11391 réponses à ce sujet

[LPPrince]

Hey, did you guys know this book sucks?

[izmirtheastarach]

LPPrince wrote...

Hey, did you guys know this book sucks?

I had heard that, yes.

[Hamziz Vakarian]

Well, looks like the first Amazon reviews are slowly rolling in (for the kindle version, and UK only, at this point.)

I'm thinking the only way we're going to get anyone's attention at Bioware who actually matters is to make sure this book gets the reception it deserves.  Marketing and franchise management thinks we're idiots who will buy whatever they throw at us.

We'll see about that.

[Shrayev]

Hamziz Vakarian wrote...

I understand that mistakes are inexcusable, but what really, really gets me is just how someone with such a weak grasp of narrative structure and storytelling can make a living writing novels.

It's like the emperor has no clothes, and no one calls him on it. Dietz has to be the worst writer I have ever read. There is bad fan-fiction better than this dreck.

Inconceivable.

Dietz's books Halo: The Flood and Deception are awful, true, but the worst book I've read to date is Earth Ri--

wait a ****ing minute. This is the revelation of my night, holy ****. 

Here's some context: I read this ****ty ****ing book called Earth Rise back in middle school, and it was the first book that I put down and stopped reading because of how ****ty it was. As a middle schooler, it was abundantly clear to me that this book was ****. Why? Because it was poorly written, none of the characters were believable, and he used slang as the narrator (why the **** would someone say "mags" and " 'nades" when the book is written in the third-person omniscient style...?). 

I googled it just now to see if it was written "Earth Rise" or "Earthrise". Lo and ****ing behold, the book was written by William C. Dietz.

I'd completely forgotten the author's name. I'm done taking an unbiased look at this guy's work. He's a terrible ****ing author. When he's left to his own devices, he writes something that's even worse than Starship Troopers 2; when he's given a framework in which to work (Halo: The Flood, Mass Effect: Deception), he butchers it beyond recognition.

Lord have mercy, he really is terrible.

Edit: www.amazon.com/Earth-Rise-William-C-Dietz/dp/0441011047 the Amazon page for Earth Rise and the reviews outlining just why Dietz is awful.

Modifié par Shrayev, 30 janvier 2012 - 04:44 .

[izmirtheastarach]

If everyone with an Amazon account could pop on and at least rate that review helpful, that would be great.

[Icinix]

LPPrince wrote...

Hey, did you guys know this book sucks?

Hmm - I don't know.

180 pages of discussion and commentary about its failings, and a many dot point listing in google docs of lore flaws - doesn't seem like your comment has much weight.

You'll have to do better to convince me.

[MJvasNormandy]

Shrayev wrote...

ibh82 wrote...

izmirtheastarach

Not trolling stating my own opinion based on what I've seen. I've read the excerpt, thought it was okay outside of the spelling and minor errors. Still, want to read the whole thing regardless of haters like you.

ibh82, the reason people here have assumed that you're trolling is because this book really is just awful.

The main complaints fall into two categories:

• Complaints regarding canonical inconsistencies
• Complaints regarding the weak writing style, weak syntax, awkward choice of words (e.g. "'My God,' the asari Council member said feelingly")

By all means, if you want to read the book for background, go ahead and do so. No one is saying you can't do it. People ARE saying that the book is poorly written and doesn't match up with ANY other work within the Mass Effect universe. It's an anomaly. 

Do those complaints make sense? If so, trying to refute them is silly. Your entire argument where you respond to the list of errors is utterly indefensible. Someone wrote a list of facts...you can't write counterpoints to facts. The act is pointless because your responses are pretty baseless.

Read the book bud, but expect pushback from anyone with literary sense if you try to defend something that abominable. That's all we're saying.

Well said. Some of it isn't even a question of lore, but of common science--this is, after all, science fiction. Like point #18. How could the Asari, a naturally atuned biotic species originating from an element zero rich world not discover Mass Effect technology until AFTER reaching the citadel.

In order for this scenario to be even remotely likely, Thessia would have to be EXTREMELY near the Widow system. To travel to a different system, without FTL (mass effect tech), could take generations, even 10,000+ light years if Thessia is even moderately close in terms of the galaxy map (and that's assuming they could travel near light speed).

The only way this may be feasable is if Thessia's solar system is within the Serpent Nebula. Given that Bioware will likely want to "fill" the Galaxy Map in ME3, I doubt this is the case.

Modifié par MJvasNormandy, 30 janvier 2012 - 04:45 .

[bboynexus]

Seems like Dietz is the Uwe Boll of literature.

[IllusiveMike]

Icinix wrote...

LPPrince wrote...

Hey, did you guys know this book sucks?

Hmm - I don't know.

180 pages of discussion and commentary about its failings, and a many dot point listing in google docs of lore flaws - doesn't seem like your comment has much weight.

You'll have to do better to convince me.

Ah yes, "Books written by Dietz" allegedly waiting in dark space for Jan. 31, we have dismissed that claim.

[Hamziz Vakarian]

izmirtheastarach wrote...

If everyone with an Amazon account could pop on and at least rate that review helpful, that would be great.

And if you don't have one, please consider making one - if you're willing to review a couple of other items as well, and if you're willing to write a calm, thoughtful review devoid of vulgarity and crass insults.  Let's not act like who they think we are.

Basically, be zen, then nuke it.

[Shrayev]

IllusiveMike wrote...

Icinix wrote...

LPPrince wrote...

Hey, did you guys know this book sucks?

Hmm - I don't know.

180 pages of discussion and commentary about its failings, and a many dot point listing in google docs of lore flaws - doesn't seem like your comment has much weight.

You'll have to do better to convince me.

Ah yes, "Books written by Dietz" allegedly waiting in dark space for Jan. 31, we have dismissed that claim.

When we finally record all of human history, we ought to retcon everything Dietz has ever produced out of existence. I really don't want this to be part of what humanity has to offer to the universe.

[izmirtheastarach]

I have never taken part in an Amazon bomb. I think they are terrible ideas in most cases. People destroy a products rating for no reason. It's just sad.

HOWEVER, this book deserves it en every possible way. I've read enough of it to form an opinion. It is unadulterated trash. It should be review on it's merits.

Also, deep inside me I can hear a voice. It is this voice:

IT BEGINS!

Modifié par izmirtheastarach, 30 janvier 2012 - 04:53 .

[IllusiveMike]

Don't review bomb it at all, honestly. As soon as it appears a vocal minority of fans bombed a site's product reviews, the criticisms loose their legitimacy.

Modifié par IllusiveMike, 30 janvier 2012 - 04:53 .

[bboynexus]

I can't seem to find on Amazon UK where you submit your own reviews. Is it necessary to have bought it?

[izmirtheastarach]

IllusiveMike wrote...

Don't review bomb it at all, honestly. As soon as it appears a vocal minority of fans bombed a site's product reviews, the criticisms loose their legitimacy.

I feel like this is different, because it's no a mainstream product. The only people who are likely to buy this thing are Mass Effect fans. Since all these reviews are going to come from other Mass Effect fans, and since they are going to be sincerely based on how the book really is, I think it's okay.

[Hamziz Vakarian]

It's not a "bomb" if the review is an accurate reflection of the quality of the product. It just appears that way because it's such a ****tty book.

Which is why it's important to write a calm, well-written review using correct grammar and punctuation.

[Alek the Great]

Someone, PLEASE PM me the details of the ending.

[Shrayev]

izmirtheastarach wrote...

IllusiveMike wrote...

Don't review bomb it at all, honestly. As soon as it appears a vocal minority of fans bombed a site's product reviews, the criticisms loose their legitimacy.

I feel like this is different, because it's no a mainstream product. The only people who are likely to buy this thing are Mass Effect fans. Since all these reviews are going to come from other Mass Effect fans, and since they are going to be sincerely based on how the book really is, I think it's okay.

This, to be honest. I'd be less inclined to review bomb it if the book were written by a more respectable author and it just turned out to be a ****ty book due to bad editing, or whatever, but this...Not only will it be read chiefly by ME fans, but Dietz deserves a good critical panning. The man has produced some horrifically bad books (see my earlier post regarding Earth Rise  )

Edit: and as Hamziz noted, for most people this isn't a "bombing" it's just an honest review of a legitimately bad book.

If we all happen to do it at once and flood it with negative ratings, well...that just reinforces the point 

Modifié par Shrayev, 30 janvier 2012 - 05:00 .

[LPPrince]

So sad.

[Einz360]

Man... I pre-ordered this on amazon when it was announced... totally forgot about it until last night when it was Shipped... so I cant cancel the order... ****!!!!

[Maugrim]

Hamziz Vakarian wrote...

Well, looks like the first Amazon reviews are slowly rolling in (for the kindle version, and UK only, at this point.)

I'm thinking the only way we're going to get anyone's attention at Bioware who actually matters is to make sure this book gets the reception it deserves.  Marketing and franchise management thinks we're idiots who will buy whatever they throw at us.

We'll see about that.

You can already tag the ME books on Amazon.com site and reviews should be possible shortly.  It is also possible to leave a review on Google Books, which I have already done.

[What a Succulent Ass]

Shrayev wrote...
-RAAGE-

I seriously laughed until I couldn't breathe.

[Maugrim]

Einz360 wrote...

Man... I pre-ordered this on amazon when it was announced... totally forgot about it until last night when it was Shipped... so I cant cancel the order... ****!!!!

Seriously try and get Amazon to take it back.  I give better than even odds that they will once explained how horrible the book is, at least someone should try.  I would've had I missed the date.  Heck if I could do it for you I would.

Modifié par makenzieshepard, 30 janvier 2012 - 05:28 .

[Blacklash93]

ibh82 wrote...
17. Most characters in ME 1 and ME 2 were heterosexual, yet in ME 3 they will become bisexual. Things change, people change.
I am done.

First of all I don't like people saying things that aren't true. No, all things point to ME1/2 characters staying exactly as they were in terms of sexuality.

And why would Hendel turn straight? Does spending 3 years in an environmental suit on a nomadic alien ship have any psychological implications that would result in a change in sexuality? Would Bioware or Dietz intentionally change something established about a character for no reason and without justification? Especially when that character trait is so rare in the series to begin with? Especially when there are gay fans that could get p*ssy (like yours truly) for losing something about the character that they like?

As for the rest of the list you're grasping at straws to make excuses for sloppy/lazy research and writing. Being gay, of course I had to make issue of that one in particular.

Modifié par Blacklash93, 30 janvier 2012 - 05:27 .

[WizenSlinky0]

Blacklash93 wrote...

ibh82 wrote...
17. Most characters in ME 1 and ME 2 were heterosexual, yet in ME 3 they will become bisexual. Things change, people change.
I am done.

First of all I don't like people saying things that aren't true. No, all things point to ME1/2 characters staying exactly as they were in terms of sexuality.

And why would Hendel turn straight? Does spending 3 years in an environmental suit on a nomadic alien ship have any psychological implications that would result in a change in sexuality? Would Bioware or Dietz intentionally change something established about a character for no reason and without justification? Especially when that character trait is so rare in the series to begin with? Especially when there are gay fans that could get p*ssy (like yours truly) for losing something about the character that they like?

As for the rest of the list you're grasping at straws to make excuses for sloppy/lazy research and writing. Being gay, of course I had to make issue of that one in particular.

"I've been on a ship full of quarians afraid of a hole in their suit and a 16 year old...oh wait, I forgot, we're saying she's 18 now right? Anyway, an 18 year old girl who would likely toss me out an air vent if I tried anything. I'll bang just about anything these days"