The people who don't understand the direction of the books, also think that Anita was happy in the early books and the truth was she was miserable. She had a few close girlfriends but she was lonely and angry with everyone and everything. When baiting your boss is the highlight of the day, you don't really have a life. She saw death and brutality thanks to her police consultanting role. And then she fell in with the monsters and discovered.... They don't treat her like a freak. They aren't afraid of her. (Well, they are but that's because if she says she'll kill them, she will.) They welcome her.
I think this is the key point to the entire series (or maybe I'm getting maudlin in my old age). In the series, Anita began thinking that monsters are monsters and there is no saving them, only killing them. Through her time with the monsters, becoming their friends, their protector, she realizes that what they *are* isn't what makes them a monster, it's what they choose to do.
And when Anita chooses to do that, by letting the zombies kill the Senora, for example, or chopping on that guy in Blue Moon, she breaks down another barrier. Yes, she did some vile, horrible things. Why? What was the purpose in her sins? Do her reasons make her less of a monster than others?
But your comment is why I won't join the new board. I read the rules and then I read what my flist was saying and I don't have the energy to get upset.
That's the vicious circle. The people who really, really like the books will not go there, because of all the negative energy. I remember the first time I went to the old board, soon after I'd read most of the books. I was really jazzed about the books, seeing new areas for them to go, to talk about... and then to read that stuff was like a gut punch. I eventually got over it, but to see that stuff was really hard.
And since the people who really enjoy the books will shy away (and I've already seen one person say 'look, this negative reception I got for asking a simple question about Micah is so not worth it, I'm out of here') the place will continue to remain a negative space.
I am sure you know that Laurell's stance on Fanfic
I do know, but then why oh why is there a forum on that bloody board entitled "Fanfic"? No posts, nada. So very confusing!
But then, most bad fanfic writers don't understand that most ideas are not that unique. It is the execution of them that is.
I work in the newspaper business. We all know that there are no new stories, only new angles :)
I'm long-winded tonight.
I think this is the key point to the entire series (or maybe I'm getting maudlin in my old age). In the series, Anita began thinking that monsters are monsters and there is no saving them, only killing them. Through her time with the monsters, becoming their friends, their protector, she realizes that what they *are* isn't what makes them a monster, it's what they choose to do.
And when Anita chooses to do that, by letting the zombies kill the Senora, for example, or chopping on that guy in Blue Moon, she breaks down another barrier. Yes, she did some vile, horrible things. Why? What was the purpose in her sins? Do her reasons make her less of a monster than others?
But your comment is why I won't join the new board. I read the rules and then I read what my flist was saying and I don't have the energy to get upset.
That's the vicious circle. The people who really, really like the books will not go there, because of all the negative energy. I remember the first time I went to the old board, soon after I'd read most of the books. I was really jazzed about the books, seeing new areas for them to go, to talk about... and then to read that stuff was like a gut punch. I eventually got over it, but to see that stuff was really hard.
And since the people who really enjoy the books will shy away (and I've already seen one person say 'look, this negative reception I got for asking a simple question about Micah is so not worth it, I'm out of here') the place will continue to remain a negative space.
I am sure you know that Laurell's stance on Fanfic
I do know, but then why oh why is there a forum on that bloody board entitled "Fanfic"? No posts, nada. So very confusing!
But then, most bad fanfic writers don't understand that most ideas are not that unique. It is the execution of them that is.
I work in the newspaper business. We all know that there are no new stories, only new angles :)