A Prosaic Confession

Post by **Obi-Wan Nihilo** » Mon Jan 30, 2012 8:40 am

Not sure this belongs here, but then again I'm not sure where it fits, so I guess this might be the grab bag for anything that doesn't fit elsewhere. In any case.

I have yet to purchase AATE. I just realized that it has been out for 15 months already. I have been waiting to find the hardcover at a deep discount (I am supplying a friend in poverty as well as myself). I think this has been my plan ever since I saw FR at Books-a-Million for like $8, after I paid nearly $30 for each copy. Maybe this is evil of me, and unsupportive of SRD, but I don't feel like I should have to be the sucker just to buy a book as soon as possible so I can read it as fast as possible so I can wait for 3 more years to find out what happened. I think I'm going to wait until all the books are out before I read more of the series (I'll probably need to re-read the first two books... what's it been, 8 years already on ROTE?).

Perhaps some of this has to do with some doubts about the overall direction of TLC at this point. FR was, frankly, an even bigger mess than ROTE. And the whole thing is starting to have that Star Wars prequel feel to it. Like the idea that tidying up all the loose ends seems like a cool thing to do, but when you actually do it, it turns tedious and distorts the entire feel of the original series. TLC seem more and more like a bad idea to me. Maybe Donaldson's gut was right all those years ago when it told him not to write the series. He thought 'now', but maybe his gut was saying 'ever' and he just didn't -- or couldn't -- get the message.

I dunno. Excuse me for ranting a bit. I just wonder of all the SRD fans on here -- and I am one -- how many have lost interest in TLC, or see it as more chore/obligation than genuine pleasure?

Post by **Fist and Faith** » Mon Jan 30, 2012 11:24 am

I'm pretty well known for having a similar opinion of TLC. I reat ROTE and FR, and won't be going on. I read what happened in AATE in the threads here, and am very happy with my decision.

Post by **Hiro** » Mon Jan 30, 2012 12:27 pm

Although it pains me to say it, as I was so much looking forward to another and new stroll in the Land, I have to agree that TLC have lost my interest as well. I did buy all three installments as soon as possible, though. But frankly, I was disappointed again and again.

Post by **I'm Murrin** » Mon Jan 30, 2012 1:44 pm

Fatal Revenant is a pretty bad book. Against All Things Ending isn't.

Post by **dlbpharmd** » Mon Jan 30, 2012 3:31 pm

Murrin wrote:Fatal Revenant is a pretty bad book. Against All Things Ending isn't.

I believe just the opposite; I greatly enjoyed FR, but hated AATE.

Post by **Orlion** » Mon Jan 30, 2012 4:24 pm

dlbpharmd wrote:
Murrin wrote:Fatal Revenant is a pretty bad book. Against All Things Ending isn't.
I believe just the opposite; I greatly enjoyed FR, but hated AATE.

That seems to be the pattern. Even though I'll always say I love the Last Chronicles, Fatal Revenant was by far my least favorite while Against All Things Ending is by far my most favorite.

Post by **MsMary** » Mon Jan 30, 2012 4:28 pm

My daughter has refused to read AATE until the last book is out.

Having read all the books as they came out, I can't really blame her.

I hate being left hanging.

And AATE strayed into some extremely bizarre territory, IMO.

Post by **sindatur** » Mon Jan 30, 2012 4:44 pm

I'm enjoying the Series, personally. Runes, was a bit hollow seeming first time through, but, after reading FR, I was able to enjoy Runes much more, and I thought AATE was great.

Post by **Rigel** » Mon Jan 30, 2012 5:23 pm

MsMary wrote: And AATE strayed into some extremely bizarre territory, IMO.

Your nick shouldn't be "MsMary," it should be "MsUnderstatement"

Looking back now, I can see that FR is definitely my least favorite, but then I haven't done any re-reads of the LCs yet. AATE, while bizarre, packs an emotional whallop that's unequaled.

Post by **MsMary** » Mon Jan 30, 2012 5:43 pm

Rigel wrote:
MsMary wrote: And AATE strayed into some extremely bizarre territory, IMO.
Your nick shouldn't be "MsMary," it should be "MsUnderstatement"

Looking back now, I can see that FR is definitely my least favorite, but then I haven't done any re-reads of the LCs yet. AATE, while bizarre, packs an emotional whallop that's unequaled.

I'm really on the fence about AATE. In order to feel the emotional wallop, you have to buy into the bizarreness and the increasingly convoluted plot. It's kind of getting beyond the pale for me, but I'm withholding final judgment till I read the last book.

And I'll leave it at that. Any more specific discussion really belongs in TLC forum.

As does this thread, probably. I'm a little concerned that some who haven't read TLC may be annoyed by even the hints about the direction of TLC that have been expressed in this thread.

Post by **Orlion** » Mon Jan 30, 2012 6:14 pm

Yeah, people sometimes do seem to get upset if you so much as mention the Last Chronicles. "Wha-? Linden's in the Last Chronicles? Quit spoiling it for those of us who haven't read it!"

Post by **I'm Murrin** » Mon Jan 30, 2012 7:14 pm

I do think if these books in the Last Chronicles had been published and read back at the same time as the other TC books that people would be criticising them much less right now. It's the fact that they're new, there's been years of anticipation, and people have raised up the old ones on a pedestal in their memories, that cause the Last Chronicles to be judged as harshly as they are.

Okay, so Fatal Revenant isn't a great book. But again, I really thought Against All Things Ending was just as good as the volumes of The Second Chronicles were.

Post by **MsMary** » Mon Jan 30, 2012 8:00 pm

Orlion wrote:Yeah, people sometimes do seem to get upset if you so much as mention the Last Chronicles. "Wha-? Linden's in the Last Chronicles? Quit spoiling it for those of us who haven't read it!"

My daughter's kind of like that. Okay, not to the extent you're saying, but she definitely wouldn't want me telling her the things I said above. She doesn't want the least hint about which direction the plot goes, or what mood it takes, or how weird or normal it is till she's had the opportunity to sit down and read it for herself.

Post by **MsMary** » Mon Jan 30, 2012 8:01 pm

Murrin wrote:I do think if these books in the Last Chronicles had been published and read back at the same time as the other TC books that people would be criticising them much less right now. It's the fact that they're new, there's been years of anticipation, and people have raised up the old ones on a pedestal in their memories, that cause the Last Chronicles to be judged as harshly as they are.

Okay, so Fatal Revenant isn't a great book. But again, I really thought Against All Things Ending was just as good as the volumes of The Second Chronicles were.

I disagree. I was prepared to enjoy the books on their own merit. They're an interesting read, but I liked the First Chronicles the best and that is still true.

Post by **Obi-Wan Nihilo** » Mon Jan 30, 2012 8:32 pm

I don't know, Murrin, I think the first and second chronicles hold up pretty well, both retrospectively and when re-reading.

Post by **Rigel** » Mon Jan 30, 2012 8:47 pm

Murrin wrote:and people have raised up the old ones on a pedestal in their memories

Not quite... many of us are still doing regular re-reads of the first and second chrons. They're not just in our memories, they're still actively being enjoyed

Post by **ussusimiel** » Mon Jan 30, 2012 10:46 pm

I was in Fist's camp (I'd thrown FR into the corner about halfway through and left it there) when I joined the site but some convincing advocacy helped me finish FR and buy a copy of AATE. I'm halfway through it now but the going is slow. None of my initial reservations have been laid to rest: the story had finished satisfactorily, some mysteries don't need to be explained, overcomplication hinders storytelling, too much internal perspective is a drag, the absence of the Land as a character disappoints, names like Kevin's Dirt, the **!!&& red race car (I always feel like the piss is being pulled out of me whenever the race car comes up. Only that I know the kind of person SRD is I'd wouldn't be able to bear it

).

I read on now because I enjoy this site so much that I want to be able to feel part of its original reason for being (and if I ever got to go to an Elohimfest I'd like to be able to look the man himself in the eye in the knowledge that I had at least read all of the series

).

I personally think that the main problem with the Last Chrons is that SRD's strengths as a writer and storyteller are being strangled by the overcomplex plot and the sheer number of characters, powers and forces abroad in the Land. The Land itself is relatively simple and I feel that stories about it are better mirroring that. I know that the 2nd Chrons was more complicated than the 1st but the forces involved (except for the Elohim and Nom) generally stayed in their diverse places. In the Last Chrons there is confrontation after confrontation of a seemingly endless variety of forces from just about anywhere and they all seem capable of turning up willy-nilly.

And arguments about putting the earlier Chrons on a pedestal don't really stand up, IMO, because as soon as Linden went into the past to meet Berek the writing and the story freed up and began to breathe again. Also, arguments that the Land is under stifling brume of Kevin's Dirt don't wash because it is the characters not the reader who should experience that sensation. We should feel sympathy for them not feel choked by the writing. SRD managed this very effectively in The Wounded Land

In saying all of that I am happy that SRD is writing the story (it's his after all

) and I am happy that so many people are enjoying it. I'm not sure that KW would be the wonderful place it is without the energy and excitement that the new books generate and for that alone I am grateful. People like SRD and places like the Watch are very rare and need to be cherished. My experience of the Last Chrons may not be one of 'joy is in the ears that hear' but there is plenty of joy to be found all across the multi-various Watch

u.

[EDIT: to remove redundant spoiler tags]

Post by **Obi-Wan Nihilo** » Mon Jan 30, 2012 10:59 pm

As Hall & Oates said with such sagacity, some things are better left unsaid.

Post by **MsMary** » Mon Jan 30, 2012 11:04 pm

ussusimiel wrote: [My copious usage of spoiler tags may be an indication that this thread should be elsewhere ]

I think it should be.

Post by **wayfriend** » Mon Jan 30, 2012 11:11 pm

Ron Burgunihilo wrote:As Hall & Oates said with such sagacity, some things are better left unsaid.

Ah, but it was that great philosopher Pink Floyd who said, You're so hard to please / What do you want from me?

Kevin's Watch

Kevin's Watch

A Prosaic Confession

A Prosaic Confession