tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5945802533317836555.post669588870389178460..comments2024-03-28T14:59:05.258-07:00Comments on GARY DOBBS AT THE TAINTED ARCHIVE: FRIDAY'S FORGOTTEN BOOKSGary Dobbs/Jack Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10935686140719743351noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5945802533317836555.post-91321832042851783952008-12-12T14:50:00.000-08:002008-12-12T14:50:00.000-08:00I like that "bereft of emotion", Gary.Or rather, n...I like that "bereft of emotion", Gary.<BR/><BR/>Or rather, no, it actually scares me. Today, it seems the trade Publishers are all-powerful by reasons of history and market share.<BR/><BR/>I suspect that "work for hire" journeymen writers have no more say in the mountain man genre than anywhere else. The mere authors must be subservient to others' wishes when it comes to how much emotion is put in -- or more particularly left in -- their work.<BR/><BR/>I don't know whether cuts are to blame here, but when they are ill-considered and made on the basis of concepts like removing "unpleasantness", they definitely undermine characterization and lead to jerky pacing.<BR/><BR/>Believe me!<BR/><BR/>KeithChap O'Keefehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04404176810063857291noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5945802533317836555.post-50822325743575070242008-12-12T10:42:00.000-08:002008-12-12T10:42:00.000-08:00Whay threw me was a character called Ring - one mo...Whay threw me was a character called Ring - one moment he's a big hulking brute and the next he becomes a simpleton who kills a man for being cruel to a dog. Most of the bad guys were two dimensional as well. But there were some good buts but I just don't think this writer's for me.Gary Dobbs/Jack Martinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10935686140719743351noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5945802533317836555.post-43033776486560303712008-12-12T09:41:00.000-08:002008-12-12T09:41:00.000-08:00Think I've only read one by Johnstone himself - an...Think I've only read one by Johnstone himself - and not one in this series - although I do have quite a few of his books. I've read more by J.A. Johnstone and generally found them enjoyable.Steve Mhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11631734673248632467noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5945802533317836555.post-32246487658022450582008-12-12T09:12:00.000-08:002008-12-12T09:12:00.000-08:00I'm kind of glad to hear that others have had some...I'm kind of glad to hear that others have had some reservations about Johnstone's work. I read one of his books years ago, not in this series, and I thought it was so weak in characterization and such a fluff story that I've been put off touching any of his work since.Charles Gramlichhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02052592247572253641noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5945802533317836555.post-75007949203422633932008-12-12T07:54:00.000-08:002008-12-12T07:54:00.000-08:00Nice job covering this series for people. Randy's ...Nice job covering this series for people. Randy's notes are interesting too.pattinase (abbott)https://www.blogger.com/profile/02916037185235335846noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5945802533317836555.post-22257303889192052712008-12-12T07:52:00.000-08:002008-12-12T07:52:00.000-08:00This is a series I almost gave up on years ago. Bo...This is a series I almost gave up on years ago. Books started coming out padded to get the page length up. The way it was done was Smoke would think about some past instance and great chunks, I mean ten pages or so, would be lifted from previous books and dropped in(I compared to be sure when I started noticing) several times during a book.<BR/>All titles with his name alone were his with the exception of two early in the series. The Two ranch hands had their personal quirks reversed(how that could slip through, sloppy editing I guess).<BR/>But overall I've enjoyed the series and the writing has got much better with the new authors.Randy Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16627907086811387527noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5945802533317836555.post-36266278259757139652008-12-12T07:49:00.000-08:002008-12-12T07:49:00.000-08:00I see these books all the time at the local librar...I see these books all the time at the local library and have always thought about checking one out. Thanks for the review. Love the layout of all the different covers--looks cool!Chrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11284832038989114035noreply@blogger.com