[pat5150]

I just posted the cover art for the sequel, The Wise Man's Fear, on the blog!

Patrick

[Morgoth]

Hmm.. I just finished reading this book, and my feelings are mixed.

His writing is good, though it suffers from what seems to be a lack of experience here and there, but not enought to anoy mind you. The start of the book really got me hooked, and though I was dissapointed to find it was going to become a I'm-telling-my-life-story kind, it still managed to pull me along. However, I wanted to throw the book across the room when he enrolled at the university. Come on! A university for wizards and a brilliant but detested protagonist who has to work hard to prove he's a natural bron wizard and who gets a feud going with a teacher and a lord's son? It's so stereotypical I wanted to cry! Especially since there was very little in the way of originality when it came to the uni itself..

All in all I enjoyed the book, but can't wait until he gets expelled.

And the best parts were in my opinion by far the ones taking place in and around his Inn.

[=Soletaken=]

I think the Name of the Wind is a brilliant debut for Rothfuss. Despite its length it kept me reading and wanting more right up to the end. I can't wait until the next one.

On a different note whoever was wondering about whether in the eye of heaven is any good my personal opinion is that it is mediocre at best. The main reason i bought it was because of Eriksons quote on the cover. Typically anything with Eriksons name on it is gold. Not in this instance though. Seems as though he was just doing a friend a favor but i will forgive him this time being that the last time i saw a quote of Eriksons on a book it was for Scott Bakkers the Darkness that comes before. I put Erikson and Bakker as number 1 and number 1a in terms of authors out there.

[Aimless]

Bought it based on recommendations on this forum...

I'd put the book down after a few hundred pages because some other things got in the way, but after I picked up again I was essentially unable to leave it. I read the remaining like 700 pages in more or less one sitting, staying up till past 4 AM to finish--something I haven't done in YEARS, I think. It was just that good.

I can't compare it to Erikson, or Martin, or Jordan. The most obvious comparison is to Robin Hobb (a writer Rothfuss loves, and one who, apparently, loves Rothfuss). But Rothfuss' Kvothe is a much more appealing protagonist, to me, than Hobb's Fitz. He's a better, more human storyteller. Far more entertaining and far less whiny. To me, he seemed a lot more personal, as well, even though he takes great pains in the telling of his story to keep some distance from the reader.

The world the novel is set in seems to be very well realised, but in this first novel we really only get a taste of it. Social structures, bit of history and culture... a clear idea of how much things cost that belies an RPG background... we experience everything through Kvothe's story, and therefore the most real elements of Rothfuss' world in this novel are magic... and music! You'll understand why the last sentence actually makes sense once you read the book.

It's a massive book, there' no denying it, but it's a surprisingly quick and easy read. Or perhaps it's not all that surprising--Rothfuss' writing is extremely tight and clean, something which seems to be very uncommon in fantasy. It's not action-packed military-fantasy in any way, but every single paragraph feels like an important and natural part of the story, and of Kvothe's character-development. Those of you who've been burned by eg. Jordan in the past will find yourself very pleasantly surprised

In addition to the tightness and clean-ness, the writing is also... well, I can't think of a better word right now than beautiful. It's sophisticated, but without being difficult, or showy. It's sophisticated, but doesn't alienate the reader. It's always perfectly suited to the story. I didn't notice it until I realised I didn't notice it, so to speak...!

There are so many things I love about The Name of the Wind, but of all of them, what I love the most is the love-story. And I generally hate love-stories in fantasy, because they rarely do anything for me and rarely seem to fit in with the story and with the characters involved. But in this novel, the young Kvothe's love (love mixed with obsession, adulation, infatuation) for his mysterious, flighty, incomparable Denna... is among the most gripping elements of his story. The only other time when his voice is as strong and as beautiful as when he remembers Denna, is when he touches on music, his other great love (and the second thing I love about the novel). This handling of love was crucial to the wonderous nature of the novel.

I'm hungry and dinner is ready, so I'm going to finish this little review right now, with a summary for those who tl;drd the whole thing: The Name of the Wind will very probably be the best fantasy novel you've read in years. I hope many of you return to this thread in a near future to confirm this truth

Cheers!

-- P

PS. The whole "if this had been a story" thing made sense to me. It's not just a wink at us the modern fantasy readers, but also (perhaps much more so) at Chronicler's contemporaries. And Kvothe's interactions with Denna... come ON, he IS a kid after all, and inexperienced in the lists of fantastic love

[Slum]

Umm....I enjoyed it. Sure. It was decent, but a little slow and uneventful for my tastes, though. I'll definitely be checking Book 2 out of the library.

Actually, I don't even consider it the best fantasy novel I've read in the last six months.

I liked Red Seas Under Red Skies better. And Reaper's Gale.

I guess what I'm trying to say is: I wasn't blown away. However, a lot of people apparently were, many for the same reasons you mentioned.

[paladin]

Quote

In addition to the tightness and clean-ness, the writing is also... well, I can't think of a better word right now than beautiful. It's sophisticated, but without being difficult, or showy. It's sophisticated, but doesn't alienate the reader. It's always perfectly suited to the story. I didn't notice it until I realised I didn't notice it, so to speak...!

i compare it to something like mark twain. he knows how to tell a gripping story, make it seem real, and make the characters real. a true storyteller, not an author, historian, whatever. i had said shakespeare earlier in the thread because it sort of does read like a shakespearean play in my head(similar to a midsummer night's dream i guess), but it has that twain storyteller element too. its smart but doesnt make you think too hard or feel like its overdone

anyways, like aimless said, its hard to compare it to anything in the fantasy genre

i emailed the author a while back thanking him and telling him the same thing and he was very flattered in his reply and he said he is a big twain fan as well

[Aimless]

Slumgullion Spitteler;213311 said:

I liked Red Seas Under Red Skies better. And Reaper's Gale.

I was so incredibly disappointed by Red Seas... immediately after finishing tNotW I had this moment where I was totally afraid the sequel would end up being like Red Seas... but then I realised the"sequel" had already been written ages ago and was like *WHEW*

The Twain comparison makes a great deal of sense.

[Aimless]

Hey guys...

http://ggweather.com/winds.html

[Slum]

I'll agree that Rothfuss' prose is tasteful, and the magic system is intriguing. I just think my enthusiasm for the book was somewhat tempered by the fact I went into it expecting to be blown away, and I wasn't. And I was immediately annoyed with the whole university setting. However, I did greatly enjoy the scenes where Kvothe played his lute; I think they were some of the best in the book.

I don't know what to say about RSURS, I thought it was good, fast-paced fun. I was never bored. Not a masterpiece, I know, just a fun little fantasy-adventure romp.

[polishgenius]

It was good. As fantasy debuts go, I don't think it was as good as everyone says - I liked Lies of Locke Lamora more - but it is really very good. As has been mentioned, it's his writing that gets him by, rather than his ideas, which are mostly a nicely mixed set of old ingredients. I like the idea of sympathy magic too. There were only a few minor niggles, mainly with Kvothe, in places, making rookie errors that a genius that he supposedly is would never make (in regards to the girl, but also with Ambrose). It's a beautifully written book though, and that makes it.

I'm surprised at the mention of similarity to HP though - it isn't really similar at all apart from both being in a teaching environment.
I'm even more surprised that, unless I've missed something, no-one's mentioned Wizard of Earthsea yet. It's a much better book (imo), but in places it's virtually a remake.

[Anomander Rake]

I saw this in the stores, but decided to see if the library had it as I wasn't sure what it would be like. I must say I've greatly enjoyed reading this, it's been a while since a books has kept me reading most the hours of the night.

The book is the first book in what I think is a Trilogy. It starts off in the present, then Kvothe (the main character) starts to tell the story about his early years. Its in the first person narrative, so if you liked Robin Hobb's Farseer Trilogy, this will likely be to your taste. Its well written, just about right for my tastes, doesn't have too much description, and the story's pace goes along at a decent speed.

It is an entertaining read, and recommend it to all.

[Optimus Prime]

I liked it as well. I usually don't like first person fantasy but it was an enjoyable read...I will agree that it isn't this momentous debut that will blow your nuts off.

[Werthead]

Rothfuss caused a bit of controversy when, having said the whole trilogy was finished ages ago, he announced that Book 2 had been delayed until mid-2009 for rewriters.

I enjoyed the first book. It was solid but I found the plot and characterisation haphazard, particularly at the start (where Kvothe doesn't play music at all for two years but can still play like a proidgy, and where after spending two years living on rooftops like a cowed animal he suddenlys hits on the idea of bluffing his way into the University and surviving on his wits).

[Optimus Prime]

The guy isn't in SE's league...or solar system

[Valgard]

I must admit I liked the book a lot a nice simple enjoyable read which kept me entertained throughout my reading of it. So it did what hoped it would thanks for the recommendation guys.

[wolf_2099]

Xander;234523 said:

The guy isn't in SE's league...or solar system

I'd say this is an unfair assessment, since they books are very, very different in the type of story they are telling.

I was more entertained reading TNOTW than I was during MBofF. Malazan however, had me thinking a lot more, and far, far morre engrossed in the plot. The books aren't comparable, and I think it is unfair to do so.

But alas, it is only 1 mans opinion.

[Optimus Prime]

I see your point...but my view is different.

I started reading fantasy at a very young age...I picked up the Hobbit and read it when i was 7...and shortly thereafter read the LOTR *yeah that is a young age and I'm not going to claim I completely grasped the entire story*. Ever since then...I can't help but compare authors.

To me, I compare TNotW as a "middle fantasy" in that it is very well written...has an engaging plot...and is enjoyable. yet it doesn't "stretch" me. What I mean by that is that when I got done reading it...there weren't may tangents I could go off on about the book.

So in a sense, i see what you are saying Wolf. Maybe Erikson has spoiled me...but i end up comparing a lot of writers with him. I like to be challenged and I like stories that make me think...as you said.

Erikson is comparable (in my mind) with writers like Bakker because they totally draw you into the world they've created and leave you asking questions.

TNotW didn't do that for me. Don't get me wrong...it's a good read...but as of yet I don't feel compelled to ponder its mysteries.

Sorry for rambling...but that is just my way of dividing it. Maybe I was wrong to say what i said...didn't mean to come off arrogant.

[Dag]

Finished TNotW today. Bought it based on recommendations from this thread, and... Well, I had to read some 100 pages or so before I finally got interested in the story and the characters, but after that, it was quite an enjoyable read. The book is good. Not excellent, not brilliant, not an "I-will-definitely-read-it-again"-book. But a good book, all in all, and it was worth my time.

[Optimus Prime]

I agree. It isn't a book I'd re-read..probing its mysteries. But it is a good book...I'm very interested to see if he steps it up a notch in the next installment.

[Dancer+]

I will give this book a try at some point in the future, that much I can say. But for now onwards with other reading.