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

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

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

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thinlómien

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

Quote:

Originally Posted by ninja91

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

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thinlómien

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.

12-31-2006, 04:18 AM	#2
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

01-04-2007, 07:56 AM	#3
Thinlómien Shady She-Penguin Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: In a far land beyond the Sea Posts: 8,093	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. __________________ Like the stars chase the sun, over the glowing hill I will conquer Blood is running deep, some things never sleep Double Fenris

01-07-2007, 07:18 PM	#4
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 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... __________________ Nolite te bastardes carborundorum

01-11-2007, 03:39 PM	#8
shieldmaiden4xsword Wight Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: where people stick out their tongues at their youth pastor.... Posts: 183	i've been reading Roverandom, and Smith of Wootton Major. I enjoyed them alot. __________________ Sometimes the peril is not in what is around us, what enemies or trials that may come, but what is in our own hearts.