Robin Hobb

[Peter]

I've been considering starting to read Robin Hobb's 'Farseer' books (Assassin's Apprentice, etc.), can any when either encourage or discourage me from this (ie: are they worth reading).

Thanks!

[S.A.]

Yes, I think Robin Hobb is definitely worth a read. One of the more grown-up fantasy creations around, in my book, though that's not to say I don't have some nitpicks with the credibility of her world.

Sue
http://www.shehaios.co.uk (for another fantasy series worth reading...)

[A.C]

Absolutely worth to read. The books about Fitz and the Fool are here best writings.

[Stephen]

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The Avedon Question

Stephen H. Turner

[Lorena]

I'll play devil's advocate and say that I don't think the Farseer books are worth reading at all. I found them depressing, boring and poorly written. I could forgive the first without the other two...

If you're still determined to read them, I would definitely check them out at the library first. No sense wasting money on them if it turns out you don't care for them.

[Shane]

The Farseer Trilogy is great, as is the Lifeship Traders series. Stop there. The Tawny Man series is rather bad, and makes The Farseer Trilogy less good by association.

[Imperfectlyrua]

Amen to that Aik. I actually think the Liveship series is superior to the Farseer trilogy. That's not to say that the Farseer books weren't great but I think Hobb really shines with multiple points of view. I found myself getting seriously irritated with Fritz when I'm in his head all the time. Which is what killed the Tawny Man series for me.

[Kate]

Definitely read the Farseer trilogy - I loved them and I haven't met anyone who's read them and didn't (regardless of bad reviews on amazon etc).
The liveship traders series is also excellent, then the tawny man series isn't quite as good but I was so into the characters I still loved them (Apart from Molly. Grrrr, she's so annoying!)

[Peter]

Thanks everyone. I think she may be my next fantasy read. I've been quite disappointed with the Second Chronicles of Thomas Covenant by Stephen R. Donaldson I'm just about to finish--hopefully Hobb will be better

[Marc]

I found nothing wrong with the second chronicles except for the rather overblown language. I read a little of one of Hobb's Assassin books but didn't finish it.

[Peter]

Marc wrote: "I found nothing wrong with the second chronicles except for the rather overblown language. I read a little of one of Hobb's Assassin books but didn't finish it."

I ended up enjoying it overall, but not as much as the first chronicles. I find the concepts he explores very interesting but his methods for exploring them a little lazy sometimes (too much reliance on inner dialogue).