The Wheel of Time series by Robert Jordan
Okay, these are the best I've read for awhile as a series. The people are so complex and realistic, and it's a good series for avid fantasy readers. The first book is The Eye of the World, and I say check them at your local library. If you can, buy them. They're that good! There's nine so far, a tenth coming out soon. They average about 700 pages each, and believe me, that's not enough. IMHO, I think the fourth is the best.
The Redemption of Althalus by David and Leigh Eddings.
Best fantasy book I have ever read. It's about 900 pages, if I remember correctly. It follows the story of Althalus, and how he falls in love with a goddess, helps save the world, and travels back in time. Great book.
The Darkangel Trilogy by Meredith Ann Pierce
Kinda old, and more for teenagers, about 300 pages each, but well worth reading. Features a heroine named Aerial who gets kidnapped by a darkangel and all sorts of things happen. I think I'm probably the only one who's checked them out at my library since about 1995 or so, because no one else notices them. Very good trilogy for fantasy readers.
Two Book Recommendations
Started by
Guest_Fantysm_*
, Nov 21 2002 12:36 AM
11 replies to this topic
#2
Leo
-
- Inactive
- 1979 posts
Admin Emeritus
Posted 21 November 2002 - 04:46 PM
Wouldn't that make three book recommendations? 
I have read Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series. Pretty good reading, I agree. Interesting ideas, cool characters, captivating plot. Unfortunately, it seems it's been falling prey to the common plague of fantasy series. That is, they start strong, but the further you go, the duller turns the edge (in my opinion). So far, only two series among those that I read stood that test well enough: Tolkien's Lord of the Ring (which wasn't written as a series, actually) and Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire. The latter is not over yet, so who knows what might happen still. But so far, each new book has actually been more interesting, not less.
Leo
I have read Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series. Pretty good reading, I agree. Interesting ideas, cool characters, captivating plot. Unfortunately, it seems it's been falling prey to the common plague of fantasy series. That is, they start strong, but the further you go, the duller turns the edge (in my opinion). So far, only two series among those that I read stood that test well enough: Tolkien's Lord of the Ring (which wasn't written as a series, actually) and Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire. The latter is not over yet, so who knows what might happen still. But so far, each new book has actually been more interesting, not less.
Leo
#4
Guest_Mel_*
Guest_Mel_*
-
- Guests
Posted 22 November 2002 - 10:52 PM
I've read the Wheel of Time and the Redemption of Althalus. I thought both were great and Althalus is probably my favourite Eddings book (have you read any of the others?). I can't wait for the tenth book of the Wheel of Time to be published, although I am statrting to get a bit bogged down with all the different characters and story lines.
I've never seen the other series you mentioned though, I'll have to keep an eye out for it; it sounds alright.
I've never seen the other series you mentioned though, I'll have to keep an eye out for it; it sounds alright.
#5
Guest_Fantysm_*
Guest_Fantysm_*
-
- Guests
Posted 23 November 2002 - 12:06 AM
Yeah, I know. I realized that right after I posted it. Oh, well. As they say, there's three types of people in the world: those who can count and those who can't. 
How about the Shadow Rising? Fourth book in the Wheel of Time. It was my favorite, but then again, I like Faile (Zarine) and Perrin the best. And Mat, of course. One of my RL friends is named Matt and both the book character and the RL Matt act the same. Hilarious, and terribly immature. Like me, I suppose. *sigh*
I've been reading horror lately, but IMO, Stephen King sucks.
No offense to his fans. Anne Rice is OK, and Dean Koontz is THE MAN. I'd recommend any of his books to horror/mystery fans, but alot of it is fantasy too, because most of the theories in his books, like Phantoms, are based upon "What if . . ."
But some are really creepy, so I'd start with his most light-hearted one: Tick Tock.
LOTR was a good series, but I'm not a patient reader. I only got through the first one by skimming the first quarter of the book. The Hobbit was very interesting though. Or maybe it's just that I like dwarves.
Another excellent fantasy book was The Sword of Shannara. I'd say it is definitely a good read. The First King of Shannara, the prequel, was the first one I read, but the original one that Terry Brooks wrote was by far the best.
To argan: I noticed your user name, so I figured you might comment on Althalus. Actaully, I thought it closed rather well, but I don't know about the ending. It flowed pretty good, but now that you mention it, you're kind of right. Was Argan your favorite character? Mine was Gher.
How about the Shadow Rising? Fourth book in the Wheel of Time. It was my favorite, but then again, I like Faile (Zarine) and Perrin the best. And Mat, of course. One of my RL friends is named Matt and both the book character and the RL Matt act the same. Hilarious, and terribly immature. Like me, I suppose. *sigh*
I've been reading horror lately, but IMO, Stephen King sucks.
No offense to his fans. Anne Rice is OK, and Dean Koontz is THE MAN. I'd recommend any of his books to horror/mystery fans, but alot of it is fantasy too, because most of the theories in his books, like Phantoms, are based upon "What if . . ." But some are really creepy, so I'd start with his most light-hearted one: Tick Tock.
LOTR was a good series, but I'm not a patient reader. I only got through the first one by skimming the first quarter of the book. The Hobbit was very interesting though. Or maybe it's just that I like dwarves.
Another excellent fantasy book was The Sword of Shannara. I'd say it is definitely a good read. The First King of Shannara, the prequel, was the first one I read, but the original one that Terry Brooks wrote was by far the best.
To argan: I noticed your user name, so I figured you might comment on Althalus. Actaully, I thought it closed rather well, but I don't know about the ending. It flowed pretty good, but now that you mention it, you're kind of right. Was Argan your favorite character? Mine was Gher.
#6
Guest_Dark Siren Sally_*
Guest_Dark Siren Sally_*
-
- Guests
Posted 23 November 2002 - 01:23 AM
Sharon Shinn wrote a fantasy trilogy about angels too (but not dark ones): Archangel (the first and my favorite), Jovah's Angel and The Alleluia Files.
There's also Anne Bishop's Black Jewels Trilogy, which is more about demons than angels, I guess. I've yet to read it myself, though.
My personal recommendations would be --
Michael Swanwick's The Iron Dragon's Daughter. This is seriously my all time favorite novel, a dark urban fantasy following the coming of age of a girl stolen from her world to be enslaved. She manages to escape from the factory she's forced to work in, but as she grows up she suffers still more sorrows and losses, and develops a reckless and desperate desire to take fate into her own hands. It's a depressing book overall, not as much in an angsty sort of way, but in a way that leaves you feeling helpless in the face of corruption and confused about it's true cause. I love it, though, being a formerly idealistic dreamer who turned cynical and bitter with age. *chuckle*
Guy Gavriel Kay's Tigana. It's an epic fantasy, told in *gasp* one volume, about the people of a country whose very name was wiped out of memory by a sorcerer king who once attempted to invade them. During the resulting war, they killed his beloved son; driven by grief, he exacted his cruel revenge. Yet once you meet Brandin himself, you come to realize that the people you thought were your enemies turn out to have faults just like your own. This book is more of an angst fest, but Kay is adept at writing angst and romance without it becoming overbearing. Another highly recommended novel with a very different flavor from Iron Dragon's Daughter.
There's also Anne Bishop's Black Jewels Trilogy, which is more about demons than angels, I guess. I've yet to read it myself, though.
My personal recommendations would be --
Michael Swanwick's The Iron Dragon's Daughter. This is seriously my all time favorite novel, a dark urban fantasy following the coming of age of a girl stolen from her world to be enslaved. She manages to escape from the factory she's forced to work in, but as she grows up she suffers still more sorrows and losses, and develops a reckless and desperate desire to take fate into her own hands. It's a depressing book overall, not as much in an angsty sort of way, but in a way that leaves you feeling helpless in the face of corruption and confused about it's true cause. I love it, though, being a formerly idealistic dreamer who turned cynical and bitter with age. *chuckle*
Guy Gavriel Kay's Tigana. It's an epic fantasy, told in *gasp* one volume, about the people of a country whose very name was wiped out of memory by a sorcerer king who once attempted to invade them. During the resulting war, they killed his beloved son; driven by grief, he exacted his cruel revenge. Yet once you meet Brandin himself, you come to realize that the people you thought were your enemies turn out to have faults just like your own. This book is more of an angst fest, but Kay is adept at writing angst and romance without it becoming overbearing. Another highly recommended novel with a very different flavor from Iron Dragon's Daughter.
#7
Guest_Thrush_*
Guest_Thrush_*
-
- Guests
Posted 03 December 2002 - 07:21 AM
Hi all, I'm newish.. well more of a lurker but I was wondering if anyone else read the following :
A Cavern of Black Ice by J.V Jones (Book two being 'A Fortress of Grey Ice' and also a new trilogy by Sean Russell - The Swans War with the first book entitled 'The One Kingdom' which I wholeheartedly recommend.
And I thought there were very few people who actually read 'The Iron Dragon's Daughter' ^^;;. I remember reading it back in secondary school but hadn't been able to find a copy again until I gave up hope and was beginning to think that it was one of those books you read in your dreams. When I try to lend it out to my friends as a new look on fantasy... they take it, read the first few chapters, return it promptly and then they start giving me nasty looks..
but I was wondering if anyone else read the following :A Cavern of Black Ice by J.V Jones (Book two being 'A Fortress of Grey Ice' and also a new trilogy by Sean Russell - The Swans War with the first book entitled 'The One Kingdom' which I wholeheartedly recommend.
And I thought there were very few people who actually read 'The Iron Dragon's Daughter' ^^;;. I remember reading it back in secondary school but hadn't been able to find a copy again until I gave up hope and was beginning to think that it was one of those books you read in your dreams. When I try to lend it out to my friends as a new look on fantasy... they take it, read the first few chapters, return it promptly and then they start giving me nasty looks..
#8
Guest_Dallan_*
Guest_Dallan_*
-
- Guests
Posted 03 December 2002 - 04:30 PM
I heartily second Sally's recommendation of Tigana, and would add to that nearly anything written by Kay, especially the Sarantine Mosaic, duology. Kay has a way of putting a new spin on familiar history that I find impressive, and his language...poetic just doesn't adequately describe it.
And I'm not just saying that because he's Canadian.
And I'm not just saying that because he's Canadian.
#9
Guest_Rose of Jericho_*
Guest_Rose of Jericho_*
-
- Guests
Posted 05 February 2003 - 05:23 AM
Wouldn't that make three book recommendations?
I have read Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series. Pretty good reading, I agree. Interesting ideas, cool characters, captivating plot. Unfortunately, it seems it's been falling prey to the common plague of fantasy series. That is, they start strong, but the further you go, the duller turns the edge (in my opinion).
I whole-heartedly agree with that assessment. I loved the Wheel of Time series up until the "Path of Daggers," I think it was. I can't read it anymore. It just got complex. Either it would start in with absolutely no explanation, or it would reiterate again and again what was going on. Maddening.
I'm fairly convinced that there is no Robert Jordan, but a series of ghost writers working from a publishing house-mandated plot. Much like the way the Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys books were written.
Stephen King, I will agree, has lost is edge of late. But his book "On Writing" is one of the best books about writing I've ever read, and I totally recommend that. Whatever he is or has ended up as, the man does know about writing, I have to give him that.
I'll have to veer off the traditional novel track on the fantasy "must-reads." My favorite authors these days are writers of graphic novels and comics, such as Brian Michael Bendis ("Powers," "Ultimate Spider-Man," "Alias"), Alan Moore ("Watchmen," "The League of Extra-Ordinary Gentlemen," "From Hell"), Neil Gaiman ("Sandman," "Death: The High Cost of Living," "Death: The Time of Our Lives," "Books of Magic 1") and Terry Moore ("Strangers in Paradise"). And just about anything off the Cross-Gen line of comics ("Sojourn" -- a particular fave of mine!, "Ruse," "Scion" and "Mystic") are wonderful fantasy-type comics. If you want to see some snappy dialogue, read any of Bendis' work, he's a frikkin' master at it.
I enjoy reading comics -- especially fantasy comics -- because they give you an idea of what fantasy settings can look like. The art in these comics are modern and have a great edge. And, the set-ups and plots in these comics are cutting edge, too, so the concepts hero and villain aren't relegated to two-dimensional charicatures of good vs. evil.
And to any who would turn a nose up at the idea of reading comics, one comic, "Maus, a Survivor's Tale" won the Pultizer in 1992. So how's that for a relevant industry?
Rose of Jericho
#10
Guest_argan_*
Guest_argan_*
-
- Guests
Posted 10 February 2003 - 02:21 PM
You know, I used this username on email addresses and everything years before that book was released, so I got kind of surprised when I saw that he had named one character after me!! 
It was actually a name I just suddenly came up with when I was going to name a test-map in half-life. Have used it a lot ever since.
It was actually a name I just suddenly came up with when I was going to name a test-map in half-life. Have used it a lot ever since.
#11
Guest_Joe_*
Guest_Joe_*
-
- Guests
Posted 08 November 2003 - 02:24 AM
On the off chance that anyone still looks at this particular forum, I want to go on record that I don't care for Brooks' Shannara books. The first one is pretty much LOTR with the names changed. No, not to protect the innocent. To protect the author's ass from those pesky lawsuits. And every book that comes next in the series is Sword of Shannara redux.
#12
Guest_Serena_*
Guest_Serena_*
-
- Guests
Posted 11 May 2004 - 02:12 PM
I've just started reading the Wheel of Time series. Am waiting for book three to be returned to my library.
For any fantasy writer, definitely read Lord of the Rings.
A personal favorate; though it's not well known, is Ian Irvine's 'The View from the Mirror.' If you can find them, (it's a four-book set.) I liked them. It's not typical 'elves and dwarves' fantasy, but it's quite interesting. And like LOTR, there is a history that has an impact on the story.
Another great (non-fiction) book is Clive Anderson's "Let the Crazy Child Write." It is just a basic guide to writing, but it approaches it so well, and with few of the ideas of form, style and grammar that so many people try and teach.
For any fantasy writer, definitely read Lord of the Rings.
A personal favorate; though it's not well known, is Ian Irvine's 'The View from the Mirror.' If you can find them, (it's a four-book set.) I liked them. It's not typical 'elves and dwarves' fantasy, but it's quite interesting. And like LOTR, there is a history that has an impact on the story.
Another great (non-fiction) book is Clive Anderson's "Let the Crazy Child Write." It is just a basic guide to writing, but it approaches it so well, and with few of the ideas of form, style and grammar that so many people try and teach.
0 user(s) are reading this topic
0 members, 0 guests, 0 anonymous users
