6 To Go!
Originally I was going to title this something like “Swindled and schooled while on the run with the rocking juvie three” to cover what I had read in the most recent batch. But looking over notes that I made a long time ago, I’m having a hard time deciphering what I meant when I wrote them. So I figured I’d just update how far away I am from having a full collection.
The Children’s Hospital had their annual book sale here recently and it was quite a madhouse. Many tables full of a variety of books in all sorts of genres and, while I was looking them over, they even had a Gordon Korman section! I managed to find two that I needed on my list. While purchasing them, the lady there had asked me if I read your works and she really enjoyed your writing. Would have talked longer but didn’t want to hold up the line.
Some notes/questions:
Born To Rock – Probably the most “adult” of your books that I’ve read, perhaps on par with the Son Of The Mob series. Really liked it. Also enjoyed The Pretzel showing up in there. Does this mean most of your books/characters inhabit the same universe, with the possibility of crossovers in the future? Could Bugs Potter have sat in on a show with King Maggot?
Loved the nod to Adams with the line of “life, universe and tater tots”.
On The Run – Fun series. The capitalization of Dumpster kept pulling me out of my absorption into the book though. I would think a term that was ubiquitous, even if a trademark, would be lowercase, like kleenex.
Swindle – Another fun series. Hey, finally a character with my name! Oh, and he turns out to possibly be the biggest butthole character you’ve created. Oh well. At least you’re putting Snoop out on my birthday as a consolation prize.
Interesting that one of the books in the series had a counselor named Cyrus as I believe that’s at least the third counselor you’ve had in a book whose name began with a “C”. There was Chip and another I can’t recall right now.
Also you used the term “squints” for scientists in one of the books. Where did you get that from? The only other time I’ve heard that term was in the TV show “Bones”.
Along with Schooled and Juvie Three (both excellent), I’d read all of these at least once before. They were all still an enjoyable distraction and great mood elevators. Most of the ones coming up will be brand new to me.
Some miscellaneous thoughts:
You mentioned your dislike of the fantasy genre in another post. Have to agree with you on that one.
Plotting books: I think your advice to young authors is great in this regard. Probably would have helped me when I was young and writing fiction. However, there are some that don’t do this who have been quite successful: Stephen King, Margaret Atwood and Mark Twain as some examples.
Finally, a belated RIP to Tom Robbins. I put him up there with Vonnegut and Adams.
Off to pick my nose…