M.d.'s comments (member since Apr 14, 2008)

M.d.'s comments from the SciFi and Fantasy Book Club group.

Random wrote: "I personally loved Anathem. I recommend picking it up if you're still interested in it."

I loathed Anathem. And I read it to the end, hoping there would be a story in there somewhere. Sure, if you're into reading pages after pages of made-up, complicated, nearly unintelligible philosopy, then go for it. Take away that philosophical model, and you have about 50 pages of story.

This just in: TGB won the Hugo Award for best novel for 2009. Your thoughts? Is it deserving of such an award?

Just a note to let everyone know that I'll be at WorldCon in Montreal until Monday and will not have access to a computer. So if I don't respond or comment, I'm not ignoring everybody I'm just not there. Have a great weekend.

Tanja wrote: "Gaiman has discussed possibly writing a sequel to The Graveyard Book. Check out his interview with Stephen Colbert -- his intention was to focus on that life is worth living. And I think he express..."

I shudder at the thought of this being set into a movie. Why can't a book stand alone on its own magic? Why does it need to be validated by being made into a movie?

BunWat wrote: "I liked the transmutation very much. One big difference for me was I felt Bod was a lot more lonely than Mowgli. Mowgli had emotional bonds with his adopted pack and his friends, much more than B..."

Bod also went to "school" and was educated in the ways of the world, even if it was somewhat outdated at times. His re-entry into the world outside the cemetery was more plausible.

Interesting that no one has picked Bod so far as their favourite character. Wonder why?

In a way TGB reminds me a bit of Zelazny's A Night in the Lonesome October where he's used fantasy and horror archetypes to flesh out the story. It's derivative, so Gaiman had to leave his characters sort of vague, otherwise it would have felt like cheating-- unless he'd used it as a satire like Zelazny did, which Gaiman obviously didn't.

blackrose wrote: "M.d. - I like that and I think that, in a lot of ways, the thing you said about family is much clearer and stronger in that book than the other. I like it - and so I'll happily steal it from here ..."

LOL. Be my guest.

I, too, felt the Jacks part was the weakest part of the book, a sort of rationalization at the end for the killing of Bod's family.

I agree, though, that the book is about celebrating life, but also about the value of family -- they're not necessarily perfect but they are there when you need them most. It's also a message that family isn't necessarily blood, but whoever you feel kinship with.

Interesting, though, that so many adults are reading it. Is it because of Gaiman's other work? Has reading YA material by adults increased over the years or is it only an illusion and it has always happened?

Or maybe is it that before, the category YA didn't exist?

Who is your favorite character in the Book and why?

The Book is classified in the YA category. Many adults have been enjoying YA books (Twilight, City of Bones, Harry Potter). Is the Book in the right category? Or should it be simply fantasy or SF?

Hi all,

I am the moderator for this book this month. I've already finished the book and will be interested in finding out what you think of it and how it differs from his other books.

The Giver, by Lois Lowry

Speaking as an author, I personally think that it is extremely tacky to use a discussion group/service to solely advertise your book. If that's the only reason you're joining say, Goodreads, then you're not only cheating yourself but those who joined for the right reasons, i.e., discussing books and reading. Agressive, misguided self-promotion turn people off, including me.

As for self-publishing, you shouldn't put everyone in the same basket. The number of people who are writing is increasing exponentially while the publishing opportunities are diminishing in the inverse curve. This means that there are a lot of gifted writers who will never be published if they don't do it themselves.

Most self-published authors should have a website where they offer the first chapter free (this is often the case for all sorts of authors nowaday). If the author intrigues you, I suggest you go to his/her website and read it. It should be a good indication of the quality of the product.

I have Anathem next on my TBR list. Great!

I like to read while eating so I've had a few casualties. That's why I like ebooks! This is a great collection, although I've read a lot of them. But like Robin, I could never be a book collector. What's the use of setting them up on your shelves and never reading them for fear of damaging them?

Lori wrote: "Bow down, bow down to the Czar.

:P"

Someone likes The Princess Bride :-)

Congrats, Brad!

Chris wrote: "Ubik,

I, Robot was released in 1950. It collects several of Asimov's robot stories, listed here:

"Robbie"
"Runaround"
"Reason"
"Catch that Rabbit"
"Liar!"
"Little Lost Robot"
"Esc..."

I actually have "The Complete Robot", a collection of all Asimov's robot stories so that list will come in handy because they're not in order. Thanks!

After we moved, I found I didn't have my copy of 'I,Robot' anymore & picked one up on Ebay. Found out I got the novelization of the movi..."

That has got to be disappointing. The movie barely resembled the collection of stories in Asimov's book.