What other fantasy books do YOU read?

[Lalwendë]

Originally Posted by Neil Gaiman

My great daydream when I was ten was to travel to a parallel universe exactly like ours - except that in that other universe, nobody had ever written Lord of the Rings. I would bring along my copy, get somebody to type it out for me in manuscript, send the pages off to a publisher, and then be celebrated as author of The Lord of the Rings without doing any of the work.

I love that quote. It's not only funny, and expresses what a lot of us have probably thought at some time or another (I know I have ), but it shows how a writer as skilled as Gaiman realises how what Tolkien wrote was unique and could not be repeated, how it was Tolkien' lifetime of work which produced Lord of the Rings.

I think we are always looking for the next Tolkien and always will be, but I don't think there ever will be another Tolkien. However, Gaiman could well garner such support as Tolkien did if he keeps on producing such good work, as he does share that understanding and appreciation of mythology. His work is most definitely of its time (as was Tolkien's - no sex, no swearing etc), reflecting a darker kind of world, and is already having an influence - how many girls go around dressed like Death, and boys as Dream?

The main difference that I see is that Gaiman, possibly due to being from a different era, is not afraid to confront the darker side of human nature, and he ties in figures such as John Dee and serial killers to his tales. Where Tolkien found it more difficult, certainly as he aged, to deal with chaotic ideas (such as Tricksters), Gaiman seems to have more freedom to play with these ideas.

And I also think that while Tolkien's work leads us on to mythology, Gaiman's work actually seems richer if we know something about mythology (and history and literature) before we read it.

[deal_with_it]

The Shannara series was good. Just got repetitive after awhile.

[Oddwen]

I just read "Anansi Boys" - I'd been wanting to read some of Gaiman mostly because of the talk around here. I'd read "Good Omens", but wasn't really impressed with the subject matter.

It's weird..."Anasi Boys" is very close to Douglas Adamses "Long Dark Tea-Time of the Soul". I found it an easier read (less "british" I suppose), but wow. Is Gaiman is the next Adams? Hmm. I'll have to get my hands on something else of his to be sure.

[Encaitare]

Lal and Bethberry... I am ridiculously jealous. Did you go to a signing? On his website it says that you can send a book to the publisher and he'll sign it next time he's around there, but I want to see the man himself.

I agree that Neil Gaiman could very well be the next giant in fantasy writing. He definitely has the skill for it. Something else that pleases me about him is that he's probably the only favorite writer of mine who isn't dead! *knocks on wood*

[Lalwendë]

Alas, no! There had been a signing and they had a few copies left for sale. This is getting to be a habit for me now - missing signings. I also missed Christopher Lee by about 30 minutes a few years ago, but then I might have fainted if I'd met him anyway! Though I lie...I did get to meet Alan Lee of course! I was about fifth in line!

[Goldberry101]

I really like Eragon and Eldest by Christopher Paolini (not sure if that's spelled right) and I have one other question, kind of silly but how do you get a little picture under your name? This is my first time doing any kind of foum thing and it's kind of confusing.

[Lalwendë]

I've just had a book buying binge again (damn Waterstones and Tesco with their cheap paperbacks... ).

I read Urban Grimshaw and The Shed Crew in an evening or so, a true story and a little too gritty (but very good). So I decided to read something that was a total contrast afterwards, and I'm now onto The Mists of Avalon! I'd forgotten how good it was!

I must have read it in the mid 80's first time around and it was a library book so I've not set eyes on it since. Basically, its a retelling of the Arthurian myths from the point of view of the women, and it also has a very pagan feel to it. I'm currently at the point where Arthur is about to be conceived...

[Saurreg]

Originally Posted by Oddwen

I just read "Anansi Boys" - I'd been wanting to read some of Gaiman mostly because of the talk around here. I'd read "Good Omens", but wasn't really impressed with the subject matter.

It's weird..."Anasi Boys" is very close to Douglas Adamses "Long Dark Tea-Time of the Soul". I found it an easier read (less "british" I suppose), but wow. Is Gaiman is the next Adams? Hmm. I'll have to get my hands on something else of his to be sure.

Anasi Boys was what my friends and I describe as Gaiman off tangent. It is a good read but nevertheless it fails to capture the dark gothic essence that made American Gods and Neverwhere such nightmarish pleasures. I thought the only good part was when "fatty' entered the African Dreamland and enlisted the aid of the animal spirits against his brother. The birdlady bit was scary.

Mr. Nancy (Anasi the Spider sprite) was fun, but I would have prefered it if the book was on other characters such as Mr. Ibis (Thoth), Mad Sweeney (Irish Leprechaun) or my fav, Mr. Jacquel (Anubis).

For those of you who are not in touch with mainstream comics, Mr. Gaiman is now scripting The Eternals for marvel comics.

[Lalwendë]

Saurreg, what didn't you like about Wizard of Earthsea? I read this not that long after reading LotR for the first time and it was one of the scant few other fantasy books that impressed me - a failing which lasts to this day. I must read Earthsea again soon.

However, I can't as I've a few new books now. I've just got hold of the compilation of the first four Books of Magic - scripted by Neil Gaiman, with some Charles Vess illustrations. Some of the following volumes also look good, despite not being scripted by Gaiman; there was an interesting one telling the story of the Faerie Queen's life. I saw a new collection of Neil's shorter fiction and other writings has just come out - Fragile Things. Here's a poem by him in Journal Of Mythic Arts.

I've also picked up Susanna Clarke's new volume of shorter writings - The Ladies of Grace Adieu. This includes a story about the Raven King, John Uskglass. It's a very nice edition as I decided to splash out an extra £10 and get the boxed, special edition one.

[Saurreg]

I did not like the Wizard of Earthsea because it was IMO lacking in descriptions and details unlike LoTRs or the other fantasy books. I couldn't picture anything much from the narrative and felt so detached from the characters that I couldn't care less whether Ged won or lost at the end... Perhaps the Tombs of Atuan with its ancient temples, blood sacrifices and such would work better.


Susanna Clark eh? Did she write Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell? It was voted by my varsity's book club as the best fantasy book of the year back when it just came out. I should make time to look for a copy of that book that everyone swore by, however priority must be given to Don Quixote by Cervantes (Penguin Books edition).

P.S: Anyone here read Promethea by Alan Moore and J.H. Williams III? Some would consider it as mere main stream comic or worse, cheesecake filler. I however think that the story was as good as that of Neil Gaiman's Sandman.

[Lalwendë]

Originally Posted by Saurreg

I did not like the Wizard of Earthsea because it was IMO lacking in descriptions and details unlike LoTRs or the other fantasy books. I couldn't picture anything much from the narrative and felt so detached from the characters that I couldn't care less whether Ged won or lost at the end... Perhaps the Tombs of Atuan with its ancient temples, blood sacrifices and such would work better.


Susanna Clark eh? Did she write Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell? It was voted by my varsity's book club as the best fantasy book of the year back when it just came out. I should make time to look for a copy of that book that everyone swore by, however priority must be given to Don Quixote by Cervantes (Penguin Books edition).

P.S: Anyone here read Promethea by Alan Moore and J.H. Williams III? Some would consider it as mere main stream comic or worse, cheesecake filler. I however think that the story was as good as that of Neil Gaiman's Sandman.

Well from what I remember (I really must read it again, I picked it up and read a chapter a few weeks ago but had to lay it to one side as I was in the middle of something else) there wasn't all that much description either! Funnily enough I found the first book the best - not all of them had even been published when I read it (think it was only a trilogy?). But Ursula Le Guin seems to go more for getting into the heads of characters. I liked the way it was a lot darker than LotR though - you need contrasts like that - darker books and more hopeful stories.

Now I'd recommend Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell to anyone. A mad mixture of dark faerie, the Napoleonic wars and all served up in an Austen/Dickens style. With footnotes. A slow building story, you won't be able to put it down as you hit the final third part. The Penguin Don Quixote is a good translation anyway so davem says - he read it last year.

Also I opened up my copy of The Ladies Of Grace Adieu earlier (it was sealed in plastic) and was pleasantly surprised to find its full of fab Charles Vess illustrations.