Favorite Epic Fantasy Authors

[TheSparrow]

Originally Posted by GARUD

Eddings' first works were some of his best in my opinion, but both the Belgariad and the Mallorean were great series. The Ellenian and Tamuli, not so much, but were entertaining none-the-less.

I'm gonna say, after having read 'The Rivan Codex', that is because his work tends to run formulaic. He studied Medieval Romance, which he claims is the basis for epic fantasy, and it seems like he feels he has figured out exactly how it is to be done. It makes for a great story, but its the same story over and over, with the same characters, and the same personalities.

I really noticed this when I started reading The Dreamers, and certain characters talked in certain manners and i find myself thinking of a character from The Belgariad.

As he said in The Rivan Codex "I put so many literary hooks in the Belgariad, that if you read the first hundred pages, 'I got ya'"

[walkertexasdruid]

Originally Posted by TheSparrow

I'm gonna say, after having read 'The Rivan Codex', that is because his work tends to run formulaic. He studied Medieval Romance, which he claims is the basis for epic fantasy, and it seems like he feels he has figured out exactly how it is to be done. It makes for a great story, but its the same story over and over, with the same characters, and the same personalities.

I really noticed this when I started reading The Dreamers, and certain characters talked in certain manners and i find myself thinking of a character from The Belgariad.

As he said in The Rivan Codex "I put so many literary hooks in the Belgariad, that if you read the first hundred pages, 'I got ya'"

You know, I was pretty disappointed with "The Dreamers", at least with the last half of the last book. If you have read this series then you know what I am talking about. The first three and a half books were pretty good, not the best by Eddings but decent. But then he must have, for whatever reason, felt like he had painted himself into a corner somehow. In the last half of book four, he basically renders the previous efforts by his heroes irrelevant, and he pats himself on the back for his "ingenious" solution! :stressed: It made me wonder why I bothered read the whole series in the first place.

As I have mentioned before, though, his previous works were very good, especially the Belgariad and the Mallorean.

[Magic_Marker]

Originally Posted by Magus

Yeah, people seem to like Eragon--I'm assuming the movie didn't do it justice (as usual).

Can't really tell you for sure. I read only the first 100 pages; its alright, your general fantasy affair really. I can see why someone would like it. I kinda think of it like Naruto.

Naruto is like candy, its not good for you and over all you shouldn't be reading it but its a guilty pleasure in a way.

On Topic: Dragonlance, the first two Trilogies Tasslehoff never dies damnit

A Song of Ice and Fire is a must.

I'll get to Robin Hobb when I get to Robin Hobb. I have the audio books but I'm in the middle of Prachett's, Lovecraft's, Poe, Tolkien, Bram Stoker, and Gaiman's stuff to go trough.

[walkertexasdruid]

"Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn" by Tad Williams Is very good but has very lengthy books, especially the final book, "To Green Angel Tower". It is kind of slow-paced, but manages to keep your interest with some pretty good and frenetic action sequences. So if you are looking to read a good trilogy that will take quite a while to read, this is the series for you.

[t_catt11]

I agree wholeheartedly. I LOVE Tad Williams' work - but be prepared. You're going to get multiple threads with multiple characters (and perspectives), and some sort of an "end of the world" plot.

I have yet to find a Willaims novel I did not enjoy. Heck, I have even read "Tailchaser's Song" about fifteen times.

Others I really enjoy:

Terry Goodkind (though the Sword of Truth books got a bit repetitive after number six or so).

Mickey Zucher Reichart

Not epic fantasy, but if you like "realistic" science fiction, try on David Feintuch sometime.