No one has mentioned, as far a I can see Steven Erikson's excellent series of books, Gardens of the Moon, Deadhouse Gates etc. I have read alot of the books in this post from the Wheel of time to Dune(all six of them) and found my interest rekindled by Erikson. Brillant!!![dance]
Which Fantasy Book Series is Better?
- Thread starter Superevie
- Start date
FearlessLeader2
Fundamentalist Loon
While not truly a series per se, Larry Niven, with occasional help, particularly that of Jerry Pournelle, has woven an interesting story-world of a prehistoric Earthly magical civilization. Mostly short stories, but The Burning City stands out as a fantastic work of fantasy.
He has written dozens of short stories set in this world, including a short but nonetheless brilliant tale involving an agind sorceror who summoned a really dumb and weak demon to use as an air conditioner by having it prevent speedy air molecules from entering his cave, and trapping slow ones inside.
One of his short stories set in this world inspired the Nevinyrral's Disc card in Magic: the Gathering. (HINT: Read the card name backwards.)
I can't strongly enough reccommend The Burning City to all of you, and you should definitely try his short fiction.
He has written dozens of short stories set in this world, including a short but nonetheless brilliant tale involving an agind sorceror who summoned a really dumb and weak demon to use as an air conditioner by having it prevent speedy air molecules from entering his cave, and trapping slow ones inside.
One of his short stories set in this world inspired the Nevinyrral's Disc card in Magic: the Gathering. (HINT: Read the card name backwards.)
I can't strongly enough reccommend The Burning City to all of you, and you should definitely try his short fiction.
The Redwall books by Brian Jacques. 
Lotr is indeed a master work IMO.
I liked foundation from assimov too.
And Edgar Allan Poe books ( 2 book, french tanslation by Charles Baudelaire is Histoire extraordinaire and nouvelle histoire extraordinaire, I dont know the original english title.)
I liked foundation from assimov too.
And Edgar Allan Poe books ( 2 book, french tanslation by Charles Baudelaire is Histoire extraordinaire and nouvelle histoire extraordinaire, I dont know the original english title.)
Japanrocks12
tired of being a man
The Mech- Warrior series. I've seen a LOT of fans in that series
Darkness
Shadow creature
I read Dune first and after that the 3 prequels to it (and now I've just read the first book about the war against the machines series, which is also very good).
I very much disagree about the characters being build up more in the original books. IMHO the characters are more alive and complex in the prequels, and the worlds and plots are as complex as in the Dune series, of which I really don't like the 5th and 6th book. I think these prequels are great as they give a glimpse of what the history was to the rivalry of the Atreides and the Harkonnen and how Shaddam IV rose to power...
IMHO the prequels add another, better painted layer, to the complex painting that is Dune...
One of the parts I didn't particularily like was how Shaddam was portrayed as an idiot... A lot more events are linked together by chance, which to me made it less believable whilst in Dune the set backs are more believable. Like when they crash the no ship and then the BG just randomly pick some scientists who then remember what happened as they die. Why didn't the BG kill them before as surely they must have used this technique before and realised that it might not be 100% effective and an accidental dath would be far easier.
Thadlerian
Dreamin' of a RED X-mas!
Oh yeah, there was a poll too...
Voted Harry Potter. As a writer, I appreciate the clever and thorough way those books are written, compared to LotR. Haven't read Narnia, can't find them in the library.
As for Dune, I definitely liked the first one. It was sort of magic, there was some sort of dreamlike state all through it. You join the adventure at once, without knowing what a Heighliner or the CHOAM is.
The Preludes explain all these things very closely. While I read them, I liked that, but looking back at it, it made them spoil and take the mystery away from Dune. The Preludes are far too down-to-earth written for my liking.
As for the Butlerian Jihad, I got a little sick while reading it. I found these guys' (the writers') obsession with blood and guts outright nauseating.
Voted Harry Potter. As a writer, I appreciate the clever and thorough way those books are written, compared to LotR. Haven't read Narnia, can't find them in the library.
As for Dune, I definitely liked the first one. It was sort of magic, there was some sort of dreamlike state all through it. You join the adventure at once, without knowing what a Heighliner or the CHOAM is.
The Preludes explain all these things very closely. While I read them, I liked that, but looking back at it, it made them spoil and take the mystery away from Dune. The Preludes are far too down-to-earth written for my liking.
As for the Butlerian Jihad, I got a little sick while reading it. I found these guys' (the writers') obsession with blood and guts outright nauseating.
Darkness
Shadow creature
That happens in the original Dune book also, when Shaddam vastly overplays his hand by coming to Dune himself and tries to right the ship without having Fenring advise him...
True but at least in Dune you can convince yourself that he was capable of running an empire. I mean in Dune they still didn't know about the real reason for the prison planet and surely if he was that incapable then everyone would have found out, although perhaps his advisors prevented it.
The boundaries between fantasy and SF are pretty blurred. Personally I'd place the Dune series and the Ender series on the SF side.
I like Orson Scot Cards, seventh son series a lot and would place that on the fantasy side. Looking forward to the final volume - the Crystal City - which should be out soon.
Eddings has his moments too. The Belgeriad is deservedly popular.
I loved Zelazny's Amber series - and the prequels are Ok though lack Z's inimitable prose style.
I like The Darkover series from Marion Zimmer Bradley but they were rather variable.
The Lankhmar series from Fritz Leiber with Fafhrd and the Grey Mouser is a classic - and much imitated swrods and sorcery stuff - with attitude..
The Dragon saga of Anne Mcaffrey was ground breaking and original at the start but as is so often the fate of long series seemed to run out of steam.
Terry Goodkind started off well but the last couple of books have been political polemics and disappointing.
Sadly it seems many series start well but turn into cash cows milking the public for more - and noone more than Robert jordan. I own and have read them all - but I wished I'd given up after the first half dozen.
I like Orson Scot Cards, seventh son series a lot and would place that on the fantasy side. Looking forward to the final volume - the Crystal City - which should be out soon.
Eddings has his moments too. The Belgeriad is deservedly popular.
I loved Zelazny's Amber series - and the prequels are Ok though lack Z's inimitable prose style.
I like The Darkover series from Marion Zimmer Bradley but they were rather variable.
The Lankhmar series from Fritz Leiber with Fafhrd and the Grey Mouser is a classic - and much imitated swrods and sorcery stuff - with attitude..
The Dragon saga of Anne Mcaffrey was ground breaking and original at the start but as is so often the fate of long series seemed to run out of steam.
Terry Goodkind started off well but the last couple of books have been political polemics and disappointing.
Sadly it seems many series start well but turn into cash cows milking the public for more - and noone more than Robert jordan. I own and have read them all - but I wished I'd given up after the first half dozen.
Superevie
Latina Goddess™
Since the majority here love LotR I know this great site you would all like. It has information on every character and plotline and other cool stuff. 
http://www.theonering.net/index.shtml
http://www.theonering.net/index.shtml
Has anybody read the Riverworld series by Philip Jose Farmer. It is where everyone who was ever alive is reborn in a river valley that winds around a world. I remeber reading this when I was in my teens. I think, if I remeber rightly it followed the adventures of Richard Burton, the 18th century adventurer not the 19th century actor. With guest appearances from Mark Twain, Goring and the woman who inspired Alice in Wonderland.
Ossric
Hedonistic Ruler
Are there prequels to the Amber series?
Who wrote them?
What are they called?
JRR Tolkien Lord Of The Rings
On a side note: I also enjoyed Dune, or "Sand", which is what it is called when you try reading the Norwegian translation....
Cant say that I spend much time with fantasy litterature though
Current read: 31 songs by Nick Hornby
Next in line: Principles of mircoeconomics by Joseph Stiglitz (well - I am actually reading that right now, and have been since the middle of August...but I try to swallow some fiction as well, so I will return to reading it when 31 songs is finished)
On a side note: I also enjoyed Dune, or "Sand", which is what it is called when you try reading the Norwegian translation....
Cant say that I spend much time with fantasy litterature though
Current read: 31 songs by Nick Hornby
Next in line: Principles of mircoeconomics by Joseph Stiglitz (well - I am actually reading that right now, and have been since the middle of August...but I try to swallow some fiction as well, so I will return to reading it when 31 songs is finished)
Bozo Erectus
Master Baker
- Joined
- Jan 22, 2003
- Messages
- 22,389
Yep, great series, one of my all time favorites. Are they still putting out Riverworld anthologies? Havent seen any in awhile.
FearlessLeader2
Fundamentalist Loon
After seeing Thadlerian's passionate praise of J K Rowling's mouse-turd-piece Harry Potter, I gotta say it.
Potter is for kiddies. Little kiddies. It's in the JUVENILE section of the library for a reason. If you're an adult, and you're buying these books for yourself, you really need to take the diapers and/or training bra off and get into big-boy (or girl) underpants, and try to stop wetting the bed.
It's for kids. I saw the first movie, out of sheer curiosity. My curiousity was summarily executed and replaced by my guardedly optimistic desire to discover new things immediately afterwards.
Troll bugies? Troll BUGIES?!
No, I don't think so Sam I Am. Not in the boat, not with a goat, and sure as hell not in my life ever again.
Potter is for kiddies. Little kiddies. It's in the JUVENILE section of the library for a reason. If you're an adult, and you're buying these books for yourself, you really need to take the diapers and/or training bra off and get into big-boy (or girl) underpants, and try to stop wetting the bed.
It's for kids. I saw the first movie, out of sheer curiosity. My curiousity was summarily executed and replaced by my guardedly optimistic desire to discover new things immediately afterwards.
Troll bugies? Troll BUGIES?!
No, I don't think so Sam I Am. Not in the boat, not with a goat, and sure as hell not in my life ever again.
Superevie
Latina Goddess™
Actually, that's "bogies." It isn't a child's term either, it's a British term for boogers. But that is off topic.
