On behalf of...

[akk]

...giving reviews

I have received a couple of emails regarding the fact that I endorse and love receiving long & detailed reviews for my fics, yet seldom or never "take the time" or "bother" to review other works in return (not even briefly). For that I was named -among other things- arrogant and egotistic.
And maybe I am that. However, the reason why I currently write next to no reviews is that I practically stop reading fanfics in a fandom in which I'm writing a long, complex epos like 36° or Family Matters. There are two reasons for this:
1. I can either write the epos or read other works in what little free time I have, and
2. If I read other works, they tend to influence me (as happened with a snippet from solo____ in chapter 11; and I told her about the risk beforehand!).
So please accept that I'm not likely to return the reviewing effort in the near future.



...book recommendations
The recent hype about the finish of a world-renowned seven book fantasy epos I was never tempted to read made me wonder, which multiple books series in this specific genre I'd actually recommend in stead. The answer is two (in no specific order):
a) Sergej Lukianenko's "Watch"-Series [Nochnoi Dozor (Night Watch), Dnevnoi Dozor (Day Watch),...] (dark contemporary magic, bordering on horror sometimes) [I actually read the German translations and can't type the Russian title, sorry]
and
b) C. J. Cherryh's "Fortress"-Series [Fortress in the Eye of Time, Fortress of Owls,...] (high complex fantasy with rich, believably developing characters, drama and history)



...receiving reviews & recommendations
Finally, an act of shameless self-presentation:
I recently came across the Fanworks Finder page, which looks like a really promising idea. I listed my completed fanfic "36°" and its sequel "Family Matters" and am quite curious if they will be recced:
36°: - & - Family Matters:

Comments

[jjblue1.livejournal.com]

I have received a couple of emails regarding the fact that I endorse and love receiving long & detailed reviews for my fics, yet seldom or never "take the time" or "bother" to review other works in return (not even briefly). For that I was named -among other things- arrogant and egotistic.
And maybe I am that.

So hum... some people think that reviewing isn't just giving your opinion about a work to help the author to improve or just let him know you've enjoyed his work but some sort of sponsoriziong their fic campain?
To think poor little me NEVER knew this undeniable truth...
But now that I saw the light I must pretend a review from the people at whom I left reviews... and hum... I fear I'll have to write reviews for tehir works... even if I don't know their fandom and I won't realize if they've portrayed the chara well...
And what one's supposed to do with reviewers who don't write fics? Force them to write so one can review?
>_<

Geez, ignore such comments. I think a review must be a spontaneous action. It's natural to love long detailed reviews, to get an 'I loved it' it's nice and cute but it doesn't really tell much about what the guy loved. The plot? The style? The characterization? All of them?
Sure, it can be common courtesy to check the work of someone who reviewed you and maybe leave a comment. But... if it's forced... then there's no point in it.
When I get reviews from perfect strangers that take their time to tell me they liked my work... well, that's the think I like the most.
There's no affection, friendship that push them to say such nice words. They just enjoyed my work and that's the best compliment ever.
But if they're doing so merely because they wanted me to say 'Oh, I like your work too...' then their words lose meaning.

And I understand you about not having time to leave reviews... Geez, I feel almost ashamed by the amount of time I'm not leaving them... I'm not even keeping up my 'fic rec' updates... even if I do manage to read other people's works... but not as much as I'd like...
Just ignore those comments. They're not worth a reply.

[akk]

Oh, I do ignore them. Funny detail: they don't even seem to be people who left reviews for my fics. It seems they complained "on behalf of my poor abused reviewers who don't get any love in return". I found that notion so stunning, I had to clarify that. :)

[elbales]

. . .

WTF.

Stoopid people. Throw rocks at them!

[akk]

I did better: I posted on LiveJournal about their stupidity, therefore spreading the news. *eg*

[jjblue1.livejournal.com]

Geez... some people need to find better hobbies than go around passing judgement over other people they don't even know... It's ot as if they're Yagami Light...

[akk]

...and I'd object even if they were.

[jjblue1.livejournal.com]

LOL
It's not really safe to discuss things with Light... but well... he doesn't know your face so maybe you're safe...

[akk]

Who said anything about discussing?
*pets innocently rustling cherry tree and smiles maliciously*.

[jjblue1.livejournal.com]

LOL
I do wonder if the Death Note would work with magical trees...

[akk]

Considering that I picture the Sakura as the descendant of Tsukiyomi and the guardian of the death world I guess the Deathgods better play very nicely not to piss off their bouncer. ;)

[jjblue1.livejournal.com]

LOL
Careful... Light already managed to cause the death of a Shinigami...

[akk]

Actually, I don't follow DN that closely. The books in German have reached only no. 6, so don't spoil the fun, please.

[jjblue1.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry, I thought you've read the scanlations or saw the anime...
I didn't mean to spoil... *hides*

[akk]

Well, I didn't love the story as much as to go after scanlations; and the same goes for the anime. It's a nice read so far and has some intriguing concepts, but also quite a few things on the downside - one of them being the seemingly omnipotence of the two equally cold-hearted main characters for example. While I enjoy not to have a "good hero" for a chance, I dislike the OP-factor quite a bit. I guess it's a matter of taste.

[jjblue1.livejournal.com]

I began with scanlations. A friend suggested me to give them a reading. In the beginning I found it boring but... after a certain point it grew on me.
Yes, the boys omnipotence is a bit too exaggerated and I guess my whole vision over the manga is strange because I'm one of the few who doesn't ship Light/L or L/Light and that doesn't consider L purely good or Light purely evil.
I'd liked the general theme. What is justice? Who's on its side?
I guess I had fun seeing how everyone presented his idea of justice but failed to represent the true justice.
As for the anime... well, I've been forced to hurry to download it because soon it won't be possible anymore and I've no idea if they'll ever dub it in my country.
The first op/end is cool and the animation is good. They cut some stuffs but it's not bad.
Meanwhile I'm buying the manga here in Italy (they finally decided printing it) but, as usual, the translation isn't that great...

[akk]

Well, the story is intriguing enough to read the rest of the books. However, it's not intriguing enough to be annoyed over the three months publishing cycle. :)

[jjblue1.livejournal.com]

So there they print a volume each 3 months? And here I was complaining because here it's each two months...
But skipping a month (unless necessary) always annoy me no matter which manga we're talking about... I'm all for fast publication...

[akk]

well, slower releases means easier paid for. ;)

[jjblue1.livejournal.com]

True... if price isn't increased while printing.
Since they seem to increase it each year here (Geez, manga now have twice or more the prize they had when I started buying them) I would prefer for each manga to end its printing as soon as possible and hope the one which will follow won't interest me so I won't have anything to pay for...

[akk]

so far, the rises have been moderate. Death Note didn't rise at all, so far.

[jjblue1.livejournal.com]

Lucky you!
Well, here it's just started... but manga tends to increase their price at least once in a year. Considering DN is 12 volumes its price's likely going to be raised once or twice...

[akk]

:) good luck.

[jjblue1.livejournal.com]

THank you!

[http://users.livejournal.com/solo____/]

I have received a couple of emails regarding the fact that I endorse and love receiving long & detailed reviews for my fics, yet seldom or never "take the time" or "bother" to review other works in return (not even briefly). For that I was named -among other things- arrogant and egotistic.

::blinks::
How on earth can these people think it's their business what/whether you review or don't review?
The sense of entitlement in fandom (in so many different respects) is sometimes staggering.
It's not that I don't have sympathy for a writer who would like more reviews. But treating them as a commodity to be traded surely subverts the entire concept. I'd rather have no reviews than think that the only reason I get any is that people feel somehow obliged to comment on my fic because I commented on theirs.

... Having said all that, 'arrogant and egotistic' would make a nice caption for a Seishirou icon... ;-)

[akk]

They are even better: they don't even seem to be people who left reviews for my fics. It seems they complained "on behalf of my poor abused reviewers who don't get any love in return".

Actually, I was tempted to make a Seishiro-icon with something along the line:
AKK's secretary, argue with him... or I use one of Tatsumi von YnM for that. ;)

Didn't forget yours, hope to get to it today.

[http://users.livejournal.com/solo____/]

...
Okay, this shouldn't surprise me on the one hand, since the people who review in your LJ all seem very sane!
But then that means that... let me just get this straight: utter strangers write you mail about how you need some behaviour modification?
Fandom, it is a funny place...

[akk]

absolutely yes! *g*

[http://users.livejournal.com/solo____/]

Forgot to add - I read Night Watch, but while I found it intriguing at first, I got quite annoyed with it. Especially the way he keeps harping on his oh-so-conflictedness in the final third of the book. An interesting world, though.

[akk]

Well, there are few magic world series of considerable size out there that keep readable throughout their length. Among them, I liked the Watch-Series best; that doesn't mean it's the best book series ever - though the world comes close for contemporary magic *eg*. On a broader subject range:
Jennifer Fallon: The Demon Child Trilogy
Lynn Flewelling: Nightrunner Series ♥
Joan Bertin: Dragonlord Series
George R.R.Martin: The Seven Kingdoms Series
are other fantasy examples (and there are way more), but I was looking "in context". :)

[http://users.livejournal.com/solo____/]

I love the Nightrunner series, though it's very fluffy compared to some others I've read.

Have you read the Bartimaeus chronicles?

[akk]

Not yet. I scanned through the first volume in the bookstore, but the German translation had a decided "teeny/young adult"-sound, which kind of put me off it.

[http://users.livejournal.com/solo____/]

They are 'young adult' books, afaik, but the tone in the English ones is certainly suitable for 'proper' adults. :-) Worth getting!

[akk]

The German ones certainly read like children books.
Funny though, Catherine Webb's Lucifer books (which I absolutely adore) are decent adult books in German and read like kids books in English. Which is, why I tend to give the language in which I read something. :)

[corbeaun.livejournal.com]

Hmm, looks like everyone above said what I wanted to say about the email. All I can add is that, sometimes, people who are themselves very insecure can also be very idiotic. And that's all I have on that.

On another topic, just wanted to agree that CJ Cherryh's Fortress in the Eye of Time is one of the best politics-laden fantasy book out there. I've reread it several times, and even bought the hard-copy - which I almost never do for fiction. :) Can't say the same for the rest of the series though...Tried Fortress of Owls, and just wasn't as engaged by the story.

Speaking of fantasy recs, I just wondered if you've read Kate Elliot's Crown of Stars series. The first few books are also quite good, though there are some violent non-con issues. It's one of the more believable and subtle depictions of a matriarchal society.

[akk]

The Fortress series is actually best when read continuously - as I did by now - so that the subtle changes (and growing) of the characters becomes visible. I actually enjoyed all of the books so far, though I haven't gotten through Fortress of Ice yet - haven't had time to read it properly.

Another book of her's that I truly enjoyed is "The Dreamtree", which influenced a lot my take on fey (and Sidhe in specific; though I also like Laurell K Hamilton's take on them. It's sad that her plot lines always deteriorate into porn after the second volume. She creates fascinating worlds - and then trashes them.), but since I was giving a review for multi-book series... :)

I once read a scifi book by Kate Elliot, but it didn't leave a lasting impression aside from horribly violated science. I don't even remember its title, actually.

[corbeaun.livejournal.com]

Maybe I'll check out the later Fortress books and try again. Her writing is a bit dense, so it's likely I missed parts when I first read it. At least, I've found it to be so from rereading Fortress in the Eye of Time. I fell in love with the first book because of Tristen's guilelessness, but upon rereading was utterly captured by the politicking.

I wasn't aware Kate Elliot wrote sci-fi, but if she did, I'm glad she's turned to the less science-intensive fantasy. Her medieval world making is not bad at all, though she does tend have multiple storylines so that sometimes I feel as if I'm reading four books instead of one.

Haven't heard of Dreamtree before - it sounds interesting (thanks for the rec!). Actually, when I read the first Fortress book, I was so enthralled with it and its author that I checked the local library for her other books. I vaguely remember reading a sci-fi book about a cat-person...? Fortress was definitely preferable.

Your mention of the Sidhe and LK Hamilton reminds me of Judith Tarr and her take on the subject. She also wrote a series, included in it a novel called "Alamut" which, as the title probably suggests, deals Jerusalem during the Crusades. Maybe a little unusual in the setting, but an enjoyable read.

[akk]

Yes, Cherryh writes a complex and detail-loving style - one of the things I love in her writing - and I believe (or maybe I hope so) that her writings influenced me in that regard. I certainly like it, though her books need attention. If you aren't in the mood for attentive reading, they certainly aren't the ones to grab (which is why Fortress of Ice is still on the "to read"-stack).

She writes a hard-faced, very technically oriented scifi that might not be everyone's taste. However, she's one of the few authors who manages to create believable (as in scientifically logical) science in scifi. If that's your cup of tea, I recommend her Pell series - and probably the novel "Yeager" as being one of her strongest in that genre.

Dreamtree is old, originally published in the 80s, but it has seen reprints since then, so good luck. It's certainly worth the effort. :)
I know Tarr's work - and love them - though I'd wish her descriptions to just go a tad deeper, be more palpable. She's got a terrific plot and background story set up (I certainly like Morgiana!); I just keep asking... and what was that like? How did they feel? What happened then? And how did that look? she stayed a tad too close to the surface for my tastes.