tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2319453613836766610.post2478486052858018833..comments2023-10-23T23:35:22.776+02:00Comments on Cross Words: Gritty FantasyTed Crosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09022309459554237650noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2319453613836766610.post-47943144681560400702011-05-30T16:24:00.634+02:002011-05-30T16:24:00.634+02:00There are a few others out there (such as Glen Coo...There are a few others out there (such as Glen Cook) that can write with fantasy and reality intermingled, but it must be incredibly hard to come up with a world that suspends only some reality. Where do you draw the line?Cooper316https://www.blogger.com/profile/17022898909661466227noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2319453613836766610.post-11292646258644987892011-05-01T20:07:34.355+02:002011-05-01T20:07:34.355+02:00I'm not sure that's entirely fair to Aberc...I'm not sure that's entirely fair to Abercrombie (who, I confess, is my favorite living writer). Craw and Beck, in the Heroes, are certainly sympathetic characters that seem to have a streak of good in them. Shivers as well, at the end of the First Law -- his (understandable) failure to become a better man notwithstanding during BSC. The Dogman also seems to be a good sort.<br /><br />Even Monza turns out not to be as evil as she thinks she is -- she gets pissed at Morveer for his indiscriminate killing at the bank, and lets the families squatting in their building stay there (oops!). <br /><br />That said, I'll admit that the end of the First Law trilogy was too dark for me. Still, excellent writing! And to me, Abercrombie's characters are more "real" in that they seem to have a sense of humor, cynical and ironic as it might be in many cases.The Grumpy Buddhahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07659984819586257530noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2319453613836766610.post-49831801405733630122011-04-29T14:52:23.572+02:002011-04-29T14:52:23.572+02:00Thank you, Luke!Thank you, Luke!Ted Crosshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09022309459554237650noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2319453613836766610.post-59759508980246874362011-04-29T14:13:20.496+02:002011-04-29T14:13:20.496+02:00"Created worlds that are treated with the sam..."Created worlds that are treated with the same seriousness of our own real world appeal to me."<br /><br />This is EXACTLY the way of thinking I have for my own work and for the fiction I enjoy. Good post all round.Luke Walkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11268592921301059770noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2319453613836766610.post-60063625891157056692011-04-29T05:22:55.101+02:002011-04-29T05:22:55.101+02:00Oh yeah, he did. It's probably why I love him ...Oh yeah, he did. It's probably why I love him so much. :)Claudie A.https://www.blogger.com/profile/10726598163986994132noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2319453613836766610.post-80847388953512202562011-04-29T04:40:40.975+02:002011-04-29T04:40:40.975+02:00Claudie, don't get me wrong, I would never con...Claudie, don't get me wrong, I would never consider Jaime 'good', but he certainly went from plain evil to at least 'shades of gray'.<br /><br />Bryan, I had to struggle through to the end, because it really didn't work for me. After liking his sci-fi books so much, it did surprise me.Ted Crosshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09022309459554237650noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2319453613836766610.post-21725367653121139422011-04-28T22:32:37.098+02:002011-04-28T22:32:37.098+02:00Nicely put. Frankly, I didn't finish the Morga...Nicely put. Frankly, I didn't finish the Morgan novel. The characterizations irked me, and it wasn't nearly so well-written as I had thought it would be. For a guy with his reputation, I was a little surprised by all the throw-in actions scenes.Bryan Russellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09555071335245492790noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2319453613836766610.post-16686445781438670062011-04-28T20:34:01.859+02:002011-04-28T20:34:01.859+02:00I am so behind this post, Ted, except for one thin...I am so behind this post, Ted, except for one thing: Jaime, really?<br /><br />Don't get me wrong, Jaime Lannister is one of my favourite characters ever (which says something because twin characters start with a strike in my case), but when you do what he did at the start of A Game of Thrones, you're out of the 'good' section for ever. He's not all-out evil, though. Not like Tywin.<br /><br />Anyway. I agree that most people at least try to be decent, and I can't imagine a world where most don't care about the child with its head in the pillori. People have their faults - sometimes lots of them - but most strive not to let them get the better of them.Claudie A.https://www.blogger.com/profile/10726598163986994132noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2319453613836766610.post-7638643339435234352011-04-28T19:03:28.607+02:002011-04-28T19:03:28.607+02:00You just described the reason why I hated watching...You just described the reason why I hated watching Stargate: Universe - all dispicable characters.Alex J. Cavanaughhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09770065693345181702noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2319453613836766610.post-17995172366446763072011-04-28T17:13:38.637+02:002011-04-28T17:13:38.637+02:00Budd, that is exactly right. His style worked well...Budd, that is exactly right. His style worked well for me with sci-fi, but not as much for fantasy.Ted Crosshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09022309459554237650noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2319453613836766610.post-47045478526541048072011-04-28T17:02:40.712+02:002011-04-28T17:02:40.712+02:00I write grim and gritty myself, so my interest was...I write grim and gritty myself, so my interest was piqued when I heard there were others beside Martin. I didn't find it so much grim and gritty as vile and dickish, which doesn't interest me very much.Joseph L. Selbyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16629531390894108695noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2319453613836766610.post-5973614047457824032011-04-28T16:09:24.697+02:002011-04-28T16:09:24.697+02:00I don't know much about fantasy but I like the...I don't know much about fantasy but I like the way you explain these authors use of realism.Libbyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14323538213636795216noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2319453613836766610.post-73225945321133699772011-04-28T15:52:06.449+02:002011-04-28T15:52:06.449+02:00Yeah, people generally strive for goodness. Is th...Yeah, people generally strive for goodness. Is that Richard K. Morgan of Takashi Novaks fame.Buddhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17142269413009487783noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2319453613836766610.post-80241722299828370102011-04-28T15:47:15.917+02:002011-04-28T15:47:15.917+02:00very interesting ted!
ohman! i'm really lovin...very interesting ted!<br />ohman! i'm really loving game of thrones so far! there are a few moments that make me squirm, but i'm sure others would enjoy them. ohman! you're right-on about your assessment of people. i don't think that people set out to be monsters... and i have known people who have acted monsterously. they always seem to have their reasons in their own warped sense of morality. whether it's a worship of ambition- like the lannisters seem to have- or a arrogant belief in their own superiority - like catelyn stark at the point where i am in the novel- or a sense that they have suffered a great injustice and must be avenged- that dragon jerk that i can't remember his name- <br />villains have motives, and don't often see themselves as villains. often they think they have a right to whatever they take or even that they are teaching the world a lesson. <br />i haven't read any of those other guys, but i'll agree with you that so far as i'm into this game of thrones novel, martin is doing a great job writing believable characters. :) and i feel really sad for anyone who think realistic means that all people are nonsensically manipulative and selfish... i mean people ARE manipulative and selfish- but there IS usually a reason for it, and they THINK they are doing "right." :)vic caswell https://www.blogger.com/profile/01218698236837610704noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2319453613836766610.post-87436669140702712562011-04-28T15:22:18.603+02:002011-04-28T15:22:18.603+02:00I haven't read any of these, but I would echo ...I haven't read any of these, but I would echo your opinion that most characters really should have more good than bad to them if you want to have readers root for them. I read a book this past year... not remembering the title, but NOBODY was likeable, and it's TIRING. And I would agree with your assessment of human nature, most people are not really villains. Most bad acts are committed by people who think they HAVE TO circumstantially, have been misled or have faulty thinking, or based on some impulse. Even the VILLAINS should have a REASON. Greed and selfishness only thrive in absense of some big life needs.Hart Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17599570189253229318noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2319453613836766610.post-3145690723209095092011-04-28T15:14:24.299+02:002011-04-28T15:14:24.299+02:00Oh, I agree with you. I have found myself groaning...Oh, I agree with you. I have found myself groaning at stories where no one has a heart or wants to help the poor kid with his head stuck in the pillory.Luanne G. Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15762881276976395955noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2319453613836766610.post-89560942953979711862011-04-28T14:49:21.816+02:002011-04-28T14:49:21.816+02:00I have never heard of that type of fantasy before....I have never heard of that type of fantasy before. I do agree though, shades of grey are much more realistic in novels than the Jedi/Sith combo.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12160669603997465454noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2319453613836766610.post-52084769143485535672011-04-28T09:26:33.092+02:002011-04-28T09:26:33.092+02:00Hmmm . . I'll have to read these two writers.
...Hmmm . . I'll have to read these two writers.<br /><br />I like this sentiment of yours: there have always been at least some people with more positive attitudes toward life or generally more cheerful dispositions. <br /><br />Yep; heroes do not have to be perfect (IMHO), they just have to see what needs done and set about doing it. To me, that is true courage<br /><br />........dholedolorahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08715849844092553699noreply@blogger.com