My take on DL authors.
I have read 106 DL books so far and I can tell the author most of the time without looking it up. Here is my breakdown:
(Note, I mean no insult. I am in a creative business as well, and I know people work hard at what they do. Even if it’s not to my taste, it doesn’t mean it or the creator is bad.)
Laurence James: Not fair since he wrote the early books. Guessing isn’t hard. But…Graphic sex and child killings. A very “western” vibe.
Mark Ellis: Good solid stories, gets the genre and delvers. Sadly, too few books.
Mel Odom: Workable takes, not a favorite, not disliked.
Alan Philipson: My favorite author of DL. Very good stories, knows the characters and delivers page turning stories. Even the books I thought I wouldn’t like (Shadow Earth) became favorites. Just wow. We need more from him, though I know it’s unlikely to happen.
Terry Collins: Ok, I can’t pick out his books. They seem to work alright, not memorable for any outstanding reason. This is not a bad thing…it just is what it is.
Nick Pollotta: Ok, I have a love hate relationship with this author. His books seem to be written using the random encounter table from a role playing game. “Oh I have THAT many pages to fill…ok, (rolls dice) “The companions encounter a…group of intelligent water bugs! Great! Oh, there are more pages…um…they meet a…a (rolls dice) A giant! A giant what? Hedgehog! Brilliant! Oh crap, there’s more pages to fill…what can they fight? Um…” I also don’t think he is very good at developing the characters, they are stagnant action sequences strung together by a tenuous plot. But to be fair I really enjoy his books, sometimes they just hit the spot for mindless entertainment. Also, he would benefit from reading some of the DL books from other authors. I get the impression it’s just a job and he really doesn’t care.
Andy Boot: Oh poor Andy Boot. I can spot one of his stories as soon as the plot unveils. I think his ideas are bigger than the series allows and so they end up feeling weird in the general context. I believe he is a smart guy and his ideas are compelling, they just don’t mesh well with DL. I feel badly even saying it, but my least favorite stories have been his, consistently. Sorry. I hate saying this because I am not a slack-jawed mouth breather, I have a wide and varied taste in entertainment, but I think his books are too intellectual (for pulp). Wow, does that make me sound stupid. I admire his ideas I just wish he could deliver more on the characters and action. I think he would be better suited to more serious fiction. He writes well, just not pulp.
Edo Van Belkom: Can’t pick out one of his stories. This is not a bad thing in a shared author series.
Victor Milan: Good DL stories. Some pacing problems but I think he will end up being a favorite.
Chuck Rogers: Well Damned if AP doesn’t have a successor. Hellroad Warriors was everything a DL novel should be. More please! I mean it! MORE! This guy is the future of DL if the publishers care at all. HOLY CRAP is he good!
Rik Hoskins: Alright stories, not great, not bad. Once he gets a few more under his belt he could be really good.
John Helfers: Nick Pollotta without the nonsense. I really enjoyed Downrigger Drift.
Well, that’s my opinion after 2 years of reading the books. I’m stopping at 105. Not forever, but until I get back on my feet and more books are written. I like being able to get through a bunch at a time. I have recommended the series to many people and I’ll stay on the forums. Moving on to Outlanders…