Which Fantasy series should I read first?

[Dngrsone]

I believe ASoIaF is set for seven books, but GRRM takes a good five years to write each volume.

I have been leery of starting on Jordan... I learned long ago that series that last more than five or six volumes generally go to hell shortly after that point; and while some of the worlds are really engaging and such, it can get tiresome reading about the same characters all the time (or your favorites died and the replacements not quite as special).

[eschwartz]

Correct, ASOIAF is scheduled for seven books. And at the rate he is going, the last two will be finished and done with in 2023 -- and it has already been I think five years since the last book.

Although they really are excellent.

The Wheel of Time was finished by Brandon Sanderson, 'nuff said. Read it.
(I haven't, it is still on my TBR, but I expect to love it. I am told also that it picked up from a slump when he took over.)

[PurpleStar]

Originally Posted by Dr. Drib

Into the mix, I will now have to add Terry Goodkind and Robert Jordan.

I'll have to be honest here:

I've had Terry Goodkind's first novel in his series, in calibre, for some time. While examining all these major series, I started reading Goodkind's book and I'm now on page 45 (5% into it). This was not planned, but it looks like I'll continue with it since I'm enjoying it.

My original question still remains, but please add Goodkind and Jordan to the mix.

I wouldn't recommend Goodkind. Maybe the first 1-3 books but after that, not so great.

Jordan as well is great for the first few books but around book 7-9 it goes real slow.

[pwalker8]

Originally Posted by Apache

I prefer Glen Cook's Garrett P.I. Series best.
Apache

I like that one as well. He has several more series that I'm not nearly as fond of.

[pwalker8]

Hum, I can't really comment on Goodkind. I read his first book (The Wizard's First Rule, I'm looking at the hardback on my bookself as I type), but it never really hooked me. It could be one of those things where I picked it up at the wrong time and it wasn't what I was expected. I might go back and read it again.

The Wheel of Time series by Jordon is well worth reading. The rule of thumb is that after the first three books, every other book is pretty good. The last three books were written after Jordon died from his notes. I thought they were actually pretty good.

The first book was as good of a book as I've read, and it's one of those books that I go back and read on a regular basis. I found the plot line inside the tower to be rather boring. Lot's of women being stripped and beaten. I always wondered if Jordon had a bit of a kinky thing going there. IMPO, the series would have been much better with good editing. It was a 8 volume set stretched out into a 13 volume set. There were whole books that never actually advanced the plot line.

[Luffy]

I don't know why I'm posting some quotes from Goodkind, I just think it can make you choose, especially if you're looking for fantasy...

"The books I write are first of all novels, not fantasy, and that is deliberate; I'm really writing books about human beings."

"To define me as a fantasy writer is to misunderstand the context of my books by misidentifying their fundamentals."

"The stories I'm telling are not fantasy-driven, they're character-driven, and the characters I want to write about could be set in any world. I'd like to address a broader audience."

"What I have done with my work has irrevocably changed the face of fantasy. In so doing I've raised the standards. I have not only injected thought into a tired empty genre, but, more importantly, I've transcended it showing what more it can be . . ."

[DrNefario]

I didn't get on with Wizard's First Rule either. I just found it a bit tired and obvious.

I enjoyed Jordan's Wheel of Time series for years, but it got very slow after five or six books. I also noticed the weird corporal punishment thing. A friend who is rereading the series says that the early books now feel kind of juvenile. I have yet to read the last three volumes, but I will get to them eventually.

I didn't get on with the first Malazan book. Fireworks cease to be impressive if they're going off all the time. I might give the second one a go, given the huge weight of opinion from people of otherwise sound judgement, but I'm not really short of things to read.

Song of Ice and Fire is a great read, although I'm concerned about a couple of recent developments. It would get my vote despite its unfinishedness.

I downloaded the sample of Black Company ages ago and still haven't looked at it.

[DiapDealer]

Originally Posted by Luffy

"What I have done with my work has irrevocably changed the face of fantasy. In so doing I've raised the standards. I have not only injected thought into a tired empty genre, but, more importantly, I've transcended it showing what more it can be . . ."

It is rumored that God may have a bit of Goodkind complex.

[Luffy]

Paolini also resembles some fantasy authors by denying that he is a fantasy author, instead imagining that he is a great literary talent. In his own words:

"In my writing, I strive for a lyrical beauty somewhere between Tolkien at his best and Seamus Heaney's translation of Beowulf"

[Dr. Drib]

Originally Posted by Luffy

I don't know why I'm posting some quotes from Goodkind, I just think it can make you choose, especially if you're looking for fantasy...

"The books I write are first of all novels, not fantasy, and that is deliberate; I'm really writing books about human beings."

"To define me as a fantasy writer is to misunderstand the context of my books by misidentifying their fundamentals."

"The stories I'm telling are not fantasy-driven, they're character-driven, and the characters I want to write about could be set in any world. I'd like to address a broader audience."

"What I have done with my work has irrevocably changed the face of fantasy. In so doing I've raised the standards. I have not only injected thought into a tired empty genre, but, more importantly, I've transcended it showing what more it can be . . ."

Yes, I understand he is very narcissistic in his views, and also has an overinflated valuation of his work in the field he apparently disdains.

I choose to ignore those types of comments (and as I've also chosen to ignore the overinflated, childish comments from Ann Rice).

Slightly OT to the comments above: About once a year, Mobileread gets this same kind of behavior from an 'author' who chooses to promote his or her work. Their behavior usually gets them banned from this site, since they are intolerably rude and/or refuse to follow our posting guidelines. Good riddance, as far I'm concerned.

I'll continue with the Goodkind book....for the time being, anyway.

[eschwartz]

Originally Posted by Luffy

Paolini also resembles some fantasy authors by denying that he is a fantasy author, instead imagining that he is a great literary talent. In his own words:

"In my writing, I strive for a lyrical beauty somewhere between Tolkien at his best and Seamus Heaney's translation of Beowulf"

Regretfully he doesn't resemble either in the slightest. Ultimately his books are a paean to the gods of Deus Ex Machina. Rarely have I seen such wasted potential.

I was unaware he was among the ranks of fantasy authors with a superiority complex, but I guess I am not surprised...

[Dngrsone]

Well, he was what, seventeen when he wrote the first book?

I imagine ten or twelve years from now he'll despise that first series.

[eschwartz]

Originally Posted by Dngrsone

Well, he was what, seventeen when he wrote the first book?

I imagine ten or twelve years from now he'll despise that first series.

On the contrary, the first book was excellent and as he matured his writing got worse and worse.

This confuses me as well.

[Dngrsone]

The same happened to J.K. Rowling... the result a of having to meet deadlines, I'm sure.

[eschwartz]

Originally Posted by Dngrsone

The same happened to J.K. Rowling... the result a of having to meet deadlines, I'm sure.

Actually, the 2nd through 7th Harry Potter books were quite good.

At least, many people (me included) think so... whereas lots and lots of people will tell you that Eragon as good but that the later books were terrible.

No, I am pretty sure deadlines doesn't really explain the matter. Else no book would ever be any good except for sometimes the first book an author writes...