Guys…

I was planning on continuing my spork of the Never Again series, however, it turns out that their author, R. J. Rummel, has died:

Rudolph Joseph Rummel, 81, of Kaneohe, a retired professor emeritus of political science (internal relations) at University of Hawaii at Manoa, died in Kaneohe. He was born in Cleveland. He is survived by daughters Dawn Akemi Rummel and Lei Sanae Rummel Wilmoth, and sister JoAnn Marie Tenorio. Private services.1

I don’t really feel right making fun of the work of a recently deceased author, so before doing anything, I am going to ask you if I should continue the spork, or just stop, since I had not gotten anywhere past the first book.

Regards,
Brendan

1 His obituary

Comment

  1. BlackStar on 31 March 2014, 22:11 said:

    I think it’s fine to spork the books but leave out criticism directed at the author himself, but that’s just my opinion. I’d like to read further sporks but I understand if you don’t feel right sporking them.

  2. Asahel on 31 March 2014, 23:57 said:

    Hrm, yes, I see what you mean. I’d personally give the person a 6 month grace period. Also, as BlackStar said, keep criticism to the book itself and not cast aspersions on the author (that’s actually good just in general principle [though it makes it so hard when you come across “Just what could the author have possibly been thinking?” sections]).

    I would also understand if you wanted to let the series alone, and wouldn’t be too disappointed since at least the first sporking was completed. But I also wouldn’t think ill of you if you continued with the sporkings.

  3. A Real Libertarian on 1 April 2014, 04:42 said:

    I say go for it.

    If it was a matter of poor writing it would be different, but the moral atrociousness of the series is definitely worthy of sporking.

    When you get down to it, Never Again is just a more coherent and non-troll version of The Prayer Warriors.

  4. Tim on 1 April 2014, 06:59 said:

    Eh, dying doesn’t suddenly make you a better person, and pretending you liked someone just because they died is dishonest. Always reminds me of a skit I saw where a politician drops dead in the middle of an interview and his opponent instantly starts talking about what a great man he was. “And this is EXACTLY the kind of man who… <hlerk!> …will be sadly missed.”

  5. Epke on 1 April 2014, 07:33 said:

    I’m with Tim on this one. Yes, him dying is sad and makes one reconsider plans, ideas and such (past ones too), but that doesn’t affect the quality of the books or the mind state of the author when he wrote them.

  6. swenson on 1 April 2014, 09:34 said:

    I pretty much agree with everybody else. It does seem a little crass to be insulting him right after his death, but it doesn’t remove his work from criticism forever or anything. So maybe a short hiatus (well, there’s been a bit of a hiatus anyway) and then get back into it.

    Also, TIL my monitor/display drivers don’t support the nice shortcut keys for flipping the display, which is a little upsetting. I had to do it the complicated way instead.

  7. Tim on 1 April 2014, 15:52 said:

    I just turned off automatic rotation on my tablet.

  8. Resistance on 2 April 2014, 14:24 said:

    I’m with Tim on this one. Yes, him dying is sad and makes one reconsider plans, ideas and such (past ones too), but that doesn’t affect the quality of the books or the mind state of the author when he wrote them.

    Completely agree. Even though the death of a person is sad, in doesn’t exempt them from criticism.

  9. Emma on 3 April 2014, 18:39 said:

    I’d say go for it, especially since the never again sporking was one of the best on the site

  10. Brendan Rizzo on 7 April 2014, 16:20 said:

    I’d say go for it, especially since the never again sporking was one of the best on the site

    Really? I’m flattered. I didn’t actually think the sporking was that good at all. In that case, I really should get around to sporking the second book, then.