Quote:
Originally Posted by Care
I find some books can stand the test of time and my changing tastes, while some cannot. I used to LOVE anything Dragonlance and Forgotten Realms. I did go out and re-buy the Dragonlance Chronicles to try and re-read, I could hardly get through the first one. I never tried with the Drizzt/Dark Elf series because I was scared the same would happen.
It hasn't been 20 years, but I read the first 6 Wheel of Time books 15 years ago and I still love them. The characters are now like old friends now.
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I can only go by about 15-20 years for most of my books like this since I'm 31 and started reading stuff (starting with the Hobbit) in about 6th grade. I read very fast, so I end up re-reading favorite series every few years. The Dragonlance books by Weis and Hickman I've seen referenced. I still enjoy them. The first book and a half or so is a bit...generic... but the Twins trilogy is still great. I love Raistlin's character.
I still love the Dark Elf prequel trilogy - Homeland, etc - that came after the first 3 dark elf books. Those - Steams of Silver, etc...feel awfully weak. But the prequel trilogy I still love. Some of the ones in the middle are weak now but still a fun read - not deep, but fun action. It is hit and miss beyond that...his latest books haven't been too bad.
Shannara- Sword comes off even more LOTR-y now. But still decent. Elfstones and Wishsong are good, also. And the Scions 4-book is great. The latest books...Jerle shanarra, High Druid...ugh...mediocre.
But...most Forgotten Realms / Dragonlance books...can't really read them now like I did as a teen. Weis & Hickman and Salvatore are the exceptions for me. And I can't stand the Wheel of Time, I think it's terrible
Someone else mentioned Mercedes Lackey - I still like her books a lot, especially the Last Herald Mage trilogy which remains a favorite. Sometimes I get a little eye-rolling from the numbers of lifebonds and lovey dovey fantastic relationships, but I just blame that on the sappy nature of this particular female author
I'm reading them again right now.
Who I have trouble reading now is Piers Anthony. I remember my dad calling him a "marshmallow head". I re-read his Phaze trilogy a while ago - they were still entertaining. But the 2nd Phaze trilogy just went downhill fast and I couldn't finish it. I read the first 2 Incarnations books again...still entertaining...I find a lot of his stuff feels a bit like "dirty old man" now, esp. the later Phaze books. I can do the first 1-2 Xanth books, and I still like Crewel Lye - but other than that...can't do it.