Note To Author

[bloodyrosemccoy]

Dear James Clemens,

I appreciate that you do not want to make your world Sanitary Fantasy World, and I am even tremendously amused and intrigued by your made-up religion that focuses on gods’ bodily fluids and functions, since that’s pretty standard for religion and it’s entertaining to see it made literal in a place where gods are substantial. However, must you go on about effluvia so much? I am willing to accept one or two mentions to remind us that fantasy land does contain shit, but there’s a fine line between “realistic detail” and “just plain wallowing,” and that line is so far behind you that binoculars may not help you locate it.

Also, helpful tip: you do not endear yourself to me when the first time I meet a 13-year-old female protagonist she is being graphically raped. It sorta sets the tone for the rest of the book, if you know what I mean.

So, while your technical merit is pretty good, I’m afraid I’m going to have to return your book to the library unfinished. Because really.

Yours,
Amelia

Comments

[gwalla.livejournal.com]

Psst...forgot your footnote.

[padparadscha.livejournal.com]

Correction: inexplicable asterisk. I have no idea why that got in there, because I had no footnote planned.

Thanks for the catch!

[stormteller.livejournal.com]

I'm going to make a venture and guess that you're not the intended target for this book.

[padparadscha.livejournal.com]

Actually, the Magic God Poop mostly just cracked me up, so I'm right in there with that part of it. It was his relentless need to keep on about everyone's bodily functions that got me. (It's a little like a Quentin Tarantino movie with the blood geysers, or, as my brother put it about George RR Martin's books, "Man, everyone has the loosest bowels EVER, and he feels like he has to tell you about it.")

The underaged rape I MIGHT accept as a character arc--there was a revelatory moment at the end of it as her familiar grinds the rapist into cube steak--but given the cumulative nature of the rest of the book as FUCKING GRIMDARK, YO it made me nervous about the female characters in general.

[lookingforwater.livejournal.com]

Sometimes I suspect GRIMDARK is just an excuse to get away with inflicting horrible atrocities on female characters.

'Swhy I don't like it.

[padparadscha.livejournal.com]

I think in a few cases it is. And no, I don't automatically disapprove of putting violence against female characters in stories, I do get suspicious when the author gets carried away enough that it becomes more than just part of the story. It's the difference between "This story requires this to happen" and "I HAVE MADE IT GRIMDARK! LET'S GET WITH THE ATROCITIES WHEE."

[padparadscha.livejournal.com]

*grin* Frankly, I find books not targeted at me and which I love all the time. This one, however ... yeah, he successfully drove me off.

The Godslayer Chronicles

[(Anonymous)]

Hi Amelia

Its sad to see you giving up on these books because of a very different & cool[IMO] magic system. Also the scene with Dart is pivotal for her character arc and the story. However I must disagree the scene wasn't that graphic but it does give the book a disturbing air right at the start. Since you didn't finish the book you don't know how all the story threads end. Anyways books stimulate people differently & i guess that holds true with every book. Have a nice day.

Storm

Mihir