Amazon UK says we can't get our grubby mitts on it until 23rd October. They also want £101 for Mogworld, which is clearly some kind of sick revenge for Aussie game pricing.
Got Jam in the mail today from Amazon. (I ordered it way back when you first plugged it on Escapist.) Devoured it in 4 hours. It was delicious, best birthday present ever.
Wait wait, if you did an audiobook of Mogworld, does that mean you will do an audiobook on Jam? I want the audibook version of jam (if there will be), if I already read Jam then I wouldn't buy an audiobook version as I prefer experiencing a story only once.
Ole Amazon sent it off to Amsterdam today, huzzah. But wait, can you guarantee me that there will, in fact, *not* be a jampocalypse in my lifetime? Because if you can't I'd rather return the book now as I prefer not to experience science fiction stories in real life.
Got it in the mail and just finished it up. It was pretty great, loved X's constant transparent denial. It all sort of wrapped up a bit fast, though? I was losing track of who'd died towards the end, there. And what exactly was the point of Angela? In case you decided to adapt it into a found-footage film? Still, great fun. I stopped during the agent's introduction to ponder "wouldn't it make more sense if she was X, and he was-" and then had my startlingly specific and asinine inquiry swiftly answered. If his name was Xavier, so help me...
I think Angela was there to parody the found-footage movie genre, illustrating A) how ridiculous it would be to actually behave that way in a life or death situation, and B) why the videos always look like such crap (Angela being a 'Journalist' when really she was a journalism student.
Not everybody _can see and turn pages_, _has a stable mailing address_, and _lives in the US_. These describe a minority of people.
We were promised simultaneous digital release in the last sentence of http://www.darkhorse.com/Blog/938/yahtzee-croshaw-returns-jam . I guess something threw a wrench in those works, and it's too bad.
It's an interesting story, but a certain point kept making me not enjoy it that much. So if you don't mind some constructive criticism...
Attention: I might accidentally spoil something for someone with the following comments, even though I reference no actual events, so be warned.
I understand how stupid characters can be very funny, and I understand what the point of such a character is, I even understand said character in this book.
My problem is when an abjectly face-palmingly stupid character.... is the narrating protagonist. The character I'm instinctively projecting into and identifying with, which results in a odd feeling of anger at myself for the stupidity.
It felt like a cutscene in a game where the character does something retarded you wouldn't have done had you been in control.
My personal completely non-professional advice is to have characters that despite their flaws, they are not *that* stupid (Recently read the similarly themed "This Book is Full of Spiders" by David Wong, and think he pulls it off there), or, alternatively, to filter the information through the character's stupidity, so the reader doesn't see the decision as stupid at first. A final alternative is to go the Discworld route and have an omniscient narrator, which creates a disconnect between reader and character.
I'm guessing the intention is to create the same effect from movies where the protagonist walks into the basement while the audience yells for her not to do it, but books aren't like movies, the mental connection is probably stronger, so yeah, it can backfire.
In any case, my opinion. I liked the novel, and the idea of the Jam is very interesting.
I also did care a lot about Mary, so great job there!
jam. delicious. bloodoranges and rhubarb...nomnomnom
Red jam of daybreak it eats us at evening it eats us at midday and morning it eats us at night it eats and it eats we shovel a grave in the bread there we won't lie too cramped A Jam lies in the wooden it plays with his victims..it devours.
So when's your third novel coming out then? Bought Mogworld and Jam the other week and have now finished them both. Have to say I absolutely loved them both. You're a very witty, handsome man.
Decided to buy Jam today as well. I'm not liking Mogworld as much as I hoped I would, but then again, I'm only 2 and a half hours in, and it sounds like Part 2 is supposed to be the better half. Being a loyal fan, I'll push on to the end. On the other hand, the first few pages of Jam are pretty hilarious. I'm excited to read it.
I just finished listening to Mogworld and thoroughly enjoyed it... so I'll add my voice to lamaslany's and hope you are doing an audiobook version of this one too.
(I'll just buy the kindle version of Jam in the mean time.)
Amazon UK says we can't get our grubby mitts on it until 23rd October. They also want £101 for Mogworld, which is clearly some kind of sick revenge for Aussie game pricing.
ReplyDeleteThere are some copies of Mogworld on Amazon going for £476! If it's that sought after, maybe a reprint would be a good idea!
DeleteCurrently reading it after scouring every bookshop in Sydney for an on-time release - really great so far!
ReplyDeleteAny chance it will be published in Digital format?
ReplyDeleteyay! :)
ReplyDelete*abandons class and runs to the nearest book store*
ReplyDelete*got to bookstore and is met with dissapointment*
Deletedammit
That's Great!
ReplyDeleteNow I just have to wait until early-to-mid november for Amazon to get it to me.
Got Jam in the mail today from Amazon. (I ordered it way back when you first plugged it on Escapist.) Devoured it in 4 hours. It was delicious, best birthday present ever.
ReplyDeleteWhat about a digital edition? :)
ReplyDeleteWait wait, if you did an audiobook of Mogworld, does that mean you will do an audiobook on Jam? I want the audibook version of jam (if there will be), if I already read Jam then I wouldn't buy an audiobook version as I prefer experiencing a story only once.
ReplyDeleteOle Amazon sent it off to Amsterdam today, huzzah.
ReplyDeleteBut wait, can you guarantee me that there will, in fact, *not* be a jampocalypse in my lifetime? Because if you can't I'd rather return the book now as I prefer not to experience science fiction stories in real life.
Currently reading, liking it a lot.
ReplyDeleteBritain, once again late to the party.
ReplyDeleteAh you mock me with your lack of release in Britain right now.
ReplyDeleteGot it in the mail and just finished it up. It was pretty great, loved X's constant transparent denial. It all sort of wrapped up a bit fast, though? I was losing track of who'd died towards the end, there. And what exactly was the point of Angela? In case you decided to adapt it into a found-footage film?
ReplyDeleteStill, great fun. I stopped during the agent's introduction to ponder "wouldn't it make more sense if she was X, and he was-" and then had my startlingly specific and asinine inquiry swiftly answered. If his name was Xavier, so help me...
I think Angela was there to parody the found-footage movie genre, illustrating A) how ridiculous it would be to actually behave that way in a life or death situation, and B) why the videos always look like such crap (Angela being a 'Journalist' when really she was a journalism student.
DeleteThe fuck? Still no simultaneous digital release after all that time for Mogworld?
ReplyDeleteIt shouldn't count as a "release" if it's only released to some people. Isn't that more like a closed beta or something?
How is a paperback book only for "some people"? Sure you know how to read.
DeleteNot everybody _can see and turn pages_, _has a stable mailing address_, and _lives in the US_. These describe a minority of people.
DeleteWe were promised simultaneous digital release in the last sentence of http://www.darkhorse.com/Blog/938/yahtzee-croshaw-returns-jam . I guess something threw a wrench in those works, and it's too bad.
Picked it up on amazon. Liking it so far.
ReplyDeleteHalf way through it now.
ReplyDeleteAmazing.
Finished it last night.
ReplyDeleteIt's an interesting story, but a certain point kept making me not enjoy it that much. So if you don't mind some constructive criticism...
Attention: I might accidentally spoil something for someone with the following comments, even though I reference no actual events, so be warned.
I understand how stupid characters can be very funny, and I understand what the point of such a character is, I even understand said character in this book.
My problem is when an abjectly face-palmingly stupid character.... is the narrating protagonist. The character I'm instinctively projecting into and identifying with, which results in a odd feeling of anger at myself for the stupidity.
It felt like a cutscene in a game where the character does something retarded you wouldn't have done had you been in control.
My personal completely non-professional advice is to have characters that despite their flaws, they are not *that* stupid (Recently read the similarly themed "This Book is Full of Spiders" by David Wong, and think he pulls it off there), or, alternatively, to filter the information through the character's stupidity, so the reader doesn't see the decision as stupid at first. A final alternative is to go the Discworld route and have an omniscient narrator, which creates a disconnect between reader and character.
I'm guessing the intention is to create the same effect from movies where the protagonist walks into the basement while the audience yells for her not to do it, but books aren't like movies, the mental connection is probably stronger, so yeah, it can backfire.
In any case, my opinion. I liked the novel, and the idea of the Jam is very interesting.
I also did care a lot about Mary, so great job there!
I just finished the Mogworld audiobook. Loved it. Absolutely loved it. Make an audiobook of Jam and I will buy it.
ReplyDeletejam. delicious. bloodoranges and rhubarb...nomnomnom
ReplyDeleteRed jam of daybreak it eats us at evening
it eats us at midday and morning it eats us at night
it eats and it eats
we shovel a grave in the bread there we won't lie too cramped
A Jam lies in the wooden it plays with his victims..it devours.
gnah, celan in my head. he will hate me for it
So when's your third novel coming out then? Bought Mogworld and Jam the other week and have now finished them both. Have to say I absolutely loved them both. You're a very witty, handsome man.
ReplyDeleteDecided to buy Jam today as well. I'm not liking Mogworld as much as I hoped I would, but then again, I'm only 2 and a half hours in, and it sounds like Part 2 is supposed to be the better half. Being a loyal fan, I'll push on to the end. On the other hand, the first few pages of Jam are pretty hilarious. I'm excited to read it.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteWhat's with those of us that oppose paper? There's no ebook version nowhere!
ReplyDeleteHave to say I enjoyed both novels immensely (yay for Barnes and Noble, because Amazon had listings that ranged from $40USD to $300)
ReplyDeleteDo you have any plans to release Jam as an audio book? I am just wondering if I am waiting in vain...
ReplyDeleteI just finished listening to Mogworld and thoroughly enjoyed it... so I'll add my voice to lamaslany's and hope you are doing an audiobook version of this one too.
ReplyDelete(I'll just buy the kindle version of Jam in the mean time.)