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[bryant]

I dropped by Tom Kratman’s web board the other day to find out what my favorite Baen author had been up to lately, and found this excerpt from an upcoming novel:

Thomas felt unwelcome tears. He forced them back only with difficulty. So gallant, so brave they were, those boys over there fighting and dying against such odds, and with so little hope.

Gribeauvil, seeing the boy’s emotions written upon his twisted face, said, “Yes, son; give them their due. They are a great people, a magnificent people. And we are damned lucky to have them, now.”

Thomas agreed. And more; he thought of himself, alone, trying to save his mother and little brother from the alien menace. He wished to be a man, was becoming one, he knew. But alone he could never have made the slightest difference for his family’s survival. That took an army, an army of brave men and boys, willing to give their all for the cause of their people.

Perhaps for the first time, Thomas began to feel a deep pride, not so much in himself, but in the men he served with, in the army they served, and even in the black-clad, lightning bolt-signified, corps that was a part of that army.

Thomas was learning.

“Those boys” would be SS soldiers. The black-clad lightning bolt-signified corps is the SS. And don’t forget the depersonalization — Thomas is nothing by himself. He can only matter as part of an army. In this case, he only matters because he’s part of the SS.

Someone asked Kratman why he chose the SS. He gave three reasons:

a) Good troops taking, in many cases, a bum rap. b) a way to further annoy the left, literarily. c) Moreover, though you doubtless have not been following the snippets, in the context of John Ringo’s Posverse ALL mankind are going to become something very like them…the few who survive anyway.

Yeah. The SS weren’t so bad, it’s fun using shock tactics to piss people off, and everyone’s going to wind up like the SS in that universe anyhow.

Comments

[head58.livejournal.com]

If this were another author, I could almost think he was trying to make a point. It sure sounds like a description of any nation's young men marching off to war. Could be a US GI in Iraq, or a British soldier in the trenches of WWI, or a Confederate soldier and then WHAM he plays the Nazi card! oh, ho ho, good author! You are telling us something about ourselves!

But I think this guy is just a nutjob. Don't know what the "Posverse" is, but I'm betting it is a shiny White place with no crime or unhappiness. Or Jews.

Overall, this guy is just a terrible writer. "Alien menace"? Who outside of a bad SF novel talks like that? And what's with the repetition, the repeated phrases; phrases which are repeated endlessly for empahasis. The emphasis a bad writer uses.

[bryant]

He's a total nutjob. He was also once a Colonel in the US military. Sigh.

John Ringo's Posleen books are fairly standard military SF. More engaging writer than David Drake, plus he includes an order of ninja monks, which always scores points with me. The politics are a little to the left of Tom Clancy, but not much. Very individual-oriented, and not a hint of the kind of crap Kratman spouts. I'm kind of surprised Ringo would let Kratman play in his world.

[head58.livejournal.com]

I actually went to the baen site to look at the chapter excerpts you linked to in your first post. I actually got about 2 paragraphs into the victory speech from the President-Elect before I was nauseated and frankly embarassed for the author. How'd you find this goldmine in the first place? And how do we convince Rob to work him into the UA game?

[bryant]

That's what really baffles me -- he's such a bad author. There's some weird in the water over at Baen Books.

you mincing cocksucker

[(Anonymous)]

I can't promise to damage you as you have attempted to damage me.But I can promise to try.

Did you ever stop to think what a bad enemy someone you described as you have described me might be? Trust me your pussy, I am a bad enemy to make.

Re: you mincing cocksucker

[bryant]

Welcome to the real world. Feel free to give me all the bad reviews you like.

[(Anonymous)]

If you don't know what the posverse is than nothing you can say really has any legitimacy. But,yes, I AM saying that under stresses like those depicted in ringo's posleen series mankind would be turned into nazis. As perhaps the current war, if it goes on a couple more centuries, way well do to us.

Further correction: I am still a colonel in the army. When there is an alien invasion and the aliens are in nearly overwhelming power and eat people then the words "alien menace" seems appropriate. If you cannot see that, you are a fool and intellectually unfit to comment on what is or is not good writing.


Tom Kratman

[(Anonymous)]

If you don't know what the posverse is than nothing you can say really has any legitimacy. But,yes, I AM saying that under stresses like those depicted in ringo's posleen series mankind would be turned into nazis. As perhaps the current war, if it goes on a couple more centuries, way well do to us.

Further correction: I am still a colonel in the army. When there is an alien invasion and the aliens are in nearly overwhelming power and eat people then the words "alien menace" seem appropriate. If you cannot see that, you are a fool and intellectually unfit to comment on what is or is not good writing.

Tom Kratman

PS: I was asked to do both of these books (ASOD and watch on the rhine) by baen and ringo, respectively. Let someone know the next time someone asks _you_ to do a book.

[bryant]

I stand corrected. At one point, on your Baen board, you claimed that you were no longer a colonel (and thus free to write more politicial works). I gather, after skimming it a bit this morning, that you've gotten medical clearance.

As it happens, I've been asked to write books in my field more than once. If you care to, you can go search for "Bryant Durrell" on Amazon. I've also had articles solicited and published in computer magazines. I agree with Chris' opinion. Your writing is flat, tortuous, and depends on cliches.

[(Anonymous)]

Ah, I see. You write books on a (fantasy?) gaming system, said books standing at about 370k in rank on Amazon. I am not sure that really counts, but take what pride you may in them.

As for my writing, Baen likes it quite a bit. Ringo finds it quite good too. People who have read complete works of mine find them enjoyable, well written and emotionally moving, albeit bloody and grim. I will just have to live with your criticism, consoling my deeply wounded ego with the knowledge that you can't please everyone.

Please feel free not to read anymore.

Oh, and I just signed on with baen for another 3 book series, plus the 5 book series I am co-writing with Ringo. And he has already bought off on the final version of "watch on the rhine," which, you might be interested to note, is and _anti_ nazi book.

[(Anonymous)]

Ah, I see. You write books on a (fantasy?) gaming system, said books standing at about 370k in rank on Amazon. I am not sure that really counts, but take what pride you may in them.

As for my writing, Baen likes it quite a bit. Ringo finds it quite good too. People who have read complete works of mine find them enjoyable, well written and emotionally moving, albeit bloody and grim. I will just have to live with your criticism, consoling my deeply wounded ego with the knowledge that you can't please everyone.

Please feel free not to read anymore.

Oh, and I just signed on with baen for another 3 book series, plus the 5 book series I am co-writing with Ringo. And he has already bought off on the final version of "watch on the rhine," which, you might be interested to note, is an _anti_ nazi book.

[bryant]

Sure. I don't remember what sales rank they hit when they were released, because I really don't care that much, but yep -- it's a minor field, and we're talking print runs in the thousands at the most. Small potatoes. Still, you asked, and I felt I ought to answer.

Anyhow, you're absolutely right: you can't please everyone. For my part, I don't really expect to please you with my commentary on your writing. A wise man once said "Please feel free not to read anymore," and I commend that advice to you.

But when you set atrocities in Waco, Texas -- when you interject subtle praise for tax protesters into your chapter openings -- when you parrot revisionist historians regarding the SS -- when you write Jerry Pournelle to imply that you and your fellow American soldiers are not dedicated to "current political principles" -- when you sign your posts "Lee surrendered; I didn't" --

I will comment. I'm a student of the militia movements in this country, and I pay attention to the neo-Confederate movement. I recognize your rhetoric, and if you do not realize how closely you are following the line set forth by some of America's domestic terrorists I sincerely and strongly recommend you do some research.

I suspect, however, that you know exactly what you're saying.

Regardless, I'll keep an eye out for Watch on the Rhine. I don't believe in keeping a closed mind. I don't think you'll take me up on this offer -- I probably wouldn't if I were you -- but I'd be happy to read the whole thing right now and write as unbiased a review as I'm capable of writing. I don't mind eating my words when I turn out to be wrong.

[(Anonymous)]

I'll think about it but frankly I doubt I will. I really have about as much reason to trust you as I would, say, Gene Smith. And I have no reason to trust him at all.

And I really don't mind criticism. You would be very surprised. What I object to is criticism based on some small facet, taken out of context. And thus we have, for the nonce, an impass.

Let me give you one hint though: writing fiction is, for me anyway, a form of method acting. What my characters do, say or believe is only rarely what I believe, but is generally what I think _they_ believe. Sometimes,I even know it is what they believe or claim to believe. Willie's speech before congress is, forex, a truncated version of the DNC party platform for election 2000. Oh, yes it is.

Tom

[(Anonymous)]

Damn. I see there are anumber of things I didn't answer.

1. I didn't say I was retired from the army. Ringo said I would be retired before anyone could take revenge on me for ASOD. He is wrong. And I may yet be punished.

2. I think Waco, in the way it was done, was an atrocity. Not for killing the adults. It is the killing of the kids that bothers me.

3. Before being recalled for active duty I was a taxlawyer. I know the system well. And I hate it, as much for the endless lies in the way it is portrayed as in that I think the government simply spends too much money.

4. The comment in pournelle's site (and he has been on my do not talk to list for 4 years) was in relation to starship troopers, the book. Most soldiers, not all but most, would approve of a constitutional amendment to require national service before becoming an enfranchised citizen. Yes I know there are problems with it but TRY sometime to have a conversation on the subject without it turning into a screaming match.

5. I have not surrendered my principle that the federal government has grown too big and too powerful. And I am willing to risk court-martial over it if need be.

tom