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Cold City (Spoilers) - Tony H - 06-21-2012
Gregor S Wrote:Guten Tag. Warum nicht einfach genießen Sie den Roman, was sie ist und nicht auseinanderreißen der Autor oder der Leser?
Paul really doesn't mind mistakes being pointed out. He typically fixes them for future printings.
The biggest problem with picking apart a book that has been proofread is that it implies the proofreaders did a poor job. It is difficult to catch every error, especially if you are the type that gets engrossed in the story and can easily glance over a typo. If that is the case then you probably shouldn't be a proofreader, but in fairness, it is pretty easy to get completely engrossed in Paul's work.
I only proofed the paperback version of Quick Fixes, so I am by no means a proofreader. Where it got tricky was trying to determine if something being said was in the context of the story or the author using an incorrect word.
For example, in one of the stories Paul referred to a character as "Oriental". People are not "Oriental", but objects such as rugs and vases are. When referring to people you would call them "Asian" or call them by their nationality if you know it. However, this was tricky to point out because I didn't know if he deliberately used the term to fit with the narrative or if it was truly something of which he was unaware.
Cold City (Spoilers) - Gregor S - 06-21-2012
Thank you for explanation Tony. I read books in german so I do not know that there are lots of errors in english version. there are some in german but that could be translation?
Cold City (Spoilers) - Blake - 06-21-2012
Tony H Wrote:The biggest problem with picking apart a book that has been proofread is that it implies the proofreaders did a poor job.
Depends how it's done. One of the times I sent a bunch of notes to Paul -- I think it was for SIMS -- my mother picked up the subsequent paperback and promptly e-mailed me the two or three typos she spotted that I missed. She was nice about it, though.
Few are as anal-retentive as I am when it comes to typos (therapy might help if I ever get around to admitting I have a problem), but I accepted long ago that there will always be some I miss, including in my own writing. You just do the best you can.
I don't know what company Becky Maines works for, but it seems like typos have decreased quite a bit since Paul started using her. I was blown away by how few typos were in the Tor hardcover of FATAL ERROR. Very good proofreading work.
Tony H Wrote:I only proofed the paperback version of Quick Fixes, so I am by no means a proofreader. Where it got tricky was trying to determine if something being said was in the context of the story or the author using an incorrect word.
For example, in one of the stories Paul referred to a character as "Oriental". People are not "Oriental", but objects such as rugs and vases are. When referring to people you would call them "Asian" or call them by their nationality if you know it. However, this was tricky to point out because I didn't know if he deliberately used the term to fit with the narrative or if it was truly something of which he was unaware.
Yeah, and that gets even trickier with Paul's writing because the narrator often takes on personality traits of a particular character in a scene, especially as their emotions intensify. A word choice like that may simply reflect the dominant character's viewpoint.
Cold City (Spoilers) - BK Akitas - 06-21-2012
Tony H Wrote:For example, in one of the stories Paul referred to a character as "Oriental". People are not "Oriental", but objects such as rugs and vases are. When referring to people you would call them "Asian" or call them by their nationality if you know it. However, this was tricky to point out because I didn't know if he deliberately used the term to fit with the narrative or if it was truly something of which he was unaware.
though that might be the right context, it's often used to describe people of Asian origin. I remember my old Irish grandmother using some interesting titles for all kinds of people. they weren't 'wrong" it's just how everyone in her association spoke, and no harm was ever meant by it. none ever seemed to be taken, either. this being the same generation and social class who called women "broads"
I think use of terms like that gives more flavor to a character
Cold City (Spoilers) - Dave618 - 06-21-2012
I'm a voracious reader, spanning many genres, and I've been noticing FPW's books contain quite a few typos and grammatical errors. They don't bug me so much, although some are so obvious I can't believe they weren't caught by the publisher. That said, I should mention I read most of his work on Kindle--so the conversion may have something to do with it. When I finish with the RJ series on my Kindle--I've read almost everything else he has available on Kindle; even the collaborations--I plan on buying much of his output in hardcover (I know I really like a writer if I seek out his work for my permenant HC collection). So I'll keep an eye out when I start receiving the hardbacks and see if Amazon's conversion technology is the culprit.
As far as inconsistencies--I found one in Legacies, that I've already submitted--hopefully that'll be fixed in the future. I've read most of his non-TSHOTW stuff, his short story collections, all the AC books except Reprisal and Nightworld. I am at the beginning of All The Rage as far as the RJ saga goes. I think I spotted a couple of inconsistencies in Conspiracies, the fact that FPW doesn't reveal what the "force" is that protects RJ from Mauricio's attacks, and who killed and mutilated Olive Farina. But those questions may be answered in future volumes. On the whole, considering the scope and interconnection of the AC and TSHOTW books, it's astounding there aren't way more gaffes. There's really a massive amount of storylines and details to keep track of.
The man is an incredibly imaginative and gifted storyteller so let's remember that's what is important. And to quote a Gene Hackman line from one of my very favorite movies--Heist--"Well, you can't think of every little thing."
Cold City (Spoilers) - BK Akitas - 06-22-2012
I've always assumed it was the twins that killed Olive. reasons? maybe she actually knew something or saw something they didn't want revealed (or she was just a convenient body) and by murdering her in spectacular fashion they'd hoped to get the conference shut down
theory on why Mauricio couldn't attack? the Otherness stopped him/it. Rj was already singled out as the Heir from childhood, perhaps if he'd been attacked at that point it would have alerted Glaeken.....who they did NOT want showing up.
Cold City (Spoilers) - Dave618 - 06-22-2012
The Mauricio theory seems plausible, BK. The Olive theory... from what I just read on Wiki, weren't the Twins working for The Ally? I assumed they didn't know who RJ was and that was why they fought.
Jack is pondering the question of Olive's murder at the end of Conspiracies, so I assumed that would be addressed at some future point. But since you've most likely read the entire series and have only a theory (and that theory may indeed prove to be 100% correct) that seems to indicate that FPW didn't resolve that murder definitively.
I know the RJ books are a cross-genre series, with elements of Fantasy, Sci-Fi and Crime Fiction, but one of the rules of thumb in any good Crime novel--actually in any bad one too--is the murder is solved! lol
Could it be that I just discovered the Mother Rakosh of All Gaffes?
Cold City (Spoilers) - ImDeranged - 06-23-2012
Dave618 Wrote:I know the RJ books are a cross-genre series, with elements of Fantasy, Sci-Fi and Crime Fiction, but one of the rules of thumb in any good Crime novel--actually in any bad one too--is the murder is solved! lol
Could it be that I just discovered the Mother Rakosh of All Gaffes?
Olive Farina was killed by the same killer as Owen Taylor. Who is Owen Taylor? Owen Taylor was the chauffeur in Raymond Chandler's The Big Sleep. His murder was never accounted for either. The story goes that the screenwriters (who included William Faulkner and Leigh Brackett), couldn’t figure out the murder so they wired Chandler to ask: “Who killed the chauffeur?” Supposedly Chandler wired back: “Damned if I know.”
So if it'll make you happy get a copy of The Big Sleep and put it right next to your RJ collection
. Also if you like cross-genre writing do yourself a favor and look into Leigh Brackett. She did everything from Bogart Film Noir, John Wayne Westerns, to mentoring and working with Ray Bradbury! She even has co-screenwriters credit for The Empire Strikes Back. If you don't believe in coincidences then ignore the fact that FPW wrote an introduction to her novel The Hounds of Skaith. If you truly believe there are no coincidences then think of it as a slight of hand tribute to both Chandler and Brackett by FPW. Who killed Olive Farina?- "Damned if I know."
Cold City (Spoilers) - Dave618 - 06-23-2012
Thanks, I'mDeranged. I guess the answer to who killed Olive is: whomever I want it to be! Maybe Hannibal Lecter was in the vicinity of the hotel at the time.:eek: lol
Oh, I'm very familiar with Leigh Brackett--besides the credits you listed, she wrote the screenplay for one of my favorite films: The Long Goodbye.
Btw, I like your username: it was one of the best tracks off of Bowie's underrated record Outside (had to mention that or I wouldn't be able to keep my membership in the David Bowie geek society).
Cold City (Spoilers) - BK Akitas - 06-23-2012
Dave618 Wrote:The Mauricio theory seems plausible, BK. The Olive theory... from what I just read on Wiki, weren't the Twins working for The Ally? I assumed they didn't know who RJ was and that was why they fought.
Jack is pondering the question of Olive's murder at the end of Conspiracies, so I assumed that would be addressed at some future point. But since you've most likely read the entire series and have only a theory (and that theory may indeed prove to be 100% correct) that seems to indicate that FPW didn't resolve that murder definitively.
I know the RJ books are a cross-genre series, with elements of Fantasy, Sci-Fi and Crime Fiction, but one of the rules of thumb in any good Crime novel--actually in any bad one too--is the murder is solved! lol
Could it be that I just discovered the Mother Rakosh of All Gaffes?
The Ally isn't exactly good or benevolent. Just look at all the people removed from Jack's life to make him a "spear". Including his mother. even the Yeniceri did awful things for what they through were the right reasons, like killing Jack's dad and trying to kill Gia. so killing Olive? right up its Ally,oops I mean alley!
and if we never know who did it (my money is still on the Twins to get the place shut down- R was using the attendees to feed from, remember?) then it gives us something to wonder at for a long time to come and plenty of interesting chat
who knows, maybe it WAS aliens and the conference attendees were right!!!!OP.....or whoever else has an ARC- is there a lady and a dog in Cold City anywhere? we know from FE and TDATE that the Lady has been watching Jack for a long time. does she make an appearance in CC?