tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354915789972448915.post6408945078069030566..comments2024-03-27T05:14:28.724-04:00Comments on Author Michael J. Sullivan's Official Website: The Quest for BestMichael J. Sullivanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06892162383465544899noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354915789972448915.post-11902861041422516202012-04-22T14:32:02.707-04:002012-04-22T14:32:02.707-04:00Thanks Pauline, I do so hate when we argue ;)
Nic...Thanks Pauline, I do so hate when we argue ;)<br /><br />Nick, I think you'll find my books are available in just about every format possible, (except perhaps Cuneiform engraved clay table) and most certainly on Kindle. Thanks for trying them.Michael J. Sullivanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06892162383465544899noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354915789972448915.post-18205333958708415652012-04-22T14:22:37.123-04:002012-04-22T14:22:37.123-04:00While characters, setting and plot are all importa...While characters, setting and plot are all important, for me it's the essential idea that makes the book worthwhile. Without the "ring that must be destroyed" you wouldn't have "Lord of the Rings", without The Hunger Games you wouldn't have "The Hunger Games". The list of books I feel are re-readable, however, differ from yours. I could never bring myself to re-read "Lord of the Rings" as I felt it dragged too much in the first place. But I would have no problem returning to high-concept, albeit preachy works, like "1984" or better yet "A Brave New World" if the fancy strikes. I know, I am weird like that. <br /><br />Anyway, I am about to try to get your first book on Kindle so I can review it. If it's not on Kindle, I'll have to try B&N.Nick Alimonoshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10161049767389836254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354915789972448915.post-63986270156978476072012-04-22T07:50:44.892-04:002012-04-22T07:50:44.892-04:00Michael - thanks for your response. I like that yo...Michael - thanks for your response. I like that you always make me think about these issues even if we don't agree!<br /><br />Realism, to me, isn't quite the same as believability. A fantasy world can be totally believable without remotely describing the real world. Chris Wooding's Braided Path trilogy is a good example of a brilliantly conceived secondary world which is believable without being realistic (in that sense). I read fantasy largely to escape from the real world, although the best fantasy will always shine a light on real world issues, by giving them a new perspective.<br /><br />And of course you're quite right that fully rounded characters and a perfectly built world don't necessarily produce a good story. In the end, it's the story that matters.PaulineMRosshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16038498587965596218noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354915789972448915.post-79334599572486604752012-04-19T22:21:52.749-04:002012-04-19T22:21:52.749-04:00Tyler, thanks for posting. And thanks for the comp...Tyler, thanks for posting. And thanks for the compliment. And don't spread the DNA planting secret around, we're trying to keep that a secret ;)<br /><br />Thanks Rob. I actually haven't written a writing tip in months now. Maybe I should, if I can think of something I haven't covered. <br /><br />S.M. thank you. And I agree about Star Wars especially. That's a good example of good characters, plot and setting working well without a lot of excesses complexity weakening the story. <br /><br />Pauline thanks for posting and for being honest about your opinion. I appreciate it even if I am going to sort of disagree a little. <br /><br />It would appear that you are in the realism camp as I described in the paragraph that began, "When I read books that captured reality so vividly..." The John Updike (or similar author) literary view where realistic portrayals and a real world is more important than the plot, or the likeability of either the characters or setting. You have a lot of company in that opinion, and many literary prizes are awarded to authors who are masters at that. <br /><br />For me however, realism in novels whether they are contemporary, or invented world fantasy, is nice, but not enough. I don't hold the same opinion that if the characters are fully rounded, and the world is perfectly built that these elements will of themselves result in a good story (I realize you wrote "deeper themes" which doesn't necessarily mean the same thing.) The Pulitzer and Noble Prize winning "Rabbit At Rest" is perhaps the best I've ever read for this and yet, as a novel it isn't interesting to me at all beyond an artistic appreciation of the writing. The reason I suspect is because of it's super realism and the fact that most of reality is rather boring. I am surround by real people and real world settings every day and yet, they quite often fail to be as interesting as a good book. So for me realism isn't the end-all. I'd much rather read a book that doesn't make quite as much sense but has good characters and a great story. <br /><br />Still I agree that having credible characters and settings are important to suspend disbelief. While I don't feel that every aspect of a world needs to be perfect, or explained in detail (I actually feel this obsession with explaining the mechanics of worlds is a huge problem in fantasy and one that prevents more people from picking it up.) I certainly believe that a book that breaks it's own rules is a huge problem.Michael J. Sullivanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06892162383465544899noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354915789972448915.post-33853083509537440192012-04-19T13:08:27.777-04:002012-04-19T13:08:27.777-04:00Michael, I've been mulling this over for days,...Michael, I've been mulling this over for days, so thank you for a thought-provoking post. Characters, setting, plot - yes, but my requirements are a little different from yours. I don't need the characters to be lovable or like friends; I don't necessarily look for a mostly happy ending; and I've never yet encountered a fantasy world I would actually want to live in (I'm too fond of the modern conveniences of life - chocolate, constant hot water, the internet, my Kindle, pizza).<br /><br />What I do ask of my fantasy is that it's believable. The characters have to be fully rounded human beings (or elves or dragons, of course), with all their quirks and foibles, not cardboard cutout heroes or villains. The world has to feel completely real, magic and all, with a credible climate and topography, settlements, flora and fauna, history, languages, transportation. Not that the author necessarily has to create twelve different languages, nine races and seven religions from scratch, of course, but the reader should believe that they exist, all the same. And the plot should follow logically from all of that, with the characters always behaving in understandable ways.<br /><br />And I think, if an author does that, then the deeper themes will emerge naturally and it will be a book that 'makes you think'.PaulineMRosshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16038498587965596218noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354915789972448915.post-67999926789483588532012-04-19T09:15:12.552-04:002012-04-19T09:15:12.552-04:00Once again, thank you for your insight. Character...Once again, thank you for your insight. Characters, setting and plot... and I agree. If you look at any successful franchise, books, TV series, etc. they all share those same elements in just the right mix. (Star Trek, Star Wars, MASH, etc.) The books you name do the same.<br /><br />A story is about its characters and how they react to what is going on around them, everything else is just so much 'eye-candy'.<br /><br />Again, thanks so much for your thoughts. Your passion for writing shows thru. Continued success.<br /><br />S.M. MuseS.M. Musehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13425302699092722973noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354915789972448915.post-34246793682835748012012-04-17T13:09:25.454-04:002012-04-17T13:09:25.454-04:00Very nice step outside the usual "on writing&...Very nice step outside the usual "on writing" fare. Thanks for sharing.Rob Cornellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04388119793952454397noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354915789972448915.post-70589422565005983422012-04-16T17:51:01.572-04:002012-04-16T17:51:01.572-04:00What an interesting piece yet again, Michael. All ...What an interesting piece yet again, Michael. All the points so valid. There is something else I would venture to suggest which I have also recognised in your work. It is the ability for those great authors to reach down deep into your heart and somehow leave an influencing cell or DNA, if you will, of their own life experiences. Which enriches your own, I think a revisit is an inner longing to re-ignite that first spark. Reminds me of my and my wife's first meeting. Had to go through Google by the way. Where there's a will...WilliamAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com