Stroud vs Rowling

[Jeremy]

I received Ptolemy's Gate on the day I posted the above message. I only had time to read the first chapter, but it was very exciting and I was eager to read the rest of the book. Stroud's writing is much better than JK Rowling's, and the storyline of the Bartimaeous Trilogy is just as interesting and engaging as the Harry Potter seriies, maybe even more so. Although the Harry Potter series may be wildly popular among the masses, in my humble opinion The Bartimaeous Trilogy is the better series about a boy growing up in a magical world.
The British edition of the book has a much more attractive cover than the upcoming American edition, which is hideous. I wonder what the American publisher is thinking?

[Alia]

Stroud's writing is much better than JK Rowling's, and the storyline of the Bartimaeous Trilogy is just as interesting and engaging as the Harry Potter seriies, maybe even more so.

I fully agree with you Jeremy. Stroud's thinking is orginal too and even more... fun to read than Rowlings. (I'm talking about the sarcasim of Bartimeus) Which makes me wonder why Stroud isn't as popular as Rowling is.

[rune]

I love the sarcastic humour in Stroud's series Despite these two authors being compared, I am not sure they really should be.
To me Strouds series is nothing like Rowlings.

[Jeremy]

Well, let's see. Both series are about boys with black hair who possess magical powers. The boys are both 11 years old at the beginning of the series and 17 at the end of the series. They both live in England. The authors of the 2 series are both British. The 2 series are published at around the same time period. I think it's very natural to compare these 2 series. There is no doubt which author is the more popular by far among the casual readers around the world. But does popularity equal greatness? Personally, I think Stroud is a better writer than Rowling. Rowling's success can be attributed to a host of factors, luck and great advertising being 2 of them, but Rowling's popularity will eventually fade with time, like those of Stephen King, Goosebumps, and Pokemon. But that's just my opinion.

[Alia]

Both series are about boys with black hair who possess magical powers. The boys are both 11 years old at the beginning of the series and 17 at the end of the series. They both live in England. The authors of the 2 series are both British. The 2 series are published at around the same time period.

The magical aspect of the two books are very different, yet the same. Both look at magic in different ways but do so on a Young Adult level. I agree with Jeremy there are many similiarities, yet differences too.

[Mark Robson]

Originally Posted by Jeremy

... but Rowling's popularity will eventually fade with time, like those of Stephen King, Goosebumps, and Pokemon. But that's just my opinion.

I'm not so sure it will, Jeremy. Well, it might fade, but with clever marketing the popularity will continue in surges - just look at how George Lucas has maintained the Star Wars popularity over 30 years. I can't see Rowling losing her popularity for a long time yet.

[Alia]

Originally Posted by Mark Robson

I'm not so sure it will, Jeremy. Well, it might fade, but with clever marketing the popularity will continue in surges - just look at how George Lucas has maintained the Star Wars popularity over 30 years. I can't see Rowling losing her popularity for a long time yet.

I'm not sure of that Mark. Does Rowling intend to write more books? I see her popularity decreasing after the seventh movie is made unless she writes more. Maybe even a different series.

My question is... did Stephen King ever fade? I still him alive and very active, even in the movies.

And what ever you do... don't tell my son that Pokemon faded.

[Mark Robson]

Originally Posted by Alia

I'm not sure of that Mark. Does Rowling intend to write more books? I see her popularity decreasing after the seventh movie is made unless she writes more. Maybe even a different series.

My question is... did Stephen King ever fade? I still him alive and very active, even in the movies.

And what ever you do... don't tell my son that Pokemon faded.

My point is that Rowling's books might not dominate the number one slot in the bestsellers forever - neither does Star Wars, but it's still a multi, multi million dollar a year business in franchising all the tag on extras. Harry Potter is a brand that will last for decades. Every year another wave of children become old enough to attempt reading it, and are encouraged to do so by avid parent fans. I would be very surprised to see this fade for a very long time.

Stephen King had an originality about his every work. None of his work ever really felt formulaic. It is no wonder that his popularity has not faded with time. Look on the other hand at Dennis Wheatley - who, I might hear you say. In my youth he was the iconic horror writer of my teenage decade (and for several before that). Where are his books now? They have dated and so faded from the bookshelves. The trick is to write stories that do not date. A lesson for all writers.

[GOLLUM]

Originally Posted by Jeremy

But does popularity equal greatness

I'd say not necessarily, at least this seems to be the case with authors I read in that they're not necessarily embraced by the mainstream reader but are great works IMO.

[Lacedaemonian]

I would say that Phillip Pullman is better writer than JK Rowling but Harry Potter was a much more enjoyable read though not very thought provoking. I must read this Stroud.

[rune]

There are authors that are very popular but not necessarily that entertaining I'll not got into that though.

Stroud is a good author and despite others feeling their are strong similiarities between his series and Rowling's series, I didnt feel that way when I read his first book. There is no sarcastic demon's in Harry Potter.
Harry Potter is based around Hogwarts, Stroud's series isnt.
There isn't a revolution going on against magic in Harry Potter. To me the two series dont feel similar at all.

[Jeremy]

Originally Posted by Alia

My question is... did Stephen King ever fade? I still him alive and very active, even in the movies.

And what ever you do... don't tell my son that Pokemon faded.

When I was a young boy in the 1980's, Stephen King's novels were at the top of the bestseller lists all the time. Not so anymore.

So after the rise and fall of Yu-Gi-Oh, your son is still clinging to Pokemon? Let me guess, he must have a Nintendo gameboy and a GameCube, and he has collected all 150 pokemon. Or is it 250?

[Alia]

So after the rise and fall of Yu-Gi-Oh, your son is still clinging to Pokemon? Let me guess, he must have a Nintendo gameboy and a GameCube, and he has collected all 150 pokemon. Or is it 250?

The child suffers from OCD.

[Lacedaemonian]

I shouldn't laugh Alia. So is Pullman writing any more YA novels? His concepts are far superior to even those used in Adult books.

[Alia]

Originally Posted by Mark Robson

My point is that Rowling's books might not dominate the number one slot in the bestsellers forever - neither does Star Wars, but it's still a multi, multi million dollar a year business in franchising all the tag on extras. Harry Potter is a brand that will last for decades. Every year another wave of children become old enough to attempt reading it, and are encouraged to do so by avid parent fans. I would be very surprised to see this fade for a very long time.

Do you think that Rowling's success will last for generations without writing another story? Even Lucas had to go back and make more movies to bring in the next generation. Star Trek had to evolve too to bring in the next generation. Many famous works have had to do something to maintain that status. I don't personally see Rowling succeeding for too much longer after the final movie is made unless she puts pen to paper again.
Just my thoughts...