tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5411517893000706576.post3457678823545169605..comments2023-07-08T08:33:50.710+01:00Comments on Speculative Horizons: Book review: The Painted ManJameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07763695390241432518noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5411517893000706576.post-19618828992905012832009-06-16T22:46:04.666+01:002009-06-16T22:46:04.666+01:00I also thought it was an awesome book, there are s...I also thought it was an awesome book, there are some cliche's along the way, but this could be said of any book. I live in the UK, and know it as the Painted Man, which I would say is the best title! I suppose it's just what you're used to! Can't wait for the next installment and I'm also intrigued to know who's going to direct and take the main parts... any suggestions?Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10313934654111477390noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5411517893000706576.post-5016627668479268282009-06-13T00:53:12.843+01:002009-06-13T00:53:12.843+01:00First of all this is a debut novel and for me it i...First of all this is a debut novel and for me it is a remarkable one. Peter V Brett shows a talent to drag you into the story - slowly but surely. THE PAINTED MAN rose expectations to THE DESERT SPEAR. I look forward....ediFanoBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11129248787624088717noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5411517893000706576.post-32130823804731132812009-06-11T13:01:34.216+01:002009-06-11T13:01:34.216+01:00Benjamin: The Painted Man is the original title th...Benjamin: The Painted Man is the original title that Brett gave the novel. His US publishers changed it to The Warded Man, for whatever reason. <br /><br />In the British version, the term 'Painted Man' is used throughout the story. In the US version, they use 'Warded Man' instead.Jameshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07763695390241432518noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5411517893000706576.post-54510111966608643962009-06-11T03:14:53.515+01:002009-06-11T03:14:53.515+01:00Peter wrote about the title on his website (http:/...Peter wrote about the title on his website (http://www.petervbrett.com/excisions/).<br /><br />I agree with most of you, "The Warded Man" is more suited.Philhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10109618053126464164noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5411517893000706576.post-30549335494982398652009-06-11T01:43:53.216+01:002009-06-11T01:43:53.216+01:00James, have you (or anyone else) heard what the or...James, have you (or anyone else) heard what the original title was supposed to be? I just assumed that it was supposed to be "The Warded Man" because that's the term used in the book. Well, used in the US edition unless they changed that too.Benjaminhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06781567104543124593noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5411517893000706576.post-53598016163698652852009-06-10T21:46:29.674+01:002009-06-10T21:46:29.674+01:00Salt-Man Z: I absolutely agree, 'The Warded Ma...Salt-Man Z: I absolutely agree, 'The Warded Man' is a much more logical title - but 'The Painted Man' just sounds way cooler. In any case, I doubt Brett's US publisher changed the name because it was more accurate, I rather suspect instead it was changed due to the racial connotations with the word 'painted' (much like how Richard Morgan's 'Black Man' was changed to the rather weak 'Thirteen' in the States. Strange, but there you go. <br /><br />Kevin: You raise a good point there. No doubt that is also Brett's reasoning behind Arlen's actions. Still, for me it did take the edge off the fear factor a little. <br /><br />Jessica: You're right and I certainly wasn't implying that it was a commentary on the nature of Islam (if that's the impression I gave, I apologise!). As I said, the negative characteristics of Krasian society didn't bother me, though I did feel that to some extent they were being built up as the 'bad guys' and that's always going to make some people a little uncomfortable, given the nature of the world we live in. <br /><br />Hagelrat: You're right: the story succeeds because of Brett's skill as a writer. It's a very good debut.Jameshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07763695390241432518noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5411517893000706576.post-33260908561783102612009-06-10T19:10:35.799+01:002009-06-10T19:10:35.799+01:00I unreservedly loved this book and I don't rea...I unreservedly loved this book and I don't really care what they call i. I found early on I was absorbed by the characters. I would admit the books success is more down to Brett's skill as a writer than the originality but I was delighted to find nothing threw me out of the story.Adelehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12876050775872445521noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5411517893000706576.post-21193182686905706562009-06-10T18:54:50.533+01:002009-06-10T18:54:50.533+01:00I agree with Kevin. Given how stressful Arlen'...I agree with Kevin. Given how stressful Arlen's first few nights alone in the dark are, I couldn't see most adults risking that. Especially if they didn't consider themselves gifted at wards. The demons were depicted as being quite horrific - and all you'd need is one line scuffed and your wards are useless. <br /><br />I'd also disagree with your point of Brett's having the opportunity to show the good points of Islamic culture in his desert scenes. Yes, it's fairly obvious that he based his culture on Islam. But BASING something on something else does not equate them with each other. His commentary on the FICTIONAL RACE he uses in his novel isn't a commentary on the actual Islamic race of the real world. Sometimes we forget that while fantasy CAN relate to the real world, it doesn't necessarily do so. (As in, I haven't heard that he'd intended this to be a commentary on how Islamic nations work. That doesn't mean people can't read it as such, but it also doesn't mean that he's dissing Islam by having a desert race act like - well, people who've had to adapt to living in a desert.)Jessica Striderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13375221959854098665noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5411517893000706576.post-76557571673903164232009-06-10T17:23:03.245+01:002009-06-10T17:23:03.245+01:00"Furthermore, the credibility of the premise ..."Furthermore, the credibility of the premise was damaged somewhat by Arlen's actions: if a young boy can survive a night in the wild by scratching runes in the earth, subsequently protecting him from the demons, then what exactly is everyone so terrified about? Sure, you can argue that Arlen's a gifted youngster and better than many adults at using wards, but I found it hard to suspend my belief here."<br /><br />I thought that was one of the key themes of the novel- that adults, far more mindful of their mortality than children, tend to default to the safest, most conservative of actions despite how brave they say they are. <br /><br />In Brett's world, people are so focused on being defensive and surviving day to day, there is little motive to be proactive. Brett consistently portrays societies big and small that have no interest in challenging their preconceptions. Those few who do have interest in pushing boundaries are relatively isolated to do the sheer danger of travel and communication. <br /><br />Arlen is successful not just because he is gifted at warding, but because as a child he is naive enough to question the norms and is then put into situations where he has to act for his survival.Kevinnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5411517893000706576.post-70005613303642603262009-06-10T16:41:06.119+01:002009-06-10T16:41:06.119+01:00Good book, but let's talk about the title chan...Good book, but let's talk about the title change. To me, "The Warded Man" makes far more sense than "The Painted Man". He is, after all, covered with wards, and the vast majority of them are tattooed on, not painted. "Warded" (though it admittedly does not roll of the tongue as well) just seems to work better on both a literal <i>and</i> thematic level.<br /><br />I've thought about this often since reading the book earlier this year, but I've yet to find online any actual discussions of, or clarifications on, the title/name change.Salt-Man Zhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07042401821387954296noreply@blogger.com