Originally posted by zeeblebotHaven't heard of any of them....sound cracking though!!!!
the warlock in spite of himself (and sequels; stasheff).
magic, inc. (heinlein? think: harry potter in the 50's).
similar book by poul anderson, i think.
similar books by raymond feist?
the world of tiers series (piers anthony?).
some of c.j. cherryh's stuff.
some of larry niven's magic stuff.
Originally posted by zeeblebotThanks man....i will check them out and let you know what i think !!!🙂
🙂.
Nine Princes in Amber (zelazny; series). one of the all-time best.
his Jack of Shadows and Lord of Light are good, too.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Stasheff
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zelazny
Originally posted by AmauroteDid you (or anyone else) see the television adaptation of Gormenghast? I have and thought it was well done. But I've never had the pleasure of reading the book series. Did the adaptation do it any justice?
Mervyn Peake's Gormenghast series is great. Clark Ashton Smith is probably the best fantasy writer overall, but he was a short story writer rather than a novelist.
Apart from Lord of the Rings I really enjoyed Raymond E. Feist's Riftwar Saga, and his collaboration with Janny Wurtz, I can't remember the name. I think his other books set in the riftwar universe are not as strong, and Magician was the best of the original trilogy.
I read 4-5 books of the wheel of time before I got bored with it. It seemed to be lacking direction and the author seems to keep bringing out ever new books. didn't work for me.
Cell, by stephen king, pissed me off, but I will not ruin it for you.
maybe i am getting to old for SK, i used to devour his books as a teenager, but nowadays they don't grab me anymore.
Originally posted by FleabittenI thought the series was okay in places, although most fans of Mervyn Peake hated it. It was weak on central casting: Jonathan Rhys Meyers was a terrible choice for Steerpike (far too pretty - a pretty Steerpike is like Richard III without the hunchback; and the Phantom of the Opera mask plays no part in the novel), although he was fine in some of the scenes. The secondary casting was excellent, particularly Ian Richardson as Groan. Visually it was interesting, but the Gormenghast of the novels is a much gloomier, more sinister place than the adaptation. You should read the novels, they're very superior; but you can skip the last in the trilogy, which Peake wrote after his illness took hold towards the end of his life.
Did you (or anyone else) see the television adaptation of Gormenghast? I have and thought it was well done. But I've never had the pleasure of reading the book series. Did the adaptation do it any justice?
Originally posted by AmauroteThanks very much for the response. I'll take up the recommendation and make Gormenghast my next reading project.
I thought the series was okay in places, although most fans of Mervyn Peake hated it. It was weak on central casting: Jonathan Rhys Meyers was a terrible choice for Steerpike (far too pretty - a pretty Steerpike is like Richard III without the hunchback; and the Phantom of the Opera mask plays no part in the novel), although he was fine in some of the scene ...[text shortened]... last in the trilogy, which Peake wrote after his illness took hold towards the end of his life.
Originally posted by AmauroteIt is particularly odd.
You should read the novels, they're very superior; but you can skip the last in the trilogy, which Peake wrote after his illness took hold towards the end of his life.
Have you enjoyed any of his other stuff--Mr Pye?
Peake had a great influence on Michael Moorcock...a great writer of fantasy...Elric, boys & girls, is a fantasy high-water mark, and Tolkien be damned.
Originally posted by Bosse de NageI haven't, no - any good?
It is particularly odd.
Have you enjoyed any of his other stuff--Mr Pye?
Peake had a great influence on Michael Moorcock...a great writer of fantasy...Elric, boys & girls, is a fantasy high-water mark, and Tolkien be damned.
Moorcock is a very strange writer. He's a horrible stylist (I think he started writing at far too young an age, and it shows at times), but conceptually he is wonderfully original (the Corum series was great); Clark Ashton Smith combines style with originality, although his material is often darker than most fantasy readers pre-Dark Tower would be comfortable with.
Wow, there's some great series mentioned, the Robot series was a favorite as already mentioned. Hard to pick one, wanted to add a couple:
Sword of Truth Series by Terry Goodkind though the last book or two has been dissappointing
Narnia by C.S. Lewis (Yes, I read it was a kid so it's a little over the top, but remains a favorite as the first books my mom read to me as a child)
Wrinkle in Time Series by Madeline L'Engle, the early books for the best description of string theory. (Why I like physics as an adult.)
Have a great week.
I like "end of the world" thematic fantasy novels. The best in this genre lately is by a gory gnome. Though it is probably ghost written, it is still a fun read, full of humor and action. And whoever wrote these fun little books never lets science get in the way of the plot line. The characterizations are kind of dull, but what they lack in charm is more than compensated in the fatalistic solipsistic egoism of the author(s).
An Inconvenient Truth
The Assault on Reason
Originally posted by AmauroteIt's always interesting.
I haven't, no - any good?
Moorcock is a very strange writer. He's a horrible stylist (I think he started writing at far too young an age, and it shows at times), but conceptually he is wonderfully original (the Corum series was great); Clark Ashton Smith combines style with originality, although his material is often darker than most fantasy readers pre-Dark Tower would be comfortable with.
Moorcock's style...It depends when in his career you're talking about. From the mid-70s he writes beautifully. "The Condition of Muzak" is wonderful...The Byzantium series is terrific. Every now and then there's a lapse, of course, and it's Wagner on acid...Which reminds me that the Dancers at the End of Time is the best comic fantasy I've yet read...
Clarke Ashton Smith--his books reek of mould and decay, because you only find them in second-hand shops...at least I do...wild imagination, for sure...contemporary of Lovecraft...How'd you compare the two of them?
If you stretch the definition of fantasy a bit, I'd suggest Les Chants de Maldoror.