[William Cloud Hicklin]

For my money, His Dark Materials starts in a very promising manner, but by Vol 3 devolves into a trainwreck: Act III of Faust as retold by William Burroughs. All I got out of it was Pullman's rather snarky attitude than anyone who believes in anything is a deluded fool.

Still, he's a much better author than Michael Moorcock, who once called The Lord of the Rings "epic Pooh." (MM seems to think that the way to give a character depth is to make him act like a sullen teenager. That's doesn't make him deep: it just makes him low.)


Oh, recommendations: not classic "fantasy," but Watership Down is one of the greats. Ursula LeGuin is superb, although most of her work is SF. For a much better cynical take on deities than Pullman's read Gaiman's American Gods. If you like your fantasy decidedly wierd, in a brilliant sort of way, Gene Wolfe is your man. And if you want to laff till your sides split, try any of Terry Pratchett's Discworld books.

Avoid: Brooks, Eddings, Jordan. Stephen Donaldson has some interesting ideas but executes them terribly. George R R Martin is OK but overrated, and starting to fall victim to Jordanism.

Generally avoid: anything whose hardcover jacket involves typical fantasy "art."