Overrated Authors

[BlackShanglan]

Heinlein, Tolkein, Assmov: legendary paramounts of awesome empires of.... crappy little geeky genres.

I think Heinlein an absolute idiot, although he does serve one purpose. I highly recommend his work "Farnham's Freehold" to all aspiring writers. You won't learn any lessons in writing from it - for God's sake don't imitate its style - but it will hearten and cheer you with the knowledge that any, absolutely any piece of utter garbage can get published.

Tolkein. Hmmm. I was never a great fan of the strucutre and style of "The Lord of the Rings," although it had its moments - need I say that I am a great admirer of the lords of Rohan? But actually I think "The Hobbit" very well written. I would go so far as to say that it's something of a textbook example for effective use of narrative voice. There's something deeply charming about a tale of wild battles with goblins and the defeat of an ancient dragon told from the perspective of someone who really just wants his second breakfast.

Ah yes, it comes to me. The other lesson to be learned from "Farnham's Freehold." Before submitting any work for publication, show it to at least one good friend who might say, "Ah, Robert ... are you sure you wish to display your racist, misogynist, more-obvious-even-than-Lawrence Oedipal-castration complex to the entire world?"

That would be good.

Shanglan

 

[NoJo]

James Joyce. Tarmac my fucking driveway, you logorrheal lush.

 

[Lauren Hynde]

>ducking under desk before blurting this out; expecting hurled sharp objects<

Dan Brown. "The Da Vinci Code" is entertaining. I applaud the concept and the marketing. But Dan Brown is to writers what William Shatner is to actors.

I haven't read it yet, but if you change Dan Brown for JK Rowling and "The Da Vinci Code" for Harry Potter, it also works. Even though I have all five HP books and already pre-ordered the sixth AND I'm a Star Trek fan.

 

[Liar]

although I enjoy Tolkein, he's definitaly way overrated

I can sign that too. He wrote a pretty cool fairy tale. But that's about it.

Btw. Stephen King is ok, when he doesn't poop out horror novels the size of ice cream vans.

One more for the list...
Elmore Leonard. Regurgitation galore.

#L

 

[Joe Wordsworth]

What gets me the most about those authors is they attract a hoard of the most desperate people in the world... is embarrassingly pathetic to have to endure their little cult-like opinions. I mean, geez. The authors aren't bad, but they're fiction authors... far from geniuses and certainly not God.

 

[BlackShanglan]

What gets me the most about those authors is they attract a hoard of the most desperate people in the world... is embarrassingly pathetic to have to endure their little cult-like opinions. I mean, geez. The authors aren't bad, but they're fiction authors... far from geniuses and certainly not God.

That I, too, can sign to. It's always rather sad when people make little godlings out of people who are, at heart, entertainers.

Pray don't ask me how I comported myself when I met Seamus Heaney. I only thank God that I did not physically prostrate myself and offer salaams from the floor.

Shanglan

 

[Lauren Hynde]

Heinlein

The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress
By Robert A. Heinlein

Robert A. Heinlein: "I have a plan for the perfect revolution."

Reader: "Interesting, tell me more."

Robert A. Heinlein: "Step One: Live on the moon."

Reader: "Uh...."

Robert A. Heinlein: "Step Two: Discover an omnipresent sentient computer."

Reader: *sigh*

THE END

 

[BlackShanglan]

James Joyce. Tarmac my fucking driveway, you logorrheal lush.

Joyce, too, I think has his moments; I particularly like the stories "Counterparts" and - damn, the name eludes me - the one about the two young boys who bunk school and meet a pedo. I think "The Dead" very good as well, ad "Araby."

I think the main thing with the novels is that they are brilliant, but after a while every sentence seems to gloss "And isn't James Joyce a clever sod."

Shanglan

 

[Lauren Hynde]

Or more accurately...


Starship Troopers
By Robert A. Heinlein

Johnnie Rico: "I've joined the army. Watch my career."

Robert A. Heinlein: "Blah blah blah POLITICS blah blah blah ORDER blah blah blah PHILOSOPHY blah blah blah MILITARY ORGANIZATION blah blah blah I HATE THE MILITARY OF MY DAY blah blah blah WAR blah blah blah CITIZENSHIP blah blah blah VOTING blah blah blah MORAL PHILOSOPHY blah blah blah MATH RULES blah blah blah -- Story? We don't need no steenking story!"

Reader #1: "I am overawed. You are a god, Robert A. Heinlein."

Reader #2: "I am overawed. You are a doofus, Robert A. Heinlein."

Reader #3: "I'm hungry. What's on TV?"

THE END

 

[MLyons]

I haven't read it yet, but if you change Dan Brown for JK Rowling and "The Da Vinci Code" for Harry Potter, it also works. Even though I have all five HP books and already pre-ordered the sixth AND I'm a Star Trek fan.

I agree again.

 

[NoJo]

That I, too, can sign to. It's always rather sad when people make little godlings out of people who are, at heart, entertainers.

Pray don't ask me how I comported myself when I met Seamus Heaney. I only thank God that I did not physically prostrate myself and offer salaams from the floor.

Shanglan

Authors, Just checked it up in my Concise Oxford:
Comported doesn't mean shat.
salaams " " fellatio

 

[shereads]

What gets me the most about those authors is they attract a hoard of the most desperate people in the world... is embarrassingly pathetic to have to endure their little cult-like opinions. I mean, geez. The authors aren't bad, but they're fiction authors... far from geniuses and certainly not God.

That's what gets me about God.

 

[TheEarl]

I quite like Steven King. There have been some of his that i've just shied away from because you can see they're tosh from a distance, but Misery and The Stand would both rank in my top ten books and I own copies of Insomnia, Needful Things, 4 past Midnight (short stories) and It. Second-hand copies granted, but for a student that's to be expected.

Ben Elton. Not so much overrated, because he does have some talent, but continually rated is what gets me. He could write a Mr Men story and it'd still be hailed as book of the year by Waterstones. Gridlock, Stark, This Other Eden and Popcorn were all good ideas and nicely written. Dead Famous I loved. Then he goes and releases High Society and destroys all of the credibility he'd built up as an author. It's like he's phoning it in - this is the bit where they laugh, this is the bit where I make my snide political comment, this is the bit where I show how clever I am and this is the neat twist at the end. Where's my paycheque? Not buying his new one for love nor money - the blurb reads like he's ripping off Christopher Brookmyre's 'One Fine Day In The Middle Of The Night' (which is a superb book).


My first experience of LotR were the films of Fellowship of the Ring and The Two Towers. Bought the books and really struggled through them. The man has a fantastic story to tell, a dark fantasy of struggling against impossible odds and the inspirational journey and the accomplishments of good men banding together to provide a faint light to beat back the overwhelming darkness. And then he tries very hard to make everything twee and jolly-hockey-sticks and home-in-time-for tea. Enid Blyton does dark fantasy.

I think the storyline beat it out of him by the middle of the second book, but he drags it back in again with the scouring of the Shire in RotK - the hobbits come home and discover that all the death and destruction and horrible dangers are far overshadowed by the fact that the Sackville Bagginses and a big man from the neighbouring village have taken over the Shire and there's not enough cream cakes to go around anymore. IMHO, one of the very few occasions where the films are better than the books (High Fidelity being the only other to come to mind).

The Earl

 

[BlackShanglan]

Authors, Just checked it up in my Concise Oxford:
Comported doesn't mean shat.
salaams " " fellatio

Are you quite sure you're not amicus?



Shanglan

 

[Quiet_Cool]

Can't agree with the King posters though. I think it's the other way. He's better than he gets credit for. (my oppinion)

Yes. While it's true he releases a lot of books and that many of his stories fall short of what we're told to expect by those who love him, there are those who hate him too, and most of his work is well above the value those people place on it.

The Stand was excellent (the long, seemingly endless one, I mean); Pet Sematary was good, though not great. The Dark Tower books were all at least pretty god, when they weren't excellent, and as a whole project, they're amazing. While he's not a God, he's also not the hack he's been made out to be.

If you're up for it, and want to know jsut how good he is, try reading Bag of Bones. It's up there with The Beach by Alex Garland for the best book I've ever read.

And as for Steinbeck, East of Eden, excessively long as it was, was actually pretty good. He's still over-rated, but...

And J.K. Rowling is over-rated, simply because, while the books are good (though kids authors don't have the same trials as those who write for adults), let's face it, it's like the S.K. of the early 80s already...

Oh, and after mentioning old Steve again, he's more of less in the same boat as Dean koontz, who might not have as much quality work (might though, not a big fan of his -- False Memory is thus far intriguing, though).

Q_C

 

[cloudy]

I'm not a huge fan of Koontz, but one of his books has stayed with me for years: Intensity.

Unlike his others, there's nothing paranormal about this story at all, but the title is absolutely perfect for the tale.

 

[Guest]

I'm not a huge fan of Koontz, but one of his books has stayed with me for years: Intensity.

Unlike his others, there's nothing paranormal about this story at all, but the title is absolutely perfect for the tale.

DITTO!

Absolutely all of what you said. I'm not a huge Koontz fan, but Intensity was awesome. Loved that book and it is one that has stayed with me, too. Great throughout - tension, suspense, horror, terror, darkly and perversely sexy (I don't mean the girl, obviously, I mean other bits of it. ), and what an ending!

 

[cloudy]

DITTO!

Absolutely all of what you said. I'm not a huge Koontz fan, but Intensity was awesome. Loved that book and it is one that has stayed with me, too. Great throughout - tension, suspense, horror, terror, darkly and perversely sexy (I don't mean the girl, obviously, I mean other bits of it. ), and what an ending!

I was flabbergasted when I read it, to be honest. It was nothing like what I had come to expect from him. Stupid thing kept me up all damn night so I could finish it, and I could almost feel my muscles tensing up, and my teeth clenching while I read it.

Seems you and I have a lot of the same tastes in reading....not too surprising.

 

[Joe Wordsworth]

Originally posted by shereads
That's what gets me about God.

It would get me, too, but He's, y'know... God.

 

[Guest]

I was flabbergasted when I read it, to be honest. It was nothing like what I had come to expect from him. Stupid thing kept me up all damn night so I could finish it, and I could almost feel my muscles tensing up, and my teeth clenching while I read it.

Seems you and I have a lot of the same tastes in reading....not too surprising.

Me, too, but I had already heard good things about that book. Someone who also shares a similar taste in fiction told me to read it, so I decided to give it a go. Was I ever pleased I did!?

Yep, indeed! Not surprising at all.

 

[carsonshepherd]

Me.

 

[Lauren Hynde]

*tumbleweed rolls by*

 

[carsonshepherd]

*tumbleweed rolls by*

See? they all agree. They all know it's true.

 

[BlackShanglan]

Me.

Have I mentioned that I adore you?

 

[tolyk]

Anne Rice.

I can't stand Anne Rice.. have tried to read a couple of her books, and can't get into them at all.. My ex loves her novels though.