tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31327330.post3553147624186207509..comments2007-09-06T12:49:02.568-05:00Comments on otherwise & elseways: Terry Brooks and the Haters of Shannarascribblerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00951910532615257666noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31327330.post-83603252784398573452007-09-06T12:49:00.000-05:002007-09-06T12:49:00.000-05:00I have discovered over the years that Brooks-Bashe...I have discovered over the years that Brooks-Bashers tend to only have read the SWORD. And in a way, they have a right to grip about it: the first 1/3 of SWORD is a plot point by plot point alignment to that of FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING.<BR/><BR/>But rather than look at SWORD and following books objectively and really discern them, people bash. Why? Because people love to be negative -- particularly online where there are no consequences usually -- and people love to jump on a bandwagon. Most of those Brook-Bashers haven't even read SWORD; instead, they jump all over Brooks because it is "the proper thing to do, I've heard it so often it must be true."<BR/><BR/>I believe quite strongly Brooks-Bashers come about because they are jealous of someone who took Tolkien's work, became angry because Brooks became an established writer and fulfilled his dream where these Bashers have not. They won't even read beyond SWORD, afraid of what they might find.<BR/><BR/>So it is part jealousy, part snobbery, part loving to lash out at anything and everything if it is not literary.<BR/><BR/>Graeme at http://www.graemesfantasybookreview.com/ said it best recently. He was one of these Brooks-Bashers. He even tells you he was! Then he read ARMAGEDDON'S CHILDREN and realized there is more to Brooks than just SWORD. Now he is he a fan.<BR/><BR/>So sad. Brooks touches on many facets of humanity in every book he writes that allows him to reach a broad audience. They are accessible like Dan Brown's work but better written. Authors like Wolfe and Mieville are not accessible -- their high-language throws the common reader off. Although I wish those authors were read more, it's just not in the cards -- not until more people want to read a more challenging book.<BR/><BR/>And I think that's really what Brooks-Bashers are pissed off about. They are actually pissed off at society, a society they don't fit in with and have less in common with than these bestselling authors.<BR/><BR/>Oh well... here's to hoping people start realizing it takes all kinds of writers to make up the business.Shawn C. Speakmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14130317662970342458noreply@blogger.com