2008-08-20T02:52:35Z http://blog.ftlpublications.info/comments/atom.aspx Quick Blog tag:blog.ftlpublications.info,2008-07-12:1189241 Debbie http://glassmask.net/deb/ 2008-07-12T07:28:42Z 2008-07-12T04:25:08Z tag:blog.ftlpublications.info,2008-07-06:1174112 Debbie http://glassmask.net/deb/ 2008-07-06T17:22:54Z 2008-07-06T15:07:41Z
Best of luck with the sales!]]> tag:blog.ftlpublications.info,2008-06-14:1120534 Publisher 2008-06-14T19:48:42Z 2008-06-14T19:48:42Z tag:blog.ftlpublications.info,2008-06-09:1108188 D Simmons 2008-06-14T19:46:08Z 2008-06-09T17:28:15Z Thanks,
Dorothy Simmons]]> tag:blog.ftlpublications.info,2008-05-15:1046695 Robin Mathews http://www.handmadeacc.com 2008-05-15T10:34:27Z 2008-05-15T09:45:16Z I am extremely gratified to know that after so many years, new stories are now to continue the Tracy family adventures...
But..Please remember that International Rescue is the family, not just the youngest son.... neglecting this fact is what doomed the 2004 flick.. So many of us had hoped to see what adventures that Scott, John, Virgil, Gordon and Alan would have with those marvelous Thunderbirds again.. Only to be disappointed by a pouty, self centered brat and a character who didn't even exist in the series... Tin Tin's and Alan's characters are part of a ensemble, not the "whole reason for any Thunderbirds story"....
The first chapter goes down pretty good, with attention to Jeff's old friend from the series, Tim Casey well received.. While criticized by some, Lucy's dying phone call to the family could also have some bearing on the dedication Jeff and the boys have to risk their lives for others.. Let's see how the story plays out first, after all we have not met Kyrano or Brains yet...
Gerry Anderson's Television series always seemed to depict adult concepts and stories, but although aimed at a younger audience, never made the mistake of "talking down to the kids".. It was this style of storytelling that endeared the shows to both a young and adult audience...Never forget that most of the adult fans out there, loved the shows as children who then grew into adults... My advice is , keep it clean, and exciting with great role-model characters.. Then you don't have to worry about age-groups. Besides, kids are smarter than you think!
No matter what, I am willing to give full credit to an author who is as enamored with the characters and concept as Ms. Verba... A labor of love can only improve with time,]]> tag:blog.ftlpublications.info,2008-05-10:1036181 Daria http://www.thunderbirdsarego.net 2008-05-11T07:45:18Z 2008-05-10T23:21:03Z tag:blog.ftlpublications.info,2008-05-09:1032327 quiller 2008-05-09T15:11:47Z 2008-05-09T07:31:19Z My main reaction on reading it was to wonder what audience the author was aiming at. From the vocabulary and style I would guess the pre-teen market but it lacks the fast-paced action of the Theydon novels and the romance/death scene would be a turn-off for young boys. If aimed at an older audience then it needs more emotional depth.
A younger audience will find it hard identifying with Jeff as the main character. Theydon mainly focussed on Scott, who was ‘our’ hero and one we could readily identify with. Jeff as the ‘older generation’ lacks the same appeal for a young reader.

I understand that the author wanted to fill in as much backstory as possible, but by using the chronological approach, she has slowed down the action and created large jumps in the time-line (and to a 10/12 year old, 13 years is a very long jump). Perhaps it would have been better if she had started the story with a rescue, created a jeopardy situation by trapping one of the main characters, then filled in the backstory in a series of flashbacks (either from Jeff’s POV, or from one or more of the other main characters) while they all battled to get him out. Which they would, in true TB fashion, just in the nick of time.

To sum up, I am not trying to flame Miss Verba’s work, just look at it objectively as a piece of fanfiction. In its defence, I think it is miles better than the 2004 movie, and obviously written by someone who cares about TB, but regrettably I don’t think this novel will bring us a lot of new fans.]]> tag:blog.ftlpublications.info,2008-05-07:1028867 Angela J 2008-05-07T19:05:59Z 2008-05-07T19:01:48Z
Some heavy editing would improve it and make it age appropriate (is it aimed at early teens?). It needs more emphasis on emotional characterisation. The risk with the 'action, action, action' structure is that there will need to be a rescue and/or death ever chapter to keep the reader interested, which may not be sustainable.

Hope to see another draft soon.]]> tag:blog.ftlpublications.info,2008-05-07:1028243 Pennyspy 2008-05-07T19:05:01Z 2008-05-07T14:40:40Z
This is why I am with the comments from GillyLee and Cathrl. This chapter, containing characters I love and a situation I always wanted to read about, has left me wondering when the real version of the story is coming. This chapter is not well written, the characters aren't there. I'm afraid this needs some serious reworking. This is a very long way from being readable, and an even longer way from being professional. This isn't the finished version due to be distributed to fans. Is it?

For all the reasons above - no characterisation, description, or legible style, this is not a Thunderbirds story or a readable work of any fiction.

And no one wanted to like this more than me! (well, perhaps a few. Just about)!]]> tag:blog.ftlpublications.info,2008-05-06:1025918 Darlene McCurdy 2008-05-06T19:18:43Z 2008-05-06T16:27:06Z