Books (Besides Tolkien)

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Hmm, I just finished it, and it didn't seem any worse than a documentary. I don't recall any explicit rape scenes... most of the mentions were in the wake of war, so although he did nothing to avoid the subject, he didn't dwell on it unrealistically either.

I thought the book was excellent as well. The plot twists at the end are almost Jordanesque. I'll certainly be continuing the series.

 

BTA - do you think that the latest book still ended with not plot progression. The *spoiler* ending was (IMHO) a huge step forward for Rand and his legion of Doom. (trying not to give anything away for people who are in the early books )

 

There is virtually no plot progression in Book Nine for about two thirds of the book. Then the last couple hundred pages make up for everything.

 

Well, that sounds encouraging, but I think I'll wait until the Book 'the last' is published before wading back in.

Aloha
Vormaerin

 

Here you all are, having a nice conversation, and here I come, trying to stir things up again.

Not really.
RhthymicBarbarian and Jack: That did sound harsh, as if I thought the average sixteen year old guy was into images of rape. I'm just guessing, here -- trying to figure out WHO would dig that kind of thing, and what about it they would like. Because, Barbarian, women hold tremendous power over men -- civilized men -- particularly young ones. And all you do is ask, "do you have that homework assignment?" and touch some sixteen year old guy's shoulder -- and watch him lose his marbles completely. I found it very startling when I developed this strange ability. So you try it again on some other guy to see if it will work -- touch him and ask some banal question -- and damned if the next guy doesn't go to pieces, too. So teenage girls are all running around high on this power rush, and teenage boys start reading about women being raped on a pile of corpses. That's my theory. Eventually they all grow up and marry each other -- then the fun really starts.

Off-topic, sorry. Um, as a child I liked Anne McCaffrey.

 

Thank you, Blackthorne -- I agree completely. That is what all good fiction does -- invests the reader in the struggles of the heroes and makes you care about the outcome. The books that you described sound very much like He-Who-is-Excepted-from-This-Forum in that way. I guess I am more personally invested when I am not horrified. I find it distracts me from the story altogether when a visceral reaction is pulled from me; I feel manipulated by the author, and I ask myself to what end. I could tell you a story that would hit you between the eyes, without any artistry or human truth -- if I hit your buttons with gruesome imagery.

Some artists create, some destroy.

 

Jack, I apologize. I didn't articulate my thoughts very clearly (that always happens to me on the web-which is why I typically don't post very often) I am very aware there is a incredibly large difference between sex and rape. My first paragraph sort of rambled, but I was NOT equating rape with sex. Sorry if it sounded that way.

Your reasons for disliking rape more than violence (in stories) are well thought-out, and I respect them. Honestly, I pretty much feel the same way, but I was curious about your reasons.