Larian Studios Forums General Chat Chat (Anything) What are you reading?

I do think that Zahn's a good author. However, my enjoyment of his trilogy was limited because I don't like the Star Wars "main cast" all that much. Mara Jade was somewhat interesting; the smugglers were okay. However, I find Luke Skywalker absolutely vapid; Han Solo is so-so; Chewbacca just growls a lot; Leia is so-so. And so on and so forth. None of them grows on me at all.

Unfortunately, most Star Wars novels center around these characters, so I'm pretty much doomed.

Luke is empty, IMHO. Han Solo is the classical chaotic Hollywood "superhero". Leia is... classical Hollywood "superheroine".
Chewbacca is like those people in teddy-bear disguise who walk arround theme parks and hug children.

yes, like in the Xwing series, NO!!!! repeat NO!!! main people from the movies in main roles, you see them a few times, but mostly Wedge and company.. and what Falynn says.


"I wish I'd never heard of Skywalker" <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/devil.gif" alt="" />

Im just re-reading Waylander II by David Gemmell. Its been a while since I revisited his stuff and Id forgotten how much I enjoy it <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/kitty.gif" alt="" />

If you've never read his stuff try starting with Waylander, Knights of Dark Renown or Morning Star. For a longer haul try the Jon Shannow series or the Drenai series!

WIFFLE!

<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/kitty.gif" alt="" />

"There are doors in a man's soul that should never be unlocked. Waylander has found the key"

Oh yes I have enjoyed so much those books!! I have read them when I was younger though. I have also read G. DeMopasan (I hope I spelled it correct...) Very nice too. Thnx Cleg <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

i recommend the Romance of the Three Kingdoms novel....i haven't read it completely yet but it's quite interesting....

The historical novel?

this one http://www.threekingdoms.com/

check this site 2 http://www.kongming.net/novel/

Finished "Eye of the World" yesterday. (My 4th reading)
Stared "A Lone Drow" this afternoon.
Putting "Somebody's Husband, Somebody's Son" on my reading list!!! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif" alt="" />
(Thanks, spick!)

Finished The Courtship of Princess Leia. Mediocre. Characters out of character. Luke's spouting Jedi garbage at a rate not even Bastila could ever compete with. Han's a foolish oaf. Leia is a spoiled juvenile female dog. Isolder is a Gary Stu. The whole witches of Dathomir thing is ridiculous. Thankfully, now I have enough information on Dathomir and will be able to write it into my fanfic -- pre-witches era, though, thankyouverymuch. With luck, I won't ever have to touch this Courtship tripe again.

Going on to Heretics of Dune. With luck, it'll clean the bad taste in my mouth I have after reading Courtship.

i have never read fantasy novels before (because i read a lot of thrillers, horrors, a bit of sci-fi but mostly technical books).

so winterfox, knowing your standard for reading material is high, just how good is the dune saga? the games are great, no doubt. which books to go for in the dune series? i hope it's not too 'tom clancy'.

i'm a dude who's more into folk tales more than anything else. it says a lot about the cultures. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

so for those who are interested in folklore, do check out asian folklore. i will have to find the actual titles of the books for recommendation. maybe one for now; water margin (i know the title's longer but i forgot).

edit: deathatthedoor, i've read the witches series by anne rice & they're all great. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/up.gif" alt="" /> but anne rice's books aren't for kids though. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shhh.gif" alt="" />

Eh, Dune series is sci-fi. In fact, it's regarded the same way as Lord of the Rings is regarded in the fantasy genre, from what I understand. Oh, it's not high-tech and all, but it's definitely not sword-and-sorcery. Far from it.

Anyway, it's a very complex set of books. Filled to the brim with philosophy and symbolism; it explores religions, fanaticism, and psychological speculations. Contains political intrigue, gray characters, and rather complicated plot. It might feel dry for some people, but I love the series to bits, even if the psychobabbles do meander quite a bit. Heretics of Dune is looking very good. The culture(s) in the Dune series are fascinating. Primarily, the Fremen desert customs are expanded/explored deeply; they've even got their own language. I'd rate it very high as far as books go. As far as the genre-father goes, IMO, it's waaaay better than LOTR.

Anne Rice hurts my brain. Her prose goes well beyond purple, and her characters just get more and more... screwed-up. It's not the explicit/morbid/unorthodox materials that bother me; it's just the way they go on and on and are simply gratuitous.

I am reading Steven Erikson's Deadhouse Gates (Book two of the Malazan Book of the Fallen) while waiting very impatiently for George R R Martin's A Feast For Crows (Book four of A Song Of Ice and Fire)