102 réponses à ce sujet

[StStephen909]

i just read The Calling and The Stolen Throne by David Gaider and i cant get enough. i highly recommend them if any of you are like me and are not quite ready to leave Ferelden just yet. Ive been looking to see if there is another novel in the works. Does anyone have any clue? I sure hope so.

[lisakover]

Probably not, I'm guessing hes working on new game content or DA2

[Drelynx56]

I had no idea they even made books for DA, I've read the mass effect books and ill have to go pick those up now.

[LachlannH]

I'll have to give them a go when I'm done reading my other books. Sounds like fun, though!

[DJoker35]

They're VERY well written. Not only are they good for game-based books...they're just good, period. I hope he writes some more as well. Maybe Mr. Gaider will see this thread and let us know if he's thinking of some more books...

[AngryFrozenWater]

I am absolutely not interested in DA merchandise. I love the game and look forward to DLCs and expansions, but that's about as far as I will go. I already feel like a cow they can milk for money.

[Drelynx56]

The books only cost you $16.00 for both on amazon, not too expensive considering how much is added to the story.

Modifié par Drelynx56, 16 janvier 2010 - 10:03 .

[Pinkleaf]

The two DA books are a fantastic read and more than worth the money. When you consider how many trashy books are out there for sale these two are like little gems and are written really well.

[Fexelea]

To be honest, the books are good to add more to the story of DA but you will find them... er... amateurish if you write yourself or are heavily into full length novels and fiction.



Having some speech described as "BLABLABLA, he said lamely" is rather... well...



Regardless I think David has put a lot of effort into this and created some interesting characters. It would be good if he could now add on personalities to the characters -not same thing- and I look forward to his prose skills evolving and his shift+F7 ability to improve ;P



I'm not being mean, just some constructive criticism. It was an entertaining read and well worth it for any fan of the game. There is lots of room to grow and I really hope we see more and better with each installment.

[Pinkleaf]

I like how David keeps the story flowing and never gets himself bogged down in meaningless mush, a thing many other novels suffer greatly from, needless to say I will be snatching up a copy of his third book as soon as it is for sale.

Some books would spend a chapter or more describing a characters history and personality, myself I find this to be boring.  
David on the other hand unfolds the history and personality of his characters slowly throughout the entirety of the book holding the readers interest from the beginning to the conclusion of the story.

Modifié par Pinkleaf, 16 janvier 2010 - 11:39 .

[Fexelea]

Pinkleaf wrote...

I like how David keeps the story flowing and never gets himself bogged down in meaningless mush, a thing many other novels suffer greatly from, needless to say I will be snatching up a copy of his third book as soon as it is for sale.

Some books would spend a chapter or more describing a characters history and personality, myself I find this to be boring.  
David on the other hand unfolds the history and personality of his characters slowly throughout the entirety of the book holding the readers interest from the beginning to the conclusion of the story.

Whilst overindulging in unnecessary detail can be detrimental to the flow and appeal of a story, the approach to these books has been rather simplistic. Many important events are stated rather than narrated, which might make it easier to retain the interest of those with a short attention span, but is not conductive to immersive prose.
I still think they are good backstories for Ferelden, however if David aspires to become an author beyond this, he will have to refine his technique and polish acquired skills, eventually leading to a very different formatting and development of the project. Since I think he has a brilliant imagination and inspirational flair, I hope that's the case.

[Skellimancer]

[Moirnelithe]

I bought both books but I didn't get past chapter 6 of the first book. Like someone else in this thread mentioned the writing style is a little 'amateurish'. The style fits a computer game but not a novel. Maybe I'll pick it up again some day but not for a while yet. And I usually finish fantasy books in a day at most. If you can't get enough of the Dragon Age setting and really want to know how it all came to be then do get it, otherwise well, you may end up a little disappointed.

[MerinTB]

I really enjoyed both novels, but then again that's from someone who really dislikes Tolkien's writing style.
And Robert Jordan's.

On the other hand, I enjoy reading Milton and Shakespeare (just not the sonnets, please), as well as Dostoevsky.

I don't think the novels are amateurish at all. It really depends on what you want from a novel, I guess, and if you like long-winded descriptions, pages of history of towns, and lengthy (horrible) poetry from fantasy writers, maybe Gaider's books aren't for you.

I'd say they are more Salvatore than Tolkien, more Gibson than Stephenson, more Feist than Jordan.

Really, unless you are a paid, published writer or a professional editor/publisher, the extent of your literary critique (even if you are an English major) should probably stick to what you like or dislike about it and back carefully away from making sweeping statements like calling the lead writer at a major game studio and the published author of two successful books "amateurish."

Modifié par MerinTB, 16 janvier 2010 - 05:24 .

[MerinTB]

Colenda wrote...

Well, I was going to post and say that I found the free online chapters pretty amateurish in style, but since someone who's read Milton and Shakespeare (and enjoyed them too! Is't possible?) has cautioned against making sweeping statements, I've thought twice about the whole thing.

Oh wait, no I haven't, the style was amateurish. But since so many professional authors write like that, Mr Gaider's hardly going to be held back by it.

Ok, honestly, listing of classic literature I enjoy wasn't an attempt at authority - especially in a post that was essentially making a point of saying we aren't authorities on "amateurish writing" - it was merely an attempt to show that I don't only read comic books so it isn't someone who can't read complex works saying that he didn't find Gaider's writing amateurish.  My opinion on a written work is no more or less valid than your own.

Seriously though - do those of you throwing out that word (amatuerish) know what it means? It isn't a synonym for "simple" or "easy to read" or "hailed by critics" or "taught in literary classes" or "not liked by me."

Amateurish = Lacking the required professional skill
Professional = participating for gain or livelihood in an activity or field of endeavor often engaged in by amateurs OR characterized by or conforming to the technical or ethical standards of a profession OR having a particular profession as a permanent career

Again, Gaider is PAID for his writing skills.  Bioware put him as lead writer, and he has two published books out that are, by their audience, well-received.

Being a published writer, being put at the head of team of writers for a story-based game, these qualify him as a PROFESSIONAL writer.

You can dislike his writing style, even consider it bad.  You can dislike his characters, his pacing, whatever.

I'm not arguing against you not like or criticizing it.

But to call a paid, professional writer "amateurish" says more about YOU than it does about him.

[Sloth Of Doom]

I'm going to weigh in on Merin's side here (I know it is shocking) but in typical fashion be much more of a jerk about the whole thing. I think that people throwing around the word "amateurish" are either being intentionally misleading or are somewhat amateurish themselves.



I think the Dragon Age novels are written in a simple style in order to be accessible to a large audience. I could compare his writing to that of David Drake or perhaps Fred Saberhagen (both extremely popular and prolific authors), but to say "amateurish" conjures images of trash the likes of Stephenie Meyer.



Is David Gaider the next Dostoevsky or Tolstoy? Probably not. But "amateurish"? Get over yourself.

[A_Grey_Warden]

I highly recommend you read both novels. They'll give you more scope on the DA universe.

[MerinTB]

Sloth Of Doom wrote...

I'm going to weigh in on Merin's side here (I know it is shocking) but in typical fashion be much more of a jerk about the whole thing.

Had I wanted to be ruder I would have simply pointed to the person who had said "those of you who are writers" was probably implying that they themself are a "writer" and they consider their own work far superior -
in effect, showing exactly how unprofessional their conduct is (wait, did I use a different definition of professionalism there? GASP! nuance!) making them the amateurs (I'll make the assumption that they are likely not writers by profession but by desire.)

I could call myself a writer.  There are some publishing credits to my name.  But I don't kid myself - I'm not paid on a regular basis and I've never made a living at it.  I write - until I'm paid and published, I won't insult those who are writers by claiming to be one myself.

David Gaider's published writing that he got paid for sure seems amateurish to everyone with an unfinished fantasy novel on their HDD or un-optioned game design document in their desk drawer, I'm sure.


that more to your liking, SoD?

Modifié par MerinTB, 16 janvier 2010 - 06:43 .

[JosephShrike]

I do have to agree with some of the people who thought the books weren't all that well written...to a point. I had to force myself to keep pushing through the Stolen Throne, but I'm glad I did. Towards the end, i felt like Mr. Gaider sort of got into the swing of things. As far as The Calling, it was all the good writing in the Stolen Throne with none, or very little, of the not so good. I couldn't put it down until I finished it. My opinion was really that Mr. Gaider was trying to adapt from writing a game to writing novel style, and I imagine that does take some getting used to, but once he overcame what I view as a minor speedbump in the literature, the books became something I have no problem recommending to anyone.

[Sloth Of Doom]

Hey, screw you Merin! I have 11 pages of badly written, typo-filled angst-trash on my HDD and the other night I had am idea about how maybe I want one of the characters to be if I can figure out a story. So far there are dragons and an evil prince and a good guy from a small farming village and a hot chick who secretly loves both men! And when my masterpiece is done it will start a game franchise where you have all these characters standing in a line and then the enemies stand in a line and everyone takes a couple of steps forward to attack on their turn!



I am a goddamned writer goddamn you! I wrote that! Making words = writer!



Screw you, I'm going to update my livejournal abut what a meaniehead you are, then cry in my room until my mom brings me cookies.

[melkathi]

Sloth Of Doom wrote...

Hey, screw you Merin! I have 11 pages of badly written, typo-filled angst-trash on my HDD and the other night I had am idea about how maybe I want one of the characters to be if I can figure out a story. So far there are dragons and an evil prince and a good guy from a small farming village and a hot chick who secretly loves both men! And when my masterpiece is done it will start a game franchise where you have all these characters standing in a line and then the enemies stand in a line and everyone takes a couple of steps forward to attack on their turn!

I am a goddamned writer goddamn you! I wrote that! Making words = writer!

Screw you, I'm going to update my livejournal abut what a meaniehead you are, then cry in my room until my mom brings me cookies.

Sounds as if you were going to write the next Eragon