I don't think that is a relevant question -- Adilbrand Noblesword's Hall of Warriors

[ Show ]

Support VoyForums

[ Shrink ]

VoyForums Announcement: Programming and providing support for this service has been a labor of love since 1997. We are one of the few services online who values our users' privacy, and have never sold your information. We have even fought hard to defend your privacy in legal cases; however, we've done it with almost no financial support -- paying out of pocket to continue providing the service. Due to the issues imposed on us by advertisers, we also stopped hosting most ads on the forums many years ago. We hope you appreciate our efforts.

Show your support by donating any amount. (Note: We are still technically a for-profit company, so your contribution is not tax-deductible.) PayPal Acct: Feedback:

Donate to VoyForums (PayPal):

[ Login ] [ Main index ] [ Post a new message ] [ Search | Check update time | Archives: 1, 2, [3], 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 ]

[ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ]

Date Posted: 12:11:03 04/15/02 Mon
Author: Adilbrand
Subject: I don't think that is a relevant question
In reply to: mvd 's message, "Re: ANHOW Review of Books: A classic sci-fi trilogy" on 11:30:33 04/15/02 Mon

I haven't read those, but sometimes something can be good without being terribly original. I liked "'Salem's Lot", for example, yet there was nothing original about it. Most Fantasy uses themes and plots that were used by Lord Dunsany, Robert E. Howard, and Tolkien, yet are quite good. Sherlock Holmes wasn't even all that original (that character type was created by Poe). Shakespeare's plots were not all that original. If you want originality, you have to dig far back in history and read things on the order of Gilgamesh.

Sometimes, a rehash of an old theme can bring that theme back into focus for a new generation. "Frankenstein" had a fantastic theme (well, themes, actually if you really dig), but who actually reads that book these days (other than me)? Stories need to be redone every generation, I think.

I think dismissing a good book due to a lack of originality would dismiss much great literature in history. How were the themes presented? Was it well written and enjoyable? Was the story effective? Those are more relevant questions.

Two of your examples, "The Matrix" and "The X-Files" post date the books he mentions. Yet, from what I understand, "the Matrix" was good, despite its lack of originality. Heck, I borrowed from other sources and accidentally duplicated the plot of the Matrix in a D&D adventure! It wasn't all that original either, apparently (I still haven't seen it).

[ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ]

Replies:

Oh, I know -- mvd, 12:41:02 04/15/02 Mon
- I miss the approval function -- mvd, 12:43:03 04/15/02 Mon
  - Re: I miss the approval function -- mt. healthy mountaineers, 16:51:15 04/15/02 Mon
    - Re: I miss the approval function -- Adilbrand, 17:15:10 04/15/02 Mon
      - It was gone, but is now back... (NT) -- mvd, 12:43:46 04/16/02 Tue