Weird Dana
My blogs
| Industry | Technology |
|---|---|
| Occupation | para-techie |
| Location | Thurston County, Washington, United States |
| Links | Wishlist |
| Introduction | I prefer action-driven novels but they must have well-developed characters as well; they should be internally consistent and 3-dimensional or I can't believe in them, but there's no better way to lose me than bringing the action to a screeching halt every time a new character is introduced and spending a couple of pages telling me a long backstory. Sentimentality can get up my nose too; I read fantasy, sci-fi, and mysteries for a reason. Romance is generally OK as a sub-plot, but it's not a story on its own and shouldn't obtrude. Another way to get me to throw the book across the room is by making glaring factual errors, errors of logic. For instance, if you invent a magical heavier-than-air, water-soluble gas that's fine, but it had better seep into the sewers and pollute the sound and not "snap the suspenders of my disbelief" by just hovering there at ground level. Yes, threw that one across the room before I got to page 40 (my usual "I've given it a fair chance, I can stop reading now" point). I avoid romances, books that advertise themselves with other people's opinions rather than a synopsis, and anything that describes itself as "sweeping," "panoramic," or a "saga." |
| Favorite books | C.J. Cherryh, Barbara Hambly, Terry Pratchett, Tom Holt |