So I do not understand this review...

VydorScope · 01-06-2013, 09:41 PM

Can someone help me out here? This review was left on my book, and I am not sure what he is saying. He gave it five stars, which is great, but would like to understand it.

Quote:

Well written. I enjoyed the fact that it did not have such a nihilist worldview we see in so many of today's books such as those written by Scalzi. I cannot wait to read more books set in this universe.

The part I put in italics I do not really know what he means. Any ideas?

gmw · 01-06-2013, 10:41 PM

You sure he was talking about your book?

I looked at a couple of his other reviews (it's obviously a him), and I think he probably likes the fact that you retain the importance of a real military power even in the face of magical powers. You don't discard everything else as unimportant/pointless/useless - which tends to be what happens in many books that include magic.

ETA: I'm not familiar with Scalzi and how his work may relate to this comment.

tango7 · 01-06-2013, 11:16 PM

scalzi
self important person in sf who writes stupid books like bad humor or SNL or MAD or shock
reverses logic to astound foolish people who think it smart
Nietzsche crap

not scalzi means nice review

orlok · 01-07-2013, 07:16 AM

I would suggest that he is saying that you have a positive world view, which has to be a good thing

.

Scalzi has a world view that could be described as somewhat flippant, shall we say. For example, the first chapter of The Android's Dream was one extended fart joke.

gmw · 01-07-2013, 07:38 AM

Well, I've certainly received an education about Scalzi.

VydorScope · 01-07-2013, 07:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gmw

Well, I've certainly received an education about Scalzi.

Yeah not sounding like a guy I want to hang out with

Thanks all!

kennyc · 01-07-2013, 11:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gmw

Well, I've certainly received an education about Scalzi.

SeaKing · 01-07-2013, 11:54 AM

I never heard of that guy and I am glad.
Like a nasty Mike Myers from Austin Powers or worse cause it was supposed to be a children's story "Cat in the Hat." I tossed the one someone got for a grand child. Replaced it with a bunny movie.

Potty humor. The reason I stopped automatic recordings of Jay Leno when some (be careful here bub) nut ran Jay's new toothbrush down in between the nut's butt cheeks.

Penforhire · 01-07-2013, 12:25 PM

Don't take someone else's opinion of another author as how you think of them. He has several Hugo award nominations, earned in my opinion. Read some Scalzi and form your own opinion. Most would recommend starting with Old Man's War. He also runs a fairly active personal blog.

Pablo · 01-07-2013, 12:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tango7

scalzi
self important person in sf who writes stupid books like bad humor or SNL or MAD or shock
reverses logic to astound foolish people who think it smart
Nietzsche crap

not scalzi means nice review

I like Scalzi's books, one of the reasons being his sense of humor. Does that make me foolish?

frahse · 01-07-2013, 01:54 PM

There comes a time and usually early when a writer chooses his public persona. Sure it can evolve but it is difficult to pull back all that water that has passed under the bridge already.

It is always easy to get a laugh with a bit of lewdness, except in a church perhaps. Therefore it is an easy trap to fall into when you want some attention or a quick laugh..

My advice would be "Avoid this pitfall" from the very beginning.

Ninjalawyer · 01-08-2013, 09:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SeaKing

I never heard of that guy and I am glad.
Like a nasty Mike Myers from Austin Powers or worse cause it was supposed to be a children's story "Cat in the Hat." I tossed the one someone got for a grand child. Replaced it with a bunny movie.

Potty humor. The reason I stopped automatic recordings of Jay Leno when some (be careful here bub) nut ran Jay's new toothbrush down in between the nut's butt cheeks.

Reading this, I'm not sure whether I should just scratch my head or call 911 and tell them you've had a stroke.

kennyc · 01-08-2013, 11:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ninjalawyer

Reading this, I'm not sure whether I should just scratch my head or call 911 and tell them you've had a stroke.

SeaKing · 01-08-2013, 09:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ninjalawyer

Reading this, I'm not sure whether I should just scratch my head or call 911 and tell them you've had a stroke.

So I have expressed
1) a dislike for Scalzi's 1 chapter extended fart joke, etc.
2) a dislike for Mike Myers (character) playing the Cat in the Hat and showing his butt crack in a children's movie.
3 a dislike for some actor on Jay Leno sticking Leno's toothbrush down what appeared to be the actor's butt crack while alone in the bathroom,

and you infer that I might have had a stroke, or that you just can't understand me.

Well I won't infer anything about you other than I have an emphatic dislike for your tastes in humor.

01-06-2013, 10:41 PM	#2
gmw cacoethes scribendi Posts: 1,492 Karma: 64251211 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Australia Device: Sony650	You sure he was talking about your book? I looked at a couple of his other reviews (it's obviously a him), and I think he probably likes the fact that you retain the importance of a real military power even in the face of magical powers. You don't discard everything else as unimportant/pointless/useless - which tends to be what happens in many books that include magic. ETA: I'm not familiar with Scalzi and how his work may relate to this comment. __________________ G. M. Worboys Author website or find me on Amazon.

01-06-2013, 11:16 PM	#3
tango7 fully engaged Posts: 23 Karma: 1080622 Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Europe Device: kindle, kindle touch	scalzi self important person in sf who writes stupid books like bad humor or SNL or MAD or shock reverses logic to astound foolish people who think it smart Nietzsche crap not scalzi means nice review Last edited by tango7; 01-06-2013 at 11:21 PM.

01-07-2013, 07:38 AM	#5
gmw cacoethes scribendi Posts: 1,492 Karma: 64251211 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Australia Device: Sony650	Well, I've certainly received an education about Scalzi. __________________ G. M. Worboys Author website or find me on Amazon.

01-07-2013, 11:54 AM	#8
SeaKing Frequent Flier Posts: 1,216 Karma: 2057404521 Join Date: Oct 2011 Device: KB kindle aboard, Galx Tab 7.0 Plus, trying out Droid 1 as mini-tab	I never heard of that guy and I am glad. Like a nasty Mike Myers from Austin Powers or worse cause it was supposed to be a children's story "Cat in the Hat." I tossed the one someone got for a grand child. Replaced it with a bunny movie. Potty humor. The reason I stopped automatic recordings of Jay Leno when some (be careful here bub) nut ran Jay's new toothbrush down in between the nut's butt cheeks. __________________ "It is sometimes necessary to lie damnably in the interests of the nation." Hilaire Belloc www.nationalinterest.org

01-07-2013, 01:54 PM	#11
frahse occasional author Posts: 1,186 Karma: 2037659180 Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Wandering God's glorious hills, valleys and plains. Device: Kindle3-3G, Archos 43	There comes a time and usually early when a writer chooses his public persona. Sure it can evolve but it is difficult to pull back all that water that has passed under the bridge already. It is always easy to get a laugh with a bit of lewdness, except in a church perhaps. Therefore it is an easy trap to fall into when you want some attention or a quick laugh.. My advice would be "Avoid this pitfall" from the very beginning. __________________ . Recognized? By Whom? Everyone. - "In The Shadow of Z'Ha'Dum" Last edited by frahse; 01-07-2013 at 01:57 PM.

01-07-2013, 07:16 AM	#4
orlok Desperation Posts: 7,216 Karma: 208692942 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: UK Device: Kindle Fire HD, Kobo glo	I would suggest that he is saying that you have a positive world view, which has to be a good thing . Scalzi has a world view that could be described as somewhat flippant, shall we say. For example, the first chapter of The Android's Dream was one extended fart joke.

01-07-2013, 12:25 PM	#9
Penforhire Wizard Posts: 1,861 Karma: 5706076 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Southern California Device: Kindle PW, PRS-650, iPhone 4, iPad 4	Don't take someone else's opinion of another author as how you think of them. He has several Hugo award nominations, earned in my opinion. Read some Scalzi and form your own opinion. Most would recommend starting with Old Man's War. He also runs a fairly active personal blog.

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