Zib
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Post by Zib on Nov 9, 2008 18:31:10 GMT -5
www.legendoftheseeker.com/The tv series based on Wizard's First Rule, by Terry Goodkind just started. Is anyone watching it? I caught a little bit of it. I also read the first several books before getting a little bored of the series.
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Post by OnyxBlade on Nov 10, 2008 11:51:02 GMT -5
Woah! I had no idea! I'm actually on Blood of the Fold right now. This is my second attempt at the series. I started a couple years ago and got to halfway through book 2 before the last George RR Martin book came out and caused me to put all other reading on hold until I reread the entire Fire and Ice series.
I'm nearly through the 3rd book now and starting to hit the same roadbump I hit when I tried to read the Robert Jordan books. You know, the realization that I'm two-thirds of the way done with the book and absolutely nothing of importance has actually happened, but what has happened has been explained to me in the most minute detail imaginable.
Thanks for bringing this up, I'll have to check it out.
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rayf
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Post by rayf on Nov 10, 2008 13:41:58 GMT -5
I had no idea they made this into a tv series. I read the first book, but could never get through the second (tried twice.) Seems Terry likes to write using a very similar formula - or at least that's the way it felt as I tried to read book two.
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Post by thelonius on Nov 10, 2008 16:52:22 GMT -5
Sounds like an interesting series on TV! Does it have enough drama to keep my wife interested?? People still read books, On paper??? I read a lot of science fiction in high school before there was the "internet". I joke about people reading books now because I mostly just read periodical type stuff. I did really enjoy the first 2 or 3 books in the Robert Jordan series and I do really like the Wheel of Time deal, but I felt like the books were just too much alike and tired of reading them. I must admit I think I read more than 50 Piers Anthony books ;D The Frank Herbert and Orson Scott Card books were probably my favorites. My biggest question for society is, with advent of the internet and large flat screens, why are people with glasses and contacts squinting at tiny text on paper??? When I read on the internet, I just keep my browser set to 120% or more, so all the text I read is quite a bit bigger than a novel on paper...
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rayf
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Post by rayf on Nov 10, 2008 18:52:50 GMT -5
It is strange, Thelonius (since you brought it up) that as long as computers have been a main piece of home entertainment e-books and self-publishing hasn't become the norm (and no, I don't count blogs).
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Bubub
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Post by Bubub on Nov 10, 2008 21:06:06 GMT -5
Terry Goodkind, read them seems like forever ago. Not bad, not great. George RR Marting, great great in the first books, but man did he lose sight or what, never did finish the last book. I just dont know. Robert Jordan, on and on and on and on.....I think this series could have been wrapped up in say 6 books, how many now, 20? I am a big fan of Robin Hobb, all the series. And also Tad Williams.
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Post by OnyxBlade on Nov 11, 2008 9:22:53 GMT -5
Well. The Great Lady of Western Civilization herself has just proclaimed the Amazon Kindle as the Greatest Gadget EVER! Yes, of course I'm speaking of the one and only, the great, Goddess Oprah.
I dream of one day shelling out the hundreds of dollars for the kindle, to put my collection of ebooks and such to use, but until that day, I've got my collection of "real" books to sift through.
And OMG! I found this place, where you can go, and they've got thousands and thousands and thousands of books. That you can just take home with you and read and then return. No questions asked! They call it a... uh.... disco? no... LIBRARY! yeah! Wow... I'm getting cheap in my old age!
Feel good folks that you didn't get too involved in the Robert Jordan books. Dani read 12 or so of them and then got to one where absolutely nothing happened. She said that the main characters stayed in the same town and the story didn't progress one bit. And now that Robert Jordan is dead, no-one will have real conclusion to the story that he's spent soooooo many pages on.
I've got the Tad Williams books at home. My wife read them and enjoyed them. One of these days, I'll get to them.
And like Thel, my shelf of Piers Anthony was loaded down with tons of books.
Other authors I've read too much of in the last few dozen years: Orson Scott Card, Isaac Asimov (of course), Terry Brooks, Raymond E Feist, Dragonlance (yes... multiple authors, but still), Moorthingy and my ultimate favorite author of all times (that I plug every time I get a chance) Glen Cook.
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pepper
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ninja!
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Post by pepper on Nov 11, 2008 10:29:48 GMT -5
Pfft. eBooks makes reader apps for all sorts of gadgets. Just download them to your Blackberry/Palm/iPhone and pay your eye doctor later. (never understood how people can seriously read on their phones)
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Zib
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Post by Zib on Nov 11, 2008 11:03:24 GMT -5
While I like to support our local author, Mr. Card, I really enjoyed Jack Whyte's first series the most. I love the Arthurian ledgends, and I found Whyte's books an imaginative approach! Saddly, I did not enjoy his first book on the Knights Templar nearly as engaging.
Another all time favorite is Lloyd Alexander's series based on Welsh mythology. The animated movie, The Book of Three, was very loosely based on the first book.
I also started enjoying Jordan and Goodkind's series. But they quickly turned from epic stories to scams to part me from my money. WEB Griffin (Griffith?) repeats his story in several new settings also. Fortunately, I picked up onthis shortly into the second series.
Lastly, my wife enjoyed the seeker tv show enough to want to read the book.
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Post by OnyxBlade on Nov 11, 2008 12:09:38 GMT -5
There's one thing I absolutely hate in some fantasy novels. And Jordan, Goodkind and a few others are well-known for doing it.
Is taking the "normal", "average" Joe or Jane and turning them into a superpower in the span of a few chapters. And then having to write a sequel which does nothing to progress the character besides making the enemy more powerful and therefore raising the protagonist to demi-god status.
For example: By the time the 3rd book gets started, the Seeker seems to already be capable of just about anything. Oh? An army of mriswith's is attacking? No problem, I'll just whip out my sword of truth and just turn into a whirlwind of death and destruction and dispatch them nearly single-handedly.
ooo...exciting... suspenseful... sigh
Maybe that's why Fire and Ice was such a breath of Fresh Air. Main characters are far from all-powerful and immortal. Shoot.. the main characters seem to be the first people with their heads on a chopping block.
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Zib
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Post by Zib on Nov 11, 2008 13:24:46 GMT -5
Oh, you would like Druss the Legend, by David Gammell. That is a short book and a good story.
On a side note, let me apologize for my poor gramar lately. It is not very easy to proofread on an iPhone. But I have no excuse for my spelling - it is just naturally poor.
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Post by thelonius on Nov 11, 2008 14:45:03 GMT -5
The Asimov books are really great, my father read (out loud) the Foundation series to me as a child.
It's not that I want a kindle. I'd prefer to read ebooks on my nice big LCD screen. When my plans come to fruition and I have a 1900x1200 HD LCD for my computer, why should I squint at text on paper?? But much as I babble, I'm happy people still read books on paper and keep that alive.
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kevay
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Post by kevay on Nov 11, 2008 22:41:53 GMT -5
It is a somewhat different direction than most of the books you guys have been listing but I highly recommend Terry Pratchett's Discworld series. It is a collection of humor filled fantasy series (what is the plural of series? Serieses seems very wrong though fun to say) set in... wait for it... Discworld. They are easy reads. If you are interested in them I'd strongly suggest that you check out a chronology online of the different story lines to pick a good place to start. Different books center around different main characters, including Death. More on topic, I stopped reading The Wheel of Time series about 4 books ago but promised myself that I'd start up again when he finally finished. I thought The Eye of the World was highly enjoyable on its own.
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Post by Delaney on Nov 12, 2008 12:23:57 GMT -5
My biggest question for society is, with advent of the internet and large flat screens, why are people with glasses and contacts squinting at tiny text on paper??? When I read on the internet, I just keep my browser set to 120% or more, so all the text I read is quite a bit bigger than a novel on paper... Because reading hundreds of pages of text on a computer monitor blows. Because I stare at computer screens quite enough as is. Because a monitor is hard to hold when you're lying in bed at night. Because books are portable, don't need electricity, and can be flipped open at a moment's notice. Because you can't get a virus reading a book. Because books are cheaper than computers and can be shared. And mainly ... because reading something on a screen doesn't give nearly the satisfaction of reading from a nice paperback in your hands. Speaking of books, in the fantasy genre current favorites are Anne Bishop, Jacqueline Carey, Laurel K. Hamilton, Kelley Armstrong, and Jennifer Fallon. Old favorites include Marion Zimmer Bradley, Mercedes Lackey, Anne McCaffrey, Tad Williams, Patricia Kinneally, Joel Rosenberg, David Eddings, and Steven Brust. (Plus tons more not coming to mind.) I tried the Wheel of Time series and managed all of one book.
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Post by Verewen of Rohan on Nov 12, 2008 13:04:23 GMT -5
I've read a lot of Anne McCaffrey, though I haven't read any of the newer stuff. When she vowed that the last Dragonriders book really was the last book, then came out with another one anyway, I didn't touch it. I like Mercedes Lackey, and Yngvi had me read her "Bardic Voices" series, which was a great (and FAST) read! I couldn't put them down. I also like some of her collaborative pieces, such as the Elvenbane books that she did with Andre Norton. I'm also a big fan of Timothy Zahn, Michael Stackpole, and many of the other writers that worked together to create the Star Wars expanded universe... though I'll NEVER read anything by R.A. Salvatore, because of what he did in Book #1 of the NJO chronicles. (I won't say what he did, in case anyone here actually intends to read the books) The 9-book Rogue Squadron series and "I, Jedi" remain my all-time favorites, though. I'll be honest, though... I think the last time I actually read a NEW book was when Harry Potter #7 came out. I just don't take the time anymore. *sigh* Darn you, MMORPG's!!! Oooohhh.... Bountiful Iron Node... *eyes glaze over*
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Post by Yngvi Silverhand on Nov 12, 2008 20:12:41 GMT -5
Delaney said: "Because a monitor is hard to hold when you're lying in bed at night." This is a very important consideration for me. Plus the cords get all tangled up. And, there is something about holding a book, a feeling of possession, that it's really *mine*, that I just don't feel when I'm looking at a monitor. Oh, I like reading news, blogs, and other information on the computer, but if I really want to get wrapped up in a story, I need to hold the story in my hands. I think the show is on Canadian TV. One of the guys writing the "Looking for Group" comic posted a short blurb about it. I've never gotten to read Goodkind, I may get around to it at some point. George R.R. Martin has been recommended by several friends, so I will get to those. And I, too, made it through the first Wheel of Time novel. I remember, when it first came out, Wheel of Time was only supposed to be a trilogy. Then the dollar signs flashed, apparently. I just re-read "The Sword of Shannara" a while ago, and I like Brooks' Landover novels *much* better. I've read most of the Dragonlance books, a good bit of the Pern series, most of Mercedes Lackey's Valdemar series, and far too little Piers Anthony. Glen Cook and Terry Pratchett are high on my list of faves. Also, does anyone remember the "Thieves' World" series?
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Bubub
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Post by Bubub on Nov 12, 2008 20:25:00 GMT -5
Thieves world, yes. I love the Shannara ones too. And also the Druid ones I think.
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Post by Yngvi Silverhand on Nov 12, 2008 21:07:09 GMT -5
The first time I read The Sword of Shannara, I thought, "Wow! Awesome!" When I re-read it this last time, I was thinking, "Hmm, I remember this being a lot better..." Also, since George R.R. Martin has been mentioned: www.thrfeed.com/2008/11/hbo-orders-fant.html
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Zib
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Post by Zib on Nov 13, 2008 9:31:02 GMT -5
I forgot to mention a neat series that I am in the middle of reading. Naomi Novik just published the fifth book in the Temaraire series. The books are about 300 to 500 pages, so not too long. This fantasy story is set in napoleonic times, but with dragons. Basically dragons are raised to fight for countries. They have crews just like ships and use squadron tactics. But part of the story involves the relationship of the main captain and his dragon. The stories interject dragons into Patrick O'Brien's Aubrey and Mauterin styled stories. They are well worth the read.
Also I will second he Timothy Zahn comments. I loved the Admiral Thrawn stories.
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Post by Verewen of Rohan on Nov 13, 2008 9:42:36 GMT -5
I forgot to mention a neat series that I am in the middle of reading. Naomi Novik just published the fifth book in the Temaraire series. The books are about 300 to 500 pages, so not too long. This fantasy story is set in napoleonic times, but with dragons. Basically dragons are raised to fight for countries. They have crews just like ships and use squadron tactics. But part of the story involves the relationship of the main captain and his dragon. The stories interject dragons into Patrick O'Brien's Aubrey and Mauterin styled stories. They are well worth the read. Also I will second he Timothy Zahn comments. I loved the Admiral Thrawn stories. Ohh... those sound really interesting, Zib! I'll have to try to find them. The relationships between the dragons and their riders was what drew me to Anne McCaffrey's books, even though I've loved dragons since I was a kid. There was a trilogy of books written by Jane Yolen, years ago, I think was 13 or 14 when I read them. The title of the first book was "Heart's Blood" and again, it focused on a young boy, named Jakken (if memory serves) and a dragon whelp that he saved from euthanization, at the breeding farm where he was an indentured servant. He lived in a world where dragons were carefully bred, raised and trained for arena fighting. But the dragons were... empathic, I guess the word is... they couldn't speak, but rather communicated telepathically in colors and symbols, each dragon being unique based on their personality. Where was I going with this? Hrmm... Darnit but I must be losing my mind! Oh, speaking of Timothy Zahn... I can't believe I forgot about the Thrawn Trilogy!! Those were a GREAT read. *cheer*
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Zib
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Post by Zib on Nov 17, 2008 14:25:30 GMT -5
I am going away next week for Thanksgiving, spending the time with my inlaws. In preparation, I purchased I, Jedi and A Game of Thrones. Hopefully those books will keep me busy. Well that and the striped bass which are hopefully going to be running along the NC coast. P.S. Verewen, R.A. Salvatore was told before he wrote Vector Prime that he had to do the dastardly deed. So it is not entirely his fault.
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Post by Verewen of Rohan on Nov 17, 2008 21:45:40 GMT -5
Zib, I hope you have a GREAT holiday with your in-laws... catch lots of fish! Do you just fish for fun, or do you actually clean and cook what you catch? I think you'll really like I, Jedi. I hope so, anyway. I do realize that R.A. Salvatore was told that the deed had to be done, it doesn't make me feel any better though. Did I mention that I don't like George Lucas either?
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Zib
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Post by Zib on Nov 17, 2008 21:57:58 GMT -5
I don't fish very often anymore. I used to be pretty big into fly fishing for trout, although I never fished any of the great trout waters. Surf fishing is one of the few things I can manage to do at the shore and keep myself occupied enough to have fun. Birdwatching is another thing I like to do.
If we catch fish that we are legally allowed to keep, they will make it to the dinner table. I love seafood. I love venison too, but that's another story.
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Post by tubbinns on Jan 6, 2009 23:30:15 GMT -5
I have not read the books, but I have seen every episode of the show and I love it! Have not seen a new episode in weeks, I hope it hasn't been cancelled... I might cry...
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