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cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/51348308
From The Gate of the Feral Gods by Matt Dinniman
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this post was submitted on 31 Aug 2026
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It's so bad, he'll describe a situation or how something looks and you still have no idea what's going on or what it looks like. These books desperately need editors and proofreaders. Professional ones.
There have been VERY few scenes I haven't been able to picture in my head so far. I'm still on the 6th floor though, so I guess it could get worse.
Are you mad because the books don't come with a map? I understand that is a thing that incenses... interesting people.
Eh, I like it when a book is different and follows what the author wants it to be. Editing is useful, but a good editor won't change more than absolutely necessary. Bad editors make everything the same.
A good editor makes sure words mean what they're supposed to mean. Like, when something is "similar" it's not "identical."
I swear I thought I'd had a stroke during some paragraphs.
I just finished 'Feral Gods.'
I think it's kinda the point. Carl is just going 156 mph giving a stream of consciousness POV. The author is completely fine with long explanations of politics and company policy, the tears into an action scene.
mho
That's why I like the series.
I'm not looking for quality writing. This is the Die Hard 4: Die another day of stories. I'm on the edge of my seat. Every few chapters, I just sit back and go, "What the fuck." And then keep reading.
If this is how Fifty Shades of Grey was for women... Well tie me the fuck up because I'm already on this wild ride.
https://youtu.be/gok3SLrYBk4
Fifty Shades of Grey was better, and that was BAD. The writer seems to own a dictionary.
It's already bad enough you keep saying these DCC books misuse words without providing any examples but now saying 50 Shades of Grey was better written because it used words properly?
Nah, something stinks here.
It's not the best writing but it sure is a fun story. I haven't caught any major plot holes and I'm tempted to say beautiful prose would actually make it worse lol
But yeah, I do agree he really could have used an editor for the first few books especially. I never found it TOO bothersome but I did notice it. Like at some point while writing, he must have learned the word "mollified" because it starts appearing everywhere. The only time it made me pause was really silly and inconsequential -
Tap for spoiler
Someone, I think a sponsor, makes a pill that they say will ONLY on humans. Carl had already become a Primal at that point!Not sure I agree with your specific criticism, though. I have aphantasia (no "theater if the mind," wah wuh) and aside from the train book, I never had any issues understanding the landscape or scene.
It's still enjoyable so I still recommend it. I don't think you have to be a great writer to tell a great story!
My biggest complaint about his writing is (spoilers...)
Tap for spoiler
In the last book or two, Carl knows a LOT that we don't. I'm fine with not knowing what his plan is with the Doomsday Scenario because that's just one thing but now there's so much that happened "off screen" and we only find out about it when he reveals it to an antagonist.When that happens, I do believe Matt Dinniman actually planned for it....but it FEELS like deus ex machina. I want to use clues he laid out to predict what's going to happen (even if I'm wrong), not get blindsided.
Plot holes are what really kills a story for me and I haven't caught any.
I'm not after beautiful prose, I want him to use the correct words! And to be accurate or at least comprehensible. I want to see a picture when a writer describes something. I don't want to read an entire page and see nothing in my head whatsoever.
Maybe Matt Dinniman has aphantasia, too, which is why the minimal descriptions work fine for me and less so for you.