Mary's comments (member since Jul 04, 2008)

Mary's comments from the Goodreads Sci-Fi/Fantasy Authors group.

First let me say that I enjoyed your writing and it left me wanting more. I understand your worry about pace. I noticed that the first few paragraphs raced while the later paragraphs were more sedate. The differences in the paragraphs seemed to be descriptions. You described more in your later paragraphs while the first paragraphs were skimpy on descriptions.
I have noticed for myself that the books I enjoy reading take me into "other worlds" by in-depth description of the worlds for me, including characters. For me the master storytellers are those who create another world and take the readers into that world. Have you had the experience of confusion when you finish reading a book when you look at your surroundings and slowly realize that you are not in that other world?! David Eddings is masterful as is J.R.R Tolkien and I am sure we can all add authors to the list of master storyteller - but there are relatively few compared to the abundance of authors.

I prefer the third cover simply because a crowded cover does not appeal to me - just like movie previews that try to show the whole movie in a few minutes.

I write and read fantasy because life is fantastical. Look at and feel a sunset, there is nothing mundane about it - no matter that it happens at the end of every day. The sadness is that many don't see a sunset, or a sunrise. Might this be why too many do not see the fantastical in life? Look at the people around us, do we not see the elven quailities within them? Or the wraith? See the wave roll to shore, what is pushing it?

David Eddings is my favorite. I have reread the Belgariad, the Mallorean, the Dreamers, and the Sparhawk series many times each. My most favorite is the Redemption of Althalus.