tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5518791629286178662.post5508649215477407647..comments2023-06-16T09:58:50.486-06:00Comments on Elitist Book Reviews: A Cavern of Black IceVanessahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04260091806667958196noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5518791629286178662.post-65344075049630575402010-05-12T20:24:17.165-06:002010-05-12T20:24:17.165-06:00I was wondering if you guys were going to review t...I was wondering if you guys were going to review the rest of J.V. Jones' series. I'm just starting to get into the Cavern of Black Ice and I was really hoping you guys would review Books 2, 3, and 4.Dylan Book Readerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09922266337492927258noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5518791629286178662.post-19847991215913412512010-04-07T23:18:10.411-06:002010-04-07T23:18:10.411-06:00Just finished Book 3... and 4 ("Watcher of th...Just finished Book 3... and 4 ("Watcher of the Dead") comes out next week.Bretthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12071682819081468561noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5518791629286178662.post-85794738684746188252010-03-22T19:05:02.093-06:002010-03-22T19:05:02.093-06:00how about some criticism to Jones for managing to ...how about some criticism to Jones for managing to stall the series forever? <br /><br />I've read the cavern of black ice back in 2001 and it was, and remains to this day, my top 4 (with song, farseer and malazan - not neceserally in that order) fantasy series. <br /><br />The second vol. came out in 2002 and that was fine but freaking vol. 3 (which was supposed to be the final one, but she decided to milk it i guess and opted to have a pentalogy instead of trilogy) and took an absurd 6!!! years to publish the third installment). Even George bloody Martin operates at a faster rate, and his books are twice as big.<br /><br />Apart from that, kudos to Jones and i pray the forth book will be on par with books 1 and 2. <br /><br />btw i had no idea Jones was a woman either untill i got pissed that book 3 wasn't coming out and visited her webpage.Stetahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11622312543649132671noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5518791629286178662.post-72590825543119747542010-03-06T22:41:41.496-07:002010-03-06T22:41:41.496-07:00Great recommendation--I can't wait for the sec...Great recommendation--I can't wait for the second book to arrive. How is this series not more well-known? I completely forgive you guys for causing me to read "Gardens of the Moon" ;)Bretthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12071682819081468561noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5518791629286178662.post-80105463492992917202009-10-17T15:05:14.412-06:002009-10-17T15:05:14.412-06:00Swearing doesn't bother me in the slightest, i...Swearing doesn't bother me in the slightest, in books, movies, or someone talking. It IS distracting, sometimes, in each of those cases though, when it is used in heavy excess. When reading Red Claw (which will be reviewed soon) there were sentences with three to five 'f' words. One sentence. That is piss-poor ability and judgment on the authors part. <br /><br />Like Steve said, a well done scene of violence can pull the reader into the story even more, but that requires the author to have some ability in his craft. Anyone can throw together a string of 'f' words and call it dialog.<br /><br />It isn't that we...I should say I, am all about violence but apprehensive about swearing. I have read, and love, books with absolutely no violence. I just view it, unless it is handled poorly, as a plot device or a furthering of the story, or conflict, etc. What does swearing bring to the table? A sense and hard-boiled, dark, grittiness? I don't think so. Show it to me in your writing. Don't tell me it is gritty.<br /><br />Show, don't tell. The ultimate rule of what makes a good author. That is why adverbs are usually a no no in dialog. "He said this sarcastically." "She commented wryly." The dialog itself, the characters personality, and their actions should be showing how they say what they do.<br /><br />Wow this is getting long. I had no idea I was writing an essay, so I'll end with this. Most of my favorite books have a great amount of swearing in it. So I'm not outraged or nauseated by it, I just prefer there to be a reason or to have it handled well, and for there not to be 12 or more 'f' words on one page. On a given page thats about 3 or 4% of the words. Authors who do this need to work on their craft, and their editors need to learn their profession.-Slamel-https://www.blogger.com/profile/00787490247900515547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5518791629286178662.post-1184715237036824532009-10-17T07:29:14.322-06:002009-10-17T07:29:14.322-06:00Thanks for the reply. I guess i understand that s...Thanks for the reply. I guess i understand that standpoint. Havent read electric church, but the swearing didnt bother me in The Steal Remains, but that was probably just as I had read Richard Morgan's Sci-fi stuff first, so I read it as still having that hard-boiled style, where swearing is quite suited. I felt that he actually had lessened is use of shock value, compared to his other books. Or at least linked it to the characters more realistically.Anotherevilbadguynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5518791629286178662.post-71369644626492812832009-10-16T20:12:59.572-06:002009-10-16T20:12:59.572-06:00There are time when language doesn't bother me...There are time when language doesn't bother me in the least. Locke Lamora for instance. How it is written makes it seem more part of the natural way people talk rather than, for example, "The Steel Remains" or "The Electric Church" where it seems there just to give the reader a false sense of "grittiness." <br /><br />Erikson swears very occasionally, and it never feels tacked on. You may have a dozen swear-words in his novel of 300,000+ words, where as in The Electric Church you have a couple every page.<br /><br />What I'm getting at is the author's ability to express themselves using the English language as a tool rather than seeing how many f-words can be fit on one page.<br /><br />I don't dislike books with swearing at all, I'm just impressed when I notice a complete (or near) lack of swearing while still think "Man, this book is awesomely dark and gritty."<br /><br />Also, most people are bothered more by swearing than violence. For me personally, and not speaking for Nick, a richly imagining and described scene of violence can show me an author's talent for writing.<br /><br />Thanks for reading the reviews! We love when people have comments or questions!Steve the Bookstore Guyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02237292117795968540noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5518791629286178662.post-56107712292795592192009-10-16T19:20:46.302-06:002009-10-16T19:20:46.302-06:00I liked the book, havent got around to the next on...I liked the book, havent got around to the next one yet though. One of the reasons it is underated is that her first series is really poor. It is very cliched with very little to help it. Saying that i did read the trilogy, but that was when i was starting out in fantasy, and possibly i brought them together. Does show that authours can improve, so you shouldnt always write someone off completly.<br /><br />As an aside why do you guys seem to hat bad language but are all about the violence? And Erikson does swear sometimes doesnt he? I should know for certain, seeing as i have read all his books at least 4 times. Anyways keep up your reviewing, i quite like your less serious approach to reviewing, even if i dont necessary agree with your views.Anotherevilbadguynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5518791629286178662.post-37099639878869443322009-10-15T14:02:47.794-06:002009-10-15T14:02:47.794-06:00Glad to see someone else has heard of the series a...Glad to see someone else has heard of the series and enjoyed it. It really is a shame that more people don't know about Jones. Maybe it was because her first series was so incredibly awful they wrote (haha! get it?) her off as an author.-Slamel-https://www.blogger.com/profile/00787490247900515547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5518791629286178662.post-72073266765026030332009-10-14T16:21:52.269-06:002009-10-14T16:21:52.269-06:00Read the series a while ago and can only say "...Read the series a while ago and can only say "Aye!". Great read, go pick it up.Bejaynoreply@blogger.com