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15:14, 28th March 2024 (GMT+0)

Fiction Shmiction and Media Shmedia.

Posted by HeathFor group 0
Heath
GM, 15442 posts
Nyuk, nyuk!
Why, I oughta...
Sat 30 Apr 2011
at 00:23
  • msg #1

Fiction Shmiction and Media Shmedia

This is your thread to discuss books, movies, and other FICTION media items.  Spoilers may be present, but please warn us since this is not the spoiler thread.

You may discuss favorite items, take votes, and even discuss other RPoL games that you really like.

Please do not engage in politics, religion or other inflammatory subjects, as this is meant to be a light-hearted thread ABOUT FICTION...

...where cujo still lives where the red fern grows, somewhere over the rainbow or over the cuckoo's nest, where red badges of courage are earned by fixing wounds with dragonlances or movie star wars are all the raging bull and there is, of course, one ring to rule them all.
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:43, Sat 30 Apr 2011.
Remi LeBeau
player, 110 posts
Sat 30 Apr 2011
at 01:01
  • msg #2

Re: Fiction Shmiction and Media Shmedia

And out of the night, when the full moon is bright, comes the horseman known as Zorro.
jioan
player, 2295 posts
Sat 30 Apr 2011
at 14:52
  • msg #3

Re: Fiction Shmiction and Media Shmedia

Anyone read Wise Man's Fear (Kingkiller Chronicle Day 2) by Patrick Rothfuss?
jioan
player, 2334 posts
Sun 1 May 2011
at 23:48
  • msg #4

Re: Fiction Shmiction and Media Shmedia

How about any Sandman fans?  I've been rereading some of them just to remind myself of the literary genius that is Gaiman.
Remi LeBeau
player, 145 posts
Laissez les bon temps
rouler mes amis!
Mon 2 May 2011
at 00:23
  • msg #5

Re: Fiction Shmiction and Media Shmedia

Haven't read that.  I've been busy reading Mercedes Lackey books right now, and eagerly awaiting the newest Dresden novel.  Harry!!!
Kagura
player, 13466 posts
Mostly Human
Mostly Harmless...
Mon 2 May 2011
at 00:38
  • msg #6

Re: Fiction Shmiction and Media Shmedia

I've been waiting for the newest Dresden novel since a couple of weeks after Changes came out. Haven't read Side Jobs (I need to remember to borrow that from my friend who owns a copy...) but I can't wait to see what happens with Harry being, you know, the Winter Knight and dead and stuff...
Remi LeBeau
player, 147 posts
Laissez les bon temps
rouler mes amis!
Mon 2 May 2011
at 04:10
  • msg #7

Re: Fiction Shmiction and Media Shmedia

Oh, god yeah.  I so cannot wait!
FourLegged
GM, 38782 posts
Quadruped Phascolarctos
Cinereus Unsquisheus
Sun 8 May 2011
at 08:03
  • msg #8

Re: Fiction Shmiction and Media Shmedia

I just finished reading Fated.  It's a decent novel about the nature of fate.  Written by the same guy who wrote Breathers: A Zombie's Lament
jioan
player, 2446 posts
Sun 8 May 2011
at 21:03
  • msg #9

Re: Fiction Shmiction and Media Shmedia

Anyone else ready for the last Wheel of Time book finally?
Kagura
player, 13513 posts
Mostly Human
Mostly Harmless...
Sun 8 May 2011
at 23:42
  • msg #10

Re: Fiction Shmiction and Media Shmedia

You know, while I really like Brian Sanderson's writing (he co-wrote some of the Wheel books, if I'm not mistaken) I never really got into Wheel of Time... it's sort of like the literary version of Firefly or Battlestar to me - lots of people say it's awesome, but I just can't get into it. :D
jioan
player, 2455 posts
Mon 9 May 2011
at 00:10
  • msg #11

Re: Fiction Shmiction and Media Shmedia

While Firefly and Battlestar are amazing, and I don't know how you can like sci-fi and not like them; I can see why you don't like Wheel of Time.  The story is extremely slow-paced (or inconsistent pacing) and uses very little realism but its the epic scope and creativity involved that makes it a good read.  Now I feel so invested in the storyline after reading 12,000 pages or so that I have to know what happens!
Kagura
player, 13517 posts
Mostly Human
Mostly Harmless...
Mon 9 May 2011
at 04:30
  • msg #12

Re: Fiction Shmiction and Media Shmedia

The extent of my liking "sci-fi" as a media (as opposed to literary) genre runs to three and a half of the Star Trek series (original series, Next Generation, some of DS9 and any Voyager episode involving Q), and Star Wars. Mostly what I like for television is the crime drama stuff.

When it comes to books, I generally like cloak-and-dagger fantasy and fantasy based in real-world mythology. I also read some supernatural romance (the Southern Vampire novels - that's True Blood to those of you who haven't read the books) and teen fiction (Tamora Pierce) and some Asimov when the mood strikes me.

ANYways, much of what I read in the fantasy genre is slow-paced to start (especially the stuff involving political intrigue, because they have to set up the court situation before they do anything fun :D) and, well, fantasy as a rule doesn't generally use much realism. That's just how fantasy IS.

No, I just couldn't invest myself in the characters within a few chapters. That was my problem. If I don't like the characters quickly, then I won't keep reading. In my opinion, a good author only needs one or two chapters to let you know everything you need to about the characters central to the plot. If they keep too much back, then you can't identify with them, and if they tell you everything, then there's just no reason to continue reading.
jioan
player, 2459 posts
Mon 9 May 2011
at 11:15
  • msg #13

Re: Fiction Shmiction and Media Shmedia

Kagura:
Fantasy as a rule doesn't generally use much realism. That's just how fantasy IS.


All books incorporate realism to a degree and frankly I have difficulty reading a book without realistic personalities and relationships for the characters.  Wheel of Time has several bland characters (especially early on) and many of the relationships seemed forced.  Also, most main characters are Mary Sues and there is actually a plot device where characters can be ta'veren or able to bend fate around them but have little control over their own fate.
Kagura
player, 13519 posts
Mostly Human
Mostly Harmless...
Mon 9 May 2011
at 12:45
  • msg #14

Re: Fiction Shmiction and Media Shmedia

*shudders* Eww. That's just shoddy writing, that is. How did the Wheel series get so popular with characters and weak plot devices like that?
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