|
|
|
|
 |
- |
| - |
|
|
|
|
User
|
Topic: Fantasy Book Thread
|
SerJR
Member
Member # 14993 |  Posted: 7:13 PM, February 16th (Tuesday), 2010 |     |
Anything and everything fantasy.
Books read? Favourite books? Least favourite books? Authors?
Favourite character? Best villain?
Cliches that you can't stand?
Best cover art?
You name it.
Anyway, I just recently picked up Spirit Gate by Kate Elliot. I'm about 200 pages into it and I'm loving it. She's drawn up such a rich world and culture (holy shnikes there's actually an economy in this one!). Reading it you can't help but feel that you're actually immersed in it. The characters are intriguing and it seems to be a character driven plot so far and it seems to have enough "grit"/"grey" in it without being over the top as some series seem to be tending towards. It's also interesting in that religion/magic/supernaturalforces are set up in a way that you're not quite sure if it's real or just a belief system. I'm looking forward to finishing it and the following books in the series.
Me: BH - divorced and remarrying.
Hope is never lost. It exists within you - it is real. It is not a force in and of itself - it is something that you create with every thought, action, and choice you make. It is a gift that you create for yourself.
Posts: 15955 | Registered: Jun 2007 | From: Further North than South | scaredyKat
Member
Member # 25560 | | Posted: 8:05 PM, February 16th (Tuesday), 2010 | |
I have two. Oldies, and of course they straddle the line between Sci-fi and Fantasy.
1st- Tad Williams 4 book series called Otherland. It's about a "world" where one exists entirely online. Except a group of rich guys are plotting to take over this new "world" and stomping on the good guys. The characters are compelling and unique and it is hard to put the volumes down, even though each is easily 500+ pages.
Another series within a series that I adored was by Julian May. The first series of 4 books was called The Saga of Pliocene Exiles, or Saga of the Exiles in the UK. It continues with 7 more books in The Galactic Milieu Series
The way she melds the two series is nothing short of brilliant. Again, part fantasy, part sci-fi.
Posts: 529 | Registered: Sep 2009 | From: In my head | UnexpectedSong
Member
Member # 21761 | | Posted: 11:51 AM, February 17th (Wednesday), 2010 | |
The two-book series of The Infinity Concerto and The Serpent Mage. They completely changed my world view!
WW(SA)
"If a thing is worth doing, it is worth doing badly." - G.K.Chesterton
Posts: 3174 | Registered: Nov 2008 | From: California | EmptyCup
Member
Member # 22909 | | Posted: 12:09 PM, February 17th (Wednesday), 2010 | |
Song, I read Darwin's Children by Greg Bear and enjoyed it. I'll give those a chance as well.
My contributions to the thread - The Song of Ice and Fire series by George R. R. Martin. I absolutely loved them!
FWW, reconciling with my best friend <3
Nothing much but love to give you, even less have I to hide - Tim O'Brien
Posts: 1130 | Registered: Feb 2009 | SerJR
Member
Member # 14993 | | Posted: 3:22 PM, February 17th (Wednesday), 2010 | |
I got through the first three books of ASOIAF and did for the most part enjoy them. I have yet to read the fourth.
There were a lot of elements that I really liked, but at times it just seemed a bit too much.
I thought it was great in the first book how one of the *SPOILER* main POV characters that you grew attached to was killed off, but it seemed to open the flood gates to killing nearly every character off and I found myself detaching as a result.*END-SPOILER* That being said, he does have some of the best characters that I've read.
I had some issues with how he incorporated sex - a lot of it came across as outright perverted and I really was uncomfortable with the sexualisation of characters that were, essentially, children. Fortunately, that wasn't too large of a part. It seemed to be more for shock value than actually contributing to the plot.
I loved that he created such a rich world, so heavily embroiled in complicated political struggle and betrayal, but with doing it on such a grand scope, some of the geography and cultures did seem to lack some cohesiveness, or seemed like they were in there just to make sure everything was included. Still - it's very refreshing from getting away from the typical evil overlord, young boy, quest plotlines even if there wasn't a discernible direction for it.
So, I guess I'm saying that I thought it was okay, even in light of the things I didn't like about it. [This message edited by SerJR at 6:06 PM, February 18th (Thursday)]
Me: BH - divorced and remarrying.
Hope is never lost. It exists within you - it is real. It is not a force in and of itself - it is something that you create with every thought, action, and choice you make. It is a gift that you create for yourself.
Posts: 15955 | Registered: Jun 2007 | From: Further North than South | EmptyCup
Member
Member # 22909 | | Posted: 4:23 PM, February 17th (Wednesday), 2010 | |
*SPOILER* Yes, I had trouble with the loss of many of the characters I grew attached to. I had to become attached to new ones, but was concerned about their fate as well, lol. Really, I was attached to the particular house as a whole, and that was a hard allegiance to give up after they were pretty much all dead.
FWW, reconciling with my best friend <3
Nothing much but love to give you, even less have I to hide - Tim O'Brien
Posts: 1130 | Registered: Feb 2009 | Lonerider
Member
Member # 9205 | | Posted: 10:14 AM, February 18th (Thursday), 2010 | |
Does Discworld count?
BS me 43 years old
WS her 45 years old
married 14 years, together 20
2 kids
D-day 7/15/05
Posts: 4225 | Registered: Dec 2005 | From: western NY | EmptyCup
Member
Member # 22909 | | Posted: 11:55 AM, February 18th (Thursday), 2010 | |
Does Discworld count?
LOVE Discworld 
FWW, reconciling with my best friend <3
Nothing much but love to give you, even less have I to hide - Tim O'Brien
Posts: 1130 | Registered: Feb 2009 | UnexpectedSong
Member
Member # 21761 | | Posted: 1:12 PM, February 18th (Thursday), 2010 | |
Song, I read Darwin's Children by Greg Bear and enjoyed it.
Okay, EC. Now I have to check out "Darwin's Children"!
WW(SA)
"If a thing is worth doing, it is worth doing badly." - G.K.Chesterton
Posts: 3174 | Registered: Nov 2008 | From: California | EmptyCup
Member
Member # 22909 | | Posted: 1:44 PM, February 18th (Thursday), 2010 | |
Song, now I'm not sure if I read that or "Darwin's Radio", lol. I have to go check my bookshelf.
FWW, reconciling with my best friend <3
Nothing much but love to give you, even less have I to hide - Tim O'Brien
Posts: 1130 | Registered: Feb 2009 | SerJR
Member
Member # 14993 | | Posted: 2:03 PM, February 18th (Thursday), 2010 | |
I haven't heard of a few of these. I have heard of Discworld, but don't know anything about it though. I'll have to check out some of the titles mentioned.
One thing I just realised about Spirit Gate... I think this is the first fantasy novel I've read where the characters don't exist on a diet of just meat, cheese, ale, and bread...
The setting has a very strong Oriental theme... maybe they were just years ahead with the whole avoiding scurvy thing 
Me: BH - divorced and remarrying.
Hope is never lost. It exists within you - it is real. It is not a force in and of itself - it is something that you create with every thought, action, and choice you make. It is a gift that you create for yourself.
Posts: 15955 | Registered: Jun 2007 | From: Further North than South | UnexpectedSong
Member
Member # 21761 | | Posted: 2:22 PM, February 18th (Thursday), 2010 | |
EC - "Darwin's Radio"... I did read that. It has a fantastic, amazing first half and the second half is a big disappointment! Especially the ending.
WW(SA)
"If a thing is worth doing, it is worth doing badly." - G.K.Chesterton
Posts: 3174 | Registered: Nov 2008 | From: California | Maia
Member
Member # 8268 | | Posted: 2:55 PM, February 18th (Thursday), 2010 | |
Discworld is classic.
I am a WoT fiend. Yes, true. (Wheel of Time) I fought through all of them.
Also particular about LE Modisett.
What I read and have read ...too big to get into. Too much.. George RR Martin, yes, Tad Williams, yes.
My current passion is Dr Who however.
Passion does not produce commitment. Commitment produces passion.
- the Wizard
Me - FWS.
Healed. Redeemed, Restored. Christus Victor.
Posts: 5893 | Registered: Sep 2005 | From: I am a Bluegrass-American | darkbeast
Member
Member # 19220 | | Posted: 3:50 PM, February 18th (Thursday), 2010 | |
My current passion is Dr Who however
Books, show or both? If it's show, I'll meet you in F&G in 5 minutes.
Books of shows/movies always disappoint me as much as movies based on books. The movie can't possibly flesh out the details of a book. Conversely, books destroy the simple genious of a great movie.
Star Wars, Movies Great, Books NOT.
Closest thing to fantasy books for me would be Conan the Barbarian. Pretty fair amount of scifi though.
Through the whole of human history, only four artists have impacted humanity so deeply as to warrant a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle.
Posts: 1686 | Registered: Apr 2008 | From: Florida | ladyvorkosigan
Member
Member # 8283 | | Posted: 4:04 PM, February 18th (Thursday), 2010 | |
I thought it was great in the first book how one of the *SPOILER* main POV characters that you grew attached to was killed off, but it seemed to open the flood gates to killing nearly every character off and I found myself detaching as a result.*END-SPOILER* That being said, he does have some of the best characters that I've read.
I had some issues with how he incorporated sex - a lot of it came across as outright perverted and I really was uncomfortable with the sexualisation of characters that were, essentially, children. Fortunately, that wasn't too large of a part. It seemed to be more for shock value than actually contributing to the plot.
I'm with SerJR on ASOIAF. Honestly, while I appreciate that he's got a whole cruel universe thing going on, it's just too much for me. I appreciate that he has the sections divided up by POV character because it means I can just read Jaime and Tyrion and that giantess that Jaime's traveling with and skip the rest. The sexualization of the children is just too, too much for me. Daenerys and Sansa were 13 and 11, respectively, when this shit started. I understand that old men will regard female children inappropriately and imagine that they're sexually aware of them, but the problem with Dany and Sansa for me was that GRRM, who is an old man, presumed to write these children with the kind of awareness of adult male sexuality that I would expect from a 45-yo divorcee. It wasn't quite as bad with Dany since I understand that Dany grew up in nightmare personality-disordered-brother land and was exposed to god knows what, but Sansa was sheltered, and her behavior with the Hound was just not realistic. Ugh.
So we seem to be discussing fantasy and scifi in this thread, yes?
Steven Brust's Taltos series and Khaavren series. Same world, different times. Fantasy.
Lois McMaster Bujold's Vorkosigan series. Scifi.
If anyone cares to take me up on this, I will offer you a motherfucking money back guarantee on those. Try it, and if you don't like it, I'll reimburse you for your purchases.
"I never expected to meet a man who was my match, and I had no more desire to dominate a spouse than to be ruled by him. Marriage, in my view, should be a balanced stalemate between equal adversaries." - Amelia Peabody
Posts: 11412 | Registered: Sep 2005 | From: Florida | darkbeast
Member
Member # 19220 | | Posted: 4:14 PM, February 18th (Thursday), 2010 | |
a motherfucking money back guarantee
You can't get that from Amazon.
Through the whole of human history, only four artists have impacted humanity so deeply as to warrant a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle.
Posts: 1686 | Registered: Apr 2008 | From: Florida | wincing_at_light
Member
Member # 14393 | | Posted: 4:17 PM, February 18th (Thursday), 2010 | |
If we're stretching the definition to include Dr. Who...
I will read anything by Neal Stephenson, including his grocery list, and invariably feel like it is the best thing ever put to paper in the history of human thought.
Probably best to start with something light like Snow Crash, but push on through to Cryptonomicon as soon as possible.
It makes me hot just thinking about it.
Take me down to the Paradise City
Where the grass is green and the girls are pretty
Posts: 5065 | Registered: Apr 2007 | From: Indiana | EmptyCup
Member
Member # 22909 | | Posted: 4:22 PM, February 18th (Thursday), 2010 | |
wincing, I'm a Stephenson fan as well.
FWW, reconciling with my best friend <3
Nothing much but love to give you, even less have I to hide - Tim O'Brien
Posts: 1130 | Registered: Feb 2009 | ladyvorkosigan
Member
Member # 8283 | | Posted: 4:51 PM, February 18th (Thursday), 2010 | |
BTW, at one point or other all of the Vorkosigan books have appeared on Baen Book's free internet library site, so for those of you with e-readers, digital copies are available legally and without purchase. Contact me or Google for details. =)
Re: Stephenson...since becoming the mother of a daughter, I'm partial to The Diamond Age. [This message edited by ladyvorkosigan at 4:52 PM, February 18th (Thursday)]
"I never expected to meet a man who was my match, and I had no more desire to dominate a spouse than to be ruled by him. Marriage, in my view, should be a balanced stalemate between equal adversaries." - Amelia Peabody
Posts: 11412 | Registered: Sep 2005 | From: Florida | EmptyCup
Member
Member # 22909 | | Posted: 6:57 PM, February 18th (Thursday), 2010 | |
LadyV - if I can find a free digital copy for my kindle, I'll give it a try. If you feel strongly enough to take your user name from the series, there must be something there!
FWW, reconciling with my best friend <3
Nothing much but love to give you, even less have I to hide - Tim O'Brien
Posts: 1130 | Registered: Feb 2009 | | Topic Posts: 43 | |
|
|
|
|
