[D'rek]

Studlock, on 22 July 2014 - 02:42 AM, said:

I feel like when you write Hamlet's Father you've retroactively ruined all of your previous work and proactively ruined any future work.

Alright, well in that case I feel like when you write The Rape of Lucrece you retroactively ruin all of your previous and future work, too. What do you know, it turns out I studied a lot of bigoted and evil plays across six years of english class in school!

[Studlock]

Matter of fact him writing Hamlet's Father ruins writing for anyone ever again!

I was being slightly (more sarcasm) sarcastic but that being said I don't actually trust OSC or any of his work both past and future because he has written Hamlet's Father that is a straight attack on gay men so in a way I guess he has ruined his work retroactively for me. I'm sure written decent, good things, but I doubt I'll ever read them because there's are other authors who have written similar things (and even progressive things!) who aren't raging assholes who personally contribute to organizations that deliberately attempts to make the world a worst place.

So sure he work might have some merit, but enough merit to overcome his current attitude and hateful writing? Well that's of personal opinion, but I highly doubt he is the skilled of a writer to make up for his personality that I couldn't find similar things elsewhere.

[Goaswerfraiejen]

Abyss, on 21 July 2014 - 07:06 PM, said:

I could be wrong, it's been years since i read it, but im fairly sure the book ENDER'S GAME contains no particular bigotry ( aside from the whole anti-bugism thing).

Scott himself has said some fairly close minded, bigotted things publicly and he's been rightly painted for it, but for accuracy's sake, i don't think it was in everything he's ever written ever.

I didn't know anything about Card 'til just recently, when I checked him out on Wikipedia after reading Ender's Game. There were several moments in EG that made me wonder a little about the politics behind the book, but as I said earlier, it wasn't anything particularly serious (aside from some remarks about the evolution of women that betrayed both sexism and a serious misunderstanding of evolution). And, of course, aside from the fact that the totalitarian political system in place seems kinda vindicated by the end, or perhaps condemned for not being totalitarian enough (since Peter's vindicated).

But as I said, on the whole, I think it was pretty brilliant, moments of unease and everything. I'm far less certain about Speaker for the Dead, and even less so about Xenocide (although I'm not far into that one).

[Morgoth]

Card, bigot that he is, is at least not as bad as Heinlein when it comes to writing his disgusting personal views into his work. Or, at least Card wasn't so bad in the Ender trilogy I read before I learned of Card's views. After that particular revelation I figured I didn't want to provide any more money for the guy.

[Imperial Historian]

I have to say that until I encountered information on the internet regarding cards views, I otherwise had very little idea of his politics or views, it doesn't really come up in his writing.

SciFi and military sci fi in particular is quite often heavily right leaning, Heinlein and Hubbard being classic examples.

I've been puzzled by the reaction to hamlet's father, has anyone here actually read it? I've seen a number of reviews slagging it off, but no actual quotes which show why its bad. Card has written sympathetic gay characters in the past and I wouldn't at all call the majority of his books bigoted (rubbish maybe, but not bigoted).

Whilst card is known to hold anti gay marriage views, which I don't agree with, so does most of the Republican party, do I need to check the voting affiliation of all authors I buy now? For me the politics and views of an author are largely irrelevant if it doesn't get into the writing. And when it does get into the writing most times I don't enjoy it, so don't read it for that reason.

Personally I think card has written a number of books which are well worth reading, particularly enders game and speaker for the dead. He's also written some terrible books. For me the personal views, religion or personality of the author don't come into it.

[Baco Xtath]

Y'all need to start up a separate thread about authors' political/moral views cause it's getting a bit crowded.
Reading Sharps by KJ Parker; about 15% in and am really impressed thus far. I've yet to read anything by him/her but if this continues on track I'll definitely be picking up more. Finished Wool and I'm not really sure why so popular. Yeah, it's pretty good but it's no where near great. I guess since he was one of the first self-publishers to make it big, he's garnered a lot more attention then he would have otherwise. That said, I'll probably give Shift a try, though it's not at the top of my TRP.

[acesn8s]

Finished Lonesome Dove. Wow... I think it is required reading for any budding writer who wants to learn more about developing well-rounded characters.

I found the ending a bit sudden, maybe even a bit lacking, but it was a great novel.

I started Ringworld Engineers.

[amphibian]

If the author is a trash human being, I don't want to put money in his or her pocket. There usually isn't a case where a trash person doesn't write a book strongly influenced by their faults.

Getting back on topic, acesn8s, try reading the other McMurtry books. They're not quite as majestic as Lonesome Dove, but still good reads.

[QuickTidal]

About to pick up the second in Ken Follett's Century Trilogy (WINTER OF THE WORLD), so I'm rereading the latter half of FALL OF GIANTS to refresh myself.

I still LOVE this author for this type of generational fiction...and the bonus of re-reading it is that the first time I read it with the expectation of a certain event (that of the fall of the Romanovs and the Rise of the Bolshevik revolution) being explored...but was severely disappointed to find it only paid a bit of lip service instead....this time however I've allowed myself to get sucked into the interpersonal stories in the Russian portion instead of expecting that and it makes for a more enjoyable read. Proving once again, expectations can upset your enjoyment of a story, so trying not to have as many is a good thing.

Anyways, after this I'll be digging into CIBOLA BURN by Corey.

This post has been edited by QuickTidal: 23 July 2014 - 06:31 PM

[acesn8s]

amphibian, on 23 July 2014 - 04:44 PM, said:

If the author is a trash human being, I don't want to put money in his or her pocket. There usually isn't a case where a trash person doesn't write a book strongly influenced by their faults.

Getting back on topic, acesn8s, try reading the other McMurtry books. They're not quite as majestic as Lonesome Dove, but still good reads.

Would you recommend The Streets of Larado, or should I hit the prequels?

[amphibian]

Streets of Laredo is really sad. Good though. If you're in the mood for something happier in the same universe, go with the prequels and then get to Streets.

Edit: "happier" in a McMurtry book is still grisly and fucked up, while being full of incredibly stubborn and vivid people.

I gotta put his other work on the trp to see if he only writes like that - which is something that Cormac McCarthy does.

This post has been edited by amphibian: 24 July 2014 - 06:35 AM

[Morgoth]

Imperial Historian, on 23 July 2014 - 11:58 AM, said:

Whilst card is known to hold anti gay marriage views, which I don't agree with, so does most of the Republican party, do I need to check the voting affiliation of all authors I buy now? For me the politics and views of an author are largely irrelevant if it doesn't get into the writing. And when it does get into the writing most times I don't enjoy it, so don't read it for that reason.

Personally I think card has written a number of books which are well worth reading, particularly enders game and speaker for the dead. He's also written some terrible books. For me the personal views, religion or personality of the author don't come into it.

No one said it was wrong to buy books written by bigoted authors. You are perfectly welcome to buy whichever book you please. I will however not give any of my money to Card, and I'm very comfortable with that choice.

[Serenity]

acesn8s, on 23 July 2014 - 03:15 PM, said:

Finished Lonesome Dove. Wow... I think it is required reading for any budding writer who wants to learn more about developing well-rounded characters.

I've had this on my wishlist for ages - must get to it soon!

[TheRetiredBridgeburner]

Oh God, the Dresdencrack's got me!

Just started Proven Guilty.... started with Storm Front the middle of last week. Yup, it's got me good

[Tiste Simeon]

TheRetiredBridgeburner, on 24 July 2014 - 07:48 PM, said:

Oh God, the Dresdencrack's got me!

Just started Proven Guilty.... started with Storm Front the middle of last week. Yup, it's got me good

Another convert... excellent...

[polishgenius]

Only on book five after a week and a half? You're not a proper junkie.

[polishgenius]

So it is. I'll defend myself by saying I miscounted because my brother's taken out some of the earlier ones from my bookshelf to read himself.

[Tiste Simeon]

Briar King, on 25 July 2014 - 01:40 AM, said:

That's bk 8.

Hey Tiste what is the prequel Commonwealth bk you told me about? I can't seem to find it.

It's called Misspent Youth. I thought it was terrible. Others liked it though and while you don't need to read it really (it's a few hundred years previous to TCS) it does tell you how certain aspects of the universe in TCS came to be. It's not that big either so even if you don't like it you can get through it quite quickly...

[JPK]

A little over the 60% mark on the Wizard and Glass audiobook, and thus officially farther than I've ever made it before. The narrator really brings it alive for me and I find myself drawn in as often as I can get away with listening. I would definitely recommend a listen for anyone who is either a fan of the series or has had trouble with this book like I did.

This post has been edited by The Incredible Kitsu: 25 July 2014 - 07:58 PM

[Coco with marshmallows]

Finally re-reading Way of Kings as a prelude to reading Words of Radiance.

Only read Way of Kings 1 time previously, back when it first came out, so quite enjoying it. Have forgotten most of the details apart from bits and pieces of what happened to Kaladin, so it's practically like new for me.