Quote:
Originally Posted by rhadin
I understand where the readers are coming from. I have occasionally come across a book or a series that clearly had never been edited or if it had, the editor was a first grader just learning her alphabet. Yet the story was compelling (to me). So I cursed the author for making me try to figure out who the suddenly appearing character was supposed to be, and I bit my tongue at the heroine's eye color change. I read the book.
I find it especially frustrating when the story is excellent and it is clear to me that had the author hired a professional editor the book could be outstanding -- a book that I would give 5 stars to and recommend repeatedly. Instead, because of the lack of editing, I didn't give it a positive review and I didn't recommend the book to anyone.
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The SF author David Weber is in exactly that category for me. The man is a great storyteller, but a
dreadful writer. His books are filled with the most appalling cliches, which are repeated over and over again. His heroine, "Honor Harrington", never merely "speaks", but "speaks in a soprano voice"; she doesn't "fold her arms", but always "folds her arms under her breasts". Yes, David - she's a woman. We get it. You don't need to hammer the point home with a blunt instrument every few pages.
And I say that as someone who enjoys his books.