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| SFReader Forums > SFReader > SFReader Reviews > Review of Alpha Rising | Forum Quick Jump
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G.L. Douglas
Arkrider
      
Date Joined Feb 2008
Total Posts : 90
| Posted 2/22/2008 12:34 PM (GMT -4) |   | | Hi, Jordan and Bill, I'm G.L. Douglas, the author of Alpha Rising, and I just happened to find your interesting discussion. This is my first novel, and I truly welcome constructive criticism in order to turn out even more intriguing stories in the future. Alpha Rising has received great reviews from Writers' Digest and DIY Convention in Hollywood--the first competitions I've entered thus far, and also received a positive review from Midwest Book Review. If interested, you can read these and others on my website: http://www.alpharising.net
Jordan: Thank you for your supportive comments. I was totally confused by Mr. Weiss's lengthy diatribe on Alpha Rising. While he seemed to really enjoy the story, many of his comments reflect nothing in the story line, and I'm at a loss as to why he chose to write things that are not valid.
For some reason, Weiss interprets dialog written for my characters as my personal viewpoints/agenda. I do have to wonder if he interjects that type of thinking when reading books with protagonist murderers, porn stars, rapists. I would hope that Weiss would not chastise the author and feel that his/her characters' dialog/viewpoints were a personal reflection on the author.
Alpha Rising draws on scriptural allegory, as do the works of many sci-fi/fiction/fantasy writers. The story is not religion specific. A divine being or guide, The Creator, is painted with a broad brushstroke to encompass all religions and is subject to individual interpretation. Symbolism within the story incorporates a variety of thoughts. The positive, feel good conclusion has been hailed by some as one of the best in a long time.
The innovative scientific details in Alpha Rising were verified and expanded upon by NASA personnel, and I also received help from an awesome grad student from Florida Tech's Department of Space Sciences who explained to me the formation and events surrounding Black Holes.
I earnesty hope Mr. Weiss will soon tire of attacking my life's work and move on. Or, at least make more constructive comments that accurately reflect the story content.
Bill: I do hope you'll take a chance and read Alpha Rising. This refreshing, light-hearted work should be read with a child's imagination and an adult's conscience. It's reality-based fiction that could really happen. It is not "hard" sci-fi, and I had hoped to market it as Action/Adventure, but was overruled by those interpreting publishing guidelines.
Best regards and good wishes for a great '08!
G.L. Douglas
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UnclePete
Weasel Overlord
Date Joined Dec 2004
Total Posts : 309
| Posted 2/22/2008 6:56 PM (GMT -4) | | Welcome to the board, G.L., and thanks for your note.
As we've been discussing in other places on the forum, stars and rating systems are pretty subjective, as are reviews themselves to a degree. Contrary to your comments though, I didn't see Mr Weiss' review as attacking your life's work. He was quite complimentary on your ability to write and weave a story, even your research, and was disappointed in the end result -- and whether or not your politics are coming through is, I suppose open to interpretation, but has been received by one reviewer in that way -- so much so that a book he obviously wanted to enjoy seemed marred by this.
But, as I said, these kinds of comments are subjective -- you chose to interpret his review as an attack, Jordan's puzzlement over the review and stars as support. I myself wouldn't have interpreted either of their notes that way, but then this is part of the reason these forums are so successful -- we all agree on some things (love for a good story) and disagree on others (what makes a good story).
I'm hoping that your note here isn't a one time visit to respond to a negative review, but past experience tells me not to hope too much for that. I hope you'll stick around and prove my experience wrong.
____________
"The man who reads nothing at all is better educated than the man who reads nothing but newspapers." --Thomas Jefferson
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G.L. Douglas
Arkrider
Date Joined Feb 2008
Total Posts : 90
| Posted 2/22/2008 7:37 PM (GMT -4) | | |
Hi, Uncle Pete, thanks for your nice note and encouragment to stick around and post. I find being in the company of the "Weasel Overlord," the multi-dimensional "ppaL nadroJ," and a "Biblioholic" irresistible, so if you have room for an Arkrider with a positive, gentle outlook and wacky sense of humor, I'll gladly join in. I do enjoy engaging in a good point/counterpoint discussion. But it looks like I have some reading/catching up to do first.
For the time being, my visits may be sporadic, as I'm stressed to the max, trying to wear many hats while making decisions and acting on behalf of my mom who just suffered a stroke and two subsequent seizures. Most of my waking hours are spent between the life care center, running errands, back home again to take care of an ailing 17-year-old cat, and back again. I surf the 'net as a brief respite (sometimes, however, such as today, it has the opposite effect). I'm a little cranky!
For the record, Mr. Weiss and I have discussed this on the Amazon site where he at least gave me two stars. Perhaps that detailed discussion has reduced my star rating.  Thanks for your words of wisdom, UnclePete.
G.L.
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crystalwizard
Forum Moderator
Date Joined Nov 2006
Total Posts : 4740
| Posted 2/27/2008 3:10 AM (GMT -4) | | | | |
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