The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum


Visit The *EVEN NEWER* Barrow-Downs Photo Page

Go Back   The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum > Middle-Earth Discussions > Novices and Newcomers
Reload this Page What other fantasy books do YOU read?
User Name
Password
Register FAQ Members List Calendar Today's Posts


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 10-13-2010, 09:43 AM   #1
Thinlómien
Shady She-Penguin
 
Thinlómien's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: In a far land beyond the Sea
Posts: 8,093
Thinlómien is wading through the Dead Marshes.Thinlómien is wading through the Dead Marshes.Thinlómien is wading through the Dead Marshes.Thinlómien is wading through the Dead Marshes.Thinlómien is wading through the Dead Marshes.Thinlómien is wading through the Dead Marshes.
Robin Hobb - she, as Nerwen says - is definitely worth reading, if you ask me. Not as "deep" as Tolkien or Le Guin (well not maybe a good comparison if you've never read anything by her ) but complex, enjoyable and deeply human. Hobb is, I think, one of the best storytellers whose books I've read both inside and outside the fantasy genre. The story just basically reads itself and you can't help but just live with the characters. If someone out there is thinking about reading anything by her, I suggest starting with the Farseer Series because they are probably the best and they sort of start out the whole thing.
__________________
Like the stars chase the sun, over the glowing hill I will conquer
Blood is running deep, some things never sleep
Double Fenris
Thinlómien is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-13-2010, 11:55 AM   #2
Galadriel
Ghost Prince of Cardolan
 
Galadriel's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: In Eldamar beside the walls of Elven Tirion
Posts: 551
Galadriel has just left Hobbiton.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Thinlómien View Post
Robin Hobb - she, as Nerwen says - is definitely worth reading, if you ask me. Not as "deep" as Tolkien or Le Guin (well not maybe a good comparison if you've never read anything by her ) but complex, enjoyable and deeply human. Hobb is, I think, one of the best storytellers whose books I've read both inside and outside the fantasy genre. The story just basically reads itself and you can't help but just live with the characters. If someone out there is thinking about reading anything by her, I suggest starting with the Farseer Series because they are probably the best and they sort of start out the whole thing.
Sounds promising. Maybe I'll give her a shot after I finish school (and a load of other books on my reading list!) in a few months.
__________________
"Hey! Come derry dol! Can you hear me singing?" – Tom Bombadil
Galadriel is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-14-2010, 12:59 PM   #3
Thinlómien
Shady She-Penguin
 
Thinlómien's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: In a far land beyond the Sea
Posts: 8,093
Thinlómien is wading through the Dead Marshes.Thinlómien is wading through the Dead Marshes.Thinlómien is wading through the Dead Marshes.Thinlómien is wading through the Dead Marshes.Thinlómien is wading through the Dead Marshes.Thinlómien is wading through the Dead Marshes.
PS. For all Geroge R.R. Martin fans and everybody interested in a new fantasy TV series, HBO has realeased the first two teaser trailers for A Game of Thrones. This one looks really cool and has Sean Bean, although it's sadly really short.
__________________
Like the stars chase the sun, over the glowing hill I will conquer
Blood is running deep, some things never sleep
Double Fenris
Thinlómien is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-14-2010, 09:02 PM   #4
Oddwen
Drummer in the Deep
 
Oddwen's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Next Sunday A.D.
Posts: 2,145
Oddwen is a guest of Elrond in Rivendell.Oddwen is a guest of Elrond in Rivendell.Oddwen is a guest of Elrond in Rivendell.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Thinlómien View Post
PS. For all Geroge R.R. Martin fans and everybody interested in a new fantasy TV series, HBO has realeased the first two teaser trailers for A Game of Thrones. This one looks really cool and has Sean Bean, although it's sadly really short.
Plus, GRRM claims to be five chapters away from the end of Dances with Dragons, the book he's been working on for ten plus years.
__________________
But all the while I sit and think of times there were before
I listen for returning feet and voices at the door
Oddwen is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-19-2010, 02:12 PM   #5
Thinlómien
Shady She-Penguin
 
Thinlómien's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: In a far land beyond the Sea
Posts: 8,093
Thinlómien is wading through the Dead Marshes.Thinlómien is wading through the Dead Marshes.Thinlómien is wading through the Dead Marshes.Thinlómien is wading through the Dead Marshes.Thinlómien is wading through the Dead Marshes.Thinlómien is wading through the Dead Marshes.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Oddwen View Post
Plus, GRRM claims to be five chapters away from the end of Dances with Dragons, the book he's been working on for ten plus years.
So it will take him at least a few more years to finish it, right?
__________________
Like the stars chase the sun, over the glowing hill I will conquer
Blood is running deep, some things never sleep
Double Fenris
Thinlómien is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-20-2010, 04:23 AM   #6
Aganzir
Woman of Secret Shadow
 
Aganzir's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: in hollow halls beneath the fells
Posts: 4,511
Aganzir is lost in the dark paths of Moria.Aganzir is lost in the dark paths of Moria.Aganzir is lost in the dark paths of Moria.Aganzir is lost in the dark paths of Moria.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ibrîniđilpathânezel View Post
I would probably like LeGuin better as a writer if I had not met her as a person. Alas, I can say the same for a number of others, too... *sigh*
Poor Ibrin, most of would be happy to meet our favourite writers in person!

I think Robin Hobb is a very good read, and like Lommy said The Farseer trilogy is probably the best place to start. It's imaginative and good, in the later books it gets both more mature (dealing with equality & other current issues) and less inventive (it might be just me, though - I find dragons awfully dull).

I've read the Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin and couldn't really see what's so special about it. The characters are way too simple and superficial to my liking, so I never bothered to check out the rest of them. I might do it some day though.

I'm currently rereading the Vampire Chronicles by Anne Rice. They're both better (there are nuances I didn't catch when I was 13)) and worse (illogical stuff, the writer ignores things I consider relevant for the plot - she's not nearly so bad as a certain Stephenie Meyer though ) than I remembered. Anyway I like me some wonderfully androgynous badass vampires.
__________________
He bit me, and I was not gentle.
Aganzir is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-20-2010, 04:34 AM   #7
Galadriel
Ghost Prince of Cardolan
 
Galadriel's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: In Eldamar beside the walls of Elven Tirion
Posts: 551
Galadriel has just left Hobbiton.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Oddwen View Post
Plus, GRRM claims to be five chapters away from the end of Dances with Dragons, the book he's been working on for ten plus years.
Funny though, because I heard the release date of DWD is two years later. I hope he just finishes it quickly and gets it published so the readers don't have to die with impatience
__________________
"Hey! Come derry dol! Can you hear me singing?" – Tom Bombadil
Galadriel is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-16-2010, 04:56 PM   #8
Galadriel55
Blossom of Dwimordene
 
Galadriel55's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: The realm of forgotten words
Posts: 10,486
Galadriel55 is lost in the dark paths of Moria.Galadriel55 is lost in the dark paths of Moria.Galadriel55 is lost in the dark paths of Moria.Galadriel55 is lost in the dark paths of Moria.
I've read quite a few fiction books (half of which I don't remember), but nothing can match with Tolkien's works. It seems like he just summarised the universe into just a few volumes. No other author got close to doing that.
__________________
You passed from under darkened dome, you enter now the secret land. - Take me to Finrod's fabled home!... ~ Finrod: The Rock Opera
Galadriel55 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-17-2010, 02:08 AM   #9
Galadriel
Ghost Prince of Cardolan
 
Galadriel's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: In Eldamar beside the walls of Elven Tirion
Posts: 551
Galadriel has just left Hobbiton.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Galadriel55 View Post
I've read quite a few fiction books (half of which I don't remember), but nothing can match with Tolkien's works. It seems like he just summarised the universe into just a few volumes. No other author got close to doing that.
Hear hear!
__________________
"Hey! Come derry dol! Can you hear me singing?" – Tom Bombadil
Galadriel is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

« Previous Thread | Next Thread »

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 07:33 AM.


Contact Us - The Barrow-Downs - Archive - Top

Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.9 Beta 4
Copyright ©2000 - 2025, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.