What other fantasy books do YOU read? [Archive] - Page 3

Bêthberry

03-31-2006, 08:13 AM

I'm going to make Encaitare jealous now. I've just got a signed copy of Anansi Boys! ;)

I hope my reading pile gets smaller soon so I can make a start on it!

Well, I have a signed copy of Coraline. So there! ;)

You know, there are times when I am reading Gaiman that I become absolutely convinced that he is the new/next Master of Fantasy, along the same lines as Tolkien. They're very different writers of course, in terms of world view and perspective, but in their ability to create magic on the page and to reimagine the world as a perilous realm, I think Gaiman is the Next Apparent.

What do y'all think? What are the common elements in Tolkien's and Gaiman's fantasy? Do they both understand how to reinvent mythology?

Lalwendë

03-31-2006, 01:50 PM

My great daydream when I was ten was to travel to a parallel universe exactly like ours - except that in that other universe, nobody had ever written Lord of the Rings. I would bring along my copy, get somebody to type it out for me in manuscript, send the pages off to a publisher, and then be celebrated as author of The Lord of the Rings without doing any of the work.

I love that quote. It's not only funny, and expresses what a lot of us have probably thought at some time or another (I know I have ;)), but it shows how a writer as skilled as Gaiman realises how what Tolkien wrote was unique and could not be repeated, how it was Tolkien' lifetime of work which produced Lord of the Rings.

I think we are always looking for the next Tolkien and always will be, but I don't think there ever will be another Tolkien. However, Gaiman could well garner such support as Tolkien did if he keeps on producing such good work, as he does share that understanding and appreciation of mythology. His work is most definitely of its time (as was Tolkien's - no sex, no swearing etc), reflecting a darker kind of world, and is already having an influence - how many girls go around dressed like Death, and boys as Dream?

The main difference that I see is that Gaiman, possibly due to being from a different era, is not afraid to confront the darker side of human nature, and he ties in figures such as John Dee and serial killers to his tales. Where Tolkien found it more difficult, certainly as he aged, to deal with chaotic ideas (such as Tricksters), Gaiman seems to have more freedom to play with these ideas.

And I also think that while Tolkien's work leads us on to mythology, Gaiman's work actually seems richer if we know something about mythology (and history and literature) before we read it.

deal_with_it

04-02-2006, 09:34 PM

The Shannara series was good. Just got repetitive after awhile.

Oddwen

04-03-2006, 09:12 AM

Encaitare

04-03-2006, 03:21 PM

Lal and Bethberry... I am ridiculously jealous. Did you go to a signing? On his website it says that you can send a book to the publisher and he'll sign it next time he's around there, but I want to see the man himself.

I agree that Neil Gaiman could very well be the next giant in fantasy writing. He definitely has the skill for it. Something else that pleases me about him is that he's probably the only favorite writer of mine who isn't dead! *knocks on wood*

Lalwendë

04-03-2006, 04:43 PM

Alas, no! There had been a signing and they had a few copies left for sale. This is getting to be a habit for me now - missing signings. I also missed Christopher Lee by about 30 minutes a few years ago, but then I might have fainted if I'd met him anyway! :eek: Though I lie...I did get to meet Alan Lee of course! I was about fifth in line! ;)

Goldberry101

05-02-2006, 06:55 PM

I really like Eragon and Eldest by Christopher Paolini (not sure if that's spelled right) and I have one other question, kind of silly but how do you get a little picture under your name? This is my first time doing any kind of foum thing and it's kind of confusing.

Lalwendë

05-07-2006, 12:10 PM

Rhod the Red

05-08-2006, 03:54 AM

The Chronicles of Narnia, Harry Potter and David Edding's Tales of Berialand.

Bêthberry

05-08-2006, 11:17 AM

I've just had a book buying binge again (damn Waterstones and Tesco with their cheap paperbacks... ;)).

I read Urban Grimshaw and The Shed Crew in an evening or so, a true story and a little too gritty (but very good). So I decided to read something that was a total contrast afterwards, and I'm now onto The Mists of Avalon! I'd forgotten how good it was!

I must have read it in the mid 80's first time around and it was a library book so I've not set eyes on it since. Basically, its a retelling of the Arthurian myths from the point of view of the women, and it also has a very pagan feel to it. I'm currently at the point where Arthur is about to be conceived...

Do I hear an echo of Tristram Shandy here? Any winding of clocks?

I wonder how davem's strictures about Tolkien's Christian subtext--or should I say LMP's Christian subtext apply--if at all--to a book which so directly incorporates the struggle between pagan and Christian visions.

This issue relates to a point Lalwendë made some posts ago about Neil Gaiman' s mythology. If I remember correctly, Lal suggested that our appreciation of his American Gods depends upon our prior knowledge of the old mythologies. Is this a failure according to davem's theory of experiencing fantasy?

I've recently finished a book which is not usually categorised as fantasy--William Gibson's Neuromancer--but science fiction. (Well, both are often subsumed under the rubric speculative fiction these days, so perhaps that division does not matter.)

Why do I have this urge to think of Neuromancer as fantasy? Especially since Gibson is 'credited' with inventing the idea of the Net. There is one aspect particularly in which his work reminds me very much of Tolkien: the language.

Gibson has so fully realised his time because he creates many new words to give shape, texture, credibility to his vision: technology is married to nature in his first sentence, which describes the sky in colours of television screens. His metaphors are astoundingly apt, sharp, direct. Tolkien created the elven languages and was scrupulously particular in his use of English philology to characterise Middle earth.

Is there something in the very language which an author uses to write his or her work that gives rise to the tradition of fantasy? Does fantasy involve a major reimagining of language, so that it is not merely descriptive of a different reality but actually implies that reality? Or is this simply a feature of the masters of the genre? (if I'm making much sense here)

davem

05-08-2006, 12:24 PM

This issue relates to a point Lalwendë made some posts ago about Neil Gaiman' s mythology. If I remember correctly, Lal suggested that our appreciation of his American Gods depends upon our prior knowledge of the old mythologies. Is this a failure according to davem's theory of experiencing fantasy?

i think it depends how much background the author gives the reader. I haven't read American Gods, so I don't know how much info Gaiman gives. Of course a fantasy novel can intentionally depend on a prior knowledge of Fairy lore or Mythology. Then again, there are fantasy authors who seem to hope desperately that his/her readers know nothing about the traditional stories. Anyone reading Stephen Lawhead's Arthurian series will be appalled by his twisting & misuse of Celtic legend for his own ends - this is a real case of a 'conscious Christian subtext' - in fact its not even a 'subtext', but a deliberate misrepresentation of the facts in order to promote his religion.

The case with Tolkien is different as, while he may have been inspired by ancient myths he has created a self-contained Secondary World which does not require any knowledge of Primary World myths & legends to be comprehensible (in fact bringing too much Primary World knowledge into one's reading can actually break the spell he weaves). This is different to what Lawhead does, in that once the Pagan themes are changed, subsumed into new forms the originals can be ignored.

Gaiman does not write epic fantasy in the Tolkienian sense, but explores ideas & themes from myth, folklore, contemporary fiction, modern culture. His stories take place on the borderland between, if you like the personal & the Collective unconscious.

Does fantasy involve a major reimagining of language, so that it is not merely descriptive of a different reality but actually implies that reality? Or is this simply a feature of the masters of the genre? (if I'm making much sense here)

Its the 'Green Sun' thing, I suppose....

Bêthberry

05-29-2006, 02:52 PM

Gaiman does not write epic fantasy in the Tolkienian sense, but explores ideas & themes from myth, folklore, contemporary fiction, modern culture. His stories take place on the borderland between, if you like the personal & the Collective unconscious.

I suppose it all depends on how one interprets 'epic.' This might be true for most of Gaiman's work, but I wonder if Stardust isn't more traditionally fantasy a la Tolkien.

Does fantasy involve a major reimagining of language, so that it is not merely descriptive of a different reality but actually implies that reality? Or is this simply a feature of the masters of the genre? (if I'm making much sense here)

Its the 'Green Sun' thing, I suppose....

So then both Fantasy and Science Fiction partake of this same incantatory Green Sun. Do the two part in the "satisfaction of primordal human desires"?

davem

05-29-2006, 03:31 PM

I suppose it all depends on how one interprets 'epic.' This might be true for most of Gaiman's work, but I wonder if Stardust isn't more traditionally fantasy a la Tolkien.

Hmm, too long since I read Stardust. Struck me as closer to Dunsany than Tolkien. In fact, now I think about it, in his use of Faery as the Land of the Dead it is very close to Mirlees' Lud in the Mist. I see where you're coming from, but I think as a novel about Faery it shares little with Tolkien's approach.

So then both Fantasy and Science Fiction partake of this same incantatory Green Sun. Do the two part in the "satisfaction of primordal human desires"?

No, I think they can both do that. Much Sci-fi is traditional faery story translated to the 'future' - Star Trek (the original series) is an Immrama.

ninja91

05-30-2006, 05:30 AM

Other than Tolkien, my favorite authors are J.K. Rowling and R.A. Salvatore.
Harry Potter and Forgotten Realms are great, not to mention the "Wheel of Time" by TOR fantasy.

Bêthberry

06-06-2006, 09:06 PM

Hmm, too long since I read Stardust. Struck me as closer to Dunsany than Tolkien. In fact, now I think about it, in his use of Faery as the Land of the Dead it is very close to Mirlees' Lud in the Mist. I see where you're coming from, but I think as a novel about Faery it shares little with Tolkien's approach.

No, I think they can both do that. Much Sci-fi is traditional faery story translated to the 'future' - Star Trek (the original series) is an Immrama.

Well, I must withdraw, having not yet read Dunsany. Frightful confession, I know, but what can I say?

Serendipity is a strange thing, as is synchronicity. At the time davem first posted this comment about Immrama (sing, immram) I had been reading about the first book of fanciful travel writing in the English tradition: The Voyage of St Brendan. (Well, okay, yes, it was written in Latin, but it was adopted and incorporated as part of the English imagination.) That coracle of St. Brendan's had once inspired in me a particular action in a very long ago RPG, but that imaginative thrust of journey to the unknown with arresting mix of known, unknown, and spiritual discovery (using this phrase losely) I find particularly interesting in terms of the development of fantasy.

ArathorofBarahir

06-07-2006, 11:23 AM

I have read all of the Harry Potter series so far and although I enjoy reading them very much, I would have to say that nothing can compare to the experience of reading the Lord of the Rings the first time. I doubt that another book will come along, in my lifetime, that affected me in so many ways.

Lalwendë

06-10-2006, 12:45 PM

If you fancy any fairy stories I can recommend Angela Carter's Book of Fairy Tales (http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/1844081737/qid=1149964923/sr=8-1/ref=pd_ka_1/026-5377726-0098046) which includes some really disturbing tales from around the world and has a strong focus on stories featuring women. Some of the shortest tales in the book are the most haunting, and these are not tales for kids!

taranwanderer

06-12-2006, 05:33 PM

I have been a fan of the Chronicles of Prydain for over 2 decades now. Back when I first read the books in fifth grade my mind was envisioning them as live-action movies. For me, these books carry with them so much truth and beauty, ideas and values that I think are so often forgotten in our society. The books have a real-life magic to them; it is hard to describe exactly how much these books mean to me, but it is enough to have inspired me recently to write a screenplay for the first book, The Book of Three. (It's 168 pages right now, and I need to do some editing.)

I have had some correspondence in the past with the author, Lloyd Alexander, and most recently I inquired into his thoughts on live action movies based on the films. (I also asked if I might send him a copy of my screenplay). He reminded me that Disney holds the rights to the books, and he more or less felt that such an endeavor was not possible. It would be nice to have his blessing, so to speak, but I am detirmined to let the people at Disney know that there are perhaps millions of people who feel deeply drawn to his Chronicles and would love to see them made into films.

I am envisioning the movies to be less high fantasy, more historical, focused more as a chronicle of a young man's journey to adulthood. I believe people will be inherently drawn to the ideas of what true nobility is, and the power to command ourselves. And I am certain that the deep and abiding love that develops between Taran and Eilonwy, which gracefully and beautifully grows through the length of all 5 books, will touch everyone.

I am corrently living in Los Angeles, working in post-production (music for film and TV), and I have made some connections with people in the industry, and more importantly Disney. I am in the process of talking to one director in particular who has worked with Disney in the past, and I am trying to get an agent to solicit the screenplay to Disney.

What I think is of utmost importance is what fans of the books think, their opinions, and feedback. So, I am also looking for some help in starting a website or link for people who want to see the Chronicles of Prydain made into movies. I want to try to get as much buzz happening as possible for the project, and the internet, as we all know, has become one of the most powerful tools to do this.
Any ideas or comments would be appreciated, and thanks for taking the time to read through all of this.

Firefoot

07-15-2006, 09:07 AM

A question I've been meaning to ask all you Pratchett fans for a while - I see the books at my library, and there are SO MANY of them... is there a certain order you're supposed to read them in? I haven't been able to find a clear answer to this on my own...

New recommendation - "Avalon" by Stephen R. Lawhead. I enjoyed it quite a lot (and it happens to be another book I picked up because of this thread... :p ).

Encaitare

07-15-2006, 01:40 PM

The very first book in the Discworld series is The Color of Magic. I don't think the order in which you read them matters that much... I read the Color of Magic, and after that just picked the ones that looked interesting. I would recommend The Truth, that's one of my favorites.

Bêthberry

07-15-2006, 02:39 PM

Well, when HerenIstarion first put me on to Pratchett, he suggested I read them in order as some of the books are dependent on previous Discworld info.

However, I have jumped around too. I love Witches Abound, which is, I think the last in the Witches Trilogy, which includes Equal Rites and Wyrd Sisters. I am desperately waiting my turn for the latter two from the library, not that I don't think they are worth buying, but if I parcel out my pennies wisely, they go farther. ;)

Witches Abound is a hilarious parody of all kinds of witch, fantasy and fairy tale lore. Try fighting against a happy ending, will you? Try fighting against story itself, will you? Think that the girl doesn't always have to get the handsome prince? Throw in some voodoo magic, mancats (he's hilarious), werewolves, vampires, dwarves, and uncooperative magic wands and you've got one of the most humorous takes on fantasy going.

For most imaginative with a twist of unsettling eeriness, my money is still on Gaiman.

Kath

07-15-2006, 05:28 PM

I started on a Witches book with Terry Pratchett and it put me right off for a long time. About 2 years later I picked up Guards Guards and have been hooked ever since, even on the Witches books. Definitely worth reading!

Techinically there is an order Firefoot, but you can really read them in any order, as they are also themed in a way.

Well, when HerenIstarion first put me on to Pratchett, he suggested I read them in order as some of the books are dependent on previous Discworld info.
That's true to some extent, but really you can get a good grasp of the characters without having read their introductions, and there is often a mini-summary at the beginning of the book as the story unfolds so you get to know enough of the history to be going on with.

Nogrod

07-15-2006, 06:03 PM

narfforc

07-17-2006, 06:20 AM

I really liked a The Lost Thingymawhatsits of Shamarra, I also enjoyed The Chronic Sisters of the St Thomas Convent of Unbelievers. The best however were Hairy Potter and The Prisoners on a Razorban closely followed by Potty Harry and The Goblin's on Fire.

P.S. I did'nt think much of Potty Harry and The Philanderer's Stoned

Bêthberry

07-17-2006, 08:09 AM

Sorry to be stubborn, but read the sci-fi novels of Iain M. Banks. You don't crave for others after reading them... :)
(And yes, you are frustrated when he does not write a sci-fi novel in a year X...)

Unimaginable fantasy, incredible characters, especially female (that confessed also by my female-feminist friends who dig the books wholeheartedly), never really know what's going on and the worlds are just astoninshing!

Oh, you are quite right that Banks (by any name) is a superb writer of great stories, great characters, entirely unique take on everything, whether he writes under "M" or not. Consider Phlebas was one of the best reads I'd had in along time, and I'm currently on Feersum Endjinn. He does something incredible to and with language and his power of invention is awesome. It might just be me, but possibly I prefer his "mainstream" stories--Whit and The Wasp Factory, which more probably to me belong under the rubric distopia.

Which raises the point of why I hadn't mentioned him... Most of the authors named here I think belong to a particular kind of Fantasy, one that I would call a sub-genre of the larger category of Speculative Fiction, which to me combines both science fiction and fantasy, all kinds of fantasy and not simply the fairy kind mainly represented here.

But let's not split hairs or definitions! There could well be dwarves in space I have not read of--or have forgotten. It's a sad state that reading new books sometimes pushes older ones out of the memory pool. ;)

Firefoot

07-17-2006, 06:37 PM

Thanks to those of you who responded. It helps. :)

Rockin_tha_Casbah

07-19-2006, 07:02 PM

I've read some of the Wheel of Time series by Robert Jordan, but I just couldn't get into them.

One series I absolutely loved was His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman. I'm not exactly sure if you would classify that as fantasy, though. I'm not sure how else you would group it in that case.

I see I'm about the 10,000th person to mention Terry Pratchett, but I still have to. I read Good Omens and thought that that was a "wickedly excellent book" (to quote my 7th grade book report), and then my friend turned me onto the Discworld Series. Yet another awesome set of books.

I haven't read much Neil Gaiman, but I did read American Gods, and as soon as I turned it back in to the library, I went to Barnes and Noble and bought a copy of my own. It was that good.

Lalwendë

07-20-2006, 01:26 PM

It might just be me, but possibly I prefer his "mainstream" stories--Whit and The Wasp Factory, which more probably to me belong under the rubric distopia.

Which raises the point of why I hadn't mentioned him... Most of the authors named here I think belong to a particular kind of Fantasy, one that I would call a sub-genre of the larger category of Speculative Fiction, which to me combines both science fiction and fantasy, all kinds of fantasy and not simply the fairy kind mainly represented here.

Mmmm, The Wasp Factory. That has to be in my all time top ten books. What an incredibly horrible, disturbing, but yet somehow magical book!

Bringing it back to my current favourite, Gaiman, I'm nearing the end of the Sandman series now, and I'm stunned by the scope of his writing, which seems to veer from horror to fantasy to sci-fi to satire. I think they might fit under Bethberry's category nicely.

I used to be very sceptical about comics and graphic novels and wonder how they could possibly be classed as literature but I've realised I was simply blinkered as they all demand a 'script' which must be as well written as a traditional novel in order to provide a compelling read. And the breadth of Gaiman's own reading is immediately clear in Sandman - not many 'comic books' venture into scripture, Roman history and ideas about gender, but he throws just about anything and everything into the plot. I find his knowledge and imagination as intimidating as I find Tolkien's.

Everyone should read them, but they aren't cheap, I warn you. :eek:

Encaitare

07-20-2006, 05:56 PM

Everyone should read them, but they aren't cheap, I warn you. :eek:

Tell me about it. Let's see... if each one is roughly $20 (no idea what that is in pounds or euros) and I've bought 11 Sandman graphic novels (the 10 in the series plus Endless Nights), then I've spent $220 on the Sandman. Wow.

Would I spend more? Of course! They're worth it, though, because you can read them again and again.

And the breadth of Gaiman's own reading is immediately clear in Sandman - not many 'comic books' venture into scripture, Roman history and ideas about gender, but he throws just about anything and everything into the plot. I find his knowledge and imagination as intimidating as I find Tolkien's.

Yep. That's some deep stuff. Speaking of ideas about gender, my favorite character in the whole series is probably Wanda (NOT Alvin). :D

Lalwendë

07-21-2006, 06:06 AM

It's bad enough that the core series is so expensive, there are even more peripheral books that you can buy! I've got hold of Death:the High Cost of Living, and the Sandman Companion too. Some of the add-ons are actually written by Gaiman, but there seems to be a whole Sandman Library that Vertigo comics do too, written by other writers, including stories about Thessaly and so on. Kind of a library of 'official' fan-fics, I suppose. ;)

I've heard tell that Gaiman wants to release a single volume of all the Sandman stories - now that would be amazing, and would probably break your arms too. :eek:

I loved Wanda too! There's some interesting stuff about the character in the Sandman Companion that's worth reading (if you've not already got a copy that is!).

Thinlómien

07-24-2006, 06:01 AM

Must continue this babbling... but having read a lot of Guy Gavriel Kay lately (A Song for Arbonne, The Lions of Al-Rassan and currently The Last Light of the Sun), I must say he's advancing to my favourite writers. I love the way he writes and I love his characters. He has tradegy, but not too much or syrup-like. I heartily recommend.

Encaitare

07-24-2006, 09:57 AM

I loved Wanda too! There's some interesting stuff about the character in the Sandman Companion that's worth reading (if you've not already got a copy that is!).

I don't actually. I'll have to keep an eye out for it. An "official fanfiction" book I highly recommend is the Sandman: Book of Dreams (I believe it is called). It has some lovely stories about all the characters of the Sandman, including a really good one about Cain and Abel (ahhh, nothing like twisted brotherly love).

Smaug reborn

07-26-2006, 10:24 AM

Oh... this thread is so huge I've had distinct trouble wading through it all and have given up prior to the end!
I thought I'd mention some of the stuff I've appreciated from my collection, apologies if they've been discussed before.

I think one of the great things about Tolkien is that once you've read the books, in my case at around the age of 8 or 9 I believe... They set you on a path of appreciating really creative, well thought out writing, in no matter what genre you prefer to wade. The downside to this (if you see it as a downside that is) is that it can make you a lot more picky about what you spend your money on... which sometimes can be somewhat frustrating when you've run out of current favourite authors and have to go looking for new ones! Here's some of mine, and I hope it might help anyone that is perhaps in that situation :)

William Gibson is a must for anyone interested in the more cyberpunk end of things.... he in fact pretty much created cyberpunk all on his own.

Neil Gaiman has been mentioned a lot here I note, but I thought I'd bring him up anyway, simply because he is probably the only author whom I can quite honestly say I find myself checking regularly on, to see whether there's been a new release... he is creating some incredibly unusual and enthralling stuff, not least of which were the Sandman series.
For those of you who are graphic novel fans by the way, I've recently started purchasing the Sandman spin off series Lucifer, which though not written by Gaiman is very much in his vein of thinking (think gods, devils, unseen universes, social commentary, dark humour). Well worth a read!
Oh and if you really want to find out where the origin of the wave of these sorts of adult graphic novels is, see if you can find yourself a copy of Watchmen... it was I believe the first of this kind, with a very unusual twist on the usual superhero scenario.

Orson Scott Cards "Ender" series is also well worth a read, another one with plenty of social commentary, set in a future galaxy where we're about to be destroyed by an alien race (or are we?) Sounds like a cliché I know, but very well written!
Shame the man himself is something of an outspoken character really…

I've not heard anyone mention the Dan Simmons Hyperion cantos which I'm quite surprised at?

And last but by no means least what about Peter F Hamilton? His night's dawn trilogy is stunning.... and you can't really fault any of the Minstar stuff (I forget the name of the series :eek: ) either.

Oh there's so many more!!!!!! I just love reading :)

Lalwendë

07-26-2006, 02:35 PM

Oh... this thread is so huge I've had distinct trouble wading through it all and have given up prior to the end!

Beware of the Canonicity thread then. Or arm yourself with some nurofen and a stiff drink before attempting. ;)

I've been tempted by Watchmen too, mainly as Alan Moore was a major source of inspiration for Neil Gaiman (hark at me, I'm turning into some sort of fan-gurl). But another good one is The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen which I got cheaply a while back - it's way, way better than the film!

I watched the film of Sin City a few weeks back and I really enjoyed it. Has anyone read the books? I know they're not fantasy, but...

davem

07-28-2006, 02:13 PM

Encaitare

07-28-2006, 04:10 PM

But another good one is The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen which I got cheaply a while back - it's way, way better than the film!

Maybe that'll be my next comic endeavor, then, because I liked the movie a lot... and if the comic is even better, that makes Enca a happy girl.

Bêthberry

07-28-2006, 07:38 PM

David Gemmell dies at 57. here (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/5224868.stm)

I have to admit I've never read any of his work, but for others who have this is tragic news. Let me know his best novel.

That is indeed tragic news, for 57 is yet still in the prime of years. I'm sure Gemmell has stalwart fans among people here at the Barrow Downs and I'm sure that in particular Squatter ahd his friend Palando of the Blue Robe will be saddened to hear of Gemmell's passing. They can probably speak best to his finest work.

I have read but two of his books, Midnight Falcon of the Rigante series and White Wolf. He had a way with history and fantasy; his fans are legion; that I have not read others speaks more to time's intemperate chariot than to any disinterest on my part.

Barrow Downs has a tie-in with the fantasy of Gemmell, for a Rohan game tried once to see if Gemmell's style could be merged with Tolkien's. If any are interested you can take a look at the game Betrayal of Trust (http://forum.barrowdowns.com/showthread.php?t=5716&page=1).

ninja91

08-06-2006, 10:50 AM

I am reading Harry Potter...again... :p

ninja91

08-28-2006, 07:13 PM

I am sure that some of you have read Eragon and Eldest. Really good stuff.

Oddwen

08-28-2006, 09:26 PM

I'll have to read Eragon again before the movie comes out. As I recall it was an okay premise, with some characters that weren't all mind-bendingly dull, but was marred by a clunky narrative & clumsy names. I would like to see what sort of writer Paolini matures into, though.

I've spent the past couple of weeks reading the Wheel of Time series. *claws face* I've currently started The Book Where Nothing Happens. If you do happen to pick up this long and somewhat-less-than-stellar series, be prepared for a long list of indistinguishably-named confusing minor characters and pompous, prejudiced, controlling, intolerant, smelly, overbearing, evil, witchy, excruciatingly aggravating women. Too bad Asmodean died.

I need to write me a fantasy that doesn't have a flawed boy-hero who tries to avoid his destiny. Or Aes bloody buttered onions Sedai.

Gil-Galad

08-28-2006, 09:30 PM

Talon of the Silver Hawk is the last fantasy book i've read so far..., its a great story and i want to get the sequel

Encaitare

08-28-2006, 09:55 PM

Gil, the sequel was pretty good too... I believe the third one is also out but I have yet to read it.

Brinniel

08-30-2006, 10:49 PM

Let's see....well, I'm still a huge Shannara series fan (Terry Brooks), though I long finished reading all the books. Perhaps I should start reading other novels besides Shannara by Brooks....

I finally got around to reading The Chronicles of Narnia last year before the movie came out. I absolutely fell in love with the books. I sure did miss out in my childhood.

I also read a book called The Assassins of Tamurin by SD Tower some time ago. Great book- I'd recommend it. :)

I recently bought Eragon and it is next on my list of books to read. I haven't really been reading that much this summer- it's not like I don't have enough unread books on my shelf. I've just got to get myself out of the lazy mode... :rolleyes:

Gil-Galad

08-31-2006, 01:04 AM

The Mouth of Sauron

08-31-2006, 10:49 AM

Other than LotR, what other fantasy literature do the rest of you read? I like:
CS Lewis' "Chronicles of Narnia"
Madeleine L'engle's "The Time Quartet"
and Richard and Wendy Pini's "ElfQuest".

Elfquest, unlike the others which are books, started out as a comic book graphic novel, and has seen many different incarnations from comics and books to full colour graphic novels and now a movie is in the works. Any other EQ fans here? That's where I got the name "River" from, my ElfQuest fan-days back when I was in high school...

Your friendly neighbourhood elf, *River*

"You have nice manners for a thief and a liar." Smaug

The Bible and the Koran .

And regretably they cause more grief than LOTR .

ninja91

08-31-2006, 05:52 PM

Come on, everyone likes R.A. Salvatore. Dark Elf Trilogy, Icewind Dale, Legacy of the Drow, Hunters Blades, among a couple others. Fascinating author.

Brinniel

09-01-2006, 01:20 PM

Ah, yes. I've owned both The Dark Elf Trilogy and Icewind Dale Trilogy for years now, but for some reason I never got around to reading them.

I really need to stop buying new books and read the ones I already have. :rolleyes:

ninja91

09-01-2006, 03:16 PM

Brinniel, I have that same exact problem. I buy like three books at once, and the next time I get to reading them is a year afterwards. I must have 10 books that I have had for a while that I still have yet to read.
P.S. Read the Hunter's Blades trilogy. Too exciting to put it down!!!

Lalwendë

09-01-2006, 03:39 PM

Me too. I blame those good offers in Waterstones. And I see a new Bill Bryson book is out so it won't be long before I'm tempted to buy that!

However, I'm now re-reading His Dark Materials again after all the Pullman debate, so I can make some more informed comments. And it's a great read anyway, despite what people say. I'd forgotten what a great character Lyra is!

Bêthberry

09-01-2006, 04:25 PM

Yeah, that debate prompted me to reread HDM.

Interesting how it has two such powerful female characters, Lyra and Mrs. Coulter, with Mary Malone being an interesting one two. ;) At least, I enjoyed her more in Book III this time.

Kath

09-01-2006, 05:36 PM

And I see a new Bill Bryson book is out so it won't be long before I'm tempted to buy that!
Do! We bought it a few weeks back and while I've barely started it since my dad has been hogging it, he highly recommends it.

Oddwen

09-05-2006, 06:30 PM

My two brothers constantly talk about the Wheel of Time series, they keep joking how the series goes on and on and the author might not finish the series before he passes away (hes 70-something i beleive)
It does go on and on - though he's not quite sixty yet. He does have a rare blood disease. He says the next book will be the last, though it looks to be long in the writing

Kelvins

09-15-2006, 08:05 AM

Narnia

Thinlómien

09-20-2006, 03:28 AM

I've lately read the three first parts of The Song of Ice and Fire by George R.R. Martin. They're quite fascinating. The characters are well-wrought and the events interesting.

ninja91

09-27-2006, 12:30 PM

I've lately read the three first parts of The Song of Ice and Fire by George R.R. Martin. They're quite fascinating. The characters are well-wrought and the events interesting.

How long has it been out for? It sounds good, but then again, it will probably end up in the I-have-yet-to-read stack
:rolleyes: :D

Oddwen

09-27-2006, 05:54 PM

Thinlómien

09-28-2006, 02:30 AM

This weekend, I read the Farseer trilogy by Robin Hobb, and am just halfway through the Tawny Man trilogy by the same. I picked them up because I think someone on this thread recommended them. Yes. Um.

I can also recommend them - it's a different kind of fantasy than I've encountered before. About a boy/man caught up in events long foretold, yet it doesn't get too preachy nor does the boy/man "come into his own" with ease or a sudden predictable showing-up of magic. If that makes sense.
I confess recommending them. :) I just love them and very much agree with your points here. (Yes, they do make sense, at least to me.)

How long has it been out for? It sounds good, but then again, it will probably end up in the I-have-yet-to-read stack
There has been four books (A Game of Thrones, A Clash of Kings, A Storm of Swords and A Feast for Crows) this far, the first was published in 1996 and newest last year. There are still three books to come.
It's epic fantasy, including plotting, drama, warfare and complex relationships. Furthermore the books not the most cliché-rich stuff out there and they have a certain sense of reality in them. One thing I love about the author is that all his major characters don't survive alive or have a happy life. Besides, the book doesn't have clear good and bad, which I see (in most books) as a very good thing.

Kath

09-28-2006, 05:57 AM

The main problem I had with it was that Harry's a stupid wilfull git.
Agreed Oddwen. All that yelling too, most irritating. Well worth reading the books all the same though as you say.

Bêthberry

10-20-2006, 09:57 PM

There is a writer known for his eerie stories and illustrations which move ominously between realism and fantasy, a children's writer. I don't think anyone here has mentioned him, but the depths of irony and perilous fantastic events in his work are worthy of adult note. I've borrowed my current sig from one of his books, the absolutely rivetting The Mysteries of Harris Burdick. Go read and look. Peer hungrily. Be stimulated.
Chris Van Allsburg (http://www.chrisvanallsburg.com/home.html)

Saurreg

10-21-2006, 01:27 AM

I have just finished The Wizard of Earthsea from the Earthsea Quartet by Ursula Le Guin and I didn't like it much. The Tombs of Atuan looks abit more promising but I shall have to finish it to give a final verdict.

Saurreg

10-21-2006, 01:59 AM

I just read "Anansi Boys" - I'd been wanting to read some of Gaiman mostly because of the talk around here. I'd read "Good Omens", but wasn't really impressed with the subject matter.

It's weird..."Anasi Boys" is very close to Douglas Adamses "Long Dark Tea-Time of the Soul". I found it an easier read (less "british" I suppose), but wow. Is Gaiman is the next Adams? Hmm. I'll have to get my hands on something else of his to be sure.

Anasi Boys was what my friends and I describe as Gaiman off tangent. It is a good read but nevertheless it fails to capture the dark gothic essence that made American Gods and Neverwhere such nightmarish pleasures. I thought the only good part was when "fatty' entered the African Dreamland and enlisted the aid of the animal spirits against his brother. The birdlady bit was scary.

Mr. Nancy (Anasi the Spider sprite) was fun, but I would have prefered it if the book was on other characters such as Mr. Ibis (Thoth), Mad Sweeney (Irish Leprechaun) or my fav, Mr. Jacquel (Anubis).

For those of you who are not in touch with mainstream comics, Mr. Gaiman is now scripting The Eternals for marvel comics.

Lalwendë

10-21-2006, 11:23 AM

Saurreg, what didn't you like about Wizard of Earthsea? I read this not that long after reading LotR for the first time and it was one of the scant few other fantasy books that impressed me - a failing which lasts to this day. I must read Earthsea again soon.

However, I can't as I've a few new books now. I've just got hold of the compilation of the first four Books of Magic - scripted by Neil Gaiman, with some Charles Vess illustrations. Some of the following volumes also look good, despite not being scripted by Gaiman; there was an interesting one telling the story of the Faerie Queen's life. I saw a new collection of Neil's shorter fiction and other writings has just come out - Fragile Things. Here's a poem by him (http://www.endicott-studio.com/cofhs/chFaeryReel.html) in Journal Of Mythic Arts.

I've also picked up Susanna Clarke's new volume of shorter writings - The Ladies of Grace Adieu. This includes a story about the Raven King, John Uskglass. It's a very nice edition as I decided to splash out an extra £10 and get the boxed, special edition one. ;)

Saurreg

10-21-2006, 12:36 PM

Lalwendë

10-21-2006, 05:31 PM

I did not like the Wizard of Earthsea because it was IMO lacking in descriptions and details unlike LoTRs or the other fantasy books. I couldn't picture anything much from the narrative and felt so detached from the characters that I couldn't care less whether Ged won or lost at the end... Perhaps the Tombs of Atuan with its ancient temples, blood sacrifices and such would work better.

Susanna Clark eh? Did she write Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell? It was voted by my varsity's book club as the best fantasy book of the year back when it just came out. I should make time to look for a copy of that book that everyone swore by, however priority must be given to Don Quixote by Cervantes (Penguin Books edition). :)

P.S: Anyone here read Promethea by Alan Moore and J.H. Williams III? Some would consider it as mere main stream comic or worse, cheesecake filler. I however think that the story was as good as that of Neil Gaiman's Sandman.

Well from what I remember (I really must read it again, I picked it up and read a chapter a few weeks ago but had to lay it to one side as I was in the middle of something else) there wasn't all that much description either! Funnily enough I found the first book the best - not all of them had even been published when I read it (think it was only a trilogy?). But Ursula Le Guin seems to go more for getting into the heads of characters. I liked the way it was a lot darker than LotR though - you need contrasts like that - darker books and more hopeful stories.

Now I'd recommend Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell to anyone. A mad mixture of dark faerie, the Napoleonic wars and all served up in an Austen/Dickens style. With footnotes. A slow building story, you won't be able to put it down as you hit the final third part. The Penguin Don Quixote is a good translation anyway so davem says - he read it last year. :)

Also I opened up my copy of The Ladies Of Grace Adieu earlier (it was sealed in plastic) and was pleasantly surprised to find its full of fab Charles Vess illustrations.

:cool:

Saurreg

10-21-2006, 11:28 PM

Well from what I remember (I really must read it again, I picked it up and read a chapter a few weeks ago but had to lay it to one side as I was in the middle of something else) there wasn't all that much description either! Funnily enough I found the first book the best - not all of them had even been published when I read it (think it was only a trilogy?). But Ursula Le Guin seems to go more for getting into the heads of characters. I liked the way it was a lot darker than LotR though - you need contrasts like that - darker books and more hopeful stories.

Now I'd recommend Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell to anyone. A mad mixture of dark faerie, the Napoleonic wars and all served up in an Austen/Dickens style. With footnotes. A slow building story, you won't be able to put it down as you hit the final third part. The Penguin Don Quixote is a good translation anyway so davem says - he read it last year. :)

Also I opened up my copy of The Ladies Of Grace Adieu earlier (it was sealed in plastic) and was pleasantly surprised to find its full of fab Charles Vess illustrations.

As far as I know it, there are four Earthsea stories in the compilation (The Earthsea Quartet, Penguin Books 1993 edition) that I bought.

The Wizard of Earthsea
The Tombs of Atuan
The Farthest Shore
Tehanu

I have finished the first story and am into the third chapter of the second. Suffice to say I am starting to like Arha the High Priestess of the Nameless Ones very much for she strikes me as more "human' than Ged. I liked her vulnerability, her loneliness, haughtiness and shockingly yes, even her nonchalance in giving death or life. The description of the tombs and the ritual of seance with the Old Gods was also highly agreeable with yours truly. :)

So it is settled! The book about English magiks immediately after the book on a wayward insane Spaniard. Thank you for your recommendation.

I have read the illustrated Stardust that was illustrated by Charles Vess. IMO one of the best graphic novels for the pictures conveyed atmosphere and moods that the words cannot. Oddly, I like to read that book whilst listening to Kate Bush's The Dreaming. So I will keep in mind The Ladies of Grace Adieu whenever I head into the bookshops.

I have a feeling that my free time for the rest of this year would be spent very fruitfully.

Lalwendë

10-23-2006, 08:48 AM

I have read the illustrated Stardust that was illustrated by Charles Vess. IMO one of the best graphic novels for the pictures conveyed atmosphere and moods that the words cannot. Oddly, I like to read that book whilst listening to Kate Bush's The Dreaming. So I will keep in mind The Ladies of Grace Adieu whenever I head into the bookshops.

I have a feeling that my free time for the rest of this year would be spent very fruitfully.

The Charles Vess illustrated Stardust is the best. And I only managed to pick it up by mistake, when I found it in York's excellent little comic book shop when I was just browsing one day. Well worth the few extra quid and effort involved to get it!

ninja91

10-23-2006, 10:24 AM

Currently reading The Moonshae Trilogy .

Tom Bombadillo

10-23-2006, 09:31 PM

Has anyone read R.A. Salvatore, Terry Brooks, David Farland, Steven Eriksson?

Thinlómien

10-24-2006, 03:00 AM

They certainly lack the sort of detailed description most fantasy books (walking in Tolkien's footsteps) are full of, but I don't see it as a fault. On the contrary, it works. Le Guin uses a certain simplicity and roughness and it impressed me greatly when I reread the books a while ago. She has no need to overdo anything. I, for one, love her personal style and name her one of my favourite authors.

After A Wizard of Earthsea, The Tombs of Atuan, The Farthest Shore and Tehanu, two Earthsea books have been published. Tales from Earthsea is a collection of short stories set in the Earthsea and one of them works as a kind of bridge from Tehanu to the next actual book. The next actual book is called The Other Wind and "completes" the story.

In my opinion, the original three (A Wizard of Earthsea, The Tombs of Atuan, The Farthest Shore) are brilliant and way better than the newer ones, but the newer ones are not bad either. I especially recommend the short stories of Tales from Earthsea. Of all the books my favourite is the Tombs of Atuan, it has a wonderful, dark atmosphere I've found in no other book.

Saurreg

10-24-2006, 06:28 AM

What about Neal Stephenson's highly acclaimed Baroque Trilogy? Now those were the best fantasy books I've read in a while.

ninja91

10-24-2006, 07:38 AM

Has anyone read R.A. Salvatore, Terry Brooks, David Farland, Steven Eriksson?

Salvatore is of my faves, and Brooks is very good.

ninja91

11-20-2006, 04:29 PM

As of now, The Thousand Orcs , and about to start book 2, The Lone Drow . I highly recommend them!

By the way, these are part of The Hunter's Blades trilogy by R.A. Salvatore, just in case. :)

Lalwendë

11-21-2006, 05:06 AM

I've had a quick look at Naomi Novik's (I think that's how its spelled...) Temeraire, and so far it looks to be a decent 'young adult' fantasy novel. Out on the blog circuit we've been talking about Eragon too, as I'm tempted to read this, with the new film coming out. Opinion seems divided over whether it's good or just a 'Rings-rip-off'. Anyone else here care to let me know if its worth a go? After all, I do like dragons... :)

The Books Of Magic compilation was very good, and had some absolutely stunning illustration, so that's worth finding - it groups together the first four tales, all written by Gaiman. It made me a little suspicious of where the idea for Harry Potter came from though...

Brinniel

11-21-2006, 10:00 PM

Out on the blog circuit we've been talking about Eragon too, as I'm tempted to read this, with the new film coming out. Opinion seems divided over whether it's good or just a 'Rings-rip-off'. Anyone else here care to let me know if its worth a go? After all, I do like dragons...
I have heard negative feedback on Eragon, which surprises me since I absolutely loved the book. I originally read it because I knew the movie would be coming out in December- a film I am now looking forward to more than anything. While it may be no work of Tolkien, the novel is exciting and fast paced. I couldn't put the book down and though I don't normally buy hardcovers and usually wait for the paperbacks, I knew there was no way I could wait until March to buy the next book Eldest, so I ordered it before I finished Eragon. I still find it amazing that this author was only fifteen when he started the book- while his writing may not be the most original, he still does a good job and knows how to keep the audience on the edge of their seats. The way dragons are portrayed in the novel is different than what I'm used to reading- Paolini gives them very humanistic qualities. If you like dragons, then I definitely recommend giving Eragon a try. But beware, the trilogy is not yet finished, so if you like it, you will be left hanging until the final book is published. :rolleyes:

Oddwen

11-21-2006, 10:17 PM

I tried reading Terry Goodkind's Sword of Truth series, but couldn't choke through the second book. It was fine, an okay little series, until suddenly without warning I got to some really weirded-up sexual bondage mistress women in the tenth chapter. *gag*

In the past few weeks I also read Sabriel, first in the Abhorsen series by Garth Nix, I liked it and I'd read more but my new library is less then stellar in the keeping of the second book of a series on the shelf. Either that or :(

I also picked up the Tiffany Aching & Johnny Maxwell series by Pratchett, and am looking forward to those.

Eragon...it was okay. Paolini goes into a little too much needless detail I think, and the main character is your average insecure boy who comes into posession of a magical object and is the sole savior of the free world. And magical ability is pretty much treated as video-game-like hit points, which annoyed me to no end. I am looking very much forward to the movie though.

Lalwendë

11-26-2006, 09:55 AM

Just got to stick this recommendation on here. Some time ago Pio mentioned a graphic novel called The Book of Ballads, illustrated by Charles Vess and written by a number of people including Neil Gaiman and Alan Lee's wife. Anyway I met with davem in Waterstones yesterday afternoon and he'd found a copy. I've already read most of it and it's superb!

It's a collection of tales/strips based on folk songs. There's a tale based on Tam Lin and another on Sovay, both favourite old songs of mine. It's definitely for grown-ups and those of grown-up outlook (as are most folk songs!), but its a beautiful book which sowns how fantastic the stories of folk songs are. As a bonus at the back you get a section detailing where you might find some of these great songs, mostly on folk-rock and acid-folk albums of the late 60s/70s (e.g. Fairport, Pentangle etc but also on modern albums by Kate Rusby and Martin Carthy.

Well worth reading for any fans of Fairy tales, folk songs or graphic novels! :cool:

ninja91

11-30-2006, 10:43 AM

Homeland , book one of the Dark Elf Trilogy by R.A. Salvatore.

Kitanna

11-30-2006, 06:27 PM

I just started reading Eragon on the adivce of my friend. I'm having mixed respones to it. It has potential, but thus far I am unimpressed. I'm really hoping it picks up, but it could be so good.

High King Fingolfin

12-11-2006, 01:20 AM

Oh dear, this list could end up pretty long. I think I'll just list authors. First on the list would be Lewis of course, followed by Robert Jordan, who has started to annoy me lately. I dislike the material by Christopher Paolini and Raymond E. Feist, its just one cliché after another. I was pretty into David Eddings a few months back, but his later series began to irritate me. R.A. Salvatore's all right. I absolutely despise J.K. Rowling, I'm not alone in that. I'm sure there are a bunch of others I could name, but I can't think of them right now.

Huh, that actually wasn't very long. Go figure.

EDIT: Well, I just remembered a few more to give my opinions on. Ursula Le Guin and Susan Cooper are both decent, and surprisingly original.

Brinniel

12-11-2006, 02:05 AM

ninja91

12-11-2006, 11:11 AM

I've owned both the Dark Elf and the Icewind Dale trilogies for years and actually even brought them to school with me. I really ought to start reading them. But confound it all, why do those books have to be so darned heavy?

I enjoy R.A. Salvatore's writing, I do, but I can never seem to finish any of his books I start. His series just seem to last forever, and well, I just don't have the time or money to keep reading a 16 book (plus) series....

I know what you mean. I must have read half of every Forgotten Realms book before having to stop...not that they were bad or anything. But I am on book 2 of the Dark Elf Trilogy, Exile, and I must say that I am screaming through that trilogy. I am really impressed with Salvatore, and this saga is capturing my time.

The Might

12-28-2006, 04:53 AM

Well...except Tolkien's books not much.
I always enjoy reading from to time my books with different Romanian fairy-tales, they remind me of my childhood, because they were among the first books I ever read.
I also own the Harry Potter series, but I can't say I'm such a big fan...
Lastly I tried to read some other Elf, Dwarf or Orc-related books but I soon stopped. These writers clearly can't be compared to Tolkien and the story always seemed boring to me...

Galadel Vinorel

12-30-2006, 06:50 PM

I have read others such as: The Dark is Rising Series, The Harry Potter Series, Eragon and The Eldest.

These writers clearly can't be compared to Tolkien and the story always seemed boring to me...

I completely agree. The best fantasy books that I have ever read were created by Tolkien, and non can truly compare. Some come close, yet I believe that non have yet to reach that height that Tolkien reached in his writing.

The Might

12-31-2006, 04:18 AM

And what I also dislike is that many of these writers use Tolkien's fame ro gain more success for there books. I was in the library a few days ago and I saw a book in German called "Orks" and on the cover underneath the title the following was also written:

"Here they return, the villains of Tolkien's writings, the Orks"

I mean, how low can you get to use someone else's name on your cover for more publicity...
Bad thing is many people actually think it's ME- and Tolkien-related and actually fall for that.
I looked through the book and soon found it was not very interesting

There was of course a map at the end, but the names were clearly randomly chosen. That is also one thing I admired about Tolkien, the names always made sense, but here there just some "The Peak of Argizil" or something like that which clearly took them no longer then 3 seconds to mak up.

And the worst is the way some writers find the names for theirs characters.
There is another book called "The Trolls" I also looked in, it was a story about Men fighting Trolls

And to my surprise all Mannish names were of Hungarian origin, and all Troll names were of Romanian origin...
there even was a Troll with MY NAME ! (wasn't very happy about that)
a little more creativity could be shown...

but I guess they don't really care, they know kids these days like something like that and will probably buy no matter what quality it has

another thing I very much disliked are the maps themselves...in the Orks book all took place in some strange land (with a probably just as strange name) which was encircled by mountains...but there as no explanation given as to how it was created...etc.

I don't say all other fantasy books are bad, by noo means...
but some really are :mad:

Thinlómien

01-04-2007, 07:56 AM

I read Mystic Warrior and Mystic Quest by Tracy & Laura Hickman for a book review for the newspaper my mum's working in and was again astonished by the low quality of the "mass" fantasy.

During the long years I've read fantasy, I've developed a radar that sorts the interesting books. As a result, I hardly ever read bad fantasy books; I know one when I see one. :) (I did read first of the Wheel of Time after my friend persuading me to do it for months - and I almost threw it to the wall on page three after discovering the baddie's name (Shai'tan) and again a few pages later when the hero sees a Black Rider and etc...)

I just dislike Forgotten Realms and Dragonlance and that sort of fantasy. They're flat, predictable, full of clichés, unoriginal and badly written. I wonder who enjoys reading that stuff.

Brinniel

01-07-2007, 07:18 PM

I recently bought Doppelganger and its sequel Warrior and Witch by Marie Brennan. I've only started on the first few pages of the first book, but I'm excited to read both of them.

Other sci-fi/fantasy books on my shelf that I have yet to read:

-Ender's Shadow by Orson Scott Card (I need to re-read Ender's Game before starting on this one)
-A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin
-Riddle-Master Trilogy by Patricia A. McKillip
-Mossflower and Red Wall by Brian Jacques
-The Eye of the World by Robert Jordan
-The Dark Elf and Icewind Dale Trilogies by R.A. Salvatore

Most of these books were gifts from different people, and I just have not gotten around to reading them...

ninja91

01-09-2007, 10:38 AM

I just dislike Forgotten Realms and Dragonlance and that sort of fantasy. They're flat, predictable, full of clichés, unoriginal and badly written. I wonder who enjoys reading that stuff.

I must say that I agree with you on the most part, but there is one author who holds my attention. Surely you have heard of R.A. Salvatore. He rises so far above the other Forgotten Realms authors with his works.

I do agree, though, that the Forgotten Realms books and Dragonlance books do seem very predictable on the whole. They seem like they were written for the purpose of expanding a world, and not giving the reader an adventure. So on that note, Thinlomien, I must say that I agree with you.

Thinlómien

01-10-2007, 03:18 AM

I must say that I agree with you on the most part, but there is one author who holds my attention. Surely you have heard of R.A. Salvatore. He rises so far above the other Forgotten Realms authors with his works.
I have heard this kind of comments about Salvatore before. So do you think I should give Salavatore a try? If yes, which book you would recommend for me to read first?

ninja91

01-10-2007, 10:06 AM

I have heard this kind of comments about Salvatore before. So do you think I should give Salavatore a try? If yes, which book you would recommend for me to read first?

If you do not plan on reading Salvatore's whole Drizzt saga from the beginning and would just like to get a good glance at his writing, I would recommend reading The Thousand Orcs or The Crystal Shard. These two are the first of two of his trilogies. The whole Drizzt saga (if you want to start to read from the very beginning) is below.

The Dark Elf Trilogy (Homeland, Exile, Sojourn)
The Icewind Dale Trilogy (The Crystal Shard, Streams of Silver, (The Halfling's Gem)
Legacy of the Drow (The Legacy, Starless Night, Siege of Darkness, Passage to Dawn)
Paths of Darkness (The Silent Blade, The Spine of the World, Servant of the Shard, Sea of Swords)
The Hunter's Blades Trilogy (The Thousand Orcs, The Lone Drow, The Two Swords)

Right now, I am on Sojourn, book 3 of the first trilogy. I hope you enjoy them, Thinlomien!

Just a heads up: The Dark Elf Trilogy is a really, really dark story. But its good.

shieldmaiden4xsword

01-11-2007, 03:39 PM

i've been reading Roverandom, and Smith of Wootton Major.

I enjoyed them alot.

Thinlómien

01-15-2007, 08:58 AM

Thanks for advice, ninja. Having thought of it, I'll probably still start with the dark Elf trilogy, being the most famous one. If I get hooked and have to read that load of books... my own fault I guess. And you can always stop reading a series if you dislike it.

Břicho

01-15-2007, 02:33 PM

I don't read much fantasy nowadays, though I just can't get away from Tolkien. I've read...The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant by Stephen r. Donaldson
The Earthsea Trilogy
The Mists of Avalon
Lots of Arthurian books, come to think of it.
And, gee, that's about it.

Wayland

01-15-2007, 03:04 PM

The Earthsea Trilogy
Very nice - now where did I put mine? The Narnia books got me hooked as a kid. Apart from these I tend to like ancient folk lore and sagas; Beowulf, the Mabinogion and other Celtic stuff, the Viking Sagas etc. The source material for much of the genre, which makes me quite critical of a lot of it.

I have read Conan and Elric, but gave them away - okayish but...

I refuse to touch a Potter book. I don't know why. Snobbery probably. :rolleyes:

Lathriel

01-27-2007, 04:56 PM

George R.R. Martin is really good. Nowadays I despair when i see all the junk in the fantasy section. I swear the books are full of Mary-Sues and Stews!
Luckily George R.R. Martin writes intelligent fantasy. You can see that he put a lot of thought into his world, characters and plot. So I am really enjoying those books.

Oddwen

01-27-2007, 06:40 PM

I read the first two books of the dark elf trilogy...I've got the third requested. They were okay - I was rather disappointed in the Zaknafein character, I thought they'd at least make him a light-elf in disguise or something. Since when did opinions become genetic? Though zombifying him was cool. (I have an innate fondness for it now because it introduced me in a roundabout way to "The Order of the Stick")

I'm re-reading His Dark Materials, I remember they bothered me for some reason but I don't remember why.

I also picked up Pratchett's latest in the Tiffany Aching series, "Wintersmith". It's good. Nothing really special, I think though.

Gil-Galad

01-28-2007, 01:17 PM

i'm half-way on the Riftwar Saga by Raymond E. Fesit, the first two books were great, the third one is a little slow but i expect it to pick up faster now

i've also read the Conclave of Shadows series by Feist, so now i have to backtrack myself and start at beginning...

Elmo

01-29-2007, 08:33 AM

Volo

01-29-2007, 09:16 AM

Read His Dark Materials recently first two books good third one crap especially the ending. Is that 12 year old having sex??? :eek:
Were they really so young?

I'd say that His Dark Materials is one of the best trilogys I've ever read.

Lalwendë

01-29-2007, 12:25 PM

Read His Dark Materials recently first two books good third one crap especially the ending. Is that 12 year old having sex??? :eek: and I also started reading Wheel of Time but became sick of the awfulness of the female characters and gave up

I don't think it went that far to be fair! It was about love, not lust! I thought the last book was a let down too, but now I've been through them four times I think I've really got at what Pullman was trying to say - it's difficult to understand it but re-reading really does bring it out.

Now I have a pile of vintage children's fantasy to read as my parents have brought me my ancient stack of Rupert the Bear annuals (about 1954 - 1980) - they are lovely! There's not enough Raggety though....

Thinlómien

01-30-2007, 04:16 AM

Lathriel

01-30-2007, 03:22 PM

I really liked his Dark Materials. Did you know they made a movie of the Golden Compas. It's coming christmas 2007 and it has daniel Craig and nicole Kidman in it. So I'm curious

Volo

01-30-2007, 10:57 PM

Oh no! Why're they spoilig all the great books? ... :mad:

Thinlómien

01-31-2007, 02:34 AM

it has daniel Craig and nicole Kidman in it. Well chosen actors, at least. If they're to play the persons I except them to play, it will be very interesting...

Lalwendë

01-31-2007, 09:42 AM

I think the first book of the His Dark Materials trilogy is very good, but the second and the third one just didn't have the same magic and power. I got the feeling pullman had used his best ideas in the first book and nothing but scraps was left to the later ones.

I get the horrible feeling his publishers rushed him a bit for the second and third books. The chief problem for me with the third book is he had his main protagonist out of action for almost half of it, and he did not make his ending clear enough; the creatures that Mary lived with were also a bit weird, slightly contrived, and until you've read the book a few times, it's hard to grasp what he is really saying - it's not some Atheist polemic at all, quite the opposite. I always say that the last episode of the last series of Doctor Who dealt with similar concepts of loss (in the context of alternate universes) in a much more clear way.

Anyhow.

I'm excited about the films, but if anything, even more nervous about them than I was about the Lord of the Rings films! I saw the filming going on in Oxford last September, including spotting Nicole Kidman, and it was all very exciting. I'm quite confident in the actors they've chosen but am worried they will downplay the religious elements in the story too much - when in fact the films could serve to clarify Pullman's points if done correctly.

Funny how it's going to be called The Golden Compass though. The first book is called Northern Lights in the UK, and that's what Pullman wanted it called on the global market. What happened was that his US publishers had created a book jacket and had a 'compass' as the illustration rather than an alethiometer and one of the staff had assumed it was called The Golden Compass. Pullman said that at the time he didn't feel he had the power or the right to challenge or correct them!

Lathriel

02-06-2007, 05:31 PM

I actually don't mind the title The Golden Compas since it goes well with the Subtle Knife and the Amber Spyglass.
I already saw some pictures on the internet of the movie and I'm very curious. i also hope that they don't downplay the religion because that is one of the main topics in the trilogy.

Rhod the Red

02-06-2007, 07:10 PM

I've also read C. S. Lewis (Chronicles of Narnia), J. K. Rowling (Harry Potter series) and just starting the Terry Pratchet series.

Texadan

02-06-2007, 07:38 PM

I'm reading the Noble Dead series by Barb & J.C. Hendee. I've read the first three and enjoyed them. The fourth is out in paperback but I've not been able to get it yet. And I'm not sure the Keeper trilogy by Tanya Huff qualifies under the topic since it's set in modern day Canada. But it has magic and elves in it so.... I highly recommend it. Good story and some good humor as well.

Thinlómien

07-03-2007, 01:28 PM

ninja91

07-13-2007, 03:40 PM

I've just finished Trudi Canavan's The Magician's Guild and have started The Novice of the same series and I must say I like it. The clichés are well.used, the characters lovely and the plot intriguing. The perfect books to read during the summer...

I was either going to borrow that or the Earthsea trilogy. I chose the Earthsea trilogy, but I'll give the books you mentioned a shot next, Lommy.

Thinlómien

07-19-2007, 12:20 PM

I was either going to borrow that or the Earthsea trilogy. I chose the Earthsea trilogy, but I'll give the books you mentioned a shot next, Lommy.A good choice, I finished them some time ago and they were well worth the read. Although, I prefer the Earthsea-trilogy.... ;)

Elmo

07-25-2007, 01:02 PM

Are we allowed to talk about a certain adolescent wizard on here?:p Just finished the book, man it's depressing! The deaths just keep on coming. I'm not sure I can say much more about it because of spoiling it for people but its the first Harry Potter book I don't want to reread in a hurry, not because it was badly written but its general gloominess.

Legate of Amon Lanc

07-25-2007, 02:08 PM

I personally did not finish it yet, but generally yes, I think it might be a good literature for the kids who just learn to read. You see: you give them the book, so they learn to read, and you even can simultaneously teach them count up to 100 by making them count the deaths!

That won't happen in Middle-Earth.

Lalwendë

07-25-2007, 03:27 PM

I loved it - without revealing anything, Rowling made a brave move and pulled it off...;)

From a Potter nut today I heard that she has got reams and reams of notes on back story, things such as the full story of Dean and character portraits of everyone in Harry's year including many characters we never met. What are the chances of one day getting a 12 volume History of Hogwarts?

Elmo

07-26-2007, 04:57 AM

She's apparently releasing an encyclopedia for charity with all that info in it. I'm glad its for charity, I think she's got enough money as it is.

Hammerhand

07-26-2007, 03:06 PM

Yeah a history on Harry Potter would be fantastic. I've followed the Raymond Feist works for a while, and whilst it is a good read, his work reeks of Tolkien! maybe thats why i like it.

Besides that.. in the fantasy genre, i've read a few Robert Jordan books... not bad - and just bits and bobs from around.

I definitely recommend Raymond Feist though to anyone who hasn't heard of him :)

Legate of Amon Lanc

07-26-2007, 04:33 PM

I've followed the Raymond Feist works for a while, and whilst it is a good read, his work reeks of Tolkien! maybe thats why i like it.

I read Feist a loong time ago (just the four of the Riftwar Saga). It seemed good enough to me at that time, nowadays my taste has developed to that point that I'd probably dump it together with all the "braque fantasy"... I wasn't as picky back then. However I remember I really, really hated how Feist stole Elvish words from Tolkien! Man, that was really nasty! And what more, he did not even attempt to cover it! I remember vividly (and it's some eight years since I have read it) when Tomas calls the elven queen Aglaranna "Shining Moon"; followed by the explanation that it's "in her own ancient language". And also the name Valheru. I remember I had the urge to beat my head against the wall. But besides that, it was a good read.

And welcome, Hammerhand!

Hammerhand

07-27-2007, 08:02 AM

I read Feist a loong time ago (just the four of the Riftwar Saga). It seemed good enough to me at that time, nowadays my taste has developed to that point that I'd probably dump it together with all the "braque fantasy"... I wasn't as picky back then. However I remember I really, really hated how Feist stole Elvish words from Tolkien! Man, that was really nasty! And what more, he did not even attempt to cover it! I remember vividly (and it's some eight years since I have read it) when Tomas calls the elven queen Aglaranna "Shining Moon"; followed by the explanation that it's "in her own ancient language". And also the name Valheru. I remember I had the urge to beat my head against the wall. But besides that, it was a good read.

And welcome, Hammerhand!

Good day sir :), i have no defence whatsoever for Feists "borrowing" tendencies lol. Off topic, a guy that gave my class a lecture on Chaucer (major snore) was a student of Christopher Tolkien's at university, i forget which one, a distinguished one if memory serves correct. He said much the same as you (after the lecture) concerning Raymond Feist, and a few other authors that were alien to me.

Legate of Amon Lanc

07-27-2007, 11:01 AM

Good day sir :), i have no defence whatsoever for Feists "borrowing" tendencies lol. Off topic, a guy that gave my class a lecture on Chaucer (major snore) was a student of Christopher Tolkien's at university, i forget which one, a distinguished one if memory serves correct. He said much the same as you (after the lecture) concerning Raymond Feist, and a few other authors that were alien to me.
Well, on the other hand, using the "familiar" language might have served its purpose for curious readers (for example one who knew Elvish - or more precisely, had the dictionary at the end of Silmarillion nearby - could translate some of the words which are not even translated in the book, and have fun with it). I even believe the reason for using it may be sort of a tribute to Tolkien from the author - but, honestly, if I wrote something, I'd try to come up with my own language; I'll probably consider "borrowing" Sindarin/Quenya/whatever too "high" to put in my book. Feist did this with more things than just language - now I remembered that monster in the dwarven tunnels at the end of the first volume... yes, that obvious balrog... as I said, the author might have meant it to be a tribute to Tolkien, but the reader (like me) may consider it as lack of his own creative thoughts and simply copying... Nevertheless, as I said, the Riftwar Saga was a good read - or that's how I remember it.

Hammerhand

07-27-2007, 01:53 PM

Well, on the other hand, using the "familiar" language might have served its purpose for curious readers (for example one who knew Elvish - or more precisely, had the dictionary at the end of Silmarillion nearby - could translate some of the words which are not even translated in the book, and have fun with it). I even believe the reason for using it may be sort of a tribute to Tolkien from the author - but, honestly, if I wrote something, I'd try to come up with my own language; I'll probably consider "borrowing" Sindarin/Quenya/whatever too "high" to put in my book. Feist did this with more things than just language - now I remembered that monster in the dwarven tunnels at the end of the first volume... yes, that obvious balrog... as I said, the author might have meant it to be a tribute to Tolkien, but the reader (like me) may consider it as lack of his own creative thoughts and simply copying... Nevertheless, as I said, the Riftwar Saga was a good read - or that's how I remember it.

Aye i agree it is a fantastic read. I believe you are referencing the mines of Mac Mordain Cadal, where Dwarves once lived until some travesty i can't remember occured. Doesn't the familiarity sting you? i agree also that there were multiple Tolkien references, 'Elvandar - Elvendom'. I can't really comment on the Sindarin or Quenyan languages because it's a shady patch of my knowledge:P Nonetheless Riftwar was commendable. :)

Gil-Galad

07-27-2007, 02:51 PM

The Dwarves were too few in number to continue using the mines at great capacity, that was the reason, plus dark elves and goblins kept wandering through the mines making it more dangerous

i loved Feist's works, and when i read two different fantasy, i don't compare them, i just pretend that i am new to the world and go from there. by looking at it that way they are both great reads, though Feist tends to pile up "important" characters and then kill most of them in one book...

Legate of Amon Lanc

07-27-2007, 03:11 PM

i loved Feist's works, and when i read two different fantasy, i don't compare them, i just pretend that i am new to the world and go from there.
Yes, but the things I mentioned are just what makes me unable to do this. As you said, I just pretend that I am new ti the world, but suddenly - "Ha! A balrog! Now what are you doing here?" I can't pretend I haven't seen him before. "Uh-huh, I remember now, this is not the first world I have been to!" And that degrades the world to me, by making it unoriginal, which is quite sad. I can't hope to made the world my home, as I made the Tolkien's, because I know there is something in it that does not come from there.

Just to add, one interesting idea (sort of a mind-probe on Feist)... does that creature have wings?:p (Personally I think not, there is not any reference, or is it?)

Hammerhand

07-27-2007, 03:12 PM

Gil-Galad

07-27-2007, 06:54 PM

I think that is a great philosophy to have. I try to do the same - but you must have felt the deja vu when reading Feists work?

all the time, but it is easier to go off of something someone created then try to risk creating something brand new and go no where, tolkien laid down the basics of fantasy with the humans, goblins, elves, dwarves etc. every other fantasy reader builds off of it and adds into the mix

in regards to legates question, what creature are you talking about that compares to the Balrog?

Legate of Amon Lanc

07-28-2007, 02:50 AM

in regards to legates question, what creature are you talking about that compares to the Balrog?

That creature from Mac Mordain's... I don't know how it's called in English.

sallkid

07-28-2007, 05:15 PM

I think the first book of the His Dark Materials trilogy is very good, but the second and the third one just didn't have the same magic and power. I got the feeling Pullman had used his best ideas in the first book and nothing but scraps was left to the later ones.

Without intending any offence whatsoever I completely disagree.

The sequels were written from different perspectives than the first book, in which Lyra is a child, the book was written from a childs perspective making the world seem more magical by happenstance.
ALthough i agree that the themes of Lyra's world were much more condensed and deep than any of the other worlds in the series I do not believe that the subsequent works (the subtle knife and the Amber Spyglass) lacked imagination. The flaw was in having too many worlds to spread the fantasy elements of the story through.

As for what other Fantasy stories i read. I do read Feist, finding him a little Tolkien-Esque, but still high in imagination I have read the Riftwar Saga and the Lizardwar Saga and recently read Talon of the Silver Hawk (which i enjoyed immensely) i find the thing that attracts me most about his work is his characters, who are all both heroic and deeply flawed, although i find he uses the theme of "coming of age" to excess
I also read (and am not ashamed to admit) the discworld stories, Terry Pratchet writes characters with a realness that most other writers can only dream about, making the reader feel that these are real people and his satire (when done correctly) is very well placed. I will admit that not al his books are up to standard (what writer's truly are?) but when Pratchet gets it right he gets it right very very well.
Other writers i read include Eddings (although i haven't read an Eddings work for quite a few years) and Anne Mcaffery, for whom my fondness has waned of late, but may revive once i pick up dragonsdawn or decision at doona again.

I currently own a copy of Eragon but live in mortal dread of actually picking it up and reading it. The only favourible review i have found tend to be from people outside the fantasy "circle" and mainly centre around the theme of "it's really cool that someone this young wrote a WHOLE book!" I hope to be proven wrong.

alatar

08-22-2007, 09:17 AM

This article, seen here (http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,294029,00.html), states that in 2006 that 1 in 4 polled Americans did not read a book that year, and that this seems to be an increasing trend. If only we can stop those other 3 (of the 4) to quit as well, we'd be on our way to complete illiteracy (save reading on the web).

It must be me. :(

Thinlómien

08-22-2007, 09:33 AM

Ouch.

And just yesterday I was agonising over having only read twelve books this summer... Suddenly I feel a bit better. :D

Gil-Galad

08-22-2007, 12:15 PM

That creature from Mac Mordain's... I don't know how it's called in English.

only creature i remember is the Banshee-like creatures and the dragon...

Lalwendë

08-23-2007, 07:52 AM

Without intending any offence whatsoever I completely disagree.

The sequels were written from different perspectives than the first book, in which Lyra is a child, the book was written from a childs perspective making the world seem more magical by happenstance.
ALthough i agree that the themes of Lyra's world were much more condensed and deep than any of the other worlds in the series I do not believe that the subsequent works (the subtle knife and the Amber Spyglass) lacked imagination. The flaw was in having too many worlds to spread the fantasy elements of the story through.
.

Interesting way of looking at it, and a good one - as one of the 'points' to the story is that Lyra grows up during it, so of course, the perspective would change as the story developed. You see a similar thing in Lord of the Rings as the Hobbits get deeper into peril and they grow.

I sometimes think that Pullman's problem was that he had too many good ideas for the second and third books and rather than being strung out, they are too condensed!

Legate of Amon Lanc

08-23-2007, 10:31 AM

only creature i remember is the Banshee-like creatures and the dragon...
Well then that was the Banshee-like creature as you say, but when I read it, I didn't get an impression of a Banshee, but of a Balrog. Though it's possible I got the impression from its role rather than from its appearance. You see, a big, nasty creature living in ancient deserted Dwarven mines, who almost causes the devastation of the party...

Gil-Galad

08-23-2007, 11:02 AM

Well then that was the Banshee-like creature as you say, but when I read it, I didn't get an impression of a Banshee, but of a Balrog. Though it's possible I got the impression from its role rather than from its appearance. You see, a big, nasty creature living in ancient deserted Dwarven mines, who almost causes the devastation of the party...

oh alright, as i remember it it was couple of banshees that attacked the group... i guess i could re-read the book while i'm waiting for the new one into paper back...

Legate of Amon Lanc

08-23-2007, 11:28 AM

oh alright, as i remember it it was couple of banshees that attacked the group... i guess i could re-read the book while i'm waiting for the new one into paper back...
Well it's about ten years since I have read it, but I have the impression that there was only one creature and then Thomas encountered her for the second time right before he came to the dragon...

Lalwendë

09-02-2007, 09:49 AM

Has anyone read any Jack Vance?

I was poking around at summat or t'other last week and went onto something about Jack Vance and his 'classic fantasy' stories about Lyonesse.

But is he any cop?

;)

Lalwendë

10-22-2007, 02:00 PM

I've just picked up a rather mad graphic novel called Alice In Sunderland. I've not finished it yet but I can tell you this is one to look out for - a weird combination of history (of Britain and Sunderland), fantasy, and culture. There are bits of Shakespeare thrown in, a lot of Alice, and it's also beautifully illustrated. This has to be the oddest thing I've read since Sandman.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alice_in_Sunderland

ninja91

10-24-2007, 05:24 AM

Currently on The Cleric Quintet by R.A. Salvatore. I also went to Borders and picked up the first book in Robert Jordan's The Wheel of Time Saga.

Lindale

11-28-2007, 10:52 AM

Is Magic Realism considered in this thread??

I love the works of South American writers like GG Marquez, Isabel Allende, and especially Jorge Luis Borges. In one of my lit classes I realized that my native land has much more in common with South America than say Indonesia or Malaysia or even Japan, and it stuck me that my country has never produced lit like theirs.

I stopped being a Potter fan years ago, but reading for reading's sake I borrowed the last three HPs. I did not enjoy them as much as I enjoyed the first four during my childhood. Sad, really, considering HP and the Sorcerer's Stone was the first book my dad bought me for my eleventh birthday. :(

Nazgûl-king

12-08-2007, 12:46 AM

I love fantasy books! I've read:

The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis
Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling
The Inheritance Cycle (Eragon and its sequels) by Christopher Paolini

I’ve read a few others as well, though I can’t think of any others to add right now.

McCaber

12-08-2007, 01:30 PM

Narnia is good, that's where I started fantasy.
I tried Potter and Inheritance, but I got fed up with them very quickly.
I like The Wheel of Time. If only Robert Jordan could have finished before he died.
A Song of Ice and Fire is amazing, but it's not really fantasy.
I've read some of Salvatore, and it's been pretty good.
Dune is a great series, but it's sci-fi, and not fantasy.

Brinniel

12-08-2007, 04:30 PM

I've recently gotten into the more modern era fantasy books. Particularly with two books: Moon Called and its sequel, Blood Bound by Patricia Briggs. They're about a skinwalker and mechanic named Mercy Thompson who has dealings with mainly werewolves and vampires, along with fae, ghosts, and witches. The book covers are rather silly...they resemble the cover of a men's magazine, which is lame because the books are not risque at all. But as the saying goes, "don't judge a book by its cover," because these books are very good. :)

At the moment, I'm reading His Dark Materials. My professor assigned The Golden Compass for class, then decided we should read The Subtle Knife too, which is the one I'm currently on. I'm loving the trilogy so far, so of course I'm going to continue reading into The Amber Spyglass. Haven't seen the movie yet, though I plan to next week. But I don't want to hear anything about it that might spoil my judgement. I just don't want my expectations to be too high or too low. :rolleyes:

Oddwen

12-13-2007, 11:26 AM

I was reading a webcomic the other day, and ran across this bit of news for you fans of the Wheel of Time:

The big news in the world of Fantasy literature is that Mr. Brandon Sanderson, author of The Mistborn Series and Elantris, has been chosen to finish the late Robert Jordan's masterwork, Wheel of Time Book 12: A Memory of Light.

I read this on www.lfgcomic.com

I also have picked up "The Deed of Paksenarrion" by Elizabeth Moon and am about halfway through - it's not too bad.

Ytheogan

12-27-2007, 12:25 PM

Greetings to all!

I have been an avid reader of Robert E. Howard's Conan series for a number of years now. In many ways, it was Howard's short stories that drew me to fantasy literature and, actually, literature in general.

I also like other Howard creations such as Bran Mak Morn, Kull, Solomon Kane, and so on and so forth. Not quite as much as I like the Conan series, though. ;)

Over the years I've picked up many fantasy novels, many of which have fallen out of memory. I do, however, remember enjoying Brian Jacques' Redwall series some years ago, though it has been ages since I last picked up a Redwall book.

Regards,
Ytheogan

Gwathagor

12-27-2007, 01:44 PM

I kept up with the Redwall series until I realized that Jacques' books were all essentially same. His best books are Marlfox, The Bellmaker, Mattimeo, Redwall, and Salamandastron.

McCaber

12-27-2007, 02:40 PM

I did enjoy Pearls of Lutra. But Salamandastron had the coolest villain.

Elmo

12-29-2007, 10:37 AM

I was reading a webcomic the other day, and ran across this bit of news for you fans of the Wheel of Time:

I read this on www.lfgcomic.com

I also have picked up "The Deed of Paksenarrion" by Elizabeth Moon and am about halfway through - it's not too bad.

I'll probably buy it just to complete the set, that's the same reason I bought a lot of the books as I stopped liking them a while ago.

Thinlómien

06-11-2008, 06:10 PM

*bump*

I just read Ursula Le Guin's Tombs of Atuan and I'm almost speechless... I've read that book several times but it amazed me. What a masterpiece. Everything has a meaning in it and the storytelling is just so beautiful. Not to mention the thrilling and original setting that gives the book a distinct and strong atmosphere. Also, Le Guin's gentleness and wisdom never cease to amaze me. There are so many layers in the small book, so many themes, so much wise words. It felt like I had read the book for the first time in my life now: I had never read it this deeply before and not fully comprehended all the threads in the pattern, all the tones and all the deep currents. Just unbelievable. I thought I haven't grown up particularily much in the past couple of years, but I obviously have - when I last read the book in 2006 or 2005 I only glimpsed the surface, it seems, like always before. And still, all those times I enjoyed it tremenduously. If there's a fantasy author who can come close to rivalling Tolkien it is Le Guin.

(Haha, seems I was not as speechless as I thought I was... ;))

Now to move from the mindblowing stuff to something else, I will then ramble about some other books I've read lately. I've read the two first novels of Guy Gavriel Kay's Fionavar trilogy and must say it's very underrated. The story is gorgeous! It might have all the possible clichés in it, it might be ridiculously epic at times, the basic idea (five canadian students go to an alternative world and get to save the world) might be incredibly silly but it does work. Granted, it's not as good as Kay's Tigana or The Lions of Al-Rassan or A Song for Arbonne, but it's less below their level than people have lead me to understand.

I've also had great time reading Michelle Paver's Chronicles of Ancient Darkness, a series set on the Stone Ages for young readers. Clichés, stereotypes, mostly very guessable plot, sometimes just plain bad writing, lots of naivety etc - but who cares if the setting is interesting and it's well-written and entertaining? People (especially Greenie ;)) laugh at me because I read them, but I must say that if you want to read something light and silly and enjoyable and try an adventure with a different setting, they're worth reading. That is, if you don't mind all the downsides...

Gwathagor

06-11-2008, 07:46 PM

Hmmm...indeed. I liked A Wizard of Earthsea, so perhaps I should give Tombs a try as well.

Along the same lines, I stayed up till 2 am finishing The Elfstones of Shannara just the other night. It was very, very sad, but I liked it much more than The Sword of Shannara. Terry Brooks' writing improved somewhere in between the two books, which encourages me to read the others in the series.

Oddwen

06-11-2008, 07:58 PM

*clunk*

Hmm, what have I read since waaay back when?

Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell - I really, really liked this book. It's quite a hefty book, something to re-read after several years maybe, but it's got a great story, and I loved the imagery.

The Thursday Next series by Jasper Fforde - this...isn't fantasy. It's a fantasy I suppose, half of it takes place in an alternate past, and the other half takes place in the "book-world". But I loved the heck out of it. Also by the same author is the Nursery Crime series, which is a bit more fantasy-esque. Or fairy tale-esque.

Morthoron

06-11-2008, 08:31 PM

Hmmm...I don't go in much for reading fantasies anymore.

*Shocked gasps from the audience*

No, really. Most of the fantasies I read are with my daughter (currently going through the Narnia Chronicles and Redwall series).

I've read most of the greats, I suppose. Ones I truly enjoyed were Stephen R. Donaldson's Thomas Covenant Chronicles (but only up to the 4th book -- it gets entirely too wordy after that), all of Ursula K. LeGuin, all of Dune (up to God Emperor, anyway), Mary Stewart's Merlin series, Asimov's Foundation, and T.H. White's Once and Future King (the greatest of all latter day Arthurian tales). Then of course there are Lewis Carroll and Orwell which I tend to reread every now and again. I once enjoyed Aldous Huxley, but he's not so much fun sober.

So give me Umberto Eco or a good history book for now and I'm content.

Gwathagor

06-11-2008, 08:37 PM

So give me Umberto Eco or a good history book for now and I'm content.

Can you recommend any of his books besides Name of the Rose, which I've read (and felt extremely erudite while doing so)?

Morthoron

06-11-2008, 09:41 PM

Can you recommend any of his books besides Name of the Rose, which I've read (and felt extremely erudite while doing so)?

Foucalt's Pendulum is a definite read. It makes The Da Vinci Code look like a first grade primer. Read it once through, then go back a second time to research the dizzying amount of obscure references to other works (if you like puzzles).

Baudalino is good as well (although I enjoyed Name of the Rose and Foucalt more). It takes place in the 12th century during the 4th Crusade, wherein the brave and saintly Crusaders decided to ignore the formidable Muslims -- who usually crushed them in battle -- and instead disgracefully sacked and conquered the Christian city of Constantinople. Yes, truth is stranger than fiction (can I get a Deus Vult?).

After you get through those, we can discuss Eco's work in semiotics (the study of symbology and signs). Fascinating reading if you are interested in words and how they relate as symbols in communication.

P.S. By the way, I see you like the Pogues. When I was in bar bands, one of the most requested Christmas songs was always Fairytale of New York. Other tunes we liked playing were South Australia and Bottle of Smoke (great drinking songs). We also did a version of Rocky Road to Dublin, but it was more akin to the Young Dubliners' heavy guitar style.

Nerwen

06-11-2008, 10:42 PM

Foucalt's Pendulum is a definite read. It makes The Da Vinci Code look like a first grade primer.

The Da Vinci Code IS a first grade primer!:D

B.t.w. Eco devotes a whole delightful chapter of Foucault's Pendulum to having a go at The Holy Blood and the Holy Grail, the (supposedly) non-fiction book that Dan Brown used as his source material. He has the characters come up with an identical conspiracy via an automatic plot-generator. I loved it.

I don't read fantasy that much as a rule anymore either. There's one I've just started, Temeraire, that isn't bad so far. It's all about the Napoleonic Wars... only with dragons. However, the eponymous Temeraire is showing signs of turning into an extra-special Mary Sue dragon– as if just being a dragon wasn't enough. :rolleyes:

So... proceed with caution is my advice to anyone who wants to read it.

What I can wholeheartedly recommend is my favourite third-rate fantasy novel, Blade of the Poisoner. It's hilariously cliched, but without all the padding that you find in similar books. It's been out of print for about twenty years, but if you're curious, I'm summarising it here (http://topazlily.livejournal.com). (Don't worry, I'm not one of those people who post embarrassing personal stuff in their journals).

Gwathagor

06-11-2008, 10:45 PM

After you get through those, we can discuss Eco's work in semiotics (the study of symbology and signs). Fascinating reading if you are interested in words and how they relate as symbols in communication.

You're on.

P.S. By the way, I see you like the Pogues. When I was in bar bands, one of the most requested Christmas songs was always Fairytale of New York. Other tunes we liked playing were South Australia and Bottle of Smoke (great drinking songs). We also did a version of Rocky Road to Dublin, but it was more akin to the Young Dubliners' heavy guitar style.

off-topic
Ah, Fairytale of New York.:cool:I managed to see the Pogues on the first day of their US tour this year, but as it was not Christmas, they played practically every song BUT Fairytale. Actually, they didn't play Lullaby London either, but Rainy Night in Soho made up for its absence. Woooooooo! Pooogues!
back on-topic

Gwathagor

06-11-2008, 10:53 PM

B.t.w. Eco devotes a whole delightful chapter of Foucault's Pendulum to having a go at The Holy Blood and the Holy Grail, the (supposedly) non-fiction book that Dan Brown used as his source material. He has the characters come up with an identical conspiracy via an automatic plot-generator. I loved it.

I read that one. Holy Blood, Holy Grail I mean. It wasn't very good; mostly because of absurd claims supported by shoddy scholarship which even I could identify. So, good for Eco.

Nerwen

06-12-2008, 05:40 AM

Morthoron

06-12-2008, 10:36 AM

It's the most ridiculous example of house-of-cards arguing I've ever read.

One one page they'll say A might be true. Then three pages later they'll refer back to A as an absolute certainty, which makes B possible. In another three pages the known facts A and B will be used to prove C. Etc, etc, etc.:rolleyes:

Oh wait, you're talking about the book; for a minute I thought you were referring to the Bush administration. Yes, the implausibility of Holy Blood, Holy Grail is pronounced, although a study of the Apocrypha and gospels by Mary Magdelene and St. James are interesting in and of themselves.

Nerwen

06-12-2008, 10:53 AM

Oh wait, you're talking about the book; for a minute I thought you were referring to the Bush administration.

Well, that too. :D

Groin Redbeard

06-12-2008, 11:16 AM

Is alternate history considered fantasy, because if it is I'm a big fan of it! :D Newt Gingrich has written some excellent books about alternate history in the Civil War.

McCaber

06-12-2008, 10:06 PM

Lately I've been on a bit of a graphic novel kick. Started with Watchmen - the best comic I've ever read. The only comic I'd rank up there with the great literature. Seriously, Alan Moore is a wizard. I only hope they don't ruin it with the movie.

Neil Gaiman's Sandman is also very good. It starts a bit weak, but it gets awesome quickly.

Diane C

09-25-2008, 05:50 AM

Th only other fantasy epic I have read alongside LOTR & TH, is Stephen Donaldson's "Chronicles of Thomas Covenant" volumes.

Although very enjoyable and totally absorbing, it was also very heavy going, far more than the writings of Tolkien's LOTR. I think one of the major differences in writing styles is that the LOTR books were totally un-put-downable, whereas with Donaldson's CoTC my brain had to take a time-out every few pages because I was either getting too irritated with some of the characters, especially Covenent himself. Or that his prose was far too over elaborate and distracting at times. Not to the point of boredom, but that there was just too many things going on to stay focused in one session.

Still a great set of books though. However, I have only re-read CoTC once in the last 7 years, whereas I have re-read LOTR 3 times in the same period of time!

Lindale

10-01-2008, 11:52 AM

I just remembered something. The other week our school had a symposium thingy on speculative literature, headed by those "regarded" as "canon" of our country's spec lit. (Which is kinda absurd, how will you establish a canon of a very young genre?)

They regard Tolkien as "The" great writer of the quest archetype, but attacked the poor freshman who dared say that after Tolkien, people like Paolini are nutcases, Rowling a particularly good marketer, etc. Now I don't really know too much about it, but I thought they were too harsh on the kid, and besides, the kid does have a point about Paolini (I do think that they marketed the fact that the kid is a kid, not the story). They said something like, "Get over it, kid, Tolkein (he pronouned it "kein") is dead and won't be publishing anything else." And that moment I wanted to throw at his face my new copy of CoH.

He raised good points about the favoritism of the academia of realism over speculative lit. That those considered gods and goddesses of Philippine literature are just realists, which at the end of the day is just a genre. That we should be more "open" to them, that we should also give them space in our Creative Writing classes. They cited instances when in those CW classes, their works were dismissed on basis of genre.

I don't know about everyone else, but I think at the end of the day, JRRT and the mythologies and the Latin American marvelous realists are exceptions to my favorite read, which is realism, a portrait of everyday life as it happens to random people. I think I still belong to the generation which says that fantasy and sci-fi, with very few exceptions, are simply escapism from the mundanity of everyday things. (But when you think of it, a realist piece depicting a culture far different from yours will be the same thing isn't it? My point is that if I decide to read say Mineko Iwasaki's Geisha I wouldn't be fancying demons and flying dragons, but a culture with dancing ladies in colorful silk dresses and tea ceremonies, all that which is different from what I normally see.)

(What the hell am I doing in BD then? :D)

Aganzir

10-01-2008, 12:49 PM

I haven't read very much fantasy lately. I don't know, I just got tired of it some time ago. Not Tolkien but almost everything else.

Anyway, China Miéville is my new love. I bought Iron Council long ago, out of curiosity, but didn't read it until now, and was positively surprised. It might have been easier, though, if only I had read Perdido Street Station first. Well, I'm reading it now.
I don't really even know why I like his books. They're just.. good. Interesting, unconventional characters, interesting plots. And I can relate to their values and really sympathize with the characters.

Another name worth mentioning is Jeff VanderMeer. The City of Saints and Madmen is great, but I think I liked Veniss Underground even more. Possibly because I read it during and after a weekend of intensive roleplaying where the lovely character of my friend's could have been Shadrach's twin brother.
I later made a fish sculpture based on Veniss Underground. The teacher laughed at it since the theme was actually house, but then on the other hand he always laughs at my works.

I don't know if José Saramago counts as fantasy, but he is definitely a great author. He's one of my mother's favourites, and it was she who first introduced me to his books. I haven't read even half of the translated books yet, but I'm progressing. I doubt I had ever read anything so intensely written, with such an atmosphere, before I read Blindness.

Morthoron

10-01-2008, 02:07 PM

Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell - I really, really liked this book. It's quite a hefty book, something to re-read after several years maybe, but it's got a great story, and I loved the imagery.

I am 2/3 of the way through JS & MN (which at 800 pages, gives War and Peace a run for the money for sheer volume). I am not at all sure that I like it. How odd to have read this far into a novel, and to be altogether unsure if one is enjoying the story. To paraphrase Rossini in regards to Wagner, the book has beautiful moments but awful quarter hours. In fact, I enjoyed the book far more early in the story, and am beginning to like it less and less the further I trudge on (and I do feel I am slogging through a muddy field). The citations of fictional books was interesting at first, but get exceedingly tedious after several million chapters. It's reminiscent of the interminable notes and citations that caused me to loathe Moby Dick.

The characters, particularly the magicians, are a bit thick and slow to catch on regarding the plot that swirls around them, and there aren't many characters that are likable at all (many are just plain despicable or mere ciphers).

But I'll finish it before passing final judgment. Perhaps everything will get better by the conclusion (maybe there is an epiphany or a eucatrastrophe of significant proportions to make up for the unnecessary length).

Bêthberry

10-01-2008, 06:05 PM

Anyone taken a look at Patrick Rothfuss's The Name of the Wind?

It's gotta be of interest to Tolkien fans. Here's the dedication:

To my mother, who taught me to love books. Who opened the door to Narnia, Pern, and Middle Earth.

To my father, who taught me that if I was going to do something, I should take my time and do it right the first time.

Estelyn Telcontar

10-02-2008, 02:50 AM

Hmmm, doesn't look like I mentioned my most recently discovered book series and author here: Jasper Fforde's 'Thursday Next' books (and his 'Nursery Crime' books as well) are the best stories I've read in a long time (present company excepted, of course)! It's been interesting to look for them in bookstores, as they are sometimes multiply displayed; I would definitely count them as fantasy literature, as they take place in a parallel world - a basic premise similar to that of Pullman's 'Dark Materials' books.

The interaction between real and fictional worlds is what makes the books most fascinating, and the humour is wonderful, with many plays on literature and words. A review I heard called them "hypermetafiction"! Though each book is complete in itself, it's wise to read them in order, so that the ideas that continue from book to book can be understood. "The Eyre Affair" is the first book which presents the heroine Thursday Next, a literary detective who investigates crimes like abductions of original manuscripts which are held for ransom.

When the boundaries between 'real' and fictional worlds become porous, the stories are at their very best. Tolkien references are included very occasionally (don't know if copyright issues prevent more).

Highly recommended!!

BGreg

01-11-2009, 06:14 AM

The best fantasy I read lately was George R.R. Martin's "A Song of Ice and Fire". It's a really good series and I enjoyed reading it (can't wait for the rest of his series). Characters are realistic, they're not just black&white, and you can relate even to the bad guys.

I also read Tad Williams, his "The Dragonbone Chair", but sadly I never got to read the rest of the trilogy.

Now, I've wanted to read all of Guy Gavriel Kay's work recently. I actually met the guy in person, and he signed a book for my friend. He's younger than I expected for such a famous writer. Anyway, he got me intrigued in his work, so I'll probably get on those books as soon as I can.

Thinlómien

01-11-2009, 02:05 PM

Welcome to the Downs, BGreg! :) I can warmly recommend Guy Gavriel Kay, he's one of my favourite authors. He's just fascinatingly skilled with words and has a breathtaking sense of drama.

I quite like George R.R. Martin too and I'm anxiously waiting for the next novel to the series. Sadly, he seems to be a rather slow writer... :(

Andsigil

01-11-2009, 02:44 PM

Not exactly fantasy, but historical fiction are two of my favorites:

The Richard Sharpe (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Sharpe_(fictional_character)) series by Bernard Cornwell

The Flashman (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flashman) series by George MacDonald Fraser.

I can't recommend them both highly enough!

Beregond

01-11-2009, 03:04 PM

Count another fan of A Song of Ice and Fire. Wish they weren't so crude at times, but they are realistic, I guess. And I'm not always a great fan of books that blur the line between good and evil, but George Martin's books have an amazing allure. One of the hardest series of books to put down once you start reading. Many sleepless nights are attributed to ASoIaF. They got me more interested in medieval study/way of speech a few years back when I read them.

I met G.R.R. at a book expo in New York in '05, he signed a preview of the fourth book. That was kind of neat! He looks the same in person as he does in pictures.

Following his blog is really frustrating though. All he talks about is American football - when me and thousands of fans are screaming for him to get on and finish Dance of Dragons (book 5, which was scheduled for release last year). I almost hate to say things like this, but after the death of Robert Jordan, I can't help worrying about whether we'll see the end of this series. G.R.R. seems to have lost interest, for the moment. I know if I were a writer I'd have the same problem finishing books, but...I'm not, and he is, and it's not fair that we have to wait! :p

Lariren Shadow

01-12-2009, 09:00 AM

Thinlómien

01-12-2009, 01:43 PM

I've heard good and bad things about the Fionavar books. I've had friends swear by them and friends who thought they were cliche. I do know that Guy Gavriel Kay did write them after working on something Tolkien related(right now it escapes me as to what it was).He helped Christopher Tolkien to edit the Silmarillion. :) But anyway, I can offer yet another opinion on Fionavar. They are downright cliché. Probably one of the most clichéish fantasy books I've read. But they are still simply brilliant, because Kay can pull it off. It doesn't matter if you've got all kinds of seers, dark lords, King Arthurs, semi-Beren&Lúthiens, elves sailing to west, werewolf liutenants trees of life and prophecies in the same book if the author knows how to use the elements exactly correctly. At times it's breathtaking.

I must say, though, that even though Fionavar is very good, I like many other books of Kay's better. Perhaps you could try them too if you're afraid of clichés? Tigana is a lovely, tragic fantasy epic. And if you're into sort of alternative history, you must read The Lions of Al-Rassan (I'm convinced that book is just perfect) and A Song of Arbonne. They are set in worlds very much like Spain under the Arab rule and medieval France, respectively, and they are among my favourite books, both of them.

Currently I am reading The Time Traveler's Wife. It's very good and I would consider it sort of fantasy/sci-fi/a whole new breed of fiction all together. It's very good and highly recommend it.I read it after three downers had praised it, but it was a kind of disappointment. Yes, it was nice, but that's it. I didn't find it especially moving or exciting or well-written or original. For me, it was too much like the sort of icky romantic women's literature...

Lariren Shadow

01-12-2009, 02:24 PM

I must say, though, that even though Fionavar is very good, I like many other books of Kay's better. Perhaps you could try them too if you're afraid of clichés? Tigana is a lovely, tragic fantasy epic. And if you're into sort of alternative history, you must read The Lions of Al-Rassan (I'm convinced that book is just perfect) and A Song of Arbonne. They are set in worlds very much like Spain under the Arab rule and medieval France, respectively, and they are among my favourite books, both of them.

I read it after three downers had praised it, but it was a kind of disappointment. Yes, it was nice, but that's it. I didn't find it especially moving or exciting or well-written or original. For me, it was too much like the sort of icky romantic women's literature...

I think my other thing that would stop me reading Fionavar is that my name is Jennifer and, well, I never liked Guinevere.

I do have another Kay book in my room at home, Ysabel. I started in a bookstore and then decided not to buy it(poor college student and it being in hardcover). Then I found it for five dollars at a book sale so it's now sitting in my room at home(because it's still hardcover and really heavy to bring places). I have looked at Tigana and been recommended it before so I think I need to go buy it.

As for The Time Traveler's Wife, I can see what you mean, but I still love it.

Thinlómien

01-12-2009, 02:24 PM

Thinlómien

01-12-2009, 02:26 PM

I do have another Kay book in my room at home, Ysabel. I started in a bookstore and then decided not to buy it(poor college student and it being in hardcover). Then I found it for five dollars at a book sale so it's now sitting in my room at home(because it's still hardcover and really heavy to bring places). I have looked at Tigana and been recommended it before so I think I need to go buy it.Oh, I have to read that yet - I bought it for my sister (who is also a Kay fan) for Christmas and she just finished reading it, so I could pick it up now if I only had the time!

Lariren Shadow

01-12-2009, 02:32 PM

Hehe, I shall add to that:

Dune I've only ever heard good things about. The sequals, however, I've never heard anything good about. It's been called The Lord of the Rings of sci-fi.

As for The Mists of Avalon, I read it after the mini-series was on tv and ended up trying very hard to finish it but never actually succeeding. It was really get and then it went on a really long kick where nothing really happened for a good over 100 pages. We're talking, excuse my opinion, worst than some of the longer more descriptive parts of Lord of the Rings(you know, where you are really appreciative of the way things are said and the language used but are wondering why the rock is being described for a really long time). I just, stopped. I couldn't get through the rest. It was a good story, but it just dragged.

Kitanna

01-12-2009, 02:41 PM

As for The Mists of Avalon, I read it after the mini-series was on tv and ended up trying very hard to finish it but never actually succeeding. It was really get and then it went on a really long kick where nothing really happened for a good over 100 pages. We're talking, excuse my opinion, worst than some of the longer more descriptive parts of Lord of the Rings(you know, where you are really appreciative of the way things are said and the language used but are wondering why the rock is being described for a really long time). I just, stopped. I couldn't get through the rest. It was a good story, but it just dragged.
I totally agree. I'm so far along I refuse to give up now. But there are hundreds of pages where it's nothing but Morgaine lamenting her lost feminist powers and Lancelet pining for Arthur's queen. When the story progresses and Avalon's plans are revealed and there's a plot it's great. I personally liked the mini-series better because it didn't get bogged down with fifty pages of Morgaine's feelings about the same thing over and over again.

Mekor Karun

01-12-2009, 03:29 PM

I read the Chronicles of Narnia, the Inheritance Cycle, and most Midevil history books

Lindale

01-12-2009, 10:53 PM

piosenniel

01-13-2009, 01:30 AM

Anyone taken a look at Patrick Rothfuss's The Name of the Wind?

It's gotta be of interest to Tolkien fans. Here's the dedication:

Anyone taken a look at Patrick Rothfuss's The Name of the Wind?

It's gotta be of interest to Tolkien fans. Here's the dedication:

** To my mother, who taught me to love books. Who opened the door to Narnia, Pern, and Middle Earth.

To my father, who taught me that if I was going to do something, I should take my time and do it right the first time. **

I just finished re-reading this book. Wonderfully written, lyrical at times. Nicely drawn 'world'. The story line is very engaging. And the end of this first book makes you want to shake the author 'til the pages of the next novel come tumbling out of his grey cells. sigh....

There are some reviews - HERE (http://www.patrickrothfuss.com/content/reviews.asp). Ignore the one from Amazon.com as I'm sure they were in the throws of the Harry Potter cash-phenomenon when it was written.

I'd recommend it.

I'm none too patiently awaiting the second novel which won't be out until April of 2009. :rolleyes: Until then, I'm filling the time wandering through Charles de Lint (http://www.sfsite.com/charlesdelint/)'s interesting town - Newford, laughing my way again through Mr. Pratchett (http://www.terrypratchettbooks.com/)'s amazing Disc World, trekking about in George R.R. Martin (http://www.georgerrmartin.com/)'s Westeros. And last but not least, solving mysteries with Sister Fidelma (http://www.sisterfidelma.com/)in mid-seventh century A.D. Ireland.

Lalwendë

01-13-2009, 06:38 AM

Morthoron

01-13-2009, 09:52 AM

Sorry to double post, but I've been considering reading Dune and Mists of Avalon, and I was thinking - could anyone give me opinions on them? What are they like? Are they worth the read? Are they something a busy student could read, or do they require more time and devotion?

Mists of Avalon does have slow parts, but it's also tremendously atmospheric - and if you are interested in reading Arthurian stories, it's good to read one from a wholly different perspective even if you end up not liking it! Though I'm sure you will like it.

It's especially evocative if you know the locations used, the West Country and the Vale of Avalon.

Not wishing to sound like a chauvinist, but I found Mists of Avalon dreadfully boring and devoid of humor. I prefer T.H. White's retelling of the Arthurian cycle in The Once and Future King. Mary Stewart's Merlin series (The Crystal Cave, The Hollow Hills, etc.) is interesting in parts, but is rather somber, and tends to meander later on in the series.

The Dune series is excellent, an intriguing tale straddling fantasy and science fiction with a depth both politically and religiously which transcends most everything in the genre (save for maybe Asimov's Foundation trilogy). Read Dune, Dune Messiah, Children of Dune and God Emperor of Dune, but go nae further. It gets silly afterwards, particularly since the original author died and the story was taken up by his not-so-talented son and a ghost writer. The amount of time the story spans is reminiscent of Tolkien, chronologically speaking.

[And it's very Pagan and feminist - I like that as someone who's tackled Women Who Run With The Wolves :cool:

My significant other (who is glaring at me rather wolfishly at the moment), is an advocate of Clarissa Estes; therefore, rather than imperilling my very soul, I won't comment any further.

Kitanna

01-13-2009, 02:06 PM

Not wishing to sound like a chauvinist, but I found Mists of Avalon dreadfully boring and devoid of humor. I prefer T.H. White's retelling of the Arthurian cycle in The Once and Future King. Mary Stewart's Merlin series (The Crystal Cave, The Hollow Hills, etc.) is interesting in parts, but is rather somber, and tends to meander later on in the series.

Didn't Mary Stewart write The Wicked Day as well? Another book that gives a different perspective, this time from Mordred's view. I never finished it because my mom stole it from my shelf when I put it aside for school work. But from the little I was able to read of Mary Stewart's other works they were fantastic. If Bradley had cut Mists of Avalon down it would be a much better book. I do love how she makes Morgan Le Fay less a witch and more a person who's been used poorly by those around her.

Lalwendë

01-13-2009, 03:23 PM

Not wishing to sound like a chauvinist, but I found Mists of Avalon dreadfully boring and devoid of humor. I prefer T.H. White's retelling of the Arthurian cycle in The Once and Future King. Mary Stewart's Merlin series (The Crystal Cave, The Hollow Hills, etc.) is interesting in parts, but is rather somber, and tends to meander later on in the series.

It's going to be impossible to express without it coming out all wrong, but Mists of Avalon seemed to have that hippy Glastonbury feel about it. Maybe the best way I can describe it is that it was a bit 'trippy' ;)

I'd forgotten about the Mary Stewart ones - I read those not long after reading LotR for the first time and they stood up to the incredibly fussy taste I'd developed!

I've got Neil Gaiman's The Graveyard Book here, so I'm about to see what that's like...

I got The Lost Girls for Christmas - it's very good, and very, very, very adult.....Oh, and one I have to thank Pio for is The Fables - I finally read the first one last year and it was amazing! I'm trying to find the second one now...

Gwathagor

01-13-2009, 04:31 PM

I got The Lost Girls for Christmas - it's very good, and very, very, very adult.....

Define "good."

Lalwendë

01-14-2009, 02:10 PM

Define "good."

Good as in good Art. It's basically an adult imagining of the adult lives and 'adventures' of Alice, Wendy and Dorothy - approach with caution if easily (or even averagely) shocked (and short of cash - they're rightly not cheap, mass market books).

Guinevere

01-14-2009, 05:01 PM

Not wishing to sound like a chauvinist, but I found Mists of Avalon dreadfully boring and devoid of humor. I prefer T.H. White's retelling of the Arthurian cycle in The Once and Future King. Mary Stewart's Merlin series (The Crystal Cave, The Hollow Hills, etc.) is interesting in parts, but is rather somber, and tends to meander later on in the series.

Oh, I love Mary Stewart's Merlin series (and most of her other books) too. I read those in the seventies when I had no idea about Tolkien yet.
Speaking of Arthurian fiction (if that is fantasy?), I am very fond of Gillian Bradshaw's trilogy "Hawk of May", "Kingdom of Summer", "In Winter's Shadow".
I guess that's why I never tried reading the much praised "Mists of Avalon". I am so fond of the characters portrayed in Bradshaw's novels, I didn't wish to see them portrayed quite differently.

I started reading T.H.White's "The Once and Future King", but found it rather strange - it was just not my cup of tea.

Gwathagor

01-14-2009, 06:51 PM

Good as in good Art. It's basically an adult imagining of the adult lives and 'adventures' of Alice, Wendy and Dorothy - approach with caution if easily (or even averagely) shocked (and short of cash - they're rightly not cheap, mass market books).

It's pornography, essentially.

Morthoron

01-14-2009, 10:21 PM

I started reading T.H.White's "The Once and Future King", but found it rather strange - it was just not my cup of tea.

That's why there's camomile, Earl Grey, oolong, etc. -- there's a cup of tea for everyone.

For me, it was an extremely funny book which turns very sad, and it's that juxtaposition of humor and melancholy which got me. And the profound nature of T.h. White's pacificism is imbued in the very fabric of the tale. One literally cries when Arthur, old and tired and wiser, raises his hands to stop the charge of his men and Mordred's, but his effort is as futile as trying to hold back a tidal wave, and he falls in the cataclym. One of my all-time favorites, right up there with LotR.

Lalwendë

01-15-2009, 06:59 AM

It's pornography, essentially.

I wouldn't say so, as it's not created with the same intent in mind.

Bêthberry

01-15-2009, 03:03 PM

I wouldn't say so, as it's not created with the same intent in mind.

Bethberry bites her tongue to avoid saying anything about the difficulties with authorial intention. :D

Not wishing to sound like a chauvinist, but I found Mists of Avalon dreadfully boring and devoid of humor. I prefer T.H. White's retelling of the Arthurian cycle in The Once and Future King. Mary Stewart's Merlin series (The Crystal Cave, The Hollow Hills, etc.) is interesting in parts, but is rather somber, and tends to meander later on in the series.

Since this has been quoted liberally by several Downers, I might as well chime in to see if we can set a Downs record for most quoted post comment.

Also, not wanting to sound like a chauvinist, I too found MoA heavy going, in much the same way I dislike most of Atwood. The dogmatics are just too, well, dogmatic and I can take only so much knocking on my skull before my reading skills are numbed senseless.

Have never read Mary Stewarts' Merlin series so I'll take a look at them and maybe even a relook at TH White, as it's been years and years. . .

But for new current fantasy, I found The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss quite fascinating, especially from the perspective of a Tolkien read. The debt is there, but this is no mere pale imitation.

Gwathagor

01-16-2009, 10:15 AM

I wouldn't say so, as it's not created with the same intent in mind.

Not according to Alan Moore.

Lalwendë

01-16-2009, 04:54 PM

Bethberry bites her tongue to avoid saying anything about the difficulties with authorial intention. :D

Not according to Alan Moore.

Excellent! We could have a bit of a post-Barthes style fight on our hands here over this one ;)

As the masterful Harry Hill says, there's only one way to find out...

Enorëiel

01-25-2009, 04:44 PM

I've recently fallen in love with the Green Rider series. Well, I suppose you could say I re-fell in love with them. I read the first two in high school and then kind of forgot about them. I was in a bookstore recently and came accross them and bought them without a second thought. I'd really forgotten how much I loved the characters and story line. If you haven't read them I would definitely pick them up!

Isabellkya

03-01-2009, 05:07 AM

Other Fantasy authors/books I've read....

Terry Goodkind
Terry Brooks (only the Shannara ones)
Robert Jordan
Stephen King (mainly The Dark Tower series)
Ursula Le Guin (though I've never technically read any of her fantasy, just the SciFi)
Tad Williams
Jack Yeovil (only the Genevieve books)
Neil Gaiman

There are some others, whom I would consider to be under the Horror section (since that is where you find them in bookstores); though some people have told me they are Fantasy as well.

After awhile, the stories seem to just be repeats of the same basic storyline.
So, definitely in need of a new read. xD

TheOrcWithNoName

05-17-2009, 11:41 AM

The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant, the Unbeliever, is always a firm favourite of mine.

I do find Donaldson's works a joy anyway, but his Covenant series is on a par with LOTR, and I sometimes wish Pete Jackson would bring some of the more accessible of these books to film.

Pitchwife

05-17-2009, 04:04 PM

I sometimes wish Pete Jackson would bring some of the more accessible of these books to film.
Sorry, but trying to imagine what PJ would make of Covenant gives me the nosebleeds...

I've recently discovered Lukianenko's (I always forget his Christian name) Night Watch series and found it rather addictive - kind of an adult version of Harry Potter, complete with a secret community of wizards, vampires, werewolves etc., but very scary, very grey-in-grey and with a great setting (present-day Moscow).
Otherwise, my favourites are Ursula K. LeGuin, Tad Williams, Orson Scott Card (Alvin Maker series)... and Donaldson, of course. I've also read all of Jordan's The Wheel of Time and intend to find out how it ends, but I'm not particularly proud of the fact.

Tigerlily Gamgee

05-29-2009, 04:21 PM

So, it's not REALLY "Fantasy," I suppose... but I just got done reading through all of the Sookie Stackhouse series books by Charlaine Harris. TRUE BLOOD got me hooked. If you are looking for some "mind candy," as I call it, check them out... it's not like they are super intelligent, but they are quick reads and quite enjoyable.

Thinlómien

05-31-2009, 02:03 PM

Estelyn Telcontar

05-31-2009, 02:35 PM

I'm currently rereading Jasper Fforde's 'Thursday Next' series; I know I've already recommended them, but there aren't many books I like so much that I can reread them several times with intense enjoyment, so I'll mention them again. So witty, intelligent, literary, wacky, and absolutely hilarious!!

skip spence

05-31-2009, 02:48 PM

Thinlómien

05-31-2009, 02:55 PM

Skippy, in your case I'd start from something else than the traditional-style fantasy. Neil Gaiman's Stardust plays with old fairytales and has a lot of sarcasm and evil jokes, and Guy Gavriel Kay's The Lions of Al-Rassan is more "alternative history" than fantasy: one of the main characters is based on El Cid and it is very much like early medieval Spain, but Kay has taken more liberty by placing the story in an imaginary world. That's two very good ones off the top of my head. :D

Legate of Amon Lanc

05-31-2009, 03:03 PM

Guess I'm not really a fantasy fan. I've got the impression Tolkien killed the genre off by perfecting it and when I tried to get into other fantasy works in my teens I did not get very far. To me they (I don't remember titles) were just pale copies or inferior variations, with the author obviously writing in the shadow of Tolkien. Then again, the books I did try might simply have been bad apples that put me off an otherwise decent harvest. Maybe I should give it another go. Any suggestions?

I would say you are basically right, skip. But I guess people could give you dozens and hundreds of suggestions here, but not sure if that is what you would like: the question would be, what are you expecting of the book. I don't believe there is a "second Tolkien", and if there is, then it would be just a copy. If you are looking for something "similar" in some way, there might be some things worth suggesting, but then again - what would you like: more of a "dragonhunting" stuff, or a more "realistic" world, some plotting, mystery, whatever...
I know for example one author, but first, he's a bit specific, and second, he is Polish and his books have not been translated to so many languages (to English, for example, but just very few of them and he's not probably that well known). His name is Andrzej Sapkowski, and the books would be called something like "Hexer" or stuff like that. Just if you saw it somewhere, I could recommend it to you to just check it - either you will like it or not. It is kind of a "monster-killer" stuff on first sight, but that's really just on first sight, it has much deeper story behind it (and in a way it's a bit parodical of the classic fantasy, but at the same moment remaining serious), and sometimes rather tolkienesque and also a lot more "realistic" in the portrayal of things (like, he is not "black and white" - no way, quite the opposite...).

Guinevere

05-31-2009, 03:35 PM

Not like very many people could enjoy this recommendation, but Finnish fantasy is actually surprisingly good sometimes. :D

Unrelatedly, have people been reading Lian Hearn's semi-Japan fantasy series? I just found the third part of the trilogy from a library after having completely forgotten it exists... and I don't remember if it was good enough to really be worth a read. :rolleyes:

I have read Lian Hearn's "Tales of the Otori" and found them very compelling and convincing, if a bit brutal. Certainly worth reading. (Btw, I just found out there is a sequel and a prequel to the trilogy!)

And I'm fond of Neil Gaiman's "Stardust" too! (the illustrated copy, by all means!) though I even prefer the movie!

Obviously I don't know any Finnish fantasybooks, but I love Mika Waltari's historical novel "Sinuhe the Egyptian" (I wish I could find translations of his other books)

Morthoron

05-31-2009, 03:53 PM

My daughter and I are reading through Gaiman's Coraline, and it's a hoot! It seems Gaiman has about the same contempt for adults as did Roald Dahl in an earlier generation. My daughter has gotten stuck on a few words when Gaiman polysyllabifies, but overall it's great read for a nine-year old. A bit creepy in spots, I suppose (particularly the 'other parents' eyes), but we've been enjoying it immensely.

Pitchwife

05-31-2009, 04:00 PM

I love Mika Waltari's historical novel "Sinuhe the Egyptian"
Indeed, a great read! It's 30 years or more since I read it - about the only truly fascinating book in my parents' bookshelves at the time - , but it made a lasting impression. "All temples are dark houses..."
Actually, now I think of it, this book did much to awake an interest in early civilizations and the dawn of history in my adolescent mind, and thus prepared the way for Tolkien. I always imagined Númenórean culture as more or less Egyptian in style.

Gwathagor

05-31-2009, 05:43 PM

It seems no one has mentioned Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell, though I'm sure some of you have read it. If you haven't, I highly, highly recommend it. It's like an alternate history of England in which magicians and fairies play prominent roles well after the Middle Ages, and has one of the best interpretations of the land of Faery that I've read. The book itself starts off sounding a great deal like a Jane Austen novel and continues that way for much of the book, but as the plot thickens, it grows more and more descriptive and brutal and dark. Anyway, super cool book, very imaginative, and because the movie adaptation is already underway, you only have a couple years to read it before the film hits theaters and ruins the story for you. :)

Morthoron

05-31-2009, 10:07 PM

It seems no one has mentioned Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell...

I had discussed JS & MR earlier in this thread...

http://forum.barrowdowns.com/showpost.php?p=569200&postcount=663

I came away from the book dissatisfied. It droned on far too long after a very promising start, and the characters became less and less interesting as the story advanced. Both Strange and Norrell both came off as a bit thick, and the allusions to imaginary books, although clever at the beginning, became an anchor no less heavy than the copious allusions found in Melville's Moby Dick (a novel I respect but despise all the same). As the Emperor told Mozart in the movie 'Amadeus', "There you have it -- too many notes."

I usually rate books on whether I would reread them (I do the same with movies). I would not reread this book.

Gwathagor

05-31-2009, 11:20 PM

I had discussed JS & MR earlier in this thread...

http://forum.barrowdowns.com/showpost.php?p=569200&postcount=663

I came away from the book dissatisfied. It droned on far too long after a very promising start, and the characters became less and less interesting as the story advanced. Both Strange and Norrell both came off as a bit thick, and the allusions to imaginary books, although clever at the beginning, became an anchor no less heavy than the copious allusions found in Melville's Moby Dick (a novel I respect but despise all the same). As the Emperor told Mozart in the movie 'Amadeus', "There you have it -- too many notes."

I usually rate books on whether I would reread them (I do the same with movies). I would not reread this book.

Oh, I'm glad to see that other people have read it. I'm sorry it bored you, though. As you're probably aware, Clarke did not intend for the footnotes to be published with the book, but simply wrote them for her own benefit and left them in when she sent the manuscript to the publishers, where she fully expected the footnotes to be excised. They are in no way essential to the story as a result and can be skipped over if one is in a hurry to finish the book. However, if one is willing to take the time to read them, they add a great deal to the sense of a larger, complete world that has, throughout its past several centuries, been deeply affected in every way by magic. I personally thought the footnotes were a lot of fun to read, particularly the legends and crazy anecdotes.

It is a long book, for sure, and is pretty slow during its first half. Once it gets moving, though, it's well worth the time invested.

Thinlómien

06-07-2009, 02:26 PM

I just finished Ursula Le Guin's The Word for World is Forest and I'm happy that I decided to read it. Not only because it was a very good book (one of the best I've read this year), but also because I really seldom read science fiction and upon reading this book I realised I'd enjoy the genre a lot, because it can have such interesting ideas and also criticism of the way how humans treat each other and the nature. :cool:

Bêthberry

06-07-2009, 05:44 PM

It might be Le Guin you are enjoying, Lommy, rather than the genre of SF, because she has a unique POV which not many other writers of SF follow.

JS and MR offers a unique alternate history, which is part of its charm. As Professor Fordim Hedgethistle once suggested, one can question some of the aspects of that alternative vision, but it is clever. As well, those who know Victorian culture might find a chuckle or two in it.

I'm still rather surprised that no one else has mentioned Patrick Rothfuss's The Name of the Wind, especially considering that a comparison to Tolkien would be quite interesting.

Boo Radley

06-11-2009, 02:22 PM

Right now I'm working my way through Pratchett's Discworld series for the second time.

Love the man's mind and am greatly saddened that it's fading away...

Thinlómien

06-11-2009, 04:22 PM

It might be Le Guin you are enjoying, Lommy, rather than the genre of SF, because she has a unique POV which not many other writers of SF follow.Well, that could be, I admit - her Earthsea novels are among my top favourites of fantasy books ever. :)

The last book I read was George R.R. Martin and Lisa Tuttle's Windhaven. It was nowhere near the best fantasy books I've read but the narration was exceptionally vivid. I can recommend it.

Boo Radley

06-12-2009, 08:18 AM

Well, that could be, I admit - her Earthsea novels are among my top favourites of fantasy books ever. :)

The last book I read was George R.R. Martin and Lisa Tuttle's Windhaven. It was nowhere near the best fantasy books I've read but the narration was exceptionally vivid. I can recommend it.

Which Martin book(s)? The A Song of Ice and Fire series? An excellent read, very reminiscent of the War of the Roses, I just wish there wasn't such a huge gap between books. But one should never attempt to hurry creativity.

Thinlómien

06-13-2009, 07:14 AM

Which Martin book(s)? The A Song of Ice and Fire series? An excellent read, very reminiscent of the War of the Roses, I just wish there wasn't such a huge gap between books. But one should never attempt to hurry creativity.Well yes I've read those and liked them very much, and sometimes I feel like strangling the author for keeping us in suspense and never finishing the next part of the series! :eek:;)

Nerwen

06-13-2009, 08:07 AM

Unrelatedly, have people been reading Lian Hearn's semi-Japan fantasy series? I just found the third part of the trilogy from a library after having completely forgotten it exists... and I don't remember if it was good enough to really be worth a read. :rolleyes:

I read the first one, Across The Nightingale Floor. I had rather mixed reactions to it– it was very well written, but a bit by-the-numbers when it came to characters and plotting.

I'd say it's worth a read, though.

Boo Radley

06-15-2009, 05:31 PM

Estelyn Telcontar

06-16-2009, 01:56 AM

No thanks, Boo, no toast - but you wouldn't happen to have some smuggled cheese around, would you? Or mabe a bit of Battenberg... :Merisu:

Boo Radley

06-16-2009, 07:17 AM

No thanks, Boo, no toast - but you wouldn't happen to have some smuggled cheese around, would you? Or mabe a bit of Battenberg... :Merisu:

(Pssst! Per'aps... meet me down at me flyin' boat?)

Morsul the Dark

06-16-2009, 08:11 AM

The Black Company Series from Glen Cook

Starting with an original Trilogy

The Black Company
The Shadow of fear (I thinks it's called just drew a blank)
The White Rose

those three books were amazing! great narrative and the "Baddies" are really scary and evil.... and then they show you the Other side of themselves like "The Lady"(that's what she's called) suddenly bursts into tears because she's afraid of death and why she protects herself and her empire so strongly, Cook makes the baddies human. also there is magic but in measured amount like Tolkien it's there but not over the top.

then there are the Books of the south:

A second trilogy about the Black Company;

These continue on the story and delve into the Company's history as well as making an extremely interesting plot leading right into the third set of books which contains four volumes......

and those four volumes are.... out of print! I stumbled across the first three the second trilogy I got in a newly printed compilation book, and the third sett I'm hoping will be coming out in such a way as well...

Boo Radley

06-19-2009, 06:02 AM

Right now (Well... not RIGHT now. Right now I'm typing this post) I'm reading Monstrous Regiment, by Terry Pratchett, Very, very funny. It's one of the DiscWorld series.

Eönwë

06-19-2009, 01:00 PM

Right now (Well... not RIGHT now. Right now I'm typing this post) I'm reading Monstrous Regiment, by Terry Pratchett, Very, very funny. It's one of the DiscWorld series.
Is that the one where they all turn out to be women?

Boo Radley

06-19-2009, 02:14 PM

Yes, indeedy-do.

The first time I read the DiscWorld series, a few years ago, I read them out of order. For the most part, they were written to be stand alone books, but now I'm reading them in chronological order... just because.

Nessa Telrunya

06-20-2009, 08:24 PM

-The Obsidian Trilogy
-Tales of the Kings Blades

Not very well known, but they are both phenomenal. It's worth spending an hour in the public library to find them.

alatar

07-06-2009, 08:25 AM

We were preparing a disaster recovery plan for the office, and so decided to do some research on zombies (it's an odd place to work). A coworker pointed me to the works of Max Brooks (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Max_Brooks) (son of Mel Brooks), who wrote the 'Zombie Survival Guide' and 'World War Z.' The former is a tongue-in-cheek guide that helps you prepare for various zombie outbreaks, from a few here and there to a full-blown end-of-the-world pandemic. I found it helpful, though WWZ was more entertaining. It's written ten years *after* zombies take over the world, where the author of the book interviews various people around the world in order to describe the war against the zombies. Some parts are great; others get a little silly - then again, it's about zombies.

I found both to be entertaining and worth the read. Plus, practically, should zombies attack the office, I have an escape plan at the ready (hint: identify slower coworkers who can be used to *distract* the zombies long enough for you to get away :D).

Nessa Telrunya

07-06-2009, 09:07 AM

alatar

07-07-2009, 01:31 PM

The Zombie Survival Guide was a great read-Even more so now that I'm safe :D
Glad that you're safe. May your crowbar always swing freely. ;)

Another thing I liked about WWZ is that the entire book pretends to be from this future post-zombie war time. You get right into it upon opening the cover. It's not like it says, "after turning the next page, please begin suspending belief." No, you somehow got the book from this future/alternate reality, and except for a few absurdities, it seems pretty real.

Inziladun

07-07-2009, 01:34 PM

I'll admit to being an (initially unwilling) fan of the Harry Potter series.
Beyond that, my tastes run more toward horror than fantasy.

Pitchwife

07-07-2009, 02:36 PM

I'll admit to being an (initially unwilling) fan of the Harry Potter series.
Same here. I stubbornly refused to look into the books until after Goblet of Fire was out. Then a friend gave me the first two for birthday; I read them in one weekend, went into a bookshop on Monday and bought the next two, and have been hooked ever since. Sure, I wouldn't put JK Rowling in the same league with, say, Donaldson, McKillip or LeGuin, not to mention Tolkien, but what she does, she does well.

Beyond that, my tastes run more toward horror than fantasy.
Do you like Lovecraft (Howard Phillips, i mean;))? Some of his early stories sort of border on the fantasy genre, but personally, I prefer the Cthulhu stuff.

Inziladun

07-07-2009, 03:03 PM

Do you like Lovecraft (Howard Phillips, i mean;))? Some of his early stories sort of border on the fantasy genre, but personally, I prefer the Cthulhu stuff.

The Cthulhu Mythos is good, but two of my favourites are The Whisperer In Darkness and The Shadow Over Innsmouth.

Pitchwife

07-07-2009, 04:53 PM

Agreed, that's two of his best! I'd like to add Mountains of Madness, with its glimpses of vast prehistoric ages (and the tantalizing mystery of what was beyond those accursed other mountains!) and Dreams in the Witch-House - the only story that ever gave me nightmares (Brown Jenkin! Brrrr!).
However, I digress...

Bêthberry

07-07-2009, 08:51 PM

Legate of Amon Lanc

07-08-2009, 05:32 AM

I'll admit to being an (initially unwilling) fan of the Harry Potter series.
Beyond that, my tastes run more toward horror than fantasy.
I just started to re-read HP now (well... I started a few months ago, but during the school year, I was unable to move much, but now since summer started I managed the Goblet of Fire and now I am in the middle of 5, it's interesting how one reads it differently after some time - especially with the Goblet it was really great to follow the character of Moody and try to see the story through his eyes. I never read 4-7 more than once (and I always read them when they came out), so I'm interested to see what it's going to be like, how it will differ from the first reading.
I happened to read the first HP "before the wave came", that is, when it was still unknown, I sort of randomly stumbled on it (my grandmother who worked in a library back then mentioned it to me) and I was not particularly fascinated, but as the others came out, I followed. The third was probably the one which broke it, I bought it on the very day it came out and thought that I'll read it during the weekend when I was home alone, but I started to read and could not leave it unfinished - so I practically read it all in one evening. Since the fourth, I have been reading them in English, as I did not want to wait half a year for translation. And of course, since the fourth it became much more... serious.

Do you like Lovecraft (Howard Phillips, i mean;))? Some of his early stories sort of border on the fantasy genre, but personally, I prefer the Cthulhu stuff.
The Cthulhu Mythos is good, but two of my favourites are The Whisperer In Darkness and The Shadow Over Innsmouth.
Agreed, that's two of his best! I'd like to add Mountains of Madness, with its glimpses of vast prehistoric ages (and the tantalizing mystery of what was beyond those accursed other mountains!) and Dreams in the Witch-House - the only story that ever gave me nightmares (Brown Jenkin! Brrrr!).
However, I digress...

Hey, I like HP ( ;) Lovecraft, not the scar-forehead boy) too, I'd list him among my favourite together with Tolkien and Chinghiz Aitmatov (other two in the top five would be probably Andrzej Sapkowski, a Polish fantasy author, and then maybe the Potter stuff... though I'm not so keen on advertising it because it's so widespread). I like At the Mountains of Madness a lot and lot of the "Cthulhu-stuff" as well, though I have some of my favs among the shorter stories (like Polaris and this thing about the German submarine, can't recall the name now). I also like the Dream-cycle stuff, though, especially wherever it's mixed with the Old Ones. I was so cheered up when I read the Dream Quest of Unknown Kadath this spring and I noticed that at one point, Nyarlathotep is called "Legate" there! :cool:
The first one I read from him was the Haunter of the Dark, which I read in one SF magazine, and it's still probably the best for me. It has brilliant atmosphere and I just love it. I recently discovered that it was actually the last story he wrote, so I wonder whether it has anything to do with it.

JeffF.

07-08-2009, 10:19 AM

I like the stories of his Middle Earth-like world. I particularly like the Silver Duology which is plainly (thinly disguised) his version of the Dwarves retaking Moria.

Pitchwife

07-09-2009, 09:56 AM

I was so cheered up when I read the Dream Quest of Unknown Kadath this spring and I noticed that at one point, Nyarlathotep is called "Legate" there! :cool:

:D Ever considered Crawling Chaos as your personal title? :D

McCaber

07-28-2009, 05:14 AM

People who have read A Game of Thrones: Sean Bean will play the part of Eddard Stark in the coming HBO series.

Nerwen

08-28-2009, 07:18 AM

Well, I started to read Ashling, the second sequel to Obernewtyn, a fantasy for teenagers. I read the first book when I was a teenager, and liked it, but I don't know if I can be bothered with this one. Maybe it's just that I'm too old and too cynical these days.

I mean, the first instalment wasn't exactly original– your standard neo-medieval post-apocalyptic fare, complete with psychic mutants. (The Chrysalids must vie with LotR for the title of Most Frequently Ripped-off SF Novel.) All the same, if my memory's not playing me false, it wasn't too bad and the really cliched stuff stayed in the background.

With this one it's taken over... all the mutants now have silly Capitalised Names for their various "Talents"– in fact Everything Is In Capitals– and the story's going round and round in circles and seems likely to end exactly where the first book left off.... you know the kind of thing.

*sigh*

Oh, and there's a character named Angina(!), and it's not meant to be a joke.

Gwathagor

08-28-2009, 01:34 PM

Anyone read the Mistborn series? I'm on the second book, The Well of Ascension. Good stories so far, ingenious system of magic. The writing itself is decent, but not fantastic (no pun intended).

Hakon

08-28-2009, 03:34 PM

I actually just ordered the first book in Mistborn series online. A okay book by the same writer is Elantris. I just finished it a few days ago.

Thinlómien

12-30-2009, 02:40 PM

People who have read A Game of Thrones: Sean Bean will play the part of Eddard Stark in the coming HBO series.Really?! That's cool. :eek::D (Although he wouldn't have been my first choice for the role, but with his skill, I know he can do it!)

Has anyone read Vellum by Hal Duncan? I just finished it, and I must say it was quite baffling. I have some (a lot of?) criticism against it, but I can't help but be hooked when someone takes ancient sumerian myths, the Bible and various other things and makes them into a pompously grand-scale mix involving a lost pre-ice age civilisation and repeated appearances of certain mythical characters throughout times and places...

Nazgûl-king

03-11-2010, 12:06 PM

I am currently reading "The Sword of Shannara".

Snowdog

03-11-2010, 08:42 PM

I'm doing a casual re-read of the Black Company series by Glen Cook.
An interesting perspective in a rather dark world.

TheGreatElvenWarrior

03-12-2010, 10:34 PM

I have started reading Harry Potter, however I'm only on book four. I rather like it actually, despite my vast unwillingness to begin. :p

mikelangelo11

04-07-2010, 07:11 AM

The Hobbit by JRRT - A classic of the genre, much more approachable than Lord of the Rings and the Chronicles of Amber by Zelazny - Fantasy at its most mysterious and most action-oriented, far from the conventions of the genre.

Nerwen

04-07-2010, 07:58 AM

Galadriel

10-12-2010, 06:15 AM

Hmm. I'm not THAT much into fantasy. I've read Tolkien's stuff and A Song of Ice and Fire by George Martin and a bit of Terry Pratchett (the man's a genius), but nothing else. And this may sound strange, but I could never get into Harry Potter. I wanted to, because I enjoyed the concept and all the funny little words, but Rowling's style...just irritated me. I tried the Sorcerer's Stone at least 5 times but I nearly fell asleep at each go.

Anyone else got the same problem?

xMellrynxMaidenx

10-12-2010, 12:04 PM

I have started reading Harry Potter, however I'm only on book four. I rather like it actually, despite my vast unwillingness to begin. :p

Goblet of Fire is one of the more interesting of the series, in my opinion. Though I really like Deathly Hallows more, I believe.

That being said, I am indeed a Harry Potter fan of both film and movie. I've noticed that the opinions on this series varies from person to person on here. :P We're all entitled to our opinions and am rather surprised, and relieved, to see that no one has ripped someone else's head off yet for having a different opinion on this board. I think I could get use to it here, hehe! :P

But, I digress, as I normally tend to do.

I've not really broaden (epic failure with the use of the word, I know. I'm too tired to be grammatically correct at the moment.) my horizons in the Fantasy genre other than JRR Tolkien's works and J.K. Rowling's.

I absolutely refuse to continue to read the Twilight series. But is this leaning more towards science fiction? I've never really been sure. Anyways, I tried to finish with the last book and I simply can't...to be honest, I never fully read the first three straight through either. For those of you who like it, know that I'm not bashing it. I just can't...get into it like most can.

Thinlómien

10-12-2010, 03:28 PM

I have recently been rereading Ursula Le Guin and my god she's just about as good as you can be. I could almost say it beats Tolkien. *gasp* ;)

Other than that, I've recently read the two new Rain Wild Chronicles novels by Robin Hobb (guaranteed delightful Hobb quality) and (although it's sf not fantasy) Doomsday Book by Connie Willis. I wonder if anyone else has read it? I've read it as a kid and reread it now and it was just as impressive as back then...

Galadriel

10-13-2010, 01:22 AM

I have recently been rereading Ursula Le Guin and my god she's just about as good as you can be. I could almost say it beats Tolkien. *gasp* ;)

Other than that, I've recently read the two new Rain Wild Chronicles novels by Robin Hobb (guaranteed delightful Hobb quality)

Never heard of Ursula Le Guin. Is she good? And I've seen Hobb's stuff in the stores enough...is he worth reading, you think?

Nerwen

10-13-2010, 04:17 AM

Never heard of Ursula Le Guin. Is she good? And I've seen Hobb's stuff in the stores enough...is he worth reading, you think?

She, actually, I think.

And Ursula Le Guin is very good indeed.

Ibrîniðilpathânezel

10-13-2010, 08:31 AM

I would probably like LeGuin better as a writer if I had not met her as a person. Alas, I can say the same for a number of others, too... *sigh*

I myself am very fond of the works of Katherine Kurtz (and yes, I met her as a person, too :)), as well as Evangeline Walton's retelling of the Welsh Mabinogian (no, I did not meet her). As for a marvelous blend of fantasy, humor, and horror, I highly recommend John Bellairs "The Face in the Frost." I also enjoyed Tim Powers' "The Drawing of the Dark," Gordon R. Dickson's "The Dragon and the George" and its sequels, and for humorous sword and sorcery, there's always Fritz Leiber's Fafherd and the Grey Mouser series. And of course, I'm a huge fan of T.H. White's "The Once and Future King."

More will probably occur to me as I let my brain simmer on it, though all of me is simmering right now, as it's hot and humid down here in Florida today, and my body was just getting used to autumn in Wisconsin. Gonna be a shock when we get home... :D

Thinlómien

10-13-2010, 09:43 AM

Robin Hobb - she, as Nerwen says - is definitely worth reading, if you ask me. Not as "deep" as Tolkien or Le Guin (well not maybe a good comparison if you've never read anything by her :D) but complex, enjoyable and deeply human. Hobb is, I think, one of the best storytellers whose books I've read both inside and outside the fantasy genre. The story just basically reads itself and you can't help but just live with the characters. If someone out there is thinking about reading anything by her, I suggest starting with the Farseer Series because they are probably the best and they sort of start out the whole thing. :)