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Tao-mell — Erak's Ransom?
Published: 2010-05-07 04:04:03 +0000 UTC; Views: 7922; Favourites: 44; Downloads: 48
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Yeah, that's me up there
. Let the rant begin...Since Erak's Ransom (Ranger's Apprentice 7) had like, 20 holds at my library, I got the audio book instead. I had it sitting in my computer for about a month before I finally got around to finishing it. It was just so... BORING. It was like a filler season in an anime! And because it was a flashback, I could already predict what was going to happen.
I get that John Flanagan is trying to get us to feel sorry for Erak, but I just couldn't. I don't have anything against pillaging and plundering, but pillage your enemies towns not the poor innocent ones! And it's like the Skandians can't, simply CAN'T do anything else for a living. Ugh. Really, Flangan.
Here's something else me and noticed. Halt gets himself banished by getting drunk and insulting King Whats-his-face. BANISHED! Is there no free speech in Araluen???
Also, who the heck brings coffee out into the desert? Caffeine dehydrates you. Aren't these rangers supposed to be professional?
Why does Flanagan have to be so darn overly descriptive. He's gotta describe EVERYTHING in nauseating detail, body language, face expression, emotions, thoughts, you name it. "And this character saw this character move his shoulders in this type of way and knew that is was a display of this emotion." Jeeze. Flanagan could've easily fitted Sorcerer of the North and Siege of Macindaw together into one book if he just took out all that unnecessary crap. I'm thinking that when the movie comes out in a couple years (yes, it's confirmed) that they'll be able to fit like five books into one movie. Gah.
I really liked these books at first and I want to thank for introducing them to me. And don't get me wrong, I don't HATE them. I just don't get excited over them anymore. They started out great but they're going downhill. Now they're just plain boooooooring.
End rant.
EDIT: This picture is 6 years old at this point. I was like 13 when I wrote it and no longer care, so you guys can stop correcting me in the comments. Chill.
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Comments: 59
To be honest, if you don't like the way he writes, don't read the books. I personally love the series and the writing style is fantastic to me.
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It's, like, medieval England, so yeah there most likely isn't much free speech. (History ftw)
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Halt was banned because he was a member of the Ranger Corps. They aren't allowed to get drunk or go embarrass themselves in public.
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^ Yeah I'd forgotten about that.
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Lol. Luckily I had a grandfather who warned me for the danger of book 7, so I read that one first. Im so smart
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I can agree that the books are somewhat going downhill. Although the amount of detail one is comfortable with is subjective.
Still, I'm enjoying Brotherband Chronicles all over again, even though they're about the people who raid innocent villages. Maybe because there isn't much raiding, and it's a new cast of characters.
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It was announced several years ago but I seriously doubt it'll ever happen.
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aww,
I really want to see a good rangers apprentice movie.
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They say there is one coming next year.. (But ok two years ago they said it would be coming last year.)
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Why is it stupid book adaptions like twilight get all the funding?
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AHHHH! how do u not get exited?!?! they r AWESOME!! i loooove how john flanagan gives u detail! makes it special! although i do get ur view on the skandians, and i agree
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I get your point on the books. People have different points in things.
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I just finished the book, and I really loved it ^^
I need this much detail when I read a book, so I can imagine the scene better. I love his style of writing ^^
And Erak is an awesome character, well-developed and somehow really deep. and Skandians tend to do such things like plunderings... ^^
But that's my opinion
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YOU HAVE NO RIGHT TO INSULT MR.FLANAGAN THE BOOKS ARE AWSOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I DONT KNOW HOW I CAN ADD THIS ART TO MY FAVOURITES RA ROCKS MY SOCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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It's a free country. I can insult whoever I want.
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Yeah right even if your art is good you dont have manners now if you hate the book why draw pictures for it?
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Jeez why dont you chill? She has every right to say what she just said. She criticized a book in a civilized manner, providing details to back up her arguments. She did nothing wrong. Take a fucking chill pill
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Criticism is more fun when drawn.
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Cant say I agree. Frankly, the more detailed the description the better i can imagine it. Its one of the main things I like about the series.
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XDDD Oh, you. . .
I rather liked the "nauseating details", but that's just me.
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Come on! If you walked up to the White House and started shouting into a megaphone that President Obama is the son of a drunken privy cleaner and a traveling hatcha-hatcha dancer, AND you were a Secret Service agent, what do you thnk would happen?
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Um....you get shot? Besides insulting a king is never a good Idea. It never ends well.
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Well, the king knew what he was up to. And knew how stubborn he was.
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wow *reads rant* ok first of all like everybody says Araulen is a monarchy meaning no freedom of speech when it comes to talking bout King Duncan. also coffee in the desert doesn't make sense I agree but I like to know where Araulens get there famous coffee beans from. Think of Rangers as police and police men drink coffee alot. Also the thing bout Sorcerer of the North and Siege of Macindaw. I think it was good to leave a cliff hanger and also get to know what was happening to Alyss and her point of view. Describition is bad it is actually good. It makes you connect with the characters. Also Erak and the Skandians don't actually raid innocent villages without purpose. Sometimes its for supplies like food. And that is just how things work. So considered this a counter rant
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Describition isn't bad i meant
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Erak is beast. The books went down hill but know they're getting interesting again.
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Erak FTW, skandian culture FTW, the books boring without Erak and gillan >.<
Love ur art
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You're supposed to root for them because they;re Skandians!
fair point though
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it was funny, i always thought that skandians were blue XD i never knew why, even when my friend told me to look on the cover of one of the books (forgot which one) and the skandian was the viking looking dude. and i was like, naw that's not a skandian
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The thing with Halt getting banished had absolutely nothing to do with freedom of speech (which didn't even exist in medieval times) and everything to do with the contradiction of oaths. By slandering the king, he committed treason. When he became a Ranger, he swore an oath to protect, serve, and be loyal to the king. He broke that oath of fealty, therefore committing treason. He's lucky he was only banished. Most kingdoms would execute you for something like that.
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Ha i agree... the first few books were awesome, especially the battle for skandia, but the newer ones have gotten worse... ESPECIALLY Halts Peril which i could barely bring myself to finish... has anyone read the one about nijon jah? is it worth reading? if its anything like halts peril than probably not...
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I decided to skip Halt's Peril and just read the finale one. But it was so friggin' boring I could barely get past the first chapter.
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Erak has a lot of value as a character, though I suppose his way of making a living is questionable.
Also, I find Flanagan doesn't do too much description at all. If you think that's too much, then never, ever read any of the classic books from 100+ years ago. Describing actions, thoughts, how the desert looked at one point is nothing compared to describing a table at teatime, right down to how crispy the scones are and the pattern on the tablecloth.
All that being said, nice picture. xD
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Side note, I do agree that the books' awesome factor does seem to be decreasing with each new one that comes out. It's almost as if Flanagan wants to keep things as they are, and not stir anything up-- which, by the way, defeats the point of a novel.
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The drawings hillarious.
But, frankly, more description is so much better then just: "He looked happy. He looked sad."
It makes you feel like your the characters, and I love it. And Skandians are like the Vikings. They raid an pillage because thier greedy and they want loot. Simple as that, really. o.O I mean, the Vikings raided innocent villages. Thats just how some people are. ._.; Personally, I hate audios.
But, thatsyour opinion, and I respect that. Just giving you mine in return.
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Um...Actually, Vikings raided because Scandinavia was too small to support their growing population. They were fishing and farming, and then their population soared. So they got...creative I suppose you could call it?
Sorry for the history lesson >_<
I agree with you on you opinion, though. :/
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Ah, its alright. People dont talk about the Vikings much, and thats just what people tell me, so sorry if I got stuff wrong. Blame my school. XD
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I grew up in a...history-centric family. :/
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Yeah I see what you mean. I liked the books at first a lot, and I still like it. But as the series progressed it got boring, and I just didn't like book seven at all.
I still read them and love them, but I'm not the fanatic I used to be for them
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Psh. My favorite book of the series so far. Other then The Kings of Clonmel.
WHY DO ALL MY FAVORITE CHARACTERS DIE? *coughcoughAloomcoughcough*
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Rant start
I listened to Catching Fire on audiobook before I got it for my birthday. When I actuay got the book, I was so excited. When I listened to the book, my reaction? Oh crap...Vocab's due tomarrow. So, reading the book is sooooo much moe fullfilling. And I'm sorry that you don't see RA as great anymore. 
A) Araluen isn't an democracy, it's a monoarchy.
B) Plus, if Halt was just a civilian, it would just borderline. But since Halt is a King's Ranger, someone who has sworn to protect Araluen remain loyal to the crown, this is treason.
It's as simple as that.
Rant over
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i know wht you mean. the books started great, but now its a little downhill. where is the series even going? dont get me wrong i like them, just... i dont like them as much as i did.
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Yes! I'm glad someone agrees with me.
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They're not boring! Details help with imagining everything. And besides Halt got banished for talking bad about the king. Hello, it's treson! AND, Halt wanted to get banished so he could go after Will.
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I can kinda agree with you on is... I'm not sure what it is about this book, but the more fusterating it gets, the more I want to read it...
...if that makes sense...
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