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

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?

)

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.

09-25-2008, 05:50 AM	#1
Diane C Pile O'Bones Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: The other side of the rainbow! Posts: 22	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! __________________ *My Friends - You Bow To No One!"*

10-01-2008, 11:52 AM	#2
Lindale Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: midway upon... in a forest dark Posts: 975	stuff from a spec-lit forum 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? ) __________________ The heart does things for reasons Reason itself cannot comprehend. - Blaise Pascal Legal Madness.

10-01-2008, 12:49 PM	#3
Aganzir Woman of Secret Shadow Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: in hollow halls beneath the fells Posts: 4,511	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. __________________ He bit me, and I was not gentle.