The proof for Rimworld- Diversions came back looking good, so it is now available in paperback! I’ve ordered author copies, but who knows how long those are going to take… sigh
Click the cover for the Amazon link!
And Alma T.C. Boykin has a new story out The Wolves and the Ice Lion
The blurb-
The Vosges Mountains hold their secrets well. So do the hearts of men.
Arnauld d’Loup commands the Wolf’s Paws, a most unusual company of warriors. Comtessa Leoni d’Vosges commands magic and needs men. Powers ancient and dark move through her lands, and wise men tread warily. Especially a man who carries a curse in his blood, a curse that resonates with those powers.
When Comtessa Leoni makes a terrible choice to protect her lands, Arnauld d’Loup must make a choice of his own, one that may cost him his very soul.
Lastly, Larry made an interesting post talking about characters and readers perceptions of stories and the characters the readers remember…
Maybe I’m doing something right, as folks do seem to remember my characters by name and comment on them. 🙂
And thanks to those who bought Rimworld- Diversions and left honest reviews! They are really appreciated!
I’ll take a book with a good plot and well developed characters over a great plot with NPC types.
If the characters are not developed well enough for you to understand their motives, it’s not a great plot.
Just started Diversions, so nothing to contribute, even though I know it will be on target as always. Did finish Alma Boykin’s latest and enjoyed it for her characters and subtle twist on expectations. No easy resolution for this “couple.” Alma depicts her characters and environments especially well. Very interesting people.
It’s kinda funny. In one of the genres I write in – I call it ‘men’s adventure’ because primarily that’s what it has always been, though yes, I will admit a bunch of it does now fall squarely into the ‘harem’ genre as well – I have a large percentage of women fans and readers. About fifty percent.
So how is it that a huge number of women read and enjoy a ‘men’s adventure’ story with strong ‘harem’ elements?
It’s because all of the women in the stories are well developed and strong characters. No cardboard cutouts. A strong male lead is of course going to want strong women with a story of their own IMHO. It’s interesting that I’ve been told that many times by the women who read me. That I’ve been told I write some of the strongest women characters out there. But not ‘I am a strong wymyn I don’t need no man’ characters. That the roles are perhaps a bit more ‘traditional’ even if some of these gals ain’t the kind of person you’d want to meet in a dark alley if they were mad at you.
People want memorable characters. They don’t just want characters they can self-insert as – they also want characters they can admire, or who they’d love to meet, or befriend. They’re looking for the family they either once had or never had. They’re looking for comradery. They’re looking for many of the things that you can’t find any more.
I know women who read ‘man stories’ because of the BDSM and light forced sex scenes. And who get peeved when none of those elements are in said stories.
Strange. Women ARE attracted to bad boys and strong men. Whodathunk?
I don’t want characters that I can identify with. I’m not that intetesting.
I want to read characters that I woukd like to sit down with to have dinner or a glass of whisky with.
Interesting, if not comfortable, folk.
Thanks to all who write such characters, whether human or not.
Bought it, will get time to start reading later. Review will follow.
Occurs to me that poor Danny has TWO mistresses and a wife: deep space, and his ship’s AI. One mistress and wife are in collusion to keep good things happening, whether or not he gets it. I like Estrella as an artificial character, as she adds that “tell not show” spot and also makes a nice add to the story.
I finished Diversions on Sunday and left a review but it hasn’t posted yet.
You made sure it has page numbers this time?
All- Thanks for the comments, and yes, it has page numbers Tim… sigh…
So….. Back to the Bell Chronicles?
Enjoyed Diversions, did not see that ending coming!
In Diversions, you randomly call the canids ‘Cetains’ and ‘Cetians’. You usually use the same spelling inside a paragraph.
Ed- Yep! 2000 words done already!
McC- GOOD! 🙂 I’ll fix that error, thank you!
Thank you.
Remember the other Blanket Fort you said it was good to have multiple people looking at your stuff and sending corrections in? Sure is. I completely missed the one McChuck caught. It went right past me each and every time.
Nobody can see everything.
Jim…
If I have a criticism of “Diversions”, it’s the way you treat some of your characters.
You have Danny positioned as energetic, intelligent, a problem-solver… but you don’t let him act like the Captain of an independent command. You treat him more like a very green Second-Lieutenant, accorded friendly tolerance by the “NCOs” around him. None of them hesitate to lecture him – especially the female characters – and all he gets to answer is “Yes Dear”.
A good marriage is respectful.
A decent Commander is confident, competent and in-charge, even when he is listening hard and taking advice . The buck stops with him, as you know. If Danny isn’t that capable, what on earth is he doing in command of a ship?Finding ways to have Danny work through those personal issues while still keeping an appropriate command persona may be more of a challenge for you as a writer , but I think you can do that.
Estella….. You are writing her more as a woman with special powers, rather than an AI. An AI that is still learning to be “human” is not going to do emotions in the way that a human with decades of experience, not to mention hormonal changes, will. I can’t offer advice on *how* to do this, but an AI that is too perfectly human rings a wrong note. One thing tho, is that her apparent nervousness about being wiped seems misplaced. Not only does she have backups in multiple places – which we humans don’t – but she’s faced this issue before and should have plans (and hardware) in place to deal with it. Nobody else who knows her well should be nervous about it, either.
Probably enough from me. I like the plot and the way you handle the procedures. Will keep reading. Thanks for both the book, and the opportunity to comment.
Cheers… Peter.
Heh…. Can’t stop following the logic.
The simulacrum is not Estrella.
It is merely a tool that she uses to gather information and to interact more comfortably with the humans around her. It is disposable, no more than a suit of clothes that she can put on and take off, at will. A drunk putting hands on the machine is no more a direct, personal assault on her, than if he had attempted to fiddle with the PA and cameras. It messes with her ability to do her job, but it’s not remotely connected with her core being or self. Same with the ship. Estrella lives in the ship, but does not identify as the Ghost. Repairs and modifications to the ship are not personal for her.
You have humans – de Perez and Victor – using simulacrums for the same purpose, to interact with other humans when they are not physically present. They treat the simulacrum with the appropriate degree of detachment.
Terry Pratchett was a very good example of an author who followed the logic. He basically asked the question, “What would things be like if…….?” . He let his dwarves, trolls and werewolves, be dwarves, trolls and werewolves. It didn’t detract from their characters and it gave them unique sets of problems to deal with and he had them deal with them in interesting and entertaining ways.
Now if only I could write like I can critique, I’d be rich.😂
Cheers….