Forum: Story Discussion and Feedback

What Changed?

REP 🚫

I enjoy The Swarm Cycle universe and decided to reread a large number of the stories I'd read several years ago.

I noticed something interesting about my opinions of those stories – namely, they weren't as good as I remembered. I recall rating my first read of the stories in the range of 8-10. Over the past weeks, I rated the stories in the range of 6 to 8. I started thinking about why my ratings had dropped so far. Could it be my tastes had changed, I was more aware of the quality of the writing and was disappointed, the current Swarm authors wrote a higher quality of stories, or was it something else?

Has anyone had a similar experience and to what do you attribute that experience?

Replies: Tw0Cr0ws Switch Blayde Quasirandom bk69 whisperclaw Ferrum1 Remus2

Tw0Cr0ws 🚫

@REP

If you and thus your tastes/discernment didn't change and grow with experience I would be more surprised.

Yes I have experienced similar, even with things that had once been among my favorites.

Switch Blayde 🚫

@REP

I was more aware of the quality of the writing and was disappointed

Yes, and for the reason I highlighted. I would include my early stories in that category as well.

Quasirandom 🚫
Updated:

@REP

Happens all the time. There are certain books fondly remembered from my teens that I know I shouldn't revisit if I want to keep that fondness.

My most recent and painful instance happened not long ago. I've been reaching for comfort rereads a lot this past year, for obvious reasons, and was shocked to discover I could not finish A Wizard of Earthsea, a cornerstone of my childhood. Tombs of Atuan and Farthest Shore aren't affected, just the first book. I just don't like young Ged and didn't want to spend time with him.

It's time, pure and simple. We grow, we change. What once spoke to us then may not speak to us now. Tempus fugit.

bk69 🚫

@REP

I remember reading Blackie's The Book when he first put it up on alt.sex.stories in the early nineties. It was lightyears ahead of other stories posted at the same time. There was a recognizable plot (beyond "pizza boy shows up, hot girl has no money, pays with sex" which was about the type of plot in other stories then) that made sense (once you accepted the central premise) and logically progressed. There were complex characters (actually TWO dimensional, rather than one) and the editing had actually occurred.
By today's standards? Well, if you didn't know that it had been written before many imitators, the story would seem cliche. The characters were pretty basic and straightforward. The quality of the writing would be in the bottom half these days.
Simply put, stories are as good as they are, relative to what else is available. Truly great stories are the ones that are as great after years of stories that are all good. Classics are great after years of other great stories. LotR. Dune. The Forever War. The Foundation. The Moon is a Harsh Mistress. Dragon's Egg.
Some things are always good. Others... are a product of their time, and wouldn't succeed otherwise.

whisperclaw 🚫

@REP

One example that comes to mind was World War Z. I loved the book on the first read-through, then picked it up on sale as an e-book several years later and tried to re-read the first few chapters. The magic was gone. I think that in some stories my imagination is so inflamed by the plot that it fills in a lot of depth and detail that isn't actually there. The next read-through I know what to expect and I'm reading the words on the page rather than what my imagination provides, and it's a bit of a let-down.

Replies: LonelyDad bk69

LonelyDad 🚫

@whisperclaw

The next read-through I know what to expect and I'm reading the words on the page rather than what my imagination provides, and it's a bit of a let-down.

I agree. I proofread for a few of the authors here, and I have found that the first pass through I miss a lot of the little nits because I am so immersed in the story. That's why I usually make two or three passes through a story before returning it to the author.

Replies: REP

REP 🚫

@LonelyDad

That's why I usually make two or three passes through a story before returning it to the author.

I usually make multiple passes through my stories before sending them to my editors for the same reason. Then they respond with the many things I missed.

bk69 🚫

@whisperclaw

I'm confident many readers who had read GMW's "Hannah Sawyer" would've sworn there was at least one vivid sex scene between the two 'starcrossed lovers' before the one died, after their first read.

Sorta reminiscent of Hitchcock. When the censors refused to clear 'Psycho' for release, he took the prints back, threw them in a vault for a couple weeks, then pulled them out and took them back to get cleared. The board decided he'd made enough cuts to allow it.

Ferrum1 🚫

@REP

Yep. Have that happen all the time!

It boggles my mind how I could have thought a story was good "back in the day", but it happens.

Replies: joyR awnlee jawking

joyR 🚫

@Ferrum1

It boggles my mind how I could have thought a story was good "back in the day", but it happens.

It is possible the reverse happens, stories rejected in the past may now appeal.

Replies: bk69

bk69 🚫

@joyR

Hard to imagine. The quality of writing has trended upward over the years. Back in the day, the great writers stood out because of their scarcity. Now... Lots of really really good writers. Only a few greats, and they barely stick out as better.

Replies: joyR

joyR 🚫

@bk69

Hard to imagine. The quality of writing has trended upward over the years.

The OP mentioned tastes changing. Thus my comment as reading tastes are not solely about writing quality but about genre.

awnlee jawking 🚫

@Ferrum1

It boggles my mind how I could have thought a story was good "back in the day", but it happens.

For readers who have been around a long time, fatigue may have set in. A concept that once seemed fresh and interesting won't seem so appealing after you've read the umpteenth story produced by the same cookie-cutter.

AJ

Remus2 🚫
Updated:

@REP

The first book I ever read was "The Cat in the Hat," I think I was three at the time. The second book I read as a child was a first edition "The Box-Car Children." I read it many times, but I haven't read it again since five years old. When I was eight or so, I read Heinlein's "Have Space Suit—Will Travel." While advanced from "The Box-Car Children," it was still considered a juvenile book. The pattern continues until this day.

People change and grow throughout their lives, it's a normal process for most people. It shouldn't be difficult to figure out the answer yourself.

Replies: StarFleet Carl REP

StarFleet Carl 🚫

@Remus2

I read Heinlein's "Have Space Suit—Will Travel." While advanced from "The Box-Car Children," it was still considered a juvenile book.

What's funny is that a lot of Heinlein's books during this period were his 'juveniles', but he kept trying to make them even more adult. 'Podkayne of Mars' was supposed to end with her little brother caring for the baby, because Poddy died.

REP 🚫

@Remus2

I already had my answer. I was curious about other people's answers.

Replies: Remus2

Remus2 🚫

@REP

Could it be my tastes had changed, I was more aware of the quality of the writing and was disappointed, the current Swarm authors wrote a higher quality of stories, or was it something else?

Has anyone had a similar experience and to what do you attribute that experience?

@Remus2

I already had my answer. I was curious about other people's answers.

I gave you my answer, but there were at least two questions in your OP. I took that to mean you hadn't already decided on an answer since you were asking questions.

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Forum: Story Discussion and Feedback

What Changed?

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