Fantasy Aficionados discussion
Discussions about books
>
Books/Series you never plan to read...and why?
Chelsea wrote: "Thanks Carol. I've done a close reading of Moby Dick and I've translated Odysseus out of ancient Greek, and I know they're not the same, I just wanted to be sarcastic. "You did?? Cool!
<--Is nerd.
Am I the only one who feels a lot less sympathy for Odysseus if I read it in too close proximity to The Iliad?
<huh, i dont even remember this Salvatore book....:S
Dammit with the edit of comments as I'm quoting. Makes me look batshit crazy.Dawn...that you at my hip?
Maggie wrote: "<huh, i dont even remember this Salvatore book....:S"
Its okay, we all forget certain things.
I just can't believe when everytime this happeneds this posts go up about 10 times the amount it would otherwise.
Chris wrote: "Kevin wrote: "Yes, I agree with you on it, but I don't blame him, but the game company...."I'll agree with you on blaming the game if you can show me that
1. Salvatore did not accept money f..."
Hey, people have to break into the industry somehow.
Whooops!Wrong group!
Chelsea wrote: "I'd be interested in reading the scholarship you're referring to! Any authors or articles in particular? "I think I would, too.
I want to say I'm sorry that my defending Scalzi stirred up a hornet's nest. But, truth be told, I think Scalzi's homages to classic sci fi gets a number of people to read the classics, not to mention that his Old Man's War series is, in my humble opinion, highly original and very well done!Plus, this has been one of the most enjoyable discussions I've read!
So, I guess I'm not sorry. Go read Scalzi!
I actually plan to read Old Man's War. I've read some of his blogs and short stories. I like his sense of humor.
Chris, Like I said earlier, I would happily do a re-read! *wink, nudge*
Laurel wrote: "I want to say I'm sorry that my defending Scalzi stirred up a hornet's nest. But, truth be told, I think Scalzi's homages to classic sci fi gets a number of people to read the classics, not to men..."ANd I've been totally misspelling his name.
*embarrassed*
Might be able to squeeze it in when I'm done with the Abercrombie...
I just can't believe there is two conversations going on in this thread. They are certain people like S.J. and Chelsea, whom I applaud for not joining in, and even start a second different, more intellectual conversation around it.
Chris wrote: "I actually plan to read Old Man's War. I've read some of his blogs and short stories. I like his sense of humor."+1
I actually just added it to my TBR pile. It's at my library! \o/
Kevin,I take offense to that. You said that you wouldn't read Scalzi because you heard he ripped off classic sci fi authors. As I've read all the books you were talking about, I countered your argument. I have no qualms with you disliking an author based upon his style or even political beliefs. However, you were cutting Scalzi down because you heard he was a rip-off. I think I defended the point well, intellectually in fact.
I just can't believe you're still going on about the shit you stirred up, Kevin. I've moved on to talking about Old Man's War and possibly reading it. If you'd shut the fuck up, the alleged argument might fade away on its own.
Valerie wrote: "Chris wrote: "I actually plan to read Old Man's War. I've read some of his blogs and short stories. I like his sense of humor."+1
I actually just added it to my TBR pile. It's at my library! \o/"
Awesome!
Kaching. Another potential fan added. My work is done.
Laurel wrote: "Kevin,I take offense to that. You said that you wouldn't read Scalzi because you heard he ripped off classic sci fi authors. As I've read all the books you were talking about, I countered your ..."
I never said I didn't like an author based on their political beliefs, its what others have said about Orson Scott Card and Terry Goodkind or even Ayn Rand.
Laurel wrote: "Kevin,I take offense to that. You said that you wouldn't read Scalzi because you heard he ripped off classic sci fi authors. As I've read all the books you were talking about, I countered your ..."
Kevin wrote: "I just can't believe there is two conversations going on in this thread. They are certain people like S.J. and Chelsea, whom I applaud for not joining in, and even start a second different, more in..."
Ok. It is at this point that I put my mod hat on.
The conversation needs to stop.
People are starting to get offended and that's where it ends.
Move along, folks, nothing to see here.
Kevin, I'm saying that I'm okay if people in general don't want to read an author for their political beliefs. The reason I specifically defended Scalzi against your note was that I don't believe he is a rip off artist. He writes homages, he writes original works. I disagree with people saying they won't read an author because they heard he copied other material.
I also think that it was rude of you to infer that this conversation was not intellectual enough.
Sophie wrote: "T...The First is Dreaming the Eagle from the Boudicca series by Manda Scott which is more Historical Fiction. I got 1/2 way through, and the turn the story took just enraged me and I chucked the book across the room, where my grandmother found it the next week and threw it away...."What turn was this. I really like this series. It is historical fiction/mythic fiction, though there is much uncertainty about the period. Were you expecting something else?
I don't like to say never, but Twilight and Sookie come to mind...
MrsJoseph wrote: "...ANd I hated Moby Dick. Got kicked out of class once for being to obvious about my feelings...lol! ..."Arggh! Hate's a strong word for a great book. I'll bet you had to read it :-)
I have thoroughly enjoyed Salvatore as an entertaining fantasy author. I think it helped to read his stuff as they were published when there was not so much fantasy around and literary fantasy was an oxymoron (I've not kept up with is more recent stuff). I even enjoyed Terry Brooks way back when, when the alternatives were the aforementioned Tolkien and Earthsea.
MrsJoseph wrote: "...Am I the only one who feels a lot less sympathy for Odysseus if I read it in too close proximity to The Iliad? ..."Most probably! ;-)
Kernos wrote: "What turn was this. I really like this series. It is historical fiction/mythic fiction, though there is much uncertainty about the period. Were you expecting something else?"I began reading it when was 16, so maybe being a naive and overly self assured young-un is to blame, but I got to the point where (SPOILERS for those who care) Boudica's brother joins the Roman Army. At the time, the idea that a person could turn on his own people and his family was unbearably repugnant to me, hence the book chucking. I made assumptions about the rest of the story and really didn't care how wonderfully poignant and philosophical the whole thing might turn out. Even if Boudica could forgive her brother, I couldn't.
...with hindsight, my reaction then is probably a good argument for how good the book actually is. =/
Kernos wrote: "MrsJoseph wrote: "...Am I the only one who feels a lot less sympathy for Odysseus if I read it in too close proximity to The Iliad? ..."Most probably! ;-)"
Really? lol
Cause the descriptions of what the Greeks do to the Trojans...just kills my sympathy for Odysseus. In my most recent read I kept thinking..."Serves you right."
Laurel:Scalzi's work is very enjoyable. Not rip-offs at all, and I've read the classic stuff he is paying tribute to as well as his own. You make good points.
After reading half of the first Sword of Truth books, I'll never pick up anything with Goodkind's name on it.
I can't think of too many series I just absolutely refuse to read, however.
back to series we never plan on reading, I know you should not judge a book by it's cover, but I can not bring myself to get any of those romances with half naked men on the covers lol!
I just started listening to Wizard's First Rule, and I highly doubt I'll read any more of them. "Kahlan, we're BFF, isn't that great?"
"It really is great! I'm highly secretive though so I won't tell you why I'm wearing this white dress. I'm def. not Aes Sedai though."
"Kahlan, I know we've only known each other for like five hours, but I don't want to lose you to the underworld, and I want you to take my strength."
"That sounds good to me too, I usually camp out under trees with strange men. Second time this week I've done it."
Chelsea: Nice to see a like mind :) I come across people who like those books...
Chelsea wrote: ""It really is great! I'm highly secretive though so I won't tell you why I'm wearing this white dress. I'm def. not Aes Sedai though." "*twitches skirt*
*pulls braid*
Not an Aes Sedai.
I will not read a series that have too many books already in it. I did read the first 15 Xanth novels when I initially got into fantasy (30 or so years ago)but if I had to start today, I would not start reading that series knowing that over 30 novels now comprises it. For this same reason I will not touch the "Forgotten Realms" series or "Dragonlance" although I did read "Dragonlance Chronicles" in my early days.
I'm planning on avoiding that whole 50 Shades of Grey stuff for sure. I don't mind erotic stuff, and I don't mind BDSM stuff, but if I'm going to read a story about it, I want it to be taken 100% seriously and give me a realistic look into that lifestyle, and all the kink that comes with it, not just some smutty Twilight fan-girl fantasy. I also don't plan on reading a lot of other series ranging from some of the millions of cozy mysteries series to paranormal action romance stuff. Again, I don't mind the romance, and I like paranormal stuff, but it just seems like there's 300 million different series out there featuring tough girl heroines who are vampire/werewolf/ghost/psychic/witch/etc and spend time in danger/running from danger/having sex with vampires\werewolves\tree frogs\etc. Now, I did read Sookie's series and like it in a way, mostly b/c I love True Blood, but I'm not going to read Anita Blake or any of the others of that type.
Kit★ wrote: "I also don't plan on reading a lot of other series ranging from some of the millions of cozy mysteries series to paranormal action romance stuff. Again, I don't mind the romance, and I like paranormal stuff, but it just seems like there's 300 million different series out there featuring tough girl heroines who are vampire/ werewolf/ ghost/psychic/ witch/ etc and spend time in danger/running from danger/having sex with vampires\ werewolves\ tree frogs\ etc. Now, I did read Sookie's series and like it in a way, mostly b/c I love True Blood, but I'm not going to read Anita Blake or any of the others of that type. "I'm completely with you kit. As soon as a new sub-genre takes off it gets pretty evident to me that I won't be getting into it. The fact that the paranormal romance/ urban fantasy sub-genre currently takes up such a large chunk of shop bookshelves relegating books I do love and read to smaller and smaller areas makes me sad. To be fair I don't think that most of these books are really aimed at me...being a middle aged male with a healthy amount of emotional intelligence. :-)
I have dipped into the Urban fantasy genre reading books by Ben Aaronovitch and Jim Butcher but I'm fairly selective and am good at working out what I'll enjoy so I don't consider this an endorsement of a whole sub-genre. The sheer volume of novels being written here suggests that the majority are going to be derivative trash. I'd probably be less harsh on Laurell K. Hamilton. She was there before this sub-genre went huge so I'd consider her works more original than those that followed. That said I can't vouch for the quality having only read a comic book adaptation of her work...
I do tend however to avoid the books that everybody is talking about or are listed for the big prizes... I've been disappointed too many times and I have a perverse streak that makes me immediately detest any literature that has captured the public's imagination. If I ever read them it is usually years later when they are forgotten, filling the discount bins of local charity shops and I often feel none the poorer for having waited.
Never going to read Fifty Shades of Grey. Wish I could say the same about Twilight but I have read the first 2 books. A friend bought them as xmas presents knowing my inability not to read a book once its in the house :(I'm not going to read the Game of Thrones novels until I know the story is complete. Read the first 2 years ago and loved them, but want to know there's a complete story before I finish them.
Did the same with the Wheel of Time novels and am now looking forward to starting them.
Dave wrote: "Never going to read Fifty Shades of Grey. Wish I could say the same about Twilight but I have read the first 2 books. A friend bought them as xmas presents knowing my inability not to read a book o..."lol I was just going to say the same thing. I havn't read Twighlight at all..reading the reviews is quite enough! Everyone at work is raving about fifty shades and assume I've read them, knowing I read a lot. I just say they're not my thing as I don't want to say I suspect they are very badly written. I'm right arn't I? They are very badly written?
Dave wrote: "Never going to read Fifty Shades of Grey. Wish I could say the same about Twilight but I have read the first 2 books. A friend bought them as xmas presents knowing my inability not to read a book o..."I also have no plans to read it. Twilight was a fun series, but Fifty Shades of Grey does not appeal to me at all.
Elaine wrote: "lol I was just going to say the same thing. I havn't read Twighlight at all..reading the reviews is quite enough! Everyone at work is raving about fifty shades and assume I've read them, knowing I read a lot. I just say they're not my thing as I don't want to say I suspect they are very badly written. I'm right arn't I? They are very badly written? "yeah, pretty bad from the excerpts I've read.
I tend to shy away from really popular books, too. I'm sorta perverse that way as well.
Chris wrote: "No, I popped back in here because there are only two people on GR that have ever heard of Echoes of the Fourth Magic, and I'm the other one.And it sucked."
I hadn't either...that makes three.
Mark wrote: "Chris wrote: "No, I popped back in here because there are only two people on GR that have ever heard of Echoes of the Fourth Magic, and I'm the other one.And it sucked."
I hadn't either...that m..."
four lol
Really...we're going to have an entire conversation about overly derivative books and not mention Terry Brooks...
± Colleen (of the Crawling Chaos) ± wrote: "Five. :>"Oh Right! So that's two plus Chris is three plus myself plus Colleen = 5 not 2, whoops!
I just looked up Echoes of the fourth magic and not a single one of my GR friends had read it or reviewed it. Considering my friends are generally friends due to their similar taste to mine this explains why I never heard of it :)
Fantasy Aficionados
Books mentioned in this topic
Witch Hill (other topics)Cravings (other topics)
Dime Store Magic (other topics)
Industrial Magic (other topics)
The Wee Free Men (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Eileen Wilks (other topics)Terry Pratchett (other topics)
Ben Aaronovitch (other topics)
Jim Butcher (other topics)
Laurell K. Hamilton (other topics)
More...
The Odyssey may not be as fictitious or fantastical as long was believed. After all, Calvert and Schleimann did find Troy. Of course there is a mythic Troy too that has stories that, at least so far, are not all historical. "
I'd be interested in reading the scholarship you're referring to! Any authors or articles in particular?