Patrick Rothfuss Kingkiller Chronicles

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Tantrik

Golden Knight of the Realm
384
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I'm pretty sure that he's hit a block - there's no way he can take the series from where it ended in #2 up to the "present day" framing device and wrap the whole thing up in a single book, but for some reason he refuses to bite the bullet and expand the length of the series like every other fantasy author does.

It's a shame, because imo the series doesn't have much re-read value. I devoured it the first time through (admittedly, I felt #2 was a drop from #1 even then), but found it just above average on the second read of the first book, and felt no motivation to move onto the second book again. I'd just like some closure on the story, but doesn't seem to be coming any time soon.
I was watching his Twitch stream last week. He was playing through Portal for the second time and he starts talking about narrative structure and how a game like Portal, with its puzzles and plot reveals, loses quite a bit after the first play through.

He then immediately starts explaining that his books are designed so that you get more out of them with multiple readings.

Not saying I agree, just that your post reminded me of what he had said.
 

Palum

what Suineg set it to
23,145
32,710
I don't even know what to call him anymore besides a disappointment. The books were more hopeful for future expansion than good and he's failed utterly to capture any momentum and flesh out the universe. What a loser.
 

Intrinsic

Person of Whiteness
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I can't reread the 2nd book anymore than I can reread Penthouse Forum letters. It is 75% absolute garbage and 25% well this could have been great.
 
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Azrayne

Irenicus did nothing wrong
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786
Yeah the second book had some great some stuff (I remember enjoying the showdown with the bandits), but a lot of it was wish fulfillment BS (the whole arc with the fairy chick teaching him to fuck was painful - not surprising, because everything Rothfuss writes about sex or romance is painful) or just tired (the kung fu stuff).
 

Malkav

French Madman
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1,583
We just need to mention Denna and the thread will have come full circle again.
biggrin.png
 

slippery

<Bronze Donator>
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I was watching his Twitch stream last week. He was playing through Portal for the second time and he starts talking about narrative structure and how a game like Portal, with its puzzles and plot reveals, loses quite a bit after the first play through.

He then immediately starts explaining that his books are designed so that you get more out of them with multiple readings.

Not saying I agree, just that your post reminded me of what he had said.
I don't even care to reread the books because the third one is never coming out. Why reread something that isn't going to have a conclusion?
 

moonarchia

The Scientific Shitlord
20,878
37,837
I put it in the wish pile with GoT. I want them to finish, because they had such promise, but you never know. At least I can get an annual fix of Jim Butcher and Sanderson.
 

Oblio

Utah
<Gold Donor>
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About 75% through book 2. It kind of sucks, I will finish it but man this series is not living up to the hype my friend gave it. Best part of book 2 was his time with the Maer and that was only 10-15%

I really hope this crash course in karate ends soon and he gets back to the Maer in the last quarter of the book. Also, Kvothe relationship with Denna is as annoying as all the hair pulling in WoT.
 

Himeo

Vyemm Raider
3,260
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About 75% through book 2. It kind of sucks, I will finish it but man this series is not living up to the hype my friend gave it. Best part of book 2 was his time with the Maer and that was only 10-15%

I really hope this crash course in karate ends soon and he gets back to the Maer in the last quarter of the book. Also, Kvothe relationship with Denna is as annoying as all the hair pulling in WoT.
Best part of the book is coming up soon. It's the section he used as a short story back in the early 2000's to win the writers of the future award.

You'll know it when you read it.
 

Vlett

Lord Nagafen Raider
817
69
Damn you guys for having a conversation in this thread.

I don't disagree with anything that's been said, but I have reread his stuff a few times to prevent forgetting it. I can ignore what bugs me pretty easily and that lets me pay more attention to the ideas that I missed the first time through.

I think he enjoys being a popular author more than he desires to keep writing. Blocks don't even begin to explain the bullshit time delay with book 3. I'll still buy it anyway.
 

Gask

Bronze Baron of the Realm
11,732
44,074
At this point I would respect him more if he just had Kvothe pull an unreliable narrator and informed Chronicler that he was just pulling his leg that night and proceeded to tell him the true story of what happened during the time frame of book two. I'm sure it would be easier to start again fresh than to make all of that nonsense not stink up the rest of the story without just ignoring that it ever happened.
 

Oblio

Utah
<Gold Donor>
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Found some time today to finish it, not sure where I rate it. Somewhere between 6.5 and 7.5 out of 10. What bugs me is the way he sometimes over explains scenes/settings/actions to the point where I want put the book down and then other times he just glosses over stuff in the laziest if ways. "I won't bore you with the details, even thought I just spent 4 paragraphs describing a flower."

I had the same issue with Anne Rice when I read her Vampire books over a decade ago.

All in all it was okay, do I want to find out what happens next? Sure, but it will be a much easier wait than waiting on George RR Martin. I mostly blame my disappointment on my old friend/co-worker for hyping the fuck out these books to me about 3 years ago.


EDIT: I don't mean to belittle Rothfuss, god knows he has more writing talent then me. I wish I could write a book, I have had the same 2 or 3 ideas bouncing around my head for over a decade but I have no idea how to get them on paper and flesh them out.
 

Palum

what Suineg set it to
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No, go ahead and belittle him. He's dead to me.

Honestly, it's a bit clever in the 'narration of a narration' inception bullshit game he has going on in the series because he can always just handwave away any criticism "oh I didn't write that, Chronicler did llolololol' for most of the struggling pieces in the book.
 

zzeris

King Turd of Shit Hill
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Im glad other people have issues with him. The first book started off so well and I easily forgave some of his shit because the overall story was still quite good. Then...he wrote the second book. Considering the massive quantity of time between books, his claim that the trilogy was 'already written'(but can't seem to finish it) and his general disinterest in his own story; I'll read his books but I'll get them later at a discount.

Oblio, I feel the same way. I have some ideas but they've never been fleshed out and so I know it's an accomplishment to do what he's done. I still think he went from a potential top talent to just a bit above average very quickly(between two books).
 

Oblio

Utah
<Gold Donor>
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No, go ahead and belittle him. He's dead to me.

Honestly, it's a bit clever in the 'narration of a narration' inception bullshit game he has going on in the series because he can always just handwave away any criticism "oh I didn't write that, Chronicler did llolololol' for most of the struggling pieces in the book.
Has he actually said/used that Chronicler excuse? If so /vomit
 

Palum

what Suineg set it to
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32,710
Fuck if I know, I haven't watched him for all 3482 hours of him replaying Portal and Fallout NV or whatever and not writing at all. But he could!
 

Palum

what Suineg set it to
23,145
32,710
Another thing to remind myself why my opinion of Rothfuss at this point is "fuck this guy".