[Svaran]

quote:

I haven't read Glen Cook, though people have made quite a few comparisons between he and I. Do any of you out there read James Barclay or Maggie Furey? I'd be interested to know which books really get your goat, fantasy-wise. I personally know of one fantasy author , a callow youth, whose book was published only becuse he had a famous writer mother who stamped her foot and pouted at her publisher - and even then they had to get a team of editors on the typescript to make it even vaguely readable. (They still shovelled a hundred grand in advance at the callow youth though. So to turn the questions around - which fantasy books baffle you with the fact that they ever got published in the first place???

Paul where do I start? The Belgarion, Mallorean, The eternal "Wheel of Time" series..... pretty much most of it. I find that most fantasy epic writers lack decent writing skills.

[ObsoleteResolve]

Some mild book 3 spoilers:

I have yet to get to the end of the Monarchies of God (since I have to order them off of Amazon because I can't find them anywhere I usually end up distracted (I just finished Iron Wars)) but I have to say, thus far, it has had some very amazing moments in it- the fall of Aekir and the refugee's exodus, Abeleyn's injury, the idea of Ramusio and Ahrimuz as one and the same, the final image of Iron Wars with Hawkwood at the helm of his ship sailing back. Images that stick in the mind far after the book is done.

I definitely enjoyed the unabashed brutality of the world- adding a lot of tension and breathless expectancy to reading it. Far too often all the good guys live, the bad guys die, and everyone Rides Off Into The Sunset. Which isn't bad, but it's definitely nice to see a grim realism that is lacking all too often.

And, on book length. Sometimes an eight-hundred-page monstrosity (and frequently they are just that, especially mass-market paper-backs with their shoddy bindings* ) is daunting, and othertimes just what is needed. I don't automatically say no way because something's short, just as I don't exactly shell out the money for a longer work.

That said, I'll ask the question alot (though not all, I'm sure) of people here are thinking but haven't asked: as a published, known author, what advice would you give to people striving to achieve that?

I better duck out of the way of rotten fruit that's probably about to be chucked in my direction. Hey! It had to be asked! :-/

Oh, and that said, it'll definitely be a loss to fantasy when you stop writing in the genre.

Thanks for your time,
.david
*- I've had to buy too many books multiple times because of the things falling apart. I've finally given up and, if I like a book enough to buy it twice, my second copy is a trade paperback. They stay in one piece better.

[ChrisW]

Kingdom a stand alone? If so I might just check it out from the library and see what all you people are raving about.

[ChrisW]

Anyone want to write a review for Paul's first book in his latest series so I can add it to the featured reviews?

[Svaran]

I'm not sure where to post this but any chance of the forum contacting Glen Cook and interveiwing him, I mean come on the Black company books comparisons can't be missed

[lfex]

quote:

The way I envisaged it, they would more or less take over where the Second Empire left off, probably taking over Almark and Astarac at least.

And Perigraine too, I suppose? IIRC, Perigraine king still lives somewhere as a monk, but since he gave away his kingdom to Himerians, I suppose he is now compromised and there is no chance of people rallying around him.


And since nitpicking got mentioned, there is a character in Ships from the West who disappears. Brienne apparently boards Sea Hare with Isolla and is never heard of again

[Tenaka Khan]

*magically reappears*

Have been quite busy the last couple of weeks.

Unfortunately I haven't read 'The Mark of Ran' yet. But since I'm back with my books now, I could perhaps write a review about some of the novels from 'Monarchies of God'. Don't expect them too soon though, have to reread them

[caladanbrood]

quote:

Originally posted by Paul Kearney:
I must say, I envy Steve his fan base.

I wouldn't if I were you, we're a demanding lot, he has to keep sending cronies to shut us up for a bit

In the times when you aren't absorbed in writing your own books, are there other series by any author that you would love to have written? Or maybe had some great ideas of ways you would continue the storyline etc?