Fantasy Book Club discussion
General fantasy discussions
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What fantasy series do you just "not get?"
Not exactly "fantasy" but Dune. I like it alright. But I definitely don't get the love for this book.
I've never been able to get into the Wheel of Time. I mean, I understand why people like it and I can see it's thought of quite highly, but I can't seem to enjoy it as much as everybody else seems to.And Doug, don't worry about not liking Tolkien. I'm a huge Tolkien fan but, much like another one of my favourite authors (Lovecraft), his style doesn't always carry across well to the modern reader.
don't think there's anything I really haven't 'gotten'. there's been a few I found I didn't particularly love but none I couldn't see why somebody else did
Gotta admit Doug, I think Tolkien is superior to everything that's come after---so I find your opinion puzzling. But, it's taste---right? Sometimes it's hard to explain.
As for me, I've never gotten how David Eddings sold 1 book.
Wheel of Time. I love epic fantasy, but I have yet to see a solid case made for the time investment. Is it as challenging, daring, provocative, intellectual, stimulating as series like ASoIaF and LotR? If so, please tell me -- I will add it to my list.
message 8:
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The FountainPenDiva, Old school geek chick and lover of teddy bears
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I've got to chime in on Wheel of Time too. I read the first three and they just didn't resonate.
Malazan - I've tried three times and couldn't get through the first chapter of the first book. I keep seeing people say things like, "Join this group to help," and "It helps to keep notes," and "There are reading guides for it." I don't want to read anything that requires so much work and effort I guess.
Also, the love and praise for GRRM. The first couple of books in aSoIaF were pretty good, and since then its becoming all filler and distraction and repetition.
All these huge series seem too indulgent - Thrones, WoT, Goodkind's stuff. They seem to become marketing ploys, just dragging the story out longer and longer to sell more books once the readers are hooked. "Describe more food! Write a whole book following only side characters! Flashbacks! Add more bad guys!" Ugh.
TheFountainPenDiva wrote: "I've got to chime in on Wheel of Time too. I read the first three and they just didn't resonate."Ah thats the problem you must read them all to get it.....:)
I didn't get past the first paragraph of Harry Potter. Seemed highly derivative.I prefer the Hobbit to LOTR.
Michele wrote: "Malazan - I've tried three times and couldn't get through the first chapter of the first book. I keep seeing people say things like, "Join this group to help," and "It helps to keep notes," and "Th..."I need a like button . . . plz?
Michele wrote: "Malazan - I've tried three times and couldn't get through the first chapter of the first book. I keep seeing people say things like, "Join this group to help," and "It helps to keep notes," and "Th..."Lol. I keep seeing this series mentioned everywhere but I had never even heard of it before joining goodreads. I'm going to "try" it. But this kind of scares me...
Daniel wrote: "I didn't get past the first paragraph of Harry Potter. Seemed highly derivative.I prefer the Hobbit to LOTR."
I like both the Hobbit and LotR but the Hobbit is my favorite.
Malazan was already mentioned several times. Sorry, but I have to add my voice in here. I really do not like Erikson's style: he spends a lot of time with characters' inner monologues describing how miserable they are - all monologues are practically the same, but he NEVER bother explaining characters' motivations for all the countless monologues we see.
This is coming from a person who did finish the series.
This is coming from a person who did finish the series.
Michele wrote: "Malazan - I've tried three times and couldn't get through the first chapter of the first book. I keep seeing people say things like, "Join this group to help," and "It helps to keep notes," and "Th..."Ditto.
The Fionavar TapestryI have a lot of friends who like this one, and I like Kay's other work, but this one I could just not get into.
For me I guess Terry Pratchett, even though I've read several books by him already, I really only enjoyed one of them The Last Hero. I do like British humor too, so that's not the problem. I'll probably keep trying with him though lol.I never got into the Wheel of Time either. Didn't finish the first book because I couldn't stand the characters.
Malazan is tough to get into, but I don't necessarily dislike it. It's just more of a chore.
LOTR I respect, but was way too descriptive for me. I do love the movies and I read the Hobbit a couple of times, so I don't hate Tolkien :P
I can't seem to get into Guy Gavriel Kay either, but I haven't really given him a good enough try.
I'm sure there are other loved authors that I don't like, but I'll stop for now.
The Chronicles of Narnia. I loved The Magician's Nephew, but the others all got 1 or 2 stars from me. Maybe I would have liked them as a kid; but as an adult, the lack of detail fell flat rather than being charming.
Terry Brooks. I read the first book of his Swords of Shann--whatever and thought it was a waste of time. Also wasn't that much into the Chronicles of Narnia, so I get that.
Don't know if it counts in this category,, but I really dislike the Dresden-files.. I've tried the three first books, and just cannot get into them..
For me it would be Robin Hobb Collection: Assassin's Apprentice, Royal Assassin, Assassin's Quest. It's full of drama and heavy to read. The more i read the more i get bored...
Malazan Books of the Fallen. I regret paying $90 for each of those books in Hong Kong. Terrible writer and storyteller.
Steven Erikson
Greg wrote: "Malazan Books of the Fallen. I regret paying $90 for each of those books in Hong Kong. Terrible writer and storyteller.Steven Erikson"Good God! I quit halfway through #2.
Sandra wrote: "Greg wrote: "Malazan Books of the Fallen. I regret paying $90 for each of those books in Hong Kong. Terrible writer and storyteller.[author:Steven Erikson|3123..."I have a terrible tendency to get pulled in by a paperback cover and then buy the first 3 to 4 copies. Sometimes this works for me, sometimes not.
With Erikson it didn't. Lots of people like him, just not my thing. I did force myself to read the first 3 books, and I mean forced!
And for anyone thinking his covers are bad, google the first book and see some of those international covers. Really great! Or is it trickery :)
I'm guessing its a "love it" or "hate it" kind of thing?I'm really very curious about reading it now...
So...far....George R R Martin's, Game of Thrones.
Inexplicable...I know.....
I will also add "Book of the New Sun." I made it halfway through the first one, and was bored to freaking tears.
message 29:
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The FountainPenDiva, Old school geek chick and lover of teddy bears
(new)
Actually Doug, there are a lot of people who don't care for Lord of the Rings (I'm not one of them, lol). Sadly, depending on what forum you're in, not worshipping Tolkien can get you seriously trolled. On the Wheel of Time series: After three books I just needed to get a sense that Jordan had some idea on how to end the arc. The characters fell flat, more tropes than fully-realized beings. Don't get me wrong,I love big ol'sweeping epics, but sooner or later, it's got to wrap up or at least if not, branch off in another direction. Sort of like Star Wars Extended Universe.
I cannot stand or really get into the Codex Alera, which I know a lot of people love, but I just feel there are filled with tropes, and I could care less about the characters. But I do love the Dresden Files.Also I also know a lot of folks out there love The Ways of Kings, but I had problems enjoying one of the character's situation.
We should do a tally of which series is "winning". At the moment it seems to be a battle between Malazan and Wheel of Time.I agree though that it seems to be love hate because the people I know who like Wheel of Time tend to LOVE it. Tolkien, for instance, tends to be less divisive. People who don't like him usually don't hate him.
I'll second Thomas Covenant. I only read the first book but it was a chore. It is probably the only series that I will never continue. It was just not interesting to me at all and had way to many characters singing songs.I also didn't like the Foundation series again only read the first book. I did find some of the ideas in it interesting so I will probably finish the series.
Bill wrote: "I'll second Thomas Covenant. I only read the first book but it was a chore. It is probably the only series that I will never continue. It was just not interesting to me at all and had way to many c..."The first book of the Foundation series is definitely the strongest one in my opinion. The second book is all right too.
I would probably say Peter V. Brett's The Warded Man(even though I do enjoy it).
One series which I felt the world was underutilized as Brent Weeks Night Angel trilogy, it had promise, but in the end I felt failed to live up to it's own multifaceted creation.One book I thought I would love, ut ended up loathing was Guy Gavriel Kay's Tigana. Now I personally love a good whack of exposition, but this book was just so slow, and clunky and with an ending that was disappointing, I felt let down.
The Chronicles of Narnia. The first two books are not really bad, but later the series became very boring, in my opinion. Too slow, not very original, too repetitive. I didn't finish it.
Doug wrote: "I will also add "Book of the New Sun." I made it halfway through the first one, and was bored to freaking tears."It was a series i wanted to enjoy but i didnt like the first book at all and the second book went nowhere.
Pickle wrote: "Doug wrote: "I will also add "Book of the New Sun." I made it halfway through the first one, and was bored to freaking tears."It was a series i wanted to enjoy but i didnt like the first book at ..."
I would have to agree
I have to second Terry Brooks, I just don't get the popularity. There are lots of books I don't like but his books are among the very few where I can't even see why others might like them.
Carol. [All cynic, all the time] wrote: "Prince of Thorns. I don't get it. At all."Yeah, I've pretty much forgotten what it was about, read it but I don't recall it leaving a lasting impression. Same could be said for The Blade Itself, thought it was just alright.
+1 to any book in the "Book of the New Sun" series by Gene Wolfe. So obtuse and overrated...
Cameron wrote: "I would probably say Peter V. Brett's The Warded Man(even though I do enjoy it)."I liked the first book, but I was basically unable to get into the second book. I don't think I finished the second one - but by that point, I really didn't care anymore. It's a shame. The setting was quite intriguing, but the second book really made me dislike the characters. I actually started hoping the demons would win.
For me, Thomas Covenant, Sword of Truth, and, oddly enough, The Name of the Wind.
It just felt like the whole book was one unlikable character going around doing things aimlessly without any real plot to the whole thing.
Maybe I need to try reading it again.
No. That's pretty much it. I love the first book. But... yeah. I didn't care for the 2nd one at all. Not giving up the series... yet. I'm hoping the third when (if) it comes out will make it worth it. Shrug.
I like the first Sword of Truth book.But wow, that series goes downhill fast. I can't stand Richard after awhile. And Terry Goodkind doesn't know anything about warfare. He didn't even do basic research!
JohnViril wrote: "I like the first Sword of Truth book.But wow, that series goes downhill fast. I can't stand Richard after awhile. And Terry Goodkind doesn't know anything about warfare. He didn't even do basic r..."
Heh, and here's me who ploughed on through it until Confessor just to see what would happen:p
Woolfie wrote: "JohnViril wrote: "I like the first Sword of Truth book.But wow, that series goes downhill fast. I can't stand Richard after awhile. And Terry Goodkind doesn't know anything about warfare. He didn..."
Oh, I read more than I'd like to admit. I also didn't like his crude politics.
Josh wrote: "For me, Thomas Covenant, Sword of Truth, and, oddly enough, The Name of the Wind.
It just felt like the whole book was one unlikable character going around doing things aimlessly without any rea..."
I wasn't blown away by The Name of the Wind either, and was disappointed because I got caught up in the online hype and thought I would love it. The ideas were great but I found it long-winded. Its one of those books that gets so much love that I wonder what it was that I missed. Just a matter of taste though I suppose!
Fantasy Book Club
Books mentioned in this topic
The Ship Who Searched (other topics)The Eye of the World (other topics)
A Game of Thrones (other topics)
The Alloy of Law (other topics)
The Way of Kings (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Steven Erikson (other topics)Steven Erikson (other topics)
Steven Erikson (other topics)
I'll go ahead and commit the prime fantasy sacrilege right off the bat...
I don't like Lord of the Rings. Never have, even when I read it when I was 12.
I give it its due, don't get me wrong. It invented the genre.
Using a music analogy, it is Buddy Holly. Doesn't really do it for me in its own right, but laid the groundwork for things that I love, that would not exist but for it.
Ok, blast away!