MLP Forum Archive - Page 15868

#396676 Wryte Sun, 8th Sep '13 8:17:23 PM

^ The first book is easily the best of the first three, mainly because it's kind of charmingly naive and you can get a sense of the author's enthusiasm. Even then, it's just mediocre at best.

Then in the second book he tried to be more mature.

As for the Star Wars thing, yes, Star Wars drew on a lot of inspiration from other works. But the first two Inheritance books flat-out xeroxed the plots of the first two Star Wars movies, and when the third book broke away from that, 80% of its content was totally irrelevant to the plot.

Oooh, a dA link sig, how original!

#396677 kegisak Sun, 8th Sep '13 8:25:16 PM

I actually enjoyed the bits of the second book that didn't focus on the main character and instead paid attention to that guy fighting demons with a smithy hammer.

I've been reading Wheel of Time lately, and it seems as though the main character Rand would be trending that way... except for the fact he's very recognizably flawed and the narrative recognizes it. That and it's dubious how powerful he is on his own without the Amplifier Artifact.

The women on the other hand are allowed to be as vindictive, obnoxious, hypocritical, entitled and sanctimonious as they like and will almost never be called on it.

#396678 Wryte Sun, 8th Sep '13 8:34:48 PM

^ I did too, the first time I read it. Subsequent readings made me realize that those parts of the book had their share of sucking, too, but I was just so goddamn relieved to be away from the main character and those freaking elves that his parts seemed awesome by comparison.

Oooh, a dA link sig, how original!

#396679 Shota Sun, 8th Sep '13 8:36:26 PM

....so as much as I want to believe otherwise, I predict Twilight will keep her wings past the season premiere. Since they said the last episode of Season 3 would be the first of a two-parter, this season premiere should deal with what comes with being a princess with wings.

#396680 Seraphem Sun, 8th Sep '13 8:40:01 PM from Delamare

ummm, it was never a question that the change was permanent.

My random thoughts FOE liveblog

#396681 Shota Sun, 8th Sep '13 8:42:57 PM

Really, now? Must've missed something.

#396682 Swasfewses Sun, 8th Sep '13 8:44:06 PM from New York

What would make you think it wouldn't be permanent?

#396683 Meta Four Sun, 8th Sep '13 8:44:29 PM from riding the wave

Either make the wings permanent, or don't give them to Twilight in the first place. Giving her allegedly permanent wings and then immediately taking them away would be the worst direction the narrative could possibly go.

And, since today is apparently National Jump To Conclusions Day...

#396684 Irish Zombie Sun, 8th Sep '13 8:45:46 PM from Texas

The first book is easily the best of the first three.

Weren't there four? I read up to Brisingr, and then never bothered to continue after that, it bored me so much.

Also, the movie was terrible.

I have no hat and I must scream.

#396685 Enlong Sun, 8th Sep '13 8:47:54 PM from The Underground Facility

Yes, the movie was horrendous. Not only did it shuffle around events, it actively remove the possibility of a sequel actually following the second book.

I have a message from another time...

#396686 Irish Zombie Sun, 8th Sep '13 8:50:24 PM from Texas

Also, looking at the page for Trilogy Creep reminded me of something. It's been seven months now, and Turnabout Storm hasn't released its final part yet. Any word on that front?

I have no hat and I must scream.

#396687 kegisak Sun, 8th Sep '13 8:52:39 PM

those freaking elves

God I hate elves in Fantasy.

#396688 storyyeller Sun, 8th Sep '13 8:55:17 PM from Appleloosa

so goddamn relieved to be away from the main character and those freaking elves

You mean the part with the elves ends eventually? It seemed like it would go on forever.

Anyway, what about powerful characters who do work well? I like The Queens Theif even though Eugenides borders on Boring Invincible Hero. Except that he's not boring. And in the third and fourth book, he's not the protagonist either.

Life is simple: it has no nontrivial normal subgroups.

#396689 Japanese Teeth Sun, 8th Sep '13 8:57:30 PM from Meinong's jungle

@Kegisak: The hilarious thing about that is if you go back to Tolkien's elves all the way back to The Silmarillion, it actually turns out that a lot of them are right bastards. Unfortunately, none of the jackholes were in Lord of the Rings in any serious capacity, so everybody came away with the impression that Elves Are Awesome.

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#396690 Irish Zombie Sun, 8th Sep '13 9:00:56 PM from Texas

Someday, I want to read a high fantasy story in the spirit of Lord of the Rings... but have all the typical races turned on their heads. Like, elves and dwarves switch temperaments and societies, goblins are harmlessly mischievous and halflings are evil little bastards, etc.

I have no hat and I must scream.

#396691 Meta Four Sun, 8th Sep '13 9:03:44 PM from riding the wave

Anyway, what about powerful characters who do work well?

Anyway, I don't remember who it was, but some fantasy author blogged about a simple rule for using magic in a story. Paraphrased: It's okay to pull magic out your ass to create problems for your protagonists. But it's never okay to pull magic out your ass to solve problems for your protagonists.

edited 8th Sep '13 9:03:54 PM by MetaFour

And, since today is apparently National Jump To Conclusions Day...

#396692 storyyeller Sun, 8th Sep '13 9:10:06 PM from Appleloosa

but have all the typical races turned on their heads

I once had an idea where Elves and Dwarves were actually the same species and the terms were just nicknames for the sides in a conflict over a new mining project with environmentalists.

Life is simple: it has no nontrivial normal subgroups.

#396693 Seraphem Sun, 8th Sep '13 9:19:13 PM from Delamare

Well, Shannara stays somewhat true to most fantasy race tropes, but still manages to have a fairly unique slant to them.

My random thoughts FOE liveblog

#396694 Japanese Teeth Sun, 8th Sep '13 9:34:45 PM from Meinong's jungle

Stuff like this is why I'm avoiding using standard fantasy races at all.

Anyway, I'm going to bed now, so I'll see you all tomorrow.

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#396695 Shota Sun, 8th Sep '13 9:36:48 PM

Good night, Japaneseteeth!

#396696 storyyeller Sun, 8th Sep '13 9:41:55 PM from Appleloosa

By the way, is it me or have you not posted here in a while? If so, welcome back Shota. Or Welcome the first time or whatever, I forget.

Life is simple: it has no nontrivial normal subgroups.

#396697 Blissey 1 Sun, 8th Sep '13 9:58:34 PM from a random Pokècenter

It's the train 6!

XP granted for befriending a giant magical spider!

#396698 Irish Zombie Sun, 8th Sep '13 10:03:11 PM from Texas

So, Twilight is the Little Engine That Could?

I think I can I think I can I think I can I think I can I think I can I think I can I think I can I think I can I think I can I think I can I think I can I think I can I think I can I think I can I think I can I think I can

I have no hat and I must scream.

#396699 crimsonstorm 15 Sun, 8th Sep '13 10:07:30 PM from A parallel universe

@Irish: now you've got me thinking of the pillows.

All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.

#396700 storyyeller Sun, 8th Sep '13 10:17:22 PM from Appleloosa

As the train is falling back down the hill in defeat: Ithought Icould Ithought Icould...

Life is simple: it has no nontrivial normal subgroups.