Does Maria Snyder Have an Editor?

[Boneman]

So, I'm reading the 2nd in the Opal Cowan trilogy, Sea Glass: I'd say Maria is a pretty good read, but a bit like a Dick Francis novel - not too deep to enjoy real empathy with the characters, and fairly easily forgettable some months after I've read them (which means I can read them again next year!).

Now her heroines are more put-upon than reactive, and always come over as quite thick, in order for her plot lines to progress. Since book 2 is a direct follow-on from book 1, I was extremely disappointed to have this put before me on page 9.

However, my plans didn't go the way I had envisioned. Nope. No warning bells or strange portents would alert me that by the next day Devlen and I would be in the exact opposite positions.

She then continues with today's action, having told us what will happen tomorrow, and I found that so unbelievably amateurish that I have given up reading the series. I fail to understand how an Editor could let that go past... Is it that, once you're a famous 'selling' author, the editor at the Publishers (Mira books, an English Publisher in this case!) thinks you know best and has no input? Would she get away with a line like: "I muffled an hysterical cackle."? if a good editor was on her case? Would she have later been able to say "I clamped down on an hysterical cackle" when her friend and mentor has been stabbed and is bleeding to death in front of her?

It reminds me of one of the Eragon books, where his narrative goes something like "... leaping over the heads of the three goblins/orcs he decapitated the lot..." At least Paolini's books are written for children, Mraia Snyder should know better, but she does deal with adult themes in a completely flippant way.

Could somebody let me know how the trilogy finishes, as I really don't have the heart to continue with them...

 

[Mouse]

I've never read Maria Snyder but I got compared to her in a review. I'm thinking that's a bad thing now!

 

[Boneman]

I've never read Maria Snyder but I got compared to her in a review. I'm thinking that's a bad thing now!

Actually, her first trilogy - Poison study, Magic Study and Fire Study are pretty good, so I'd take the comparison as a very high compliment.

She's stayed in the same world for the 2nd trilogy, (and some of the characters from the 1st trilogy even appear) but IMO, it lacks character definition, and I'm not sure if she's tried to stay so far away from her first heroine that she's lost sight of any individuality of her current heroine.

She brings in so many 'americanisms' for want of a better word, that it jarred me out of the world of magic she was trying to portray.
Having someone go 'Yeah, right', she thought sarcastically or: shoot. Wish I'd thought of that and naming characters Tricky and Skippy may be deliberate, to attract young american teenagers as readers, but it's lousy worldbuilding...

I'd read your stuff before hers anyday!!

 

[chopper]

phoo. it's ok if your hero is an american teenager, but otherwise...

 

[The Judge]

...naming characters Tricky and Skippy may be deliberate, to attract young american teenagers as readers, but it's lousy worldbuilding...

Perhaps she's after the kangaroo demographic...

 

[Mouse]

I'd read your stuff before hers anyday!!

Aw, cheers dude!

The review said 'comparable to Maria Snyder's Study series.' I think mainly because my main character's female, rather than anything else.

 

[Ursa major]

but it's lousy worldbuilding...

Perhaps a review of the second trilogy ought to include the criticism, "Needs more Study".


On the assumption that "shoot" and friends weren't in the first trilogy, I can only believe their inclusion in the second is deliberate.