Comments on: The new website.

By: y.watanabe

y.watanabe — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 17:27:04 +0000

Hello Pat,I'm a Japanese author (living in USA) who published 2 novels and a few short stories, then suddenly lost desire to write. I have been translating Medical and Psychology books since. (And just reading)I just finished reading your book yesterday and checked out the Japanese site. It may look weird to Americans, but this is usually the best way they deal with the Japanese SF/FF readers. The interesting thing is the YouTube comment by Mr. Omori (kind of authority figure in SF world in Japan). He was urging the readers to be patient for the first 80 pages (Japanese version) because it moves slowly(for them, not for me). Mr. Omori's message might sound unkind to you, but it will be helpful for the Japanese version. Japanese readers are not used to long stories. The publishers always tell the authors to cut down the books short (I've been there). I didn't think your book was long at all. I could've happily stayed with 15 year old Kvothe longer. However, for Japanese, your book is more than 3 times longer than their comfort level. I have also checked their translation on the site. It's accurate and pretty good, but it's not the same as original. Many subtle things are lost in translation, but it's not the translators(3 of them)' faults. Anyway, I really loved every page of your book. I am hoping in the end, the present Kvothe will find something he hadn't been able to find until now.

By: lis

lis — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 03:00:21 +0000

hi petrick, i've read ur book in japanese:D well.. thats because im a really slow reader when it comes to english books and my mum just bought it in japanese.it was awesome!!! even my sister is reading it, and she's in year 12, which means she's meant to be studying really hard for her exams coming up.well, just one correction: Bast is not on the top right coner, but left top :p right top is the writer.

By: Kip.

Kip. — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 20:22:33 +0000

Of course I know nothing of Japanese Pop culture, I live in America, And have enough of a hard time being exasperated by the things I see with our Pop culture. Frankly I think Pop culture is completely retarded, I find it sad and demoralizing that so many people have so little sense of self-esteem that they have to fit into some ill-concived social ideal. But hey the world needs sheep right?

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 19:40:33 +0000

If you know anything about Japanese pop culture, then you know why that relationship chart exists. If you’re uninformed or don’t understand it, then pointing at it and saying “z0mg they must be dumb” just shows your own ignorance.All in all, this has been a very revealing series of posts.

By: Kip, Speaks again

Kip, Speaks again — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 18:18:24 +0000

I would like to point out to you that in todays day and age Douches are not only used by women. I have gay friends who say they are a staple of their sex life and hygene. So calling someone a douche is not really that sexist.And about the strong and harsh language, I accept your chastisement. It is a worthy point.

By: fairytail3982

fairytail3982 — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 17:23:28 +0000

Kip, I think perhaps many of us have learned a lesson, through this thread, about making assumptions about a person's entire world view based on a few online posts. It is easy to have a knee-jerk reaction these days to something that sounds racist/sexist/homophobic/intolerant in any way, regardless of how it was intended. However, I hope that you have taken from this exchange that you, too, have a responsibility for how and what you communicate, especially in such a diverse group. Yes, you are expressing your opinion, and you are entitled to it; but you are also expressing it in a place that is shared with others -- including our host, Pat, who does have the right to set the tone for acceptable conversation on his blog, since, ultimately, it all reflects back on him. And frankly, I still find your language inappropriate for the intended audience and your favorite insult to have sexist overtones, whether intentional or not. I'll admit that in the privacy of my home or personal conversations with my friends, my language isn't exactly PC, and I do say some things for shock value. But I'm saying them, in a specific context and to specific people I know I won't offend, and who will take what I say (and I will take what they say) with the tactless humor intended.

By: marky

marky — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 16:29:30 +0000

Ahh! Sorry for thinking you were a racial monster Kip. I get what you were meaning now. Sorry if my last post came across all preacher marky. I tend to do that a lot. Being opinionated is a family curse. Dating back to the Markys of 1780’s Scotia. My Great, great, great grandfather Mac-overchat was jailed for his opinions on knee length kilts. The families never lived down the shame.Let us all learn from this experience and move on.

By: Kip, Speaks

Kip, Speaks — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 15:05:35 +0000

First of all I would like to point out that, 1) I was making a comment on the Dumbness of needing a character interaction chart for a book with so few main characters, it's not like this is the Simarillion, or Martin's "Song of Ice and Fire". It's basicly the equivilent of saying "If people need warnings on McDonadls Cups that say 'Caution: Beverage May be Hot.' Then they are dumb."2) If you read the second part of the comment I am not saying all Japanese people are arrogant douches, I am clearly saying that all of them I have run accross are arrogant douches.I would also like to point out that I am not a racist, and that I treat each person as I find them, as can anyone who knows me vouch for that.

By: marky

marky — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 10:33:38 +0000

I'm not excusing Kips comment in any way but it seems to me that he wasn't really thinking when he wrote it. It sounds like a case of opening his mouth and letting his belly rumble. Kip, you can't judge a race by the actions of one or two people you've met who were rude to you. Intentionally or otherwise. You seem quite a smart guy. I think deep down you Know this. I realise this has nothing to do with me, and Pat has already covered the acceptable behaviour topic in his response, but I like Kip and I don't want him going through life thinking that the one or two ass holes he has met represents a nation.To the anonymous person who wants to hit Kip. Do you really think violence is the answer? or would education be more appropriate.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 00:57:40 +0000

I know. I’ve never even met kip, and I want to hit him, so obviously there’s a massive flaw in that theory.