Former Introduction Thread Showing 701-750 of 6,846

[Marc]

Melissa wrote: "Hello, I'm Melissa, a law student and part-time file clerk from Texas.

I'm a big fan of low fantasy and am currently trying to find a way that I can balance work, classes, a social life and stil..."

What is low fantasy? Hack'n'slash, comic, or simply non-high?

[Alex]

Melissa wrote: "Hello, I'm Melissa, a law student and part-time file clerk from Texas.

I'm a big fan of low fantasy and am currently trying to find a way that I can balance work, classes, a social life and stil..."

I could venture a few guesses, but I'm also interested to know what low fantasy is.

Enlighten us!

[Andre]

I have heard of, and mean when I use the phrase, "low fantasy" as fantasy stories where magic isn't a central theme/crutch/cultural norm. Say Steven Erickson's Malazan series (high/over the top fantasy) as opposed to J.R.R. Tolkien's LotR series. Both have magic,--I understand that...don't beat me over the head with that...I get it...really—but, for example, in Erickson's work wizards toss spells off at the drop of a hat and dragons are a dime a dozen where as in LotR mages rarely cast a spell and dragons are fearsome legends and fairly rare.

Cheers!

[Marc]

Andre wrote: "I have heard of, and mean when I use the phrase, "low fantasy" as fantasy stories where magic isn't a central theme/crutch/cultural norm. Say Steven Erickson's Malazan series (high/over the top fan..."

So you would class LOTR as low fantasy, since the use of magic is uncommon?

[Andre]

So you would class LOTR as low fantasy, since the use of magic is uncommon?..."

The two examples I used set side by side, for me, are examples of a common vs. uncommon use of magic and hence, again for me, high vs low fantasy. It is arguable that LotR is permeated with magic from immortal elves to rings of power to ___________ (fill in with your own example) and therefore is high fantasy. I would argue, however, that magic’s use is not common and therefore it is low fantasy. For example there is no cadre of battle-mages in Aragorn's army as there are in the Empress Laseen’s and her enemy’s; in LotR the Valar themselves do not walk among men in Middle Earth as do the gods of the Malazan Empire and beyond.

There is, of course, no 'golden scale' that measures such things, I.E. "Oh, oh, you have citizens of the city with personal arcane shields to protect them from pick-pockets as well as three dragon, See No Evil, Hear No Evil and Breath No Fire, featured in your story! It's the high fantasy category for you, my lad!" But for me when a fantasy story features overt arcane cultural norms as in the Harry Potter series, it strikes me as high a magic/fantasy book. Where as with many of R.E.Howard's works, magic might be a catalyst for the action, but it is not THE action.

There are no hard and fast or official rules to such artificial definitions. One could easily and successfully argue that all fantasy is high fantasy whether every character featured in a story has the potential for spell casting—think Liavek ed. by Will Shetterly, or it features nothing much beyond fey-glamour and the occasional magical sword, ala L’Morte D’Arthur. I just personally prefer fantasy stories that while they feature magic, it is not the main focus of the storytelling or something the author simply cannot do without and still have a story. When describing that preference, I’ve more time than naught been told I am a lover of “low fantasy” hence the label.

I suppose the hair could be split further and it could be said that what I am talking about isn’t what is ‘high fantasy’ as opposed to ‘low fantasy’ so much as ‘high magic’ as opposed to ‘low magic’. Shrug. In the end it is an artificial set of distinctions used to order my own perceptions. It doesn’t have to make sense to much anyone else as it does to myself. Just as I wouldn’t be surprised if the original poster meant some altogether different in using the term ‘low fantasy’.

Cheers,

[Chris]

Everywhere I've seen this defined has LoTR as the first example listed of high fantasy...

[Pickle]

Hey everyone, my name is allen, I'm a 25 year old recent college grad with an english degree. Since I don't want to teach and I graduated in the middle of a recession I was able to get a couple of AMAZING jobs, one as a part time bank teller and another as a telemarketer. Hm, sarcasm doesn't translate so well here.

ANYWAY, I love to read and write (as I'm sure most of you here can dig on) and Sci-fi is my favorite genre. I also love epic fantasy, but I just don't take it as seriously. I would love some great fantasy that would change my mind on this, so any suggestions are welcome.

My favorite author is probably Philip K. Dick, and I also like Ursula K Le Guin a great deal. Dune was the first truly world-view changing book I ever read. Ender's game, and other early Orson Scott Card (but I can't emphasize enough, EARLY works) hold a special place in my heart. I really like Hyperion... and too many other books to count. Dhalgren is pretty good. I'm sure I'm leaving out tons, and probably including one or two I should exclude...

Anyway, I'm trying to write my way out of a crappy job, so I started the umpteenth billionth review blog, www.tickleishpickle.blogspot.com (yes I know it's spelled wrong, apparently I wasn't the first person to think this was a clever name for a blog). Check it out if you feel like it, if not just yell at me for being a moronic shameless self-promoter.

[Paul]

Hi Pickle; that's what blogs are for isn't it? :)

BTW, welcome!

[Stuart]

Jimmy wrote: "Hi - John Armstrong, born Vancouver in 1956 which may make me the ranking geezer and entitle me to your seat on the bus.

Writer/musician, both books (neither are SF) reviewed on GoodReads (thanks ..."

Welcome to the group.

[Stuart]

Olivia wrote: "Hello! I'm usually shy about joining groups like this but I decided I had to take the plunge.
My name is Olivia, and I have been an avid reader of Science Fiction for as long as I can remember. An..."

Hi, welcome to the group.

[Paul]

Jimmy wrote: "Hi - John Armstrong, born Vancouver in 1956 which may make me the ranking geezer...

'Fraid not. I was born in 1953.

[Pat]

Paul wrote:'Fraid not. I was born in 1953."

1946, and what's more I didn't write anything until 2006 - a very slow starter!

[Stacy]

Hey everyone, my name is Stacy and I am starting my first year of university this fall with a major in English and minor in History.

I've always been a very avid reader of books of all kinds. Just recently I've become obsessed with reading science fiction and thought this would be a great group to join with that blooming obsession. I just finished reading The Restaurant at the End of the Universe (which I loved, although not as much as the first Hitchhiker book), and plan to read that whole series soon. The book I am currently reading is Contact by Carl Sagan, which is absolutely fantastic so far!

Hope to get to know you all soon!

[Paul]

Hi Stacy! Welcome :)

[Pat]

Hi Stacey, and welcome.

If you ever get the chance, you should listen to the Hitchhiker's guide. It was originally written as a radio show and, like most things, it is in it's original format that it really shines (it has been released as a CD set).

[Stuart]

Hi, welcome Stacy

[Cecile]

Pickle wrote: "... Sci-fi is my favorite genre. I also love epic fantasy, but I just don't take it as seriously. I would love some great fantasy that would change my mind on this, so any suggestions are welcome..."

Hi Pickle. I think a lot of fantasy fan, including me, would suggest J.R.R. Tolkien for a serious fantasy author.
For more recent fantasy, I suggest The Lion of Senet and the two following books of The Second Sons Trilogy, by Jennifer Fallon. It's a great political epic fantasy, with great characters and a really tortuous plot.

I'm also a science-fiction fan, but I seem to read mostly fantasy these days. Any recent SF author to match the old ones?

[Marc]

Dave Duncan has some very good SF, although he sually focuses on characters who stand on the dividing line between groups. In fantasy this can work, but in SF it seems a little unsatisfactory. My favorite, completely satisfying book by him is Strings. Diane Carey also has a number of very enjoyable SF novels, such as The Great Starship Race and First Frontier.

[Stacy]

Pat wrote: "Hi Stacey, and welcome.

If you ever get the chance, you should listen to the Hitchhiker's guide. It was originally written as a radio show and, like most things, it is in it's original format that..."

I will probably check that out since I love the books so much,I know I would really enjoy listening to the originals of them. Thanks for the idea :)

[toria (vikz writes)]

I love to read, love to talk and love to talk about reading. Look forward to talking to you.

[Jeffrey]

Hi, everyone. I'm brand new at this, so hope I'm breaking no rules of etiquette. I'm Jeffrey Wood, newly published author of Lyft Faetels: Inner Peace, Vol. II, available now on Amazon, SciFi/Fantasy category. It's part of a trilogy, with the other two having been written, but not yet published. Details can be found on my web site at www.lyftfaetels.com. So, have some fun, and if anyone decides to read it, let me know what you think - always a road of trepidation for a first time published author.

[Jim]

Hi,

I'm Jim and I live in Voorhees, NJ, near Philadelphia, PA. An employee of the federal government, I was born August 10, 1963. That makes me 46 going on 10 (4 + 6). I just joined Goodreads this afternoon.

I love science fiction and fantasy, but to list all that I've read would tax my brain and your eyes. So I'll only list a few, OK?

*Ringworld and Ringworld's Children by Larry Niven.
*The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings and The Silmarillion by J.R.R. Tolkien.
*Ender's Game, Speaker For The Dead, Children of the Mind, and Ender's Shadow by Orson Scott Card. There are actually five books in that series involving Ender but I can remember the titles of only four of them. In my opinion, Ender's Shadow about Bean, Ender's buddy, is even better than Ender's Game.
*The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy* by Douglas Adams. I have the entire "five-book trilogy" and think he's hilerical (a fusion of "hilarious" and "hysterical").
*Also love Terry Pratchett, and thought that Neil Gaiman's *American Gods* was outstanding (as opposed to insitting).

Thank you for allowing me to join.

Jim

[Jeffrey]

Jim wrote: "Hi,

I'm Jim and I live in Voorhees, NJ, near Philadelphia, PA. An employee of the federal government, I was born August 10, 1963. That makes me 46 going on 10 (4 + 6). I just joined Goodreads t..."

Hi, Jim. I'm Jeff Wood, and I've read most of what you've posted, and liked every one. Thought Ringworld was the best, along with Lucifer's Hammer, admitedly read some time ago. Jeff

[Janny]

Jennifer - nice to have you here - it would help very much if you listed which titles you liked and what sort of fantasy hit the spot.

[Paul]

Welcome Jennifer. You seem to ghave jumped in at the top end of the genre there - all classics.

WOT till book 7? I gave up at book 5.

[Marc]

Jennifer wrote: "Some of my favorite SciFi/Fantasy:

George RR Martin...Song of Ice & Fire
Robert Jordan...WoT until book 7
JRR Tolkien...LoTR
Melanie Rawn...Dragon Prince Trilogy
Orson Scott Card....Ender's ..."

And now for something completely different:

Marc Vun Kannon (that's me, BTW)
Lois McMaster Bujold (everything she writes is first-class and some are better than that, like The Curse of Chalion.)
Dave Duncan The Seventh Sword trilogy and the Great Game trilogy in particular for Fantasy. Try Strings in SF.
Lawrence Watt-Evans He writes about heroes who neither seek nor want power but have it thrust upon them anyway. The Misenchanted Sword is a great beginning.
Tanya Huff The Confederation series is excellent military SF, Summon the Keeper and the Smoke series in Fantasy
Diane Carey Mostly Star Trek novels, but unique ones.
Terry Brooks The Word and Void series.

[Jeffrey]

Marc wrote: "Jennifer wrote: "Some of my favorite SciFi/Fantasy:

George RR Martin...Song of Ice & Fire
Robert Jordan...WoT until book 7
JRR Tolkien...LoTR
Melanie Rawn...Dragon Prince Trilogy
Orson Scott Card...."

This is Jeff Wood here. One of my all time favorites is Clive Barker's Weaveworld - one of the most imaginative well written SciFi books I've come across. Anyone else read it? If not, it's worth a few bucks to own it.

And to Brian, who wrote Storm Approaching, I also was born in Maine, Bangor to be exact. Where are you from exactly?

[Janny]

Jeffrey wrote: "Marc wrote: "Jennifer wrote: "Some of my favorite SciFi/Fantasy:

George RR Martin...Song of Ice & Fire
Robert Jordan...WoT until book 7
JRR Tolkien...LoTR
Melanie Rawn...Dragon Prince Trilogy..."

Jeffrey, I have read Weaveworld - extraordinarily lush language, Very Strange Tale - I loved the carpet! Some stuff that was magnificently odd and imaginative, and some that was downright eerily creepy - nobody else writes a tale like Barker. I felt like I'd fallen through another sort of rabbit hole.

Jennifer - Your list is great, Marc gave you some truly excellent suggestions - also try Carol Berg and Barbara Hambly.

[Marc]

Jennifer wrote: "Thanks Janny...I'm pretty sure my hubby has some Barbara Hambly sitting around. I better get to reading! "

Hambly's Ishmael and Those Who Hunt the Night are lots of fun.

[Steven]

Paul wrote: "Welcome Jennifer. You seem to ghave jumped in at the top end of the genre there - all classics.

WOT till book 7? I gave up at book 5."

I have admit to struggling during books 7 and 8. I stopped reading more than once, but I'm glad I pressed on as I've enjoyed the last couple of books quite a bit.

[Peter]

Hi all. My name is Peter and I'm a readaholic. I'll read just about anything within reach, though I do try to avoid picking up the romance stuff. I joined the group because my favorite, by far, is sci-fi and fantasy. We have many bookshelves with books stacked 2 rows deep and, I 'm ashamed to say, even some packed away in boxes, and (sad but true) some I've sold or given away :(

Can't even come close to picking favorite book, so I'll stick to some favorite SCI-FI and fantasy authors.

Robert Heinlein
Piers Anthony
Isaac Asimov
Orson Scott Card
JRR Tolkien
George RR Marin
Michael Moorcock
Jack Chalker
Robert Jordan

I stopped at listing 386 books because I realise I have at least several hundred left to go and they're all starting to swim together again. I share my addiction with my wife, Jennifer, so at least she doesn't get too upset about the stacks :)

[Jason]

Hi everyone!!!! My name is Jason I am 39 year old, I have been married for 13 years, and have been an Executive for Target for 8 years. My wife and I are passionately devoted to reading together and it is our favorite thing to do together. I also am a computer and gadget freak so it is natural that I read on my iphone and on my beautiful silver Sony 505 ereader. My wife has a Kindle. I have gone exclusively digital this year reading over 40 books and counting.
I am a Fantasy / Sci-Fi reader that occasionally will read mainstream fiction and some horror. I love Robert Jordan, George R.R. Martin, Neil Gaiman, Terry Pratchet, Terry Goodkind, Tad Williams, Michael Moorcock and Stephen King. Joe Abercrombie’s First Law Series is the best read I have had over the past year and now has a place among my very favorite all time books. I made my wife read this series and she quickly fell in love with it as well. Other notables have been R Scott Bakker’s trilogy, Mark Anthony’s Last Rune series, and Tad Williams Otherland series. Recent great single books that I have loved are Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke, The Gargoyle by Andrew Davidson, Kafka on the Shore by Haruki Murakami, The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman, and The Alchemist by Paul Coelho.

[Maggie]

Hi, My name is Maggie Fikkert and I am the author of a fantasy fiction novel titled Jade and the Serpent's Circle which was launched in South Africa at Maropeng (Cradle of Humankind) on the 1st of August 2009.

The plot of the book is built on Reverse Evolution. Imagine the world evolves backwards to prehistoric times at the cusp of humankind; that the earth’s continents meet up to form one landmass...

Apart from writing, my passion is Innovation. I have been studying and applying Innovative thinking principles for years. I have actually applied an Innovative thinking principle, whereby you reverse assumptions, to come up with the idea for the book. You first state your assumptions related to a particular idea, then you reverse it to come up with new ideas. I started applying all sorted of Innovative thinking techniques now to the writing process and have helped various poets, fantasy fiction authors and teens to write innovatively.

[Yurinsan]

Hi, My name is Yuri and I live in Silicon Valley area, California.
I love Fantasy/sci-fi books.
I like tolkien, c.s. lewis, j.k. rowling.

I have just finished reading book by Dalian Artanian.
I really loved his book, FAWCETTA.

If any of you love fantasy like me, you will love it..

[Christine]

Hey everyone! My name is Christine and I'm 26. I'm a Reference Librarian at a public library in Suburban Illinois and am an avid reader (really, who on here isn't). My favorite genre is fantasy but I love sci-fi too and am always looking for new reading suggestions!

[Marc]

Thank god for the reference section. That's where I found the Writer's Market, and that's where I found my publisher.

[Jeffrey]

Marc, what are you referring to when you mention the Writer's Market? I'm looking for a publisher for my other two volumes of a trilogy I wrote - the first is Lyft Faetels: Inner Peace, currently available on Amazon, but I self-published through iUniverse, and am looking for another publisher, hopefully mainstream. Is the reference section on Goodreads?

[Marc]

There are a number of reference works on the publishing industry. Writer's Market and The Literary Marketplace are books filled with references for agents and publishers and a hell of a lot more. When my first book was done, I decided that maybe I wanted to get this thing published after all, so I went to the LMP and got a list of agents, not that it did me any good, since I can't write query letters to save my life. Then I went to the WM and looked at the section on publishers. The entries tell you what they publish, what they're looking for, whether they take manuscripts from authors directly, etc. I made a list of a few publishers who would take the ms directly and emailed them. Echelon was the only one to answer and they have published all my stories so far. The funny thing was, the publisher didn't want to advertise in the WM (entries cost them money) since the lag time is about 2 years and she had no idea what she'd be wanting by then. Her partner put in an entry anyway, so I found them completely against the odds.

[Jeffrey]

Marc wrote: "There are a number of reference works on the publishing industry. Writer's Market and The Literary Marketplace are books filled with references for agents and publishers and a hell of a lot more. ..."

Thanks for getting back to me - I'll look at the sites.

Jeff

[Nestor]

Hi everyone, my name is Nestor and I'm a 22 year old guy from Reynosa, Mexico.I don't know if there's a lot of paisanos in this group but if there are... ke onda?

I've loved reading since I was very young and fantasy has always been my favorite genre. I also enjoy sci-fi, as well as the occasional horror or historic novel.

I joined this group for the chance to know fellow readers who enjoy the same kind of books I do, and so far I've like it a lot.

[Janny]

Jeffrey wrote: "Marc wrote: "There are a number of reference works on the publishing industry. Writer's Market and The Literary Marketplace are books filled with references for agents and publishers and a hell of..."

Jeffrey, the two titles on publishers, agents, and literary markets that Marc noted for you were books, found in the reference section of your library, not online sites.

[Paul]

In the UK I might add The Writers' and Artists' Yearbook 20nn.

This is available online, but if you search their database for (e.g.) agents who accept email submissions and are in a location and deal in a particular genre, it is slow. So be patient. Or just buy a copy.

[Bria]

Hey all, I'm Bria! I'm a 26 year old living in Colorado. I'm an avid book reader and Fantasy is my favorite genre with Science Fiction begin a close second. I look forward to hearing about what you all are reading.

[Paul]

Welcome Bria! Hope you enjoy yourself here.

[Lee]

Hello, all!

My name is Lee Stephen, and I am the author of the military science-fiction series, Epic. I am born and raised in South Louisiana, where I work for the Department of Homeland Security.

I'm new to Goodreads and excited about plugging into the community. Though I don't always have time to read manuscripts, I do try to be helpful to aspiring authors whenever the opportunity arises. If there's anything you'd like to know about writing or the business thereof, send a message to my inbox and I'll try to answer as best and as promptly as I'm able.

Good to meet you all!

Sincerely,
Lee Stephen

[P.I.]

Hello, I've been here for ages but haven't posted for months due to family illness and finishing my first novel of a series. It would be great to have it discussed although it will be an ebook and will be released November 1.
"Crucifying Angel" Book 1 of the Future Imperfect series is the title. Should I remind everyone later?
Thanks
P.I. Barrington
(Patti)

[Scott]

Going to join in on the fun.

My name is Scott, and I am 39 years old, married, with one (almost) four year old son, and one son due in a matter of weeks. I am an unemployed Mechanical Designer hoping to find a job soon, living in the Lehigh Valley area of Pennsylvania, though originally from metro Detroit, (and more the likely relocating for a job, as soon as it shows up).

To be honest, I have not read a lot of science fiction over the last few years. But I was recently bit after reading "J." by William Sanders. Other then that, about the only sci-fi-ish book that I have read in the past four years is "The Time Traveler's Wife" by Audrey Niffeneger. Alastair Reynolds remains my favorite sci-fi author, though Iain M. Banks is a close second. The first two books of Dan Simmons' "Hyperion" series though takes the cake. I was astonished at it's depth and width. What a huge story, and what a huge imagination.

Fantasy on the other hand is something that I am more interested in. I have plenty of books sitting around to be read. But I prefer to read series that have been finished. "The Liveship Traders" trilogy by Robin Hobb and "The Monarchies of God" by Paul Kearney are my favorites thusfar. Though I tend to lean more to stand alone novels by the likes of Neil Gaiman, Guy Gavriel Kay, and China Mieville.

Over the last few years I have read a lot of books that don't fall into sci-fi or fantasy. I like to changes things up. And I like to broaden my horizons. And hopefully I will find out about more great books through this site and group.

[Jessica]

Hi all! I'm Jessica and I am a middle school social studies teacher just about the start my 2nd year of teaching in Philadelphia. I love love love fantasy books (and have read the Lord of the Rings trilogy maybe 8 times in my life? I've lost count), and have recently gotten more into sci-fi as well thanks to a roommate who is very into science fiction. I'm excited to find more books to add to my collection of reads in both these categories.

[Shay]

Well I suppose this cant hurt..

My name is Shay, I'm 21, I live in Northern Ontario. Recently moved from Washington State. Married, have a 3yr old step-daughter.

I'm a fantasy nut though I have to confess to never reading LotR. (Soon. One day. When I have time.)

I've recently read:

The Golden Compass
The Subtle Knife
A Darkness Forged in Fire

I forget the rest, I've been re-reading Wizard's First Rule for the 4th time or so. Trying to get into Terry Pratchett's Discworld novels, which is easier to do once you realize he's trying to be funny and isn't just stupid. Still searching for a copy of Steven Erikson's Gardens of the Moon which should take up a good part of my winter reading along with the sequels.

My favorite authors are:
Terry Goodkind
David B. Coe
Philip Pullman (when he's not writing about religion)

I have interests in general fiction as well, and classics, though I don't think they're quite fitting on this board.

[Nathan]

I'm Nathan, I am 27 years old and live near Morgantown WV. I have am married to a beautiful woman from Brasil and we have a 6 month old little boy. I love to read Science Fiction and Fantasy books as well as horror, classic fiction and some mystery books. I would list some of the books I have read but you can just check out my shelves if your interested. I am a big fan of Terry Goodkind, Terry Brooks, George RR Martin, Homer and Alexander Dumas to name a few.

I read a good bit, usually around 2 books a week, and if its a slow week at work as many as 5 or 6 books in a week. So as you might imagine I am constantly looking for my next book to read. So I am always open to any suggestions.