Fantasy Book Club discussion
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Introductions - tell us a little about yourself
Hello, my name is Amanda. I recently graduated college and moved back to the Midwest of the US. I’d have to say my favorite series are Dragon Lance (the ones written by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman, individually or together) and the Night Huntress Series. My favorite authors would be Neil Gaiman, Tamora Pierce, Anne Bishop (though I haven’t read recently). Erm. More but I can’t list them all, but I plan to try and re-read most of them soon.
I'm Warren, living the last 10 years in mid-Ohio in mid-America. Before that, I was born & raised in West "by God" Virginia, which isn't anywhere near Richmond so don't ask. I've done my fair share of writing, but my only publishing happened with some indie comics. My only other "published" is CHristmas "Flash fiction" stories that I made into cards to send out for CHristmas. I have a wife and son and work at a residential facility for troubled kids. My reading is a bit eclectic and I'm notoriously slow, a problem I've found that most comic readers/creators have. My favorites are Neil Gaiman, Eldon Thompson, Jim Butcher (in the fantasy market). I read a bunch of others from all walks of life. My writing swings from one extreme of the spectrum to the other, all with fantasy connections. Either I write epic works with wide viewpoints or loose, singular, humorous stories. I'm just now getting a bit more into this goodreads thing, but I have a feeling this will be a fine place to visit (and who knows, I might even sometimes live here).
Amanda wrote: "Hello, my name is Amanda. I recently graduated college and moved back to the Midwest of the US. I’d have to say my favorite series are Dragon Lance (the ones written by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hick..."Dragonlance introduced me to fantasy in school (7-9th grade or so). I bought the annotated collection for the first series and was SO excited - always loved Raistlin, but it actually was a bit sad to read. My memory, and what I read, was so far apart as an experience. Be careful when you read it again, especially if you've graduated to Gaiman and his ilk.
Hey, my name is Jostein. Am a fantasy geek who reads more then he sleeps... For the moment am reading the Night Angel series by Week Brent. I am a big fan of The king killer Chronicles by Patrick Rothfuss, in my opinion they are one of the best books i have put my fingers on.
I also have a crush on The wheel of time series and a song of ice and fire ( yea, i like big books)
well don't think there is more to tell about me, if someone got someone recommendations about what i can read next, i would love if you would reply
been in this community for a month.well. am one with who lives in different worlds. let's just say that during the day i walk along the halls of hospitals. at night, i visit Middle Earth, Luthadel, Algaesia, Narnia, The Four Corners, Winterfell, etc.
that's about it for now. glad to be heard. ^__^
Hi! Only just getting round to introducing myself. I'm Karen from Scotland and although I'll read just about anything, I've never grown out of my particular fondness for fantasy fiction.
Hi and welcome all who've arrived since I said this last LOL.
Karen wrote: "Hi! Only just getting round to introducing myself. I'm Karen from Scotland and although I'll read just about anything, I've never grown out of my particular fondness for fantasy fiction."Me too! Welcome :)
ey! signed to this site cos I saw it might be some place to meet new ppl and some neat bookworms, be it hardened ones or newlings like me lol... I'm Miro from Slovakia, better known on the internet under Raziel X, Razmatus or other mutations based on Raz :)I listen mainly to metal, orchestral soundtracks, and some 80s pop as well... i also like to play PC games... i do write poetry in english and...
since I got a job at bookstore I started reading fervently after long "silence" lol, since august I swallowed whole LOTR and first four parts of A song of ice and fire, fifth one is on the brink :)
got a lot of books on my plan :)
and looking forward to getting to know some of you better
My name is Heather. I have lived in Michigan since the age of 4, my family emigrated from England three years before I was born, so I'm the only member of my family who could run for president. I am a "classically trained" librarian. I read law and science at work, so when I read for pleasure I like to get as far away from the real world as possible. C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien were early influences, as well as Anne McCaffrey and Marion Zimmer Bradley. I remember being thrilled to find out that Andre Norton and U.K. LeGuin were women. Along with many other people I am anxiously awaiting the end of the Wheel of Time, which I finally started just a few months before Robert Jordan died. But I almost don't want it to end. Brandon Sanderson had me at Elantris, I think he is doing an amazing job finishing the series. I recently discovered Jim Butcher's Alera series which I am really enjoying as I am a classics major, and a Roman Empire themed epic fantasy is right up my alley.
Heather wrote: "I recently discovered Jim Butcher's Alera series which I am really enjoying as I am a classics major, and a Roman Empire themed epic fantasy is right up my alley."I love ancient Greek & Roman history, much more than the typical Dark ages Europe that is so prevalent, but I still haven't made the jump into that work by Butcher. Really enjoy his Dresden stuff, but for some reason, that didn't capture. Maybe it's the fact my wife gave it a poor review??? Besides the obvious, what'd you like about it?
Welcome Heather, think you'll enjoy it here. Let me second the endorsement of Jim Butcher's Dresden books. I've read all the Codex Alera books except the final one and it's a great series, but the Dresden books are magnitudes better.
Hi everyone, I have been a member of this book club for a while and found it time to introduce myself. My name is Brenda, from the Netherlands.
I have been an avid reader from the moment I learned to read.
I got introduced to fantasy by my brother and have been reading it ever since. Although I also tend to read non-fantasy, overall it is mostly fantasy at the moment.
My favourite authors are:
Tolkien
Robert Jordan
Brandon Sanderson (very much liking his books at the moment)
Marion Zimmer Bradley.
Weiss and Hickman
Feist
George RR Martin.
The thing I like about the Alera series, besides the Roman theme/setting is the main character, Tavi, is an orphan who can't do magic in a world where almost everyone else can. So he has to learn to compensate by being smarter and more innovative than the people around him. And there are a number of really interesting species to interact with. The plot is a little predictable, and Tavi gets into more and more impossible predicaments in each book. I need to find a discussion group for this series as I have a bone to pick with the author, and I want to know if anyone else noticed, but I won't say anything here as it is a major spoiler.
There are a few Jim Butcher groups. Look at the groups and search his name.
Hi all, I'm Paul from Bath. I read, write and ride bikes. Fantasy was the first genre I read extensively when growing up and have returned to it in recent years having broadened my interests. I'm enjoying the sheer range of material available. With so much to read, it's very handy to have a community to help find the gems.
Hello, I'm Aria, and I'm new to Goodreads.. I love books, both reading and writing them, and fantasy was the first genre I fell in love with.. my first stories were all about dragons and other worlds, and I must say even now I can't let go of at least a little bit of magic in my writings.. As for favourite authors, it's not easy to choose, but I'd put Cornelia Funke and George R.R. Martin on the top of my list of favourite fantasy authors.. she was the one who (through her books, not in person) enlightened me that writing is what I want to ddo in my life.. and he was the one from whom I learned how to connect my characters in most weird and interesting ways and how to profile them as they were persons in the real world..
Hello everyone!This is my first Goodreads post and I'd like to share it with you fine people.
I'm an aspiring writer, I dabble in all sorts of genre's but my spiritual home is Fantasy for a number of reasons, foremost among these is that my imagination apparently doesn't accept real world constraints. I'll have a short "prequel" story out soon and hopefully the first in my, as yet unnamed, trilogy out this year.
I'm from Birmingham in the UK and went to University at the red bricked inspiration for the Lord of the Rings. There is no better education for an aspiring fantasy writer is there?
My tastes tend to run to the epic fantasy series' on offer. I've followed the Wheel of Time for nearly my whole life and have gotten into Mistborn and ASoIaF over the last couple of years. I think it is fair to say that the characters of the Wheel of Time have substantially shaped my life!
Other than Fantasy I like to read Historical Fiction, I am a history buff after a fashion, which I find offers something similar to Fantasy as well as being largely informative. My favourite books here are by Conn Iggulden and Bernard Cornwell (the don).
More recently I'm branching out into SciFi having read and enjoyed Enders Game and Hellhole recently. I'm now onto Player of Games by Iain M Banks.
Most importantly of all I'm always interested in reading good new work. A friend of mine (and member of this group!) Rachel Cotterill's offering Rebellion was the catalyst for my own foray into literary abandon and that one came out of left field for me. So don't hesitate to contact me if you are a) nice and b) a fantasy nut with a great story on the way.
Possibly off topic but I'll put it out there....
I'm also a Mixed Martial Artist in my rapidly diminishing spare time - hopefully this makes me something of an authority on unarmed combat.
Really glad to be here. Looking forward to getting some great recommendations!
Stay well everyone :)
Jon
Jon wrote: ..."I'm also a Mixed Martial Artist in my rapidly diminishing spare time - hopefully this makes me something of an authority on unarmed combat...What's some of the benefits you've found w/ your fighting background? Any influence on characters?
Warren wrote: "Jon wrote: ..."I'm also a Mixed Martial Artist in my rapidly diminishing spare time - hopefully this makes me something of an authority on unarmed combat...What's some of the benefits you've fo..."
The benefits are numerous. I'm more aware of the real effects of training, of the thoughts and feelings of hand to hand combat, knowledge of the human anatomy - including what to attack and what to cover up at all costs. Mixed martial arts in particular has some important lessons about grappling that you rarely see in books. In short - fighting has taught me that fighting is like a chess match. To give an example of this; an inexperienced person, facing a combat situation, will usually have a rush of blood and attack with a roar and a quick flurry of wild attacks. The adrenaline surge given by the FoF response makes this hard to control. The trained fighter will be more relaxed and approach a fight differently, looking to control space, will move laterally as well as forwards and backwards and will utilise their and their opponents balance to create openings for potentially fight finishing opportunities.
I see a lot of writers employ non magical combat badly because they don't really appreciate what it's like. The reader in me has gained more appreciation for those who do manage to pull it off.
As for writing itself, my entire magic system is an extrapolation of that chess match but it's particularly obvious with some characters. Another obvious benefit here is knowing the right names for both combat moves themselves (they make for great verbs and adverbs!) and body parts.
Combine all of this with my background in studying Military History and Politics and having several members of the armed forces at my disposal and I would hope that I can write a more realistic action scene which can only make for an epic fantasy that is easier to grasp.
Hopefully that explains things - feel free to PM me if you want to know more!
Thanks
JC
Welcome to all the new folks! Sorry I haven't been around to welcome individually.
I too have been hooked on fantasy since I was a little girl. Hans Christian Andersen was read to me by my sister and I could visualize the little elves making shoes for the over whelmed shoemaker. Now I write fantasy in a magical backdrop. I also needed my books to feature strong female characters who don't need saving.I live in Florida with my husband, who was my high school sweet heart and have two grown children. After writing and reading, gardening and cooking are my passions.
im not sure if i introduced myself in this thread since it has over 40 pages and my memory isnt best sometimes :Dso yea... im miroslav from slovakia, but better known under razmatus, raziel or raziel x on internet... I write fantasy-tinged epic poetry, listen to almost all kinds of heavy metal, orchestral soundtrack music, but also to 80s pop
why do I like fantasy so much? EPICNESS!!! until last year my only touches to fantasy literature were Tolkien's books... but I always liked fantasy RPG games and such stuff... last year I re-read LOTR, this time in English, and started on with ASOIAF, which I will finish today (aka ADWD)... Rothfuss' books are waiting on my bookshelf, and Malazan books are to arrive to me soon
btw anyone who wants to talk with me personally, you can either find me on facebook under www.facebook.com/mirokizak or on Windows Live Messenger mirokizak@live.com
cheers ppl
Hi everyone! Being a fan of Fantasy Genre is a difficult stand but still when one likes what he is doing what the hell just continue doing it. Fantasy gives me that sense of feeling. I'm from India.I have completed The Inheritance Cycle, Kafka on the Shore about to start the Name of the Wind.....My big decision of this year Buy a book a month.Already bought 2 books quota of JAN and FEB. Still lingering on March's Buy. Could u please suggest which one to buy among these choices.....1)American Gods by Neil Gaiman
2)The Lies of Locke lamora by Scott Lynch
3)The WInd-up Bird Chronicle by Haruki Murakami
Greetings and salutations to Razmatus and Grenador. Welcome to our little gathering place :)
Big helloI'm Annie from Tipperary, Ireland. I have a small person who is 3 and a big person who is 31. I earn my money by corrupting..eh..I mean teaching young people.
I've been joined this book club for a little while now but the first introduction I wrote is now lost somewhere in the cyber universe.
My first love is music. I've studied classical piano but I will try to play anything. My family are all traditional musicians to when the piano got too heavy to wheel around I started to play the accordion. I also play some guitar (doesn't everyone?!) and sing a bit. I want a ukulele.
I draw a bit too and it's what I want to do eventually (after I become rich and famous as a musician and give up teaching of course)
The Hobbit turned me onto my love of fantasy when I was around 9 or 10. Before that I read any fairy tales I could get my hands on, Roald Dahl, Enid Blyton...I then progressed to the The Lord of the Rings series,
David Eddings
Marion Zimmer Bradley
Tad Williams (although some of his stuff is fairly bad!)
Steven Erikson
George R.R. Martin
Robert Jordan
J. V. JonesPatrick Rothfuss
Douglas Adams
There are lots more.
I also play World of Warcraft to switch off.
Hi! I'm Marc. I was born and raised in East Texas then moved to Anchorage Alaska for twenty years but now my home is in Denver Colorado. Love fiction/fantasy and just finished reading the Hunger Game series. Actually really liked them all.
My favorite authors, ummmm:
J.K. Rowlings
Cassandra Clare
Tolken
There's just so many. Thanks for having me and look forward to hearing from all of you on what you're reading and perhaps discovering new books along the way!
Hi I am Amanda I am 24 years old and love all kinds of books I do not have that many in the fantasy department at this time except Anne McCaffery and Anne Rice. Reading is one of my favorite past times and love adding new books to my brain.
Welcome Marc and Amanda. Hope you find many more recommendations here.
HiI'm Scott from Brisbane (Australia), I had a period of 10 plus years of not reading much at all. However a couple of years ago I have rediscovered the love of reading and have been doing my best to make up for lost time !! Love fantasy in particular. Really enjoyed George RR Martin, Raymond E Feist & Robert Jordan to name but 3 authors. Hoping to get ideas on what to read next from you guys & this book club. Cheers.
Welcome to the group, Scott. Have you read any Steven Erikson or Joe Abercrombie? If you're a Martin fan you might really enjoy them.
Thanks guys. I've read all of Joe Abercrombie's. Couldn't really get my teeth into Erikson though (read GOTM and half of Deadhouse Gates). Might try Erikson again at a later time.
Hello,My name is Jedidiah Behe. I currently live in NC but I miss the mountains of New England. My favorite fantasy authors are R.A. Salvatore Terry Goodkind J.R.R. Tolkien C.S. Lewis and the list could go on and on.
I read about 2 books a week at the moment, but not just Fantasy. I love the escape from reality that reading gives me. Finishing a great series can often be depressing because of this, heh.
Jedidiah wrote: "Hello,My name is Jedidiah Behe. I currently live in NC but I miss the mountains of New England. My favorite fantasy authors are R.A. Salvatore Terry Goodkind [aut..."
You must be in eastern NC. The mountains of Western NC are beautiful and put the mountains of New England to shame.
Wasn't going to push on that. I grew up in Eastern TN (the other side of the Smokies that run through TN and NC). I miss them, but I think the mountains of "home" are always the most beautiful.
Mike (the Paladin) wrote: "Wasn't going to push on that. I grew up in Eastern TN (the other side of the Smokies that run through TN and NC). I miss them, but I think the mountains of "home" are always the most beautiful."I suppose. And I'm familiar with Eastern TN. It's lovely, too.
Hello Jedidiah, welcome to the club :)
Sandra, I am going to have to disagree with you on that one. I do love NC's mountain range but it can't quite reach the beauty of Maine or New Hampshire, my humble opinion of course, having lived in both areas. White capped mountains in the distance being caressed by the clouds...nothing like it. Did it even snow in NC this year?
Jedidiah wrote: "Sandra, I am going to have to disagree with you on that one. I do love NC's mountain range but it can't quite reach the beauty of Maine or New Hampshire, my humble opinion of course, having liv..."
Unfortunately I no longer live in NC, but you're right. They're rarely snow capped, but in the spring and fall the sparkle of rhime ice on the mountain tops is quite lovely.
And of course neither can come close to Mountains in Tennessee...
HAHA I just drove through the Tennessee mountian range on the way back from Alabama a couple weeks ago and I was impressed. I loved the rolling hills as well. But still...not quite Mt. Washington! There is something to be said about being on a peak where you are so high that you find it difficult to breath!
As I said, there's no mountains like your home mountains...
Hi, I'm Anne Lyle, and I've been reading fantasy practically all my life, though I didn't discover Tolkien until the relatively advanced age of 16! I like my fantasy on the "gritty" side and preferably not too magic-heavy - current favourite authors include Richard Morgan, Daniel Abraham, Douglas Hulick and Tim Powers, and having read "A Game of Thrones" I'm loving the TV adaption, which I just bought on blu-ray.I live in the historic city of Cambridge, UK, where I'm a web developer for the Wellcome Trust. I'm a bit of an Apple addict, but please don't hold that against me!
These days I don't have as much time for reading as I'd like, mainly because I signed a three book deal with UK SFF publishers Angry Robot last year, so writing now takes up most of my spare hours! Still, I'm always looking for new authors that I might like, so I'm hoping for some good discussions here.
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Fantasy Book Club
Books mentioned in this topic
The Name of the Wind (other topics)The Fault in Our Stars (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Michael J. Sullivan (other topics)Robin Hobb (other topics)
Patrick Rothfuss (other topics)
Daniel Abraham (other topics)
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Lately (meaning the last 20 years), I've been reading Tad Williams, Raymond E. Feist, Terry Brooks and Jim Butcher almost exclusively. None of those guys have disappointed me yet, nor have they been shy about dropping new books for me to devour. I've also experimented with Robin Hobb very recently and read three of her trilogies, the two Farseer trilogies and the Liveship trilogy.
I'd love to get into some new stuff that I haven't tried before. I'm very fearful (snotty) about unfamiliar fantasy.
If you want to see my ratings of other fantasy, please see my page. NOT a fan of Wheel of Time. ;)