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grifstarHmm, yep, I think that I officially dislike reading.. Given to what you consider "reading" anyway.
Had to find a new book today at Barns n' Nobles. You would think that out of over 200 fantasy books I could simply find a novel that I would enjoy. Sadly, I could not. Simply because I've realised that 90% of all fantasy books seem overrated and too predictible to waste reading 400 or more pages of. Plots mostly revoling around the genre of "So-and-so becomes the ruler or is of some royality to *insert country/kingdom/land/world/regnew*, in which can also use magic. Appearently some type of evil thing returns or whatnot and that country/kingdom/land/world/regnew is in trouble, most likely resulting some huge war at the end of the book, also making the ruler person the main character and hero. This book may also revolve heavly on dragons and elves. Dragons most likely evil, and if good they are riden on. Male elves are the snobbish prissy-boy types, while the female elf is also a caster and the hero's main love interest." Without going into much detail of the actual plot, I've probably already explained about 80% of all fantasy books. Which makes me quite disapointed, to the point where I hate to consider some many of those actually "fantasy" books. Since the main purpose of fantasy is creativity. While I do love some of the aspects of fantasy, such as dragons, fairies, elves, etc. Having them constantly used in the same senarios really digusts me. However even with the most commonly used stereotypes can you still make a good plot, yet it depends on how it's done, as the same going to anything. But I think it takes a skilled writer to do that. But I also think everyone can be a skilled writer if they truly try hard enough.
That might be another reason why I like Japanese stuff more (rpgs, anime, manga, etc.). While they also have alot of very common overrated things in most of it(not all though), there are more creative with characters and plots compared to "Western Fantasy".
Also appearently I can submit computer art to my art class for credit =P. Which is good since so far I really hate the class work, so hopefully I can equal it out for "extra work"
Had to find a new book today at Barns n' Nobles. You would think that out of over 200 fantasy books I could simply find a novel that I would enjoy. Sadly, I could not. Simply because I've realised that 90% of all fantasy books seem overrated and too predictible to waste reading 400 or more pages of. Plots mostly revoling around the genre of "So-and-so becomes the ruler or is of some royality to *insert country/kingdom/land/world/regnew*, in which can also use magic. Appearently some type of evil thing returns or whatnot and that country/kingdom/land/world/regnew is in trouble, most likely resulting some huge war at the end of the book, also making the ruler person the main character and hero. This book may also revolve heavly on dragons and elves. Dragons most likely evil, and if good they are riden on. Male elves are the snobbish prissy-boy types, while the female elf is also a caster and the hero's main love interest." Without going into much detail of the actual plot, I've probably already explained about 80% of all fantasy books. Which makes me quite disapointed, to the point where I hate to consider some many of those actually "fantasy" books. Since the main purpose of fantasy is creativity. While I do love some of the aspects of fantasy, such as dragons, fairies, elves, etc. Having them constantly used in the same senarios really digusts me. However even with the most commonly used stereotypes can you still make a good plot, yet it depends on how it's done, as the same going to anything. But I think it takes a skilled writer to do that. But I also think everyone can be a skilled writer if they truly try hard enough.
That might be another reason why I like Japanese stuff more (rpgs, anime, manga, etc.). While they also have alot of very common overrated things in most of it(not all though), there are more creative with characters and plots compared to "Western Fantasy".
Also appearently I can submit computer art to my art class for credit =P. Which is good since so far I really hate the class work, so hopefully I can equal it out for "extra work"
no subject
Date: 2005-02-01 12:30 am (UTC)You could try looking at some of the books Tor has published, but they can be a bit commercial, and tend to suffer from trilogy-syndrome.
If all else fails, look beyond the blurb to the first few pages of an "okay" looking book - is the writing good? Is the hook interesting, and if it is, does it simply betray you afterwards*?
*The hook, the opening sentence or passage, should captivate the reader - but it also makes a promise, and if the hook has nothing to do with the story or what's going on, it betrays the trust. For example, a mainstream novel that starts the story with an alien invasion in the first paragraph and then says "...but it was all just a dream" and then goes on to tell a story completely irrelevant, making it feel like a marketing ploy.
Likewise, if the story actually [i]is[/i] about a bank robber, it's fine for the writer to say for the first sentence, "He grabbed the money and ran.", but the writer cannot just change the focus to the backstory for eight pages before getting back to the robbery.
Hrm, I read too many books on writing.