• Re: /I have published books..

    From Ogg@VERT/EOTLBBS to dove-net.general on Sunday, June 21, 2020 21:25:00
    ==================================================================<
    ## Original recipient: /DOVE-Net/Debate >==================================================================<

    Hello Arelor!

    ** On Sunday 21.06.20 - 17:38, arelor wrote to Ogg:

    https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8098298.Richard_Falken
    http://www.richard-falken.com/

    Yup, you found me.

    My English was not publishing grade back then. What I used to do was to
    write in English, and then get the text translated. Since I could not
    afford a translator I performed the task myself and then got the drafts proofread by volunteers. The process is very cumbersome and I don't
    recommend it. Thankfully, I showed up in some publisher's radar and they helped me translating, sparing me the shame of publishing literary
    pieces in mediocre English.

    Your interview on Goodreads covered some details about that.


    Nowadays I am much better at Shakespeare's language. I write directly in English. I am still not half as good as I would like to be, but abusing
    my friends' good will I can get my drafts polished and ready for
    publication quickly

    Maybe we can move this to another echo now, but I hope that my
    proofreading comments on the sci-fi story did not deviate to the extreme compared with your other proofreaders.


    My mother, whose opinion I highly respect, told me Zanfn was nothing to
    write home about. Since I have so many books to read on my shelves, I
    haven't given it a try.

    But.. Zafon is only "the most widely published contemporary Spanish
    writer". !!! If your mother *has* read La sombra del viento, 2001 (The Shadow of the Wind), then that may most likely mean that the English translation supercedes the Spanish version! LOL The translator
    (mentioned earlier) has impeccable credentials. If instead, your mother
    has read some *other* earlier works by Zafon, then that may also mean that the earliest pieces did not gain too much attention for a reason.

    But give a few chapters of The Shadow of the Wind, in English a try. I
    could be biased being a bookseller, but the book-theme/premise intrigued
    me and roped me in to the mysterious world and settings in the old
    villages of Spain of not too distant past.


    I have heard he died recently. Too bad... He was one
    of the few modern Spanish writers that seemed respectable.
    /'

    Yes.. As I was researching the book titles, I just found today that he
    died a few days ago on Jun 19, age 55.




    ../|ug

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  • From Arelor@VERT/PALANT to Ogg on Monday, June 22, 2020 04:11:07
    Re: Re: /I have published books..
    By: Ogg to dove-net.general on Sun Jun 21 2020 09:25 pm

    But.. Zafon is only "the most widely published contemporary Spanish
    writer". !!! If your mother *has* read La sombra del viento, 2001 (The Shadow of the Wind), then that may most likely mea
    that the English translation supercedes the Spanish version! LOL The translator
    (mentioned earlier) has impeccable credentials. If instead, your mother
    has read some *other* earlier works by Zafon, then that may also mean that the earliest pieces did not gain too much
    attention for a reason.

    I am afraid she was speaking about La Sombra del Viento :-)

    I'll give it a try, but first I have to finish The Wheel of Time, which is a looooong read.

    --
    gopher://gopher.operationalsecurity.es

    ---
    þ Synchronet þ Palantir BBS * palantirbbs.ddns.net * Pensacola, FL
  • From Ogg@VERT/EOTLBBS to Arelor on Saturday, June 27, 2020 22:06:00
    Hello Arelor!

    ** On Monday 22.06.20 - 05:11, arelor wrote to Ogg:

    But.. Zafon is only "the most widely published contemporary Spanish
    writer". !!! If your mother *has* read La sombra del viento, 2001 (The
    Shadow of the Wind), then that may most likely mea that the English
    translation supercedes the Spanish version! LOL The translator
    (mentioned earlier) has impeccable credentials..

    I am afraid she was speaking about La Sombra del Viento :-)

    Like I said, I think the magic was probably created in the english translation then.

    Or.. living in Spain and then reading about old Spain does not have the
    same appealing experience of escape into another land.


    I'll give it a try, but first I have to finish The Wheel of Time, which
    is a looooong read.

    Yes.. The series is a collection of books starting with the self-titled
    WoT. But you have about 14 novels in total to go!

    If you count the pre-quel, that would be 15.

    I just got directed to Peter Hamilton's "Commonwealth Saga" sci-fi series: [1] Pandora's Star, and [2] Judas Unchained.

    I'm more of a traditional space-opera adventure guy - stuff with space
    ships, futuristic technology, etc. Fantasy.. no so much.

    I really enjoyed Ringworld by Larry Niven, many many years ago.


    ../|ug

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  • From Arelor@VERT/PALANT to Ogg on Sunday, June 28, 2020 03:16:52
    Re: Re: /I have published books..
    By: Ogg to Arelor on Sat Jun 27 2020 10:06 pm

    Hello Arelor!

    ** On Monday 22.06.20 - 05:11, arelor wrote to Ogg:

    But.. Zafon is only "the most widely published contemporary Spanish
    writer". !!! If your mother *has* read La sombra del viento, 2001 (The >> Shadow of the Wind), then that may most likely mea that the English
    translation supercedes the Spanish version! LOL The translator
    (mentioned earlier) has impeccable credentials..

    I am afraid she was speaking about La Sombra del Viento :-)

    Like I said, I think the magic was probably created in the english translation then.

    Or.. living in Spain and then reading about old Spain does not have the
    same appealing experience of escape into another land.


    I'll give it a try, but first I have to finish The Wheel of Time, which
    is a looooong read.

    Yes.. The series is a collection of books starting with the self-titled
    WoT. But you have about 14 novels in total to go!

    If you count the pre-quel, that would be 15.

    I just got directed to Peter Hamilton's "Commonwealth Saga" sci-fi series: [1] Pandora's Star, and [2] Judas Unchained.

    I'm more of a traditional space-opera adventure guy - stuff with space ships, futuristic technology, etc. Fantasy.. no so much.

    I really enjoyed Ringworld by Larry Niven, many many years ago.


    ../|ug


    Translation really changes novels. I have read some excerpts of Harry Potter's original
    and it made me feel *WTF*. I think the translation shadowed some poor style so I wasn't
    expecting it.

    I am finishing Lord of Chaos. [SPOILER] Somebody told me Bela dies so that has taken
    away some of the motivation for finishing the story.[END SPOILER] I enjoy the worldbuilding and the backstabbing, but the story in general is a bit slow. Still
    having a lot of fun.

    I don't really count the prequel since it was supposed to be a prequel series that never
    got finished.

    The issue with fantasy nowadays is that the on¤y thing that sells is urban/contemporary
    fantasy. Cute vampires, leprechauns that do your laudry... if you try to market an epic
    about gods using moral pawns in order to further their agendas, true love threatened by
    a dargon wizzard or whatever, you are already at a disadvantage because that is not what
    publishers are buying at all. Today's fantasy readers want a tale about a grandma who
    discovers she can repair the microwave with dark magic. Lots of modern fantasy readers
    have been in it for decades and not read a good duel on the mad wizzard's laboratory.
    While the laboratory is set ablaze. With a portal opened to Hell from which demons are
    pouring in our dimension. While pitiful mortals fight mutan abominations to keep them at
    bay while the champion of the gods runs a flamming sword through a centuries old ancient
    threat.

    So so so so sad.

    Hey, if you enjoy Space Operas, have you heard about Deathstalker? It is very tongue-in¤cheeck and a bit of a cheapo self-parody, but I found it to be golden. You must
    turn your brain off to enoy it, be warned.

    --
    gopher://gopher.operationalsecurity.es

    ---
    þ Synchronet þ Palantir BBS * palantirbbs.ddns.net * Pensacola, FL
  • From Ogg@VERT/EOTLBBS to Arelor on Sunday, June 28, 2020 12:53:00
    Hello Arelor!

    ** On Sunday 28.06.20 - 04:16, arelor wrote to Ogg:

    I just got directed to Peter Hamilton's "Commonwealth Saga" sci-fi series: >> [1] Pandora's Star, and [2] Judas Unchained.

    I'm more of a traditional space-opera adventure guy - stuff with space
    ships, futuristic technology, etc. Fantasy.. no so much.

    I really enjoyed Ringworld by Larry Niven, many many years ago.


    I am finishing Lord of Chaos. [SPOILER] Somebody told me Bela dies so that has taken away some of the motivation for finishing the story.[END SPOILER]
    I enjoy the worldbuilding and the backstabbing, but the story in general is
    a bit slow. Still having a lot of fun.

    I'd simply use ROT13 for spoilers.

    [SPOILER]Fbzrobql gbyq zr Oryn qvrf fb gung unf gnxra njnl fbzr bs gur zbgvingvba sbe svavfuvat gur fgbel.[/SPOILER]

    Are you reading the english version of WoT?


    I don't really count the prequel since it was supposed to be a prequel
    series that never got finished.

    I was not aware of that. It probably doesn't add much for the fan of the series anyway.

    But the idea of a prequel seems to persist. Recently, the newest release
    to the Hunger Games trilogy was released - a prequel. Apparently,
    (according from some reviewers) this one works because it provides the
    sense of how the Games originated and who the netorious Snow comes from.


    The issue with fantasy nowadays is that the ony thing that sells is urban/contemporary fantasy. Cute vampires, leprechauns that do your
    laudry... if you try to market an epic about gods using moral pawns in order to further their agendas, true love threatened by a dargon wizzard or whatever, you are already at a disadvantage because that is not what publishers are buying at all. Today's fantasy readers want a tale about a grandma who discovers she can repair the microwave with dark magic.

    LOL. But yes and no. As a book seller, I see a huge variance of sci-fi interests. It really depends on what one or two persons behind a
    publisher's desk "feels" will be the next viral genre.

    For the discriminating reader, I steer people to "The Lies of Locke
    Lamora" by Scott Lynch:

    "Passing themselves off as petty thieves, the brilliant Locke and his
    tightly knit band of light-fingered brothers have fooled even the criminal underworld's most feared ruler, Capa Barsavi. But there is someone in the shadows more powerful-and more ambitious-than Locke has yet imagined."

    It's kind of like a swashbuckling pirates meets space technology meets
    aliens mix. Three books in the series so far. A 4th is forthcoming next year.


    Lots of modern fantasy readers have been in it for decades and not read
    a good duel on the mad wizzard's laboratory. While the laboratory is set ablaze. With a portal opened to Hell from which demons are pouring in
    our dimension. While pitiful mortals fight mutan abominations to keep
    them at bay while the champion of the gods runs a flamming sword through
    a centuries old ancient threat.

    HA! That sounds a lot like how the last few episodes of Picard (tv
    series) played out! LOL


    So so so so sad.

    There is definately BAD stuff out there. But something like this is fine
    for a good laugh:

    Night Of the Living Trekkies: A Complete and Unauthorized Parody |
    Paperback - Kevin Anderson | Sam Stall

    "Packed with hundreds of gags referencing Star Trek, comic books, and fan conventions, Night of the Living Trekkies reads like the strange lovechild
    of Galaxy Quest and Dawn of the Dead. Journey to the final frontier of
    zombie science-fiction mash-ups!"

    Hey.. sometimes we want something familiar, but in a twisted funny
    escapism sort of way.


    Hey, if you enjoy Space Operas, have you heard about Deathstalker? It is
    very tongue-incheeck and a bit of a cheapo self-parody, but I found it
    to be golden. You must turn your brain off to enoy it, be warned.

    I probably misunderstood the term space-opera. I see that it is defined
    as a sub-genre of sci-fi where technology plays a *backseat*. In my sci-
    fi, I like the description of techology to be very relevant in the mix. Niven's Ringworld is a fine example.

    But I am not averse to a good parody. I will seek out the Deathstalker.

    For another parody, I thought Piers Anthony's "Board Stiff" was hilarious.

    "A woman finds herself at a wishing well, proclaims she's bored, and then becomes one - literally. And thus the adverture of this predicament
    begins."

    Puns play a big role in the reading experience, so it may not be the best choice if English is not a first language. But I thought the clever use
    of puns in dialog and to "solve" the various mysteries within was a lot of fun.


    ../|ug

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  • From Arelor@VERT/PALANT to Ogg on Sunday, June 28, 2020 17:11:51
    Re: Re: /I have published books..
    By: Ogg to Arelor on Sun Jun 28 2020 12:53 pm

    Are you reading the english version of WoT?


    I don't really count the prequel since it was supposed to be a prequel series that never got finished.

    I was not aware of that. It probably doesn't add much for the fan of the series anyway.

    But the idea of a prequel seems to persist. Recently, the newest release
    to the Hunger Games trilogy was released - a prequel. Apparently, (according from some reviewers) this one works because it provides the
    sense of how the Games originated and who the netorious Snow comes from.

    Let's put it this way: I bought a bunch of Wheel of Time books in Spanish, then I bought another bunch in English. I usually get better deals with English books

    Some series are only partially published in Spanish. For example, I have half Deathstalker in Spanish, and then they stopped publishing it, so I had to grab the rest in Engl¤ish.

    Regarding the WoT prequel, it brought a hitstorm over Jordan. Fans were complaining that he was sidetracking with a prequel instead of finishing the main series, you see. There was a lot of bitching about it.

    --
    gopher://gopher.operationalsecurity.es

    ---
    þ Synchronet þ Palantir BBS * palantirbbs.ddns.net * Pensacola, FL
  • From Arelor@VERT/PALANT to Ogg on Sunday, June 28, 2020 17:25:48
    Re: Re: /I have published books..
    By: Ogg to Arelor on Sun Jun 28 2020 12:53 pm

    The issue with fantasy nowadays is that the ony thing that sells is urban/contemporary fantasy. Cute vampires, leprechauns that do your laudry... if you try to market an epic about gods using moral pawns in ord to further their agendas, true love threatened by a dargon wizzard or whatever, you are already at a disadvantage because that is not what publishers are buying at all. Today's fantasy readers want a tale about a grandma who discovers she can repair the microwave with dark magic.

    LOL. But yes and no. As a book seller, I see a huge variance of sci-fi interests. It really depends on what one or two persons behind a publisher's desk "feels" will be the next viral genre.

    For the discriminating reader, I steer people to "The Lies of Locke
    Lamora" by Scott Lynch:

    "Passing themselves off as petty thieves, the brilliant Locke and his tightly knit band of light-fingered brothers have fooled even the criminal underworld's most feared ruler, Capa Barsavi. But there is someone in the shadows more powerful-and more ambitious-than Locke has yet imagined."

    It's kind of like a swashbuckling pirates meets space technology meets aliens mix. Three books in the series so far. A 4th is forthcoming next year.


    Lots of modern fantasy readers have been in it for decades and not read
    a good duel on the mad wizzard's laboratory. While the laboratory is set ablaze. With a portal opened to Hell from which demons are pouring in
    our dimension. While pitiful mortals fight mutan abominations to keep
    them at bay while the champion of the gods runs a flamming sword through
    a centuries old ancient threat.

    HA! That sounds a lot like how the last few episodes of Picard (tv
    series) played out! LOL


    So so so so sad.

    There is definately BAD stuff out there. But something like this is fine for a good laugh:


    My perception is guidedby both what I see in bookshelves and what publishers in my regular markets are purchasing.

    Science-fiction goes strong, but I was not talking about science-fiction. And (hard) sicence-fiction is no fantasy, no matter what the book store section tries to say about it :-)

    Pick a Fantasy and Sicence Fiction Magazine issue. You are likely to get:

    * Hard Sicence Fiction (1 story), Soft Science Fiction (1 story), Dystopia (1), Horror (1), Contemporary fantasy (2), Sword and sorcery (1). Something like that.

    No epic high fantasy in it. If you check fan sites, high fantasy is looked
    down by a lot of people too.

    By the way, the duel with the laboratory set ablaze is a scene pulled from my second novel.

    I think the space pirate series you are referencing sounds more like a Space Western than something from the Fantasy section. Or, directly, an Actual Space Opera.




    I was not saying that there was a lot of bad stuff and that was reason to be sad. I was saying that it is sad to think a lot of people consider themselves fantasy readers and have never read an epic fantasy piece or a sword and sorcery story, which are the foundation of the genre in my opinion.

    --
    gopher://gopher.operationalsecurity.es

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