Wheel of Time

Donaldson: he did a Camelot series and the series with a guy who had leprosy and a white gold wedding band?

 

The Chronicles of Thomas Covenent.... i think...

 

Actually, the series was only supposed to be 7 books, but as it's popularity increased, so did the number of planned books. I don't know if it's Jordan or his publisher who wants to milk this puppy till it's dry, but it is starting to become somewhat tiresome.

>>There are a million little unifinished plot threads that you get sick of keeping up with after a while. It's almost like complexity for complexities sake, rather than storytelling.

I agree, it is becoming more and more difficult to keep up with them all. Heck, he has so many story lines going that all of them can't make it into each book. There are points when he returns to a particular story, and because it's been so long since he was there, I cannot remember what the hell is going on. He really needs to close some of them out so he can focus on the main story.

IMO his other major problem is that he is making ALL of the women total bitches. It would be one thing if he had one or two, but every damn one is excessive and frustrating to read. Especially since he focuses on the disdane the women feel towards men just about every time a woman is in a scene. I don't have a problem with strong women (i.e. Polgara in the Belgariad), but I don't enjoy such hateful female characters. I almost get the sense that he is either an extreme feminist woman using a male name as an alias, or that he has some serious feminine issues.

Overall, I love the plot and thoroughly enjoy the world he has created. I just wish he would back off a little on the male female conflict and close out some story lines.

>>Eddings is good. Terry Brooks new Shanara series is good as are all the rest of the Shanara books. Donaldson is good. Raymond Feist is good. Also, Zelazny's Amber series is good.

Couldn't agree more. These are all very good. I'd also like to add Tad Williams' to the list. He has two excellent series out, "Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn" and "Otherland."

 

Also the stuff by R.A Salvatore isn't that bad if you are desparate. His Drzzt character is pretty cool. The Cleric Quintet was kind of childish but everything else is entertaining.

David Farland's first two books got me hooked. I was somewhat disappointed in the last one though. I'll keep reading the series.

Thanks for the Tad Williams heads up Wiggin. I guess one of those will be the next series I start. Which one is better?

Also, Dennis McKeirnan writes some entertaining stuff but some of it is a blatant Tolkien rip off. That is probably why I enjoyed it.

 

No problem, both are really good series, but since they have very different plots, it is a matter of what you are in the mood for. Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn is more in line with Jordan, Eddings, and Brooks...a typical fantasy quest (although a very good story line that is well written with good characters).

However, Otherland is a more unique story. It is about a virtual reality world (think of being in an ultra-realistic video game) that was created by the worlds most rich and powerful men for a sinister reason (don't want to give anything away). Basically a group of people get stuck in there and face many adventures and obstacles in various world settings while trying to escape and stop these powerful men. Although the plot seems odd, it is actually very well done and exciting. It was very creative and had many great twists and turns. The books are thick, but well worth the read. So I guess if you are looking for a straight up fantasy then M,S,&T is a good choice, but if you want a unique adventure then I would recommend Otherland first.

I am actually in the middle of David Farland's Brotherhood of the Wolf right now. I'm enjoying it so far, but I can see where he could go in a direction I don't like. I don't think he will, but I guess I'll just have to wait and see. Do you know how many books are slated for the series?

 

More suggestions

Have to agree with the list you guys are putting together & the Eddings take is spot on, though the second series has its moments.

I personally loved Raymond Feist's Riftwar stuff because it was such light, easy reading. Kind of the anti-Jordan, though the basic story is great. If you read that and liked it, I'd also suggest the spinoff trilogy he did with Janny Wurst - Servants/Mistress of the Empire. It's basicly more of the same, but the society it's based in is very obviously modeled after feudal asia/japan. Very cool. Feist's later books in the series start to lose their energy though & he falls into the Eddings trap of rehashing characters and plotlines.

I dont think anybody mentioned Melanie Rawn. I'll warn you that a cool asian chick I used to party with in college introduced me to her stuff - so it is a little bit "girlie", but the first few books held up rpetty darn well when I reread them several years ago. Think the first is called The Dragon Token, and another is called Sunrunner's Fire. Pretty decent for a female writer.

One of my friends who still reads this stuff is trying to get me to read George R.R. Martin's series. He's read basicly everything we've listed (both the writer & my friend). Apparently, this guy used to post on messageboards and got a feel for what annoyed people about Jordan & company. In his books, he breaks a lot of conventions like killing off main characters and such. Supposedly really good story & easy to read. I havent read any of them, just passing the info along.

 

I think you're right.

I've read a number of fantasy books, but nothing on the level you guys are discussing. I do suggest reading 'The One Kingdom' by Sean Russell. The next book has come out, but I haven't gotten it yet. I can read the guy easily, and there's a certain flow to the book that I like.

 

I just finished reading the last book out in the Sword of Truth series. Terry Goodkind has done an excellent job keeping the series interesting. Only 1 of the books really had an ending I didn't like, and the last book The Pillars of Creation has none of the normal characters till the end because it sort of took place at the same time as Book 6. All in all it is a decent series... although the line "checks to make sure his sword is clear in the scabbard" is starting to drive me slightly insane.

 

I finished reading Book 9 (Winter's Heart) of Wheel of Time, it does indeed redeem the series, and it is easily the best book since 4 (The Shadow Rising) if not the beginning (Eye of the World). Several of his many plotlines were solved, although 1 or 2 more were started at the end of book 8 (Path of Daggers) I am now actually looking forward to 10 (Crossroads of Twilight) which is finally out.

I am also now looking forward to the next book in the Sword of Truth series. I read on Amazon that it will be available in July.

 

i'm affraid it's been a couple years since i read the last one -- don't even know which it was. no chance i'm gonna re-read them any time soon... maybe i'll try picking it up again and guess at where i left off. is it over yet? is the last one finally out?