Which Fantasy series should I read first?

[ametzler]

Originally Posted by eschwartz

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

This confuses me as well.

I think this is caused by the shift of power from the publisher to the author. A bestseller author will be able to ignore all the good recommendations by his editor and still get published (and sold).

[Dngrsone]

Originally Posted by eschwartz

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...

Meh, my personal opinion, mind, but while the story is consistently good throughout, the quality of the prose itself took a slight turn for the worse.

Of course, part of this may be due to UK English to American English translation... apparently, the majority of us 'muricans can't handle odd spellings or weird names for car parts or whatever.

And actually, I do agree with you on Eragon. The later books were... disappointing.

I'm really enjoying the Mistborn trilogy right now, for what that is worth.

[eschwartz]

Yes, I do think that is just personal opinions. Which is fine, I am just saying I wouldn't call a series or book inherently bad unless there is significant consensus.

I would like to take the opportunity to rant about discrimination against 'muricans, apparently we are all just uncultured slouches whose teeny brains cannot possibly comprehend the idea of a "philosopher's stone", so apparently 'muricanization means much more than simply:
translating from British English to US English. That I am fine with.
But making up "sorcerers's stone"s that don't exist is not valid internationalization. It is an outrage!
mumblemumblemumblemumblemumblemumblemumblemumble




Mistborn is awesome. And the 5th and 6th books are both coming out around the end of the coming (came) year!
State of the Sanderson 2014 <-- lotta interesting news this year

[Dr. Drib]

One thing I am NOT liking is the way Terry Goodkind portrays the main protagonist: He's such a good, goody guy.......[in this first book].

I'll-be-your-friend, if-you'll-be-my-friend.

This is very jarring and simplistic....but I'll keep reading.

I'm 10% into it, so far.

[speakingtohe]

Originally Posted by Apache

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

Ten four on that one. They are just delightful frivolous reading at its best

Maybe not what you are looking for, but pretty sure you will like them.

Helen

[Dngrsone]

I'll have to keep that in mind, thanks.

Yeah, don't know what their thinking was on that... actually, probably thought that the alchemy connection would inflame the conservative Christian watchdogs... more so than the fact that it "popularizes witchcraft".

[eschwartz]

Originally Posted by Dngrsone

Yeah, don't know what their thinking was on that... actually, probably thought that the alchemy connection would inflame the conservative Christian watchdogs... more so than the fact that it "popularizes witchcraft".

Does not adequately explain all the alchemy references they left in...

No, I suspect it was 'muricanization.

[eschwartz]

Anyway, at least I can edit the ebook, to fix this glaring publisher error.

[Apache]

Originally Posted by speakingtohe

Ten four on that one. They are just delightful frivolous reading at its best

Maybe not what you are looking for, but pretty sure you will like them.

Helen

I think of the series as Rex Stout's Nero Wolf. The Dead Man is Wolf and Garrett is Archie.
Apache

[GlennD]

I'm going to sound like an echo.

I enjoyed the first Goodkind book, was done by about midway through the second one.

I read the Black Company back in high school and remember enjoying it, but couldn't tell you why. It's on my 'I should reread that' list.

The GRRM books fall under the Jordan rule (like several other folks here). I will no longer start an epic series of undetermined length until the final book has been submitted to the editor. (Anyone else remember Melanie Rawn's Exiles series? Still crossing my fingers there....) I of course feel free to make exceptions, like when an author is young, prolific, and named "Sanderson".

As for the Wheel of Time, I do recommend them. As they were being released and I reread them I realized they worked well thinking of each odd/even pair as a single novel. Now that it's finished and you don't need to be frustrated waiting between books and unresolved plot threads, I think it's a much more enjoyable read. I think many of the complaints came from people not getting much resolution from a new release and having to wait a year or more for the next one.

Drib, are you open to more suggestions? Tad Williams, Robin Hobb, and Melanie Rawn (beware of the Exiles trilogy though!) all come to mind as great examples of the epic fantasy genre, if you haven't already read them.

[Dr. Drib]

Hi, GlennD.

Yes, I absolutely AM open to considering more authors.

I'm a big Robin Hobb fan and have read a number of her books.

I know about Tad Williams and Melanie Rawn, but I have yet to read anything by them.

[speakingtohe]

Originally Posted by Apache

I think of the series as Rex Stout's Nero Wolf. The Dead Man is Wolf and Garrett is Archie.
Apache

I agree sort of. Rex Stout may be my all time favorite author, Glen Cook is high on my list though.

Definite similarities.

Have you tried the Eddie Lacrosse books by Alex Bledsoe. Not the same but I think you would like them.

Helen

[Valhalla]

I have read all the Goodkind books and continue to read the new ones but to be honest I really don't know why. I find his writing style very awkward and often childish.

[Victoria]

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"

Unlike some here, i loved the whole Eragon series, and wish it wasn't over.

This does sound rather grandiose. But he is a young man, and it's important for young people to have goals and aspirations.

[PurpleStar]

Originally Posted by Valhalla

I have read all the Goodkind books and continue to read the new ones but to be honest I really don't know why. I find his writing style very awkward and often childish.

I read all Goodkind's books as well except for the latest one Severed Souls. The last one I really liked was The Law of Nines, maybe cause it was different from the usual Richard and Kahlan stuff. Don't know why, but I don't enjoy them as much as I used to.