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Gilly said:
I wouldn't say I found the language to be 'over' florid either, and it is difficult to get away from archaic, or even antideluvian, writing styles in the fantasy section anyway.
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I've haven't worked out whether this is because readers expect it, because the writers think readers expect it, or the writers can't stop copying Tolkein. It can be done, done easily, and done well: Ursula LeGuin's Earthsea books show the way. There are plenty of revisionist fantasy writers like Barbara Hambly, Joe Abercrombie etc as well, who write a far more matter-of-fact style. Florid writing can work if done well (Fionavar Tapestry), but usually it's just lazy - idealogically at least.


M
 
bakes0310 said:
I like the sound of that song of fire and ice, just read about it on wiki i might try it sometime.
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If you start sometime next year, he may even have released book 5 (i think that's what we are up to?), we've only been waiting nearly 2 years, and each time you check back he goes on about being too busy or having rejigged the storyline so it needs more work! :mad: We needs it, we does, precious! :D

I'd have to concur with some points about Thomas Covenant, it's just so slow, you keep expecting him to stop being an asshat and start to do something good and epic, it just never materialises, so fails to deliver.

As Meridian says, Ursula LeGuin's Earthsea books are a good read (just finished re-reading them), currently started Magician by Feist again as have run out of new books to buy.
 
Makunouchi said:
Anyone read any of Terry Goodkind's stuff? I found it incredibly hard to read, there's a limit to how much detail I need in the description of the most mundane things...

Also I'll second the Shannara series by Terry Brooks, good books.
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Pretty good, although I'd advise only reading two or three in a row, otherwise his 'agenda' starts to get on my nerves.

-Leezer-
 
Anyone read the Trudi Canavan trilogy Black Magician? Tempted to start them on holiday.
 
Proc said:
The Sword of Truth series. Yes they take some reading and his attention to detail is anal to say the least, but its a good set of books with some great characters. Just don't watch the tv series after you've read them tho, its shocking.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Sword_of_Truth
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It's a great series, right up until about book 5, then he realises that he has to string out his fans/readers to try to milk every last penny out of them. You could quite easily dismiss a load of the tripe he introduces as it goes nowhere, but feel dissapointed he never explored the possibilties of other bits he has introduced, such as the night wisps, scarlet etc

Still worth a read though, just a shame he got sucked into comercialism and didn't stay 'true' to the sword of truth!
 
Anything and everything by David Gemmell; best fantasy author ever :D Particularly recommend the Rigante series of books which are utterly fantastic.

Jordan's Wheel of Time is also great; I really enjoyed what I read of it. Very slow paced and political which I found to be a great contrast from a lot of fantasy out there; that said, I got to the 8th book and just couldn't bring myself to put more time into the series! Really should do sometime.
 
Spit said:
Anyone read the Trudi Canavan trilogy Black Magician? Tempted to start them on holiday.
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They're ok, but not something I'd read again. Unusual in that some of the wizards are gay. Don't know if you see that as a positive or negative ;)
 
Don't know if this has been suggested, but The Dark Tower Series by Stephen King, is really good, especially if you read books that pad it out.
 
What a great thread, loads of suggestions there to keep me going for ages, let alone the OP :)

Has anyone mentioned the Malloreon, Elenium and Tamuli series by David Eddings? Also The Redemption of Althalus, although it's only one book, it's pretty hefty and an absolute classic 'band of adventurers save the world' book.
 
Not sure if it will still be in print but try and get hold of The Spellsinger series by Alan Dean Foster. Its fantasy with a comedy twist, 6 books and at the time I read it I thought it was original and quirky, even though it does use the standard man transported to a fantasy world theme.

I will also reccomend the Thomas Covenant series, I thought it was an amazing story. I met Stephen Donaldson a couple of years ago and he said he never professed to be the best technical writer out there, but instead always though of himself as a good story teller. I'm of the opinion that you are not meant to empathise with Covenant, he is simply never going to be a hero, its the characters around him who do the heroic acts.
 
Bubo said:
I will also reccomend the Thomas Covenant series, I thought it was an amazing story. I met Stephen Donaldson a couple of years ago and he said he never professed to be the best technical writer out there, but instead always though of himself as a good story teller. I'm of the opinion that you are not meant to empathise with Covenant, he is simply never going to be a hero, its the characters around him who do the heroic acts.
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He's not a good story teller though, the books so far as I recall them were dull and an absolute chore to read. They could have been cut to about half the length by removing all the ridiculous waffle about Covenant and would have been a far better read for it.
 
Dano said:
He's not a good story teller though, the books so far as I recall them were dull and an absolute chore to read. They could have been cut to about half the length by removing all the ridiculous waffle about Covenant and would have been a far better read for it.
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Well I personally think you're talking rubbish, but then you basicaly saying the same about Stephen Donaldson, so it kind of balances out.
 
Dano said:
He's not a good story teller though, the books so far as I recall them were dull and an absolute chore to read. They could have been cut to about half the length by removing all the ridiculous waffle about Covenant and would have been a far better read for it.
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I think the Covenant books are among the best books I have read, and are definitely one of my most highly recommended series. Donaldson is not an easy read, but to me his story, characterisation and descriptive skills are unmatched. The books are not as dense and unwieldy as the Wheel of Time (from Book 5 or so onwards), but I can understand that many would be turned off because it is not conventional fantasy at all.

If you want an original fantasy for adults, Thomas Covenant is highly recommeded by me.

Others that have been mentioned:

- Song of Ice and Fire by George RR Martin: Superb amazing stuff - but the 4th book falls flat on its face, and we are waiting for GRRM to redeem the story at the moment...

- Memory, Sorrow and Thorn by Tad Williams: An excellent story but bloated in places (think the Treebeard chapter in LOTR).

If you want action and bloodshed, I recommend:

- Orcs by Stan Nichols: Hilarious and off-beat take on fantasy, very dark and very enjoyable

- Legend by David Gemmel: Epic - also would recommend the first 2 Rigante books

Humour: Terry Pratchett. Thats all.
 
Wheel of time is awesome if you can get into it (although books 7-10 are kinda weak).

Im on Sword of truth series now (Wizards first rule is the first book) and Its quite entertaining, lot of magic and the like!

The Drizzt books are my favorite though (Dark elf Trilogy -> Icewind Dale Trilogy), ive not read a single peice of fantasy that has topped the 6 books in these two trilogys.
 
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