Post by Dabeagle on Aug 9, 2015 23:59:40 GMT -5
Longtime readers will know that I never forgave killing Stephen King for Jake Chambers. Let me explain.
Stephen King, largely known for writing horror, was not writing stories that let you grow to love characters, mostly. There was a lot of story, plenty of creepy and then the characters. Plus, writing horror, you have a reasonable expectation that lots of people are going to die - sometimes even the protagonist. Then came the Dark Tower. King's Magnum Opus, and it was. Some books in the series weren't as strong - I found Book 3, Wastelands, fascinating. But as the series went on, I grew to love Jake Chambers who we first encounter in the town of Tull - Jake Tull, who appeared for me in Long Day. In book 7, King killed my beloved character. I remember putting the book down and it taking me days and the urging of another to finish the book.
Shortly before that, I had read Black House which was a sequel to The Talisman, a book I've read to tatters. Tyler Marshall was taken from there and placed into Forever December.
I haven't read King since. In my opinion, killing characters isn't a random act to clean things up - even though I and Ryan were accused of that with Charlie in SS. No matter how many times I discuss the wrangling we went through trying to decide the best way to move forward and tell the story, the idea persists. Killing characters needs to advance the story - and Charlie's death has been ringing through chapters and emotions for quite some time.
Recently I have been reading two series - one by Benedict Jacka called the Alex Verus series. No gay content, neat ideas on mages in the modern world, quick reads. The other is the Codex Alera by Jim Butcher. I'm familiar with Butcher from his 'Dresden Files' series, which is a wizard living in modern day Chicago, and the series also came recommended by a friend. It's been a very good series with some ancient Roman roots going on in it. But now, we get to the last book. The last half of the book, just like King, he kills my favorite character. For what? Nothing, it seems. I am so pissed.
Ehren will appear in a new serial story called The War of the Seven Houses.
Stephen King, largely known for writing horror, was not writing stories that let you grow to love characters, mostly. There was a lot of story, plenty of creepy and then the characters. Plus, writing horror, you have a reasonable expectation that lots of people are going to die - sometimes even the protagonist. Then came the Dark Tower. King's Magnum Opus, and it was. Some books in the series weren't as strong - I found Book 3, Wastelands, fascinating. But as the series went on, I grew to love Jake Chambers who we first encounter in the town of Tull - Jake Tull, who appeared for me in Long Day. In book 7, King killed my beloved character. I remember putting the book down and it taking me days and the urging of another to finish the book.
Shortly before that, I had read Black House which was a sequel to The Talisman, a book I've read to tatters. Tyler Marshall was taken from there and placed into Forever December.
I haven't read King since. In my opinion, killing characters isn't a random act to clean things up - even though I and Ryan were accused of that with Charlie in SS. No matter how many times I discuss the wrangling we went through trying to decide the best way to move forward and tell the story, the idea persists. Killing characters needs to advance the story - and Charlie's death has been ringing through chapters and emotions for quite some time.
Recently I have been reading two series - one by Benedict Jacka called the Alex Verus series. No gay content, neat ideas on mages in the modern world, quick reads. The other is the Codex Alera by Jim Butcher. I'm familiar with Butcher from his 'Dresden Files' series, which is a wizard living in modern day Chicago, and the series also came recommended by a friend. It's been a very good series with some ancient Roman roots going on in it. But now, we get to the last book. The last half of the book, just like King, he kills my favorite character. For what? Nothing, it seems. I am so pissed.
Ehren will appear in a new serial story called The War of the Seven Houses.