On Discussion and Spoilers

Posted: November 4th, 2014 under Life beyond writing, Reader Help, Spoiler Space.
Tags: , ,

Crown of Renewal has been out long enough now that it’s OK to discuss it–and the rest of the existing Paksworld books–without needing to use Spoiler Space.

However, a question for the group: Some of you have by now read the Paksworld story “First Blood” in Shattered Shields and others of you may not have…and yet you might want to discuss it in relation to the surrounding milieu. The same is/will be true of “Mercenary’s Honor” in the forthcoming Operation Arcana anthology, and the new (and maybe older) Paksworld short fiction in Deeds of Honor. So do we need a Spoiler Space specifically for short fiction? Does it bother you as much when a short piece is discussed before you’ve read it?

14 Comments »

  • Comment by jjmcgaffey — November 4, 2014 @ 1:05 am

    1

    Mostly, spoilers don’t bother me – unless the point of the story is in a twist that’s not revealed until late, most of the fun of reading is seeing how they got to _there_.
    So I’d say no, but I’m not the person to ask.


  • Comment by Oz Ozzie — November 4, 2014 @ 1:14 am

    2

    Where do we get notifications of these releases? Can you post kindle etc links when they come out?


  • Comment by Annabel — November 4, 2014 @ 6:52 am

    3

    Seconded; I’ve pre-ordered Operation Arcana in paperback format, but will probably actually buy it in electronic format when that comes out, as I have with Shattered Shields. And I didn’t know your new collection was to be called Deeds of Honor, or is that just a working title? I know that is coming out electronically, but Amazon doesn’t seem to know about it yet.


  • Comment by Iphinome — November 4, 2014 @ 7:57 am

    4

    I pre-ordered _Shattered Shields_ but given that it’s November, the actual reading may have to wait for WriMo to end.

    It’d be unfair to make people hide behind a spoiler space that long.


  • Comment by Larryp — November 4, 2014 @ 8:45 am

    5

    Spoilers dont spoil things for me so go ahead.


  • Comment by elizabeth — November 4, 2014 @ 10:45 am

    6

    Oz & Annabel: I post release dates when I know them–publishers don’t always tell me for things like a story in an anthology (the editor usually does, but that may be a tentative release date), so when I think the time is near I go look them up on the publisher’s publishing schedule (that is, in fact, the most accurate way to do it.) Then I post the release here and on Twitter. From there I assume you can look at Amazon or B&N for any other links you want. Not to be churlish about it, but looking up things online and then writing a post here takes time. I’m willing to do part of the work of letting people know about a release, but still have pages to write every day…so some details are left for the interested parties. You probably already know this, but the sort of “pushing” info at consumers you’re talking about was not part of a writer’s duties at all until quite recently–and it’s expanded a lot since “get a website” back in the late ’90s.


  • Comment by elizabeth — November 4, 2014 @ 10:48 am

    7

    Oh–there is no set release date for Deeds of Honor yet: I think we’re hung up on the cover art again. Not entirely sure; the new book is eating my brain and filling it with the stuff needed for that story-universe. If they ping me, I answer, but otherwise…it’s COLD where Ky is. And miserable.


  • Comment by Marit — November 4, 2014 @ 1:00 pm

    8

    If there’s no spoiler space (or spoiler alerts) for the short fiction, I will probably put off reading any posts about them until I’ve read the short fiction that has been published. I don’t like spoilers.


  • Comment by Nadine Barter Bowlus — November 4, 2014 @ 1:59 pm

    9

    My usual reading pattern is to get started in the book and when plot intensity and the approach of bedtime near collision, skip to the end to find out how things turned out. Then I can go to bed. The next reading sessions are not so pressured as I am just learning (and enjoying) how the author gets things from alpha to omega.

    Obviously, I’m not bothered by spoilers. 🙂


  • Comment by Sharidann — November 5, 2014 @ 9:16 am

    10

    Operation Arcana pre-ordered.

    Shattered Shields is not yet ready for delivery, just managed to read it due to me having ordered a Baen monthly bündle….

    Elizabeth’s Story (First Blood) is the last in the book but my favorite in the book (near the one from Larry Correia).


  • Comment by Mary Elmore Kellogg Cowart — November 5, 2014 @ 2:06 pm

    11

    Spoilers don’t bother me one bit. I will read a story, novella, or novel anyway. I do like to know what is in the works or planned.

    I have gotten behind on reading in Paksworld because of other reading interests.

    God bless you and help you to resolve your sight problems.


  • Comment by greycats — November 5, 2014 @ 5:42 pm

    12

    Spoilers are fun.


  • Comment by GinnyW — November 7, 2014 @ 8:35 am

    13

    I enjoy hearing others opinions. Perhaps the whole volume will warrant a space, so we can process how all the stories fit together with the novels. But usually the comments are tantalizing, not destructive. And it is helpful to have other readers identifying when new stories become available – and how to get them.


  • Comment by patrick — November 16, 2014 @ 3:08 pm

    14

    I don’t mind spoilers too much, particularly in short fiction.

    I do want everyone who e-reads to buy the new short fiction book in hopes it will attract an paper-based publication. 🙂
    Still old-school wrt e-books vs paper which means it may be a while before I get to read the short fiction.


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