Quote:
Originally Posted by pdurrant
You really shouldn't mention that meme without a link to where it started.
Although I should add a warning that it's commentary on John Ringo's book "Ghost" which he never intended to see the light of day. If you're upset by descriptions and discussion of explict sex, violence and sexual violence, don't go there. |
Interestingly enough, that critique made me curious enough to dig up the titles and read them. GHOST is...R.A.W. He really took it right to the edge and beyond. Latter John Norman territory...
...and then he pulled back.
The character was conceived as a twisted sick, sick, guy but has evolved into a very different direction than where the first few stories (collected in GHOST) were headed.
Two things I find curious about that series:
- First, it sold and extremely well. I have no familiarity with erotica, mild or extreme, but I wonder if that particular mix of sex and violence is common outside the mainstream publishers. Because the (fantasy) violence in GHOST is actually run of the mill action movie stuff and nowhere as lurid or explicit as many other examples of the genre. Plenty of writers push the envelope on the violence side and nobody blinks an eye. Push the envelope on the sexual side and all heck breaks loose...
- Second, anybody coming to the series via the second volume is going to find a much more mainstream narrative. Still a mix of over the top action and very explicit sex but with occasional touches of intentional farce. And it still sells well enough to keep the sequels coming. The books clearly tapped a waiting market. Ringo describes GHOST as a writing experiment he never expected to get anywhere. Instead, it spawned a commercial success.
Says as much about our times as anything, I suppose.
Here's the wiki take on the series:
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_...Shadows_Series
Volumes 2 and beyond are pretty good (and mostly harmless) in the MACK BOLAN/DESTROYER school of action adventures but that first volume...
