So why am I commenting about this? Well, because I feel a little like Richard Dreyfuss in JAWS, during the scar scene: "I got that beat. I got that beat."
Permit me to introduce John Ringo.
( Contains excerpts of fiction revolving heavily around 1) rape and 2) whores. If you're bothered by this kind of thing, YOU REALLY DO NOT WANT TO READ ABOUT THIS. Even though it's so bad it's funny.Collapse )
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Here via metafandom, hi!
April 20 2008, 19:19:27 UTC 12 years ago
This is like real-world badfic, and I am almost tempted to find the books, but I have a feeling that, even given my love for badfic, I wouldn't be able to finish them. On some level I really do have to marvel at and find interesting all the justifications given in the book for his actions, but mostly I think think this is hilarious. It is the epitome of horrimusement. Thank you for sharing this fascinating piece of fiction.
April 22 2008, 03:26:27 UTC 12 years ago
April 20 2008, 19:39:52 UTC 12 years ago
It's a shame, really, because I like how he writes humor. But most of the solo books I can't get through, even by scene-skipping.
April 20 2008, 20:22:40 UTC 12 years ago
You mean the March to the... series
Anonymous
12 years ago
April 20 2008, 19:46:53 UTC 12 years ago
This is a picture of my expression right now: --> DDDDDDD:
However! All of this did inspire me to go make a donation to the Helen Bamber Foundation, so that is something.
But there is NOT ENOUGH BRAIN BLEACH IN THE WORLD.
April 20 2008, 20:23:42 UTC 12 years ago
Anonymous
April 20 2008, 21:50:00 UTC 12 years ago
April 20 2008, 23:04:40 UTC 12 years ago
I used to work with a guy who would have LOVED these books. Unironically.
April 23 2008, 12:41:07 UTC 12 years ago
Makes for a really interesting tension, particularly in the later books.
12 years ago
April 20 2008, 23:36:56 UTC 12 years ago
April 22 2008, 03:27:10 UTC 12 years ago
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April 21 2008, 00:02:15 UTC 12 years ago
April 21 2008, 04:10:18 UTC 12 years ago
I am truly horrified, and must get this first book to scar my friends with when we go camping.
April 22 2008, 03:28:33 UTC 12 years ago
April 21 2008, 07:30:49 UTC 12 years ago
via metafandom
April 21 2008, 07:39:45 UTC 12 years ago
But now, I feel icky. And Jim Baen! John Weber is apparently one messed up dude, but Jim Baen encouraged him and gave him money for the sickness. ick ick ick I don't think I'll be able to enjoy the next The Council Wars book.
OTOH, this was absolutely priceless. Hilarious and disturbing at the same time. I don't suppose you read Laurel K. Hamilton? She's got just as much ID dripping over the place, but her issues are way different.
April 22 2008, 03:34:30 UTC 12 years ago
You know, that's actually a *really* interesting contrast you bring up. Ringo started off with pure id, and is augmenting that with more interesting stuff as his series progresses; Hamilton started out with a terrific series premise, which gave life to a mini-genre, but wound up losing it and angering a large chunk of her original readership by embracing her id and descending into ever more sex-soaked drivel. They're heading in opposite directions.
Might be worth considering at length...
Laurel K. Hamilton
12 years ago
April 21 2008, 16:12:17 UTC 12 years ago
i can't read the Keldara stuff for a number of reasons, but to be fair:
1) as you mentioned, Ringo didn't want to publish this stuff, really - it was his own version of mental masturbation, and Jim Baen grumped at him over not even considering him for publisher...
2) you really aren't supposed to like Mike as a character. really. aren't supposed to like him.
3) Ringo is well aware Mike's not really a good guy... (which i comment on below)
but that brings me to why *i* can't read the books. every time i try, i have severe issues with the *rest* of the *western* characters in the books. the most disturbing thing to me is that none of the western characters dislike Mike - in fact, they keep telling him what a great guy he is. they keep telling him that's he's really not so bad for his actions regarding 'his' women. it tends to make me sick with rage.
and then worse is that whenever this book is discussed in Ringo's own forum on baen's bar, i get the impression that the posters are pretty much salivating over Mike - which just makes me sick. i may be wrong on the impression - i realized a few months ago i was doing my trick where i was literally projecting words onto a screen whenever this conversation came up. so i don't read discussions on it anymore, because one of my own internet-rules is not to post when i'm seeing red. and this one's sort of an automatic button for me.
that said, would you mind if i posted the URL over there or in my LJ of this review? not everyone over there is fond of books, and an explanation of the features from John himself may be interesting... or not.
but i thought i'd ask your permission because the posting style of the barfly, on average is much shorter and sharper than the usual fandom-fen's style. it might make for some wank if people don't read their comments through the right lense.
-bs
April 21 2008, 19:59:30 UTC 12 years ago
what can i say? it's monday. ::sighs::
-bs
12 years ago
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here from Metafandom
April 21 2008, 19:48:48 UTC 12 years ago
Re: here from Metafandom
April 23 2008, 12:42:35 UTC 12 years ago
Another from metafandom
April 21 2008, 22:10:14 UTC 12 years ago
I've been worrying about what to tell my stepdaughter. Should she find herself in similar circs, when she goes to university.
You have encapsulated it:
OH JOHN RINGO NO
short shameful confession
April 22 2008, 04:05:32 UTC 12 years ago
Admittedly, I think they're in storage right now rather than on my shelves, but I *have* 'em.
(I have a weird fascination for balls-crazy world-building. Gor *owns* balls-crazy.)
Re: short shameful confession
12 years ago
Re: short shameful confession
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Re: short shameful confession
12 years ago
Re: Another from metafandom
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Re: Another from metafandom
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April 22 2008, 07:08:19 UTC 12 years ago
Cheers for the fantastically snarky read.
April 22 2008, 12:25:04 UTC 12 years ago
otherwise, i recommend the Princess of Wands series, or the March Upcountry stuff.
the Ghost stuff was... never supposed to be published. watching it take on the life and following - and criticism - it has has been kind of flabbergasting for friends and critics alike. notice i say 'friends', not fans. :-p i can only imagine Ringo himself wants to bury his head in the sand every time he hears about how popular this is - even *he* thinks it's drek (and has said so, several times).
-bs
Bimbos of the Death Sun revisited
Anonymous
12 years ago
April 22 2008, 18:25:37 UTC 12 years ago
I read the first in the series when I worked in a bookstore and could do so for free. I didn't keep up with the rest of the series, and now I don't know if I'm relieved, or disappointed, because my GOD, it sounds utterly batshit insane and sometimes you have to go utterly beyond all that's decent and good.
"He adopts them. Like cats."
Brilliant line. I'm still laughing.
April 22 2008, 21:54:14 UTC 12 years ago
...CHOOSERS OF THE SLAIN is the best book for the whoring, because just when you're convinced it's not going to happen again, it totally does. I honestly lost track of the number of hookers and would-be hookers he was carting around; if he ever opened that refuge for whores, it would be *incredibly* well-stocked.
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