Shannon's comments (member since Dec 10, 2008)

Shannon's comments from the Fantasy Book Club group.

I LOVE the new covers, they're gorgeous! Great news Leslie, I'm so glad they're getting a new print run (which also means I get to read them) :)

This is a great book! I saw the movie first, in Japanese, and later bought the DVD with Christian Bale, so adorable. I'm a fan of both: I love both stories as almost separate because of the changes that were made.

I love the scene (in book and movie) where his hair gets dyed pink because of her cleaning - he's so vain!! And yet you can't help loving the twit!

When I pick up a new fantasy book (new for me anyway), the first thing I'll look for is a map at the front. When I don't find one, I flip to the back. I'm always disappointed when I don't find one, though it won't necessarily stop me from reading it (it sometimes puts me off though). I love maps, though if they're not done well they're detrimental.

The most infuriating maps I've come across were in Fiona MacIntosh - the map didn't match the story - and Brent Weeks, which was really hard to decipher and pretty much useless. Terry Goodkind's was also pretty redundant, I thought.

After the first couple of books, though, I don't need the map anymore because it's pretty much imprinted on my mind - Wheel of Time springs to mind - but I still like to gaze at them!

I'm surprised too to hear from Patrick that publishers don't always want them. I've always considered them a real selling feature, especially when they're done up in colour.

I read McIntosh's first book, Betrayal, and I have to say: it was really, really bad. I avoided her for years but I did read and like Odalisque, enough to buy the others in the trilogy - they're full of fantasy cliches and stock characters and formulaic plots, but the writing has improved somewhat. So Elizabeth's comment above doesn't surprise me in the least!

My favourite Aussie fantasy writers (I'm an Aussie too) are Isobelle Carmody and Jennifer Fallon. JJ mentioned some great ones too, and there's also Kate Forsyth and Kate Jacoby, among others.

Oh yes, Tigana is excellent, I whole-heartedly second that one! It's long but don't let that daunt you, it flies by!

Series and trilogies are preferred by publishers because they can hook readers and sell better. But I love standalones too!

Not sure what you've already read but I recommend Threshold by Sara Douglass and Maledicte by Lane Robins. Also Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clark. I'm sure I have more to recommend but I'd have to look at my shelves first :)