As much as we would like it to be the case, none of us are perfect. Before you criticise Mr Feist perhaps you should look at your own writing style / grammar, which is less than stellar.
No one has “earned the right” to be critical unless and until, they are perfect themselves. Last time I checked that was …………….. well no one. I appreciate a creative experience (painting / book/ concert or person) as much for the inherent flaws as the “perfect” parts. Can’t you just enjoy the ride, appreciating the bumpy bits as well as the smooth? By the way I am on the top of the not perfect pile. My grammar and syntax suck! I am willing to concede that I may be a touch biased as I work in a Library and become pissed beyond all reason by individuals who take it upon themselves to “edit” a published book. Elizabeth From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of StephenB Sent: Saturday, 11 May 2013 5:44 PM To: feistfans-l Subject: Re: Picked up my copy of Magicians End Ray has explained – as much as he can – the publishing process. You’ve simplified it to a point of irrelevance. Its far more convoluted and involved than even the author can control, and as Ray has mentioned here numerous times since ACI, in many cases the author really isn’t in the loop at all! While most here will appreciate your point, it has been done to death, and pretty much not shared. As for Neil Diamond – you paid to see an old man sing! What did you expect a 60s/70s album quality rendition of ‘Love on the Rocks’! Because you have paid for the book it does not ‘give you the right to be critical’. That’s just arrogant. S From: Mark Pulsipher <mailto:[email protected]> Sent: Saturday, May 11, 2013 8:31 AM To: feistfans-l <mailto:[email protected]> Subject: Re: Was: Picked up my copy of Magicians End Sorry, guys. I hold to my assertion. Sure, HC can shoulder some of the blame for their proofreading, but in the end, there is one name on the cover in big letters. If my name was the big thing married to a document or some peice of work, I would take it upon myself to make sure my name was only associated with the best product possible. Is it too much to ask to have people own their s**t and care about what is being sold to us? I write this as a fan, and as a fan I have been made to expect a certain level of excellence. This time the bar dropped too far and we need to be realistic. It is not my fault there are gross errors and to say I am 'not doing it right' is ridiculous. I am a reader, and I do it at a high level. I have an will continue to do it right. I had the chance to see Neil Diamond in concert a couple of years ago. I am young enough to have never had the chance to see him when he was at his prime, but when this tour happened, I just had to take the opportunity.. come on, this is Neil Diamond! I was so excited, and then the show began. He is too old, too tired, and his voice is shot. He could not sing, could not keep up with the tempo and talked through most of his lyrics. I was severely disappointed. But then I saw everyone else around me jumping around and singing along, just so happy to hear Neil Diamond singing (of course, being hella-drunk likely helped their disposition). I was, however, the one guy who could not enjoy the show, because I know what this guy has been capable of. I paid an armload of cash and got a really crappy show. I cannot sit through garbage simply because someone of a legendary history is the one shoveling it out. We are paying for this, we have a right to expect more. I understand if you want to spend the money and it does not matter to you, that is your right. But I also have the right to say this is just not good enough. I have a grip of books on my shelf with Ray's picture inside the dust jacket. I have earned the right to be critical. Praise where it is deserved, jeers where it is needed. You will never win me over by telling me it is too expensive to do it right. On another note, I would like to say that nothing in my opinion will ever compare to what he produced with The King's Buccaneer, truly a book that inspired me. Ray, with all due respect, I assume you at least must see I have a valid point. M --- On Fri, 5/10/13, John <[email protected]> wrote: From: John <[email protected]> Subject: Re: Was: Picked up my copy of Magicians End To: [email protected] Date: Friday, May 10, 2013, 11:11 PM [email protected] <http://us.mc1625.mail.yahoo.com/mc/[email protected]> writes > > I have to agree with Chris on this, typos would not and have not stopped me > from buying or reading any book. As with ACI, I voiced my concern over the > typos to Ray, BUT I still read it and loved it! My grip is really with > Harper Collins because its their job to produce a flawless product. You can > tell most typos in ACI are "auto-correct" typos and that if someone had read > it afterwards would have been found. I mean we all found them and we're not > the professional editors as they are. > Part of the issue from my point of view is cost. A simple example Magician 1982 @$20 Magician's End 2013 @$30 That is only a 50% increase Now using actual inflation rates @141% Magician's End should be @$50 So the $20 saving has to be made somewhere To read a book thoroughly it can take a person a week, and still no guarantee they won't miss something. In fact most costs have increased , the only thing going down is the price of the book For the UK Magician was originally @10GBP Magicians End should be nearer 32GBP. Remember paying someone to read a book is not the only cost. They need office space and other items. A person earning 10 can be charged out at over 200 and that may just be a lowly employee. -- John The Official Raymond E Feist Website http://www.crydee.com/ Books to read, and shelves to fill, Ray's great books, just fit the bill.
