Larian Studios Forums Beyond Divinity (English) General How is the novel that comes with Beyond?

Kiya is right.

It isn't always true, but you can usually tell the sex of the author from the way they write characters (Or at least that's how I do it <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />). It is very rare for a man to write women well, and vice versa.

Both sexes understand each other imperfectly - and it shows <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

True to an extent. Here are some generalizations (and of course, there are always exceptions, and good authors don't fit into this anyway)--

1. Female authors generally choreograph, say, combat more poorly. The more gritty details will not be there. (Keeping this to fantasy genre, most heroines will wield long swords and not, say, battleaxes. They'll cut things up and get cut, but things like getting punched and having to spit out teeth are rarely included.)

2. Bad female authors write male characters as protective, sensitive -- the perfect mates. Bad male authors write female characters as fluffy, understanding, sexy -- the perfect women, with exaggerated feminine attributes. Regardless of the author's gender, romances almost always end up happy.

3. Bad female authors overdo emotions; bad male authors overdo action.

4. Bad female authors write female characters as pure-hearted, beautiful and delicate yet deadly, intelligent and witty yet understanding, can engage in action with the best of them but still have amazing motherly instincts. "Strong" female characters, from them, are male-bashing and obnoxious (but get worshipped regardless). Bad male authors write male characters as authority-defying rogues whose charms no woman can resist.

Ok, this is about cliches, Winterfox - I wouldn't call these authors bad though - just feeding cliche dreams their readers (might) have. I originally meant a difference in humour though. Male/female humour differs in nuances.

One point I would like to add to your list => female authors use more details in their description of their environment, colours etc.
Kiya

Devilish edit after Elliot's post:


Well, I'd call this a perfect, realistic and true description of every average female in RL - (except the delicate and mother part, have to think about obnoxious, wish the understanding part would give way to evolution - finally, think we deserve worship in any case <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shame.gif" alt="" /> Sorry, couldn't resist in a very pure-hearted way <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/evilgrin1.gif" alt="" /> )

Also, women concentrate on emotion more; men on thought <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

All in all, I agree with Kiya & Winterfox though <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

The humour difference is there, but it is a very subtle thing, and not always obvious (At least to a guy <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />)

I wouldn't call that a big achievement for J.K. Rowling, Leather_Raven.
IMHO, everything with a bit of advertizing can sell in America.
I have a suspicion about Harry Potter, though.
Imagine this-
A single elementary school teacher on welfare writes a book. A year later, her character becomes a cult symbol and she writes another book. Soon the market is overrun with her books and related merchandize. A movie giant has a nice share of it all...
HOW can this happen? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

It's actually more than just advertising Deathatthedoor, it's about your publisher, your agent, product placement etc. I have nothing particular against J K Rowling, I have never read the books, and probably never will, although I've seen the first two films. There are definitely children's fantasy authors like Diana Wynn Jones and Ursula K. Le Guin whose books should have got the attention that the Potter books have received (in my opinion). But it was a case of the right thing coming along at the right time. Having said that, Potter mania has helped boosted children's fantasy book sales in general, and also adult ones I believe, which can't be a bad thing.

Can I borrow your halo, Kiya? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif" alt="" />

Sure, Elliot, be my guest - but I warn you, this halo changes gender.
Kiya

Edit after Elliot's post:
Nono, this halo is a patch, of course - only changes from worse to better... a very intelligent one, erasing everything, until you meet the requirements Winterfox has listed up already. Sadly incompatible with male code, so it changes this as well <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/kissyou.gif" alt="" />

You mean you were once a man? I would NEVER have guessed! Really, Kiya, you have adapted brilliantly! But you can keep the halo! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif" alt="" />

That reminds me of how the German Forummember got the name Anthea (also in <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/div.gif" alt="" /> ) :

This female Elf had once decided to wear a cursed belt of GenderChance ...

(Meaning he was once an Elf. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/winkwink.gif" alt="" /> )

Anyway, he is a good role-player (he is indeeed in real life male) , but since he married he hardly ever shows up here again. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/winkwink.gif" alt="" />

i didnt really care much for the novel.. it was easy reading.... i just kept reading to find out what the gods were up to, and their next comical action would b <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

i felt sorry for the imps though :P was a good story.....

That's weird, I did not even KNOW about Rhianna Pratchett and her father. I never saw one of their books... I'm living in Belgium though...
I know SOME English writer, but my knowledge is limited... But I have my dose of Dutch literature <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif" alt="" />.

About Harry Potter, that is indeed a big marketing blow. All that merchandizing...
I mean the books are ok, the movie's... m'yeah, why not... But c'mon... dolls, board games, and even plastic BROOMSTICKS?

Too much merchandizing kills the popularity of a book <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/disagree.gif" alt="" />.
It minimize it to a big money buster.

I'm 17, and I like those books. Lots of fantasy, and I quite like fantasy. Even if I think the 5th book was a bit of the mark, it's still a good read in the first go. Only problem, it's boring to read it many tims over. Not the best book in the world ( damn merchandising ) but still good.

Just for information, could any of you give some title's of Rhianna Pratchett's father so I could look it up? I like reading books, English, French or Dutch <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif" alt="" />. Just got trough ''Max Havelaar'' from Dutch author Multatuli ( Edouard Douwes Dekker ) And it was... euh... ''special''.

If the books of Pratchett have some humor, I could use it to... relax a bit <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif" alt="" />.
Teacher's always want's you to read... difficult books, so I got my load of '' seriousness'' ( Kosinski's ''Painted Bird'' depressed me emotionnaly... good book, but that is REALLY to make yourself shiver )

Tsk tsk! How DARE you not have heard of Terry Pratchett <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/winkwink.gif" alt="" />.
I have 31 books: 26 novels, Science of Discworld 1, Nanny Ogg's Cookbook, The Last Hero and Good Omens (I am a Gaiman fan).
Started with Guards!Guards! and would reccomend everyone to start with this book.

As for humour, I'll let yourself to judge. I know no one's sense of humour is alike so I will keep silent <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />.

My favourite Terry Pratchett books are Soul Music which introduces Susan Sto Helit - probably my favourite Pratchett character - Interesting Times in which the 90 odd year old Cohen The Barbarian attempts to conquer an empire using a bare handful of old men, and Men At Arms in which the Ankh Morpork City Watch get a few rather interesting new recruits...

As a general rule though, you can't go wrong with anything with Susan or the Ankh Morpork City Watch in it.

All the Discworld novels are at least readable, and many are utterly superb, but Susan, Carrot and Sir Samuel Vimes are Pratchett's strongest characters, IMO.

If you want something non-Discworld related, Good Omens is an excellent (As recommended by DATD, above) standalone.

***

DATD...

As you are a Gaiman fan, I'd love to hear your thoughts on comparisons between Harry Potter and Tim Hunter. Coincidence? Or not?

I haven't read much of Gaiman yet but I suppose you mean the hero character of Book of Magic?
I think it's not a coincidance but if I recall correctly (correct me if I am wrong), Book of Magic was released before Harry Potter, no?
By any means, I cannot comment on that one because all I have is a preview at the end of Sandman: Preludes and Nocturnes.

About the novel:
It's a fine novel, Leather_Raven. I feel a hint of Douglas Adams but that's probably just me. As kiya, who is a finer reader than myself, already stated, the style is similar to a female version of Terry Pratchett, which is quite convinient.
Good of you of putting The King in the temple's statue room.

Your father should be proud of you.
*Applauds*

Well, another name for these writers is "hack writer." (The "feeding cliches to readers" part, at any rate.) I wouldn't call them good.



I hope you're joking. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

The characters I'm talking about are either wish-fulfillment or idealized caricatures. Here's an essay/rant I wrote about them; these spawns of bad authorship are called Mary Sues. Found in fanfiction, original fiction, and even professionally published fiction, particularly rampant in the fantasy genre.

Elliot_Kane said:



Wow, then I must write like a man. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

Yeah, that's Tim - who is by far the older character, as you say <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Could be <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif" alt="" />

True, Harry Potter is way overhyped, and because hyped products often disappoint in the end, many people aren't even interested in giving it a try.
But hey, the story of the writer is so beautiful: barely enough money to raise her kid(s), then she got a chance and she grabbed it, and it made her so rich she'll never have to worry (financially) about anything else but the things she likes to do... Can't blame her <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />
My opinion on Harry Potter: The books are a fun read, I like the plots, they're books for children and they're perfect for what they're supposed to be.
The movies (first two) were soulless (as is every movie I've seen from Columbus), horribly directed and horribly acted (except for a few... exceptions). The photography was alright though, and the music is great. But i'm not gonna make this a full review <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif" alt="" />
I'm curious to see the third movie - Never thought to see Gary Oldman in a movie like this <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/think.gif" alt="" />

Haven't read Rhi's novella yet - It just arrived yesterday <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

My thoughts exactly...and I've seen the thrid one now (GF wanted to go is my excuse) - and it's not quite as bad as the first 2 (particually the second which I really really hated) but the third film had that same chopped up feeling as though a scene or two was missing inbetween every scene that was included.