Elizabeth's comments
(member since Nov 22, 2008)
Elizabeth's comments from the Fantasy Book Club group.
(showing 1-20 of 52)
Yes, I still recommend starting with the Valdemar books, and start with the early ones. Chris is right that the later ones are dreadful. Her best work is definitely the Oath books and the Last Herald Mage trilogy, but Arrows of the Queen is charming and the first in the long series so the place to start (in my opinion).
There are some great books here! I'll add all the other books Elizabeth Moon has written, except The Speed of Dark. Her Vatta and Serato series both feature lots of strong women, although they are sci-fi not fantasy. All of Pamela Dean's books. Patricia Kennealy-Morrison's first set of books beginning with The Silver Branch. (These are fantastic, by the way). Lois McMaster Bujold's Paladin of Souls (there are two books in this series). Most of Marion Zimmer Bradley's Darkover series. I recommend starting with Hawkmistress!, I was hooked after that one. All of Patricia McKillip's books, although she doesn't write series. Daughter of the Empire series by Janny Wurst and Raymond E. Feist.I'm sure I can think of some more... :-)
That's an interesting questions, Jeanne. I never thought this book wouldn't be appropriate for young adults. It's about a school girl who goes on a quest with a talking animal. It has all the elements for it. Do people think it's not appropriate because it's about death? What sort of cotton wool are they wrapping their child in? Personally, I'd rather have a real lesson - such as once you die you cannot come back, you should not come back - than the way the vampire genre deals with it; where death doesn't mean anything.
I've read it, several times. Love this book.
Thanks, Lochaber, now I have a terrible image of Sting in a diaper.
I'd like to nominate Wildwood Dancing in the general fiction category because I don't think we've done a fairy tale adaptation yet and this one contains elements of several. It is primarily based on The Twelve Dancing Princesses. I've read other books by Juliet Marillier and they were all well done. If someone has another suggestion for a fairy tale or myth adaptation, I'd be happy with an alternative.
I'd start with Arrows of the Queen. It's the first true Valdemar book. Oathbound and Oathbreakers were written first (I think) but the third book in the Oathbound series (By the Sword) overlaps with events in the Arrows of the Queen trilogy so it's better to start with Arrows. (This is all my own opinion mind you).
After those six, if you're still interested, I recommend the tales of the Last Herald Mage, then the Winds trilogy, and then the set that follows that one. Whatever you do, SKIP ANYTHING SHE WROTE WITH LARRY DIXSON. (Again, my opinion, but they're just dreadful). :-)
Tigana is one of those books that people either love or they don't get at all and then spend their time wondering what all this fuss about Kay is about. Personally, I think Song for Arbonne is much more approachable for a first time Kay reader.
Having said that, Robin, if you've made it through the prologue and are enjoying it, I think you'll be one of the first group of readers, not the second. :-)
I finished it last week. I'm looking forward to the discussion. I expect I'm going to be a dissenting view.
I've read both of the other Paxson books you mentioned. The White Raven is her strongest book, in my opinion. I'm not sure the quality of either would lead me to pick up Wodan's Children though. The Grundy sounds interesting though. Cool.
I'm reading. I'll be finished next week.
My reading has been a little light on the fantasy side over the past couple of months but I just re-read Beauty A Retelling of the Story of Beauty and the Beast (one of my favorite books from childhood) and still love it. I hope to read: Empire of Ivory and The Warrior's Apprentice, but first I have to get through The Mysteries of Udolpho for a book club.
I've always thought Sherri Tepper was primarily a fantasy writer, even if she sets some of her fantasies on other planets. Maybe it's that my favorites are her fantasies...
Hi Jim, I'm not sure what had happened to the first post by Michele, but she mentioned she liked Weber's work as well. :-)
That's a really good question, but I think you want to try the Science Fiction and Fantasy Book Group for it; this one just just fantasy, so there aren't a lot of space battles. :-) But, if you want to try something a little more on the fantasy side, you might like Marion Zimmer Bradley's Darkover series. Some of them are sci-fi, some are fantasy, (and some of the later ones are not very good at all), but if you like Bujold and Moon, you might like them. My favorites are: The Heritage of Hastur, Thendara House, and Star of Danger (the first book in the series).
I'd include Patricia McKillip if we're talking about wonderful language. I'd also include JRR Tolkien. I think this is one of the things that Kay and Tolkien have in common.
Oh, thank you for mentioning Mists of Avalon, Ashok. It was one of my favorite books, when I was a teenager; the sequels were a complete disappointment though.
Another great stand alone book is Tam Lin. It's for anyone who went to college at a Liberal Arts school in the US Mid-West and likes to read. You'll recognize everything. It's also a great book and still one of my favorites (even if you didn't go to a small, mid-western liberal arts college).
I thought it was a great post, Jenny. I agree with you about almost all of it (particularly the Finovar foundation materials) except that I like Arbonne better than Lions, but only just. :-)
He's also published a book of poetry:Beyond This Dark House.
Lud-In-The-Mist sounds great, Sandi. I'd love to read it.
