[Malaclypse]

Macros, on 23 March 2013 - 02:27 PM, said:

Just realised because of the rep comment character cut off my message to Mal mightn't make much sense

From what I got, sounds like some apologist bullshit along the lines of it was bad as compared to Lies but good on its own merit? If so, I disagree - it was drek. I'll tell you the same thing I told Simon Taylor (Steve's editor at Bantam) - If Lynch can make a credible seven-book series out of this, I'll stab myself in the eye with a fork

polishgenius, on 23 March 2013 - 03:14 PM, said:

Red Seas has its share of flaws but I think qualifying it for 'shitty' status is going way too far. The worst things were the cheap false tension created by the opening and the not-explaining-what-Locke-was-doing that had to be maintained in contrived ways.

I know a lot of people disliked the pirate bit but tbh on its own merits it was fine, it was just weaving the two separate plot threads together caused pacing difficulties.

It was all still a lot of fun, imo.

Again, I disagree. It was shit. I wish I hadn't read it. I hope he manages to pull it back but I am not confident. Some writers just don't have the chops for more than one good book and Lynch might be one of those. Red Seas was alarmingly bad.

[Hinter]

I'm with Malaclypse here. Lies was excellent. Red Seas started off OK but then descended into Pirates of the Caribean nonsense. Never actually finished it as it was such dross, and certainly won't be buying the latest.

Lynch gets thrown on to the "Promising but ultimately unfulfilling" pile.

[Macros]

Apologist bullshit? I take offense good sir!

I was agreeing with you, hence the plus rep. It was along the lines of, lies was good, red seas was piss poor, and my hopes aren't high for number three.

obviously my high brow analogy went right over your head and you didn't know what I was on aboot.

also, I am dismayed at your lack of pm reply.

DISMAYED I TELL YOU

[Werthead]

Size update: REPUBLIC OF THIEVES is 210,000 words in length, which should translate to about 550-600 pages in hardcover/tradeback.

[Abyss]

Size matters!!!!
....or not. HBs of LIES were 512pgs and RED was 576, so we're in the same ballpark.

[pat5150]

I'm giving away an Advance Reading Copy of Scott Lynch's The Republic of Thieves on the Hotlist!

Cheers,

Patrick

[Eddie Dean]

So who is getting this on Tuesday besides me? I 'm almost finished with my read through of the first two books and am getting pretty pumped.

[D'rek]

Eddie Dean, on 03 October 2013 - 05:28 PM, said:

So who is getting this on Tuesday besides me? I 'm almost finished with my read through of the first two books and am getting pretty pumped.

Book Depository says 7 days to go until publication, so I'll probably have my hands on it around the 15th. This is definitely the longest pre-order I've ever waited all the way through.

[Obdigore]

Eddie Dean, on 03 October 2013 - 05:28 PM, said:

So who is getting this on Tuesday besides me? I 'm almost finished with my read through of the first two books and am getting pretty pumped.

Judging by the early reviews I've read... you are going to be disappointed.


and so am I, because I'm getting it day one anyway.

[Malaclypse]

I really struggle with this one because the first one was brilliant, loved every bit of it, and the second one was fucking terrible, so this is a make or break moment for him and he must know that so I'm definitely gonna download it onto my phone ;p

[amphibian]

On a re read the second improves considerably. However, there is this gigantic hole in the book where Locke and Jean should have been trained by an extremely grumpy sailor in how to sail.

[polishgenius]

Why do people keep assuming that because he's had depression, a bad review will knock him for a loop? I mean, it might, but for all we know, he might be totally mentally prepared for a bit of flack. His original issues, so far as he's told us, had nothing to do with the reception of his work.

[QuickTidal]

polishgenius, on 04 October 2013 - 08:52 AM, said:

Why do people keep assuming that because he's had depression, a bad review will knock him for a loop? I mean, it might, but for all we know, he might be totally mentally prepared for a bit of flack. His original issues, so far as he's told us, had nothing to do with the reception of his work.

A Fair point.

But didn't some of his depression (other than the stuff attached to his Dad's illness) stem from his belief or lackthereof in his own work? Like he was second guessing himself at every opportunity that he was writing something worthwhile? I thought I recalled something like that being a part of it. I could be wrong.

If that's the case, then yeah a slew of bad reviews for a long awaited novel might knock him for a loop mentally.

I think some assume that all authors have a skin of titanium about their work...but even one bad review is bound to affect them, depression or not. Everyone is judging your art, and that's a really rough bridge to stand on.

So if that's the case he'll either get determined, or dejected about it. I hope it's determined, cause I'd love to see the series hitting the highs of LIES again.

[polishgenius]

I gather that he absolutely hates editing his work, once he's done the first draft (he finished the first draft of RoT absolutely fucking ages ago). But I don't recall reading that this has anything to do with not being able to take the criticism required for a good edit, or being unconfident about it- I got the impression that, simply, once the first stuff is on the page, the rest feels like drudge-work or something. But you may be right.

Though there was one point relatively recently that he claimed he partly got round that mental issue by starting writing the next book while editing Republic. That doesn't make it sound like it was a confidence issue tbh.



I'm fully aware as a wannabe writer of the potential hurtfulness of bad reviews (which is why, since my early days of the internet, I've modulated my style of criticism since I know writers will be on forums sometimes - not that I'm any less picky if I think a book deserves it, as you may have noticed, but I try to be less blunt and more constructive with the things I say).

[QuickTidal]

polishgenius, on 04 October 2013 - 01:15 PM, said:

I gather that he absolutely hates editing his work, once he's done the first draft (he finished the first draft of RoT absolutely fucking ages ago). But I don't recall reading that this has anything to do with not being able to take the criticism required for a good edit, or being unconfident about it- I got the impression that, simply, once the first stuff is on the page, the rest feels like drudge-work or something. But you may be right.

Though there was one point relatively recently that he claimed he partly got round that mental issue by starting writing the next book while editing Republic. That doesn't make it sound like it was a confidence issue tbh.



I'm fully aware as a wannabe writer of the potential hurtfulness of bad reviews (which is why, since my early days of the internet, I've modulated my style of criticism since I know writers will be on forums sometimes - not that I'm any less picky if I think a book deserves it, as you may have noticed, but I try to be less blunt and more constructive with the things I say).

Indeed.

I'm the same way with movies and TV writers as well...ever since I read Russel T Davies A WRITER'S TALE about his involvement as showrunner and head writer for DOCTOR WHO, I find that I try to REALLY soften the amount of "give" I'll allow for fiction writers of any kind, simply because of the amount of hard work that's involved, regardless of the outcome. I'm roughest on Moffat, but even he I give much more quarter than I might have a few years back. It's a really interesting book to see behind thew curtain, and get a sense of how tough a job it is.

[Eddie Dean]

Obdigore, on 03 October 2013 - 09:02 PM, said:

Eddie Dean, on 03 October 2013 - 05:28 PM, said:

So who is getting this on Tuesday besides me? I 'm almost finished with my read through of the first two books and am getting pretty pumped.

Judging by the early reviews I've read... you are going to be disappointed.


and so am I, because I'm getting it day one anyway.

I refuse to read any reviews before I've read a book unless its a new series I'm considering reading. I find I enjoy them much more if I don't have expectations for better or for worse. For example, I had know idea Memory of Light was supposed to have been a bad book until after I read it (and enjoyed it thoroughly) and read peoples reactions.

Edit: Also, I wasn't a fan of book 2 the first time I read it (starts out great, then, "hey lets make this a pirate book for no apparent reason!) However I've read it two more times and just the knowledge of how it will take a turn in advance made it much more enjoyable.

This post has been edited by Eddie Dean: 05 October 2013 - 02:31 PM

[King Lear]

One of my friends finished reading an early proof yesterday. I have terrible friends

[Werthead]

Scott's been Tweeting that he's hard at work on Thorn of Emberlain (Book 4 in the series) and he really wants to get it out a year after Republic. I don't know if he'll quite manage that, but certainly 18-month gaps between the next two books seem doable.

Also, I don't think the reception is that important to him. On his blog he's between reposting reviews, good, bad or indifferent alike.

[jonny_anonymous]

Is this series good? My Kindle is always advising me to buy it.

[Obdigore]

Finished it. I liked it, but the ending was just like 'meh'. I kind of think he expects everyone to be blown away by it, but 'meh' is about all I could come up with. I liked it quite a bit up until the very end.