Can We Discuss Fantasy Literature?

[HighWiredSith]

Anyone enjoy fantasy reading? When it comes to fantasy, for some reason, I can't get enough of the pulp. I enjoy Tolkien and Michael Morecock but not for every day reading. RA Salvatore and the Wizards of the Coast (formerly TSR) bunch write great stuff. Speaking of which, Ed Greenwood of WOTC just released a new one (it may be his first, I've never read him before):


Looks interesting anyway.

[toomuchcoffee]

I would read fantasy. I've actually been thinking about looking for something to read. I've sort of made it a hobby that I intend on pursuing more at a latter date when I have the right amount of free time, to study Tolkien more closely, but I've read short fantasy stories and excerpts from fantasy books in a "Best of" collection and I thought a few of them were quite excellent. Maybe I should look for the author's I liked again, but if some people want to discuss a fantasy book, I would try to do that.

[HighWiredSith]

Tolkein is essential Fantasy, but only the LOTR trilogy. Like all avid fans I tried to enjoy his other stuff...man what a chore.

Other essential fantasy writers (IMHO)
Michael Morecock
Terry Brooks
T.E. White
Robert Jordan
R.A. Salvatore
Marion Zimmer Bradley
R.A. MacAvoy

[toomuchcoffee]

I've started The Silmarillion about five times and never got past page 130 or so.

I played the Forgotten Realms world when I played D&D years ago, so if I were ever to pick up "everday" fantasy reading, I would probably pick up one of those books. Actually, the only thing about the world that we really used was the map and the occasional module. Typically, we just made the rest up.

Is Terry Goodkind not considered very good? I read the first few books of his but just didn't continue. I always wondered how he compares with Jordan. They both have about ten books devoted to one series.

[HighWiredSith]

Have not read any Terry Goodkind but oh how I do love a good series, espeically really long ones, like the Shannara series or Jordon's Eye of the World.

[mack]

You know, oddly enough I've steered away from the "mainstream" or shall we say heavy hitting fantasy authors since back in the day. I think its my own brand of elitism ( over what else it could be) or rejection of the status quo for off-brand, marginal writers. None of this makes sense as I enjoy reading many well-known and acclaimed authors, so I can only justify it to myself as refusing to "like" what joe blow non-scifi/fantasy liker likes. For example: one of my sisters, who is a self-proclaimed hater of all things scifi/fantasy, likes Robert Jordan. I refuse to read Robert Jordan, though I did try back when I was like...12. My loss?


Back to Fantasy. So I was unpacking my books and loading my bookshelves the other day, and god was that fun!

Dont laugh, but some of my "fantasy" authors are:

Christopher Stasheff
Roger Zelazny
Robin Hobb
Carol Berg (new, and good - much like Robin Hobbs style)
Terry Brooks
Rachel Caine (new)
David Eddings
Holly Lisle
Charlaine Harris
Steven Gould (scifi/fantasy)
Marion Zimmer Bradley
Anne McCaffrey (scifi/fantasy)
Deborah Chester
Mary Herbert
George Lucas/Chris Claremont
Elizabeth Moon
Jennifer Roberson

And the list goes on, but I'll stop.

Im thinking of rounding out my library, and want to know what would you guys think is a "good" library?


I"ll probably start here:

Entire Dune 'verse: Frank/Brian Herbert
Entire Amber 'verse: Roger Zelazny, etc.
Entire Elizabeth Moon 'verses - fantasy: Deed of Paksenarrion/Oath of Gold, etc. Scifi - (already own most of it, and need maybe 2 books)
Steven King - starting point:

Come to think of it, this should probably be its own thread. Moving it!

[Nexus]

I could never get into the traditional medieval-style fantasy. Historical type stuff just bores me to tears for some reason.

[HighWiredSith]

Saw Anne McCaffrey and it reminded me that one of my favorite fantasy series is Ursula K. LeGuin's Earthsea series. Way too lite on content (just leaves you wanting more) but still a real fantasy gem. I also remain convinced that her novels heavily inspired Harry Potter. And yeah, why Anne McCaffrey reminded me of UKLeguin I have no earthly idea.

[toomuchcoffee]

I've read Jennifer Roberson's Sword Maker series, or at least the first two or three. I thought they were good. I always thought I would go back to read those at some point.

[toomuchcoffee]

I guess Peter Jackson is adapting the fantasy book series Temeraire. (Also this, regarding The Hobbit: "[Peter Jackson is] especially intriqued by the idea of making two films and inventing new material to fill in gaps in the story, since the plot--about how Bilbo Baggins . . . befriends Gandalf . . ., falls agoul of the miserable creature Gollum, and comes into possession of that pesky ring--is fairly simplistic compared with LOTR.")

[xXx]

Morecock and Greenwood.

If ever two authors should collaborate, it's those two.

[mightymem]

I have read fantasy authors such as Maggie Fury, Terry Pratchett, Fiona Mcintosh, JK Rowling and Harry Turtledove fantasy Darkness series. I recently read books by George R.R. Martin and Greg Keyes. I enjoy fantasy but find it many fantasy very similar. I mostly enjoy Science fiction. Though I must thank fantasy for getting me interested in to Sci fi because since I was a child I have always found the genre interesting.

[Splendiferous]

Originally Posted by toomuchcoffee

(Also this, regarding The Hobbit: "[Peter Jackson is] especially intriqued by the idea of making two films and inventing new material to fill in gaps in the story, since the plot--about how Bilbo Baggins . . . befriends Gandalf . . ., falls agoul of the miserable creature Gollum, and comes into possession of that pesky ring--is fairly simplistic compared with LOTR.")

NO!

That's a terrible idea. Bad Peter Jackson, BAD!

<<smacks PJ on the nose with a rolled-up newspaper.>>

I know I say this every time anyone mentions fantasy anything, but James Barclay James Barclay James Barclay! The Chronicles of the Raven is a great series of books. Start with Dawnthief. If you're not hooked by the end of the first book, I'll be very surprised.

[Darth Bob]

Personally, the last fantasy book I read that wasn't a discworld novel, was George R.R. Martin's A song of fire and Ice book 1: a game of thrones, it was intresting and a good read, giving enough backstory and history to the world and characters, but never so much to bog you down with it.

a younger George.



Peter Jackson



Scary huh?

[mightymem]

I have read that same book Darth Bob and i found it interesting as well I read the first three in the series but because they were borrowed i have not felt much incentive to buy the others and read them, I always have authors that I buy everytime they bring out a new book, George RR Martin is not on that list.