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I have to agree, gemmel is a very good writer, it's not complex, but nor is it overly chidlish and gemmel can certainly tell his stories well. I'd say leiber was better but gemmel is almost as good.
Reading a gemmel book I'd go for either Legend or the first of the rigante series, both good books though I wouldn't say Legend was anywhere close to his best work.
As for bakker... I didn't really like him, portions of his first book I didn't really enjoy but there was enough their to make me consider reading his later books, I enjoyed gemmels work much more.
If I were to read a book by Gemmell....
#21
Imperial Historian 
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Posted 14 December 2005 - 11:58 AM
#22
Werthead
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Posted 15 December 2005 - 11:47 AM
Hated Legend, couldn't get into it at all. On the other hand, I enjoyed the Lion of Macedon doublet (the second book demands you swallow your disbelief on a massive scale though) and the Siptrassi books, especially Wolf in Shadow, are great. Jon Shannow is a great and iconic hero figure, far more so than Druss.
#23 Guest_Hedge_*
Posted 15 December 2005 - 03:47 PM
I love Gemmell books. I think I have them all now. He was the first fantasy author I read so I have a soft spot for his work. Easy to read and fun is the best way to describe it
#24 Guest_Osric_*
Posted 15 December 2005 - 03:48 PM
Legend is fantasic although its a second half read, it dosn't really come into its own until the battle for the dros starts. Although not a complex writer Gemmel is still entertaining and I'm a big fan of his stuff. I regard it as far superior to the wheel of time and no comparison. I loved the lion of macedon books, he has a thing for ancient sparta and you can really tell he's writing about something he loves with it. Didn't like dark prince quite as much but a beautiful ending all the same. Wolf in shadow is one of my favourites of his, a bit like the dark tower from stephen king (Gemmel released it first and king acknowledges the inspiration!). Rigante series came up earlier too and as a series thats probably his best. He has better single books though.
#25
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Posted 16 December 2005 - 05:37 AM
what about American Gods I'd seen plenty of recommendations. I recently got it.
#27
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Posted 16 December 2005 - 01:22 PM
I thought I'd add my tuppence. Gemmell's okay if you don't want anything particularly taxing (or you're a naive teenager who doesn't know any better) I gave up on him in my late teens. I would hope he's improved since then.
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#29
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Posted 06 January 2006 - 05:46 AM
I would say to start with legend, or even waylander, these two are good books, morningstar is one of his better stand alone books and the recent skillgannon books have been good too, he is one of my favourite authors.
I have also read american gods, thought it was really good and original, cant wait to read his next one, i think it is called anansi boys
I have also read american gods, thought it was really good and original, cant wait to read his next one, i think it is called anansi boys
#30
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Posted 06 January 2006 - 07:10 PM
Indeed, and it's out now in hardback. Probably not until later in the year in paperback. Incidentally, the UK publishers have re-released American Gods in an extended paperback edition with about 15,000 extra words. Now I'm glad I held back on getting it for so long.
#31 Guest_bluesman_*
Posted 06 January 2006 - 07:41 PM
If you like Gemmell then you could try Barclay also. Quite good in the heroic fantasy section.
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#32 Guest_Gytha_*
Posted 15 January 2006 - 12:22 PM
I like Gemmell. He is quite light but he does introduce interesting ideas occasionally. After you've read a few, the characters start to sound the same, but I still enjoy them. They are usually revenge stories and it is always nice to read a story about really bad guys getting there butts handed to them, especially after you've finished a book by George Martin. I would suggest starting at Legend but one of my favourites is Morningstar.
Also, sorry to hijack this thread, but I am a huge Stephen King fan, especially his Dark Tower stuff. I have to point out that Osric was wrong and the Jon Shannow was not released before King's Dark Tower and not an inspiration for King. The Dark Tower began as serialisations published in magazines as early as 1978. Wolf in Shadow (the first John Shannow novel) was not published until 1987. King admits The Lord of the Rings and Leone films were the inspiration - no mention of Gemmell anywhere.
Also, sorry to hijack this thread, but I am a huge Stephen King fan, especially his Dark Tower stuff. I have to point out that Osric was wrong and the Jon Shannow was not released before King's Dark Tower and not an inspiration for King. The Dark Tower began as serialisations published in magazines as early as 1978. Wolf in Shadow (the first John Shannow novel) was not published until 1987. King admits The Lord of the Rings and Leone films were the inspiration - no mention of Gemmell anywhere.
#33
Brys
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Posted 15 January 2006 - 01:19 PM
Why've we suddenly started talking about Gaiman in a Gemmell thread? They're completely different style authors - Gemmell writes simple, heroic fantasy quite well, Gaiman tends to write contemporary urban fantasy very well.
#34 Guest_bluesman_*
Posted 16 January 2006 - 06:06 PM
But Barclay is quite similar 
.
I also see no likenesss with Gaiman, other than that both are writing entertaining books.
Stephen King is a bit like Eddings to me. It's fun while you are younger but once you get older it's hard to get pas the really banal language.
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.I also see no likenesss with Gaiman, other than that both are writing entertaining books.
Stephen King is a bit like Eddings to me. It's fun while you are younger but once you get older it's hard to get pas the really banal language.
bm
#35
Brys
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Posted 16 January 2006 - 10:01 PM
Maybe that's why I never got into Stephen King's The Gunslinger - it could be that (everyone said he was an amazing writer - so to my mind, that meant comparable to Peake - and he wasn't even close) or it could just be that like lots of authors, I haven't given him a fair chance (I do have the Stand though).
#36 Guest_bluesman_*
Posted 17 January 2006 - 11:36 PM
King a great story teller though.
Gemmell:s strength is that he can keep the pace throughout the book. I have a hard time reading books that drags on forever with pointless side stories. Gemmell:s stories moves along at autobahn speed. Which is a strength in my book. He's the opposite of Tad Williams when it comes to right pacing.
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Gemmell:s strength is that he can keep the pace throughout the book. I have a hard time reading books that drags on forever with pointless side stories. Gemmell:s stories moves along at autobahn speed. Which is a strength in my book. He's the opposite of Tad Williams when it comes to right pacing.
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#37
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Posted 21 January 2006 - 06:17 PM
I think Gemmell is much underrated due to the fact he writes short, quite uncomplex books. But there is a skill to such and he definately has it. They are a fun read (certainly he's no Martin or Erikson). Read them when wanting a rest from more complex sagas and you won't be disappointed.
As to which to read first. I'd advise starting with the first Rigante book (Sword in the Storm) or Jon Shannow's first book (Wolf in Shadow). If you don't like these, then give up on Gemmell. Wolf in Shadow should really be made into a film. And in the old influence argument, Shannow was influenced by the character played by Clint Eastwood in Pale Rider.
Oh, and read Bakker as well. I rate him up there with the best. Can't wait until book 3.
As to which to read first. I'd advise starting with the first Rigante book (Sword in the Storm) or Jon Shannow's first book (Wolf in Shadow). If you don't like these, then give up on Gemmell. Wolf in Shadow should really be made into a film. And in the old influence argument, Shannow was influenced by the character played by Clint Eastwood in Pale Rider.
Oh, and read Bakker as well. I rate him up there with the best. Can't wait until book 3.
#38
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Posted 03 February 2006 - 05:59 PM
My first Gemmel book was 'Dark Moon'. A good intro because it's self-contained and prototypically Gemmel... an apparently unstoppable enemy, a badass lone swordsman, a hulking yet surprisingly bright sidekick, a beautiful yet deadly warrior woman, a tortured yet powerful mystic... it's fun the first time, familiar the second, and after that you either like his stuff or you can't be bothered.
Personally, I've always enjoyed them. Some are great (Legend, King Beyond the Gate, Knights of Dark Reknown), some are decently interesting (anything Rigante), some are just the same old Gemmel (pretty much anything Waylander or non-Druss Drenai), but it's usually a brief, enjoyable read.
- Abyss, oh, look, ANOTHER evil human/animal hybrid...
Personally, I've always enjoyed them. Some are great (Legend, King Beyond the Gate, Knights of Dark Reknown), some are decently interesting (anything Rigante), some are just the same old Gemmel (pretty much anything Waylander or non-Druss Drenai), but it's usually a brief, enjoyable read.
- Abyss, oh, look, ANOTHER evil human/animal hybrid...
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#39 Guest_BAD_*
Posted 03 February 2006 - 08:08 PM
Pretty much the first Fantasy series I read, Thanks to a random purchase by my Mom about 10 or so years ago (set of Legend, King Beyond the Gate, Waylander and A Quest for Lost Heroes). I read Legend, I was petty much hooked to SFF from then on. Sure writers like Erikson surpass him in more than a few ways but Gemmel is great in three ways. The pace of the books keeps me hooked anyways, I always want to know what's gonna happen next even though I probably know what is gonna happen And he can sustain the pace because of the relative short length of the novels. His characters are classic, you know what you are getting but somehow I become endeared to them a lot. His books are pure enjoyment, there is hardly anything that strains your brain. I love it. A nice break from some other authors. Oh yeah a 4th thing. Druss!!! :cool:
So yeah he's probably most well known for his Drenai Saga so I'd start with Legend. And if not that then either Dark Moon or Knights of Dark Renown. Two stand alone novels that were classic Gemmell.
So yeah he's probably most well known for his Drenai Saga so I'd start with Legend. And if not that then either Dark Moon or Knights of Dark Renown. Two stand alone novels that were classic Gemmell.
#40 Guest_Harold Bloom_*
Posted 03 February 2006 - 11:59 PM
If you read fantasy, you do not need light reading to read between complex books. Those complex books are light reading.
