On September 09 2011 09:58 Xxio wrote: Recommend me books similar to Ice and Fire, please. Jinro you mentioned a reading list at Anaheim but I forgot to ask you what was on it : /
There are really no fantasy books that reach the quality of A Song of Ice and Fire and even a mediocre George Martin (Feast + Dance) is still a top notch fantasy book in overall comparison. Still, I have read and would recommend Joe Abercrombie - The First Law (also very merciless and gritty), which is not on the level of ASoIaF but still quite enjoyable (especially a certain character with the name of "Glokta" did it for me). With SoIaF it's the same effect as with "The Wire"... actually you should watch every police series there is before watching The Wire, because everything will appear amateurish and embarassing in comparison afterwards (had that feeling with Dexter- [only talking about the police work here]). So, don't expect to find anything as well written and thought-through as Song. I have read a few books from the Malazan series but I couldn't really warm up to it - not quite sure why. Maybe it's one of those love-it-or-hate-it relationships. I only know it takes the author (Steven Erikson) about one year to finish a book (there are 10 already) which is exactly what does not gain my respect and convinces me of the quality of the series. Martin may be a hopeless slow-writer, but I know from his blog that he turns every word and sentence several times around until he is perfectly satisfied with the result, which really shows in his books and is a pleasure to read.
Fantasy I can recommend as a long-time Song of Ice and Fire fan:
Abercrombie - The First Law (even more brutal than Martin's books, less refined, multiple povs, some characters stick out from the rest - at least for me [Glokta, Ninefingers])
Rothfuss - The Name of the Wind (different in its whole setup but also very very enjoyable)
Lynch - The Lies of Locke Lamora (fantasy in an urban "venice" setting - also very good)
On September 12 2011 01:01 Ghardo wrote: With SoIaF it's the same effect as with "The Wire"... actually you should watch every police series there is before watching The Wire, because everything will appear amateurish and embarassing in comparison afterwards (had that feeling with Dexter- [only talking about the police work here]).
That's a very good way to describe it. I love Gemmell's stuff and Eddings, but they just seem....childish, almost, in their scope and writing when I compare it to something like Martin's. And the Wire... Sigh. These things have just ruined other shows for me. I find myself watching other police dramas and thinking 'that's just silly. No way the killer would just hold up his hands and admit it. Where's his lawyer, what's the evidence, where's the police work?'
Also I have a new found respect for police after watching the Wire. Bugger me but I get exhausted just watching that, I can't even think on how hard it is to actually get the evidence needed for a conviction...
Anyways, Martin has ruined reading for me. I look for things that are as good as this and end up disappointed. I still enjoy everything I read before, probably on nostalgia reasons more than anything, but if anyone can keep me in good reading I'll be happy.
Fantasy I can recommend as a long-time Song of Ice and Fire fan:
Abercrombie - The First Law (even more brutal than Martin's books, less refined, multiple povs, some characters stick out from the rest - at least for me [Glokta, Ninefingers])
Rothfuss - The Name of the Wind (different in its whole setup but also very very enjoyable)
Lynch - The Lies of Locke Lamora (fantasy in an urban "venice" setting - also very good)
Sir, you have a truly excellent taste in books. I myself prefer Rothfuss over any other author out there, but that's just me. Good job on beeing awesome!
Everyone ought to read American Gods by Neil Gaiman. Possibly the best standalone fantasy book the last 10-20 years. (Apparently getting HBO-treatment like Game of Thrones )
Abercrombie, Rothfuss and Lynch are decent new authors like someone mentioned. I think Rothfuss is a bit overrated though, imo he undeservedly seems to be the most popular one of the three.
Some other good reads from new authors are Mistborn+The Way of Kings from Brandon Sanderson, and Dresden Files (very cool urban fantasy) by Jim Butcher.
If you want to dabble into some sci-fi, check out Hyperion by Dan Simmons and Old Man's War by John Scalzi. If you want the "Scott Lynch" of sci-fi check out Chris Wooding's insanely fun Ketty Jay series, first book is called Retribution Falls.
On September 12 2011 07:09 OKMarius wrote: Everyone ought to read American Gods by Neil Gaiman. Possibly the best standalone fantasy book the last 10-20 years. (Apparently getting HBO-treatment like Game of Thrones )
Abercrombie, Rothfuss and Lynch are decent new authors like someone mentioned. I think Rothfuss is a bit overrated though, imo he undeservedly seems to be the most popular one of the three.
Some other good reads from new authors are Mistborn+The Way of Kings from Brandon Sanderson, and Dresden Files (very cool urban fantasy) by Jim Butcher.
If you want to dabble into some sci-fi, check out Hyperion by Dan Simmons and Old Man's War by John Scalzi. If you want the "Scott Lynch" of sci-fi check out Chris Wooding's insanely fun Ketty Jay series, first book is called Retribution Falls.
Also the semi sequel to American gods "Anansi Boys" is great. many people prefer it to "American Gods".
I also enjoyed The Prince of Nothing series, but it was not up to Martin's level.
On September 12 2011 15:44 Eishi_Ki wrote: Something that hasn't been mentioned yet, who the fuck is Quaithe (beyond the facevalue) and what's her game?
Till the end of time. No seriously, he said: I will make no predictions, when it is done it is done. Or something along those lines. He does not know, so nobody knows.
But I don't think it's a stretch to assume that he'll get the rest of them out quicker. The first three came out in 2 year intervals, and the last two only took so long becuase they had to go sort of off plan and fucked his shit around. I think now that he's back on track (I think he's back on track?) everything should go smoothly.
On September 12 2011 07:09 OKMarius wrote: Everyone ought to read American Gods by Neil Gaiman. Possibly the best standalone fantasy book the last 10-20 years. (Apparently getting HBO-treatment like Game of Thrones )
Abercrombie, Rothfuss and Lynch are decent new authors like someone mentioned. I think Rothfuss is a bit overrated though, imo he undeservedly seems to be the most popular one of the three.
Some other good reads from new authors are Mistborn+The Way of Kings from Brandon Sanderson, and Dresden Files (very cool urban fantasy) by Jim Butcher.
If you want to dabble into some sci-fi, check out Hyperion by Dan Simmons and Old Man's War by John Scalzi. If you want the "Scott Lynch" of sci-fi check out Chris Wooding's insanely fun Ketty Jay series, first book is called Retribution Falls.
Mistborn was really good actually, but makes the flaw that most triologies do: The first book is amazing (!) and then the next two are... meh... So the series ends up being good but not amazing. Peter V. Brett did the same with The painted man (or Warded man depends on region) where the first book really let me to believe that this story would be so fucking awesome and then the 2nd book just didn't deliver. It was a good book but not as good as the first.
Is the way of Kings equally good as Mistborn? I might have to get that then...
On September 12 2011 19:13 Doppelganger wrote: Till the end of time. No seriously, he said: I will make no predictions, when it is done it is done. Or something along those lines. He does not know, so nobody knows.
Reminds me of an old game company I knew. I suppose all art is done when its done.
On September 13 2011 03:25 Dirkzor wrote:Is the way of Kings equally good as Mistborn? I might have to get that then...
Well..maybe a bit below the first Mistborn book in quality, but still good. It's more similar to Wheel of Time than Mistborn though (in scope/lore/worldbuilding etc), so hard to compare. A very promising start to what's gonna be a long series. Might be best to wait until more books in the series are out before starting though.
I was wondering if anyone was planning on buying the A Game of Thrones - Genesis game, now that its close to coming out (Sept 28). Gameplaywise it doesnt seem spectacular but as a fan of the lore I'm considering shelling out the 35~ bucks to play the game. For those of you that don't know here is the trailer
Its a typical strategy based game, and from wiki, "The game takes place over 1,000 years of the fictional history of Westeros, beginning with the arrival of the Rhoynar led by the warrior-queen Nymeria."
On September 09 2011 10:13 Manifesto7 wrote:[...] I'm just starting book one of Steven Erikson's Malzan series, so I'll let you know how it turns out. Apparently it is close to ASOIAF style. [...]
I was wondering if anyone was planning on buying the A Game of Thrones - Genesis game, now that its close to coming out (Sept 28). Gameplaywise it doesnt seem spectacular but as a fan of the lore I'm considering shelling out the 35~ bucks to play the game. For those of you that don't know here is the trailer http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sSDHD_x0zM0
Its a typical strategy based game, and from wiki, "The game takes place over 1,000 years of the fictional history of Westeros, beginning with the arrival of the Rhoynar led by the warrior-queen Nymeria."
I was wondering if anyone was planning on buying the A Game of Thrones - Genesis game, now that its close to coming out (Sept 28). Gameplaywise it doesnt seem spectacular but as a fan of the lore I'm considering shelling out the 35~ bucks to play the game. For those of you that don't know here is the trailer http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sSDHD_x0zM0
Its a typical strategy based game, and from wiki, "The game takes place over 1,000 years of the fictional history of Westeros, beginning with the arrival of the Rhoynar led by the warrior-queen Nymeria."
They still make games for the Genesis?
... Can't tell if joking.
The game is called "Game Of Thrones: Genesis" It's part of it's name.
I;'ve read the entire series cover to cover in 6 weeks. Absolutely amazing. What is even more amazing is how some of you readers pick up on things that I just completely missed. How you guys figure out parts of the story by looking into small detail is really cool. Reading this thread and it's spoilers is like a bonus epilogue
Any guessing to when we can expect the next part? I mean it went from 1997-1998-2000 to 2005&2011 on publications. I mean seriously? Does that mean the next part will be in 2016? Or is it more likely we can see it around 2013. Also I'm just afraid that when reading the next part I'm not into the story anymore and won't like it as much, which is a shame. I'll probably never read anything again that isn't finished yet, because waiting just sucks.
EPT
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