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#1 Bart

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Posted 20 January 2009 - 05:56 PM

Let's open a topic discussing (fantasy) books and book series.

Let me begin:

His Dark Material.
Have you read it?
What do you think?

I think it's a real classic. Right up there with LotR and Harry Potter.

I've also just read The Alchymist and have ordered The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.
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#2 {IRS}Athos

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Posted 20 January 2009 - 06:51 PM

Pullman's books were good, but I'm not too keen on explicit atheism. Hitchhiker's Guide was HILARIOUS!

I also want to point something out about the first two books of the Eragon series: The plot is taken directly from Star Wars. Magical knights? An Evil Empire? A boy who is the son of the Evil Emperor's right-hand man who grows up in the wilderness with his uncle near a crazy old man who was once a magical knight and gives him his father's sword which was taken in a climactic duel and then flees into the wilderness on a mission of revenge when his uncle is killed by the forces of the Empire? ;) You see where I'm going here. :blink:
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#3 mike_

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Posted 20 January 2009 - 10:32 PM

Meh. Of course it's going to suck if you look at it as a monomyth (Wiki it), but if you actually read it as a story, not focusing on how it's ripped from others, it's a very good read IMHO :blink:

I, myself, love the third one in the cycle. The series is really starting to become it's own deal ;)


EDIT: Deal, not dead >.>

Edited by mike_, 20 January 2009 - 10:32 PM.


#4 Devon

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Posted 20 January 2009 - 10:49 PM

Pullman's books were good, but I'm not too keen on explicit atheism. Hitchhiker's Guide was HILARIOUS!

I also want to point something out about the first two books of the Eragon series: The plot is taken directly from Star Wars. Magical knights? An Evil Empire? A boy who is the son of the Evil Emperor's right-hand man who grows up in the wilderness with his uncle near a crazy old man who was once a magical knight and gives him his father's sword which was taken in a climactic duel and then flees into the wilderness on a mission of revenge when his uncle is killed by the forces of the Empire? ;) You see where I'm going here. :blink:



Check out the Elvenfury bashing thread on the Eragon series...:p

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#5 {IRS}Athos

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Posted 20 January 2009 - 10:58 PM

I agree that the third one deserves kudos. Not only did he deviate from the plot of Star Wars, but it was a good read too. :blink:
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#6 Jeth Calark

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Posted 21 January 2009 - 02:25 AM

Pullman, me no likey. :p for religious reasons.

I actually haven't read the Eragon books. I'd like to, but don't have the time.

Anybody here read the Wheel of Time series? I've read the first two books, kind of wondered what everyone else thought of it. :shiftee:

#7 mike_

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Posted 21 January 2009 - 02:32 AM

What don't you like? An alternate world's fictitious religious deity turns out to be a weakling hiding in a cage. And bears talk :p

#8 Jeth Calark

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Posted 21 January 2009 - 02:44 AM

but I'm not too keen on explicit atheism


Pullman, me no likey. :p for religious reasons.

It should be obvious.

Bears talk in Narnia too. In fact, Narnia has more than just bears, it has Talking Animals. Variety! Much better... :shiftee:

#9 mike_

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Posted 21 January 2009 - 02:50 AM

And?

#10 {IRS}Athos

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Posted 21 January 2009 - 02:54 AM

...it's obvious that we'll never get anywhere with this discussion. Anyone read Mercedes Lackey?
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#11 Jeth Calark

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Posted 21 January 2009 - 03:25 AM

Mercedes Lackey....doesn't ring a bell. :shiftee: Care to tell us about it? :p

#12 {IRS}Athos

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Posted 21 January 2009 - 03:26 AM

Let's see... she created the fantasy universe of Valdemar, and my personal favorite series by her, the Dragon Jousters, is based off of Ancient Egypt... WITH DRAGONS!!! :p
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#13 Jeth Calark

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Posted 21 January 2009 - 03:41 AM

Wiki-ing her......very interesting. :p


EDIT: Man, she's been busy!


Again, Wheel of Time anyone?

Edited by Jeth Calark, 21 January 2009 - 03:44 AM.


#14 robnkarla

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Posted 21 January 2009 - 03:54 AM

His Dark Materials was a very good series. I'm a religious person and loved the books (even had The Golden Compass as my staff recommendation when I worked at B&N so many years ago when it came out).

Other authors/books I've enjoyed:

Ender's Game and all other Ender/Bean books. They were some of the most enjoyable books I've read. Quick reads, and Speaker for the Dead is up there with LotRs in terms of how much I love the book.

Wheel of Time - enjoyable, but for reasons I won't mention, after Fives of Heaven it just was not the same. Too many threads over time to keep track of the details, and when I had to wait 1-3 years in between, just lost interest. Sad to see that Robert Jordan died before it was complete (I can't remember if he finished it before his death)

David & Leigh Eddings - yeah I know a lot of it is taken from other sources, but these are some of the first series that I read. The Belgariad and Mallorean are just great light reading. Many characters I'll never forget, including Silk as one of my all time favorites.

All Quiet on the Western Front - yeah it's usually required reading, but it is one of the few required reading books that I actually aggreed with and loved.

Non-fiction - Guns, Germs, and Steel was a fascinating read.

That's all for now.
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#15 Elvenlord

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Posted 21 January 2009 - 04:01 AM

David & Leigh Eddings - yeah I know a lot of it is taken from other sources, but these are some of the first series that I read. The Belgariad and Mallorean are just great light reading. Many characters I'll never forget, including Silk as one of my all time favorites

About time someone mentioned them. :p
The characters are what really makes those books. And their later series as well.

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#16 Jeth Calark

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Posted 21 January 2009 - 04:45 AM

Wheel of Time - enjoyable, but for reasons I won't mention, after Fives of Heaven it just was not the same. Too many threads over time to keep track of the details, and when I had to wait 1-3 years in between, just lost interest. Sad to see that Robert Jordan died before it was complete (I can't remember if he finished it before his death)

He did not finish the 12th and final book before he died. Supposedly, his widow has all the notes necessary for the story, and is looking for a good author to finish the book in Robert Jordan's honor.

I'll agree with its complexity. I once saw the 11th book, and it was the size of the entire LOTR! :p

#17 robnkarla

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Posted 21 January 2009 - 04:51 AM

Yeah, that was what I was waiting for. Once the Wheel of Time is done, I'll start it over again. I think I made it through 8 or 9 (started when there were only 3). I re-read 1-5 at least 3-4 times with each release and got tired of it.

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#18 Jeth Calark

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Posted 21 January 2009 - 05:00 AM

I've only read the first two. One of these days, I'll read the whole thing. :p

#19 Vithar-133

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Posted 21 January 2009 - 05:07 AM

I've read the Wheel of Time series. It's ok, but I've never put much time into rereading it.

Anyone read Mercedes Lackey?

I have read Mercedes Lackey as well. Pretty good books, imo. Have you read the Obsidian Trilogy yet? I've only finished the first, but I've got all three and I intend to read the second and the third soon.


The Inheritance Cycle (Eragon books) had to have been based off of the monomyth. Even Star Wars is based off the monomyth. I think that a lot of stories and movies have been based off of the monomyth, mainly because it's one of the easiest plotlines to set up.

PS: I'll save the lot of yeh the hassle o' seekin' out the wiki if yeh haven' already done so: Monomyth infos

I believe that if you wiki star wars you can also find out how that applies to said movies as well.

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#20 Bart

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Posted 21 January 2009 - 06:59 PM

Pullman, me no likey. thumbsdownsmiley.gif for religious reasons.


Well, that was to be expected, seeing as you are the leader of the Narnia mod. Apparently Pullman hates the Chronicles of Narnia, and His Dark Materials is supposed to be the polar opposite of it. It's "forbidden" to like them both. I do though (but HDM more) :p
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