Alock1
Wears XXXL shirts and can't type ellipses
- Joined
- Nov 30, 2011
- Messages
- 16,081
I know there's a Book thread, but I went back through some of the pages and noticed there seems to be a lot of posters who read Fantasy.
I couldn't help but feel like they got lost in all the other discussions though, and it would be good to have a separate place to discuss the genre.
Which series do you guys recommend? Who are your favourite authors?
And mostly, what do you look for in a Fantasy book. Is it epic world building or focused character building? Great detail or fast paced action. (not saying that these things are exclusive)
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I've read Lord of the Rings - loved it (of course) but I couldn't help feel like it hadn't been extremely well written in technical terms. A brilliant story told in a brilliant way, I loved the detail - but the use of language wasn't always great. Maybe it's because I read it from the age of 10, but I'm not sure I'd change my mind if I reread it now.
Harry Potter and Dark Materials series - great fantasy reads. I know that they're aimed at younger audiences too, but I still believe they hold a lot for adults. Great introduction for fantasy, but just because you've read epic fantasies like LOTR don't think that these books are below you without giving them a chance. Annoyingly, I say that, but can't help but warn you that the first 2 (maybe 3) Harry Potter do seem particularly more aimed towards children.
Kingkiller Chronicles - Patrick Rothfuss story of Kwothe in the books Name of The Wind and Wise Man's Fear - has become my favourite fantasy series. It hasn't ended yet, with the third book Doors of Stone rumoured to be released early 2014. It follows the story of Kwothe, a coming of age story which shows a boy with humble and dark beginnings becoming a notorious arcanist. I couldn't recommend this series more, it's a great story with a great character.
Just finished the first of the Nightangel Trilogy, by Brent Weeks. The Way of Shadows - it's a good read, one of the funnest books I've read. A pretty simple story, with some grit and reality that you don't often find in fantasy books (the ones I've read at least). Recommended again. Will be starting on the second as soon as I can get to the shops to buy it.
I've bought the first of the Mistborn Trilogy by Brandon Sanderson. I hope it lives up to the hype.
Dresden Files - finished the first 3; very enjoyable, but for some reason I never care about reading the next one. I'm sure I'll finish them one day.
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I just wanted to add my thoughts on Song of Ice and Fire.. I've read Game of Thrones and Clash of Kings and I really don't understand the hype. I've seen the TV series and think it's incredible compared to any other fantasy TV we've seen, but I've never felt that on it's own merit it's anything particularly special. It's more that the medium of TV is behind when it comes to producing quality fantasy programs.
Anyway, I read the first two - and they're good, but not great. I thought it was very cliche, typical Medieval England style setting. The lack of magic or real fantasy annoyed me, and yet the parts I found most boring about the book were at 'The Wall' and the Supernatural things that lie behind the wall.
Some characters I really liked. Arya, Ned and Tyrion I enjoyed reading, but whenever I got to Sansa, Catelyn, Theon or Bran; I just wanted to put the book down. It was frustrating. The politics seemed well written, and I thought it was interesting to get the different view points of events from different angles - but sometimes it was coming from angles I couldn't give a shit about.
Mostly, my main issue was always the lack of fantasy. I want magic!
--
It won't be long until I've finished Mistborn and Night Angel - what recommendations have you guys got for me? I've always wanted to try Wheel of Time or Riftwar Saga but the sheer amount of books in both I find really off putting.
I couldn't help but feel like they got lost in all the other discussions though, and it would be good to have a separate place to discuss the genre.
Which series do you guys recommend? Who are your favourite authors?
And mostly, what do you look for in a Fantasy book. Is it epic world building or focused character building? Great detail or fast paced action. (not saying that these things are exclusive)
------
I've read Lord of the Rings - loved it (of course) but I couldn't help feel like it hadn't been extremely well written in technical terms. A brilliant story told in a brilliant way, I loved the detail - but the use of language wasn't always great. Maybe it's because I read it from the age of 10, but I'm not sure I'd change my mind if I reread it now.
Harry Potter and Dark Materials series - great fantasy reads. I know that they're aimed at younger audiences too, but I still believe they hold a lot for adults. Great introduction for fantasy, but just because you've read epic fantasies like LOTR don't think that these books are below you without giving them a chance. Annoyingly, I say that, but can't help but warn you that the first 2 (maybe 3) Harry Potter do seem particularly more aimed towards children.
Kingkiller Chronicles - Patrick Rothfuss story of Kwothe in the books Name of The Wind and Wise Man's Fear - has become my favourite fantasy series. It hasn't ended yet, with the third book Doors of Stone rumoured to be released early 2014. It follows the story of Kwothe, a coming of age story which shows a boy with humble and dark beginnings becoming a notorious arcanist. I couldn't recommend this series more, it's a great story with a great character.
Just finished the first of the Nightangel Trilogy, by Brent Weeks. The Way of Shadows - it's a good read, one of the funnest books I've read. A pretty simple story, with some grit and reality that you don't often find in fantasy books (the ones I've read at least). Recommended again. Will be starting on the second as soon as I can get to the shops to buy it.
I've bought the first of the Mistborn Trilogy by Brandon Sanderson. I hope it lives up to the hype.
Dresden Files - finished the first 3; very enjoyable, but for some reason I never care about reading the next one. I'm sure I'll finish them one day.
--
I just wanted to add my thoughts on Song of Ice and Fire.. I've read Game of Thrones and Clash of Kings and I really don't understand the hype. I've seen the TV series and think it's incredible compared to any other fantasy TV we've seen, but I've never felt that on it's own merit it's anything particularly special. It's more that the medium of TV is behind when it comes to producing quality fantasy programs.
Anyway, I read the first two - and they're good, but not great. I thought it was very cliche, typical Medieval England style setting. The lack of magic or real fantasy annoyed me, and yet the parts I found most boring about the book were at 'The Wall' and the Supernatural things that lie behind the wall.
Some characters I really liked. Arya, Ned and Tyrion I enjoyed reading, but whenever I got to Sansa, Catelyn, Theon or Bran; I just wanted to put the book down. It was frustrating. The politics seemed well written, and I thought it was interesting to get the different view points of events from different angles - but sometimes it was coming from angles I couldn't give a shit about.
Mostly, my main issue was always the lack of fantasy. I want magic!
--
It won't be long until I've finished Mistborn and Night Angel - what recommendations have you guys got for me? I've always wanted to try Wheel of Time or Riftwar Saga but the sheer amount of books in both I find really off putting.