false 2541570
Since Ridan's specialty is fantasy and sci-fi I'm especially concentrating on those genre's (they are my favorite after all) I'm really looking for suggestions to read and always on the lookup for new quality authors (reading slush piles is HARD!!) If you are a writer and think your stuff is good send me a PM and I'll take a look at it.

Current Favorite Book Ever: Avempartha]]> F Fairfax, VA 07/2009 12/2009 81 116 79 true 5879716 read 2 true 5485300 currently-reading 35 true 5485294 to-read 4 false 7453442 ridan-publishing 4 false 9230988 wishlist 1 false 9232114 nonfiction 1 false 9286156 fantasy 1 false 9254907 didn-t-like 1 false 9255458 classics http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/235912-new-wheel-of-time-book-anyone http://photo.goodreads.com/groups/1248198547p2/6181.jpg 2541570 Ridan http://photo.goodreads.com/users/1248248071p2/2541570.jpg http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/2541570-ridan Mon, 21 Dec 2009 22:26:54 -0800 http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/255358-defining-the-elements-of-epic-high-fantasy http://photo.goodreads.com/groups/1248198547p2/6181.jpg 2541570 Ridan http://photo.goodreads.com/users/1248248071p2/2541570.jpg http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/2541570-ridan Mon, 21 Dec 2009 22:25:47 -0800
Agree - 1. fully realized and developed cultures with detailed histories and cultural mythos.
Agree - 2. divergent political and religious systems.
Not necessarily - 3. epic quests that span continents if not worlds
Well don't all books need this? - 4. well-develop antagonist(s) I've written a detailed blog about why this is so essential on my part of this site.
Is a "bonus" but not a must (imo) 5. detailed and fully realized schools of magic that are well defined by the author.
hmmm not sure about the prose - Sometimes I read stuff where it just sounds like the author is tryiing to hard and I prefer a more straightfoward tack..6. powerful, evocative prose that vivifies the darkest and brightest aspect of the characters they've created.

Interesting topic to say the least
]]> The Way of Shadows (Night Angel, #1) by Brent Weeks]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/81724689 http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1255708345s/3227063.jpg 2541570 Ridan http://photo.goodreads.com/users/1248248071p2/2541570.jpg http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/2541570-ridan Mon, 21 Dec 2009 22:20:31 -0800 King of Sword and Sky (Tairen Soul Series, Book #3) by C.L. Wilson]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/81700802 http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1211888582s/3307144.jpg 2541570 Ridan http://photo.goodreads.com/users/1248248071p2/2541570.jpg http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/2541570-ridan Mon, 21 Dec 2009 17:41:02 -0800 http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/38743408 http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/410A553CR8L._SL75_.jpg 2541570 Ridan http://photo.goodreads.com/users/1248248071p2/2541570.jpg http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/2541570-ridan Mon, 21 Dec 2009 17:35:50 -0800