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bodhi23
Paranoid (IV) InmateFrom: Greensboro, NC USA Insane since: Jun 2002
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posted 02-22-2005 15:54
... and were you reading Tad Williams at the time?
I'm just curious. I realize it's a little after the fact, but I just came across the Otherland series and it sort of caught my attention...
Obscure, but clever...
Cell Sweet Cell
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WebShaman
Maniac (V) Mad ScientistFrom: Happy Hunting Grounds... Insane since: Mar 2001
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posted 02-22-2005 16:11
Heh.
I tried to readthrough all those books...I really tried.
I even got to the last book, though I reallly had to push myself. I just couldn't find the energy to finish the last book.
99.9999% of the books after the first one 8which was quite good, actually) are just "filler" - not really important at all, just fluff.
I just don't have the patience to read all that fluff, to get to the .0001% of the story.
*shrugs*
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bodhi23
Paranoid (IV) InmateFrom: Greensboro, NC USA Insane since: Jun 2002
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posted 02-22-2005 16:19
I noticed that he's a little wordy... not as good with description as some I've read in the past... but he's not quite as obnoxious as say, Ayn Rand...
I'm a big reader though, and I rip through most regular paper-backs (350 - 400 pages) in a matter of hours, so something with that many words in it is a good thing - I don't finish it quite so fast.
Interesting premise though, I've enjoyed the story far - excepting the HUGE cliffhangers he likes to leave at the end of each book... I like closure, and I firmly believe that each novel in a series should also stand on it's own, more or less - much better saleability, you'd think they'd pay attention to that.
There were a couple of parallels in the story that made me think that it had some influence on the name of the Asylum revision project, thought I'd ask.
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WebShaman
Maniac (V) Mad ScientistFrom: Happy Hunting Grounds... Insane since: Mar 2001
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posted 02-22-2005 16:25
Good question about the Grail Project name, no question.
Like I said, I got to the last book (and actually started it) - but I just couldn't find the incentive to finish it.
*shrugs*
I hope you enjoy the series more than I did.
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bodhi23
Paranoid (IV) InmateFrom: Greensboro, NC USA Insane since: Jun 2002
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posted 02-22-2005 17:06
Shame to get 3/4 of the way through the story and have to stop. Shall I tell you how it ends when I finish it?

It's tedious in some places, but there's enough interesting in there to keep me going. I've slogged my way through much duller stuff...
Cell Sweet Cell
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Tyberius Prime
Paranoid (IV) Mad Scientist with FinglongersFrom: Germany Insane since: Sep 2001
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posted 02-22-2005 17:49
The Doc named the grail project... because it was kind of the holy grail of bulletin software, I suppose... and just as unreachable when we started.
Now, I really need to read otherland one of these days...
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WebShaman
Maniac (V) Mad ScientistFrom: Happy Hunting Grounds... Insane since: Mar 2001
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posted 02-22-2005 18:15
I already know how it ends - I read the ending 
So, I read the first hundred or so pages, and the last hundred or so - and didn't miss out on anything!!
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Bugimus
Maniac (V) Mad ScientistFrom: New California Insane since: Mar 2000
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posted 02-22-2005 19:20
The unreachable has been reached... now what? 
: . . DHTML Slice Puzzle : . . .
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Tao
Maniac (V) InmateFrom: The Pool Of Life Insane since: Nov 2003
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posted 02-23-2005 02:45
Cookies 

Hi Bugs and Bodhi haven't seen y'all for a while.
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Bugimus
Maniac (V) Mad ScientistFrom: New California Insane since: Mar 2000
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posted 02-23-2005 05:42
Hey there, Tao . Yup, it has been too long.
: . . DHTML Slice Puzzle : . . .
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WebShaman
Maniac (V) Mad ScientistFrom: Happy Hunting Grounds... Insane since: Mar 2001
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posted 02-23-2005 08:58
You back for good Bugs? Nice to see you around again!
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bodhi23
Paranoid (IV) InmateFrom: Greensboro, NC USA Insane since: Jun 2002
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posted 02-23-2005 17:25
You know WS, I had that thought right after I posted that reply... No, I don't guess you did! That's so cheating though! 
TP - thanks for the answer! Which was my initial thought about the name, before I read the book. I still think the parallels are interesting.
As WS says, it's a long, tedious series - 1 HUGE book divided into 4 thick paperbacks. I wouldn't start it unless you have the time and energy to invest... And get them all at the same time, then you don't have to wonder so much at the end of each one! I like the story alright, he does use a lot more words than he should though...
Heh - it's a reunion thread now...
Hi Everybody!
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WebShaman
Maniac (V) Mad ScientistFrom: Happy Hunting Grounds... Insane since: Mar 2001
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posted 02-23-2005 17:41
Hey, I even got through Air Force Tech Manuals (officially recognized as the driest reading material on the planet ) and I could not force myself to read the entirety of the last book. I just couldn't.
I failed...hehe.
I agree the story itself is good, the characters are well done, and that the villains are masterfully created (Jongeleur is just sooooo evil!!!).
I also liked how he imbedded a bit of aboriginal (and pygmy) flavor into the series.
But he is even more long-winded than Robert Jordan is becoming (Wheel of Time series)!
A book that I really liked in this genre is Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson. That is superb, IMHO. Gibson is good, as well.
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kimson
Bipolar (III) InmateFrom: The Carpenter Arms Insane since: Jan 2005
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posted 02-23-2005 17:55
hmmmm... may i ask what this book is about then? Sorry for the silly question

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Bugimus
Maniac (V) Mad ScientistFrom: New California Insane since: Mar 2000
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posted 02-23-2005 18:44
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bodhi23
Paranoid (IV) InmateFrom: Greensboro, NC USA Insane since: Jun 2002
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posted 02-24-2005 14:58
WS - I have heard that Snow Crash is an excellent read. Haven't had a copy of it come my way yet... and I never remember that title when I go looking for something to read... The best used bookstore in town is still sort of touch and go if you're looking for specific things...
You're right though, the villains are perfectly evil. Dread is just plain scary. I just have to read it through to see how all these things come together!
Williams does say in the forward to the first book that he has taken some liberties with the Bushman mythology, but he works it into the story really well; !Xabbu is one of my favorite characters... I'm starting to wish that he'd come up with another swear for Renie than "Jesus Mercy"! He's so creative in other facets of the story... but that's just starting to get on my nerves...
kimson - Otherland is a series about 50 - 100 years in the future where virtual reality is the standard for the net. The story starts out with the discovery of a number of children who mysteriously fall into comas while surfing in VR.
That's all I'm going to tell you about it.
Very cool premise, but as has been said, long and somewhat wordy... For all the extra stuff he puts in it, still a very cool story.
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kimson
Bipolar (III) InmateFrom: The Carpenter Arms Insane since: Jan 2005
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posted 02-24-2005 15:01
This sounds very good to me! Thanks for the information bodhi23
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