A Song of Ice & Fire Fans discussion
What do you read while waiting?
Steven Erikson's "The Malazan Book of the Fallen" series. Epic in scale, I find it similar to ASoIaF in that there is no clear central character, rather many POV. I'm reading the 2nd book and I have more questions than answers, but I guess the author intentionally did this, and later books offer the answers you seek. He's not quite the writer Martin is, and the names are a little weird, but I am really enjoying the storytelling. It's almost done too, he's writing book 9 of 10 at the moment.
Robin, That was going to be my answer too. I love that series. I just started book 4 last night....
I just finished The Crown Conspiracy by Michael J. Sullivan last night, and it was excellent. If you like Martin's nobility plots and roguish characters, give this one a try. It is the first book in a series of six. The second book is due out in April, so now is a good time to start it. From what I understand, Michael has finished the books and his publisher will be releasing them every six months or so. 
I've read alot of fantasy and there are not too many that can compare to Martin in my opinion.The few that I have found that I would compare to Martin are:
R. Scott Bakker - The Darkness That Comes Before
Joe Abercrombie - The Blade Itself
Patrick Rothfuss - The Name of the Wind
I haven't gotten around to reading Erikson yet just because I know I won't be able to stop until I get through them all. I'm waiting for a period when I have alot of time on my hands.
I read all kinds of fiction. But... Vorkosigan books by Lois McMaster Bujold are my addiction. Not like Martin at all. Except for being so very good. I have an eclectic taste :)
The Name of the Wind is really good, but it's only one book till this date (and the second moving away, not unlike A Dance With Dragons). My brother really likes The Blade itself, though, as well as the sequels and the new book from the same author Best Served Cold. He almost hugged me when I bought it for him, so that says something. :)Chris, The Crown Conspiracy seems interesting! I'm going to give it a try. :)
Zala, Good call. Since then I've read the sequel too, Avempartha. It was even better. And Book 3 is due out in October: Nyphron Rising.
Hello all - I usually lurk around here. Thanks for the recommendations!For me, I read anything and everything - I am finding the John Adams bio to be a great read, and Pride and Prejudice and Zombies is pretty hilarious.
Jesse, I love love love the Memory Sorrow and Thorn series. It is involved like ASoIaF, but I would not call it 'gritty' myself. Williams also wrote the Otherland series, which is good too. He writes great 3D characters.
Stephen King, mostly. I go through a lot of different books though. I try not to stick to one genre.
I'm reading Steven Erikson (currently on Book 7 of the Malazan series previously mentioned. I've also developed a keen interest in Jim Butcher's "Furies" series. I also read anything by Glen Cook, Roger Zelazny, Larry Niven, Stephen Donaldson and David Gerrold. Oh - Tim Powers too!I liked Memory, Sorrow and Thorn for a while, but I felt like the final book was kind of a ripoff of the Arthurian Legend. Despite that I felt the writing itself was excellent.
I went to the master himself and read other George R.R. Martin books. I LOVED Hunter's Run and really enjoyed Armadeggon Rag. I also just finished a sci fi book by Vernor Vinge called a Deepness in the Sky. My husband has been recommending it for years, but I finally got around to it and loved it.
I gotta say, I really enjoyed Hunter's Run too. It was great hard sci-fi and very original. Plus, the Aliens were like nothing I'd ever encountered in Sci-fi before. I highly recommend it to anyone waiting for the next book. I just recently picked up both volumes of Dreamsong as bargain books to see how I like Martin's short fiction.Ilene wrote: "I went to the master himself and read other George R.R. Martin books. I LOVED Hunter's Run and really enjoyed Armadeggon Rag. I also just finished a sci fi book by Vernor Vinge called a Deepness ..."
I see that I'm not the first to mention this one:Reading Steven Erikson's "The Malazan Book of the Fallen" at the moment. If you like Martin you should check this out, it's amazing. Halfway through book 8 at the moment, and not a single book has disappointed me as of yet.
Let's see, I just finished the Sookie Stackhouse novels by Charlaine Harris. There is more to the series but so far only 9 are out. I read "The Other Boelyn Girl" and Boelyn Inheritance", "Marley and Me". I am currently reading this book called "How To Ditch Your Fairy" by Justine Larbalestier. I am really enjoying that. It about a girl who has a parking fairy. She gets all the good parking spots when she needs them but she is too young to drive so it is kinda useless. So she tries to get rid of her fairy by giving it nothing to do. She is insanely jealous because her friend has a clothes fairy so her friehnd gets all her clothes on sale. it takes place in a made up world called New Avalon. The author is from Australia. She came to speak and talk about her book at the school I work in. You should check for out. She also has a series and the first book is called Magic Madness. The author writes specifically about fairies. After i finish that book I am going to go back to reading "A Feast of Crows".
I like the gritty, low-magic, character-intensive style of Martin and I found comparable in- Joe Abercrombie: The Blade Itself
- Brian Ruckley: Winterbirth
- Tad Williams: Shadowmarch
these r about the only ones I found comparable to George R R Martin. Since I am not much into SciFi, I only read Fevre Dream written by Martin and I enjoyed and recommend it.
I am still looking for comparable books/authors. ATM I think about Steve Erikson and Paul Kearney.
I read The Name of the Wind but haven't mentioned it, since it is far from finished (it is good, though, and I am looking forward to the next book).
I am unsure about The Darkness That Comes Before since it's reviews are quite ambiguous. I liked Robin Hobb's Assassin's Apprentice series but think it is not really comparable to Martin (I am missing the gritt).
You might also try The Furies of Calderon by Jim Butcher. The stories aren't quite as deep as Martin, but they're very gritty and exciting. I've been enjoying them while I wait...John
John wrote: "You might also try The Furies of Calderon by Jim Butcher.John"
that's good, because i have just ordered the first two of the series yesterday. I have just finished reading the Dresden Files of Jim Butcher (and enjoyed them) and wanted to try his take on Fantasy.
thnx
Tammo
I haven't read the Dresden Files yet, but heard they are good. Glad you liked them! There was a short lived TV show (I think last year or the year before) based on the Dresden Files. I saw one episode and liked it, then lost track of it. I need to get back to it one of these days.
John wrote: "There was a short lived TV show (I think last year or the year before) based on the Dresden Files...I need to get back to it one of these days." if you find the TV show on DVD somewhere, tell me. Would be interesting how it worked out...
...but, try the books - 98% of the time they r better than any movie.
[edit:] found the TV show - called "The Dresden Files". Easy to find but expensive to get. Amazon wants over 40€ for UK-Import...
Mod
40€?! That's ridiculous! Its only $11.99 in the states with free shipping! Hulu or pirating is highly recommended. Its not like its goin to come back or anything, so purchasing the DVD is moot.
a writer i love and got turned onto by a friend after finishing asos (but before affc came out) is guy gavriel kay. he does this sort of historical fantasy type thing, but doesn't fall into the typical traps of "historical fiction"... and i've seen asoiaf described as historical fantasy as well (based loosely on england and the wars of the roses). i find kay's work to be pretty damn intelligent and plot driven, with beautiful, almost lyrical prose and intricately developed characters. not as gritty as asoiaf but definitely not tame either. his earliest trilogy is a bit pedestrian but "tigana" is amazing, as is "a song for sarantium." my personal favorite is "the lions of al-rassan." check him out!
I finished reading a book called "How To Ditch Your Fairy" by Justine Labaleister. It was really good. It is about a girl who has a parking fairy (as in you always find the perfect parking spot). She didn't want her fairy so she tried to get rid of it. I am currently reading Basrayatha. It's about a city in Iraq. I am reading it for my book club.
I agree, Lia. Guy Gavriel Kay is excellent. And Tigana was my favorite so far. Very gritty. I haven't read all his books yet, but I'm working my way through them. I'll be sure to check out Song for Sarantium too.John
John wrote: "You might also try The Furies of Calderon by Jim Butcher."I tried Furies of Calderon, It isn't my style of book, though. Too much magic - as you said - the story is
Allen wrote: "40€?! That's ridiculous! Its only $11.99 in the states with free shipping! Hulu or pirating is highly recommended."
well, good idea... I'll have a look...
I might have a look at this gavriel kay, sounds interesting...
I've read Tigana, and definitely want to read more of Kay.
I didn't say Butcher was flat. I said the story wasn't quite as deep. Big difference. :)
John wrote: "I didn't say Butcher was flat. I said the story wasn't quite as deep. Big difference. :)"sorry - corrected my post.
I (personally) found the story "a bit flat"... and not Butcher but this specific book. I loved his Dresden Files.
Sorry, didn't mean to be confrontational. :/ I just didn't want to be taken out of context.
Hi everyone,Thanks for the help, I really need something to read.. I just finished Pride and Prejudice.. I need a series to read so bad.. I'm going to check out Steven E. I love long series.. If anyone likes crime books James Patterson is good. I loved his Alex Cross series.. I've read all 15 books.
I am treading Interview With The Vampire.
Mod
:D
I enjoyed Lamentation, the open serie for "The psalms of Jacob " , with many similiraties with Martin´s series. You ´ll find the POV characters, a middle age but ( here the difference ) in the future, with lost knowledges and robots.
I loved Hobb's Farseer and Tawny Man series'. I read both of those this past year. i agree that they are comparable (Martin to Hobb). I enjoy that Hobb left a great many things secret in her books. Jesse wrote: "So what do you use to stave off withdrawl while waiting for each new "Song of Ice and Fire" book?
Well, I personally discovered an author I find comporable to Martin in Robin Hobb. She doesn't ..."
Ive been waiting for the Rothfuss book from the library for a long long time and still have a long time to go. I tried the Bakker book and it was just awful, I couldnt get past the intro/prologue part.
Matt wrote: "I've read alot of fantasy and there are not too many that can compare to Martin in my opinion.
The few that I have found that I would compare to Martin are:
R. Scott Bakker - The Darkness Tha..."
Read the Fionavar Tapestry. It's amazing. (and set partially in Toronto, which is cool for me)Chris wrote: "I've read Tigana, and definitely want to read more of Kay."
Im going to go with what people have said about, Hobb's series'& Guy Gavriel Kay. And for my own, id say Martin Millar's Werewolf girl series (lonely werewolf girl and curse of the wolf girl), anything by Terry Pratchett and also Charles De Lint.
Allen wrote: "How about Pride and Prejudice and Zombies? It also has a prequel, Dawn of the Dreadfuls. Then there's always Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters and..."Loved pride and prejudies and zombies, haven't read the sequel yet, on the to read shelf.
Zala wrote: "The Name of the Wind is really good, but it's only one book till this date (and the second moving away, not unlike A Dance With Dragons). My brother really likes The Blade itself, though, as well a..."I really wanted to like "The Name of the Wind" the reviews were great but it didn't grab me like Martins books do. It was a struggle.
I so badly need a series I can fall in love with again.. I have to find something soon. I want a book I refuse to sleep because of.. I've loved a few series, A song of Ice and Fire, Harry Potter, Eragon, Twilight, and Dr. Cross.. I've checked out some of the suggestions from above but haven't been excited about any.. there has been just as many bad reviews as good about them. the series doesn't have to be fantasy.. Just GOOD no Great....
Have you read the Lightning Thief series? I am reading that and enjoying it.
i have found that i dont fancy reading anything similar...Games of Thrones are too special for me :)so im really into spies and secret services at the moment - reading Alan Furst books!!
Scott Lynch- Gentleman Bastard series; Patrick Rothfuss; Robin Hobb- Farseer and ESP Tawny Man series (Liveship good too); just read the Great Book of Amber and really enjoyed.
I'm reading I,Claudius and Claudius the God. Also the Masters of Rome series.
John wrote: "I have read the Dunk and Egg tales which are set in the same world but, I try not to think about when the next book is coming out. I like reading Sci-fi, Horror, and suspense-thrillers as well so..."
oh im planning on reading it after i finish my book. did you enjoy it?did it clarify anything in regards of Game of Thrones characters?
thanks)
i'm reading the Godless World trilogy by Brian Ruckley... i just recently finished the second one in the series (Bloodheir) and i'm waiting for the third one to arrive... as of the moment, i read Not Less Than Gods by Kage Baker...EDIT:
oh, i've also begun reading A Game of Groans: A Sonnet of Slush and Soot by George R.R. Washington... just for a laugh or two...
I like Ken Follett's medieval novels Pillars of the Earth and World Without End for a history fix. I find these well written and almost as pleasurable to read as SOIAF series.Along with Robyn Young's novels.
I am due to introduce myself to Robin Hobb, and am always on the look out for anything that can pass the time until the next instalment.
I am also planning to read all of ASOIAF again very soon! As lets face it nothing compares to the real thing!!
Here's a facebook page on "What to read while waiting for the next installment of Game of Thrones." Not too much traffic as yet -- we could use some more visitors and suggestions! http://www.facebook.com/WhattoReadAft...
I would suggest Stieg Larsson's Millenium series. A mystery/thriller set in Sweden in the late 90's (I think)is a change of pace, but if you're just looking for something entertaining and engrossing it might fit the bill. Although, I also think I will read Elric of Melniboné by Michael Moorcock.
Joe abercrombie the first law trilogy.Charlaine Harris Sookie Stackhouse Serie
Laurel k Hamilton Akita Blake Series
J R Ward Black dagger brotherhood series
Dunk and egg house of worm and any other short story by germ I can get my hand on. Ive read ASoIaF books 1-3 four times since 2000 and books 4-5 twice
A Song of Ice & Fire Fans
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Well, I personally discovered an author I find comporable to Martin in Robin Hobb. She doesn't have nearly as grand a character scope as Martin, but the style of stories reminded me of Martin. Also she didn't ever use magic, which as I get older I find I want to be used more tactically in my fantasy. Also, aside from Martin I don't think any other writer has moved me to nearly such an emotional response to characters and story.
Hmmm...Lets see. I also am re-reading Robert Jordan, since that is for all intents and purposes done. I'm enjoying it a bit more than I did when I read it just after highschool, but I'm still finding the same flaws I did even back then.
Then of course there is the always fun (at least for me) Raymond E. Feist. Its not nearly the same type of fantasy as Martin, but its good solid sword & Sorcery that has evolved over the years into something more. He, more than any other writer I read, is one I consider and overlooked gem. Or more accurately, a gem that was once appreciated by many but fell by the way side.
And last but not least I still plan to try Tad Williams' "Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn". Suppose to be of the same gritty fantasy vein as Martin, though with a bit more magical fantasy elements in it.
So what about you folks? Any recommendations?