William Pitt, famous author, has competition

[dutch508]

DFW (16,772 posts) http://www.democraticunderground.com/1018707786

If I had paid someone to do a review of my book, it wouldn't have been THIS good
There was a nice comment on Amazon from none other than Norm Ornstein, "Washington's most quoted pundit," but I have no idea who this was. If you are someone on DU, my humblest gratitude. If not, maybe a few more of you will be inspired to check it ( "The Time Cellar" ) out:

As a fan of time travel stories I never thought I'd ever find a novel that could rival the classic "Time and Again" by Jack Finney. I stand corrected.

I can't compare the two stories since they are so very different in nature, but for sheer enjoyment as well as thought-provoking wonder, "The Time Cellar" is quite simply a fantastic companion to Finney.

Which is as it should be; I've seen some stories that hew too closely to Finney's model. It's a treat to read a book with an entirely different approach, but no less excitement and equal plausibility. Every permutation of the time travel paradox is addressed, often brilliantly.

The writing is delightful, with a casual tone that only a very skilled wordsmith could pull off so successfully. Like a talented dancer, (DFW) makes it look easy. But the more you read, the more you realize how hard it really is to write so well, with so many subtle hints of things to come. I was also impressed with how artfully he integrated impeccable French with translations of such dialog so that it seemed all the more real, without becoming awkward. It all flows together.

It's a book which I quite literally could not put down. I read it in one sitting, and was very sorry when I reached the end. I would have loved for it to go on for several hundred more pages. I'm glad I bought it as a hard-copy, this is a book I intend to re-read often in coming years.

I couldn't recommend this more highly. (I've already started shipping off copies to my friends!) ---------------------------------------------------------------------

It's really fascinating to me--some people like the time travel parts, some like the collecting references, some liked the romance subplot, some liked the small bits of social commentary, and, so far, at least, nobody DIDN'T like it (or if they hated it, they had pity enough on me not to say so).

William Pitt, famous author, has yet to reply...

DFW (16,772 posts)
12. It's not an easy task to complete

About five years ago, I was having lunch with Stan Lee in L.A., and he said I really should go ahead with my idea. I know nothing about wine, so I figured I'd never bore anyone with more details than a reader could safely swallow. But I have enough respect for Stan's instinct. If he had thought my idea was a bust, he would have said so.

One review said "The author's passion for fine wines shines through as he uses all of the senses to describe setting." What pompous bullshit. I never touch the stuff and have no passion for it whatsoever. At least I must have been somewhat convincing, and creating a dialog between a retired (year 1818) Thomas Jefferson and a somewhat politically aware thirty-something in southern California in 2010 was more fun than you can imagine.

Name dropping cockfag.

vanlassie (2,550 posts)
17. I read it last week and I recommend it to my fellow DUers, too.

It was a fun read, and I was intrigued by the time travel aspect- not a genre I would typically read. But DFW knows how to give attention to detail, and created a real page turner towards the end! I'm still thinking about it and that alone makes me recommend a book.

DFW (16,772 posts)
31. In my fantsies, when my book is a hit film, here's the song I want to run during the closing credits

 

Actually, I had given the manuscript to a film producer here in NY last year, and figured she wasn't interested. I just ran into her cousin, and freaked out to hear that she "loved it!" and that I didn't respond to her email wanting further discussions because I had already signed with another studio (!!!!!).

What happened is that I never got her email! Stay tuned for the next exciting episode.........

 

panader0 (11,558 posts)
26. We have another author here too: William Pitt nolabear

Her novel is 'The Last of the Pascagoula'
It's available on Amazon. Not to hijack your thread DFW, just to call attention to another DU writer.

  I fixed it...

http://www.amazon.com/The-Time-Cellar-Marc-Emory/dp/159967971X

It's on Kindle for $1.99

Robert Packard, born in Los Angeles in 1974, love-starved wine nerd, frustrated physicist, and over-qualified gofer for a California law firm in the year 2010, suddenly gets two accidental windows to the past: Château Lafite in 1860, and Monticello, Virginia in 1818. They appear courtesy of the proverbial "Dark and Stormy Night." Not yet knowing if animate beings can cross through unscathed, he enlists the help of a local coin expert, and obtains the vintage coins to buy impossibly fresh wine from the Bordeaux vineyards in 1860 and "30 year old" wine from the 18th century directly from the cellar of his new friend, Thomas Jefferson. Hearing Robert is from California, and knowing only the geography of 1818, Jefferson compliments Robert on his English ("You speak impeccable English for a Mexican"). Robert has some history to fill in. Fluent in French, Robert also falls in love with a 28 year old vineyard worker's daughter in 1860 Bordeaux, France, born in 1832 ("You may start in with the 'older woman' comments any time"), but doesn't know if it's safe to go visit her in person. She helpfully offers the involuntary services of "Minou" to test the portal's tolerance of animate beings. Robert (now "Ro-BAIR") sells the rare vintage wine from his non-existent secret "cellar" to a crooked expert whose shop is on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills, and becomes an instant multi-millionaire. This brings with it the irritating consequences of a visit from the IRS, divorce proceedings from his soon-to-be ex-wife, and credible threats from thugs hired by the wine dealer, who can't stand not knowing the true owner of Robert's fabulous wine cellar. Coping as best he can, Robert's only friends are a 75-year-old retired Thomas Jefferson, his genius Guatemalan assistant Juanita Chang (whose ex taught her Cantonese), her brother, who knows the secrets of "maa shalats," whatever that might be, and the owner of the local rare coin shop. Robert gets a crash course in rare coins, 21st century legalities, and 19th century rural French etiquette. His wit and humor sustain him through his journey from contented mediocrity to sudden wealth and danger, with a surprise appearance by the Little Old Lady From Pasadena, who turns out not to be from anywhere near Pasadena. His wild whirlwind journey through a few dozen changes in life culminate in a surprise ending that is anything but obvious. Readers are offered fair warning from none other than Spider-Man creator, Stan Lee: “Hey, Marc—I hate you! Now I can't even look at a glass of wine without thinking of your furshlugginer story!!!”

Paperback: 338 pages
Publisher: Ivy Press; 1 edition (October 25, 2014)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 159967971X
ISBN-13: 978-1599679716

I hope others who try the book have just as good a "time
By DFW on December 2, 2014Format: Paperback Verified Purchase
But I'm biased. I'm the author. However, I'm grateful for the positive feedback I got from such people as Spider-Man creator Stan Lee, "Good Morning Vietnam" central figure Adrian Cronauer (the real one), Democratic icon Howard Dean, and Republican former congressman Jimmy Hayes of Louisiana. I hope others who try the book have just as good a "time," pun intended!

 

[franksolich]

Given that the Bostonian Drunkard can't hold a candle to Big Dog or dutch508 when it comes to literariness, it's even less likely he could to Marc.

[Chris_]

I'm sorry, but that sounds terrible.

Robert's only friends are a 75-year-old retired Thomas Jefferson

Seriously?

Stan Lee is the biggest attention whore in the industry.  If there's a camera, he'll be in front of it.

[franksolich]

I'm sorry, but that sounds terrible.

It still reads better than the stale old has-been Bostonian Drunkard, though.

[Big Dog]

DFW (16,772 posts)
12. It's not an easy task to complete

About five years ago, I was having lunch with Stan Lee in L.A.,

Hmmm... well, I was getting a couples' massage with Morgan Fairchild, and she said that DFW couldn't write his way out of Steven King's bedroom closet.

I didn't think to ask her how she came to know so much about Steven King's bedroom.  Maybe I should.

[Big Dog]

Based solely on the author's synopsis of the book, a Heinleinesque time travel tale with a nebbish for a protagonist and incidental characters who are far more interesting than the author-cum-hero*, I can think of only two words to describe DFW's magnum pus (sic):

It sucks.


*DFW's protagonist is himself, in a fantasy situation.

[tanstaafl]

DFW (16,772 posts)
12. It's not an easy task to complete

About five years ago, I was having lunch with Stan Lee in L.A.,  and he said I really should go ahead with my idea.

Good on ya, DFW primitive, mate.

But, just to let you know, my nephew's wife is cranking out some romance books, the first which eating your drivel for lunch on Amazon.

Your book: #29,000 Plus

Niece-in-law's book: #3300 and change.

And her's is targeted to the young, millennial females. Half of your targeted audience. She didn't have lunch with Stan Lee to motivate her.

[the county]

check out these two reviews on Amazon:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Time Cellar by Marc Emory--do not miss!, October 28, 2014
By Margaret Carter - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)    This review is from: The Time Cellar (Paperback)
I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys time travel, history, romantic adventures with a healthy mix of intrigue and adventure! The plot twists are enough to keep you wanting to know where could this story possibly go next? It's a great read.


Enthralling story that suspended disbelief of this hard-SF fan. ..., October 29, 2014
By M. P. (SoCal) - See all my reviewsVerified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: The Time Cellar (Kindle Edition)
Enthralling story that suspended disbelief of this hard-SF fan. I'll read again to savor the captivating writing I sped through in my need to find if Robert succeeded.

they both read and reviewed it four days after it was published. 

[GOBUCKS]

As a fan of time travel stories I never thought I'd ever find a novel that could rival the classic "Time and Again" by Jack Finney.

Time travel stories.

Sounds a little like the stuff our old friend DUmmy Mythsaje, Saje Williams, used to crank out.

His main genre was intergalactic vampire sex crime, but it was set in the future.

But at least from all appearances this DUmmy didn't have to pay a vanity publisher.

Or, as in Will Pitt's case, his mother didn't have to pay a vanity publisher.

[Big Dog]

Enthralling story that suspended disbelief of this hard-SF fan. ..., October 29, 2014
By M. P. (SoCal) - See all my reviewsVerified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: The Time Cellar (Kindle Edition)
Enthralling story that suspended disbelief of this hard-SF fan. I'll read again to savor the captivating writing I sped through in my need to find if Robert succeeded.

M.P. of SoCal = CaliforniaPeggy (Margaret P)

She likes her SF hard. Rock hard.

Blink, blink, blink.

[the county]

M.P. of SoCal = CaliforniaPeggy (Margaret P)

She likes her SF hard. Rock hard.

Blink, blink, blink.

Wow, you're right - guess Peggy has two Amazon accounts at least. Another CP review:

4 of 11 people found the following review helpful
 The NOTE, April 9, 2014
By M. P.Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Gone to Ground (Kindle Edition)
I just purchased Gone to Ground (Kindle) and I doubt I will bother to read it. I do not appreciate being schooled before I read a fictional book. Apparently Ms. Taylor believes she is the only person aware of land use issues; I will be actively non-recommending due to Taylor's pushing of her agenda prior to page one.