EVE Fiction

I'd like to point out that TonyG has been given the benefit of the doubt, and both books have dozens of inconsistencies, minor, major and stupendous. I'm sure Jowen will be more than willing to provide a list. As I recall, there's one on Backstage somewhere.

Tony might have written the PF in a different way then some of the roleplayer perceive it, but he still made quite a good job and wrote a good story with Empyrean Age.

But I have to constantly remind myself that I am an on the internet, the place where it is cool to hate.

There are other ways to bring up these issues, and do not hinge on whether Tony Gonzales is a good writer or not. I enjoy his writing. I have issues with some of the tropes he uses and the direction he has taken with the novels, but I enjoy them. Yes, that's right; I don't think he's perfect. NO one is. We're all human, and we are all deserving of common human courtesy.

I enjoy Tony's novels. That's why I read them. The (in my opinion) rather interesting revelations of both novels are icing on the cake. I can also forgive the very small inconsistencies, some of which are being blown far out of proportion (in my opinion).

What needs to be done here is separate the novel from his position with CCP. Being an IP Manager means more than just being a caretaker of lore. It's more than writing a novel (which I'm willing to bet was not written on company time, and if it was, I fully agree with the decision to remove him from his position). "IP Management" requires in-depth knowledge of copyright and patent law. It requires an understanding of marketing and trends within the wider games and entertainment industry. Given his dev blog, I think there is a little bit of a disconnect there, and to an extent I am glad Tony is moving on.

I think that the issue here is both preconceptions as to what exactly Tony was doing at CCP made even more apparent by the use of a title that is really hard to find an actual description of. It is very different than being a content developer I'd imagine.

So, here's what I suggest:

Collect all those inconsistencies. Write an in-depth post about those inconsistencies. Make your case as to why these inconsistencies do not fit. Just as you ask others to substantiate their arguments, you must substantiate yours. The old adage of attracting more bees with honey also holds some weight here.

This may be the internet, and you may feel that your favorite hobby just got a huge pile of waste thrown into it, but that's no excuse to treat another human being with the amount of hate that I have seen leveled at Tony Gonzales or those who are hoping to discuss their own viewpoint. I know that as a writer myself I would prefer a well written critique that rationally discusses the shortcomings of my novel to blind adulation or hate.

Thank you for your time.

Here is another idea. Maybe the perceived lack of continuity is not a Tony G problem but rather a you problem. By you problem I mean us the players. I was under the impression that CCP did not want to solve the mystery of New Eden for us. But rather give us clues and possibly misinformation along the way (in the form of characters?). Maybe these inconsistencies were written on purpose. Just like in real life facts change and we do not know the whole story yet, but apparently Tony G does. I could be wrong but it wouldn't be the first time and most likely wont be the last.

Besides I think there are still things in game that players have yet to uncover. Like those hidden DED site world event agents (shakes fist @ map). Just my $.01

Edit: Although I cant wrap my head around why there is a translation of enheduanni in the book from AI Grious yet the real Grious in a chronicle said that there was no translation.

Those who dislike his writing have given quite a few examples, please go back and read the first few comments.

And regarding cardboard boxes, we only use the ones CCP gives us. If they've been giving us gritty sci-fi boxes for the last 6 years and then suddenly give us a few that are polka-dot with 15,000 year old virtual reality monsters and lesbian space-empresses inside, we can't be blamed for being a bit dismayed.

It's their IP, they can do as they please of course, but consistency of tone and scope never hurt anyone.

Personally I liked both novels for what they are. Especially the epicness of battle scenes (that unfortunately the actual game will never live up to..) it felt incredibly cinematic

I am concerned however with how the women are portrayed as quite weak willed in general. Gable, for example you will notice cant go 2 or 3 pages without someone randomly jabbing her with stimms. No joke its alarming how often this happens. A lot of repetative description, tired eyes, weary expressions etc. Loses impact after awhile.

Need to re-read all of the Jove exposition. Wish I understood it.

Most of the things in this review can just be discarded. The author of the review uses the fact that he does not like how certain characters and events are portrayed, so he contructs a "this is abusing the PF" argument out of it.

Obviously a lot of things are unexplained in the book and I think these loose ends are there for a reason, because these gaps can be filled by other stories and events. The basic complaint in the review seems to be, that EVE is not star wars, for example we did not know how and why grand admiral Eturrer came to be a pawn to the broker and a traitor, if this would be star wars I have no doubt that he would at least have his own book trilogy by now, explaining everything in detail.

Translation: I can't back my opinions up.



I have no issue with 'unexplained' things. It's more, like Silas said, a lack of consistency on CCP's part, going from gritty complicated sci-fi with many shades of grey to a black-and-white morality fantasy that oozes hyperbole and cliche.

In fact the number of things that did get explained in Templar One were bad. The whole 'big reveal' thing with the sleepers has practically killed the Arek'Jaalan project.

I have no issues with people who like the book either, you can enjoy bad literature, just don't go around spouting how great it is and then getting upset when people point out the inconsistencies and mistakes.

Easiest way to win an argument: Ignore everyone else's posts, only read your own.

And you also ignored the point I raised earlier, in an universe as huge as New Eden, why do you think your point of view is the only valid one?