The Holy War between Robin Hobb and her fans

http://community.livejournal.com/fitzandthefool/110343.html

Well, I finished "Assassin's Quest". Perhaps it's because I know that the story continued afterward, but to me it seemed unfinished. There was certainly little happiness and sense of fulfillment for Fitz. It just didn't seem like the end.

But that's of no importance right now. What I really want to write down here and remember is to stay the hell out of fandoms and Robin Hobb's blogs. For once I have very little desire to know anything about the author, and what I do already know disheartens me enough to not want to read the books. She blunders. And it seems like she wages a holy war against her own fans and their interpretation of her work. To some extent I can understand her. There is an obviously deep emotional attachment to her work, particularly the part pertaining to Fitz. But there is little sense in trying to force her point of view onto her fans and be furious when they perceive the story different. The understandable fury brewing in the fandom doesn't help. It taints the story for me.

Perhaps, the author should remain invisible after all. After all it's not all about him/her. Once the idea is put to paper, and thrust forward into the world it no longer belongs to the author (if it makes any sense. To me it does). A book becomes a book when someone reads it.

I guess the point I'm trying to make is this. As much as I long to run to the bookstore first thing tomorrow, I will have to hold out and wait. I will also have to stay as far away from the fandom and (God almighty forgive me!) Wiki (I already know enough of the ending of Fool's Fate to ruin the book for myself). Perhaps if I steer clear of all this for a month or so, I can begin to read "The Tawny Man" free of any outside influence.

There are few book I love this much. It's hard to believe that the series sat on my shelf collecting dust for 3 fucking years, while my dad kept trying to encouraged me to read it. And it was pure boredom that made me pick it up again. Just as pure chance and a cover design that caught my attention made me first want to read it some 5 years ago. You never know when you may strike gold.

I may actually sleep tonight.