What other fantasy books do YOU read? - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Thinlómien · 03-10-2005, 09:10 AM

Awww, Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time is horrible. I read the first one and couldn't continue any longer. Book made of clichées. And done that in a terrible way.

Essex · 03-10-2005, 10:29 AM

oh dear. lucky the wheel of time books only cost me about £5 for the complete set as an introductory offer the world books fantasy book club. oh well, I'll give eye of the world a go sometime.

thanks for the replies

Firefoot · 03-10-2005, 04:02 PM

Personally, I didn't find them as bad as all that. The first few were interesting enough, Books 5 and 6 were okay and the endings were quite good, but Books 7-10 nothing new really happened. They just sort of dragged on, being largely repetitive of each other just with new names and places. If he had condensed those four into one book it would have been a whole lot more interesting - he just needs to say it, not make a single day drag on for 600 pages. And Makar is right, he is definitely afraid to kill off main characters. But I did enjoy the first few, for what it's worth.

Terry Goodkind's Sword of Truth series is pretty good, though it sometimes seems that the main character is rather lacking in flaws. In the first couple books there were a few things that seemed to be rip-offs of other books, but it got much better - he seemed to come up with more original ideas as he went.

Recently I started reading some books by Tamora Pierce and am finding them pretty interesting, in particular her newest two, Trickster's Choice and Trickster's Queen (Yes, I'm reading the series out of order... something I very rarely do). She certainly doesn't beat her world and characters to death; the series are quite short but interesting nevertheless.

Kitanna · 03-10-2005, 04:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Firefoot

Recently I started reading some books by Tamora Pierce and am finding them pretty interesting, in particular her newest two, Trickster's Choice and Trickster's Queen (Yes, I'm reading the series out of order... something I very rarely do). She certainly doesn't beat her world and characters to death; the series are quite short but interesting nevertheless.

If you haven't read them already, you should read her Alanna series, they're quite good.

Lathriel · 03-22-2005, 10:10 PM

I actually have the first book of The Wheel of Time but I decided not to begin reading them untill Robert Jordan has finished the series. (I might be waiting forever

)

I really enjoyed the Tamora Pierce books, however, lately I haven't enjoyed them as much as I used to. I'm afraid I've grow out of them since the plotline etc. is a little simplistic and predictable. But I will always remember them fondly.

Encaitare · 03-22-2005, 10:15 PM

Quote:

I'm afraid I've grow out of them since the plotline etc. is a little simplistic and predictable.

I'm starting to feel the same way about Terry Goodkind's Sword of Truth series. I think it peaked around book 4 and then just went downhill. It starts getting verrrrrrry repetitive, and not only in the plot. Even the writing style starts to get old after a while; he uses the exact same phrases and things over and over.

Oh well... all the more power to Mr. Goodkind, seeing as he has a great many books published and I can't even seem to think of a plot for these characters who are bouncing around in my head...

Dragon Reborn · 03-23-2005, 10:03 PM

Before I start I must say that Tolkien was a mastermind, and the first to ever develop this level of fantasy-based books. Other authors will come and go, but none can compare to what he achieved.

Quoting from english writer Terry Pratchett, "Most modern fantasy just rearranges the furniture in Tolkien's attic."
So true.

But in concern to Robert Jordan, I thought the first book and even the next couple were very exciting- in places. They had their moments, but in other parts were quite dull.

From there on it did get worse, and it has become too complicated. Not only is he afraid to kill off any main characters, he is afraid to put the stories to rest. Even though he has been running out of ideas for about the last four books, he is still determined to make as many as he possibly can. I just want the issues to be resolved that have been hanging around like dead flies for the last four thousand pages!

Let it go, Rob, let it go.

PS. Lathriel, you WILL be waiting forever, i say read the books now, because he'll probably have passed away before he can ever finnish them and will dissappoint us all...

03-10-2005, 09:10 AM	#1
Thinlómien Shady She-Penguin Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: In a far land beyond the Sea Posts: 8,093	Awww, Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time is horrible. I read the first one and couldn't continue any longer. Book made of clichées. And done that in a terrible way. __________________ Like the stars chase the sun, over the glowing hill I will conquer Blood is running deep, some things never sleep Double Fenris

03-10-2005, 04:02 PM	#3
Firefoot Illusionary Holbytla Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 7,547	Wheel of Time Re: Personally, I didn't find them as bad as all that. The first few were interesting enough, Books 5 and 6 were okay and the endings were quite good, but Books 7-10 nothing new really happened. They just sort of dragged on, being largely repetitive of each other just with new names and places. If he had condensed those four into one book it would have been a whole lot more interesting - he just needs to say it, not make a single day drag on for 600 pages. And Makar is right, he is definitely afraid to kill off main characters. But I did enjoy the first few, for what it's worth. Terry Goodkind's Sword of Truth series is pretty good, though it sometimes seems that the main character is rather lacking in flaws. In the first couple books there were a few things that seemed to be rip-offs of other books, but it got much better - he seemed to come up with more original ideas as he went. Recently I started reading some books by Tamora Pierce and am finding them pretty interesting, in particular her newest two, Trickster's Choice and Trickster's Queen (Yes, I'm reading the series out of order... something I very rarely do). She certainly doesn't beat her world and characters to death; the series are quite short but interesting nevertheless.

03-22-2005, 10:10 PM	#5
Lathriel Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Wandering through Middle-Earth (Sadly in Alberta and not ME) Posts: 612	I actually have the first book of The Wheel of Time but I decided not to begin reading them untill Robert Jordan has finished the series. (I might be waiting forever ) I really enjoyed the Tamora Pierce books, however, lately I haven't enjoyed them as much as I used to. I'm afraid I've grow out of them since the plotline etc. is a little simplistic and predictable. But I will always remember them fondly. __________________ Back again

03-23-2005, 10:03 PM	#7
Dragon Reborn Pile O'Bones Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Australia! Go Ozzie! Posts: 23	Robert Jordan Before I start I must say that Tolkien was a mastermind, and the first to ever develop this level of fantasy-based books. Other authors will come and go, but none can compare to what he achieved. Quoting from english writer Terry Pratchett, "Most modern fantasy just rearranges the furniture in Tolkien's attic." So true. But in concern to Robert Jordan, I thought the first book and even the next couple were very exciting- in places. They had their moments, but in other parts were quite dull. From there on it did get worse, and it has become too complicated. Not only is he afraid to kill off any main characters, he is afraid to put the stories to rest. Even though he has been running out of ideas for about the last four books, he is still determined to make as many as he possibly can. I just want the issues to be resolved that have been hanging around like dead flies for the last four thousand pages! Let it go, Rob, let it go. PS. Lathriel, you WILL be waiting forever, i say read the books now, because he'll probably have passed away before he can ever finnish them and will dissappoint us all... __________________ Gollum's new year's resolution: "I will save the victory celebration until I have moved at least ten feet away from the edge."

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03-10-2005, 10:29 AM	#2
Essex Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Essex, England Posts: 886	oh dear. lucky the wheel of time books only cost me about £5 for the complete set as an introductory offer the world books fantasy book club. oh well, I'll give eye of the world a go sometime. thanks for the replies