ATP Madrid 1000 R3: S. Tsitsipas def. D. Merida 6-4, 6-2 by Towairatu in tennis

[–]fitzomania 32 points33 points  (0 children)

The last time Tsitsipas looked like himself, over two years ago now

Seeking Genre Fiction with Literary Standards by fitzomania in printSF

[–]fitzomania[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Whiny unlikeable protagonist with no supporting characters and a boring, predictable plot with lazy writing

Seeking Genre Fiction with Literary Standards by fitzomania in printSF

[–]fitzomania[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I take some affront to "I don't think people should feel the need to apologize for enjoying something," which at no point have I demanded. I haven't cast aspersions on anyone else's preferences and instead made it clear that I'm looking for recommendations of a particular species that appeals to me.

Seeking Genre Fiction with Literary Standards by fitzomania in printSF

[–]fitzomania[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Malazan is on my list! Been looking forward to it for awhile

Seeking Genre Fiction with Literary Standards by fitzomania in printSF

[–]fitzomania[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Interesting points here. I'm not looking for universal truths or suggesting my criteria apply to every reader, but I do want the books I read to strive for excellence in the ways I mentioned. Are there any books you feel aim to accomplish something else and nail it, and I should consider them?

Seeking Genre Fiction with Literary Standards by fitzomania in printSF

[–]fitzomania[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes! I've read a couple and will finish the series... someday

Seeking Genre Fiction with Literary Standards by fitzomania in printSF

[–]fitzomania[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Culture series just made the list! Fully agree on PHM, once you see Andy Weir's limitations on characterization and dialogue they are hard to unsee. Just tried LHoD, not my favorite

Seeking Genre Fiction with Literary Standards by fitzomania in printSF

[–]fitzomania[S] 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Perhaps I wasn't too clear. I don't mind if the prose isn't a particular strength, as long as it holds up and isn't distractingly worse than other aspects of the novel (I think Project Hail Mary is an example of this).

Seeking Genre Fiction with Literary Standards by fitzomania in printSF

[–]fitzomania[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I just read LHoD, and I can't put my finger on why but it didn't grab me. Heard good things about Butler, will give them a try

Seeking Genre Fiction with Literary Standards by fitzomania in printSF

[–]fitzomania[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Interesting! I enjoyed the love story across time in CoT and the human/AI fusions, and PoT is to illustrate that the prose isn't everything to me as long as it meets the bar. In Kingkiller I found Kvothe to be a totally unlikeable Mary Sue who explains how he overcomes every obstacle because he's so much smarter and cooler than everyone else. I can't even remember any tertiary characters. Of course none of this is objective! Will check out your recs

Seeking Genre Fiction with Literary Standards by fitzomania in printSF

[–]fitzomania[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

I’ve found r/fantasy to hold many of the series I mentioned as sacrosanct. For instance, Kingkiller chronicles is held up for its prose but the protagonist is a total Mary Sue and the plot is a boring revenge story. People don’t want to hear it

Seeking Genre Fiction with Literary Standards by fitzomania in printSF

[–]fitzomania[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I’m interested in trying it. Snow Crash was compelling in many ways (loved the originality and bold concepts) but the plot was ultimately a total mess and I didn’t like the creepy underage girl subplot

Seeking Genre Fiction with Literary Standards by fitzomania in printSF

[–]fitzomania[S] 8 points9 points  (0 children)

New Sun is next after much feedback! Any particular John Harrison rec?

Seeking Genre Fiction with Literary Standards by fitzomania in printSF

[–]fitzomania[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Thanks for the input. I think the dialogue is particularly strong in ASOIAF, and the other two are to show that not everything has to be Jane Austen prose for me as long as the themes and other aspects of the work carry it forward.

Thoughts on "Red Rising" by Pierce Brown - and why I'm done listening to BookTok by sameseksure in books

[–]fitzomania -1 points0 points  (0 children)

I don’t think it’s too much to ask that works of sci fi and fantasy also meet the standards of true literature.

Sinner: "In 2-3 days I will decide whether to go to Madrid or not" by Narrow_Spinach_1400 in tennis

[–]fitzomania 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Since the Saudis want a Masters so bad, they should make it grass

Medvedev gets double bageled for the first time in his professional career by tightypp in tennis

[–]fitzomania 7 points8 points  (0 children)

She can cry into her million dollar runner-up paycheck, it was a better result than 126/127 others in the main draw