Comments on: In Praise Of… West Wing http://www.kategriffin.net/2009/12/14/in-praise-of-west-wing/ Fantasy Author Kate Griffin Sat, 31 Jul 2010 20:12:04 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: AdrianH http://www.kategriffin.net/2009/12/14/in-praise-of-west-wing/comment-page-1/#comment-122 AdrianH Fri, 18 Dec 2009 00:34:06 +0000 http://www.kategriffin.net/?p=384#comment-122 Arnold, you are almost quoting my response in an earlier blog by Kate about the publishing date of Midnight Mayor being put back. I had planned on getting the paperback, then the American hardback, because the publishers in the UK no longer bother with Hardbacks very often, it seems. I already have the hardback of A Madness... I too was very cross, but probably nowhere near as cross as Kate must have been. I've recently read all of the Catherine Webb books, too, and I think they are utterly wonderful, showing a storytelling maturity waaaay beyond the actual years of the young lady writing them. There's a definite “Steampunk" attitude to the Horatio Lyle books, which I find especially appealing. Anyway, March will soon be here, along with my much anticipated copy of Midnight Mayor Arnold, you are almost quoting my response in an earlier blog by Kate about the publishing date of Midnight Mayor being put back. I had planned on getting the paperback, then the American hardback, because the publishers in the UK no longer bother with Hardbacks very often, it seems. I already have the hardback of A Madness…
I too was very cross, but probably nowhere near as cross as Kate must have been. I’ve recently read all of the Catherine Webb books, too, and I think they are utterly wonderful, showing a storytelling maturity waaaay beyond the actual years of the young lady writing them. There’s a definite “Steampunk” attitude to the Horatio Lyle books, which I find especially appealing.
Anyway, March will soon be here, along with my much anticipated copy of Midnight Mayor

]]> By: Arnold Akien http://www.kategriffin.net/2009/12/14/in-praise-of-west-wing/comment-page-1/#comment-121 Arnold Akien Wed, 16 Dec 2009 10:25:59 +0000 http://www.kategriffin.net/?p=384#comment-121 I've just posted this following on the avforums.com site ... " The author Kate Griffin has an entry on her Blog titled " In Praise Of West Wing " that's well worth reading ... Fantasy Author Kate Griffin | Urban Magic " And it’s brilliant. Utterly brilliant. I mean, sure, I can sympathise with those who say it’s bewildering, too fast, makes no sense to anyone who doesn’t have a degree in American politics or isn’t a supporter of the Democratic Party. But on the other hand, for decades, programs like Dr Who and Star Trek have specialised in talking utter nonsense at very high speed while being shot at by aliens with unknown motives – hell, anyone who’s ever watched 5 minutes of House or ER will know that it is a) utterly gripping and b) utterly non-sensical. I’ve sat through I don’t know how much House (enthralled) and to this day can’t tell you the difference between a PET, CAT, CT or MRI scan. (But I’ll not tell you the difference in a very urgent voice.) With West Wing at least there’s a hope that if you concentrate very hard, you’ll get an insight into the workings of US politics. " By the way Kate Griffins books are well worth reading ... at least her book since her other work has been directed toward children under her Not So Secret Identity " Catherine Webb " whose ' Horatio Lyle ' books are great fun with a serious spin .. in one of the 'Lyle ' novels theres an argument about the morality of actually using a weapon of selective mass destruction on your enemies ..said enemies being in the London of Queen Victoria. Anyway it's a bit off topic I know but I do recommend Griffins "A Madness of Angels " the first in a series whose second novels publication has been unaccountably delayed until next year! Damn " The Midnight Mayor " was going to be my Christmas .. pretend all the XXmas ghastliness isn't happening .. read and now it'll have to be the latest Terry Pratchett 'Unseen Academicals ' which is about football . How much do I ****ing HATE Football ? Let me count the .... but thats really well off topic and ... Honestly I'm Not bitter about the - well over the present bargain prices - amount that I paid for my complete ' West Wing ' and am rather glad that I didn't see the series when it was being broadcast season by season. Arnold. " I don't doubt that there's a reason why publication of " The Midnight Mayor " is being delayed until next year but as far as I'm concerned it's not Good reason! I was perfectly prepared to buy in the advertised first publication paperback and then buy the hardback next year. The publication sequence used to be hardback then paperback but, what the hell, I can impose some sort of logic on the revision of an old formula from days of yore when I was but a boy ... though now that I'm over 60 I'm less inclined to take any bloody non-sense from these mere infants in modern publishing houses. Arnold. I’ve just posted this following on the avforums.com site …

” The author Kate Griffin has an entry on her Blog titled ” In Praise Of West Wing ” that’s well worth reading …

Fantasy Author Kate Griffin | Urban Magic

” And it’s brilliant. Utterly brilliant. I mean, sure, I can sympathise with those who say it’s bewildering, too fast, makes no sense to anyone who doesn’t have a degree in American politics or isn’t a supporter of the Democratic Party. But on the other hand, for decades, programs like Dr Who and Star Trek have specialised in talking utter nonsense at very high speed while being shot at by aliens with unknown motives – hell, anyone who’s ever watched 5 minutes of House or ER will know that it is a) utterly gripping and b) utterly non-sensical. I’ve sat through I don’t know how much House (enthralled) and to this day can’t tell you the difference between a PET, CAT, CT or MRI scan. (But I’ll not tell you the difference in a very urgent voice.) With West Wing at least there’s a hope that if you concentrate very hard, you’ll get an insight into the workings of US politics. ”

By the way Kate Griffins books are well worth reading … at least her book since her other work has been directed toward children under her Not So Secret Identity ” Catherine Webb ” whose ‘ Horatio Lyle ‘ books are great fun with a serious spin .. in one of the ‘Lyle ‘ novels theres an argument about the morality of actually using a weapon of selective mass destruction on your enemies ..said enemies being in the London of Queen Victoria. Anyway it’s a bit off topic I know but I do recommend Griffins “A Madness of Angels ” the first in a series whose second novels publication has been unaccountably delayed until next year! Damn ” The Midnight Mayor ” was going to be my Christmas .. pretend all the XXmas ghastliness isn’t happening .. read and now it’ll have to be the latest Terry Pratchett ‘Unseen Academicals ‘ which is about football . How much do I ****ing HATE Football ? Let me count the …. but thats really well off topic and … Honestly I’m Not bitter about the – well over the present bargain prices – amount that I paid for my complete ‘ West Wing ‘ and am rather glad that I didn’t see the series when it was being broadcast season by season.

Arnold. ”

I don’t doubt that there’s a reason why publication of ” The Midnight Mayor ” is being delayed until next year but as far as I’m concerned it’s not Good reason! I was perfectly prepared to buy in the advertised first publication paperback and then buy the hardback next year. The publication sequence used to be hardback then paperback but, what the hell, I can impose some sort of logic on the revision of an old formula from days of yore when I was but a boy … though now that I’m over 60 I’m less inclined to take any bloody non-sense from these mere infants in modern publishing houses.

Arnold.

]]> By: AdrianH http://www.kategriffin.net/2009/12/14/in-praise-of-west-wing/comment-page-1/#comment-120 AdrianH Wed, 16 Dec 2009 00:39:24 +0000 http://www.kategriffin.net/?p=384#comment-120 Funny, while I tend to watch far more American made dramas, West Wing is one that just never seemed to register on my TV radar. Neither did ER or Grey's Anatomy, for that matter. House, on the other hand, and Wired, CSI, Criminal Minds, and most of the best SF series. But not West Wing. I love good writing, and that's something the Americans seem to excel at, along with great ensemble casts. Firefly, Pushing Daisies, Dead Like Me... it's always difficult to imagine any other cast doing a better job. I'll have to keep an eye on the various satellite channels and check out re-runs of West Wing; always willing to go by personal recommendations, rather than what some overpaid oaf in a newspaper says. Funny, while I tend to watch far more American made dramas, West Wing is one that just never seemed to register on my TV radar. Neither did ER or Grey’s Anatomy, for that matter. House, on the other hand, and Wired, CSI, Criminal Minds, and most of the best SF series. But not West Wing. I love good writing, and that’s something the Americans seem to excel at, along with great ensemble casts. Firefly, Pushing Daisies, Dead Like Me…
it’s always difficult to imagine any other cast doing a better job. I’ll have to keep an eye on the various satellite channels and check out re-runs of West Wing; always willing to go by personal recommendations, rather than what some overpaid oaf in a newspaper says.

]]> By: theonewhosenotjay http://www.kategriffin.net/2009/12/14/in-praise-of-west-wing/comment-page-1/#comment-119 theonewhosenotjay Tue, 15 Dec 2009 21:54:08 +0000 http://www.kategriffin.net/?p=384#comment-119 Brilliant! Love it! Bet I can name the two people ;-) Brilliant! Love it! Bet I can name the two people ;-)

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