Where to start with Tad Williams?

[[deleted user]]

I was listening to Rip-Off!, an anthology themed on starting a story with the first line(s) from some other memorable novel (apparently only available as an audiobook.) The Tad Williams story was really funny.

I'm aware that Mr. Williams has been a major fantasy author with a lot of fans, but I've somehow managed to not read any of his books, yet. A check of his author page on Goodreads shows an extensive oeuvre of multiple series and stand-alone novels. So many choices...

So, any Tad Williams fans here want to recommend what would be a good choice to read that will turn me into a voracious Tad Williams fan? Thank you!

[[deleted user]]

From what I read Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn series would be a good start. It is at places unnecessary slow, but this is a common problem for the modern fantasy.

[Sabrina]

G33z3r wrote: "I was listening to Rip-Off!, an anthology themed on starting a story with the first line(s) from some other memorable novel (apparently only available as an audiobook.) The Tad Williams story was r..."

I think it might depend if you're in the mood for Scifi or Fantasy.

The Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn series, starting with The Dragonbone Chair follows a boy, who grows into a man by the series end. From start to finish he is tied up in events that are way over his head. It has some real slow parts, but not too bad.

I'd describe the Shadowmarch series as an epic, world changing series that follows multiple storylines, and eventually brings them all together in a pretty amazing way. I did not notice slow parts in this series.

The Otherland series is more scifi. Having to do with virtual reality and technology in future earth. I've read the first book twice, which is great, then get stalled on the second book at this one part. Don't know why (I think I'm willing to put up with more for fantasy) But I'm told the ending is another amazing one.

The War of the Flowers is a standalone novel where someone from real world gets sucked into fantasy world. Usually, I can't stand these types of premises, but Tad Williams handled it very well. Not my favorite though.

[Nicolas]

I'm right there with you- the wife is a huge Tad Williams fan, but Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn is the only one she ever mentions. She loves it. I've been trying to read it for a year and a half now, but the opening is just so SLOW that I haven't made it very far. I'm a slow reader with limited time. She swears it's one of the most thorough and psychological high fantasy series' she's read.

[[deleted user]]

OK, I'll start with The Dragonbone Chair (Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn #1).... Thanks for the help!

[Pickle]

Evgeny wrote: "From what I read Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn series would be a good start. It is at places unnecessary slow, but this is a common problem for the modern fantasy."

slow is an understatement and how many dream sequences were there? id never read anything by the author again...

[[deleted user]]

Pickle wrote: "Evgeny wrote: "From what I read Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn series would be a good start. It is at places unnecessary slow, but this is a common problem for the modern fantasy."

slow is an understat..."

If you read Mazazan series, you will realize that MS&T is light-speed fast ;)

[Bryce]

As far as Tad Williams goes, I've read most of the Shadowmarch books, and all of the Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn series, and I have to say that that particular series is one of very few where I was actually satisfied with how it ended. I would agree that it starts out very slow, but there is such a huge cast of characters that play such huge roles in the books that I feel like it is necessary, and very much worth the time trudging through it.

[Margit]

Popping in just a bit late, but he also wrote Tailchaser's Song (about the adventures of a cat - his first book), Caliban's Hour (which is derived from Shakespeare's The Tempest), and the new Bobby Dollar books (the first, The Dirty Streets of Heaven, is out already and the second, Happy Hour in Hell, is due out later this year.)