Thats insightful then. I guess given Saint Danes actions, that could work out. Although, if that was true, don't you think he would be more forceful? Or maybe there's more behind the scenes action going on.

Favorite world would have to be Cloral. It reminded me so much of Waterworld, that it was insta-win. Waterworld and The Postman are two good post apocolyptic movies. That is, if you can deal with some of the actors.

Also, the science of Cloral, using the water around them to adapt, and build large sustainable cites. Its just cool to see something like that at work.

A runner up would be Quallian. It also reminds me of a moive, I can't remember the name, but it had the same premise to it. The Dados are cool, along with the weapons. The entire atmosphere of that world is almost like The most Dangerous Game. Fight for Survival, ftw.

Another would have to be Zadaa. Namely, Loor is the shit. Also, the above world and the below world is pretty cool. I like the concept that the scholars live below ground, because either they were smart enough to get out of the heat, or they're just a seperate species to the overworld.

Again, the vast majority of the worlds that we've seen so far, all have had humanoid inhabitants. Black Water was cool in the sense that it was Planet of the Apes in feel. I kept expecting Bobby to yell out, "I'm a MAN NOT AN ANIMAL," or "Its a mad house!" He certainly had the Blue-eyes effect going.

Edit:

Yeah, Rayne was a bit FUBARed in my opinion. Smack int he face, really. Veelox was alright. But, I've seen the Virtual world, people extinction thing done in alot of sci-fi books- so the outcome, even as shocking as it was, was pretty much expectd.

Anyone ever read The Dark Room, The Future Room, or something like that. They put on the brain cap, and it tells them what they'll be like at their 10th highschool reunion. The creator is some old hag that made it to keep in touch with the memory of her lover. All I'll say about the rest of it, Hacks for the win.

@Quazi: Third Earth was disappointing. Although, it stuck with the modernist feel of when the authoer wrote the book, you would of thought that maybe he would of went out on a limb like a like of 20-60's sci-fi writers (Flying cars, giant cities in the sky, everyone is uber healthy, and amazing in everything they do.) One could argue that simplicity is best, in that situation.

Yes, Denduron.

That picture is full of lulz. Black face= Awsome. Reminds me of that guy that sung I wanna singa.

 

Didn't it also say that when Bobby was thinking, he was a bit anxious about the jump? I mean, sure he could have anything he wanted, and it is almost logical that it was a basketball game. He's been away from Second Earth for so long, its just fun to do something normal, for once.

Yeah, he should be talking about how awesome Loor is. I mean come on. Those two were meant to be. Courtney has it for Mark, his acne infested nerd friend. Almost reminds me of Harry/Ginny, Ron/Hermione type situations.

Edit: Agreed. That, and she's good with her hands. From what I recall, lol.

 

How is it cliche? If everything is manufactured, as long as when Bobby is finally told that everything has been a fake, it ceases to be cliche.

He grew up with basically a foster family. Then, once his "Uncle" comes to take him on their first trip to another world, you begin to see some of the dynamic. Bobby's young. But, by the end of Merchant of Death, he realizes that he's going to have to move on. He doesn't linger much on his family in the next few books, and he really pays it no mind.

Now, had he went emo over the seperation of him and his family, sure, cliche. Not only that, the girl next door, is pretty much ripped away from him, almost immediately. There was really no need for her to begin with, she was something to fuel Bobby on.

Especially when she and Mark become his acolytes. They add more of a plot twist to the story, later in the book- even though I hate their parts. I mean, the book is about Bobby's adventures. Thats what makes it so good though.

Bobby has a goal to achieve, without that initial cliche to start it off, he'd just of been a kid, with his world hopping unlce off to fight against the forces of darkness. There would be no development, and everything would not be half as interesting as it already is.

You need to remember: The seperation from his family ties into the later books. Especially when he begins to question his own existance, namely the end of The Rivers of Zadda, when him and Saint Dane have a "jedi" moment, and he does a heal buff on Loor.

Sure, Harry was interesting from the beginning, but everything points to something out of the ordinary, from the start with him.

With Bobby, it starts out, and as it progresses it draws the reader further in. They get the ground work for what is pretty much a static character. Then, the author take him, puts him, his world, and everything you knew, and shakes it up.

JKR failed to do that. Had she, I think Harry Potter would of been more kick ass from the start.

Its all about the shake up.

Btw, Snapple anyone?

 

Oh, I see what you mean now. 60 year old man, trying to connect with his distanced son, type lingo. Yeah, when I read that, I sorta just fazed it out.

 

@Quzai: Spare the penguins. Everything is logical in the long run.

Sure some of the dialogue(sp?) isn't that great, but isn't all of the communication, for the most part, based on what Bobby's wrote in his letters?

Everything is pretty much from his perspective, and given that while everyone had an ideal life, what does that add to the story?

Nothing.

It seems to me that some of the first parts of the book, Bobby introducing himself, and and a few instances in the other books, the author didn't know where to go. I think maybe he's trying to force them to be children, when they're going on atleast 13 and 14 in the first ones, and then aging progressively.

Sure, the ideal lives start the story, but to me, they don't really add anything to it. Maybe thats why it was so easy for me to faze out the Coolio, and macking, and so on.

 

Thankfully.

Cause then I'd lose all hope for the books I ever had, and burn everyone I put my hands on...

 

Oh noes! I spot an interloper.

I still want that milkshake.