Which Fantasy series should I read first?

[DiapDealer]

Originally Posted by PurpleStar

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.

I heard The Law of Nines WAS the usual Richard and Kahlan stuff. Just with different names and in a modern setting.

[bgalbrecht]

Originally Posted by Dr. Drib

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 personal take on it is that the first third or so of the book was OK, and then it got into some sort of BDSM mind game stuff (not that I'm against BDSM, just not a fan of it in my fantasy), and I never finished the book. From what I've heard, the series tends to devolve into some sort of Goodkind's version of Rand's Objectivism, I decided it wasn't worth trying to read it again. Maybe if you enjoyed Atlas Shrugged, you'll like Goodkind...

[PurpleStar]

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

I heard The Law of Nines WAS the usual Richard and Kahlan stuff. Just with different names and in a modern setting.

That's true, but I liked it.

[PurpleStar]

Originally Posted by bgalbrecht

My personal take on it is that the first third or so of the book was OK, and then it got into some sort of BDSM mind game stuff (not that I'm against BDSM, just not a fan of it in my fantasy), and I never finished the book. From what I've heard, the series tends to devolve into some sort of Goodkind's version of Rand's Objectivism, I decided it wasn't worth trying to read it again. Maybe if you enjoyed Atlas Shrugged, you'll like Goodkind...

Oh my....so Fifty Shades of Richard and Kahlan...well that's not really anything new. Still won't read it for awhile, at least not until the price drops.

[Indio777]

Terry Goodkind: Read his first books years ago, think I got up to volume 6 or 7 and then stopped. Too much repetition.

Richard Jordan: Again read first couple of volumes and then stopped. Not because I was waiting for a new volume; just lost interest. As I recall, I though the series' title was apt: too much "recycling" of themes, like a wheel going round and round and round ....

Glenn Cook: read first three in an omnibus edition. I liked them, so not sure why I didn't continue.

Game of Thrones: read first four, which I really enjoyed. I reread the first three before reading the fourth volume (because to took 5 years for it to come out). When the latest volume came out decided not to buy it. I'm not going to invest any more time in the series until it is finished. I'm assuming that if Martin croaks before the series is complete, someone like Brandon Sanderson can finish up.

Steven Erikson: tried to read Gardens of the Moon a long time ago and couldn't get into it. Tried again year before last and devoured the entire series. Basically all I did in my free time until I finished. I think if you are going to read this you almost have to read them all at once (or pretty close to that). The series is not in chronological order but goes back and forth. The plots in each novel are rather complicated, there are numerous characters to keep track of and lots of "philosophical" bits (which some people really dislike). At times things can lag, but overall I think Erikson did a fine job with this +10,000-plus page epic.

So personally I would pick Erikson. One of the best series that I have ever read. I fully intend to reread it. In my opinion it blows Game of Thrones out of the water. Not that "Thrones" isn't good. It is very good, but in comparison it almost seems like a "traditional" fantasy series. At least to me. Which is fine.

One author I would recommend is K.J. Parker. He/she (no one knows) is considered a fantasy writer even though the books don't have any fantasy elements such as magic. Has written several trilogies as well as standalone novels. Common themes in the novels are economics, politics, power, tech, and the consequences of one's actions (which can lead lead to both predictable and unpredictable results). Which I guess might sound boring, but these are very well-plotted novels that present a rather dark view of human nature. Great stuff.

[Dr. Drib]

Originally Posted by bgalbrecht

My personal take on it is that the first third or so of the book was OK, and then it got into some sort of BDSM mind game stuff (not that I'm against BDSM, just not a fan of it in my fantasy), and I never finished the book. From what I've heard, the series tends to devolve into some sort of Goodkind's version of Rand's Objectivism, I decided it wasn't worth trying to read it again. Maybe if you enjoyed Atlas Shrugged, you'll like Goodkind...

I bought Atlas Shrugged about 4-5 years ago, (can't exactly remember now) when every book by her was free - there was some comment here on Mobileread about this.

Anyway, I've never read Atlas Shrugged, but I did enjoy reading The Fountainhead, when I read it back in the 1970s.

[Indio777]

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 . . ."

He does seem to have a rather high opinion of his work, doesn't he?

These quotes are similar--or perhaps the same--to some I read after I decided to stop reading his books. They certainly did not make me want to reconsider reading the ones I hadn't already read.

Doesn't he have a habit of disparaging who write less than glowing reviews? Basically they are narrow-minded or simply incapable of appreciating how wonderful his books are? I seem to remember reading about that somewhere ...

Edit: left out a word

[Dngrsone]

There are artists, and then there are artistes...

[GreenMonkey]

A Hobb fan, eh? She's my favorite.

Out of the initial list I'd say GRRM as he's my runner-up favorite but there's a long wait for the rest of it.

I've read the first Malazan book once, and then waited and read it again (because I felt like I didn't *get it* completely, and then book 2, but I wasn't a huge fan of the "what the *** is going on, I have no idea, I have no idea even how this magic works" feeling of being thrown in the river with no setup. I still plan to read more / revisit down the road, but to me these made GRRM's complex line up of characters seem simple.

I liked Glen Cook's Black Company books but they are very dark but a bit whimsical at the same time. I feel like Joe Abercrombie does this same sort of thing better now.

If you're just looking for recommendations...have you read Feist/Wurts's Empire Trilogy? Those are some of my favorite character-driven fantasy, although I guess you would want to start with Magician. Or if you're feeling like a bit darker, C.S. Friedman's Coldfire or Magister trilogies?

[Dngrsone]

I would second Friedman's books; she is one of my favorite authors.

[Dr. Drib]

Originally Posted by Dngrsone

There are artists, and then there are artistes...

....and there are narcissistic, ego-maniacal, spoiled little brats.

[Dr. Drib]

Originally Posted by GreenMonkey

A Hobb fan, eh? She's my favorite.

Out of the initial list I'd say GRRM as he's my runner-up favorite but there's a long wait for the rest of it.

I've read the first Malazan book once, and then waited and read it again (because I felt like I didn't *get it* completely, and then book 2, but I wasn't a huge fan of the "what the *** is going on, I have no idea, I have no idea even how this magic works" feeling of being thrown in the river with no setup. I still plan to read more / revisit down the road, but to me these made GRRM's complex line up of characters seem simple.

I liked Glen Cook's Black Company books but they are very dark but a bit whimsical at the same time. I feel like Joe Abercrombie does this same sort of thing better now.

If you're just looking for recommendations...have you read Feist/Wurts's Empire Trilogy? Those are some of my favorite character-driven fantasy, although I guess you would want to start with Magician. Or if you're feeling like a bit darker, C.S. Friedman's Coldfire or Magister trilogies?

I read Feist when his first book was published. I enjoyed all of his Riftwar Saga when they first came out.

For some reason, however, I haven't read anything recent by him.

I may go back and get those first 3 books.

Thanks for mentioning his name again.

ADDED: I've not read C.S. Friedman at all. I'll check him out. Thank you.

[eschwartz]

By "recent", do you mean the Riftwar books that just came out? Or do those count as "all"?

Do not read the final trilogy, it is riddled with typos and at least one glaring continuity error (so I never did finish the second) and I get the feeling Feist was no longer interested when he wrote it.
The rest of the series was much better, but the last few books really wrecked it for me.
The Empire Trilogy collaboration was the best of the lot, and the only part that I would reread multiple times.

[Apache]

Originally Posted by eschwartz

The Empire Trilogy collaboration was the best of the lot, and the only part that I would reread multiple times.

My favorites too.
Apache

[Dr. Drib]

Originally Posted by eschwartz

By "recent", do you mean the Riftwar books that just came out? Or do those count as "all"?

Do not read the final trilogy, it is riddled with typos and at least one glaring continuity error (so I never did finish the second) and I get the feeling Feist was no longer interested when he wrote it.
The rest of the series was much better, but the last few books really wrecked it for me.
The Empire Trilogy collaboration was the best of the lot, and the only part that I would reread multiple times.

I read (and owned them in hardback First edition) as they came out:

1) Magician
2) Silverthorn
3) A Darkness at Sethanon

However, those were the only three books I've read by him.

I'm a book collector, but unfortunately, I sold those sometime in the early 1990s.