Jedi Council Forums - Author Analysis: Walter Jon Williams

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Author	Topic: Author Analysis: Walter Jon Williams
Havac Title: Lit Mod of War Registered: Sep '05	Date Posted: 8/20/06 1:45pm Subject: Author Analysis: Walter Jon Williams
	Discuss and analyze his style, his strengths and weaknesses as an author, whether he fills an authorial niche, if you would like to see him write again, etc. No bashing or gushing. Previous Author Analyses: Kristine Kathryn Rusch Roger MacBride Allen John Ostrander Steve Perry Brian Daley Barbara Hambly Dave Wolverton Troy Denning Ann C. Crispin K. W. Jeter Sean Stewart Haden Blackman Greg Keyes Michael Stackpole Kevin J. Anderson Matthew Stover Michael Reaves Aaron Allston Go at it! -----signature----- "Is there a captain's hat involved in this?" "I . . . don't know what department I want. I need . . . pants."
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Kenobi_Kid Registered: May '05	Date Posted: 8/20/06 1:48pm Subject: RE: Author Analysis: Walter Jon Williams
	Not to sound ignorant, but what has he written? -----signature----- High Prophet of the Church of Kyle and loyal suitor of HIH Marasiah Fel Star Wars: Now with 100% more Lyle Waggoner! Lick enough wallpaper and eventually you will find the Snozzberry I have seen the enemy and he is you
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FTeik Registered: Nov '00	Date Posted: 8/20/06 1:51pm Subject: RE: Author Analysis: Walter Jon Williams
	Kenobi_Kid posted: Not to sound ignorant, but what has he written? Destiny's Way, one of the better books of the NJO-arc. -----signature----- My first completet story: Pride's Prize: http://boards.theforce.net/message.aspx?topic=22758760 "In the Battle of Coruscant alone, hundreds of millions of battle droids saw action on the ground and in space. " Insider #86 - The story of General Grievous
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LtNOWIS Registered: May '05	Date Posted: 8/20/06 1:55pm Subject: RE: Author Analysis: Walter Jon Williams
	Also the Ylesia e-book. -----signature----- A little bit about me: http://tinyurl.com/bnmcck
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Crox Registered: Apr '06	Date Posted: 8/20/06 3:22pm Subject: RE: Author Analysis: Walter Jon Williams
	I haven't read Ylesia. I liked Destiny's Way, largely because of the Vong. I loved the characterization of Shimrra and Nom Anor, and it was nice to get more of a view of Vong politics. Certain parts of the Battle of Ebaq 9 seemed to drag on a bit. The one thing I extremely disliked about the book was Tsavong Lah's death. That was just pathetic.
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Whizkid Registered: Sep '03	Date Posted: 8/20/06 4:36pm Subject: RE: Author Analysis: Walter Jon Williams - Date Edited: 8/20/06 4:50pm (1 edits total) Edited By: Whizkid
	I really enjoyed Destiny's Way, but it lacked the emotional impact of Vector Prime & SbS. -----signature----- "Only a Sith deals in Absolutes" "Do, or do not. There is no try"
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Katana_Geldar Title: Former CR Tasmania, AU' Registered: Mar '03	Date Posted: 8/20/06 4:41pm Subject: RE: Author Analysis: Walter Jon Williams
	Tsavong Lah went out like a punk even though Jaina was the one to do it. What was that guy on? I liked how he treated Vergere, this was one of the few books to show her that way. -----signature----- Jacen and the two Vergeres http://gmgeldar.wordpress.com/vergere-essay/ Now, if you don't mind, I am somewhat preoccoupied telling the laws of physics to shut up and sit down.
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rhonderoo Title: Former Head Admin Registered: Aug '02	Date Posted: 8/20/06 5:49pm Subject: RE: Author Analysis: Walter Jon Williams
	Destiny's Way was one of the best books of the NJO. Characterizations were good and a lot of stuff had to happen and it went off pretty seamless. -----signature----- DT421 FYI: You don't deal with me. I deal with you. Damned right the Jedi's fire has gone out of the universe. I was the bad-ass Class C extinguisher who snuffed them. - @darthvader (Darth Vader on Twitter)
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Katana_Geldar Title: Former CR Tasmania, AU' Registered: Mar '03	Date Posted: 8/20/06 5:50pm Subject: RE: Author Analysis: Walter Jon Williams
	I still don't like how Luke managed to rig the election while keeping his hands squeaky clean. -----signature----- Jacen and the two Vergeres http://gmgeldar.wordpress.com/vergere-essay/ Now, if you don't mind, I am somewhat preoccoupied telling the laws of physics to shut up and sit down.
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rhonderoo Title: Former Head Admin Registered: Aug '02	Date Posted: 8/20/06 5:55pm Subject: - Date Edited: 8/20/06 5:55pm (1 edits total) Edited By: rhonderoo
	He handled the Knighting Ceremony very well. In fact that was a pretty emotional part of the book. I got teary-eyed when he described Anakin Jrs. pic being up and those that had died in the war. It was a pretty somber look at the impact of the Vong war, and captured a small piece of the emotion of the time right after 9-11. -----signature----- DT421 FYI: You don't deal with me. I deal with you. Damned right the Jedi's fire has gone out of the universe. I was the bad-ass Class C extinguisher who snuffed them. - @darthvader (Darth Vader on Twitter)
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Yodas-evil-twin Registered: Jun '05	Date Posted: 8/20/06 5:56pm Subject: RE: Author Analysis: Walter Jon Williams - Date Edited: 8/20/06 5:58pm (1 edits total) Edited By: Yodas-evil-twin
	Katana_Geldar posted: Tsavong Lah went out like a punk even though Jaina was the one to do it. What was that guy on? I liked how he treated Vergere, this was one of the few books to show her that way. Not only that, he turned him into a death loving idiot. I enjoyed Destiny's Way, but stuff like that kept me from ranking it among the top five. -----signature----- "Who watches the Watchmen?" "The JCC is pretty much Lord of the Flies without the healthy outdoorsy atmosphere." -soitscometothis
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SlackJawedJedi Registered: May '04	Date Posted: 8/20/06 8:54pm Subject: RE: Author Analysis: Walter Jon Williams
	I liked Destiny's Way, buuuut it was kind of 'just a bunch of stuff that happened' as opposed to a cohesive story. Like WJW had a checklist of things that needed to occur in the book, but didn't really tie the seperate events together. That said, his writing itself wasn't too shabby, and Ylesia was so much fun I'm sad it got left out of Destiny's Way. -----signature----- Everyone's in favour of saving Hitler's brain... but when you put it in the body of a great white shark, ooo, suddenly you've gone too far! Switzerland is small and neutral. We're more like Germany, ambitious and misunderstood! Oh... your...God!
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Excellence Registered: Jul '02	Date Posted: 8/21/06 1:15am Subject: RE: Author Analysis: Walter Jon Williams - Date Edited: 8/21/06 1:17am (1 edits total) Edited By: Excellence
	I was disappointed with Destiny's Way, I have to admit. It was bland, generic, and the backcover gives the ending right out. It had a mountain of problems, actually. Primary issue with eYlesia is that it too was just generic action, aside from Jagged foot rubbing Jaina in public. But that's the problem with Star Wars---what you see written there is nothing how one writes their own, so my impression is withheld pending further research. I've only sampled the Praxis books lightly, but whether they too showed more depth at least someone is writing good old space opera. Proper space opera of empires and fleets, which is increasingly rare in the genre. I respect anyone who can bulldozer past editorial vipers to get that published today. Williams consulted with the Battle of Blackwater's strategy, in A Clash of King's finale. We'll blame him for Tyrion's victory, shall we? -----signature----- Rock-a-by baby, on the treetop, Beaming with pride, the filth they hold, But when the wind blows, my temper implodes, High above a pit, filled with sharkticons, Down will come hardcover addicts, beaming no more. ©
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AdmiralNick22 Registered: May '03	Date Posted: 8/21/06 6:48pm Subject: RE: Author Analysis: Walter Jon Williams
	ACKBAR IS BACK! Nuff said. The day I read Destiny's Way was one of the best days I have had reading a EU novel. I mean, who turned the tide of the war for the NR? Ackbar! Who brought back morale to the fleet? Ackbar! Who decided to write a novel with him as the hero? Walter Jon Williams! --Adm. Nick -----signature----- Fleet Junkie Founding Father Official Greatest Admiral Ackbar Fan "A peaceful Galactic Alliance is the strongest pillar of a peaceful galaxy." - Luke Skywalker "I will surrender, Admiral, when I can no longer fight!" - Admiral Gar Stazi A New Hope
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Cypher18 Registered: Apr '01	Date Posted: 8/21/06 7:24pm Subject: RE: Author Analysis: Walter Jon Williams
	I liked his books written for Star Wars, but I liked his Praxis books alot better. -----signature----- *Retired Council Master of the Lightside* Life is what happens when you're making other plans--John Lennon
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Dinner_Squadron Registered: Oct '04	Date Posted: 8/21/06 8:20pm Subject: RE: Author Analysis: Walter Jon Williams
	Destiny's Way seemed to be a bland story following the tremendous fun of the Star By Star to Traitor books. He made a lot of choices in the book that hurt the value of long running plotlines (ending the Republic, offing Lah on a fluke), but didn't have the talent of a Denning or a Stover to make it come across enjoyably. He proved to be a better author when tasked with events of lesser signifigance, such as those in Ylesia. There he delievered a Thrackan that was as good as ever, and made me long to see Thrackan return in a major villanous role (Swoons). He was weaker in his "Republic Chief of State" plotline, as it was clear from a mile away that it was going to be the evil one from Enemy Lines. That came across poorly, as the evil chief of state was lacking believable motivation. All in all, Williams was an ok author, but one who I think is worth hiring for future books, unless there is a serious lack of talent elsewhere at the time.
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