Jonathon Wilson

I have little experience with the Elder Scrolls series, and only marginally more with the MMO genre, but the F2P option (and a bonkers love for all Middle earth) was what initially brought me into LOTRO. Eventually, after realizing that there was really on so far you could go without becoming a paying member, I coughed up the money and really had a good time with the game until I simply got too busy to play anymore. But to you point about the solo/group dichotomy in MMO. I spent the majority of the time I played LOTRO playing by myself and rarely hooked up with other players. As I said, I just love the world period and wanted to experience it in a different manner than I had already. With that said, I did find a certain sense of satisfaction when I did hook up with a group, or even just one other individual, to complete a quest or grind through certain areas. I think that camaraderie that is formed even in that digital setting is quite interesting and certainly did add another element to the game that I really enjoyed.

Great read! Considering authorial intent is a very interesting endeavor and can certainly lead you down paths that otherwise be difficult to imagine. While it is true that sometimes ideas jump out of a narrative without the author, so to speak, taking the author into consideration can go a long way in understanding the bones behind body. As far as listening to the author goes, I think it can be a magical experience. While the words do typically stand alone, and often times a professional “reader” could do a better job reading the words on a page, but there is something about listening to the author, like Tolkien as you referenced here. You can feel the toil in the work as they read, you know how much they have invested in the words. I have a collection of cds of Tolkien reading his works and it is just wonderful to listen to him because you know how much it means. Really cool. Great job!

I think you hit the nail on the head where you talk about things being “better” and then discussing original ideas. The idea of one version or representation over various media is truly subjective, but what one cannot deny is the work that Doyle did creating the character and stories that are unforgettable. After all, had Doyle done a shoddy job creating Holmes and his world, there would not be so many adapdations to compare the work against.

Not at all! You bring up some fantastic points! That’s a really interesting thought, that Batman’s moral code against killing actually perpetuates more killing. There is probably an entire discussion that could be had just on that thought. Thank you for the response!

Thank you very much, Iamberto, although I am sorry to hear that you were mugged once!

Thanks, Taylor. I agree about DKR, and I too wish that more was being done in this genre. People are often surprised by some of the material that has come out of the graphic novel. Some of the smartest books I read through college were exactly that. Sadly they often come with a public stigma just because there are pictures to go with the words and the protagonists are usually wearing tights. Perhaps it was the times? As I mentioned in another comment, the 80’s were a really great time for the graphic novel. And there was still a lot of nationalistic rhetoric flying around at that time. There is obviously still a lot of political rhetoric being used in regards to the American people, but I believe that the narrative has changed. Perhaps the right storyline to match the current mode of political rhetoric hasn’t been found yet. Here’s to hoping though.

Thank you very much!

Thats a really interesting point and juxtaposition. I’ve never really looked at Robocop in that way, but admittedly, it’s been a long time since I have seen it. I think that the politics of the day, much like with Robocop, had a lot to do with the type of things that were written, particularly in the 80’s. There were a lot of really smart and engaging books written then (DKR, V for Vendetta, Watchmen, etc) that seem to resonate your point. Thanks for your response!