I do see one potential problem-spot. I think that a lot of today's fantasy readers, more so than in year's past, really like the gritty stuff with heroes that are half good/half bad, as opposed to the loftier, more black/white tone that I've taken, which is more like Tolkien and less like, say, Martin. A few have said that my hero is too strong and that he's not realistic.
Well, here's my argument against that. Let's say you've got three kind of sassy/dirty heroes running through a cave to escape some bad guys. And they find a troll blocking the entrance. It ends up taking the three of them about an hour to finally find a way around the troll, which is fine and fun. But in the meantime, the bad guy's army has about a thousand of these trolls in it. So, how in the world will the good guys stand any chance at all if the toughest of them can't even take on one of the trolls? That to me is as unrealistic to me as a loftier story is to others.
Still, it's a matter of taste, and when a person spends hard-earned time and money on a book, he or she has every right to say whatever they feel about it. It's an honor to the writer, regardless.
5 comments:
Looks like everything is coming up roses for the DWCs. Congrats, Jim.
Thanks, Chris!!! Hope all is well with you.
Hello! Fellow AbsoluteWrite person here (Crasters). I love Martin, and Abercrombie, and Rothfuss and I'm more of a "shades of gray" writer myself. But, I love reading fantasy across the spectrum, from Prince of Thorns (the darker end) to something with super-defined good VS evil tropes (Dragonlance comes to mind).
Don't sweat the people who always want "gritty." Write what's working for you. I'm more interested in a hero/heroine who changes from beginning to end. That change can take any form.
Congrats on the numbers! And thanks for giving me something new to look up.
Also, if you want another blog-buddy, feel free to add me. Best of luck to you!
Stephan:
I just now saw this (it was awaiting moderation -- damn spammers -- and I missed it until now). Anyway, thanks for the great comment! I'm not as active on my blog as I used to be, but I'll certainly add yours.
And it IS a matter of taste.
I wouldn't worry though. Peter Jackson will find you fans. *grin*
Good luck.
Heather
wordwan
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