(no subject)
I've been reading John Scalzi's blog, Whatever, for a while now. If you had asked me before today, I would have told you that he rubbed me the wrong way although it was never something I could really put my finger on. It wasn't particular opinions he holds or ideas, just his overall attitude. I kept his blog on my RSS feeds and usually just skimmed it since I had bought his book. I finally read Old Man's War, which I had heard decent things about.
The book was OK. It's got a bit of that "important" edge to it, as much as a sci/fi book can. (Thanks for that, Arabella!) The plot was interesting, the science was missing, and the dialogue was painful. Not that the dialogue was stilted or clumsy, but that everyone was over-the-top witty. Everyone had the perfect retort, the best comeback. It was a little unbelievable to me, even if it was set in the future, since everyone was well into their social security years. My grandfather was funny, often had a witty remark. He just didn't sound like he jumped off a Buffy set. Geriatrics talking like teens just doesn't do it for me. It's got a lot of great review on Amazon, but like I said, it was OK. I just don't think he's the next Heinlein. Nor do I think it's deserving of the Hugo. It's not even in the running of other Hugo winners I've read.
Well today, Scalzi has a post regarding plagiarism and copyright (all stemmed from the recent Bad Penny posts) and he really rubs me the wrong way. And it's not just that I don't agree with him, because I do understand his argument. It's just that he's really cemented the problem I've had with him but couldn't identify. Maybe I just don't like his style of discussing and arguing, but what I think it just comes down to is the fact that I think he's a prick.
The book was OK. It's got a bit of that "important" edge to it, as much as a sci/fi book can. (Thanks for that, Arabella!) The plot was interesting, the science was missing, and the dialogue was painful. Not that the dialogue was stilted or clumsy, but that everyone was over-the-top witty. Everyone had the perfect retort, the best comeback. It was a little unbelievable to me, even if it was set in the future, since everyone was well into their social security years. My grandfather was funny, often had a witty remark. He just didn't sound like he jumped off a Buffy set. Geriatrics talking like teens just doesn't do it for me. It's got a lot of great review on Amazon, but like I said, it was OK. I just don't think he's the next Heinlein. Nor do I think it's deserving of the Hugo. It's not even in the running of other Hugo winners I've read.
Well today, Scalzi has a post regarding plagiarism and copyright (all stemmed from the recent Bad Penny posts) and he really rubs me the wrong way. And it's not just that I don't agree with him, because I do understand his argument. It's just that he's really cemented the problem I've had with him but couldn't identify. Maybe I just don't like his style of discussing and arguing, but what I think it just comes down to is the fact that I think he's a prick.