Those wags over at PW! Such a bunch of scamps they are!
This is the exact order of the reviews in the print edition of PW this week. It took me a minute to get the joke, then I was laughing so hard people moved away from me on the subway car.
So many movie trailers start with this. And pretty much every comic book movie trailer starts with a sweeping shot of a city. It's comical how often it happens.
In a world where one has the "authority" to review novels, one should try harder. Also, who has the movie trailer guy's voice stuck in their heads now?
When I first read the reviews, I was horrified because I thought if this is good, I doomed as a writer. Then I began to become aware that each is a combination of some of the 'popular' stories -- I like the Catholics hunting werewolves -- and realized someone at PW was having too much fun for April Fools Day.
In a world where conspiracy theories abound, Fritstop Nurdlefinger must convince the world that the world is plagued by a worldwide Catholic plot to push vampire tales all over the world, since they get worldwide publicity from crosses, holy water, and cathedrals. It's unworldly.
In a world where weary PW reviewers are forced to read or die, sharks swim and chomp waiting for their reviews...or their next meal. Muahaha! Oh, and yes, I hear the movie guy's voice in my head commentating everything.
Oh my! As a very self-conscious writer I have been beating myself up over the quality of everything: character development, plot, balance between description and action, grammar, finding ways to engage the emotions of the reader. These books sound truly awful. It gives me hope that my neuroses can actually yield something salable.
I guess I caught on with the first entry because, really, does anyone but Hollywood use the phrase "In a world where..." any more?
Of course, all of these entries are speculative fiction, and the "In a world" phrase seems mandatory in trailers for movies that don't take place in the "real" world. It's probably best not to use it for book reviews, jacket copy, or especially queries.
Conjures up an uber-creepy version of Disney’s - It’s a Small World. (Not that it isn’t creepy to begin with.) Imagine all those titles on a kiddie ride? Hello therapy.
In a world where Don LaFontaine, may he rest in peace, used to boom out those words in seemingly every movie trailer, this is a funny April Fool's Day prank from PW.
O Fortuna! Velut luna! Imperatrix muuuun-diiiii WHOMP WHOMP WHOMP WHOMP WHOMP
I think "In a world where..." is going to be the next thing agents laugh at and play complete-the-sentence with the most ridiculous scenario they can think of :)
So, Janet's comment: "This is the exact order of the reviews", had nothing to do with the joke?
I was hoping it went further than the opening line. I spent *minutes* trying to connect a theme or underlying story from the titles/images/world progression.
LOL! In a world where I don't go to the movies and don't watch much TV, I didn't even notice what the first words of those reviews were, only that they all seemed to be for books I wasn't interested in.
26 comments:
I'm revealing my unintelligence here, but...I don't get it.
In which world do you want the answer?
Tez: read the first 4 words of every review... :)
I keep thinking the joke must go deeper than the first four words... and then I just get confused. :)
In a world where it took me three entries before I got the joke...
So many movie trailers start with this. And pretty much every comic book movie trailer starts with a sweeping shot of a city. It's comical how often it happens.
In a world where one has the "authority" to review novels, one should try harder. Also, who has the movie trailer guy's voice stuck in their heads now?
I have to admit it took me a minute, but that is hilarious!
Bethany, I definitely have that guy's voice stuck in my head. AND, I keep getting this flashback of scrolling text with drammatic music. LOL
When I first read the reviews, I was horrified because I thought if this is good, I doomed as a writer. Then I began to become aware that each is a combination of some of the 'popular' stories -- I like the Catholics hunting werewolves -- and realized someone at PW was having too much fun for April Fools Day.
Took me until the third review to realise what was going on. Excellent stuff.
In a world where I am humming to the 'all to familier music' to me eyes I wonder, why do catholics and blood-sucking bankers get all the fun?
Huh?
In a world where I read Query Shark, the first words literally jumped off the screen at me because Ms. Shark has railed against it.
Gah!
Cut off the "in a world where" and turn what follows into a sentence of its own. That should work for most, right?
In a world where conspiracy theories abound, Fritstop Nurdlefinger must convince the world that the world is plagued by a worldwide Catholic plot to push vampire tales all over the world, since they get worldwide publicity from crosses, holy water, and cathedrals. It's unworldly.
Was it a joke or just a very worn template?
In a world where weary PW reviewers are forced to read or die, sharks swim and chomp waiting for their reviews...or their next meal. Muahaha! Oh, and yes, I hear the movie guy's voice in my head commentating everything.
I love it. I will admit it broke my brain at first, but now I'm laughing hysterically. Geeks rule . . .
And I seriously want that Scalzi book.
Terri Lynn Coop
Posting from my newspaper blog ID because I'm too lazy to sign out and in again.
Oh my! As a very self-conscious writer I have been beating myself up over the quality of everything: character development, plot, balance between description and action, grammar, finding ways to engage the emotions of the reader. These books sound truly awful. It gives me hope that my neuroses can actually yield something salable.
I guess I caught on with the first entry because, really, does anyone but Hollywood use the phrase "In a world where..." any more?
Of course, all of these entries are speculative fiction, and the "In a world" phrase seems mandatory in trailers for movies that don't take place in the "real" world. It's probably best not to use it for book reviews, jacket copy, or especially queries.
Conjures up an uber-creepy version of Disney’s - It’s a Small World. (Not that it isn’t creepy to begin with.) Imagine all those titles on a kiddie ride? Hello therapy.
In a world where Don LaFontaine, may he rest in peace, used to boom out those words in seemingly every movie trailer, this is a funny April Fool's Day prank from PW.
O Fortuna! Velut luna! Imperatrix muuuun-diiiii WHOMP WHOMP WHOMP WHOMP WHOMP
COMING SOON!
In a world where this happens, I want to go watch the trailer for that movie "Comedian" again.
I think "In a world where..." is going to be the next thing agents laugh at and play complete-the-sentence with the most ridiculous scenario they can think of :)
So, Janet's comment: "This is the exact order of the reviews", had nothing to do with the joke?
I was hoping it went further than the opening line. I spent *minutes* trying to connect a theme or underlying story from the titles/images/world progression.
LOL! In a world where I don't go to the movies and don't watch much TV, I didn't even notice what the first words of those reviews were, only that they all seemed to be for books I wasn't interested in.
"in a world where..." sounds like an excellent essay prompt. Perhaps we live in a world where reviewers have been turned into like-minded zombies.
Post a Comment