Jedi Council Forums - Author Analysis: Greg Bear

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Author	Topic: Author Analysis: Greg Bear
Havac Title: Lit Mod of War Registered: Sep '05	Date Posted: 9/12/06 3:10pm Subject: Author Analysis: Greg Bear
	Analyze and discuss Bear's writing style, his strengths and weaknesses, any authorial niche he may fill, whether you would like to see him write another Star Wars book, etc. No bashing or gushing is allowed. Previous Author Analyses: Kathy Tyers Darko Macan Vonda McIntyre Walter Jon Williams 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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NelanisGhost Registered: Jun '06	Date Posted: 9/12/06 3:19pm Subject: RE: Author Analysis: Greg Bear
	He had a hard job with establishing the Yuuzhan Vong. Most of the book was confusing. After we read the NJO it made much more sense. I really enjoyed the audiobook for Rogue Planet. I couldn't read it. I kept putting it down, but to be narrated it's fine. -----signature----- If there's a bright center of the galaxy, you're on the planet it's farthest from: Earth Our own stunning bright center: http://astrosurf.com/sguisard/Pagim/GC.html Barnes and Noble: TFU hardcover. Nice! $5.98 in discount section.....
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Dinner_Squadron Registered: Oct '04	Date Posted: 9/12/06 3:39pm Subject: RE: Author Analysis: Greg Bear
	He did sucky good guys but awesome. His characterization of that proto-Imperial guy (Seinar, I thinks) might just rank up there as the most awesome of all of the EU villains. The lecture about how being polite doesn't make one weak made Seinar come off as quite bad-ss. I was quite disapointed that he wasn't booked to write A Death Star Is Born. I mean, I thought most of the -plot- was bad, but I still enjoyed how he pulled off Seinar that Rogue Planet is the only pre-OT book I've liked so far.
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rebel_cheese Registered: Jul '06	Date Posted: 9/12/06 5:42pm Subject: RE: Author Analysis: Greg Bear - Date Edited: 9/12/06 5:42pm (1 edits total) Edited By: rebel_cheese
	Greg Bear's major problem was that when he wrote Rogue Planet he didn't always sound like he knew what he was talking about. Also, I had read it before I had even known of the NJO (I had read YJK only up until Rogue Planet). That didn't help my confusion any. However, when I re-read it inbetween Force Heretic 2 and 3, I found out that it is a rich and highly imaginative tale, with some confusing moments and occasional cardboard characters. However, Rogue Planet is a better book today than it was in 2000, that's for certain. Would I support him returning? Hell yes. Reads I'd recommend would be Darwin's Radio, Dead Lines, Darwin's Children, and Forge of God. However, a lot of his other books, while not necessarily bad, are difficult to get into, Eternity and Legacy especially. -----signature----- Padawan of princess_of_naboo E-married to the amazing padawanlost Member of Charon_Force The Incubus Cries: http://boards.theforce.net/beyond_the_saga/b10477/30141520/p1/?18
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thesourceshith Registered: Sep '06	Date Posted: 9/12/06 8:04pm Subject: RE: Author Analysis: Greg Bear
	The Rogue planet is for junkies (and lovers)
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Havac Title: Lit Mod of War Registered: Sep '05	Date Posted: 9/14/06 1:46pm Subject: RE: Author Analysis: Greg Bear
	I have to agree that Bear's portrayal of Sienar was excellent. Tarkin, also, was well-written. The man seems to have a talent for villains. A lot of people seem to feel that the book was boring, but I can't say I ever felt that way. It may not have had nonstop action scenes, but there was mystery, and that provided enough tension for me. Aside from Anakin's excessive ZOMG VADER!!11!! foreshadowing with his murder of Ke Daiv, I really can't point to a flaw. The book was creative and interesting. While the EU has better writers than Bear, it also has far, far worse. -----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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_ViE_AcheRoN_ Registered: May '03	Date Posted: 9/14/06 7:34pm Subject: RE: Author Analysis: Greg Bear
	I'd like to note that, while Anakin's Vader foreshadowing may have been a bit out of place, I think it was handled in Rogue Planet much better than in most of the dozens of other sources that didn't want us to forget that he was eventually going to turn evil. -----signature----- I Love Catherine I Love Catherine! I Love Catherine!!! PS, I do not love Catherine.
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Ive_Got_Two_Legs Registered: Jul '05	Date Posted: 9/15/06 9:48pm Subject: RE: Author Analysis: Greg Bear
	I liked Sienar and the Blood Carvers. The stuff about the Republic and TF militaries was also interesting. Other than that, the book seemed like first and foremost a contrived event to tie in the NJO with the prequels. I never reallt felt convinced why Tarkin was so obsessed with Zonama Sekot. However, post-Betrayal, I have to admit it fits in much better: Palpatine obviously sent Tarkin to Zonama Sekot to kill or capture Vergere before the Jedi could get to her (and thus find out from her his true nature). I also wonder whether the NJO staff created ZS, or whether Bear made it and it was only then decided to be incorporated into the NJO. ZS is definitely a Bear-type invention. Other than RP, I've only read Eon and his Foundation book. Eon was probably the best of the three. -----signature----- "Where's your sense of optimism?" "It opted out."
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arf_maul Registered: Jan '02	Date Posted: 9/15/06 11:29pm Subject: RE: Author Analysis: Greg Bear
	I loved Rogue Planet, though it's been a while now since I have read it. I remember liking the way he portrayed Mace Windu at the beginning, in his exchange with young Anakin. Bear finally (and successfully) portrayed Mace as the intelligent and wise Jedi Master that Mace is supposed to be; characteristics that are hinted at, but rarely presented in the films and most of the EU. I also liked Charza Kwinn, who was a very memorable and unique character. Bear also did a great job in setting up Vergere, Zonama Sekot and the Yuuzhan Vong. The only other book by Bear I have read is Eon, which I would recommend to everyone who likes sci-fi/fantasy. I'd love to see more SW works by Bear. -----signature----- Author of Bal'demnic and co-author of Leektar Databank entries Producer of STAR WARS OUTSIDER Magazine http://www.starwarsoutsider.net Designer of http://www.abelgpena.com/ http://blogs.starwars.com/arfmaul
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