SciFi and Fantasy Book Club discussion

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message 4801: by Mike (the Paladin) (new)

Mike (the Paladin) (thepaladin) | 874 comments I love the first 5 or 6 books. You'll also hear from those who love every word, and I'm not trying to argue with them. It's just that for some reason after the first 6 books they volumes get EXTREMELY slow and repetitive. For my money you can probably read the first 6 and then jump to the last. You will miss some detailed plot points but most of it is covered in the first half of the last book. It's sort of a synopsis before he (Snaderson) gets on with the climax.


message 4802: by Robin (new)

Robin | 142 comments Cool. Thanks, think I'll read the first book then see if I can read any more of the series.


message 4803: by Rob (new)

Rob (robzak) | 876 comments I really liked 1-5 and 11-15. 6-8 were OK, 9 was rough and 10 was downright awful until the very end.


message 4804: by Robin (new)

Robin | 142 comments My problem with reading a potentially not enjoyable series is that, by the end of the series after having worked through a lot of pages, your only reading to find out what the final ending is. It's like we feel obligated to continue a series even though it's turned to trash. Basically the only reason for the continuation of the series is that most of us don't like leaving halfway through a series.


message 4805: by Rob (new)

Rob (robzak) | 876 comments If it didn't get better again after awhile I would say don't bother, but it definitely picks back up and not just for the Sanderson books.

Plus like Mike said, many people like every word/book, but most I've talked to agree the middle books are too slow, especially book 10.

The Eye of the World is still one of my favorites, though I read it before being very well read in fantasy.


message 4806: by Robin (new)

Robin | 142 comments Cool I'll definitely put the Eye of the world on my TBR list


message 4807: by Mike (the Paladin) (new)

Mike (the Paladin) (thepaladin) | 874 comments The end is also good. I'll give Sanderson (and possibly Jordan if he'd already planned it) that. There are huge numbers of threads on Goodreads where people hash this out. I think the first 5 (possibly 6) are some of the best epic fantasy ever written. I will always wonder what happened after that.

I've said before I wish whoever owns the rights would turn the entire series over to a great editor (or possibly a team of great editors) and save the series.


message 4808: by Robin (new)

Robin | 142 comments What does everybody think of the song of ice and fire AKA game of thrones series. I haven't given them a particularly good rating. But then again, I did read them a few years ago. So perhaps a reread is in order.


message 4809: by Rudi (new)

Rudi Bracaglia | 6 comments I tried on IDK how many occasions to get into that series. I liked the first 3 but then...maybe it's me but I got frustrated with the lack of resolving anything as the story progressed. I have the same problem with GOT but I'm determined to finish that one eventually


message 4810: by Mike (the Paladin) (new)

Mike (the Paladin) (thepaladin) | 874 comments I burned out on them. If you read my reviews you'll see I started and finished the first with some hope... After that I quickly lost my taste for them. I dropped them completely after the third.


message 4811: by Mike (the Paladin) (last edited Oct 06, 2014 12:33PM) (new)

Mike (the Paladin) (thepaladin) | 874 comments My favorite epic fantasy (well aside from Lord of the Rings) is The Deed of Paksenarrion. This edition is actually a trilogy in one volume. I tend to recommend it to everyone, LOL.

All my friends here were probably waiting for me to recommend it.


message 4812: by Robin (new)

Robin | 142 comments I'm curious about the book series because I've just gone on a game of thrones tv marathon. Unlike the books, I'm addicted to the TV series. Game Of Thrones is just one of those series that when you finally get into, then it's physically imposible to stop watching it.


message 4813: by Mike (the Paladin) (new)

Mike (the Paladin) (thepaladin) | 874 comments I never started it. I suppose the books put me off it, LOL.


message 4814: by Aaron (new)

Aaron Nagy | 510 comments Mike you need to get around to reading/listening to Crimson Campaign I saw you gave Promise of Blood a 5/5, and Crimson Campaign I thought was a marked improvement over the first book.


message 4815: by Robin (last edited Oct 06, 2014 02:11PM) (new)

Robin | 142 comments Yeah the powder mage series looks interesting. The concept of the magic system is original.


message 4816: by Mike (the Paladin) (new)

Mike (the Paladin) (thepaladin) | 874 comments I have (https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...) thanks.

I didn't notice if you'd read it or not but have you read Raven's Shadow series? First one is Blood Song.


message 4817: by Robin (new)

Robin | 142 comments Loved Blood song. The protagonist is one of my favourite characters. Haven't had time to read Tower Lord though.


message 4818: by Mike (the Paladin) (new)

Mike (the Paladin) (thepaladin) | 874 comments It's good...I didn't think quite up to the first volume but still 5 stars.

GR keeps telling me it "can't find" the comments on this thread....


message 4819: by Robin (new)

Robin | 142 comments Anybody read Codex Alera series. It's one of my favourite series.


message 4820: by Rob (new)

Rob (robzak) | 876 comments I enjoyed Codex Alera.


message 4821: by Robin (new)

Robin | 142 comments Wish Butcher would write more books in the Codex Alera universe


message 4822: by Rob (new)

Rob (robzak) | 876 comments I'm of a mixed opinion on that. If it focused on the Canim in the aftermath of the final book I would totally be all about it..but I was pretty tired of the Vord by the end of the series.

I wouldn't mind checking in with Alera 50 years later or something.


message 4823: by Michael (last edited Oct 09, 2014 10:45AM) (new)

Michael Prelee (michaelprelee) | 23 comments Hello, everyone. My name is Mike and I'm new to Goodreads, just having found the site through a friend. I enjoy sci-fi and look forward to reading through the threads.


message 4824: by Aaron (new)

Aaron Nagy | 510 comments Mike (the Paladin) wrote: "I have (https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...) thanks.

I didn't notice if you'd read it or not but have you read Raven's Shadow series? First one is Blood Song."


It's the next fantasy on my audiobook list. I got like 3 more hours left on my fantasy book so I would expect to start listening sometime this holiday weekend unless I really get into Hyperion(my current Sci-fi audiobook)


message 4825: by Robin (new)

Robin | 142 comments Rob I know what you mean about the Vord. Like you, I'd like Butcher to focus on a future Alera, because the last book seems to hint that more people will be able to fury craft. I'm interested in how that changes the dynamic of Alera. Also i'm kind of curious about Tavi's reign as first lord


message 4826: by Mike (the Paladin) (new)

Mike (the Paladin) (thepaladin) | 874 comments Hi Mike welcome.

Aaron, I never got into the Hyperion books. Maybe you'll like them more.


message 4827: by Robin (new)

Robin | 142 comments Wow I was just looking at the reviews for The Traveller by John Twelve Hawks. This book seems to be one of those books which splits people into either a love or hate camp. Now I'm not sure whether to bother to read it. Can I have some opinions please. Because from the feeling I get from the reviews, it will either go on my favourites shelf or it will make me depressed because of the abominable writing. also when you expound on either the brilliance or the awfulness of the book, can you give me an opinion on the full trilogy as it maybe worth reading despite the first book. Thanks everybody.


message 4828: by Gary (new)

Gary Henson (garyalanhenson) | 40 comments Mike wrote: "Hello, everyone. My name is Mike and I'm new to Goodreads, just having found the site through a friend. I enjoy sci-fi and look forward to reading through the threads."

Hey Mike, welcome!

Stop by anytime and chat. I'm currently reading a book 'The Fence' by an author I found here, Pete Carter. We've agreed to exchange reading (I have books too). It's a great way to find new and interesting authors!

This is a great group.

Gary


message 4829: by Gary (new)

Gary Henson (garyalanhenson) | 40 comments Robin wrote: "Wish Butcher would write more books in the Codex Alera universe"

I agree! I devour his novels, such a great style. I reread the Dresden Files series whenever I want a detective/wizard fix ;-)


message 4830: by Mike (the Paladin) (last edited Oct 11, 2014 06:50PM) (new)

Mike (the Paladin) (thepaladin) | 874 comments Hi Robin...seems I always have something to say.

The Traveler is a good book (in my opinion). I liked it a great deal. Sadly (again in my opinion) the series failed after that. The author was/is very caught up in eastern religion apparently and the rest of the series gets heavily involved in Buddhism though he mixes in elements of other religions and "belief systems" as "Pathfinders" seem to come from all religions, atheism or even agnosticism.

Frankly I thought the story sort of lost it's focus, crashed and burned. Of course others disagree.


message 4831: by Robin (new)

Robin | 142 comments I'm interested in the series, as apparently martial arts feature in the books, I've always had an interest in martial arts fiction. So when I saw that the Traveller had some martial arts I was curious as to whether it would be any good.


message 4832: by Mike (the Paladin) (new)

Mike (the Paladin) (thepaladin) | 874 comments The first sets up an interesting world view and the Harlequins are a group of proficient group. I guess you may need to try them and see what you think.


message 4833: by Robin (new)

Robin | 142 comments Anybody read The Clan of the Cave Bear by Jean Auel? Can I have some opinions please, as I'm thinking about working my way through the full series. The concept behind the series is interesting. To be honest I've not read many novels set in the prehistoric era, so I have no basis of comparison so any opinions would be appreciated.


message 4834: by Mike (the Paladin) (new)

Mike (the Paladin) (thepaladin) | 874 comments My wife loved it. I never got into the books.


message 4835: by Robin (new)

Robin | 142 comments Mike do you know if there's any action in the novel, or is it just the protagonist being used as an excuse for an info dump about the world.


message 4836: by Mike (the Paladin) (new)

Mike (the Paladin) (thepaladin) | 874 comments No I don't. My late wife read all three books but I never picked them up. Sorry. I'm sure someone here will be familiar with them though.


message 4837: by Robin (new)

Robin | 142 comments No worries mate. Like you say someone here will have read the novel.


message 4838: by Akash (new)

Akash Goel (goelakas) Hello. I've been a member of goodreads for about a year. I read almost anything, but have become quite a bit enthused by the fantasy genre these days.

My current favorite fantasy authors include GRRM, Patrick Rothfuss and Jacqueline Carey.

On a sidenote, can anybody tell me how good "Malazan: Book of the fallen" is? As my to-read series, I am torn between that and "A Wheel of Time" series, which I gather, is a very substantial work within the genre.


message 4839: by Rob (new)

Rob (robzak) | 876 comments I've read both and both are good IMHO. Malazan is darker and a much tougher read. WoT suffers from heavy trope use, but I think is a lot of fun overall.

I like several of the WoT books better, but the middle books in that series aren't as good as the early and late books.

Malazan is a little uneven and there are a few books I don't like as much, but overall it isn't as bloated as WoT gets in the middle.


message 4840: by Robin (last edited Oct 11, 2014 05:13PM) (new)

Robin | 142 comments Rob doesn't the Malazan series switch protagonists after each book? That's the impression I got when talking to one of my friends.


message 4841: by Rob (new)

Rob (robzak) | 876 comments Sort of. Books 1&3 have many of the same characters. 2&4 a mostly different set but with some overlap. 5 is almost entirely new characters.

He keeps adding new characters in every book, but there are a core of them that appear in most.


message 4842: by Michele (new)

Michele I've read The Traveller, the 2nd book and I think part of the third, which I gave up on. I liked the first one, 2nd not so much.

There's some action in the first, and parts of the second, but it gets pretty weird and (to me) boring. I liked the MC from the Traveller (Maya? The harlequin girl. It's been a while) but eventually it was too focused on the other MC (Michael? the traveller guy) for me.

The set up for the world was interesting, paranoid but maybe not, and I really liked the idea of Harlequins who guard Travellers, living off the grid, disguises and swords and guns ;)


message 4843: by Robin (new)

Robin | 142 comments See I think the constant switching of characters and settings may irritate me. That's not to say that I won't read Malazan, I just hope the switching doesn't detract from the story and action.


message 4844: by Michele (new)

Michele Oh, and Clan of the Cave Bear - I really like the first 3, then it all goes downhill. Jean Auel does have a habit of telling you the same stuff several times, but then it might take you so long to read each book you forget things lol.

I'd recommend reading at least the first one. Her take on the Neanderthals is fascinating, the world really comes to life. The end always makes me cry.


message 4845: by Robin (new)

Robin | 142 comments Michele thanks for the input on The Clan of the Cave Bear and the Traveller. I'll give the Clan of the Cave Bear a try.


message 4846: by John (new)

John Bovie | 3 comments Hi
Just joined the group and looking forward to meeting and discussing books with you all. My interests span many genres, but I've always had a soft spot in my head for S.F. and Fantasy. :P. I'm a Canadian living in China and working as an English teacher. I am also an intenational recording artist ( don't worry, I'm sure you've never heard of me.lol) Currently I am working on my next c.d., re-mastering my live d.v.d. and working my way through a huge collection of books.


message 4847: by Robin (new)

Robin | 142 comments Hey John my name is Robin. Welcome to the group. I also only joined GR recently. It was only a couple of weeks ago that I was welcomed to this group. Now I'm the one doing the welcoming LOL. I'm sure that this group will provide you a list of books which you'll find enjoyable.


message 4848: by Mike (the Paladin) (new)

Mike (the Paladin) (thepaladin) | 874 comments Hi, welcome John.


message 4849: by Robin (new)

Robin | 142 comments Anybody read Dagger Star by Elizabeth Vaughan? I've just come across it, don't know whether to add it on my TBR list.


message 4850: by J.E. (new)

J.E. Mac (jamesmccormick) | 14 comments Robin wrote: "See I think the constant switching of characters and settings may irritate me. That's not to say that I won't read Malazan, I just hope the switching doesn't detract from the story and action."

I have a similar problem. And Fantasy does this a LOT!

It might explain the appeal of urban fantasy too, as it tends to stay focused on a singular narrative.

That and sexy vampires. :p


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