dmv wrote:
] ] Seldom do I really answer those who criticize my work. In
] ] fact, the entire development of my career has been fueled
] ] by my ability to ignore denigrating and trivializing
] ] criticism as I realize my dreams and my goals. However
] ] there is something compelling about Amazon's willingness
] ] to publish just about anything, and the sheer outrageous
] ] stupidity of many things you've said here that actually
] ] touches my proletarian and Democratic soul. Also I use
] ] and enjoy Amazon and I do read the reviews of other
] ] people's books in many fields. In sum, I believe in what
] ] happens here. And so, I speak. First off, let me say that
] ] this is addressed only to some of you, who have posted
] ] outrageously negative comments here, and not to all. You
] ] are interrogating this text from the wrong perspective.
] ] Indeed, you aren't even reading it. You are projecting
] ] your own limitations on it.
]
] Anne Rice doesn't like people trashing her latest novel on
] Amazon.
]
] But really, she should know that regarding criticism -- and
] the inevitable trolls -- the only way to win is not to play at
] all
] (hers is comment between 211-220 when sorted oldest-first if
] this link doesn't work)

Okay Anne, you've apparently begged for this. Now, speaking as a fan of horror film and literature who is thoroughly sick of all things vampiric, I am perfectly qualified to respond to your very cantankerous rant (which may very well stand as my favorite piece penned by you). As a preface, I will state that the Vampire Chronicles have rarely interested me. I felt that Jordan fleshed out "Interview..." beautifully, limiting the source material's pretentiousness in ways that served your reputation better than it possibly deserved. Michael Rymer, on the other hand, captured all of that pretentiousness at the expense of anything that I could possibly deem entertaining. In fact, I have read the books themeselves and found that both adaptations improved upon your dry, overly-romanticized work. Christ, at least the Innovation comics adaptations gave me some nice paintings to look at while suffering through the stale tale. Now, Ramses the Damned, to be fair, was superior to the adaptation, but remember, I am a bit sick of vampires. Now, without further adieu, let's tackle your screed! Never in all my years have I seen such an unprofessional attack on fans by an author. Even Ricky Nelson had the decency to write his feelings on the matter into a song (see "Garden Party"). The level of Chutzpah that you have acheived here gives me pause and I approach this post with a tinge of admiration at your nerve. You have given your work five stars, which seems to classify you as either the ultimate egotist or clinically insane. Certainly, there is some aspect of this work that you feel could use a bit of improvement. If your world revolves around absolutes, then you should not be writing glorified romance novels with fangs, but rather you should pen self-help books on building a megalomaniacal degree of self-confidence. There are many suicidal folks that would benefit from your shared wisdom. And after reading your whining rant, it has become quite apparent to me that, yes, Amazon will, in fact, publish just about anything. "You are interrogating this text from the wrong perspective. Indeed, you aren't even reading it. You are projecting your own limitations on it. " Any text that is so thoroughly didactic in its prose as to come from your word processor should not come with any need to interperate at all! If your fans are "reading it the wrong way," then this is your fault as a writer. If they "aren't even reading it," then one would assume that they would not even bother to post any review at all. "I'm justifiably proud of being read by intellectual giants and waitresses in trailer parks,in fact, I love it, but who in the world are you?" Who are these so-called "intellectual giants?" That demands a backup! Speaking for myself, I have only ever met pretentious goth kids, middle-aged housewives and geeks with vampire fetishes who have ever given your work the time of day. However, the "waitresses in trailer parks" may mull over your work as well, but I rarely spend time in a Waffle House to check the validity of this "fact." (Don't feel bad, I didn't even bother to point out the absurdity of your statement. To my knowlege, trailer parks don't have table service. Whoops! I guess I did it, now. Oh Well.) "I have no intention of allowing any editor ever to distort, cut, or otherwise mutilate sentences that I have edited and re-edited, and organized and polished myself." Yes, well, if that sentence itself is any indication, you may want to shell out the couple of bucks needed to hire an editor. That was a run-on sentence with word transposition and redundancy. "You don't enjoy it? Read somebody else. But your stupid arrogant assumptions about me and what I am doing are slander." Slander is, as defined by law, any untrue statement that (a) defames someone's sexual character, (b) accuses them of having a disease, (c) accuses them of committing a greivous crime, or (d) attacks someone's work performance in a way that causes them to lose their job, or good standing at said job. I'll assume that your reference to slander falls in line with type (d), and then I will offer to you the fact that, as a writer, you offer your work for public consumption whereby you are stuck with the public's opinion of that work. If one were to unfairly accuse you of plagiarism, then that would validate your slander accusation, but if someone feels your work sucks, then you have no grounds. Please learn to deal with criticism better, Ms. Rice. Playing the "slander card" was merely childish. "There are readers out there and plenty of them who cherish the individuality of each of the chronicles which you so flippantly condemn." In that sentence, you needed more commas, and if there are so many of these sycophantic readers, then why waste your time on those that did not like your latest work? Shouldn't you be satisfied with your success or are you a believer in that parable about the shepherd who left his herd to go snag the one stray sheep? "They can and do talk circles around you." Maybe not. I dare them to try. This begs a question. Do you, Anne Rice, sit around with a slew of ass-kissers and bitch about those who dislike your books? I always figured you were too rich, successful and creative to waste time doing anything so petty and stupid. I suppose that was my folly, eh? "And Yo, you dude, the slang police! Lestat talks like I do. He always has and he always will. You really wouldn't much like being around either one of us." Well, I certainly figure that he doesn't write a rant like you do. In fact, I would eschew dealing face-to-face with either of you as well. I would avoid you because you seem like an awful prima donna and I would avoid him because he is a fictional character that no one has ever "hung out" with, save for you, apparently, in your most pretentious literary fantasies. Thank you for posting your email address and home address. At least you are willing to give people their money back for something that they did not enjoy! All criticism aside, I will commend you on your ethical sense, although you need to eliminate the passive voice from your writing, as it will increase the effectiveness and make the prose more exciting. Cheers!

RE: Amazon.com: Books: Blood Canticle (The Vampire Chronicles)