What other fantasy books do YOU read? - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

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

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....

ninja91 · 12-11-2006, 11:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brinniel

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.

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Might

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

11-30-2006, 06:27 PM	#1
Kitanna Child of the West Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Watching President Fillmore ride a unicorn Posts: 2,132	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. __________________ "Let us live so that when we come to die even the undertaker will be sorry." - Mark Twain

12-11-2006, 01:20 AM	#2
High King Fingolfin Shade of Carn Dûm Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Where the Wargs thrive, a.k.a. Madison, WI Posts: 437	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. __________________ "Outside of a Warg, a book is a man's best friend. Inside of a Warg, it's too dark to read." - Wargo Marx Last edited by High King Fingolfin; 12-11-2006 at 01:24 AM. Reason: Forgot a few

12-11-2006, 02:05 AM	#3
Brinniel Reflection of Darkness Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Polishing the stars. Well, somebody has to do it; they're looking a little bit dull. Posts: 2,983	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.... __________________ Nolite te bastardes carborundorum

12-28-2006, 04:53 AM	#5
The Might Guard of the Citadel Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Oxon Posts: 2,205	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... __________________ “The invisible and the non-existent look very much alike.” Delos B. McKown

12-31-2006, 04:18 AM	#7
The Might Guard of the Citadel Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Oxon Posts: 2,205	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 __________________ “The invisible and the non-existent look very much alike.” Delos B. McKown