... or rather, the old becomes new again tomorrow, when Tor releases the latest volume in their series of Wild Cards reissues: DEAD MAN'S HAND, the seventh book in the original sequence
( Read more... )
Another lovely Komarck piece -- digging Yeoman, in particular.
I'd be quite interested in John sharing the origins and inspirations behind Yeoman in a future Wild Cards blog post. The obvious comic book antecedents are Green Arrow and the Punisher, but I wonder what drew him particularly to the idea of a normal (if very gifted), non-Wild Card infected character surrounded by fellow players/writers messing around with Aces and Jokers.
Giving Wild Cards a Try ext_4127310June 12 2017, 20:01:06 UTC
Haven't really done much wildcards reading but I think I'll start. Dead Man's Hand sounds interesting. Will give WC a start. Anyway, I don't think you should mind people who say mean things about writers such as yourself who write so extensively. Everything is earned. To risk sounding childish but such people are losers and you shouldn't waste your time on losers.
Bit off topicext_4074917June 12 2017, 20:02:57 UTC
Hello George, This may be a bit off topic but if you had to recommend some books that present the real history in a very reader friendly way, what would you suggest. I know that you like Accursed Kings(which I am about to finish) alot but apart from that what would you suggest. I don't necessarily want a POV structure just something that presents history in a very readable way.
Regarding WildCards, do what your heart says. No good will come out of giving attention to random people online. (Oh wait!)
Re: Bit off topicstarkdadJune 13 2017, 15:51:56 UTC
Not Mr. Martin but an avid reader of medieval history.
Hugh Bicheno's Battle Royal and Blood Royal is a good two volume history of the War of the Roses (and he acknowledges Mr. Martin's influence on interest in the topic).
Princes in the Tower is also good "popular" history. Barbara Tuchman's A Distant Mirror has held up well (a great "your are there" version of the Battle of Potiers).
Suprisingly Frossiart (an original source) is a very lively "popular" history (through written in the late 1300's).
Juliet Barker's Agincourt and Conquest cover the late Hundred Years War and are fine for general readers.
If you want to jump into the deep end try Sumption's multi-volumne History of the Hunderd Years War (but don't start there...)
Happy reading - keeps us busy to Winds blows through...
Honestly I have said before that I disagree with more famous authors getting such a prominent placement on the covers for editing books written by other authors but obviously that doesn't seem to apply here.
Also, as an outside perspective, I would say if you feel like you wanna write a wild cards story then that is what you should write. Readers will complain no matter what and you only live once so you might as well follow your inspiration wherever it may take you. As I'd said that's from my perspective outside of the burden that you carry with such a huge following but just two cents from a guy who although has no best sellers to his credit, HAS written a few drunken comments about the Mets that I feel are worthy of a Pulitzer and mayhaps a Nobel prize as well. Just sayin. (Yes that is a joke for those here without a sense of humor)
Where to start?congobillJune 12 2017, 20:19:12 UTC
Wild Cards looks intriguing to me but one reason I haven't jumped in is it seems very daunting, with so many books, characters, and stories. Where do I start? Do I have to start with the first book and read everything sequentially? You seem to suggest with this post that readers can jump on anywhere. If that's the case, great! Then again, will the reading experience be better if started from Book 1? Or, if I was just going to sample one book to see how I like it, what's the best place to start if not starting at Book 1?
Re: Where to start?ext_3982180June 13 2017, 02:20:32 UTC
Just started the original "Wild Cards" after finishing "A song fory Lya". Really interested in the Dr. Tachyon character, obviously, as he's the first real contact with outside beings. Looking forward to reading the rest of the series.
RE: Re: Where to start?wazatJune 14 2017, 08:26:23 UTC
I did read a bit of 'Wild Cards' following your recommendation of where to start reading the series. However, I swapped to reading 'Dead Man's Hand' after it was released as I love your style of writing - you weave a vivid world. (I loved Tolkien when I was a young thing but you are Tolkien on steroids.) DMH will keep me happy while you finish 'Winds of Winter'.
Which other Wild Cards novels contain your stories? You mentioned that you wrote more for the series in the early days. ( I know you edited them all.)
Comments 41
I'd be quite interested in John sharing the origins and inspirations behind Yeoman in a future Wild Cards blog post. The obvious comic book antecedents are Green Arrow and the Punisher, but I wonder what drew him particularly to the idea of a normal (if very gifted), non-Wild Card infected character surrounded by fellow players/writers messing around with Aces and Jokers.
Reply
Reply
This may be a bit off topic but if you had to recommend some books that present the real history in a very reader friendly way, what would you suggest. I know that you like Accursed Kings(which I am about to finish) alot but apart from that what would you suggest. I don't necessarily want a POV structure just something that presents history in a very readable way.
Regarding WildCards, do what your heart says. No good will come out of giving attention to random people online.
(Oh wait!)
Reply
Hugh Bicheno's Battle Royal and Blood Royal is a good two volume history of the War of the Roses (and he acknowledges Mr. Martin's influence on interest in the topic).
Princes in the Tower is also good "popular" history. Barbara Tuchman's A Distant Mirror has held up well (a great "your are there" version of the Battle of Potiers).
Suprisingly Frossiart (an original source) is a very lively "popular" history (through written in the late 1300's).
Juliet Barker's Agincourt and Conquest cover the late Hundred Years War and are fine for general readers.
If you want to jump into the deep end try Sumption's multi-volumne History of the Hunderd Years War (but don't start there...)
Happy reading - keeps us busy to Winds blows through...
TomT
Reply
Also, as an outside perspective, I would say if you feel like you wanna write a wild cards story then that is what you should write. Readers will complain no matter what and you only live once so you might as well follow your inspiration wherever it may take you. As I'd said that's from my perspective outside of the burden that you carry with such a huge following but just two cents from a guy who although has no best sellers to his credit, HAS written a few drunken comments about the Mets that I feel are worthy of a Pulitzer and mayhaps a Nobel prize as well. Just sayin. (Yes that is a joke for those here without a sense of humor)
Reply
Reply
But I've known people to start on just about every book, and then backtrack.
Reply
Reply
Which other Wild Cards novels contain your stories? You mentioned that you wrote more for the series in the early days. ( I know you edited them all.)
Reply
Leave a comment