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Originally Posted by rhadin
Interesting how opinions of writers differ. I would say that Terry Brooks is a far superior writer to either Hobb or Eddings, although I would not classify him as one of the all-time greats. I think Hobb, Eddings, Jordan (Robert, that is), and Feist are all mediocre writers whose books can usually be enjoyed but often drag. Generally, I have found these authors start on a high note (first volume in a series) and then steadily deteriorate.
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Hobb is my favorite author. Strong characterization is her strength IMO. She doesn't write in the traditional fantasy archetypal style which I think gets to people. Her people are not superheroes or super villains. A lot of gray. My opinion though. I understand how the style of storytelling can turn people off. Funny thing is, first time I read the Farseer in high school, I didn't really like it that much. I think I expected a "heroes win and villains lose" sort of typical fantasy back then and the final wrap-up was NOT what I expected from that kind of book.
I like Brooks and Eddings...but Brooks is hit and miss.
First trilogy and Scions of Shannara series...good...High Druid and the Jerle Shannara...huge meh.
Word and void - very cool. Genesis of Shannara - OK.
He just gets over-typical and has a few too many happy/cop out endings lately. High Druid had an ending I felt was a big cop out for example.
Eddings...man...I dunno. While I love the Belgariad (and the Mallorean, which is like the Belgariad repeated again), it's like they write the same series over and over again. The Sparhawk books are almost carbon copies by character of the the Belgariad/Mallorean, the Dreamers books were the same, etc.
Feist has his ups and downs. I LOVE the Empire Trilogy, Magician was very good, but it goes downhill in the middle. I think he's been doing better lately and he's drawing things to a close, so it's been feeling less like filler and more like stuff is actually happening. I feel like he wrote himself into a corner with too many powerful characters.
Don't start me on Jordan. I can't stand Jordan.
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Originally Posted by HarryT
We certainly do differ. The only one of Mr. Brooks's books that I've read is "The Sword of Shannara", and I can honestly say that never have I ever read a fantasy novel that's so blatant a rip-off of LOTR. If that's the standard of his writing I really have no wish to read any more of his work.
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Harry, yes Shannara felt too much like a LOTR ripoff. He fesses up to too much LOTR influence in the 70s. Give Elftstones of Shannara a try. He really establishes his own style from book 2 on. Elfstones/Wishsong and the following Scions 4-book series are really very good and very different in tone from Sword.