books from the library.
May. 27th, 2009 08:53 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
serynI finished the Nth Dresden book by Jim Butcher, Turn Coat. Meh. I know I'm supposed to feel something because characters we've seen from the beginning have died in their big wars. I know I'm supposed to adore Harry's new apprentice. I can't be bothered. My favorite character in these books is Harry's dog, Mouse. You know if I like the dog best, there's something seriously wrong with the series because I don't like dogs.
But seriously, dude, if your apprentice is told not to do something and you bet your life that she will toe the line, if she doesn't abide by it, flaunts this in your face, kill her. It's not worth wasting your time.
I also finished the newest Pern book. I loathe the new author. I don't care if he's Anne McCaffrey's son. He sucks. His work is on the level of a mid-grade fanficker. It's in-costume/in-context with the canon world created by the original author, but somehow it's not quite that big-name-author material. McCaffrey, of course, is one of the authors who prohibits fanfic. I think that's nepotism. Sure, it's her world, her family, and I don't have to buy it if I think it's unfair or think it disserves the story that should be told. I didn't buy it. I borrowed the book from the library. It was okay. There was a lot of depth and semi-introspection, but the main character has no flaws and the plot was the same tired one we've seen over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over again.
Now, in Harry Potter, I actually prefer fic over canon after book three or so. But there are tens of thousands of HP fic writers and it's not that hard to focus on just the really adept ones. I think if Pern had been open, we'd have much much higher quality writings to consume than the dreck on offer for $29.95.
I think I have written better things than either of these books. But of course, when I'm writing it, I know what pushes my buttons and what will keep me engaged.
But seriously, dude, if your apprentice is told not to do something and you bet your life that she will toe the line, if she doesn't abide by it, flaunts this in your face, kill her. It's not worth wasting your time.
I also finished the newest Pern book. I loathe the new author. I don't care if he's Anne McCaffrey's son. He sucks. His work is on the level of a mid-grade fanficker. It's in-costume/in-context with the canon world created by the original author, but somehow it's not quite that big-name-author material. McCaffrey, of course, is one of the authors who prohibits fanfic. I think that's nepotism. Sure, it's her world, her family, and I don't have to buy it if I think it's unfair or think it disserves the story that should be told. I didn't buy it. I borrowed the book from the library. It was okay. There was a lot of depth and semi-introspection, but the main character has no flaws and the plot was the same tired one we've seen over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over again.
Now, in Harry Potter, I actually prefer fic over canon after book three or so. But there are tens of thousands of HP fic writers and it's not that hard to focus on just the really adept ones. I think if Pern had been open, we'd have much much higher quality writings to consume than the dreck on offer for $29.95.
I think I have written better things than either of these books. But of course, when I'm writing it, I know what pushes my buttons and what will keep me engaged.
