OT: good fantasy books

Velusion · #1 September 16th, 2007, 10:45 PM

Quote:

Lingchih said:
Gene Wolfe is the pre-eminent fantasy/sci-fi author of our day, and the Wizard Knight duology is an excellent example of his craft. I would recommend it heartily.

A very good *writer* but not really a "storyteller". I liken his books to fantasy version of the later Melville. Symbolism out the wazoo. I haven't read the Wizard Knight though, just the Torturer and Latero books.

Quote:

Lingchih said:
I don't know if he has been mentioned here, but the old grand master of fantasy is Jack Vance. His Tales of the Dying Earth is a classic (especially Cujel's Saga). It's the basis of much of the AD&D magic system. And his Lyonesse trilogy is pure greatness. His books are mostly out of print and a bit hard to find, but you can usually find used copies on Amazon.

Vance is one of my top three favorite writers. Amazing stories/charactors. Hard to find his books though (which is a shame). George RR Martin has stated that Vance is HIS favorite fantasy/sci-fi author.

Endoperez · #2 September 17th, 2007, 06:32 AM

http://www.dragonmount.com/RobertJordan/?p=90

It seems Robert Jordan is dead.

Xietor · #3 September 17th, 2007, 12:46 PM

Robert Jordan Is Dead - The Wheel of Time Turns No More
News Type: Event � Seeded on Mon Sep 17, 2007 7:48 AM EDT
Read ArticleArticle Source: dragonmount.com
entertainment, literature, science-fiction, fantasy, author, novels, robert-jordan, wheel-of-time, the-dragon
Seeded by Killfile

It is with great sadness that I tell you that the Dragon is gone. RJ left us today at 2:45 PM. He fought a valiant fight against this most horrid disease. In the end, he left peacefully and in no pain. In the years he had fought this, he taught me much about living and about facing death. He never waivered in his faith, nor questioned our God�s timing. I could not possibly be more proud of anyone. I am eternally grateful for the time that I had with him on this earth and look forward to our reunion, though as I told him this afternoon, not yet. I love you bubba.

Xietor · #4 September 17th, 2007, 12:51 PM

Robert Jordan 1st 4 books in the wot series were extremely good. He was a great storyteller. But he will always be known for not being able to finish the series. It spun out of control on him.

Basic tenet of writing violated-outline. Outline. Outline.

djo · #5 September 17th, 2007, 05:27 PM

I read on another forum that he had been dictating notes and outlines so the series could be finished. So there is hope for closure for those who enjoyed his work.

djo · #6 September 17th, 2007, 05:34 PM

Quote:

Velusion said:

Quote:

Lingchih said:
Gene Wolfe is the pre-eminent fantasy/sci-fi author of our day, and the Wizard Knight duology is an excellent example of his craft. I would recommend it heartily.

A very good *writer* but not really a "storyteller". I liken his books to fantasy version of the later Melville. Symbolism out the wazoo. I haven't read the Wizard Knight though, just the Torturer and Latero books.

To be fair, he can be an obscure storyteller, but he can also be a clear one as well, if he chooses. The two series you mention (Book of the New Sun, Soldier in the Mist) are definitely among his most difficult to read (unreliable narrators, both). His Book of the Long Sun is crystal-clear. The Wizard Knight is somewhere in between; I'd say it's closer to the clear side than not. Book of the Short Sun, which follows Book of the Long Sun, is back to the obscure category.