Big, Chunky Fantasy or Scifi Stand Alones Wanted

[ZodWallop]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

I am another who found it deplorable. It's an awful book. Don't read it. You'll hate it and you'll hate the fact that you could have read some good books instead.

I don't think running another user's recommendation in to the ground is cricket. I have no interest in Battlefield Earth based on my previous experiences with Hubbard's writing. But maybe try to throttle back some?

[MorganM]

Thanks for the suggestions. I've been very sick with a cold and finally feel like reading again.

[MorganM]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

I am another who found it deplorable. It's an awful book. Don't read it. You'll hate it and you'll hate the fact that you could have read some good books instead.

I read the book way back in high school. I liked it. Each to their own I guess.

[MorganM]

Originally Posted by Larla

Battlefield Earth by L. Ron Hubbard

well over a 1000 pages.

I know most hate this book but I like it myself and have read it at least 3 times.

The movie, starring Travolta, has been considered by many as the worst movie ever made.

The movie was true shocker.

[Dr. Drib]

Originally Posted by MorganM

I'm looking for big chunkster fantasy or scifi stand alone recommendations.

Fantasy

The Worm Ouroboros - E.R. Eddison
Gormenghast series [Trilogy] - Mervyn Peake
The Well at the World's End - William Morris
The Well of the Unicorn - Fletcher Pratt
Silverlock - John Myers Myers
Earth Abides - George R. Stewart [This one is not that 'fat'; more sci-fi]

[John F]

Originally Posted by Larla

Battlefield Earth by L. Ron Hubbard

well over a 1000 pages.

I know most hate this book but I like it myself and have read it at least 3 times.

The movie, starring Travolta, has been considered by many as the worst movie ever made.

I'm not know if most people like or dislike the book, but I think there is a vocal minority who have to express there dislike of the book every time it is mentioned.

I read it (a long time ago) and I liked it.

[hobnail]

Originally Posted by John F

I'm not know if most people like or dislike the book, but I think there is a vocal minority who have to express there dislike of the book every time it is mentioned.

Maybe they know what he was doing after he stopped writing.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by MorganM

The movie was true shocker.

It's one of those books (like Dune) where a good movie is going to be very difficult to make.

[DiapDealer]

Taking an eclectic and somewhat obscure tack, here:

The Book of Joby by Mark J. Ferrari
The Great and Secret Show by Clive Barker
The Doomsday Book by Connie Willis
Wanderers by Chuck Wendig
The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison
Angelmaker by Nick Harkaway
The Copper Promise by Jen Williams
Once A Hero by Michael A. Stackpole
The Wreck of The River of Stars by Michael Flynn
The City & the City by China Miéville

My take on "big and chunky" might not always equate directly to page count, either.

[issybird]

Originally Posted by ZodWallop

I don't think running another user's recommendation in to the ground is cricket. I have no interest in Battlefield Earth based on my previous experiences with Hubbard's writing. But maybe try to throttle back some?

It has its place when it’s a rational review with reasons for one’s negative opinion. Serious commentary is always useful in assessing whether or not a book is for you and shouldn’t be taken personally. However, saying “It’s an awful book” advances understanding not at all, and you can’t say “You’ll hate it” unless you’re closely familiar with an individual’s tastes. In any case, it’s good to recognize that because a book isn’t to your tastes means neither that it’s to no one’s tastes nor that it’s objectively awful.

[JSWolf]

One of the major problems with Battlefield Earth is that is could have ended in a number of places and after the first place where it could have ended, it then felt like Hubbard was writing more just for the same of writing more. It was very wordy. The story went too long and really dragged. It would have been tolerable if it had ended a lot sooner then it did.

[Dr. Drib]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

One of the major problems with Battlefield Earth is that is could have ended in a number of places and after the first place where it could have ended, it then felt like Hubbard was writing more just for the same of writing more. It was very wordy. The story went too long and really dragged. It would have been tolerable if it had ended a lot sooner then it did.

I'm reminded of that story by Fredric Brown where a man stranded on an island spent years writing a poem that he constantly revised while waiting to be rescued, and finally ended up with a poem consisting of one word when he was finally rescued. The word started with an 'F'.

Perhaps Hubbard's book would have been a better story if he, too, had written a novel with only one word.

[binaryhermit]

Is the word you're referring to generally referred to as "the f word"?

[pwalker8]

Originally Posted by binaryhermit

Is the word you're referring to generally referred to as "the f word"?

I just assume it was "Found".

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Dr. Drib

I'm reminded of that story by Fredric Brown where a man stranded on an island spent years writing a poem that he constantly revised while waiting to be rescued, and finally ended up with a poem consisting of one word when he was finally rescued. The word started with an 'F'.

Perhaps Hubbard's book would have been a better story if he, too, had written a novel with only one word.

If Battlefield Earth was just one word, I would give it 5-stars on Goodreads and highly recommend it on MR.