tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658526372996117205.post4636764786977350136..comments2023-09-29T05:32:04.308-07:00Comments on StrangePegs: Unexpected Applause: CassaFireAndrew Leonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13964775673414653644noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658526372996117205.post-79182384433789103342013-02-25T11:44:14.987-08:002013-02-25T11:44:14.987-08:00Jo: Theoretically, I'm reading for enjoyment, ...Jo: Theoretically, I'm reading for enjoyment, but the "critical eye" is always there.<br /><br />D.G.: If the driving factor is action, yes, but the driving factor of the Cassa books is the characters.Andrew Leonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13964775673414653644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658526372996117205.post-53605823166762086252013-02-24T19:25:57.067-08:002013-02-24T19:25:57.067-08:00Maybe that's what happens when I have too many...Maybe that's what happens when I have too many commas, I must have sneezed. However, my crit partner calls herself the 'comma Nazi' since she exorcises all the extras. <br /><br />I liked Alex's first two books (I reviewed them too). With a space opera, I don't think there is usually the depth of character that you are referring to. Isn't action (and no hard science) the main focus?<br /><br />You expressed your points well. Perhaps a prologue in the second book would have helped, to explain what occurred in between? <br />D.G. Hudsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06213237734772028645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658526372996117205.post-64839649627413216712013-02-24T15:58:57.139-08:002013-02-24T15:58:57.139-08:00I didn't find anything wrong with Cassa Star o...I didn't find anything wrong with Cassa Star or Fire, but I don't read books with a critical eye I suppose, I just read them to enjoy, or not as the case may be. I enjoyed both of these books and certainly didn't worry about the depth of background or the lack of Tgren.<br /><br />As for typos in ebooks, they drive me crackers and I get so annoyed that I cannot correct them. One author friend of mine allowed me to get a copy of her book and correct it, then it was republished. I hope it is now typo free.Johttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14087140585742801854noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658526372996117205.post-21127878683349365282013-02-23T20:15:17.473-08:002013-02-23T20:15:17.473-08:00Sarah: I haven't actually seen anything negati...Sarah: I haven't actually seen anything negative about it, but, then, I haven't looked, either.Andrew Leonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13964775673414653644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658526372996117205.post-22603483268061168892013-02-22T22:37:37.162-08:002013-02-22T22:37:37.162-08:00I've actually seen The Dark Knight Rises dispa...I've actually seen The Dark Knight Rises disparaged quite a bit online as the weakest of the trilogy. Though I don't think I've seen the time jump specifically mentioned as a weak point. I liked it the best of the three, which just goes to show you never can tell.<br /><br />Sarah McCabehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10985261436020635823noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658526372996117205.post-67390488298818220582013-02-22T12:24:11.268-08:002013-02-22T12:24:11.268-08:00Briane: Well, I have done the fighting thing, alth...Briane: Well, I have done the fighting thing, although those are pretty one sided as I tend to just let the other person do his/her thing without responding.<br /><br />I don't remember mistakes in the Xanth novels, but, then, I was about 14 when I was reading those. I think self-pubbed stuff gets a bad rep on the editing front considering the state of editing from "real" publishers. It's disheartening, actually.Andrew Leonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13964775673414653644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658526372996117205.post-640119784537458752013-02-22T09:29:19.180-08:002013-02-22T09:29:19.180-08:00As I read your review I was wondering how Alex wou...As I read your review I was wondering how Alex would take it. That was a very reasoned and measured response. I was hoping for a fight!<br /><br />I didn't take your review as a negative at all, though, and I've heard lots of good stuff about Alex's books, which I keep meaning to get to and keep not getting to. Certainly, asking for more of a story isn't necessarily a pan, the way I've seen you pan books before.<br /><br />This didn't dissuade me from the book; it just makes me want to read the first one more and then see what I think.<br /><br />As for the editing: that seems to be a problem for ebooks in general. I've been re-reading the old Piers Anthony Xanth books, and there are typos about every third page. From a "REAL" publisher! Good thing I'm taking them out of the library.Brianehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01616494058636881575noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658526372996117205.post-40464431558201064762013-02-22T08:04:56.113-08:002013-02-22T08:04:56.113-08:00Alex: I didn't dislike it; I just didn't t...Alex: I didn't dislike it; I just didn't think it was as strong as 'Star. Like I said, I thought the romance was really well done. <br />And I get that you wrote this one to stand alone; however, it's clear that the next one is building on this one, so it's not alone anymore. <br /><br />Rusty: I get that on an emotional level. He closed himself back off and stuff. But... <br /><br />I think comma sneezes may be a new thing. Be careful with your books!Andrew Leonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13964775673414653644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658526372996117205.post-45138575830829501692013-02-22T05:20:33.844-08:002013-02-22T05:20:33.844-08:00Oh man, that's too bad. I liked what Alex did ...Oh man, that's too bad. I liked what Alex did with the second book. He went in an entirely different direction than the first, and I think he pulled it off. And not to argue the psychology of the characters, but I took it that after the death of his mentor in the first book (er, spoiler alert) that he went back into a shell and all that growth from the first book was undone as a result. Since there was no one to challenge him he was on cruise control. I don't know, it just made sense to me. <br /><br />And comma sneezes? That is awesome. I think I'll try that on a page of my next story and see if anyone notices. I'll have no commas at all and then I'll print the page, sneeze on it, and... you know, that actually sounds gross, nevermind.Rusty Carlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09887821877521181811noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658526372996117205.post-63395134382149205792013-02-22T03:21:34.523-08:002013-02-22T03:21:34.523-08:00Sorry you didn't enjoy it. Other reviewers hav...Sorry you didn't enjoy it. Other reviewers have thought the storyline better, writing better, more world building, and they liked the growth and maturation of Byron.<br />Never planned a third book - sorry, this one stands alone.<br />Thanks for the review and hopefully there was something about it you liked.Alex J. Cavanaughhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09770065693345181702noreply@blogger.com