I also think it's fun to read a book "actively" and try to figure out how the world works, what's going to happen next based on characters motivations, etc, etc rather than just passively and I find that good books often reward paying attention.
Fully agreed. And not only is it fun, but it's also a great learning tool. Even bad books can reward mindful reading—sometimes becoming more rewarding even than good books, in a certain way.
That said, I would have no particular beef with the woman's reputation or success, [...]
Yeah, that bothers me too. Certainly more than it should. Pratchett? Leiber? Moorcock? Nope: according to some there hadn't been a fantasy writer in the U.K. for decades.
I know at various points in their lives Moorcock and Christopher Lee envisionned, with enthusiasm, the possibility of the latter incarnating Elric on the big screen. But their plans didn't come to fruition, and as Lee became older and older, both men thought he would eventually embody not Elric but rather his patron Arioch, Lord of Chaos. But that didn't pan out either, and Lee eventually died. Imagine, had Lee played that role of Arioch
after appearing in the LOTR movies, thus riding on the phenomal success thereof; it could have triggered a discovery or recollection of sorts in the mind of the british public, anent the wonderful fantasy writers they already had.
