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BOOKS: Raymond E. Feist (& sundry other fantasy authors)
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Author:  Róisín [ Mon Jun 26, 2006 3:46 pm ]
Post subject:  BOOKS: Raymond E. Feist (& sundry other fantasy authors)
To continue the discussion from the What We Are Reading thread.

I haven't read him in a while but he is down as one of my favourite authors and Magician is in the top five of my most favourite books ever. The genre is fantasy, but it's very dramatic, believable and plausible. A lot of the books are based on the interaction of two worlds - one of which is quite Western European ish and the other of which is quite Asian ish, but that's probably an oversimplification.

There is more information on who he is and what he wrote here.

I think what attracted me the most was the oldfashioned-story feeling that is at the heart of a lot of the books - for example Magician is about a young boy coping with his extrastrong powers. I love the Empire trilogy because it centres on a strong woman dealing with different situations. Chatting about this is making me want to start a re-read-through (oh dear! Not another series! *ducks* lol).
Author:  little_sarah [ Mon Jun 26, 2006 4:06 pm ]
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I also really liked the Empire series, especially as it focused on an incredibly strong female character in the main role, which seems to be quite rare in fantasy series. I liked the hints and references to Asian/Western European societies, and the parallels in their history that can be traced.

Has anyone read the Conclave of Shadows series? I started it, but never found it as interesting as some of his other books, tho I can't really say why.
Author:  Karry [ Mon Jun 26, 2006 4:13 pm ]
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I am waiting for my co-worker to unpack his books after moving house so I can borrow the fourth in the conclave series - but I agree, they are not as thrilling as the others - I must admit I have a soft spot for Jimmy the hand and also arutha! I have worn out two copies of Magician, and my son and I fight over the books - seeing each other read them sets us both off in re-read mood! If you like RF, what about David Eddings?
Author:  little_sarah [ Mon Jun 26, 2006 4:33 pm ]
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I *love* Eddings, though it's been a good few years since I read any of them. My dad handed me The Diamond Throne after I'd finished the Hobbit and wanted "another one like that", because he thought I was too young to tackle LOTR, and I was hooked.

I've not really got into the newest series though, it couldn't hold my attention, which is probably the same reason I gave up on Feist's latest stuff (I knew there was a way to bring it back on topic!) I think it's got something to do with the gap between books- I lose interest if I have to wait for the continuation of the story. It's a good job I'm young enough to have the whole Chalet series there, or I might never have read as many as I have!
Author:  Karry [ Mon Jun 26, 2006 4:51 pm ]
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The Crystal gorge series havn't got me either. Sparhawk is definately one of my all time favourite men though! The belgariad and mallorean were not as good as the Sparhawk six!

How old were you when youread Diamond throne - cos I was only 10 when i read lotr!
Author:  Donna [ Mon Jun 26, 2006 7:53 pm ]
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Oh, Sparhawk and the Elenium/Tamuli are fantastic. I much prefer them to the Belgariad/Mallorean, and my mum can't understand why. I must say though, I find them difficult to re-read now that I've got older - they're just a bit too simple.

May I recommend David Gemmell? He's my second favourite author and if you like Sparhawk you'll probably love Druss (well I do anyway!). And hardly anyone I know reads him, so I never have anyone to talk about his books with. :(

and to bring it back on topic, I've only read Faerie Tale of Feist's work, which I would highly recommend if you like your faeries with some bite. I keep meaning to try Magician, but never quite manage it.
Author:  Jennie [ Mon Jun 26, 2006 9:00 pm ]
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'Magician' is great, but make sure you get the full text, not the shorter version. 'Silverthorn' and 'A Darkness at Sethanon' aren't quite as good.

Don't get the 'Krondor: 'Tears of the Gods' or 'Krondor: the Assassins'

They were both written to take advantage of a role-playing game, and are useless.

ETA: yes for David Gemmel, I really enjoy his books. Druss the Legend is great.
Author:  Pat [ Mon Jun 26, 2006 10:09 pm ]
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Another Gemmell and Feist fan here. I also like Janny Wurtz - Feist collaborated with her for some of his books, and she writes as just hersefl too.
Author:  little_sarah [ Mon Jun 26, 2006 10:40 pm ]
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Karry- I think I must've been about 7, I know that I started reading the Hobbit with Dad when I was six, and insisted that I wanted to read it all myself.
I think Donna's got a good point- the Sparhawk books do come across as slightly simplistic now, but that's possibly because I've read more fantasy stuff like Feist's, which is much more complex.
Author:  Catrin [ Tue Jun 27, 2006 11:18 am ]
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I love the Empire series with Janny Wurts, possibly becasue I can relate to the girly bits better than with the Magician series. I'm putting off reading the Shadows books though they are all sitting on my shelf. Maybe it's the black-and-silver covers. They just look a bit dodgy.

I've gone off Eddings since Redemption of Althalus. I feel that somehow his writing has turned into a parody of his earlier stuff.

I don't like Gemmel. I always find him a bit too earthy and not quite intelligent enough. That might be becasue I've only read his earlier stuff.
Author:  Róisín [ Tue Jun 27, 2006 1:11 pm ]
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I started Eddings when I was about 14 and didn't put him down til I was 16 I don't think! But I agree - it's way too simplistic now, and even cheesy :(

I've read a couple of Gemmell's and loved them - the SLOC is always trying to get me into them but I think I will now, because of the recommendations from all of you! lol
Author:  Donna [ Tue Jun 27, 2006 7:26 pm ]
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Yay for more Gemmell fans! I hardly know anyone else who likes them, even my best friend who reads pretty much the same books I do (although she has a more sci-fi bent than I do). He's definitely worth a try Roisin!

Re Eddings - I think Redemption of Althalus was what finally put me off him too. All the way through it I was renaming the characters after the one they were obviously a re-hash of from his earlier series. Although the Rivan Codex was a total waste of time and money. I have the first two (I think) of the newest series, but haven't actually read them and I'm not sure I ever will.
Author:  DramaPrefect [ Tue Jun 27, 2006 8:12 pm ]
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Magician and the Empire trilogy are my favourites. I don't think he's brilliant at writing women - they're usually just handy sex objects, so having a strong female character is refreshing.
Author:  Kathy_S [ Tue Jun 27, 2006 9:09 pm ]
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I haven't read any Feist, and see that the Magician ones are now in print in a 'new, revised' version. Would it be better to read these, or try and hunt down the old ones on the used market?
Author:  Róisín [ Tue Jun 27, 2006 9:17 pm ]
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Old ones Old ones!
Author:  claireM [ Tue Jun 27, 2006 9:54 pm ]
Post subject: 
Quote:
haven't read any Feist, and see that the Magician ones are now in print in a 'new, revised' version. Would it be better to read these, or try and hunt down the old ones on the used market?

Just make sure you get the full text of Magian.

Feist is one of may favourite authors, I love the fact he has managed a huge series without getting boring or repettitive, each of the mini series within the larger have a different fell to them. I agree that the Tear of the Gods ones aren't quite as good as the others but I do like Jimmy the Hand. I'm just starting the latest book, apparntly it's the last series thats going to be set on these worlds, so far it's good but not outstanding.

Catrin wrote
Quote:
I've gone off Eddings since Redemption of Althalus. I feel that somehow his writing has turned into a parody of his earlier stuff.

Exactly, I still read the earlier series and enjoy them. I consider them as comfort or light reading a bit like my chalet books, but I haven't even tried the latest series after reading Redemption of Althalus because the characters just seemed samey as though he'd renamed some old ones and removed bits of their personality in an attempt to make them different.

I haven't read any David Gemmel books in ages, but those I've tried I remember enjoying.
Author:  DramaPrefect [ Wed Jun 28, 2006 10:03 am ]
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Isn't the new revised edition the one with all the text?
That's the only one I've read anyway. I've never bothered to be such a scary collector with Feist, so all but a couple are just bog standard paperbacks from Borders.
Author:  claireM [ Wed Jun 28, 2006 4:49 pm ]
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Quote:
Isn't the new revised edition the one with all the text?


I think so, I've just got the normal paperbacks. It's with the older paperbacks I think you have to be careful. Though mine is probabley heading for 10 years now.
Author:  Eilidh [ Wed Jun 28, 2006 4:52 pm ]
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I love Feist. My least favorite is probably Jimmy the Hand, becaue it totally contradicts Magician (if I'm remembering correctly - it's ages since I read it).

I've only ever read the Redemption of Althalus by Eddings, and I quite enjoyed it - perhaps because I haven't read any of the others?
Author:  Jennie [ Thu Jun 29, 2006 12:44 pm ]
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You might like to look at Mrk Chadbourn's books, 'the Age of Misrule' trilogy, about the Tuatha de Dannaan coming back to earth and changing everything for humans.

'World's End', 'Darkest Hour, and 'Always Forever'.
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