D&D 5E Forgotten Realms

[SkidAce]

My understanding is that all 18 Drizzt books made it to the New York Times Best Seller list. Every. Single. One.

Kind of hard to argue with that kind of success.

While you say he's contributing to the dumbing down of humanity, he's probably had positive influence in simply encouraging people to put their noses in books. You'd prefer these readers were going for their Xboxes and Playstations with their free time instead?

Regardless of our enjoyment (or not) of the books, [MENTION=177]Umbran[/MENTION] makes a very important point here.

Anecdotal evidence: Since I retired from the military, I work at Barnes and Noble. It's like Black Friday whenver one of the Drizzt books (or the sundering) comes out. Can't keep them on the shelves.



P.S And I do show the readers of Drizzt books other fantasy or sci-fi selections while they are there. I dont' hate them, I think there are better books out, but they make great entry level books.

 

[DMZ2112]

Kind of hard to argue with that kind of success.

Lots more people eat breakfast cereal than Beef Wellington.

While you say he's contributing to the dumbing down of humanity, he's probably had positive influence in simply encouraging people to put their noses in books.

No. Creators do not get credit for simply vomiting high fructose corn syrup.

You'd prefer these readers were going for their Xboxes and Playstations with their free time instead?

Depends on what they're playing. I refute the un-wisdom that reading is somehow always better than playing a video game. Not every video game is breakfast cereal, and not every book is Beef Wellington.

 

[Herschel]

My understanding is that all 18 Drizzt books made it to the New York Times Best Seller list. Every. Single. One.

"50 Shades" and "Going Rogue", just sayin. '

Kind of hard to argue with that kind of success.

His post-spellplague books were also on the list. Sure, it's mostly fluff, but he's had some very good work along the way, "Homeland", "Siege of Darkess" and "Sea of Swords" come to mind. Post "Sea of Swords" though he had gotten in a rut until the "Transitions" series started to pick up again.

Now he's "reincarnating" Regis, Cattie-Brie and Bruennor in his worst work to date.

 

[steeldragons]

apparently my "L" key is becoming unresponsive

Lots more people eat breakfast cereal than Beef Wellington.

Oo. I do love me some beef wellington...though I couldn't tell you the last time I ate [or made] it.

No. Creators do not get credit for simply vomiting high fructose corn syrup.

Yet, in the U.S. at least, high fructose corn syrup is omnipresent. I think, food analogies aside, it goes for the culture of other things as well. And, frankly, the creator of something that is, truly, created, does warrant a degree of respect and admiration, regardless of whether one "likes it" or not.

Depends on what they're playing. I refute the un-wisdom that reading is somehow always better than playing a video game. Not every video game is breakfast cereal, and not every book is Beef Wellington.

Well, refute all you like, but I think the state of education and people's exposure to what is proper english/use of language has taken a serious backslide...That is a direct result of acceptable culture...be that "wisdom" or "un-wisdom" I do not know or advocate. But it has happened. That can not be denied.

Given that, I do agree with the assertion that not all video games are "breakfast cereal" and not all books are beef wellington [have i mentioned my love of a properly prepared beef wellington? Nom nom nom.] That does not, however, necessitate that "breakfast cereal" is somehow an acceptable replacement, equal to or as satisfying as a "beef wellington."

 

[delericho]

The guy sold the rights and then expected to still have say in what happens? Talk about a ridiculous entitlement complex. If he wanted to still be the directing force he shouldn't have sold it off.

When a person moves out of their parents' house, the parents no longer have a right to control how they live their lives. But that doesn't stop most parents continuing to care about their children, and feeling bad when they see those children make mistakes and get into trouble.

 

[Mistwell]

Lots more people eat breakfast cereal than Beef Wellington.

Breakfast cereal is WAY better than Beef Wellington. In fact I find the later kinda disgusting. But then, tastes differ...which is my point. Well that, and also that I think the hipsterism that leads to disliking things which are popular is kinda wank. I also don't disdain Twilight or The Hunger Games or the new Star Wars movies. I know, geek-hipster blasphemy!

No. Creators do not get credit for simply vomiting high fructose corn syrup.

Did you really just argue that creators who create popular art do not get credit for being popular?

LOL of course they do! Why wouldn't they? They sure as heck get blame for being unpopular. Heck they even get a universally recognized symbol of credit - money. They directly get credit for being popular, and the more popular, the more credit they get.

Depends on what they're playing. I refute the un-wisdom that reading is somehow always better than playing a video game. Not every video game is breakfast cereal, and not every book is Beef Wellington.

I disagree in that getting people started in reading as entertainment is more important than getting people started in playing video games as entertainment, to society in general. The reading has greater potential for a positive outcome than the video games, though both can have positive or negative outcomes.

 

[Herschel]

Not if they sell their children for a quick profit.

 

[Umbran]

Lots more people eat breakfast cereal than Beef Wellington.

Yes. But, if you eat beef Wellington (and its like) every day, you end up with gout. As a daily breakfast, Cheerios are much better for you.

No. Creators do not get credit for simply vomiting high fructose corn syrup.

And critics don't get credit for hyperbolic or emotionally charged language

I am by no means saying that, in terms of literary analysis, Salvatore compares favorably to, say Bradbury or Ellison. But literary analysis ain't everything.

Depends on what they're playing. I refute the un-wisdom that reading is somehow always better than playing a video game. Not every video game is breakfast cereal, and not every book is Beef Wellington.

Moreover, do you *want* every book to be Beef Wellington? See above about the issues associated with a diet that it too rich.

"Always" is an absolute, and rare indeed is the true absolute in human experience. Whether or not one is better than the other will depend on what end you desire to reach.

If you're talking reasoning acuity, memory enhancement, and other academic-performance types of measures, the literary quality of the book isn't terribly important, but the reading-grade-level of the language is. It doesn't matter that you find it hackneyed that he brought a character back - the brain is getting exercised merely by processing the words regardless, even if it is a Harlequin romance. Moreover, keeping people in the habit of reading has long-range impact. That means we need a goodly does of works that are appealing and accessible.

I submit those as unsupported assertions, as it is somewhat aside the main track of the thread, and I'd prefer not to derail it with discussions of scientific research that has little to do with the Forgotten Realms.

 

[delericho]

Not if they sell their children for a quick profit.

Do you have any evidence that he did that? My history of the early Realms is a bit hazy, but wikipedia suggests he was hired by TSR to turn the FR from his homebrew notes into something suitable for publishing and sold the rights for "a token fee". That's a pretty far cry from "a quick profit".

 

[Herschel]

Again, he sold the rights to TSR, nobody forced him to. He made some coin from the deal, good for him. However, selling the rights also relinquishes the ability to dictate what happens.