Holy crap! In Alb., SRD mentioned what AT repeatedly does, and now I've read it first-hand. It's certainly an intense book so far, and, obviously, not for its sci-fi elements.WOW!
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Fist and Faith
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WOW!
I never thought TCTC was a good place to introduce youngsters to the fantasy/sci-fi genre. But now I'm halfway through The Real Story, and I REALLY think it's not a good starting point! Holy crap! In Alb., SRD mentioned what AT repeatedly does, and now I've read it first-hand. It's certainly an intense book so far, and, obviously, not for its sci-fi elements.
Holy crap! In Alb., SRD mentioned what AT repeatedly does, and now I've read it first-hand. It's certainly an intense book so far, and, obviously, not for its sci-fi elements.All lies and jest
Still a man hears what he wants to hear
And disregards the rest -Paul Simon
Still a man hears what he wants to hear
And disregards the rest -Paul Simon
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duchess of malfi
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The Real Story is quite possibly the hardest read of my life. Even though I think The Gap is fantastic, that little book kept me from rereading it from when the books were originally published up until I knew I was going to Albuquerque to meet with SRD and fellow Watchers.
SRD's writing is brilliant, as always, but the violence (both sexual, physical, and mental) was brutal for me to read about.
I know it doesn't bother some people, but it sure bothers me.
SRD's writing is brilliant, as always, but the violence (both sexual, physical, and mental) was brutal for me to read about.
I know it doesn't bother some people, but it sure bothers me.
Love as thou wilt.
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Fist and Faith
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"Brutal" indeed! I don't imagine I'll be able to reread it any time soon either. But I trust the quality of the full Gap cycle justifies this.
Possibly my hardest read, too. But then, War In Heaven was... *shudders*
Possibly my hardest read, too. But then, War In Heaven was... *shudders*
All lies and jest
Still a man hears what he wants to hear
And disregards the rest -Paul Simon
Still a man hears what he wants to hear
And disregards the rest -Paul Simon
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duchess of malfi
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Suffering of innocent people is a difficult topic... 
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Dawngreeter
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This is a great series - as good or better than The Chronicles. They only get better & better as you read all the way through the set. This is your first time reading the series? I'm suprised you haven't read them yet being so well versed in the Chronicles.
It was the fetid halitus of the most diseased mortality condensed to its essence and elevated to the transcendence of prophecy, promise, suzerain truth—the definitive commandment of darkness.
I remember The Real Story as a nasty and violent piece of work. After finishing the book, I was in a daze, maybe like a hit-and-run victim just picking himself off the ground, wondering what the hell just happened. I wasn't prepared for the brutality of the story or the writing.
That was a few years ago and I still haven't read the rest of the Gap books. I'll probably have to re-read The Real Story to refresh my memory. Oh joy. I'm still determined to read the whole cycle; I'm just not in any particular rush to do so.
(A Gap Dissection might encourage folks like me to sit down and read through these books sooner rather than later.)
But let me just say that the Chronicles are very special in my life: they have affected me at a profound level, so profound that it's impossible for me to objectively compare them with other works. I'm not a religious person, but the Chronicles constitute my literary "bible."
That was a few years ago and I still haven't read the rest of the Gap books. I'll probably have to re-read The Real Story to refresh my memory. Oh joy. I'm still determined to read the whole cycle; I'm just not in any particular rush to do so.
(A Gap Dissection might encourage folks like me to sit down and read through these books sooner rather than later.)
I'm glad you love the Gap. SRD has said often enough in the Gradual Interview that he feels the Gap is his best writing to date (pending the Last Chronicles), so he would appreciate your sentiments.Dawngreeter wrote:This is a great series - as good or better than The Chronicles.
But let me just say that the Chronicles are very special in my life: they have affected me at a profound level, so profound that it's impossible for me to objectively compare them with other works. I'm not a religious person, but the Chronicles constitute my literary "bible."
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I'm Murrin
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Sorus
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Re: WOW!
I agree with you completely there. I would never recommend the Gap to young readers (or even most adults), even though I myself was 14 when I first read the series.Fist and Faith wrote:I never thought TCTC was a good place to introduce youngsters to the fantasy/sci-fi genre. But now I'm halfway through The Real Story, and I REALLY think it's not a good starting point!
I won't say that content didn't disturb me at times, but I was not shocked, or even surprised. I was going through a very dark time myself, and was able to emphasize with the characters more than I think most people generally can.
Oh, a change is coming, feel these doors now closing
Is there no world for tomorrow, if we wait for today?
yeah. poor Felisin. how far are you in that?
you're more advanced than a cockroach,
have you ever tried explaining yourself
to one of them?
~ alan bates, the mothman prophecies
i've had this with actors before, on the set,
where they get upset about the [size of my]
trailer, and i'm always like...take my trailer,
cause... i'm from Kentucky
and that's not what we brag about.
~ george clooney, inside the actor's studio
a straight edge for legends at
the fold - searching for our
lost cities of gold. burnt tar,
gravel pits. sixteen gears switch.
Haphazard Lucy strolls by.
~ dennis r wood ~
have you ever tried explaining yourself
to one of them?
~ alan bates, the mothman prophecies
i've had this with actors before, on the set,
where they get upset about the [size of my]
trailer, and i'm always like...take my trailer,
cause... i'm from Kentucky
and that's not what we brag about.
~ george clooney, inside the actor's studio
a straight edge for legends at
the fold - searching for our
lost cities of gold. burnt tar,
gravel pits. sixteen gears switch.
Haphazard Lucy strolls by.
~ dennis r wood ~
no, will finish tonight while doing laundry...arg.
you're more advanced than a cockroach,
have you ever tried explaining yourself
to one of them?
~ alan bates, the mothman prophecies
i've had this with actors before, on the set,
where they get upset about the [size of my]
trailer, and i'm always like...take my trailer,
cause... i'm from Kentucky
and that's not what we brag about.
~ george clooney, inside the actor's studio
a straight edge for legends at
the fold - searching for our
lost cities of gold. burnt tar,
gravel pits. sixteen gears switch.
Haphazard Lucy strolls by.
~ dennis r wood ~
have you ever tried explaining yourself
to one of them?
~ alan bates, the mothman prophecies
i've had this with actors before, on the set,
where they get upset about the [size of my]
trailer, and i'm always like...take my trailer,
cause... i'm from Kentucky
and that's not what we brag about.
~ george clooney, inside the actor's studio
a straight edge for legends at
the fold - searching for our
lost cities of gold. burnt tar,
gravel pits. sixteen gears switch.
Haphazard Lucy strolls by.
~ dennis r wood ~
did read it. it DID give me some insight...not all the stuff about Wagner and stuff. i really didn't need to know all that, but that first bit when he's talking about ideas and how he gets them ( i LOVE the Lysol can thing!! 
) the whole "2 ideas" thing. really helped me!! i got out some old story bits and started re-reading them for possible "second idea" ideas!!!! i have this one crazy story which i think i'm going to start working on again!! *goes looking for the Lysol can under the sink*
) the whole "2 ideas" thing. really helped me!! i got out some old story bits and started re-reading them for possible "second idea" ideas!!!! i have this one crazy story which i think i'm going to start working on again!! *goes looking for the Lysol can under the sink* -
Alynna Lis Eachann
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I loved the Afterword in TRS. It's so illuminating. I would have continued The Gap without it, though, because the way TRS ended had me very curious as to what would happen next.
"We probably could have saved ourselves, but we were too damned lazy to try very hard... and too damn cheap." - Kurt Vonnegut
"Now if you remember all great paintings have an element of tragedy to them. Uh, for instance if you remember from last week, the unicorn was stuck on the aircraft carrier and couldn't get off. That was very sad. " - Kids in the Hall
"Now if you remember all great paintings have an element of tragedy to them. Uh, for instance if you remember from last week, the unicorn was stuck on the aircraft carrier and couldn't get off. That was very sad. " - Kids in the Hall