The Sword and Laser discussion

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/artic...

I feel really sorry for this woman. She is now going to have so much pressure and expectations. I don't really think it's healthy. What do you think?

Lots of people overhype. I once saw a blurb describing R.A. Salvatore as the next Tolkien.

If it's income, the figure is actually reasonable (especially if it's on the lower-end of the six-digit spectrum).

Reasonable for a first novel by an unknown author? Salvatore has been writing for 30 years. I think putting this much hype on a young author is irresponsible and dangerous.

I wonder whether her youth could be a factor in wanting to publish her. It's bigger news if a young, hip author gets published.

I don't feel sorry for her. She is going to have a best seller regardless of the merit of the book.

If it's good, word of mouth and reviews will help it sell more.
If it's bad and the reviews scathing she can cry all the way to the bank.

I think moving from fantasy can only help, as there will be less room for literary comparisons to Harry Potter.

I hope she can pull it off.

Tassie Dave wrote: "I don't feel sorry for her. She is going to have a best seller regardless of the merit of the book...."

If you think having a best seller is the only thing an author cares about, then yes, you're quite right, she has no reason to worry. No such thing as bad publicity.

However, in my experience, most authors, while they may be motivated somewhat, or even a lot, by monetary reward, are also interested in telling the story they wanted to tell, and doing so in a way that is received with pleasure, or at least sincere interest, by readers. If this author gets tagged at a young age with a label which makes honest reception of her work impossible, I don't predict all the sales in the world will make her satisfied.

Good for her, I say. Spread over a few years, it's a decent income but it's no fortune. And the JKR tag may be more of a millstone than a benefit. But even if she never goes anywhere else, at least she's paid off her student loan and got a decent leg up the ladder.

I don't think having a best seller is the only thing a writer cares about. I think though that an important thing is having freedom to write without worrying where the next meal is coming from - and this will do that for her. Good on her.

Bloomsbury are understandably looking to replace a revenue stream that has, not dried up, but is past its peak. They've had a run of years of profits largely supported by HP sales. Now the series is complete and there's no more movies to drive tie-in sales. Unfortunately the way these things work the shareholders will see any reduction in profits as a bad thing however understandable.

Now I doubt they really believe she's "the next Rowling" - no one could reasonably expect to predict that level of success - but assuming the books are decent to good then with a bit of hype like this then they can probably make a bit of splash with the first book at least.

My knee-jerk reaction was disappointment that the "next" JK Rowling would only be paid six figures by a publisher. But, Rowling didn't get an amazing upfront for her first book, right? She only got filthy rich later.

Hard not to think of Twilight and Hunger Games as Harry Potters 2 and 3. The next unknown female authors writing YA speculative fiction series that spin on for huge Hollywood bucks and get kids to line up at midnight to read. But really, they're their own works, and so too will hers be.

I don't feel sorry for her. Nothing she does will be Harry Potter level EVER AGAIN EVER but she probably does feel alot pressure but its not like she needs money. So she should just write whatever the hell she wants to write. Might be good if you let it be.

NOBODY is making you read anything!

Rowling's career was skyrocketed by hype. I'd like to see more sci-fi/fantasy authors receive that kind of marketing storm. There are so many writers out there twice as good as her, yet still remain in obscurity.

Stefan wrote: "Rowling's career was skyrocketed by hype. I'd like to see more sci-fi/fantasy authors receive that kind of marketing storm."

You don't give her enough credit. She was a poor struggling writer when her first book was released. (After 12 publishers rejected it) The unexpected success of "HP and the Philosophers Stone" sparked the frenzy for the following novels. It was hype triggered by demand.

I think Rowling's success is built a perfect storm of factors:
*A story that hit on a lot of popular themes and tropes, including the school/ academy and classic fantasy as well as playing to the "unpopular kid does well"

*A compelling personal story that markets well. The repeated rejections make her even more sympathetic and thus more interesting. Interesting translates to sales. (Also see Eragorn which got some of its success by way of being written by a kid who was home schooled.)

*School support. It helps to have teachers reading the book to classes.

*Public Outcry. There's no such thing as bad press. Every parent demanding that the book be pulled from the library translated to at least one sale.

I don't know if HP would have been the blockbuster franchise it's become if it had not had those other factors. Would we have even heard of it if not for the scandal or interviews or the "hype"? Maybe, maybe not....

I think that His Majesty's Dragon is a great new twist on fantasy, but so far it's just a good book that does well and has a good following. Nothing to complain about but not exactly a "Universal Studios: Meet Temeraire!" either.

Stefan wrote: "Rowling's career was skyrocketed by hype. I'd like to see more sci-fi/fantasy authors receive that kind of marketing storm. There are so many writers out there twice as good as her, yet still rem..."

Not until after the public got hold of it and started the ball rolling. There was very little hype when the first HP book came out. The publishers did not think it was going to be a success and the first print run was only 500 copies. (If your lucky enough to have one of those 500 then your sitting on a valuable book.)

JK Rowling wrote a great 1st book the last book wasn't as well written and Andrew P is right at first her book didn't have the marketing. I didn't even know about JK until I was a Junior in HS and someone was arguing with me about how it's a book about the Devil and I hadn't read it, but I saw the movies. By the 3rd movie I read the books. I think it's the same hype for Stefanie Meyers because Stefanie is a horrible writer, but got so much marketing and hype, but I don't think she had that payout to begin with. Anyway this seems more like pressure on the publisher to make the book a success because they needed another JK Rowling, but who knows will need to read it and see, but if the reviews are right and it's too info related I may drop it that's what happened with the Eragon series. That boy just got way too in depth and held out for a 4th book deal instead of finishing it up in 3.


Though to be fair the Mortal Instruments kind of did that too, but I actually like reading those ones so to each their own I guess.

That seems like a lot of pressure to put on a a twenty year old. Though, I am intrigued by how good the book must befor them to offer her a six figure deal and start to hype it so much.

Eh. On the one hand, I think everyone's right that it's a lot of pressure and an unfair comparison especially in terms of the expectations it sets for success.

On the other, here's a 20 year old who's realized the dream of a lot of authors - to get published. And as a (huge) bonus she gets a six figure amount which is a great start on live even if the books are only a modest success.

Experienced publishers don't give that kind of advance to just anyone. In today's market, if a first-time author can get a $5,000 advance, she's doing well. Adding two zeros means that they have a great deal of confidence in the book's success (and will be supporting it with a lot of marketing dollars). She may not be changing her last name to Rowling anytime soon, but I bet she'll be doing fine over the coming years.

I don't understand why someone has to be the next anything. Can't an author just be good on their own merits? I think others are right, the publisher is looking for the next big thing and they're going to make this series be "it" through all the hype and publicity.

Good for her. You can't buy that kind of publicity and exposure (you and I can't buy it, but the Big Houses can). It's exposure that really sells books and creates a fan base and lasting success for an author.

I saw this novel at my local bookstore yesterday. Anyone read it yet?

I'm halfway through The Bone Season and I am surprisingly enjoying it.

I've started in. The Kindle version was on sale, so I got it. Then, I saw that I could get the Audible edition for 99 cents because I had the Kindle version, so I got that. I'm finding it insufferable both ways.

I don't know what to think of this book. In my opinion it does not come anywhere near the hype. The concept had potential but it was poorly executed.

With so much hype already, she'll definitely sell a lot. But it's madness to put so much faith in a 20 year old, and silly to compare her to Rowling just because they're both British and writing 7 book series... bleh.

And I love how they highlight when an author was writing since their teenage years. How many SFF fans DON'T try to write their own epic in high school?

I must the only one that doesn't thank JK is a genius.

Well, you and this guy: http://ferretbrain.com/articles/artic...

I never made it to the end of the HP series I guess her writing could get better I just found a lot of story problems in the first book. I'm currently re-reading it just because they aren't my fav doesn't mean I can't learn anything from them.

Has anyone read this, yet?

I read it. It was okay. Definitely didn't live up to the hype.

I hope it was good...
If not, does it really matter? I love writing, I want to do it for the rest of my life, but with one massive paycheck and the curious purchases thereafter, I think I'd find a way to live. :)

Also, JK wasn't JK. She wrote that one book without using her clout and it wasn't so well received...
And you've also got to keep in mind that just because an author wrote one book or one series that people like, doesn't mean they're always going to be on top. How many best selling authors get their latest stories rejected cause it isn't what the publisher wants? Which is why many (I hope to count myself somewhere here in the future) continue to put out what fans already known them for.

I enjoyed it, but didn't love it like the Potter books.

The problem with getting tagged "The next JK Rowling" is that there are lots of people like me who read Harry Potter because of all the hype, didn't like it, and wouldn't touch anything that's similar. And the people who DID like Harry Potter, are going to sample her writing, and determine that it's just not up to par (because the author who's "the next" anything, is never the same as the original), so she's screwed from both ends.

Can I just add in here: I recently read "the next Harry Potter" type of book - The Magicians by Lev Grossman. And I found it utterly tired and the characters lifeless.

Of course there is so much from any novel which is inspired by or borrowed from previous works. But I was absolutely SHOCKED by how many good reviews this book had and how horrible I felt it was. But maybe that's just because Quentin pissed me off to no end. He was so shallow and vapid. I feel like Grossman was relying on the connection between his book and Harry Potter/Narnia to get attention. It was a little disgusting.

Emily, I really disliked The Magicians. However, the second book is much better and more original.

I disliked The magicians enough never to never give Mr Grossman a 2nd chance.

Its just marketing. The only similarities seem to be the authors gender & nationality. This kind of thing used to really piss me off but now I just think... meh. Its only people trying to sell books.

Well, the source for the OP is the Daily Mail, which loves to... hype stuff...

Pat wrote: "Its just marketing. The only similarities seem to be the authors gender & nationality. This kind of thing used to really piss me off but now I just think... meh. Its only people trying to sell books."

Yeah. I trust it about as much as I trust my local used car salesman.

Follow up question for everyone: Has any of you EVER heard "this author is the next so-and-so, read the book, and slapped yourself on the forehead and screamed, "My God! They were right! It IS just like so-and-so!" ?

nope.

Only once, when Scalzi was compared to Heinlein. He's not really RAH, but his writing does have a similar feel to me where you slip into the story easily and 50 pages can go by in a flash. Scalzi relies more on snark and humor though.

Emily wrote: "Can I just add in here: I recently read "the next Harry Potter" type of book - The Magicians by Lev Grossman. And I found it utterly tired and the characters lifeless.

Of course there is so much ..."

Naming The Magicians the next Harry Potter was just a weird marketing move. It was a deconstruction of the type of story Harry Potter is, aimed at adults it was bound to disappoint/annoy/enrage people looking for things like Harry Potter.

Patrick Rothfuss' The Name of the Wind got compared to Harry Potter too when it came out. Again it really has nothing in common except that very broadly you can say it has an orphan going to a magic school.

Kevin's comment connects back to the blurb thread for me - the problem with blurbs or comparisons like "the next X" is that they're not meant as reviews or recommendations, but as a way to get you to buy the book.

I've always wondered if these tactics are successful past the initial sale, myself. It's like the resistance to telling me than a book is part of a series - sure, I might not buy a series book because i want a standalone at that moment, but if you trick me into buying a series book I'm likely to be so annoyed I won't bother with that author again. See (for me) Peter Hamilton.

Rick wrote: "Only once, when Scalzi was compared to Heinlein. He's not really RAH, but his writing does have a similar feel to me where you slip into the story easily and 50 pages can go by in a flash. Scalzi r..."

Hmm, interesting comparison. Yeah, I can kinda see that. The boiled down rah-rah popcorn scenes are similar. I actually think Scalzi pulls it off BETTER in a lot of cases. I'm not always in the mood for that fast ride on the rollercoaster, but when I am, he does it as well as anyone.

Rick wrote: "I've always wondered if these tactics are successful past the initial sale, myself. It's like the resistance to telling me than a book is part of a series - sure, I might not buy a series book because i want a standalone at that moment, but if you trick me into buying a series book I'm likely to be so annoyed I won't bother with that author again. See (for me) Peter Hamilton. "

I wonder that too. I guess the idea is that, especially for new authors or series, if you get enough people to buy a book they wouldn't get normally, some of them might discover something new they like and stick around for the sequel/author's next book. If you have enough of those they might even compensate for the ones you permanently alienate.