Introduce Yourself! (Archived)

[[deleted user]]

Hasty wrote: "Hi.I'm Hasty.I'm really new to gr.I'm 13 years old and Ilove Sci-fi books alot and my favorite book is harry potter."

Hi, Hasty, and welcome to the group.

[Mike]

Suzanna wrote: "Hello! I love to read and write fantasy and am looking forward to discussing books with ya'll."

Hello Suzanne! Glad to have you, I think you find this group to be amazing and well ran. Look forward to discussing books with ya. Jump in!

[Bristol]

Hello

My favourite books are sci fi and fantasy, John Scalzi, Arthur C Clarke, Douglas Adams and I've read A Song of ice and fire, Sword of Truth, Fieste.

I also have a soft spot for some ya fantasy: especially Tamara Pierce's Tortall books.

[Ariel]

Althus wrote: "@ Ariel The twist was at the end of the book to, but somehow it was far more profound than they made in the movie..."

@Althus - I agree

[Ariel]

Bristol wrote: "Hello

My favourite books are sci fi and fantasy, John Scalzi, Arthur C Clarke, Douglas Adams and I've read A Song of ice and fire, Sword of Truth, Fieste.

I also have a soft spot for some ya fan..."

@Bristol, Tamara Pierce is a very good SF author - I too love her books. I particularly liked Wild Magic a wonderul story for young and old!

[[deleted user]]

Bristol wrote: "Hello My favourite books are sci fi and fantasy, John Scalzi, Arthur C Clarke, Douglas Adams and I've read A Song of ice and fire, Sword of Truth, Fieste...."

Hi, "Bristol", welcome to the group. Since you like Douglas Adams, you might have a look at our very recent Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy discussion. And John Scalzi's latest, Lock In, just came out two days ago; we have a group discussion of that scheduled for next month if you're interested. Either way, welcome aboard!

[Nerina]

Nerina wrote: "Althus wrote: "Welcome Nerina! Enders is great, Alvin Maker series also good (same author as ender), What kind of fantasy do you read? It is always easier to recommend something when you know what ..."

Thanks, i have read some of ur suggestions :) they r great books, tbh eventhough those were translated to my own language i still choose the English one, i dont really like reading the translation one. So i have been hunting E-books. Anyway thx, going to go for ender series, i hope i will enjoy the ride ^^

[Bristol]

@Ariel thank you. Yes, I like wild magic.

@G33z3r I'll look into them, and lock In is high on my mental list of books to read so I'll join in with that.

[Nerva]

Nerina wrote: "Nerina wrote: "Althus wrote: "Welcome Nerina! Enders is great, Alvin Maker series also good (same author as ender), What kind of fantasy do you read? It is always easier to recommend something when..."

I hope you will enjoy the Ender books. I read the first one and really enjoyed it. .. Just haven't gotten around to the rest of them yet!

[Steven]

Hello everyone! I'm new to this group, and I see I'm in the right place. I grew up reading early sci fi and fantasy novels instead of comics. I mean REALLY EARLY — like Dunsany/William Morris/Robert Heinlein/ Fritz Leiber early. I've written my own fantasy novel, too, in an old school theme. It's been an education. Glad to meet you all!

[[deleted user]]

I like all types of fantasy fiction. Dark fantasy fiction is my favorite though.

[Lynda]

Karlton wrote: "I don't come across many people who are William Morris fans. I love his books. First read his books as a teenager--many moons ago :-)
Welcome!"

Tell us something about William Morris' work.

[Lynda]

Steven wrote: "Hello everyone! I'm new to this group, and I see I'm in the right place. I grew up reading early sci fi and fantasy novels instead of comics. I mean REALLY EARLY — like Dunsany/William Morris/Rober..."

Loved Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser in my teens. :-) The mouser, in particular, as an early inspiration for one of my own characters. Although he's changed a lot, since.

[Bobby]

Lynda wrote: "Steven wrote: "Hello everyone! I'm new to this group, and I see I'm in the right place. I grew up reading early sci fi and fantasy novels instead of comics. I mean REALLY EARLY — like Dunsany/Willi..."

You know, I never did get around to Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser but always meant to! Is it too late...?

[N.]

J.K. RowlingStar Wars: A Long Time Ago..., Book 2: Dark Encounters

Hi, I'm Nick and I write and read scifi/fantasy and UF, sometimes. I'm working on a few projects but I have articles at www.examiner.com/scifi-in-portland/ni...

[Ariel]

Karlton wrote: "He had a number of short fantasy works. Two of my favorites are: The Wood Beyond The World, and The Well At The World's End. Tolkien was influenced by William Morris, and I suspect the word "Mirkwo..."

Hi Karlton, You jogged my memory with reference to "Mirkwood" - I dimly remember the story from many, many years ago... childhood I think (it wasn't from The Roots of Mountains). I believe it came in a children's book - do you have any idea which one?

[Steven]

I'm not sure you can call William Morris' Well at the World's End short. It originally had to be published in 2 volumes (which I happen to own, after a long search). The book would give fits to all the LOTR dislikers who say Tolkien reads too slow. I have a friend who explained her exasperation with Tolkien, "They're always... going somewhere!" This is even more true of The Well, it's nothing BUT going somewhere.
I picked up my interest in early fantasy by discovering Balantine's paperback Forgotten Fantasy series in the 70s. It was a revelation. I had thought that Tolkien started it all. Just goes to show how much everyone who writes owes to past authors, even those you thought invented their genre.
The "thees" and "thous" from leftover middle english take a bit of getting used to in The Well, but I can still remember the feeling I had when I finished it for the first time. I can only describe that feeling as "magical." That's what we're looking for, right?

[Nerva]

I just started my very own group! I am just loving good reads!

[[deleted user]]

My 2 cents on the whole fantasy thing (keep in mind I'm not a student of fantasy): Fantasy goes wayyy back, but modern fantasy can pretty much be tracked back to two groups of three people...Tolkien, Lewis, and some other guy in Britain (all three knew each other) and in the US, Lovecraft, Robert E. Howard, and Clark Ashton Smith, again these three knew each other (entire books have been filled with the letters they passed back and forth via snail mail).

That's my 2 cents, it may not be worth even that. Buyer beware.

[[deleted user]]

a big WELCOME to our new members!! Drag up a toadstool, our robot butler, Jarvis, will be along shortly with drinks (he makes a mean rasberry sweet tea). Feel free to join in the many conversations we have going on, or start your own...most of all have fun, and good reading!!

[Lynda]

Spooky1947 wrote: "My 2 cents on the whole fantasy thing (keep in mind I'm not a student of fantasy): Fantasy goes wayyy back, but modern fantasy can pretty much be tracked back to two groups of three people...Tolkie..."

I've long annoyed genre-splitters with my opinion fantasy and science fiction have in common the superpowered individual - whether through magic or science - who personifies dreams or fears. Arguing the story of good vs evil through characters instead of committees, budgets and policy. Which, let's face it, just isn't as immediate and lacks love interest. Readers identify with the Empowered Individual, also serving as wish fulfillment. My two bits.

[Michael]

Hi all! Just joined the group and thought I'd say hello. I've been reading SF and fantasy since my teens (which was a loooong time ago!) my tastes are pretty eclectic. Classic SF and fantasy, military SF, urban fantasy, modern SF. If it's a good story with interesting character, I'll give it a try.

Mike

[Lynda]

Michael wrote: "Hi all! Just joined the group and thought I'd say hello. I've been reading SF and fantasy since my teens (which was a loooong time ago!) my tastes are pretty eclectic. Classic SF and fanta..."

LOVE goodreads for the proof of all the serious READERS who hang out here.

[Ariel]

Karlton wrote: "Ariel wrote: "Karlton wrote: "He had a number of short fantasy works. Two of my favorites are: The Wood Beyond The World, and The Well At The World's End. Tolkien was influenced by William Morris, ..."

THANK YOU!!!

[[deleted user]]

Michael wrote: "Hi all! Just joined the group and thought I'd say hello. I've been reading SF and fantasy since my teens (which was a loooong time ago!) my tastes are pretty eclectic. Classic SF and fantasy..."

Hi, Michael, and welcome to the group. Glad to have you join in the conversation the conversation!

[Adrian]

Hi all.
Fantasy fiction probably makes up around 80% of everything I've read now that I see nearly all of them listed in My Books here. I like to go way out of this genre too at times with my reading. A good story is always a good story regardless fo genre.
I started with The Hobbit, Lord of the Rings and Lion Witch and the Wardrobe, headed through David Eddings, Raymond E Fiest and David Gemmel (my all time favourite) and in more recent years tackled Robin Hobb an Tad Williams - Memory Sorrow and Thorn series being my current read.
I've recently discovered Brandon Sanderson and Steelheart which is Fantasy Sci-Fi with a fast moving plot. Just what I needed as a break between Memory Sorrow and Thorn instalments. I'm sure many of you know Tad Williams and Robin Hobb and that they are hard going but worth it in the end.
My ideal fantasy novel would have a mid way blend between setting and character immersion/depth and speedy plot progression. Too many fantasy novels are so much slower than they need to be to tell their story. Fans of Robert Jordan are a dedicated bunch, anyone who has attempted the Wheel of Time series and given up around book 5 or 10 (5 for me) will know what I mean ;)

No writer has ever quite hit the spot for me with the right blend of pace vs. depth or presented powerful interesting magicians centre stage and involved in the story all the way without ruining the peril for the protagonists in the process.
Sometimes I've heard it said that if you can't find the book you really want to read, write it yourself.
So I am.
I've taught myself about story structure and what 3 dimensional characters really are in a literary sense and back in October 2013 I picked up something I tinkered with a little in 2009 and started writing my fantasy fiction novel again. I've been meaning to do it since 1987 when I was 17. I'm now writing chapter 21 of 32, that's about 92,000 words of a probably 145-150,000 words. For comparison Lord of the Rings Return of the King was about 131,000 words.
I'm hugely excited about it and hope to finish by the middle of next year. I spend about 2 hours a day 5 days a week writing.

Its good to learn more about what people love and hate about this genre so look forward to reading and being involved more here.

[[deleted user]]

Adrian wrote: "Hi all. Fantasy fiction probably makes up around 80% of everything I've read now that I see nearly all of them listed in My Books here. I like to go way out of this genre too at times with my read..."

Welcome to the group as well as Goodreads, Adrian. And thanks for sharing your likes. (I'm one of those who enjoyed his way through the wheel of time — multiple times.)

[Mike]

G33z3r wrote: "Adrian wrote: "Hi all. Fantasy fiction probably makes up around 80% of everything I've read now that I see nearly all of them listed in My Books here. I like to go way out of this genre too at tim..."

Welcome Adrian!
I'm on my first time thru The Wheel of Time, currently on Knife of Dreams. Sometimes I'm like this is the best book ever but then again sometimes I'm like just kill me now with all the Aes Sedai politics!

[Lori]

Hello I'm Lori I have been reading science fiction and fantasy since about ten, I started with Anne McCaffrey and was hooked!! I love reading books where the authors put so much detail into the worlds they create!

[Saul]

Hi, my name's Saul. My first love was Sci-Fi and I still believe that the Foundation Series by Asimov is one of the most incredible stories ever told.
More recently I've graduated to reading all sorts of books, the common theme being books that make me think (sometimes for years after I've finished reading.) I also love books that resonate with my feelings, though I must confess, for me, a happy ending (or an ending with potential for happiness at least), is the icing on the cake.
I'm delighted to have found Goodreads, as it really does seem to me that people on this site share a genuine love of reading.

[[deleted user]]

Lori wrote: "Hello I'm Lori I have been reading science fiction and fantasy since about ten, I started with Anne McCaffrey and was hooked!! I love reading books where the authors put so much detail into the worlds..."

Hi, Lori. Welcome to the group. We look forward to chatting with you here.

[[deleted user]]

Saul wrote: "Hi, my name's Saul. My first love was Sci-Fi and I still believe that the Foundation Series by Asimov is one of the most incredible stories ever told. More recently I've graduated to reading all sorts of books..."

Welcome to the group, Saul. I read both kinds of books, Science Fiction and Fantasy :)

[Saul]

Hi G33z3r,
that reminds me of a line from the Blues Brothers...
Yes, I have to admit, when I've pretended to be a grown up for a bit, I always return to a good bit of sci-fi or fantasy!

[[deleted user]]

Saul wrote: "Hi G33z3r, that reminds me of a line from the Blues Brothers..."

It is indeed. ;)

[[deleted user]]

Saul, you are a man after my own heart...I love Asimov's work, for me he's da MAN!!

I read fantasy too, and while I like the Lovecraft/Howard/Smith triad, I generally prefer my fantasy in the JWC's Unknown mode...

[Lynda]

Is it me, or are we all writers hanging out to see if we can meet some readers. :-) Or maybe that's the wonderful thing about SF. Those who read a lot of of it tend to write it.

[Adrian]

Lynda wrote: "Is it me, or are we all writers hanging out to see if we can meet some readers. :-) Or maybe that's the wonderful thing about SF. Those who read a lot of of it tend to write it."

In all honesty both reasons I think. The more you understand the readers of the genre you write in the better you will write for them and reach them when you have written.
A good thing for readers too I think. How many of us (as readers) wade through the rough and only find the occasional real diamond?
But then a writer can only write what they are inspired to write.

[Lynda]

How many of us (as readers) wade through the rough and find the occasional real diamond?

Indeed. And the older I get, the harder I am to please. I resent the passing of the me who could find joy as a reader in a broader field.

[Alex]

Hello there. I'm Alex (Alexandra), DOB 1985, from Sydney, Australia. I've read back a few threads and it's fun to hear people's thoughts and to be in a group of SF&F fans =)
I like easy & snappy SF and Fantasy. My favorite authors are Helen Lowe for 'Heir of Night', C.J. Cherryh, Greg Bear, and Robert Silverberg (mainly for 'Dying Inside' & 'Downward to the Earth', but the Majipoor series didn't grab me.)
I started reading Sci-Fi with the addictive ‘Animorphs’ series by K.A.Applegate, and then again when my dad gave me his Analog - Science Fiction and Fact magazines. I discovered Brad Torgersen there.
I love it when good sci-fi stories are turned into great TV series because I love the medium of film. 'Inception' is wicked cool. I could talk for hours but I'll just quickly mention my love for 'Farscape', 'Battlestar Gallactica' (the new one), Star Trek Voyager, Dollhouse (starring Olivia Williams) & ‘Star Wars Clone Wars’ is great for kids to get started on Sci-Fi. I also got quite lost in SPORE (for PC) for a few weeks before I banned myself.

Ciao.

[[deleted user]]

Alex wrote: "Hello there. I'm Alex (Alexandra), DOB 1985, from Sydney, Australia. I've read back a few threads and it's fun to hear people's thoughts and to be in a group of SF&F fans =) I like easy & snappy SF and Fantasy...."

Hi, Alex, and welcome to the group. I hope you'll join our conversation, because we like easy & snappy SF and Fantasy fans here. (Oh, and if your enjoyment of CJ Cherryh includes Cyteen, you might check out our latest discussion of Cyteen; and we plan a discussion of Silverberg's Downward to the Earth next month. We'd love to have you join them.) Welcome!

[Alex]

Thanks for the warm welcome, G33z3r! :D

[Lynda]

Alex wrote: "Hello there. I'm Alex (Alexandra), DOB 1985, from Sydney, Australia. I've read back a few threads and it's fun to hear people's thoughts and to be in a group of SF&F fans =)
I like easy & snappy ..."

Majipoor didn't grap me, either. But then, neither did The Hobbit the first time I tired it as a teen. And I got hooked after spending more time with it. Odd that I remember the name Majipoor quite clearly, but can't recall almost anything else about the series. I think I read one book.

[Alex]

Yeah, but The Hobbit film is great! Really brings it to life for me. Maybe I get bogged down in the detail and I can't see the forest for the trees.

[Matt]

Hi there, I have been on Goodreads for a while but this is the first group I have joined. My favourite authors include Asimov, Terry Pratchett and Dan Abnett. I have also been role-playing in fantasy and sci-fi settings for about 25 years.

[Nathan]

Hi all, I'm Nathan and I recently published my first fiction book back in June. I initially got on Goodreads to just make connections, but have since found it to be fun, so I actually stuck around for more than just "hey, buy my book." Now, I'm on the search for like minded people who may be able to point me towards some obscure, and not so well known books that kick ass. Hopefully, I came to the right place!

Thanks.

[[deleted user]]

Matt wrote: "Hi there, I have been on Goodreads for a while but this is the first group I have joined. My favourite authors include Asimov, Terry Pratchett and Dan Abnett...."

Welcome to the group, Matt, and to Groupdom in general. Jump into any conversations that you find interesting. (We will do our best to be a paragon of groupiness.)

[[deleted user]]

Nathan wrote: "Hi all, I'm Nathan and I recently published my first fiction book back in June. I initially got on Goodreads to just make connections,..."

Hi, Nathan, welcome to the group and congratulations on your novel.

[Saul]

Matt wrote: "Hi there, I have been on Goodreads for a while but this is the first group I have joined. My favourite authors include Asimov, Terry Pratchett and Dan Abnett. I have also been role-playing in fant..."

Hi Matt, Asimov and Pratchett, two of my favourites too! I've not heard of Abnett, I'll have to check him out! Saul

[Saul]

Spooky1947 wrote: "Saul, you are a man after my own heart...I love Asimov's work, for me he's da MAN!!

I read fantasy too, and while I like the Lovecraft/Howard/Smith triad, I generally prefer my fantasy in the JWC'..."

Hey Spooky, sounds like I need to check out your page!
Saul

[Saul]

I hear that Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman are working on a radio dramatisation of Good Omens - I'm quite excited!