Best stand-alone Fantasy novel? - Page 6

HarryT · 05-25-2012, 05:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Belfaborac

Yes indeed, Mistborn is truly excellent. I believe opinions on The Alloy of Law differ somewhat more than they do regarding the original trilogy, but I've not read it myself yet.

It starts out a little slowly, but then it really gets going. I enjoyed it enormously, personally.

Belfaborac · 05-25-2012, 05:04 AM

Good to hear! I'll shuffle my TBR list around a bit then and get to it a.s.a.p.

frostschutz · 05-25-2012, 06:23 AM

I found out recently that some works of my favourite German author, Walter Moers, are actually available in English. Unfortunately not as ebooks

But if you see Rumo And His Miraculous Adventures (heroic fantasy) or The Alchemaster's Apprentice (bit of a fairy tale, along the lines of Krabat) by Walter Moers in your local dead tree library, it might be worth a look. The books are standalones, but set in the same fantasy world.

AndrewH · 05-25-2012, 08:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VaporPunk

I never read the Fionavar Tapestry, I had heard that its not his best stuff. You just confirmed it again so thanks for that.

I realize that doesn't mean it isn't good though, considering GGK is one of the best fantasy writers out there. I'll get around to it someday, hopefully.

If you enjoyed his stand-alone novels, I've no doubt you'll also enjoy the Fionavar Tapestry. It's really very good, and I don't want anyone to think I was suggesting otherwise. I simply enjoyed his stand-alone works better. In my opinion you can't go wrong with GGK, except Ysabel.

On the subject of Mistborn... excellent series. I really enjoyed it. Good character development, good pacing, good writing (with a minor personal compaint, the lack of hyphens in compound words), unique magic system... I'd say it's a must read for anyone that enjoys fantasy.

conanfan · 05-25-2012, 10:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frostschutz

I found out recently that some works of my favourite German author, Walter Moers, are actually available in English. Unfortunately not as ebooks

But if you see Rumo And His Miraculous Adventures (heroic fantasy) or The Alchemaster's Apprentice (bit of a fairy tale, along the lines of Krabat) by Walter Moers in your local dead tree library, it might be worth a look. The books are standalones, but set in the same fantasy world.

Actually, I just finished reading The City of Dreaming Books, which was brilliant, in ebook format - it's available from Amazon in Kindle format or Books on Board in epub. The Alchemaster's Apprentice is also available in ebook format.

In any event, I wholeheartedly agree that Walter Moers' books are wonderful, and I wish his earlier books were available in English in ebook form.

kaleissin · 06-02-2012, 08:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AndrewH

If you enjoyed his stand-alone novels, I've no doubt you'll also enjoy the Fionavar Tapestry.

I've enjoyed several of his standalones but bounced off the Fionavar Tapestry. It's not often I wind up tossing a book to the floor half read and considering never reading anything by that author again.

DiapDealer · 06-02-2012, 09:59 AM

I have to admit that Fionavar was a bit of turn off for me as well (even though I enjoy identifying the Fionavar connections in the rest of his works). I obviously didn't feel the need to toss it in mid-read, but if it had been the very first GGK book(s) I'd read, I probably wouldn't have been super-eager to jump into any of his other books.

Merlyn_MacLeod · 06-02-2012, 12:30 PM

T.H. White's Once and Future King will always be my favorite. I read him as a teen, and he was the first writer to pull me into his world and really made me feel things along with each of his characters. He drew such vivid word pictures that he spoiled me to this day for any author who skims only the surface of things.

I'm not sure anyone reads him any longer. As far as I know, his work is only available in paper formats.

~Mac

K. Molen · 06-03-2012, 01:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Merlyn_MacLeod

T.H. White's Once and Future King will always be my favorite... I'm not sure anyone reads him any longer. As far as I know, his work is only available in paper formats.

There's three T. H. White books out for Kindle: Once and Future King, The Goshawk, and The Sword in the Stone:

http://www.amazon.com/T.-H.-White/e/...rnid=618072011

Although I think The Sword in the Stone is a part of Once and Future King, so I guess it'd be more accurate to say he's got two books out for Kindle.

BenG · 06-03-2012, 02:38 PM

White wrote The Once and Future King as 4 books, though when he came around to the fourth book he edited the first three (The Sword in the Stone, The Witch in the Wood, and The Ill-made Knight) and combined them with the fourth and published them together as The Once and Future King.
There was actually an fifth book, The Book of Merlyn that was published years after his death.

The stand alone version of the Sword in the Stone is the original version and differs from the one in TOAFK. Some scenes were cut (Madame Mim!) and some were added from the Book of Merlyn. The original Sword in the Stone is worth reading even if you've read the other.

mnfe · 06-17-2012, 03:25 AM

I fell in love with Brandon Sanderson with Elantris, which was an excellent standalone. Also on his website he has Warbreaker for free in PDF form, including the final version, older versions, and deleted scenes.

I think Good Omens tops my list. I had three copies at one point (including a signed hardcover) because I kept lending them out.

HarryT · 06-17-2012, 03:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mnfe

I fell in love with Brandon Sanderson with Elantris, which was an excellent standalone. Also on his website he has Warbreaker for free in PDF form, including the final version, older versions, and deleted scenes.

I think Good Omens tops my list. I had three copies at one point (including a signed hardcover) because I kept lending them out.

I've just finished reading "Elantris". Excellent book. I thoroughly recommend it.

Freeshadow · 06-17-2012, 03:20 PM

Time for the witcher saga then; Harry

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05-25-2012, 05:04 AM	#77
Belfaborac Wizard Posts: 1,498 Karma: 5199835 Join Date: May 2010 Location: Norway Device: Sony PRS-505, PRS-950	Good to hear! I'll shuffle my TBR list around a bit then and get to it a.s.a.p.

05-25-2012, 06:23 AM	#78
frostschutz Linux User Posts: 2,282 Karma: 6123806 Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Heidelberg, Germany Device: none	I found out recently that some works of my favourite German author, Walter Moers, are actually available in English. Unfortunately not as ebooks But if you see Rumo And His Miraculous Adventures (heroic fantasy) or The Alchemaster's Apprentice (bit of a fairy tale, along the lines of Krabat) by Walter Moers in your local dead tree library, it might be worth a look. The books are standalones, but set in the same fantasy world.

06-02-2012, 09:59 AM	#82
DiapDealer Grand Sorcerer Posts: 28,599 Karma: 204624552 Join Date: Jan 2010 Device: Nexus 7, Kindle Fire HD	I have to admit that Fionavar was a bit of turn off for me as well (even though I enjoy identifying the Fionavar connections in the rest of his works). I obviously didn't feel the need to toss it in mid-read, but if it had been the very first GGK book(s) I'd read, I probably wouldn't have been super-eager to jump into any of his other books.

06-02-2012, 12:30 PM	#83
Merlyn_MacLeod Junior Member Posts: 6 Karma: 80 Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Western United States Device: Kindle	T.H. White's Once and Future King will always be my favorite. I read him as a teen, and he was the first writer to pull me into his world and really made me feel things along with each of his characters. He drew such vivid word pictures that he spoiled me to this day for any author who skims only the surface of things. I'm not sure anyone reads him any longer. As far as I know, his work is only available in paper formats. ~Mac

06-03-2012, 02:38 PM	#85
BenG Home Guard Posts: 4,730 Karma: 86721650 Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Alpha Ralpha Boulevard Device: Kindle Oasis 3G, iPhone 6	White wrote The Once and Future King as 4 books, though when he came around to the fourth book he edited the first three (The Sword in the Stone, The Witch in the Wood, and The Ill-made Knight) and combined them with the fourth and published them together as The Once and Future King. There was actually an fifth book, The Book of Merlyn that was published years after his death. The stand alone version of the Sword in the Stone is the original version and differs from the one in TOAFK. Some scenes were cut (Madame Mim!) and some were added from the Book of Merlyn. The original Sword in the Stone is worth reading even if you've read the other.

06-17-2012, 03:25 AM	#86
mnfe Connoisseur Posts: 52 Karma: 2796 Join Date: Dec 2010 Device: none	I fell in love with Brandon Sanderson with Elantris, which was an excellent standalone. Also on his website he has Warbreaker for free in PDF form, including the final version, older versions, and deleted scenes. I think Good Omens tops my list. I had three copies at one point (including a signed hardcover) because I kept lending them out.

06-17-2012, 03:20 PM	#88
Freeshadow temp. out of service Posts: 2,815 Karma: 24285242 Join Date: May 2010 Location: Duisburg (DE) Device: PB 623	Time for the witcher saga then; Harry

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