Jeez, I can't STAND that Stover guy . . . !

[MWStover]

Now that I have your attention . . .

I just wanted to make the point right from the start that people who think I suck are welcome around here, too.

Come and complain. I love hearing from people who love my work -- but I also love hearing from people who get just bloody sick every time they hear my name.

I'm very grateful to the folks here at SFFWorld for setting up this little nook in a corner of their site for me, and I will be dropping by as often as I can to at least check in with snide comments or glib evasions.

Say what you like. I'm not fragile.

I'm also happy to chat about the biz, about the process of writing, and about Who I Think You Really Ought To Be Reading, because in addition to not being fragile, I'm not shy.

However, fair warning to one and all -- As a friend of mine at [dead cities] likes to put it, "Say what you like, but mean what you say."

In other words:

If you're gonna play Poke the Bear, you better keep in mind that the bear doesn't give a s*** that it's just a game.




I'm the bear. Any questions?

[Jacquin]

I'm the bear. Any questions?

Do we get long pointy sticks to poke you with?

[Rocket Sheep]

I think that phrase - "Poke the Bear" - has been completely overused by angry immature american men on messageboards across the internet and has now has such yuckky, hot headed, argumentative connotations that it immediately ruins any hope for fun.

Sorry to break it to you like this. But there are times when some phrases should just lay down and die. And "Poke the Bear" has reached its time.

Perhaps we could hold a ritual burial or something. There are a few other murdered phrases that need burying too.

[MWStover]

I think that phrase - "Poke the Bear" - has been completely overused by angry immature american men on messageboards across the internet and has now has such yuckky, hot headed, argumentative connotations that it immediately ruins any hope for fun.

Sorry to break it to you like this. But there are times when some phrases should just lay down and die. And "Poke the Bear" has reached its time.

Perhaps we could hold a ritual burial or something. There are a few other murdered phrases that need burying too.

Huh. That's funny -- because I wrote that line. So they can, er . . . [searches for an appropriately PG-13 phrase] . . . screw off.

[juzzza]

Yaddah yaddah, but did you coin the phrase, 'Charge in the short pants!!!' LOL

[MWStover]

Yaddah yaddah, but did you coin the phrase, 'Charge in the short pants!!!' LOL

Yup. That too.

I'm a killer with the quotables.

[Jacquin]

I'm a killer with the quotables.

I think I've heard that somewhere before...

[Monty Mike]

I'm just here for the atmosphere..... whheeeeee!!

[Rocket Sheep]

You invented Poke the Bear?

Well I don't go to Dead Cities and I've heard it on other messageboards... Dead Cities posters must get around.

Shame you can't sue for abuse of phrase.

[Mervius]

Stover, your books suck!

And one of these days, I'm gonna stop reading 'em!

Maybe "Revenge of the Sith" will be the last straw.

[saintjon]

if he sucks enough you'd bother to post that why are you still reading?

[juzzza]

And one of these days, I'm gonna stop reading 'em!

Classic...

It's like a beautiful woman telling you that one of these days she is gonna stop sleeping with you... WHO CARES, as long as she is right now.

If people spend money and time to hate you, they're still spending money and time.

[Rocket Sheep]

Mervius is just getting into the spirit of the thread. Normally we don't let people abuse authors, but Stover started it!

[Kleronomas]

Mervius obviously had a tongue firmly planted in one cheek, whilst giving a nice plug for MWS's next release.

I've recently finished Heroes Die and get the impression that Blade of Tyshelle is generally thought of as a better book. What's the consensus?

[juzzza]

I think BOT is grittier and excellent, but prefer Heroes Die.

The writing in BOT is better and the fact that Caine is crippled adds real tension and depth to the character. I guess I prefer HD because Caine is in full action and of course, we are introduced to the world and the characters for the first time so they had real impact.

One thing that is present in both, is insurmountable odds and epic plots and great writing. Either book is ahead of most in the genre but between the two, HD is my preference.

Sequels benefit from familiarity of characters and you can weave in-jokes and old alliances/frictions really well, Stover does this extremely well.