A Least Favorite Author Rant...|WengFook||02:47:06|06/07/2002|[updated:LAST EDITED ON 06-07-02 AT 02:49 AM (EDT)]%3E%3EJust to prove your point I reread the first five books and i am %0D%0A%3E%3Estarting %0D%0A%3E%3Eto agree. Good at 10 not 19.. %0D%0A%3E%3EI blame Clancy for raising my literary level. %0D%0A%3E%0D%0A%3EOk%2C wait.  You%27re talking about %2Atom%2A clancy%3F  And then you complain %0D%0A%3Eabout DE reusing plot and characters%3F  Sheesh. %0D%0A%3E%0D%0A%3EAnd%2C as  fan%2C yes%2C I%22ll agree that DE is semi repedative in his %0D%0A%3Ewriting.  %28It%27s actually in the alt.fan.eddings FAQ.%29  But%2C he manages %0D%0A%3Eto make the characters human.  And to make the reader care about them. %0D%0A%3E Hell%2C I %2Astill%2A re-read the books %28Although%2C mostly the Elenium%29 on a %0D%0A%3Efairly regular basis. %0D%0A%0D%0Awell see the only clancy book I have read is Rainbow six so I would%27nt know%0D%0Aabout reusing plotlines and characters but that one book when compared%0D%0Ato the elenium is well different. The plot of the elenium is simpler if you  know what i mean.%0D%0Ayes the characters are human but so are the people in R6.%0D%0A%0D%0AWhat I meant in my earlier post is that clancy raised my expectancy %0D%0Aof what a good story should be.%0D%0A%0D%0A%5Bedited to fix a point%5D%0D%0A%0D%0AWhat i me%0D%0A
9|8|8|||1||RE%3A Least Favorite Author Rant...|trigger||16:43:32|06/07/2002|%0D%0A%3EWhat I meant in my earlier post is that clancy raised my expectancy %0D%0A%3Eof what a good story should be. %0D%0A%0D%0AWe%27ve got to get you some new reading material....here%2C try this%3A  http%3A%2F%2Fwww.baen.com%2Flibrary%2F1011250002%2F1011250002.htm%0D%0A%0D%0At.%0D%0A%0D%0ATrigger Argee%0D%0Atrigger_argee%40hotmail.com%0D%0AManon%2C Maccadon%2C Orado%2C etc.%0D%0ADenton%2C never leave home without it.%0D%0A%0D%0A%22Pretty ambitious for a tree%2C isn%27t it%3F%22%0D%0A%0D%0A
10|9|9|||||RE%3A Least Favorite Author Rant...|Ebony||16:53:38|06/07/2002|%3E%0D%0A%3E%3EWhat I meant in my earlier post is that clancy raised my expectancy %0D%0A%3E%3Eof what a good story should be. %0D%0A%3E%0D%0A%3EWe%27ve got to get you some new reading material....here%2C try this%3A  %0D%0A%3Ehttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.baen.com%2Flibrary%2F1011250002%2F1011250002.htm %0D%0A%3E%0D%0A%0D%0AI would suggest this%2C myself%3A%0D%0Ahttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.baen.com%2Flibrary%2F0671876627%2F0671876627.htm%0D%0A%0D%0AEbony the Black Dragon%0D%0Aaka Draco Draconis Ebenium%0D%0Aknown to Baen Books as Aaron F. Johnson%2C%0D%0ASenior Editor%2C Living Room Games%0D%0Ahttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.lrgames.com%0D%0A%0D%0A%28never had much interest in Clancy%29
14|10|10|||||RE%3A Least Favorite Author Rant...|WengFook||09:16:35|06/09/2002|%3E%3E%0D%0A%3E%3E%3EWhat I meant in my earlier post is that clancy raised my expectancy %0D%0A%3E%3E%3Eof what a good story should be. %0D%0A%3E%3E%0D%0A%3E%3EWe%27ve got to get you some new reading material....here%2C try this%3A  %0D%0A%3E%3Ehttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.baen.com%2Flibrary%2F1011250002%2F1011250002.htm %0D%0A%3E%3E%0D%0A%3E%0D%0A%3EI would suggest this%2C myself%3A %0D%0A%3Ehttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.baen.com%2Flibrary%2F0671876627%2F0671876627.htm %0D%0A%3E%0D%0A%0D%0Ahmmm Thanks%21 I look it up. But could someone tell me %0D%0Awhats the difference%3F 
17|11|14|||||RE%3A Least Favorite Author Rant...|Ebony||12:37:31|06/10/2002|[updated:LAST EDITED ON 06-10-02 AT 12:38 PM (EDT)]%3E%3E%3E%0D%0A%3E%3E%3E%3EWhat I meant in my earlier post is that clancy raised my expectancy %0D%0A%3E%3E%3E%3Eof what a good story should be. %0D%0A%3E%3E%3E%0D%0A%3E%3E%3EWe%27ve got to get you some new reading material....here%2C try this%3A  %0D%0A%3E%3E%3Ehttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.baen.com%2Flibrary%2F1011250002%2F1011250002.htm %0D%0A%3E%3E%3E%0D%0A%3E%3E%0D%0A%3E%3EI would suggest this%2C myself%3A %0D%0A%3E%3Ehttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.baen.com%2Flibrary%2F0671876627%2F0671876627.htm %0D%0A%3E%3E%0D%0A%3Ehmmm Thanks%21 I look it up. But could someone tell me %0D%0A%3Ewhats the difference%3F %0D%0A%0D%0ATwo different book%2C two different authors%2C and two different subgenres.  The first is an exerpt from Lois McMaster Bujold.  The second is from Aaron Allston.  Both are published by Baen Books.  %0D%0A%0D%0AEbony the Black Dragon%0D%0Aaka Draco Draconis Ebenium%0D%0Aknown to Baen Books as Aaron F. Johnson%2C%0D%0ASenior Editor%2C Living Room Games%0D%0Ahttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.lrgames.com
18|12|17|||||RE%3A Least Favorite Author Rant...|Star Ranger4||17:52:14|06/10/2002|%3ETwo different book%2C two different authors%2C and two different %0D%0A%3Esubgenres.  The first is an exerpt from Lois McMaster Bujold.  The %0D%0A%3Esecond is from Aaron Allston.  Both are published by Baen Books. %0D%0A%3E%0D%0AActually%2C that applies to mine%2C too... The other thing to note that these are books that have been released for net.distribution%2C and I do believe have also been made free to the public.  Baen has created a rather extensive on line library in this respect of their own publications... most SF%2FFantasy fans might find it worth at least a cursory look.%0D%0A%0D%0ACaveat Emptor%2C however... they also sell electronic copies of new releases and those are NOT free for downloading.  So%2C just because you see a title%2C do not assume its free for the taking.
11|9|9|||||RE%3A Least Favorite Author Rant...|Sinapus||17:21:26|06/07/2002|%3E%0D%0A%3E%3EWhat I meant in my earlier post is that clancy raised my expectancy %0D%0A%3E%3Eof what a good story should be. %0D%0A%3E%0D%0A%3EWe%27ve got to get you some new reading material....here%2C try this%3A  %0D%0A%3Ehttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.baen.com%2Flibrary%2F1011250002%2F1011250002.htm %0D%0A%0D%0A%22Mountains of Mourning%22 by Lois Bujold. Good choice.
12|9|9|||||RE%3A Least Favorite Author Rant...|Star Ranger4||04:41:34|06/08/2002|%3E%0D%0A%3E%3EWhat I meant in my earlier post is that clancy raised my expectancy %0D%0A%3E%3Eof what a good story should be. %0D%0A%3E%0D%0A%3EWe%27ve got to get you some new reading material....here%2C try this%3A  %0D%0A%3Ehttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.baen.com%2Flibrary%2F1011250002%2F1011250002.htm %0D%0A%3E%0D%0A%0D%0AI dunno Trigger.  Seems like a good way to start off a war...%0D%0A%0D%0APersonally%2C  I think this%3A%0D%0Ahttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.baen.com%2Flibrary%2F067172052X%2F067172052X.htm%0D%0Ais more to my liking.  But then%2C I could just see Gryph and Zoner as a couple of the charecters mentioned so far in the first chapter... too bad these %27real%27 authors were never exposed to EPU.%0D%0A
15|10|12|||||RE%3A Least Favorite Author Rant...|WengFook||09:18:31|06/09/2002|%3E%3E%0D%0A%3E%3E%3EWhat I meant in my earlier post is that clancy raised my expectancy %0D%0A%3E%3E%3Eof what a good story should be. %0D%0A%3E%3E%0D%0A%3E%3EWe%27ve got to get you some new reading material....here%2C try this%3A  %0D%0A%3E%3Ehttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.baen.com%2Flibrary%2F1011250002%2F1011250002.htm %0D%0A%3E%3E%0D%0A%3E%0D%0A%3EI dunno Trigger.  Seems like a good way to start off a war... %0D%0A%3E%0D%0A%3EPersonally%2C  I think this%3A %0D%0A%3Ehttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.baen.com%2Flibrary%2F067172052X%2F067172052X.htm %0D%0A%3Eis more to my liking.  But then%2C I could just see Gryph and Zoner as a %0D%0A%3Ecouple of the charecters mentioned so far in the first chapter... too %0D%0A%3Ebad these %27real%27 authors were never exposed to EPU. %0D%0A%0D%0AAhh this looks more promising%21 Thanks for all the recomendations.
19|10|12|||1||RE%3A Least Favorite Author Rant...|trigger||16:42:59|06/11/2002|%3E%3E%0D%0A%3E%3E%3EWhat I meant in my earlier post is that clancy raised my expectancy %0D%0A%3E%3E%3Eof what a good story should be. %0D%0A%3E%3E%0D%0A%3E%3EWe%27ve got to get you some new reading material....here%2C try this%3A  %0D%0A%3E%3Ehttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.baen.com%2Flibrary%2F1011250002%2F1011250002.htm %0D%0A%3E%3E%0D%0A%3E%0D%0A%3EI dunno Trigger.  Seems like a good way to start off a war... %0D%0A%0D%0AHmm%2C somehow I failed to parse that%2C try again%3F%0D%0A%0D%0A%0D%0A%3EPersonally%2C  I think this%3A %0D%0A%3Ehttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.baen.com%2Flibrary%2F067172052X%2F067172052X.htm %0D%0A%0D%0ANever been a Niven fan.  Ditto%2C never an Asminov...%0D%0A%0D%0At.%0D%0A%0D%0ATrigger Argee%0D%0Atrigger_argee%40hotmail.com%0D%0AManon%2C Maccadon%2C Orado%2C etc.%0D%0ADenton%2C never leave home without it.%0D%0A%0D%0A%22Pretty ambitious for a tree%2C isn%27t it%3F%22%0D%0A%0D%0A
20|11|19|||||RE%3A Least Favorite Author Rant...|Star Ranger4||17:45:44|06/11/2002|%3E%3EI dunno Trigger.  Seems like a good way to start off a war... %0D%0A%3E%0D%0A%3EHmm%2C somehow I failed to parse that%2C try again%3F %0D%0A%3E%0D%0AErr...  that there is nothing quite as likely to involke spirited debate %28Read Flamewars%29 among fans as whos better than whom.
21|12|20|||1||RE%3A Least Favorite Author Rant...|trigger||18:35:39|06/11/2002|%0D%0A%3EErr...  that there is nothing quite as likely to involke spirited %0D%0A%3Edebate %28Read Flamewars%29 among fans as whos better than whom. %0D%0A%0D%0ASpirited debate%3F  On the Eyrie forum%3F  Never%21%0D%0A%0D%0A%3Cgrin%3E%0D%0At.%0D%0A%0D%0A%28acutally%2C I was serious - there are better fish in the sea than Eddings and Clancy...%29%0D%0A%0D%0ATrigger Argee%0D%0Atrigger_argee%40hotmail.com%0D%0AManon%2C Maccadon%2C Orado%2C etc.%0D%0ADenton%2C never leave home without it.%0D%0A%0D%0A%22Pretty ambitious for a tree%2C isn%27t it%3F%22%0D%0A%0D%0A
22|13|21|||1||RE%3A Least Favorite Author Rant...|Pasha||19:31:38|06/11/2002|%3E%0D%0A%3E%3EErr...  that there is nothing quite as likely to involke spirited %0D%0A%3E%3Edebate %28Read Flamewars%29 among fans as whos better than whom. %0D%0A%3E%0D%0A%3ESpirited debate%3F  On the Eyrie forum%3F  Never%21 %0D%0A%3E%0D%0A%3E%3Cgrin%3E %0D%0A%3Et. %0D%0A%3E%0D%0A%3E%28acutally%2C I was serious - there are better fish in the sea than %0D%0A%3EEddings and Clancy...%29 %0D%0A%0D%0AYes%2C there is.  However%2C there are also %2Amuch%2A worse fish....I wasn%27t knocking clancy%2C as I find his books entertaining reading%2C but I wouldn%27t call them heavy literature by any stretch of the imagination.  %0D%0A%0D%0A-- %0D%0A-Pasha%0D%0ARabid Crack Weasel %23357%0D%0A%22I invented Warp Drive%2C whatta ya got%3F%22%0D%0A%22I%27m the Norse God of Mecha.%22%0D%0A%22Well%2C I guess you win then.%22
23|14|22|||1||RE%3A Least Favorite Author Rant...|Matrix Dragon||00:16:35|06/12/2002|%3EYes%2C there is.  However%2C there are also %2Amuch%2A worse fish....I wasn%27t %0D%0A%3Eknocking clancy%2C as I find his books entertaining reading%2C but I %0D%0A%3Ewouldn%27t call them heavy literature by any stretch of the imagination. %0D%0A%0D%0AHardcover editions of his books are deadly if you drop %27em %3A%29%0D%0A%0D%0AAnyway%2C some of his recent works %28R6 in particular%29 are quite enjoyable.%0D%0A%0D%0AMy least favorite author%3F At the moment%2C Robert Jordan holds the top spot. His first few Wheel of Time books weren%27t too bad%2C but the last five or six... Jeez%2C  just finish the series already%21 NOTE%3A It%27s not easy to bring your readers back for more if you turn all your characters into annoying%2C paranoid pricks.%0D%0A%0D%0A---------------------------%0D%0AMatrix Dragon%0D%0ARabid Crack Weasel %23 123 %0D%0ADirector of the Okatu Intelligence Division%0D%0AApproach With Caution%0D%0A---------------------------
25|15|23|||||RE%3A Least Favorite Author Rant...|WengFook||05:20:13|06/13/2002|%3E%0D%0A%3EAnyway%2C some of his recent works %28R6 in particular%29 are quite %0D%0A%3Eenjoyable. %0D%0A%0D%0AIt is the book I have and I agree.%0D%0A%0D%0A%3EMy least favorite author%3F At the moment%2C Robert Jordan holds the top %0D%0A%3Espot. His first few Wheel of Time books weren%27t too bad%2C but the last %0D%0A%3Efive or six... Jeez%2C  just finish the series already%21 NOTE%3A It%27s not %0D%0A%3Eeasy to bring your readers back for more if you turn all your %0D%0A%3Echaracters into annoying%2C paranoid pricks. %0D%0A%3E%0D%0A%0D%0ATo Right.
24|13|21|||||RE%3A Least Favorite Author Rant...|WengFook||05:18:09|06/13/2002|%3E%0D%0A%3E%3EErr...  that there is nothing quite as likely to involke spirited %0D%0A%3E%3Edebate %28Read Flamewars%29 among fans as whos better than whom. %0D%0A%3E%0D%0A%3ESpirited debate%3F  On the Eyrie forum%3F  Never%21 %0D%0A%3E%0D%0A%3E%3Cgrin%3E %0D%0A%3Et. %0D%0A%3E%0D%0A%3E%28acutally%2C I was serious - there are better fish in the sea than %0D%0A%3EEddings and Clancy...%29 %0D%0A%3E%0D%0A%0D%0AWell thanks all%21 %0D%0A%0D%0ABut I came to the conclusion after reading quite a lot of fantasy %0D%0Abooks is that. Surprisingly %5Bb%5Dalot%5B%2Fb%5D of %0D%0Aauthors follow a plot used so many times that i find it really %0D%0Adoes%27nt seem to be worth my time.. apologies to those of you who %0D%0Astill enjoy fantasy books but really%2C how many times can you %0D%0Astand a story about a boy or girl of low birth growing up into a %0D%0Ahero aquiring friends and enemies alike %3F%3F%3F%0D%0A%28no sarcasm here. Its really just an honest question.%29%0D%0A%0D%0A 
13|7|7|||||RE%3A Least Favorite Author Rant...|Rod_H||07:55:05|06/09/2002|%3E%3EJust to prove your point I reread the first five books and i am %0D%0A%3E%3Estarting %0D%0A%3E%3Eto agree. Good at 10 not 19.. %0D%0A%3E%3EI blame Clancy for raising my literary level. %0D%0A%3E%0D%0A%3EOk%2C wait.  You%27re talking about %2Atom%2A clancy%3F  And then you complain %0D%0A%3Eabout DE reusing plot and characters%3F  Sheesh. %0D%0A%0D%0AHey%2C it could have been worse%2C he could have said%3A Dale Brown. %0D%0AAt least Clancy tries to keep things believable %28if somewhat biased%29%2C even if the two novels I have of his could hurt someone if I chucked it at them. %28Executive Decision%2C Rainbow 6. Both hardcover%29 %0D%0A%0D%0AMost of Brown%27s novels that I%27ve read have had the same basic plot%3A a Mary Sue or two%2C a bunch of semi-plausible ubertech %28usually aircraft based%29%2C budget troubles and a place%2Fcrisis to use said ubertech.%0D%0A%0D%0ALuckly%2C I%27ve since progressed from them through Robinson %28Kim Stanley %26 hint of Spider%29%2C interesting Star Trek novels %28No Voyager%29 to Terry Pratchett. %0D%0A%0D%0A--Rod.H %28No%2C that%27s not a complete list of who%2Fwhat I%27ve read in the past decade%2C it%27s just the highlights.%29
3|1|0|||||RE%3A Least Favorite Author Rant...|megazone||07:06:38|06/02/2002|%3EI really %5Bb%5Dhate%5B%2Fb%5D Harry Turtledove%27s %22Worldwar%22 series.%0D%0A%0D%0AHuh%2C I%2C on the other hand%2C really enjoyed that series.%0D%0A%0D%0AYes%2C that one bit felt forced%2C but overall I liked them.  Enough that I%27ve been thinking of buying the sequel books.%0D%0A
16|2|3|||||RE%3A Least Favorite Author Rant...|jonathanlennox||21:01:09|06/09/2002|%3E%3EI really %5Bb%5Dhate%5B%2Fb%5D Harry Turtledove%27s %22Worldwar%22 series.%0D%0A%3E%0D%0A%3EHuh%2C I%2C on the other hand%2C really enjoyed that series. %0D%0A%3E%0D%0A%3EYes%2C that one bit felt forced%2C but overall I liked them.  Enough that %0D%0A%3EI%27ve been thinking of buying the sequel books. %0D%0A%0D%0AI liked the %5Bi%5DColonization%5B%2Fi%5D books a lot better than the %5Bi%5DWorldwar%5B%2Fi%5D ones.  The end of %5Bi%5DWorldwar%5B%2Fi%5D really seemed like he was padding out the ending to make the book fill the contracted four volumes%2C whereas %5Bi%5DColonization%5B%2Fi%5D is much better paced.%0D%0A%0D%0AIt still has the problem that a lot of Turtledove%27s recent novels have%2C though%2C namely a mind-bogglingly huge cast of characters%2C so that the character who appears for a page and a half after page 1 next appears around page 75.%0D%0A%0D%0A-- %0D%0AJonathan Lennox%0D%0Alennox%40cs.columbia.edu%0D%0A