books we think Tin should read

muletang · Post by **muletang** » Fri Feb 09, 2007 5:38 am

heh, another thing I'm overly anal about collecting - pratchett. Got em all, most in hardback, a signed copy of the Nightwatch and the Wee Free Men + Amazing Maurice as unedited proofs - the bonus of having a good mate work at the publishers. Jammy mare gets loads of good stuff like that, and gets to meet authors - apparently he is a bit of a prat, hah, so much for meeting your heros and all that.

monkeedu · Post by **monkeedu** » Thu Feb 15, 2007 7:27 pm

Tin, since I now know you've read the Belgariad, and probably the Mallorean as well, I suggest trying Robert Jordan's the Wheel of Time series. Its another long fantasy series, a little more far fetched fantasywise than Eddings', but quite a bit less than Tolkien still. So far it is a twelve book series, with a final book forthcoming.

http://www.tor.com/jordan/index.html

Tinuvhiell · Post by **Tinuvhiell** » Thu Feb 15, 2007 8:55 pm

You tell me when the final book is out, and then if it does the entire series justice, and then I'll finish the series.

Eowade · Post by **Eowade** » Thu Feb 15, 2007 10:07 pm

I liked the first couple of wheel of time books but for me the later ones were lacking. It's not that his writing was lacking it's that he split up his characters and stories to much and now he has to jump around so much between them all that nothing seems to happen in an entire book. I see no way for him to end all those stories in a satisfying way with just one book left to write. For me it's the "Lost" of books. The T.V. show seems to have the same problems. First season was great but for some reason they felt they had to end everything in a cliffhanger and as time went by you start to think even the writers have no idea where they are going with this story or even remember half the stuff they left hanging.

monkeedu · Post by **monkeedu** » Thu Feb 15, 2007 10:48 pm

I can understand that Eowade. He does divide up his main characters a lot. And it seems like they are perpetually moving back towards each other, but never close enough to satisfy. I do think he's a good storyteller though, and I've enjoyed reading the series.

Now that I've said my nice thing about Jordan though, he can't hold a candle to Eddings.

muletang · Post by **muletang** » Fri Feb 16, 2007 9:48 pm

I rekon Belgariad beats most other efforts quite nicely, the Mallorean was also good. Beyond that he started a slow decline, the Spahawk stuff was good but not great, but now this Elder/Younger god crap is just abismal - from both plot and writing.. how the mighty fall.
I enjoyed Rob Jordan up to around book 5 or 6 then quit reading it.

skyde · Post by **skyde** » Fri Feb 16, 2007 10:05 pm

Gemmell's Books are good. Only read a few but quality work both. I especially liked Winter Warriors. Its about an aging group of heroes called to do one last job. Arthritis ftw!

About Eddings...well I enjoyed them when I was young. They are like Danielle Steel of Fantasy. So if you like overly happy endings with inept romances.. go for them

As to Robert Jordan, they are a handful. I hope that the last book comes out. I managed to read up to book 10, with book 11 waiting. Last I heard his illness was slowing progress.

Many folks like the George RR Martin's books, HBO just picked up the rights to make a show out of 'em. They are brutal however with no real heroes in the series, or so I've heard. Casualties are high

Eowade · Post by **Eowade** » Fri Feb 16, 2007 10:24 pm

I enjoyed Eddings first series then after that I read the others and they were ok but it seemed like it was the exact same story with different names and changing a few small things.

Starkwolf · Post by **Starkwolf** » Sat Feb 17, 2007 6:48 am

Snow Crash

Evelond Formos · Post by **Evelond Formos** » Sat Mar 03, 2007 6:58 pm

Just finished Sleeping Freshmen Never Lie. Awesome book, indeed, definitely amoung my favourites.

"This book is awesome," Tom said readily.

KoolestLoser · Post by **KoolestLoser** » Sun Mar 04, 2007 4:35 am

Starkwolf wrote:Snow Crash

muletang · Post by **muletang** » Sat Mar 10, 2007 12:01 am

The First Casualty - Ben Elton

SnorriHT · Post by **SnorriHT** » Sun Mar 25, 2007 1:41 am

The Complete Chronicles of Conan the Barbarian

This book is literally bursting to be read. The detail is just glorious and its very easy to get immersed. The short story format is just perfect for those times when one has a free hour to read a book with a nice cup of tea.

Interestingly enough the original Conan seems to be more of a multiclass Fighter/Rogue/Barbarian than your archetypical DnD3.5 Barbarian. He also seems to use a Scimitar or a "large Knife" than the traditional longsword or Bastard sword. He is also adept at use magic device, Bluff, Intimidate, hide, move silently, appraise and other roguish skills.

Evelond Formos · Post by **Evelond Formos** » Sun Mar 25, 2007 1:47 am

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon

and, as should be obvious, Flatland by Edwin Abbott Abbott.

muletang · Post by **muletang** » Sun Mar 25, 2007 9:52 pm

Eve I think you'll like a Spot of Bother by Mark Haddon too