Comments for No More Than Pen and Ink

Comment on Review: The Wise Man’s Fear by Andre Detommaso

Andre Detommaso — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 11:33:49 +0000

Thank you for the review. I don’t disagree in general, but I wanted to add some comments on the way the book was written.
The book needed massive editing. The use of tiny chapters fractured the narration but did not add anything positive. The charcterization of Kvothe became bizarre toward the end, Rothfuss used multiple “deus-ex-machina” plot devices, I don’t have time to go on in details, but it was literally a sophomoric effort, in my mind. I just cannot believe that a serious editor greenlighted the manuscript in that condition. As a series, they will lose many readers because of this installment, or reduce the overall excitment level. It’s truly unfortunate, until “The Way of Kings”, the “Name of the Wind” was the best book I had ever read.

Comment on The Lake by Aaron

Aaron — Thu, 19 May 2011 22:07:59 +0000

Marlin,
Ah, I think you should you continue this story line, for it has that potential. Re-envisions are interesting to read for they give us a different POV of the story that we thought we knew. The Wicked Years books provides us background to the Wizard of Oz story–before Dorthy murder the wicked witch of the west. I hope you do work on this some more, and transform it into book!

Comment on The Lake by Marlin

Marlin — Mon, 16 May 2011 22:31:13 +0000

That is a good question. Though I think the story stands pretty well on its own. However, this is the beginning of my larger framework for re-envisioning the Arthurian legend, so there may be more someday.

Comment on The Lake by Aaron Saylor

Aaron Saylor — Mon, 16 May 2011 00:06:37 +0000

But…what’s happen next?

Comment on Review: The Wise Man’s Fear by Aaron

Aaron — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 02:01:41 +0000

A good written review

Comment on Review: The Wise Man’s Fear by Rosemary

Rosemary — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 19:03:04 +0000

Good review. Maybe I’ll put it on my to-read list this summer. (My summer to-read lists always end up being way too long …)

Comment on Chapter 1: Underfoot by Hannah

Hannah — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 03:49:34 +0000

I like it.

–She rounded on him quickly, almost prompting him to grab her again. “How would my screaming—again—raise any more attention than you have already?” She asked.

He looked a little disconcerted. “I really don’t know. But it seemed like the thing to say.”–
had me laughing out loud.

And, random other comment… the prologue had me feeling like I was drowning in description. I understand that descriptive stuff is good, especially when some of it is as alien as the prologue had, but I tend to hear a few words and be projecting highly detailed images, so this chapter worked much better for me.

Comment on Heart of Fire by Aaron Saylor

Aaron Saylor — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 23:15:23 +0000

Marlin:

This poem has the potential to become a rather good poem. You have a good start here, but it lacks depth, imagery, and meter. (Ah, meter; just not a musical concept). My ears are keen to meeter, since they be help me to compose music. I want you to describe how Satan the poet, what made the character (or you) follow him. What made you do all of this things? Think hard how this contrasts with Christ’s overpowering light. This will add depth and imagery to your poem. Also, the meter is off a bit. It is irregular at times. Rhythm is one way to add meter, but not the way. Think about pulse and how the words bounce. I like how dark this poem is. That made me jump up for joy, knowing that dark poems and stories is what I mostly read, but not all the time. I sure others will comment on this dark poem here. That’s it for now. Keep writing!!!

Comment on Thoughts on Characterization by Rosemary

Rosemary — Thu, 16 Dec 2010 02:42:51 +0000

Grammar before character?! That blows my mind. O_o I … severely disagree. I guess because grammar-checking is about polishing things up, and if you make any changes beyond the sentence level in your third, fourth, etc drafts you’re going to have to double-check grammar anyway … *shrugs*

Comment on An (Attempted) Defense of Fantasy by Rosemary

Rosemary — Thu, 16 Dec 2010 02:39:13 +0000

Genevieve: if you like Young Adult books, you might try Inkheart.

I think that swords etc are often (not always) inescapable with fantasy. For me, the characters and the flavor of the world are what draw me in–it must feel alive, and must have some reason for existing. Tolkien’s metaphor about the forest is a good one: there are only so many kinds of leaves; you aren’t ever going to come up with something ENTIRELY new. But you can also do old things in a new way.

I also very much like the Hunger Games–another YA book, first of a trilogy, and definitely somewhat popular, though I didn’t know it when I read them. I think they’re popular for good reason, though. Not sure if they fall strictly under the fantasy label–they’re dystopian.

You like some of L’Engle, too, right? A Wind in the Door? And I think I remember you liking a Robin McKinley book, although I may be confused?