Sci-Fi and Fantasy Books

[Emphyrio]

As the other books thread is aimed at other stuff, may as well continue the MI format here

[Pedrito]

Read the Hobbit again last week. Just a perfect piece of fantasy literature. I find that it is very easy to almost brush over just how influential a book of it's sort is and look past it for it's simplicity. I think it could be a symptom of CGI in movies, modern technology etc. I found I was having the same issue when it came to reading Moby Dick. It's not until you almost place yourself into the landscape of these books that you begin to experience their vastness. A journey from a small shire to the Lonely Mountain or sailing across the world in a time without planes, steamships etc is something truly epic when you situate yourself in that worldview. I suppose that I am trying to approach reading more and more as an imaginary and creative experience, almost as I did as a child, not allowing myself to see the characters as portrayed in the movies, but actuvely create my own images of them etc. Bit of a rant here but i'm finding I'm enjoying reading tonnes more as a result.

[Emphyrio]

I find it easier to get into Tolkien's world in the way you describe than pretty much most fantasy. It's just so rich and deep. Not like the overly wordy Wheel of Time, or the obtuse Malazan series e.g. Loads of fantasy does excitement, world-building etc but Tolkien is the master. Someone mentioned Le Guin in the other thread. She also had a knack for it.

[Trev]

I suppose that I am trying to approach reading more and more as an imaginary and creative experience, almost as I did as a child, not allowing myself to see the characters as portrayed in the movies, but actuvely create my own images of them etc. Bit of a rant here but i'm finding I'm enjoying reading tonnes more as a result.

That's one of the reasons I won't watch Game of Thrones. I started on the series about 15 years ago and have read them so many times I've the whole world built in my head, I don't want to read the last books (if they ever come out) and start thinking of it like the TV show

[Pedrito]

The series is cool but if I were you I'd avoid it at this stage. I was spellbound when I first saw the LOTR films. I'd still have a major soft spot in my heart for them, but time has taught me that there is nothing like the books. In reality, the first film was incredible, but then it got very Hollywood after that. GOT is similar..amazing to see the vision realised, but, especially the last series, has been not so good. All very predictable and far removed from the books.

Bran Mak Morn by Robert E Howard worth mentioning. Bought a book full of the stories a while back and they are fanastic..an amazing writer.

[paulioreillo]

Reading the 2nd of the Mythago Wood series - Lavondyss - by Robert Holdstock at the moment.
Anyone else read them? Really enjoying them.

[astfgyl]

Just to chime in on the LOTR books, I only read them for the first time a couple of years ago and I was truly captivated by how vivid and immersive they were. Just absolutely beautiful the way they allow one to really build the picture in the mind.

I completely forgot about the movies around 100 pages in or maybe less. Can't recommend them highly enough to anyone who hasn't tried them yet.

Other than the Tolkien stuff the only fantasy stuff I have read is the Discworld series, which I love.

Oh and The Long Earth series, which was hit and miss.

[Emphyrio]

If you wanna delve deeper, I'd recommend Raymond E feist, Robin Hobb and Tad Williams for starters. Or get stuck into the Game of Thrones series. I'm reluctant to even call it a series as I doubt it'll ever actually be finished. In a way I'm very grateful for the show.

[KingBuddha]

Or get stuck into the Game of Thrones series. I'm reluctant to even call it a series as I doubt it'll ever actually be finished. In a way I'm very grateful for the show.

It's crazy how long Martin is taking with the latest book. I wonder if what he has seen from the TV show post Dance with Dragons material has caused him to change things up in the books  somehow. It would help explain the long wait.

[Ollkiller]

Or get stuck into the Game of Thrones series. I'm reluctant to even call it a series as I doubt it'll ever actually be finished. In a way I'm very grateful for the show.

It's crazy how long Martin is taking with the latest book. I wonder if what he has seen from the TV show post Dance with Dragons material has caused him to change things up in the books  somehow. It would help explain the long wait.

I reckon he's pulling a masterstroke and gonna release the last 2 at the same time. If he only releases the next one we'll never see the last one.

Saw Lotr films before the books and loved both. The first film is a near perfect feat of storytelling. The books just bring you into this amazing world which you can vividly create with the descriptions. He does meander a small bit but for the most part is near perfection for me.

Watched first season of Got and then read all the books before the second season. Love both but the books are miles better and where it started to go ahead of the books the dialogue just dosent have the same cadence and delivery as Martin creates.

Be it Lotr or Got or anything really if I've seen the tv show I'll just forget it and create my own world. If I've read the book first then I'm a harsh critic.


Lastly on to the third book of the Dune series. The first book is hands down amazing. An epic feat of sci fi. The world and universe it creates are astounding. The next two are very good two but just can't get to the level of the first. And the director behind Arrival, Sciario and  the new blade runner is making 2 films out of the first book. Get in.

[Trev]

Feist's first book Magician is an absolute classic, I'd say the Riftwar and Serpentwar sagas are all pretty essential but the get very hit and miss after that, usually miss. Pulled it together enough to give the whole thing a mostly satisfactory conclusion

[Emphyrio]

I must be the only fucker who enjoyed all the Feist stuff, pretty much. Definitely one of the best conclusions to a series ever, too.

Re; Dune, the first one is Tolkien-esque in its scope but I thought the series was a bit heavy going from book 2 up to, maybe, Chapterhouse Dune. I thought the quasi-religious elements took over at the expense of action and all the other elements that were in the original.  If you're going to read the last 1 or 2 books which are written by Brian Herbert and Kevin J Anderson, you'd be very much advised to read the prequel series. While they are Dune-lite, they are very well written, easy to read books which give a brilliant insight into the finding of spice, time folding, early days of the significant houses etc. Going to do a re-read of the whole series at some stage.

On the topic of Kevin J Anderson, he wrote an excellent space opera epic, The Saga of the Seven Suns. I think he's due to write a follow up series to it, so I'll have to do a re-read of that at some stage too.

[Trev]

I must be the only fucker who enjoyed all the Feist stuff, pretty much. Definitely one of the best conclusions to a series ever, too.

I think the problem I had with the later ones was that after the Serpentwar he started releasing them yearly, and they just seemed to miss the scope and detail of the earlier ones. I mostly enjoyed them all the same but they always just seem a bit lacking in parts

[Anvil]

The Waylander books by David Gemmel and the Drizzt novels by RA Salvatore were always an easy and enjoyable read.

[elektricat]

I lost a copy of Magician by Feist that my friend gave me when I moved into my first student gaf.

I've always regretted not finishing that book, it was just a delight to read!

I've since read (and finished!) Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman which was such a spellbinding read.

Attempted to finish reading one of the 40k books but just really couldn't get into it.