tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3669394918563164889.post5243365477993049753..comments2024-03-05T17:07:07.408-08:00Comments on The Raptor Clause: Progress Report: 4/12/2010Grayson Towlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09480268491290929076noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3669394918563164889.post-52045296899251140132010-04-17T08:55:26.442-07:002010-04-17T08:55:26.442-07:00I started reading the Wheel of Time in high school...I started reading the Wheel of Time in high school and sort of drifted away from the series after 8 books or so, but have always intended to finish it. I do like the series, or perhaps more importantly the characters, and don't consider myself either "fanboy" or "unsophisticated." But as a reader, and someone without any great insight or expertise in writing, the books I find compelling are the ones with well-realized worlds and people. Where it seems like characters behave consistently, where their choices carry weight, and their personalities in some sense reflect people or types of people I know/understand. Thunderstruck had these qualities, which is a great part of why I liked it so much. I think WoT does too, though I can recognize where there are differences in the approach to characterization. I think part of it is the specific fantasy subgenre - I mean, the Lord of the Rings has a paper thin one dimensional villain, heroes whose chief goal is to sit at home smoking and drinking, stilted & overwrought dialogue, sexism, an abundance of throwaway characters, deus ex machina, little character development for anyone but Frodo, and pages upon pages of songs and poetry in a made up language. These seem like some pretty severe flaws, but it remains an absolute classic and even a pillar of the genre. What it gets right must somehow outweigh what it gets wrong. *shrug*Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03893864994457673069noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3669394918563164889.post-55539608301065204032010-04-16T08:35:49.904-07:002010-04-16T08:35:49.904-07:00It is interesting. I think some of it is hitting t...It is interesting. I think some of it is hitting the right notes that appeal to a particular demographic - wish fulfillment fantasies are a powerful thing. And then there are some authors that I would say aren't good writers, but are good storytellers, and that can make all the difference.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com