If we no longer get Uncle Orson Reviews... columns, I'll be sad. Even when I cared nothing about the item being reviewed, I still found it interesting and entertaining.
Posted by Stephan (Member # 7549) on :
I rarely agree with his politics, but his taste in entertainment is quite good.
Posted by Arjen (Member # 12980) on :
Sadness!!! I hope he still writes them and posts them here on his website. I have always enjoyed his pieces, even if I thought he was wrong.
Posted by Andy_T (Member # 12996) on :
Dang - I thought there would have been more questions like this by now! I've lurked here for years but never posted (and thought I'd registered long ago, but I guess not)... I've been reading OSC's column online for many years now. He did mention considering quitting writing it a year or two ago, and I can't help but wonder if this provides the opportunity for him to do that. Although I can't see him being able to just bite his tonque completely... I would not be surprised if he didn't find some venue for occasional reviews columns. hmm, maybe he'll contribute something to IGMS...
Posted by DustinDopps (Member # 12640) on :
If you read the new column (http://www.hatrack.com/osc/reviews/everything/2013-05-09.shtml) you'll be happy to see that it is *possible* for Uncle Orson Reviews Everything to continue. I added my email address to the list.
Posted by jtgame (Member # 8337) on :
Oh, only a month has gone by since the last UORE column, and I'm already sorely in withdrawal. Please keep 'em coming Uncle Orson!
Posted by Sevenar (Member # 9660) on :
No more reviews? :-(
Posted by millernumber1 (Member # 9894) on :
I am feeling pretty sorry about them too.
Posted by Sa'eed (Member # 12368) on :
I've been reading those reviews over ten years. Sure, I didn't care about the local scene stuff but his take on movies/tv shows was an interesting perspective.
Posted by GentleGiant (Member # 12377) on :
Without UORE I dont see much reason for visiting this website.
As above, his politics stink, but I respect his judgement on most other topics, and picked up several new artists and authors from reading his columns.
Posted by Speed (Member # 5162) on :
Another big fan of the column. I hope he finds a way to keep doing some form of it. Even if it's not the full column on a regular schedule, maybe he could turn that section of Hatrack into a mini-blog. Just write a couple paragraphs about anything he happens to be enjoying whenever the urge strikes him. It would be a shame if we never got to hear from him again just because the local paper closed up shop.
Posted by Amka (Member # 690) on :
I second that. I think it would be great for him to have a blog on Hatrack.
Posted by Sa'eed (Member # 12368) on :
quote:Originally posted by GentleGiant: Without UORE I dont see much reason for visiting this website.
As above, his politics stink, but I respect his judgement on most other topics, and picked up several new artists and authors from reading his columns.
Hear hear!
Some days ago I actually thought about just why hatrack.com became a habit for me, even though the last Card novel I read was back in 2002 (Shadow Puppets). It was because of the weekly or bi-weekly reviews from Card.
Maybe he just doesn't read/watch as much stuff anymore? Posted by kacard (Member # 200) on :
stay tuned, they may be back soon
Posted by Jake (Member # 206) on :
8)
Posted by millernumber1 (Member # 9894) on :
YAY!
Posted by DustinDopps (Member # 12640) on :
I got two emails today about the continuation of Uncle Orson's review columns. Now if I can just convince my wife that it's worth the money...
Posted by millernumber1 (Member # 9894) on :
Emails?
Posted by DustinDopps (Member # 12640) on :
There was a link up on hatrack earlier to sign up for updates about Uncle Orson's columns. Here's more information: http://www.hatrack.com/rhino/. Posted by Aros (Member # 4873) on :
He wants us to pay . . . $24 a year . . . for his blog posts?
Posted by millernumber1 (Member # 9894) on :
Well, first new blog is up! I shall have to think about the subscription thing.
Posted by Arjen (Member # 12980) on :
I imagine that the majority of the $24 cost will be going towards funding The Rhino. It allows Card to continue writing articles for them, helps the Rhino stay in business, and gets people like me who live in Idaho who enjoy reading his thoughts the chance to get more. Not sure if I am going to pay it, but maybe I can convince someone that it would be an awesome Christmas present.
Posted by scifibum (Member # 7625) on :
The stuff that the Rhino publishes is available for free. What makes you think the subscription for other content funds the Rhino? Not saying it's impossible, but it seems improbable.
Posted by Speed (Member # 5162) on :
We don't have to pay, but at least we have the option. It's more than we had a week ago. As for myself, I'm not sure if it's worth $24 a year, but I did enjoy the columns, so I guess it is worth something. I'll have to put some thought into it. Either way, the fact that the column continues in some form makes me happy.
Posted by Orincoro (Member # 8854) on :
Horrifyingly bad marketing, bad development, bad bad bad execution, as per usual.
Posted by boriquajake (Member # 6410) on :
My understanding is that the weekly columns will of course still be free, but if you subscribe you get additional content in the form of almost daily musings or whatever. I paid the $24 because I like Card's musings, but I understand that in a world where we are used to getting people's musings for free on twitter or facebook or wherever that seems weird. I guess for me, someone who hates twitter and doesn't have a facebook account it doesn't seem odd that an author charge me to read what he writes.
Still I can see how some people might think it's silly.
Posted by Aros (Member # 4873) on :
Neil Gaiman and Terry Brooks post regularly to their sites for free. It develops fan good will. But between IGMS and now this. . . .
Posted by Jake (Member # 206) on :
What do you mean by "between IGMS and now this"? IGMS is an online short fiction magazine that buys and publishes stories from various authors. It only makes sense that people would be asked to pay to access that.
Posted by Aros (Member # 4873) on :
Uh huh. Just saying that there's a lot of free content online. Most people are finding other ways to make money.
Charging for an e-zine is a little old-fashioned. Charging for a blog is rather unheard of. But if he does a good job and people enjoy and pay for it, good on OSC.
Posted by Aros (Member # 4873) on :
Note that I've never subscribed to IGMS, so I have no idea the quality / value. If the yearly quality is on par with Analog or Asimov's, maybe the $15 per year is warranted. If not, the price tag may be a little high.
$24 per year, however, is more than most major magazines. But the content is rather niche. I do say, it's probably an interesting experiment.
Posted by scifibum (Member # 7625) on :
IGMS quality was great when I subscribed.
Posted by Amka (Member # 690) on :
You can actually read some of the posts for free on the Rhino Times, which is now back up. This almost makes me wonder if this isn't a way to help keep the Rhino times up?
Also, have you noticed the lack of advertisements? There are blogs I like that are free, but have advertisements and they really, truly irritate me. Blinking things give me headaches. And I get startled when an video ad suddenly starts up, sometimes quite loud, and I have no idea where the sound is coming from on the page so I just close the tab. Sometimes even if I know where it is, and I turn it off, I close the tab.
I have an idea though. We (meaning my husband and I, Geekatplay) give out our tutorials for free, but they come out slowly on youtube, one tutorial in a series at a time. Or, they can buy the whole series with bonus content.
So, maybe these can become free like, a year after they were sent? They're no longer time relevant.
Another thing that would be fun, and something I think you could self publish, is to collect them into a book of essays, maybe humorous? Part memoir. A theme for each chapter - For instance, the stuff that always disappears from store shelves because OSC likes it.
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