Quote:
Originally Posted by Dr. Drib
Which one of these four series should I start first? Why?
Which one is the most flawed? Why?
Which one is the most literate? Why?
Which one is the most successful? Why?
And finally:
If I wanted to read some Lin Carter-styled fantasies - when books were not tomes and one didn't die of old age waiting for the next volume to come out - what would you suggest I read other than Howard, Moorcock, L. Sprague de Camp, et al.? (Because I've already read them.)
Thanks.
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Start RJ first because that series is finished.
I consider Terry Goodkind the most flawed mostly simply because the other three at least were able to hold my attention.
I think that Jordan is the most literate. While it certainly would have been better with better editing and more focus on the basic story line, the first book Wheel of Time was one of the best fantasy novels I've read. While Jordan definitely seemed to have a serious whipping naked women fetish (though that doesn't really kick in until after the first couple of books), he has a real talent for developing interesting characters.
GRRM is probably the most successful, simply because it's become a very successful TV series.
Hum, Lin Carter style fantasy - kind of hard to point to any recent ones. A couple that I liked who are perhaps a bit obscure are Rick Cook's Wiz series and Brian Daley's fantasies (The Coramonde series and A Tapestry of Magics). Both are from the 80's. Don't know if you have read any of Simon Hawke's books, but his Wizard of 4th Street series might qualify.