My 2 cents on other Reading [Archive]

LaughingTurtle

12th September 2001, 17:17

I don't know about the rest of you, but after reading the WOT four times :eek: (Yes, I know, some of you are saying "WHAT? only four times...) almost any fantasy series starts to look good. Here are a few of my suggestions/opinons:

First off, George R.R. Martin's Song of Ice Fire. I definitely agree with all of you who recommend these books. I absolutly loved them! If you're into medieval themes, this series is for you.

I have also read David Drake's Lord of the Isles series. It's not bad, but it's kinda lacking in some aspects. Though, this could just be my bias to non-WoT stuff... Anyways, it is a good series to read in the interum between the next RJ book.

If you are looking for a short and sweet story (compared to WOT) then C.S. Friedman's Coldfire Trilogy is for you. I've read some of your posts about liking bad-ass characters, well Gerald Tarrent, The Hunter, is certainly one of them. He's a lean, mean, vampire/quasi-demon, wizard, mo-fo, with...style.

A kinder, more friendly fantasy series is Terry Brooks Sword of Shannara. It was probably one of my first fantasy series and I still love it. Their very well written and he's also coming out with a new series that's linked to the Sword of Shannara one.

On a last note, if you're really desperate for a good series, you love huge awesome tanks, and cool battles, then the "BOLO" series is for you. It's created by Keith Laumer and there's currently nine books out.

ENJOY! :D

Jean

12th September 2001, 20:33

Welcome to the forum Laughing Turtle. :) With everything that's gonig on we're all a bit distracted, but it's nice to see a new face.

I've read the first 2 books of David Drakes Lord of the Isles series. It's ok, not as good as some of his other books. It took me FOREVER to finish the first book, which is very unusual for me. MOst of the time, if I can't get into it in a day or 2, I never finish it.

I haven't picked up a Shannara book in ages.

LaughingTurtle

13th September 2001, 14:55

With everything that's gonig on we're all a bit distracted
Yeah I know, I live less than an hour from downtown D.C., but as callous as it may seem to some, life must and will go on. If we give in and shut down, we are just proving to everyone that the terrorists have succeeded.

I also understand that a posting in a fantasy novel forum is kinda a superfical or miniscule way to carry on, but it is my own way of trying to get back to normal. (NOTE: it is also not the only thing which i have done, but that's not the subject here) There is only so much that one person can do, but if everyone does something, then it all adds up to a whole lot.

Gina

5th October 2001, 10:57

I'm real close to the city... I literally can...could...see the towers from my bedroom window clear as day.

Now only the Empire stands there. Sort of weird but a reminder none the less.

yes Life does go on though, I'm on book 8 of the dragons of pern series. Fun little series if you want to relax until your next hard thinking novel. :)

LaughingTurtle

7th October 2001, 19:14

I just want to advertise a really good companion book...

For all of those who love Terry Brooks Shannara series, The World of Shannara (Teresa Patterson, David Cherry / $25-30, depending where you are)is deffinitly for you. I just picked it up today and so far i'm thrilled with it. It has family tree lines with character bios, maps of the land, maps of important places (Paranor for ex.), really cool illistrations (unlike the WOT companion book :rolleyes: ), and lots of other in depth info.(which includes his new Shannara series!)

So if you're into Shannara, this is a deffinite must have.:)

Well, gotta get back to reading it....

Jacob

11th October 2001, 18:46

I may have to give Sword of Shannara another chance. I've not been able to get through that one. I've got SoS in paperback..so already there it's off to a negative start. Paperbacks really aren't as enjoyable to read as hardbacks (looks best in shelf). Or Trade paperbacks (best to read). I really enjoyed reading Scions of Shannara and that series though, so it was probably because it was a paperback and I was in a reading slump that I got bored and put the book down. Terry Brooks is abit underrated I think.

QuirkyTemplate

17th October 2001, 23:37

Um ... I read Black Sun Rising[U] and I'm pretty sure that's part of the coldfire Triliogy. Now, if it is ... I wouldn't recommend that book to much of anyone. There's only like ... 5 characters in the whole story. How are you supposed to do anything with that?

Heh...anyway, I'd recommend The Farseer Triology. It's an alright series that goes by quick and painlessly. (now [I]that sounds like fun!) But if short and quick isn't your thing, The Otherland is what you need. I'm on book two and I've gotta say ... It's up there with Jordan (and I'm hella picky about this stuff).

Stay cool people I don't know.

LaughingTurtle

18th October 2001, 15:10

Originally posted by QuirkyTemplate
There's only like ... 5 characters in the whole story. How are you supposed to do anything with that?

Just cause a story only has 5 characters in it doesn't mean that it's bad. Quite, the contrary, there have been numerous books that only had :eek: 1 main character :eek:!!! A storys quality is not judged by the number of characters it has, kinda like judging by it's cover. Just think, by having fewer main characters, the author can give more detail about their personalities, and go more in-depth. So by doing this you are being very narrow minded. Though you are intitled to your own opinion, just don't base it on character numbers. :D

QuirkyTemplate

18th October 2001, 18:36

Yeah, I think the problem was that I did judge the book by the cover. I mean, that book had one superfly cover on it. I was thinking "Hey, there! That looks wickedly cool!" Boy was I wrong.

I hear ya on the numbers not being that important. I mean, you'd think that if you only have like 5 characters or so, you can spend time develpoing them right? Well ... I didn't really see any character development in that whole book. He had a big book. He had plenty of time. So it went something like this:

1 + 1 = crap

Something doesn't add up here. Oh, I know! We forgot to add x into the equation (x being a bad storyline and no character develpment).

x * (1 + 1) = crap

Ah ... that looks about right. (Damn I'm lame, but there's nothing I can do about it.)

Redeming qualities:
I agree that Gerald Terrant is one bad mofo ... in a pansyfied way.
The series does have an ending that hits you like a brick wall, that was pretty cool.

LaughingTurtle

18th October 2001, 18:52

Orginally posted by QuirkyTemplate
(x being a bad storyline and no character develpment)

Not true. The storyline was (in laymans terms) saving the world. Isn't that pretty much the universal storyline for a book. (well at least saving something...a person, thing, etc...) Also, no character development, this is mostly cause you just read one book. You have to read all three to fully appreciate the development in this series. Take Gerald Terrent for example...he was evil incarnate in the beginning, but found salvation at the end, by becoming somewhat good. Also Damien Kilcannon Vryce at the beginning was like the poster child for the catholic faith, but by the end he had realized how warped his viewpoint had been by being blinded by his faith. Thus he adapted...

I agree that Gerald Terrant is one bad mofo ... in a pansyfied way.

Pansyfied....how so?

The series does have an ending that hits you like a brick wall, that was pretty cool.

Totally agree with you on that.

QuirkyTemplate

18th October 2001, 19:56

The storyline was (in laymans terms) saving the world. Isn't that pretty much the universal storyline for a book

Not really man. With fantasy, most often yes.

And I'm sorry, but that plot was going no where. It's like, "Who's that mysterious man? Is it the only other character in the story??? " Then you run into your standard bad guy #001.

"Grr, I have big castle! I have mucho powero! Aaaah hhaha!" And of course the bad guy is totally insane. Oh, let me guess ... they're going to have to run out of a collapsing castle. That doesn't happen too much, right?

When you violate all of these rules (http://oz.uc.edu:8000/~normande/legion.html) something is wrong.

And you're probably right about the character development thing, I did only read book one.

What I ment by pansyfied is that Terrant is much too proper to be that much of a hardcase.

balefire

18th October 2001, 21:06

I've read a few books from the Shannara series (can't remember which, it was years ago) but I don't think they're all that nice. I think it was the series with the elfstones & Morrowindl & the Quickening. They seem to spend too much time on what 1 character says to another, rather than on what's going on.

Originally posted by LaughingTurtle
I just want to advertise a really good companion book...

For all of those who love Terry Brooks Shannara series, The World of Shannara (Teresa Patterson, David Cherry / $25-30, depending where you are)is deffinitly for you. I just picked it up today and so far i'm thrilled with it. It has family tree lines with character bios, maps of the land, maps of important places (Paranor for ex.), really cool illistrations (unlike the WOT companion book :rolleyes: ), and lots of other in depth info.(which includes his new Shannara series!)

So if you're into Shannara, this is a deffinite must have.:)

Well, gotta get back to reading it....

LaughingTurtle

20th October 2001, 20:24

Orginally posted by Balefire
They seem to spend too much time on what 1 character says to another, rather than on what's going on.

hmmmm, I never noticed that...or is it that it too has been a very long time since i last read the series, and i've just forgotten. :confused:

Anyway, you should give it another shot, you never know you might like it this time through. You'll never find out, unless you try...

balefire

20th October 2001, 21:52

If you mean re-read the same books, no, I don't think so. I'm aware there're other books in the series that I haven't read, but I don't think I want to try. Shannara doesn't appeal to me simply because, as I said, they spend more time on character interaction than the events of the story. I like WOT because at least they really develop the magical parts. I haven't seen any magic developed to the same depth as the One Power.

I also like the David Eddings books, although the magic is less developed. The adventures are really hilarious & events are quite well thought-out. But some people don't like the fact that the same blue vs red theme runs through both series, although I don't mind that bit.

Ever tried the Incarnations of Immortality series? I couldn't get the 1st book, but I read the rest. They're quite entertaining, but not really down-to-earth, & they're some illogical points here & there.

Originally posted by LaughingTurtle
Orginally posted by Balefire

hmmmm, I never noticed that...or is it that it too has been a very long time since i last read the series, and i've just forgotten. :confused:

Anyway, you should give it another shot, you never know you might like it this time through. You'll never find out, unless you try...

LaughingTurtle

21st October 2001, 10:02

No I can't say that i have tried the Incarnations of Immortality series. I've got quite a long list of books to read at the moment, but when i do get a chance, i'll give it try...the same goes for David Eddings. Thanks for the suggestions.:cool:

QuirkyTemplate

22nd October 2001, 00:10

Whoa LT, new Avatar! Why'd you get rid of the old one? It was stylin!

LaughingTurtle

22nd October 2001, 14:50

Well i think i said why in "100 posters club" --basically i changed it for a 100 post celebration!! :D :) ;) :p :cool:

Don't worry though, i rotate my avatars. Depends on my mood and such, also i have them all saved on my hard drive, so i can easily change back. But if you all perfer one, let me know, i'll change it back.....maybe :D MUWHAHAHAHA!

QuirkyTemplate

22nd October 2001, 18:09

Ah, I see. I was also kinda wonderin why Raph has the swords.

LaughingTurtle

22nd October 2001, 18:40

IT'S NOT RAFH!!!!!!!

GO SEE GREETINGS AND SALUTATIONS PG. 2 FOR INSIGHT ON WHY LEO IS WEARING RED.

Thank you, have a nice day...:)

QuirkyTemplate

22nd October 2001, 22:42

Whoa ... I think I hit a cord there.

heh .... So, Raph is a sword slinger then?

LaughingTurtle

23rd October 2001, 09:26

No, no, no, it's just that you are the third person to ask me that question, and i'm getting tired of it. Go see that thread to find out the answer why it's not Raph.

**Sigh.....**

QuirkyTemplate

23rd October 2001, 18:11

I know man, I'm just messin with you.

jade

25th October 2001, 14:19

all i got to say is that harry potter kicks ass...i love the series...cant wait until nov 16th!!! that's when the movie comes out... miserable that book 5 does not come out until next year =(

QuirkyTemplate

26th October 2001, 06:59

I completely judged that book Harry potter by the cover. I saw how crappy the cover was, heard it was a kids type book, and I never even bothered to read it. But now I'm having second guesses.

Oh, I know what book everyone needs to read! Ender's Game!! That is the *best* book ever! Card is a very good writer.

LaughingTurtle

26th October 2001, 14:48

(in regards to Enders Game) I don't know about it being the best book...but when i read it, like in middle school, I recall it was very good.

Also, I actually have read the Potter series :eek: (i know, i know) but you know, i had to see if all the hype was true about it and if it actually was any good. Come to find out, it wasn't anything special, but neither was it as bad as many people say they are.

jade

29th October 2001, 16:10

"I completely judged that book Harry potter by the cover. I saw how crappy the cover was, heard it was a kids type book, and I never even bothered to read it. But now I'm having second guesses. "

what?!! i love the covers to the harry potter series!!!...if you judge i book by its cover...i do not know how you have managed to get this far into WoT...i thought the covers for book one and two were pretty nice...but its gone progressively down hill since then...man...i mean...crown of swords looked like the cover to a trashy romance nove...

but back to harry potter...seriously, you've got to read it...i seriously finished the first four books within a few weeks... i wouldnt really say they are really a children's series...its more like a mature fairy tale...its great story telling at its best...really light reading but immensly entertaining...

QuirkyTemplate

29th October 2001, 19:04

Nah, I don't judge every book by its cover. And the WoT covers suck ... All of them! But I may try HP when I finish The Otherland, and 'bout fifty Stephen King books.

LaughingTurtle

29th October 2001, 19:14

Though, on the topic of WOT book covers...

Yes, i do agree that the quality of the covers have definitely gone down hill (and i don't mean the stupid binding) The artwork isn't exactly bad, but it's misguided. I have read numerous posts about how incorrect the artwork is(concering events in the book) but you can chalk that up to artistic license.

What I'm disappointed about is what is actually protrayed. I mean for crown of swords its as you said "like a romance novel" They could have picked a better event. I think one of the worst is for the shadow rising(i think that's the one, have to go check...) basically the one with the wagon on the front....COME ON, a stupid wagon and campfire?????? They couldn't have picked something more boring.

It may sound selfish, but i want battles/fighting, pictures of the one power being used, balefire, swords, or forsaken on the front. Is that too much to ask?? *sigh

jade

29th October 2001, 19:56

anyone read his new shannara series?...are they any good?

jade

29th October 2001, 20:08

Elin

30th October 2001, 04:43

oh if any one wants to read some kick ass reading, try guy gavriel kay's SARATINE MOSAIC ...wow...talk about great writing...its not
really fantasy...but almost like a historical fiction, yet not based on real history but with some elements of the fantastical... beautiful
writing...the imagery in this two book series is absolutely gorgeous...

Good that you reminded me... I've been meaning to read that, since I loved all the other Kay books. Haven't gotten around to it yet, though. Funny how Kay has gone from pure fantasy to more and more history-based kind of stuff. He does both kinds really well, though...

LaughingTurtle

30th October 2001, 15:28

orginally posted by Jade
anyone read his new shannara series?...are they any good?

Yes on both counts. I'm in the middle of Antrax, the second one in the series, and all i can say is that they definitely live up to the shannara name. If you liked Brook's other books, you will really like this series. Try em out...

LaughingTurtle

7th November 2001, 15:39

Hey has anyone read "The Faded Sun" Trilogy by C.J.Cherryh?? I've just started and so far it seems ok, but does anyone have any opinions on it?

QuirkyTemplate

7th November 2001, 21:05

The Otherland...

...otherland....

~drool~

LaughingTurtle

7th November 2001, 21:16

I read in the new spring thread that you're reading the Otherworld book, and from your last post i take it that you like it. Well care to enlighten me as to why it is so good. Summary of what you've read so far. Also who is it by.

QuirkyTemplate

7th November 2001, 21:24

The Otherland has excellent character development (not as good as WoT, but it's friggin awesome).

The people act realistically (moreso than WoT).

Plotting and storyline are very, very good.

The actual writing is very smooth, well done.

I can't really give you a summary because I dont want to ruin the books, but I can tell you it's in the future (but that hardly matters, it really doesn't fit into any genre). It's almost like what would happen if you threw Robert Jordan, The Matrix, Stephen King, and Tolkien into a blender and turned it on high.

Just read it man. Worth your time.

LaughingTurtle

7th November 2001, 21:47

It's almost like what would happen if you threw Robert Jordan, The Matrix, Stephen King, and Tolkien into a blender and turned it on high.

Neo's voice...."Whow"

Definitely sounds cool, well, that's just another book added to my "my read" list.

Also, WHO WROTE IT??

QuirkyTemplate

7th November 2001, 23:51

Oh, yeah. It's by Tad Williams. (www.tadwilliams.com)

He also has some really cool cover art on his books too.

Berk

8th November 2001, 07:53

These arent so much fantasy books as they are sci-fi, but there are three books that I would like to recommend.

The first is "The Stand" by Stephen King.

The second is "Lightning" by Dean R. Koontz.

The third is "Battlefiel Earth" by L. Ron Hubbard.

If you saw Battlefield Earth, the movie, please do not let that influence you in not reading the book. The movie sucked, but the book is one of the greatest I have ever read. My friend recommended it and I pushed it off for a few years but it was really incredible.

Lightning is the only book by Dean R. Koontz that I really loved. He had some other good ones but this one is just incredible.

The Stand. Stephen King. Enough said.

QuirkyTemplate

8th November 2001, 18:13

The Stand ...

~drool~

ummm.....ssttaaannnddddd......

Running Wolf

9th December 2001, 02:36

TOOSHAY, well..... however that odd word is spelled:)
"THE STAND" is an awesome book.
Ill try hard not to ruin anything for someone who hasnt read it, but i have to say that the whole concept of the scene, that has that crazy bastard walking through the desert... Ill stop there.
I have always thought that whole scene was very intense, beyond description without giving it away.
Great book overall.

Pope Trevor

9th December 2001, 02:44

It's been said before, but it's worth repeating

Ender's Game

It is absolutely incrediable. Quite possible the best book ever.Certainly better than anythin WOT.

balefire

9th December 2001, 05:33

Originally posted by Running Wolf
TOOSHAY, well..... however that odd word is spelled:)
"THE STAND" is an awesome book.
Ill try hard not to ruin anything for someone who hasnt read it, but i have to say that the whole concept of the scene, that has that crazy bastard walking through the desert... Ill stop there.
I have always thought that whole scene was very intense, beyond description without giving it away.
Great book overall.

I think the word is touche.

I am just about to get round to reading The Stand. Since everyone says it's good, I thought about giving it a shot.

Elspeth

9th December 2001, 11:05

I think somebody asked about the Faded Sun series earlier. I read that this summer. I liked the whole alien/human dichotomy (you know, culture clashes, misunderstandings, what does it mean to be truly human, ect.). My favorite book out of the trillogy was the middle one.

I've never read The Stand, Enders Game, or Otherland (though I did read Williams' Memory, Sorrow and Thorn series and his one book Tailchaser's Song with the kitty cats). I'll have to pick them up sometime. I used to avoid Stephen King because Pet Semetary was so weird, but I really liked The Green Mile and the Dark Tower series.

About Sword of Shanara, I read that so many times in 4th grade that if you quote me a scene from the book I can frequenly tell whether it's one the left hand page or the right. Also, it was illustrated by the Hildebrants. I love their illustrations (I have a copy of The Night Before Christmas done by one of them that my dad used to read to me when i was little, so there's all that "good childhood memories" stuff associated with their art style.

Neume

5th June 2002, 20:46

>>I have also read David Drake's Lord of the Isles series. It's not bad, but it's kinda lacking in some aspects. Though, this could just be my bias to non-WoT stuff... Anyways, it is a good series to read in the interum between the next RJ book. <<

I love Lord of the Isles. It's hands-down, my favorite series other then WoT, of course. Then again, I haven't read Martin yet... I should get around to that some day...

astraea

5th June 2002, 23:21

Anyone thinking of reading The Stand should go for the uncut version - it has 400 extra pages or so, and makes the whole experience even more incredible.

Arawis

6th June 2002, 17:06

my mom has the uncut version, (she has prettey much all of king's books), but ive never read it.

Tayhlon

6th June 2002, 17:19

I read The Stand (uncut even) and all that it really did for me was reaffirm my dislike of Stephen King's writing. I skimmed through a good chunk of the book.
Obviously I don't have anything against long books, I mean, look where I'm posting this ;) .
Ah well, back to my school work. Gotta read more about primates.

sven

18th June 2002, 12:00

I'm jumping on the Enders Game band wagon. Bar none the best book I've ever read. Cards shadow series is also fantastic, and the next one is coming out in July. If you want something that's a quick read and very cool try to find Steve Perry's matador series it starts with the man who never missed. Very cool science fiction with a martial arts twist.