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Comic Con Pannel
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Posted:
7/26/2010 7:02:20 PM
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Does anyone know if the Comic Con panel "Once Upon a Time: Epic Fantasy, Bigger Than Life Heroes/Heroines" is available anywhere online? On Pat Rothfuss' blog it says:
I’m pretty excited about this panel. It’s got Brandon Sanderson, Brent Weeks, Lynn Flewelling, Christopher Paolini, and Megan Whalen Turner. And me, of course. Should be a good discussion.
Does anyone record these panels? Even a transcript would be cool to read. It looks like it would be an awesome discussion to see, although it's a bit baffling to see Paolini's name in there.
"Those who dream by day are cognizant of many things that escape those who dream only by night." Edgar Allen Poe
"There is something old and true in fantasy that speaks to something deep within us, to the child who dreamt that one day he would hunt the forests of the night, and feast beneath the hollow hills, and find a love to last forever somewhere south of Oz and north of Shangri-La." George R.R. Martin
"Unfortunately, education, humility, and imagination are a rare combination in humans" -- R. Scott Bakker
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Black Staff Admin
Joined:
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RE: Comic Con Pannel
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Posted:
7/26/2010 8:18:59 PM
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Why is it baffling seeing Paolini's name there? He's an epic fantasy writer, after all...
I went to the panel. I was going to video tape it but got there later than planned and didn't get close enough for the video or audio to be much use.
There wasn't much disagreement among the participants. On the usage of prophecy in stories, Rothfuss said, "It's crap." Then Paolini and Sanderson, who use it, slightly disagreed, saying if it was used as a concrete story vehicle like Eddings did it can be bad thing but if the prophet who gives the prophecy is... say... a crack addict monk with an agenda, you have to wonder if the prophecy is real or not. Which produces tension in the story that otherwise would not be there -- especially if the author twists the prophecy by its end, like Tad Williams did in To Green Angel Tower. Then when discussion returned to Rothfuss, he said, "I guess I disagree with myself, because I agree with what they just said." A laugh from the audience.
They talked about a lot of things. They opened with the question "Does epic fantasy require larger than life characters, or can an everyman be used?" They kind of disagreed with this, finally settling on a main character should have traits that make someone great (like HONOR or COURAGE), but having the ability to cast +222 fireball and leveling up is physically powerful and ultimately boring. Paolini answered by saying it's why we love Batman and why Batama is so interesting compared to Superman, to have a clever character. Rothfuss the very next panelist over said, "Shit, he just took my line," which gave the audience a laugh.
Ironically, it was Paolini who brought up Kvothe being smart and clever, which they talk about in my interview here:
I was standing behind the camera and I'm the person who corrects Pat about the release date. haha
Here is what Brandon had to say about meeting Paolini. He also talks about The Way of Kings:
There is a second part of that interview, if you want to watch something that has nothing to do with this thread. haha
"I'm not for hire, and I don't get to choose my path." -- Sider Ament
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RE: Comic Con Pannel
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Posted:
7/27/2010 6:04:13 AM
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Thanks for posting the videos, it's always fun to watch Rothfuss talk. Too bad you couldn't get the panel too. I know I read something about an interview you were going to do with Pat, something with fan generated questions. Did you get a chance to do that one?
As for Paolini being in the panel, I don't think his writing is even close to the level of quality of the other panelists. I guess he could have grown as a writer since I last read one of his books, and he did hold a surprisingly intelligent conversation with Rothfuss, but it still seemed strange to me that he was on the panel in the first place. "Eragon" and "Eldest", the only books I've read by him, were embarrassing copies of other Epics. But who knows, he's probably improved since then. I hope.
"Those who dream by day are cognizant of many things that escape those who dream only by night." Edgar Allen Poe
"There is something old and true in fantasy that speaks to something deep within us, to the child who dreamt that one day he would hunt the forests of the night, and feast beneath the hollow hills, and find a love to last forever somewhere south of Oz and north of Shangri-La." George R.R. Martin
"Unfortunately, education, humility, and imagination are a rare combination in humans" -- R. Scott Bakker
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Joined:
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Total Posts:
136
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RE: Comic Con Pannel
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Posted:
7/27/2010 6:27:08 AM
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"Does epic fantasy require larger than life characters, or can an everyman be used?" They kind of disagreed with this, finally settling on a main character should have traits that make someone great (like HONOR or COURAGE), but having the ability to cast +222 fireball and leveling up is physically powerful and ultimately boring.
Which is my main complaint with Raymond E. Feist and the likes of Pug and the other guy (the one who constantly eats oranges, forgot his name.)
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Black Staff Admin
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RE: Comic Con Pannel
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Posted:
7/27/2010 7:41:53 AM
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Did you get a chance to do that one?
We did do it. And it is awesome, even though we were constantly interrupted by a colleague who had no idea we were filming. Then he had to run off real quick to do a book signing. We are keeping it close to our breast though. Pat wants to slowly leak it out over the course of a month, which I was kind of going to do with a "5 Days of Rothfuss" on Suvudu. More on this as we figure it out.
As for Paolini being in the panel, I don't think his writing is even close to the level of quality of the other panelists.
Doesn't matter. He still writes epic fantasy and deserves to be on the panel. You may hate his writing or where he has taken his "inspiration," but his story is most definitely epic.
Which is my main complaint with Raymond E. Feist and the likes of Pug and the other guy (the one who constantly eats oranges, forgot his name.)
Yup, it's the reason I stopped reading that series. Nekar? Is that right? Can't remember now... and happily forgotten for the most part.
"I'm not for hire, and I don't get to choose my path." -- Sider Ament
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Total Posts:
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RE: Comic Con Pannel
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Posted:
7/27/2010 8:56:10 AM
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Which is my main complaint with Raymond E. Feist and the likes of Pug and the other guy (the one who constantly eats oranges, forgot his name.)
I think that Feist initially handed this well. After MAGICIAN, which is Pug's story, he backs right off and the next few books are about Arutha and his sons. Pug is mostly off-screen and only appears rarely. In SERPENTWAR this goes up to the next level with a mostly new cast (focusing on Erik and that other guy, the merchant) with the established characters in supporting roles only. That worked.
The problem is that the over-arcing story required Pug to come back to the centre of the story again, starting around RAGE OF A DEMON KING, and that didn't work so well. Pug is too powerful and uninteresting. Feist tried the old trick again by bringing in a new protagonist in TALON OF THE SILVER HAWK with Pug kept off-screen, but that series also eventually required the return of Pug to the centre-stage, where he has remained ever since, to the series' overall detriment.
Visit The Wertzone for reviews of science fiction and fantasy!
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RE: Comic Con Pannel
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Posted:
7/27/2010 1:48:38 PM
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I agree with you, Wert, that Feist has attempted to divert attention to other more interesting characters, and I've read Serpentwar and the trilogy that began with Talon. Unfortunately, as you mention, Pug always becomes involved at some point, and always uses his virtually ominipotent magic to get out of a jam.
Feist would have been better served to follow Martin's example and tone down the sorcery aspects of his story, because he's one of the really good practitioners of the medieval setting. I especially enjoyed Rise of a Merchant Prince, because the protagonist's social rise through shrewd trades and clever dealing seemed particularly plausible, and was at the same time quite entertaining.
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Joined:
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Total Posts:
261
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RE: Comic Con Pannel
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Posted:
7/27/2010 5:20:43 PM
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As for those mentioning Nakor, SPOILERturns out he's got a fragment of a god in him but I believe he leaves the story line at the end of the most recent series ending with Wrath of a Mad God.
I read the book, but it was highly forgettable and as it turns out....I've already forgotten most of it.
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Joined:
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RE: Comic Con Pannel
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Posted:
7/28/2010 6:24:25 AM
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Your spoiler is an interesting explanation of Nakor's near omnipotence, but doesn't excuse the author's laziness of having such characters in his magic system.
Got a big magical problem in your tale? Pug and/or Nakor takes care of it, in a mysterious, all-powerful and ultimately unsatisfying way. 
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