Downers' Famous Fantasy Five - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Gwathagor · 12-28-2007, 11:23 PM

Groin! Homer is NOT fantasy! All that stuff actually happened. Especially the magic parts.

Gwathagor · 12-28-2007, 11:25 PM

I have found this thread really helpful. I have been trying to find some other fantasy books to read (though I feel guilty having not completely mastered Middle-earth yet...) and I've found some good suggestions here. Thanks folks.

McCaber · 12-28-2007, 11:30 PM

Anytime. Even if none of my picks helped your choice.

Groin Redbeard · 12-29-2007, 04:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gwathagor

Groin! Homer is NOT fantasy! All that stuff actually happened. Especially the magic parts.

What are you talking about Gwathagor? Do you call the Greek Gods real? Do you believe in Cyclopes'? That stuff is no more real than Lord of the Rings. Trojan war may have been real, but not all the Gods, magic, and monsters that Homer puts in his book.

Quote:

Plus, Dwarves in barrels.

That part was one of the funniest parts in the books. Thanks for bringing that up Ka.

Lalwendë · 12-31-2007, 09:42 AM

The Steward comes out of the errr...place where Stewards hang out...

1. You can have Greek myths if you like. They were the only 'fantasy' for many centuries so that's OK by me!

2. If you put two things by one author down I will have to leave the second out of the count - this applies to Groin Redbeard who was naughty and chose two Tolkiens.

3. Specify your order, please, and that one's for Mithalwen.

4. I have to ask Folwren - going by the rules then, you do have just the four, yes?

5. I will do some scores when I feel less peaky.

Some tasty choices here! Keep 'em coming!

Mithalwen · 12-31-2007, 12:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lalwendë

3. Specify your order, please, and that one's for Mithalwen.

Objectively, subjectively or pretentiously?

Folwren · 12-31-2007, 12:26 PM

Quote:

4. I have to ask Folwren - going by the rules then, you do have just the four, yes?

We are getting scored? Perhaps I should find a 5th, then. But, yes, going by the rules, I have just four, as of now.

EDIT: I will add a fifth favorite... I don't know if you'd count it fantasy, but it certainly isn't very realistic. Mom calls it fantasy.

5. The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas.

Does it count? *hopeful grin*

Edit #2: If it counts, I'll have to re-arrange the order, since you're also particular about that.

Mithalwen · 12-31-2007, 12:50 PM

Pretentiously:

Life of Pi, History of Danish Dreams, The Christmas Mystery, Children of Hurin, Maskerade

Subjectively: CoH, M, CM, HoDD, LoP

Objectively: CM, CoH,M, HoDD, LoP

Lalwendë · 12-31-2007, 01:37 PM

Folwren - if you could defend it as fantasy then it is OK. This is simply for fun, to find what our faves are, and it could make for a decent list of recommended reading too.

You don't have to have five, but you cannot have six (or more!). And yes, I'll score them when I get the chance, but I need a clear head for even the most basic of Maths and I don't feel well today

Mithalwen - I'll take pretentiously shall moi?*

*geddit? Eh? Eh?

Groin Redbeard · 12-31-2007, 04:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lalwendë

If you put two things by one author down I will have to leave the second out of the count - this applies to Groin Redbeard who was naughty and chose two Tolkiens.

Then I guess the Odyssey should also be taken out, since Homer also wrote that book as well as the Iliad.

I don’t read fantasy that much and I don’t know of any other good fantasy books.

1. The Hobbit
2. Iliad
3. The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe

Dimturiel · 01-05-2008, 12:12 PM

It took me quite a lot to make up my mind about my choices and the order in which I should put them, but here they are at last:

1. "The Lord of the Rings", in my opinion the best book ever, and surely the one that had the greatest impact on me.

2. The "Harry Potter" series by J.K. Rowling. I was really hooked on these books. I'm sorry they're finished, really, as there'll be nothing to wait for with so much excitement from now on.

3. "Something wicked this way comes" by Ray Bradbury. It's an impressive book, very very well-written. I read it in only one day, I just couldn't put it down.

4. "The Neverending story" by Michael Ende. This book held once the place that LOTR now has in my heart. I remember reading it over and over again. I was very fond of the characters, especially of Bastian, and I still identify with him, being an avid reader myself.

5. "The wonderful adventures of Nils Holgersson" by Selma Lagerlof. I was really small when I read it, and it was the first book that had a great impact on me, and for this, it still has a special place in my heart.

Lord Gothmog · 01-05-2008, 06:04 PM

Lord of the Rings. (not surprising)
The Belgariad - David Eddings
The Pern books - Anne McCaffry
Time Enough for Love - Robert Hienlen.
I Robot - Issac Asimov

THE Ka · 01-06-2008, 06:19 PM

Quote:

especially at this time when some of us are liable to be worshipping "Bilious"

~ Mith

The Oh-Great-god indeed.

The Hogfather is amazing, as of so far, it is one of two I've enjoyed the most out of the series, but I have much more to read. I'm particularly fond of the Death series.

Quote:

Objectively, subjectively or pretentiously?

~ Mith

Oops, I didn't consider that. Must have been slighted by Bilious then. So, I guess for the majority of the later choices, they are pretentious to inspire curiousity and hopefully a good read.

So, to be specific about Discworld, of the ones I have come across so far, I am really enjoying Mort. I greatly enjoy the escapades of Death and Binky.

~ An acknowledging Ka

Gwathagor · 01-07-2008, 01:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Groin Redbeard

What are you talking about Gwathagor? Do you call the Greek Gods real? Do you believe in Cyclopes'? That stuff is no more real than Lord of the Rings. Trojan war may have been real, but not all the Gods, magic, and monsters that Homer puts in his book.

OF COURSE IT'S REAL! Do you think Homer just MAKES STUFF UP? Why are gods, magic, and monsters no longer plausible? What happened to us? Why COULDN'T there have been giants on the earth? What reason do you have to not believe "that stuff" existed?

Fate was God, the gods were demons, magic was magic, and the monsters were dinosaurs (and demons). It's fairly straightforward.

EDIT: Wildcats of Kilkenny? Why did I put that in there?

TheGreatElvenWarrior · 01-09-2008, 12:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gwathagor

OF COURSE IT'S REAL! Do you think Homer just MAKES STUFF UP? Why are gods, magic, and monsters no longer plausible? What happened to us? Why COULDN'T there have been giants on the earth? What reason do you have to not believe "that stuff" existed?

Fate was God, the gods were demons, magic was magic, and the monsters were dinosaurs (and demons). It's fairly straightforward.

EDIT: Wildcats of Kilkenny? Why did I put that in there?

I like how you say these things Gwathagor! Demons, demons, and even more demons! Being a Christian I do believe in Demons, but some people don't! And yes I do believe in Demons and Dragons too!( yes I did say dragons)

Anyway,I don't read much fantasy except for Tolkien... there is a bunch of newer fantasy out now that seems nockoffish(I make up words) well from what I've heard!

1: Lord of the Rings... I LOVE hobbits... well and for other reasons too! That is why I'm on the Barrow-Downs people!

2: The Chronicles of Narnia: I remember when I was like five or so my mom read them to me and in the last book I got freaked out because of the one God thing Tash (I think that was his name) anyway the picture in our book scared the living daylights out of me! I think I should read them again...

Well as I said I don't read much fantasy, but Harry Potter was banned by my mom (because it had witch craft in it or something) otherwise I would have probably read it...

But if you call the Illiad fantasy, I've never read it, but I've seen many adaptations of it... Of course I'm still young and I can take some books off of this book list! They probably would be good reads!

~TGEW

THE Ka · 01-10-2008, 01:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gwathagor

OF COURSE IT'S REAL! Do you think Homer just MAKES STUFF UP?

Well, if you look at it from the Aristotle perspective of literary critique, that could be easily supported. Considering that Homer was said to be 'blind', which symbolistically gives of the impression of a developed 'inner eye/sight', Aristotle's method could argue on the behalf of his poetics and epics by saying they emphasis the 'universal' (nature of everything, human nature...) which is seen as something nearer to the 'ideal' of Greek philosophy (according to only Aristotle, of course). So, unlike Plato, he's fine with showing the flaws of heros and gods, as long as it furthers the underlying message of character improvement and polishing the coal into diamond, etc.
Sort of like this: "writers of great dignity imitated the noble actions of noble heroes; the less dignified sort of writers imitated the actions of inferior men."

On the other hand, if you had Plato take a gander at it, he might take Homer's works and stomp them into oblivion because poetic works are the 'flit of imagination' and thus the threat of a 'state and ideal completely of logic morality and reason'. As long as the poets 'behave' and celebrate only the completely falseless of the Platonic state of reason, then Plato seems okay.

Sorry, I have a slight amusement in playing devil's advocate.

Though, that is a good topic to bring up reguarding familiar works.
Particularly though, The Odyssey is an amazing work. Lovely use of puns and development, plus the wit. I admire the Cyclops scene most of all, and the brief adventures of 'Nobody'.

~ Ramble for rambling Ka

Gwathagor · 01-10-2008, 01:13 AM

Plato was grumpy.

However, I could have fun with the idea that imagination is essential to morality and reason, as well as the preservation of the state.

Groin Redbeard · 01-10-2008, 11:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gwathagor

OF COURSE IT'S REAL! Do you think Homer just MAKES STUFF UP? Why are gods, magic, and monsters no longer plausible? What happened to us? Why COULDN'T there have been giants on the earth? What reason do you have to not believe "that stuff" existed?

Fate was God, the gods were demons, magic was magic, and the monsters were dinosaurs (and demons). It's fairly straightforward.

Thank you Gwathagor! I've never thought about it like that before, thanks for proving me wrong!

ninja91 · 01-10-2008, 11:58 AM

1. The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien
2. Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling
3. The Dark Elf Trilogy by R.A. Salvatore
4. The Inheritance Trilogy by Christopher Paolini
5. Forgotten Realms books from the early 1990's and

No explanation yet...need to check my Tribal Wars account!!!

*Not very groundbreaking, but they were some of the first fantasy novels I ever read. They're a bit close to me, although most are far from a masterpiece.

Legate of Amon Lanc · 01-10-2008, 04:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gwathagor

OF COURSE IT'S REAL! Do you think Homer just MAKES STUFF UP?

*walks in, whistling* It's very probable Homer did not even exist... *walks away, whistling*

Anyway, to be on-topic, does SF count? Probably not, but just to be sure. (There are things however, that are SF, but in fact are better classificated as fantasy among my picks, but I am asking about pure SF here.)

Gwathagor · 01-10-2008, 10:43 PM

Regardless...

arcticstorm · 01-17-2008, 08:51 PM

1. Till We Have Faces by C.S. Lewis
This is a retelling of the myth of Cupid and Psyche from the perspective of Psyche's older sister.

2. Descent into Hell by Charles Williams
This book by the second inkling on the list is a theological fantasy that deals with the themes of redemption and condemnation through the use of supernatural elements such as dopplegangers and ghosts. Certain concepts from Zoroastrianism and some images from Dante weave their way through the entire story.

3. The Lord of the Rings by JRR Tolkien
The third inkling in the top three spots. I do not need to explain this book

.

4. The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant by Stephen R. Donaldson.
This series is also fairly well-known so I don't need to explain here either.

and Finally,

5. The Voyage of St. Brendan the Abbot
This is a medieval journey tale about an Irish monk who searched for the land promised to the saints. His journeys around the Atlantic have such elements as having easter dinner on the back of a whale, a monk being taken by a demon and bursting into flames, and Judas Iscariot sitting on an Iceberg so that he could be released from his punishment one day each year. Some, like me, consider the story to be a fantastic retelling of actual events. Although maybe not as much a fantasy as the others, I would still classify it under this genre.

12-28-2007, 11:23 PM	#1
Gwathagor Shade with a Blade Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: A Rainy Night In Soho Posts: 2,512	Groin! Homer is NOT fantasy! All that stuff actually happened. Especially the magic parts. __________________ Stories and songs.

12-28-2007, 11:30 PM	#3
McCaber Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Skyrim, again. Posts: 820	Anytime. Even if none of my picks helped your choice. __________________ Werewolves vs. Fishmen. The battle of the century.

12-31-2007, 09:42 AM	#5
Lalwendë A Mere Boggart Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: under the bed Posts: 4,737	The Steward comes out of the errr...place where Stewards hang out... 1. You can have Greek myths if you like. They were the only 'fantasy' for many centuries so that's OK by me! 2. If you put two things by one author down I will have to leave the second out of the count - this applies to Groin Redbeard who was naughty and chose two Tolkiens. 3. Specify your order, please, and that one's for Mithalwen. 4. I have to ask Folwren - going by the rules then, you do have just the four, yes? 5. I will do some scores when I feel less peaky. Some tasty choices here! Keep 'em coming! __________________ Gordon's alive!

12-31-2007, 12:50 PM	#8
Mithalwen Pilgrim Soul Join Date: May 2004 Location: watching the wonga-wonga birds circle... Posts: 9,461	under sufferance Pretentiously: Life of Pi, History of Danish Dreams, The Christmas Mystery, Children of Hurin, Maskerade Subjectively: CoH, M, CM, HoDD, LoP Objectively: CM, CoH,M, HoDD, LoP __________________ “But Finrod walks with Finarfin his father beneath the trees in Eldamar.” Christopher Tolkien, Requiescat in pace

12-31-2007, 01:37 PM	#9
Lalwendë A Mere Boggart Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: under the bed Posts: 4,737	Folwren - if you could defend it as fantasy then it is OK. This is simply for fun, to find what our faves are, and it could make for a decent list of recommended reading too. You don't have to have five, but you cannot have six (or more!). And yes, I'll score them when I get the chance, but I need a clear head for even the most basic of Maths and I don't feel well today Mithalwen - I'll take pretentiously shall moi?* geddit? Eh? Eh? __________________ Gordon's alive!*

12-28-2007, 11:25 PM	#2
Gwathagor Shade with a Blade Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: A Rainy Night In Soho Posts: 2,512	I have found this thread really helpful. I have been trying to find some other fantasy books to read (though I feel guilty having not completely mastered Middle-earth yet...) and I've found some good suggestions here. Thanks folks. __________________ Stories and songs.

01-05-2008, 12:12 PM	#11
Dimturiel Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: May 2005 Location: the road less travelled by Posts: 910	It took me quite a lot to make up my mind about my choices and the order in which I should put them, but here they are at last: 1. "The Lord of the Rings", in my opinion the best book ever, and surely the one that had the greatest impact on me. 2. The "Harry Potter" series by J.K. Rowling. I was really hooked on these books. I'm sorry they're finished, really, as there'll be nothing to wait for with so much excitement from now on. 3. "Something wicked this way comes" by Ray Bradbury. It's an impressive book, very very well-written. I read it in only one day, I just couldn't put it down. 4. "The Neverending story" by Michael Ende. This book held once the place that LOTR now has in my heart. I remember reading it over and over again. I was very fond of the characters, especially of Bastian, and I still identify with him, being an avid reader myself. 5. "The wonderful adventures of Nils Holgersson" by Selma Lagerlof. I was really small when I read it, and it was the first book that had a great impact on me, and for this, it still has a special place in my heart. __________________ Is this the end? No more the hunt, the journey and the goal? That terrifies me most: no more the goal! -Ray Bradbury, Leviathan '99

01-05-2008, 06:04 PM	#12
Lord Gothmog Animated Skeleton Join Date: May 2002 Location: South Wales Posts: 49	Lord of the Rings. (not surprising) The Belgariad - David Eddings The Pern books - Anne McCaffry Time Enough for Love - Robert Hienlen. I Robot - Issac Asimov __________________ If life was just a rehearsal, Would the show be Cancled. Greetings and Felicitations from the Lord of Balrogs!

01-10-2008, 01:13 AM	#17
Gwathagor Shade with a Blade Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: A Rainy Night In Soho Posts: 2,512	Plato was grumpy. However, I could have fun with the idea that imagination is essential to morality and reason, as well as the preservation of the state. __________________ Stories and songs.

01-10-2008, 10:43 PM	#21
Gwathagor Shade with a Blade Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: A Rainy Night In Soho Posts: 2,512	Regardless... __________________ Stories and songs.

01-17-2008, 08:51 PM	#22
arcticstorm Shade of Carn Dûm Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Johnson Bible College: Knoxville, TN Posts: 464	1. Till We Have Faces by C.S. Lewis This is a retelling of the myth of Cupid and Psyche from the perspective of Psyche's older sister. 2. Descent into Hell by Charles Williams This book by the second inkling on the list is a theological fantasy that deals with the themes of redemption and condemnation through the use of supernatural elements such as dopplegangers and ghosts. Certain concepts from Zoroastrianism and some images from Dante weave their way through the entire story. 3. The Lord of the Rings by JRR Tolkien The third inkling in the top three spots. I do not need to explain this book. 4. The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant by Stephen R. Donaldson. This series is also fairly well-known so I don't need to explain here either. and Finally, 5. The Voyage of St. Brendan the Abbot This is a medieval journey tale about an Irish monk who searched for the land promised to the saints. His journeys around the Atlantic have such elements as having easter dinner on the back of a whale, a monk being taken by a demon and bursting into flames, and Judas Iscariot sitting on an Iceberg so that he could be released from his punishment one day each year. Some, like me, consider the story to be a fantastic retelling of actual events. Although maybe not as much a fantasy as the others, I would still classify it under this genre.