General Fantasy Discussion

[Apoc]

There are sooo many things I just want to chat about regarding Fantasy, yet can't be bothered starting yet another thread for one particular series...so I thought I would make one for just general stuff...

At the moment I am curious about why Steven Erikksons Malazan Books of The Fallen aren't published in the US, they're fantastic and I can't except the excuse wiggin that they aren't published just because they are too mature for american audiences, cause thats just silly.

Otherstuff, I know there are many fans of the Harry Potter series here, yet I just find that series far too kiddie....whats sooo bloody good about it-they're kids for fcks sake and why do they always save the day and not the seemingly more powerful wizard teachers?

Why is RJ prolonging the WoT series soo much and do you actually believe that it can all be rapped up in two more books...I don't!

GRRM, best at the moment?

Fantasy Films-Krull, Labrynth, LotR, Dark Crystle, Legend, Neverending Story, Willow...there must be more than that, surely?

What the near future awaits, Feast for Crows, WoT11, new Harry Potter and a few more.

And loads of other stuff, like what the EE of RotK will include this time round, what fantasy books we want to see adapted into movies, who's great and who's bad, who's crap and who's brilliant in fantasy literature weather author or character. OR ANYTHING WHICH YOU JUST WANT TO RANDOMLY CHAT ABOUT FANTASY!!!!

I know there are threads where discussions can take place regarding most of the above...but they get lost quickly....hopefully here peeps will post more and keep it from sinking into the dark depths of the quill

[Malcor Sylverwood]

I think I'm going to start re-reading Sword of Truth. Maybe by the time I get through it, I'll have managed to pick up the latest.

In theory

[Apoc]

After all the bad talk of Pillars Of Creation I've avoided buying it, though I really like the series...I can't bring myself to reading it at the moment....Naked Empire looks pretty good though, so I may have to pick it up soon ~sighs~

~has too many series to finish~

[Buck]

I liked PoC. I just dont see what everyone is making a big deal out of. Terry Goodkind has a specific style of writing and if you love/like it you'll love/like PoC. Those of you who just read the series and in between filler while waiting for unfinished series and can mildly enjoy the Sword of truth books....Stop reading them To the rest...READ ON...STILL GOOD!

I am currently rereading the hitchhiker books.

[Cypher]

I believe the only reason people didn't like PoC is because the lack of main characters (at least from earlier in the series) in it. I believe it was a good read to show the future of what would be happening, especially since Richard was getting so powerful.

On another note, I'm really getting into the Ender Series right now, in the middle, nearing the end of Xenocide and its pretty good. yeah yeah yeah, I know, that's not exactly fantasy, but I'm pretty sure sci fi will fit well in here.

[LaughingTurtle]

Meh I like Terry Goodkind but PoC was still a chore to read through. It's exactly the same syndrome afflicting Crossroads or Winters Heart. After reading four, five, six, etc books in a series, the reader comes to expect a certain amount of time devoted to the "main" characters of the story. They’re one of the main reasons for reading said series. Sure I have no problem with building up side characters or forecasting the future but there is a limit to how much an author should devote to it before you lose some people's interest, and rightfully get complained about. Style has nothing to do with it, as he never earlier left Richard or Kahlan out of the story as much as in PoC.

I have bought Naked Empire though (actually have had it since it first came out). But I have to finish the book I’m on now before getting to it.

[Apoc]

Thats something about the SoT series that I've noticed, side characters just getting dropped...what the hell happened to Chase and that cool wee girl and Gratch has now gone also...will he bring them back? Chandelain seems to be gone also, I thought he was a great character for he was kinda a bad guy that did things straight, did whats right and I liked that.

[Arianna]

~applauds thread~ i always have random fantasy stuff to mutter about.

one Q though: spoilers, i assume are going to be in spoiler text here, right?

b/c i havent read the sword of truth series, but i own it and am intending to, so i don't want it ruined by spoilers.

they made a cartoon movie about hte black cauldren (can't remember the author or series name now) and i know there are more movies, i just can't think of any offhand, but i will remember...eventually.

[QuirkyTemplate]

Actually, that was one of the only things I liked about SoT, how side characters just got dropped. Chase says, "Bye everyone!" and I'm thinking 'oh sure, he'll be back.' But he never comes back, and it wasn't expected.

and GRRM isn't the best currently ............... he's teh best evAR!!!!!!!!!11

[Cypher]

Agrees with QT, GRRM is the best ever, but with the pace of writing that he does he'll only have 1 stupendous fantasy series to give to the world.

[Apoc]

~leans back in chair~

ok, so I just wrote a few brief summaries in my blog (see-signature) and found it bloody difficult to summarise aSoIaF yet supprisingly easy to do WoT

Though I love both series very much, it appears that in four books GRRM has packed a hell of a lot more in, than Jordan has in his ten..what does this say?

That aSoIaF is incredibly complicated and doesn't have a clear storyline and that Jordans is very simple and strung out...I don't believe so...~is lost~

[Malcor Sylverwood]

Well, Wot does seem to have a clear cut main story, and main char--Rand. Sadly, in the later books, it strays further and further from that, which I think its why people are losing interest.

aSoiaf seems to be a collection of seperate stories with no clear cut lead. They do seem to be slowly moving together tho.

Wot has been declining through tho books, and tho I don't like them nearly as well yet, aSoiaf seems to be gaining strength and getting better.

Just a few thoughts of mine...

-Malc

[Buck]

Well, I read a few tidbits about wot recently.

... RJ insists that there are only two books left and the name of the next book, which is coming out oct. 2005 is knives of darkness or something to that effect. RJ also said that he is writing three more prequals after the series is over!!

Meanwhile, Im sitting and waiting for the fourth grrm book. I mean... wasnt it due some time ago. What happened? *curses the day amazon was born*

[Arianna]

actually GRRM's official website
www.georgerrmartin.com will tell you that he never set a release date because he's still not done writing...any date seen is purely speculation. but he will post to that site the minute he's done. i've been waiting years, ever since the last one came out in hardback (whenever that was) and its been soooo long, but it'll be worth it, i'm sure. meanwhile, if you're impatient and like to cheat he posts sample ch.'s occasionally.

[Apoc]

Ok, obviously most of you are WoT fans, yet it seems many of you have yet to read Crossroads Of Twilight....

Though its my least favourite in the series, it isn't because its bad, but because it leaves you gaggin to know what happens next, it only feels like half a book.

It follows what everyone else is doing while Rand is cleansing the Taint...Mat, Perrin, Egwene and Nynaeve this is not bad stuff, the bit at the beggining in Arad Doman is excellent...The Wolf has a plan...yay=cool and the mention that the Great Hunt has begun...maybe...it is brilliant, and the ending note between Bashere and Rand, raises an eyebrow and makes you want the next book- NOW!

So if you have a copy of Crossroads yet have put off reading it cause you think or heard its crap, make your mind up for yourself and read the damn thing!

~nods~