[LMB] Two Reviews (reviewing the reviewers)

[V L'Ecuyer]

>
>
> From: Lois McMaster Bujold <lbujold at myinfmail.com>
> Subject: [LMB]  Two Reviews
>
>
> Lois McMaster Bujold wrote:
>
> >/ I could find more samples to illustrate the trend, but the trend is
> />/ found at many levels; I find it quite striking and interestingly
> />/ consistent over many samples.  Many romance readers (those who do not
> />/ cross over a lot to F&SF) seem remarkably tone-deaf to world-building,
> />/ even as some skiffy reviewers seem at least equally tone-deaf to
> />/ relationship-building.



Victoria:
All of the good romance reviews include the following criteria: Good
characters. Believable relationships. Believable situations. Good character
development. Reasonable conflict. Good writing. (Please note that setting
is not mentioned. That is why I have such a hard time reading paranormal
romances. They ignore a very vital bit of SF/F writing -- the world
building.)


Agnes added:
> /
>
> http://www.smartbitchestrashybooks.com/index.php/weblog/the_sharing_knife_volume_1_beguilement_by_lois_mcmaster_bujold/
> would be a better control from the romance POV, although it only covers
> Beguilement.



My review of the review:

Reader's Agenda: Give me characters I like. Don't make the world too
complicated. All action should encourage the development of the hero's and
heroine's relationship. Conflict can be both physical and emotional.
Excellent writing is to be encouraged.



[snipped]





LMB:
*** To add to the samples, here are some dissenting voices from the
skiffy side, clearly tone-deaf to the romance.  The latter two are more
generalized objections, of the "This wasn't the book I wanted to read"
sort, but the first has enough detail to guess at how the book is being
read.  For a larger sample, Amazon suffices.

Here's one that mainly responds to the world-building, seeing the
personal stuff as Unimportant:

http://www.3greenfish.net/2007/09/05/book-review-the-sharing-knife-volume-1-beguilement-by-lois-mcmaster-bujold/



Victoria's review of the reviewer:

Reader's Agenda: All action requires combat or physical struggle. All
conflict requires action. Likes good world building, good characterization,
humor, and easy-to-read writing.



LMB's review:

For a word from the I-don't-get-romance-at-all side, there's

http://publius1.livejournal.com/323718.html

My review of the reviewer

Reader's Agenda: All good stories take place in space. With ships. (based on
the fact that he ignored the 5 Gods Universe and lamented the lack of More
Miles.) Does not like new things by old, familiar writers (based on the
Brust comment.)


LMB's Review

For the short version, we have:

http://entertainingnick.blogspot.com/2007/09/book-sharing-knife-legacy-by-lois.html

My review of the reviewer:

Reader's Agenda: No Girl Cooties!



LMB
Does anyone remember that thing going around the Internet a few years
back, about the two students forced to write a story together, which I
short-handed as "Blasters vs. Chamomile Tea"?

Ta, L.


Victoria: Yes. And your audience now contains both the male and the female
student. Aren't you glad?