[Morgoth]

This is why you should post more outside of the DB, Nic.

[Raymond Luxury Yacht]

If you are older than 12 and have read more than two other fantasy authors, there is no reason to read WOT. There's a few cool ideas but it carries too much baggage. Say what you will about its importance in the development of modern fantasy, it is dated and just not that good.

[Aptorian]

Its a shame really because in terms of a series opener, I don't think I have ever read anything quite as good the first books prologue, where the Dragon guy has gone insane and destroyed his castle and the Shadow guy is tormenting him. It sort of set the stage for a series where incredibly powerful characters were possible and you knew that Rand could one day become this crazy dude.

[Abyss]

Raymond Luxury Yacht, on 16 December 2013 - 08:44 AM, said:

If you are older than 12 and have read more than two other fantasy authors, there is no reason to read WOT. There's a few cool ideas but it carries too much baggage. Say what you will about its importance in the development of modern fantasy, it is dated and just not that good.

Millions of adult Harry Potter fans disagree with the basic principle behind your post.

[Aptorian]

I think the defining difference between Rowling and Jordan, is that Rowling managed to not only create compelling characters and good world building, which you will also encounter in WOT, but also managed to create an engaging and fun story inbetween those pages.

WOT just isn't fun. It's twice the length of a Harry Potter book and there's half as much intrigue, adventure and general tom foolery. Nothing happens in a WOT book. You have 100-200 summary of the last book, 400 pages of travelling and horrible character dialogue and then 50 pages of climax.

Harry Potter also has the excuse that it is actually directed at kids and YA.

EDIT: I should perhaps add that this comparison isn't entirely fair. WOT is epic fantasy that consists of numerous character POVs, in a story that encompasses numerous continents and tells the stories of war and love and braid tugging. Harry Potter mainly takes place in and around the grounds of a castle and only has one POV.

This post has been edited by Not Brent Weeks: 16 December 2013 - 04:23 PM

[Grief]

Not Brent Weeks, on 16 December 2013 - 10:03 AM, said:

Its a shame really because in terms of a series opener, I don't think I have ever read anything quite as good the first books prologue, where the Dragon guy has gone insane and destroyed his castle and the Shadow guy is tormenting him. It sort of set the stage for a series where incredibly powerful characters were possible and you knew that Rand could one day become this crazy dude.

Yeah, the series doesn't really live up to how good that opening is (indeed, one of it's downsides is that Lews Therin often seems a lot more interesting than Rand does).

[SpanishDancer]

Not quite a "series" in the conventional sense, but China Mieville's Bas-Lag books are quite excellent (Perdido Street Station, The Scar, and Iron Council).

[Aptorian]

Iron Council is hot garbage.

It took all the cool references that were expanded upon in the first two books, mixed them with some kind of emancipation socialist plot and threw in a gay love story for the hell of it. As an expansion upon the Bas-Lag universe it was interesting but as a story it is really half-baked.

[Binder of Demons]

wondering how the OP got on with their reading choice.

As I haven't read WoT (and am never likely to), I can only really suggest some other series as someone who has read all the Malazan books, and ASOIAF.

Both suggestions I'd give have been mentioned upthread, but are certainly worth reading.

The first trilogy from BAKKER is very good. Some great characters, potentially awesome world building, and some amazing set-piece scenes throughout the series. There is a tendency for philosophising which i didn't mind but has annoyed others. Haven't read the 2nd trilogy yet, but will get around to it.

My main suggestion is MATTHEW STOVER's "Acts of Caine" series. Starting with "Heroes Die". The books are short enough compared to most epic fiction, but are jam packed with action. Caine is one of the best fantasy characters i've come across, period.

Another series I"d be curious to see other opinions of would be Richard Morgan's fantasy series, beginning with "The Steel Remains". I've only read the first one so far, and i thought it was very good. And I think the conclusion of the trilogy is out soon.

[Obdigore]

Binder of Demons, on 19 April 2014 - 03:16 PM, said:

Another series I"d be curious to see other opinions of would be Richard Morgan's fantasy series, beginning with "The Steel Remains". I've only read the first one so far, and i thought it was very good. And I think the conclusion of the trilogy is out soon.

I like it quite a bit, but Morgan's writing is more in the 'gritty' style spearheaded by Cook. I like both The Steel Remains and The Cold Commands, and am impatiently waiting for The Dark Defiles. I also like how those titles can be taken numerous ways. Anyway, I think his Dystopian Sci-Fi is slightly better than his fantasy, but either are good reads.


The Black Company by Cook is amazing and should be required reading.

Abercrombie writes some very good books but I feel like maybe people should have struggled through all the genre tropes to really 'get' what he is doing, as pretentious as that sounds.

[Cedz]

Possibly Brent Weeks, on 22 May 2014 - 06:22 AM, said:

Binder of Demons, on 19 April 2014 - 03:16 PM, said:

Another series I"d be curious to see other opinions of would be Richard Morgan's fantasy series, beginning with "The Steel Remains". I've only read the first one so far, and i thought it was very good. And I think the conclusion of the trilogy is out soon.

I like it quite a bit, but Morgan's writing is more in the 'gritty' style spearheaded by Cook. I like both The Steel Remains and The Cold Commands, and am impatiently waiting for The Dark Defiles. I also like how those titles can be taken numerous ways. Anyway, I think his Dystopian Sci-Fi is slightly better than his fantasy, but either are good reads.


The Black Company by Cook is amazing and should be required reading.

Abercrombie writes some very good books but I feel like maybe people should have struggled through all the genre tropes to really 'get' what he is doing, as pretentious as that sounds.

I would also suggest reading both Richard Morgan's fantasy (starts with The Steel Remains) & Sci Fi (starts with Altered Carbon) series and Matthew Stover's Acts of Caine series. I found both of these to resonate with what I liked about Erikson's writing the most.

You should also read The Dresden Files just because it is fucking awesome.