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

Rumil · 04-16-2003, 07:09 PM

Hi Ironfoot and Sospan Fach, we all seem to be on the same wavelength tonight.

I agree with you Dain that too many fantasy writers make their characters too 'modern'. It's something you see a lot of in historical novels as well, the heroes are generally opposed to nasty practices such as slavery, racism and flogging whereas it seems that the majority of people in those benighted times were not. I think its a fine line to tread though, the reader needs someone to identify with, I can think of some Sci-Fi (written from an Aliens' point of view) which rapidly becomes unreadable. (I've mailed you about Iain M Banks)

Yes indeed Mr Saucepan, there was a second Dirk Gently Book (I think 'The Long Dark Teatime of the Soul' , though maybe that was the first one). Offhand I think there were 5 books in the Hitchhikers trilogy, 2 Dirk Gently, 'The Meaning of Liff' (which invents useful new words for modern day life), 'Last Chance to See' which is a factual book on endangered species and, my most recent purchase, 'The Salmon of Doubt', which is a bit of a Douglas Adams Unfinished Tales, published posthumously, containing the start of a new Dirk Gently and lots of other intriguing snippets.

If only he hadn't left so soon! (and suffered from such ferocious writer's block)

btw , there's a website called H2G2 hosted by the BBC, which aims to provide a 'Guide' in the Adams style.

Don't Panic !
[img]smilies/smile.gif[/img] [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img]

04-16-2003, 07:09 PM	#11
Rumil Sage & Onions Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Britain Posts: 894	Hi Ironfoot and Sospan Fach, we all seem to be on the same wavelength tonight. I agree with you Dain that too many fantasy writers make their characters too 'modern'. It's something you see a lot of in historical novels as well, the heroes are generally opposed to nasty practices such as slavery, racism and flogging whereas it seems that the majority of people in those benighted times were not. I think its a fine line to tread though, the reader needs someone to identify with, I can think of some Sci-Fi (written from an Aliens' point of view) which rapidly becomes unreadable. (I've mailed you about Iain M Banks) Yes indeed Mr Saucepan, there was a second Dirk Gently Book (I think 'The Long Dark Teatime of the Soul' , though maybe that was the first one). Offhand I think there were 5 books in the Hitchhikers trilogy, 2 Dirk Gently, 'The Meaning of Liff' (which invents useful new words for modern day life), 'Last Chance to See' which is a factual book on endangered species and, my most recent purchase, 'The Salmon of Doubt', which is a bit of a Douglas Adams Unfinished Tales, published posthumously, containing the start of a new Dirk Gently and lots of other intriguing snippets. If only he hadn't left so soon! (and suffered from such ferocious writer's block) btw , there's a website called H2G2 hosted by the BBC, which aims to provide a 'Guide' in the Adams style. Don't Panic ! [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img] [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img] __________________ Rumil of Coedhirion