tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7177193073415704349.post7689405338120952955..comments2024-02-20T10:12:20.623+00:00Comments on The Blog That Time Forgot: Fun with Yahoo AnswersTaranaichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02176999342965850175noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7177193073415704349.post-46995347391249872382010-05-07T06:38:56.355+01:002010-05-07T06:38:56.355+01:00The "Why Tolkien Rocks" article struck m...The "Why Tolkien Rocks" article struck me as a set of backhanded compliments, in some ways resembling how Moorcock treats Howard, but it is a step up from what Mieville's said about Tolkien before. On the other hand, he even uses that turgid prose styles in essays? Really?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7177193073415704349.post-493183035511759172010-05-06T21:54:14.268+01:002010-05-06T21:54:14.268+01:00Eh, I don't really want to talk trash about Ma...Eh, I don't really want to talk trash about Martin because I don't think he's a bad writer, but when I checked out his Ice and Fire series it struck me more than anything as a soap opera set in a fantasy world. Nothing wrong with that, of course, but it seems like the snobs who read him and rave over the series's brilliance should really try to better their perspective.Andyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14624614486574035692noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7177193073415704349.post-5479933667805483412010-05-06T17:05:39.711+01:002010-05-06T17:05:39.711+01:00Whats so bad is, the post started out with some si...Whats so bad is, the post started out with some simply asking what they should read next as they'd finished the Conan Stories.. it seemed to be doing well then all of a sudden " Just read Conan, all the rest is crap and Conan is best "... <br /><br />Yeah Meivelle does seem to be somewhat reformed.. I dunno what caused it.. I really don't understand how half the people on that forum are even epic fantasy readers.. They strike me as the type who think that they are literati who are just slumming it for a bit.Lagomorph Rexhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06385231158384929598noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7177193073415704349.post-35943371094804011172010-05-06T16:49:15.269+01:002010-05-06T16:49:15.269+01:00Mieville I'm more forgiving of, since his &quo...Mieville I'm more forgiving of, since his "Why Tolkien rocks" article was pretty good. I'd say he's reforming, slowly but surely, from the Moorcockian school of anti-Tolkienism. Morgan, however, is still an eejit.<br /><br />Oh man, not the "Conan Sue" garbage again. I'm seriously sick of that: anyone who says that either knows nothing of Conan, or they don't know what a Mary Sue is. That does it. I know what my next TC post will be.<br /><br />Indeed, for 1930s stories, Howard was pretty damn progressive. He had Conan be friends with black dudes, women as capable leaders, intellectuals and warriors, surprisingly sympathetic portrayals of certain minorities. Some people just have no sense of context.Taranaichhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02176999342965850175noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7177193073415704349.post-6918667493810644252010-05-06T15:44:59.132+01:002010-05-06T15:44:59.132+01:00Because they aren't "progressive" en...Because they aren't "progressive" enough? A series of short stories from the 1930s and a novel only published in 1954? Are you bloody well kidding me?<br /><br />China Mieville's anti-Tolkien stance is tied to his socialist background, just like Moorcock's hatred springs from 1960s rebellion, and has little to do with arguments about literary quality. Richard K. Morgan is worst than both of them, since he actually had the gall to suggest how he would "improve" Tolkien's work in a manner that showed he had no understanding of LOTR whatsoever. Putting copious sex, over-the-top violence and homosexual elves into you story does not, in any way, make it more adult (quite the opposite when you have elves who say "fuck"). Sara Douglass and Philip Pullman make the same stupid mistake in saying Tolkien is for children and has no depth (as if Sara Douglass' rape-filled novels have so much more, or Pullman's Young Adult novels, um, aren't actually for young adults?). Morgan's "revolution" in fantasy meant perpetuating tropes for darker & edgier (but more often sillier & more profane) novels that has infected the fantasy genre since the 1980s, or even further back, if you take Elric as the teen power fantasy that it often becomes. <br /><br />This kind of horse's assery is part of the reason I find the vast majority of fantasy these days so incredibely unappealing. On the one hand, we have dull and unimaginative Tolkien retreads (Terry Brooks, Dragonlance). On the other, we have the darker & edgier crowd such as those above who base their novels around shock value rather than characterization, good prose, or telling a worthwhile story. Fantasy still has a long way to go before is clambers out of the genre ghetto.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7177193073415704349.post-68002347918824571042010-05-06T14:37:01.817+01:002010-05-06T14:37:01.817+01:00Meivelle is also a dogged anti-Tolkienite.. Thoug...Meivelle is also a dogged anti-Tolkienite.. Though he's somewhat softened that stance But only just barely. <br /><br />But I was rather shocked to be honest.. one of them even trotted out the " Conan is just Howard's mary sue " I was waiting for the Dark valley destiny armchair head shrinking to start.. <br /><br />If anything, in my experience.. the people at that forum dislike Howard and Tolkien simply because they aren't "Progressive" enough.. meaning they don't have huge numbers of homosexual characters or characters who are so morally bankrupt as to not even be recognizable as human beings as the Protaganist. Those sorts of books seem to be endlessly popular there..Lagomorph Rexhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06385231158384929598noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7177193073415704349.post-30341659458972248992010-05-06T09:31:40.357+01:002010-05-06T09:31:40.357+01:00Really, Lagomorph? I'll have to take a wander...Really, Lagomorph? I'll have to take a wander over there.<br /><br />Onelastsketch is right: GRRM is a Howard fan (and, IIRC, a Tolkien fan) so it just makes things confusing. That'd make their love of RKM rather ironic given his asinine and painfully stupid views on JRRT.Taranaichhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02176999342965850175noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7177193073415704349.post-35316409850470562172010-05-06T06:51:17.819+01:002010-05-06T06:51:17.819+01:00Considering both China Mievelle and Richard K. Mor...Considering both China Mievelle and Richard K. Morgan are crap, I see no need to worry. George RR Martin himself is a REH fan, so what exactly are they trying to prove? That the writer of their favourite series has bad taste?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7177193073415704349.post-57639818059842498632010-05-05T23:53:39.991+01:002010-05-05T23:53:39.991+01:00this is funny.. Apparently the goons over at West...this is funny.. Apparently the goons over at Westeros.org have decided that REH is crap and are doing their best to hammer that point home.. <br /><br />But then the Goons at Westeros.Org seem to think everything that dosen't have China Meivelle or Richard K. Morgan on it is crap.Lagomorph Rexhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06385231158384929598noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7177193073415704349.post-45676392122267921462010-05-05T18:41:28.879+01:002010-05-05T18:41:28.879+01:00Heh, perhaps I'll have a look at the "rel...Heh, perhaps I'll have a look at the "relationship advice" ones. I seem to recall the "How Is Babby Formed" meme originated on Yahoo Answers.Taranaichhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02176999342965850175noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7177193073415704349.post-67830607092240255652010-05-05T06:20:44.044+01:002010-05-05T06:20:44.044+01:00I dunno, the opinions voting can get pretty creepy...I dunno, the opinions voting can get pretty creepy too. I remember one question was "I'm in love with my best friend but when I told her she rejected me, what do I do?" and the "best" chosen answer was "get her drunk and.." er, do unspeakable things to her rear end. <br /><br />The internet is most definitely NOT a good place to go looking for advice on personal matters.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7177193073415704349.post-42863655012964294222010-05-05T03:41:03.880+01:002010-05-05T03:41:03.880+01:00That's pitiful.
At least with opinions I can ...That's pitiful.<br /><br />At least with opinions I can see why voting on "best answer" makes sense, with facts, it's pretty creepy.Neil Sarverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02832804229444976459noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7177193073415704349.post-16715003888869308882010-05-05T03:08:09.343+01:002010-05-05T03:08:09.343+01:00The relationship advice on Yahoo Answers are quite...The relationship advice on Yahoo Answers are quite a bit more groan-inducing, though it is worthwhile to pop in there once and a while for a hearty laugh. As you might guess, the absolute worst advice is usually chosen as the "best" answer.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com