Larian Studios Forums General Chat Favorite Books????

The Deverry series by Katherine Kerr: Basically a guy messes up, and a woman he is supposed to teach magic dies horribly. He vows to the gods he wont rest until he makes up for it. The gods take him litteraly and the books take up 300 years later, as he chases the woman through reincarnation after reincarnation, in an attempt to fulfil his promise.

The Warlord Series by Bernard Cornwell: An excellent retelling of the legend of King Arthur throught the eyes of one of his soldiers. What makes it shine is that the author attempts to retell it as realisticly to the period historians believe that Arthur may have lived (About 500ad). So no knights in armour, no christian nonsense (In 500 ad Britain was mostly pagan) an no holy grail. Trust me its a breath of fresh air.

Nights Dawn by Peter F Hamilton: A great sci fi epic that mainly revolves around a hole being torn through to the dimension where the dead await the end of the world. Full scale possession ensues with one of the most interesting aspects being a resurected Al Capone setting up a galactic empire.

Terry Pratchett's Discworld books, esepcially the Night Watch, Witches, and Death arcs.

Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley - I love her characterization to death. That's all.

A Song of Ice and Fire by George R.R. Martin - gritty, dark, realistic, and wonderful. No dumbed-down generic fantasy, or even cliches of elves/dwarves/gnomes/magic usage, this.

Songs & Swords, Starlight & Shadow, Counselor & King, Evermeet: Island of Elves by Elaine Cunningham - she has a way of portraying elves that is simply unique. Her characters and plots are great, too.

Bleh! Its impossible to list every book Ive ever enjoyed but try these Authors: Diana Wynne Jones, Victor Kelleher, Joan Aiken, Andre Norton, Robert E Howard, H.P.Lovecraft, Robert Heinlien!

Kiya - i once tried to read a book by Margret Atwood. I found it aweful!!!! It jumped all over the place. Maybe i should try a book again though, she is one of the most respected writers in Canada, there must be a reason right! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I can't wait till the new George RR Martin book comes out - August i think. It has been a while since his last one...

I know it sounds bad, but i do almost judge books by their cover (but not games by their name!!!!) <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> Plachett (spelling????) covers are very immature looking, so have never picked them up. I know i shouldn't...

Carrie- you think Pratchett's book covers are immature? I you look carefully they actually include most of the characters involved in the story. I love the fantasy artwork too but I forget the artist. Used to have one of his books too before I moved to the US. Had to leave most things behind.... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/disagree.gif" alt="" />
They may look immature I guess but the cover belies a veritable cacophany of humour. Very funny. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/up.gif" alt="" />

As i said,i shouldn't do it. But i do! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> Doesn't he have some kind of a cloud elephant on onme of his books? That is all i am saying...
Kay - two more, Stephen Lawhead, some of his books are wonderful.
And Juliet Marillier. (Daughter of the Forest Series...) Irish based folk/fanasty/history. Kinda similar to Moran Llywelen. I loved those books. I wish she would come out with something else soon.

Actually, thinking of favourate titles I remember reading '1984' in school and being totally blown away by it! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/up.gif" alt="" />

Ya, 1984 was incredible. Really made you think. Can you imagine? I couldn't live like that, even if you didn't know any better.

Just glad it never came true...

I guess after the war,people would think that could happen. It would maybe save more wars.

Well, if you liked 1984, the handmaid's tale could be interesting for you. too. Taste is subjective, Carrie <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />, I like Atwood a lot - though her last books were highly criticised.
Kiya

I ain't no book reader, maybe later when I get older for now I'm to active to read books aged 20.
as A kid a read some books mostly encyclopedia.

My favorite books I read then where all Karl May's series, I've read many winnitou books and those in the sahara..
and those horror books by Anthony au*something*... you know from Horrorstate (griezelstate) and such.

so I haven't read many adult books.

but what where youre favorite books as a kid?

My favorite books include anything by the following authors: Terry Goodkind, Dean Koontz, Robin Cook, Alfred Bester.

Some Titles:
-Wizards First Rule
-Stone of Tears
-The Demolished Man
-Stars my Destination
-2002: A Space Odyssey by Arthur C. Clarke
-Lightning
-Contagion
-Thinner by Stephen King

Seriously? Does that include Pillars of Creation...?

My absolute favorite author is David Eddings (yes yes , I gess that no one would come to that idea ne ? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/winkwink.gif" alt="" /> ) . I love the way he makes his characters to live and also the fact that his stories are finished afther at leasr 5 books . *gg* Altough I don't think that the WOT series are bad , I hate it that the story isn't finished yet . I am not that patience and the fact that I know that I can't buy a book in wich I'll now how the story ends whenever I want to makes me loose a lot of interest in the WOT series (And also the fact that I really really detest Rhand :S Don't ask me why I just don't like his superieur behavious) but they are still good writtend and the Aes Sedai and the (Attention Spoiler ...) Lan-Nynaeve thing are making a lot good again .

Another serie I like to metion is the "Sword of Truth" series by Terry Goodkind altough it also takes more then 5 books and it still isn't finished but the stories hasn't a Rhand as Head Char , wich is of course a good thing <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/winkwink.gif" alt="" />

Right now I am reading (Well I finished it an hour ago) Harry Potter (The third book) , next month I'll start with numero 4 . The only thing I can say is that I first saw the 2 movies (that is why I started with nr 3) and in those I really Liked prof Snape but afther reading the book he really isn't that nice anymore <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/disagree.gif" alt="" /> .

Yes...I liked Pillars of Creation. I'm a patient guy. I think I can handle suspense. Ok. Honestly, at first I didn't like it but when I read it again, my opinion changed...Good book...Really...

Thanks

Wow. Even the most steadfast of Goodkind's fans find Pillars less than acceptable, to say the least. I'd like Goodkind and Eddings a lot more if they hadn't kept recycling their plot (plus dialogue and characterization/character archetypes in Eddings' case) so bloody much. That, and if their characters weren't such Mary Sues/Marty Stus.

Yes Eddings is bad for recycling his plots. I recently read The Redemption of Athelus but couldnt finish it because it felt like Id read it before just that the characters had different names.

Match these characters' personalities with the characters in Redemption. You'll be surprised:

Ce'Nedra -> Andine (down to the voice!)
Errand/Erriond -> cannot remember name, but there was this oh-so-surprising urchin
Silk + Belgarath -> Althalus
Polgara -> Dweia

Even some of the "races" in the earlier books are recycled here. Buh. I didn't know you could plagiarize yourself.

And the villains are simply pathetic. They have no brains to speak of, and less personality depth. Gah, we don't even ever see things from their point of view. It's just, "I'm evil because I'm evil, not because I have motivations, nor because I have any semblance of personality. Oh, and did I mention I'm evil? Hear me roar!"

Repeated dialogue:

"Be nice."
"Yes, [mother/daddy/terms of endearment]." - said in a resigned, teasing tone.
"I am [insert adjective], or haven't you noticed?"
"I know you'd see things my way."
"Isn't he cute/a darling?" (Probably to inspire, "awww!", but for me, it inspired, "Ow. Ow. My brain hurts.")

Ad nauseum. It's not witty. It's not even mildly amusing anymore. Do you also notice how Eddings' male characters are always bashful and hotheaded, and their women always have to "guide them gently"? I am female myself, and proud of it, but this is just ridiculous.

Damn. Eddings makes even the most hackneyed FR novel look good.

The Belgariad was the best thing he has done, I'll reread that again.