[Aptorian]

where the hell did that come from?

[Slum]

Sorry, I thought better and then deleted the posts. I'll never be fan of his, though.

[Aptorian]

It was a bit aggresive and it came out of the blue, feel free to take up the discussion in one of his review threads instead. I'll bring the popcorn

[Dag]

Werthead;239428 said:

Unless you're in the USA, where Hanged is out in March and Argument in September.

Tnx for correcting me, Wert. I keep forgetting that we live in two separate worlds... at least as far as the publishers are concerned...

[wintermute]

And wouldn't you know it, I'm in the wrong one.

[Skywalker]

Well I finally finished it... and have mixed feelings.

Positive: The writing is AMAZING. It flows off the page and keeps you hooked. You feel twenty kinds of empathy with Kvothe, the world-building is promising, the characterization marvelous, and the story well paced. The book reminds me in equal parts of the best things about Robin Hobb and Ursula K Le Guin, and of Somerset Maugham's "Of Human Bondage" mostly because Kvothe's love interest and penniless student status echoes Mildred and the protagonist in Maugham's autobiographical novel.

Negative: I feel uneasy about the plot direction. The Name of the Wind is like a promise of great things to come, and if the end of the trilogy is anything like what Hobb did to FitzChivalry Farseer, I will be underwhelmed.

Let me explain - I thought that in the Farseer trilogy, Hobb's ending sucked. There was too much left unexplained and too much hinting and foreshadowing went on without significant payoff.

I just hope Rothfuss gives a rocking good backstory to the Chandrian menace, and that everything ties together convincingly.

The book ended somewhat abruptly, (but thankfully without cliffhanger) and sort of in media res. Which is not a bad thing, but although it is almost 650 pages, it feels like a prologue. You know what I mean?

Anyway... more than worth the time spent. I look forward to more.

[wolf_2099]

Blog Update on why book 2 is delayed.

http://www.patrickrothfuss.com/blog/2008/0...nouncement.html

After the explanation, I can udnerstand why now, and even though I don't like it, I can't blame him either. Oh well.

[zeeny]

Very, very late to the party I finally picked that up as I was really hesitant about the book's qualities.
Was I wrong. The book is great fun and would gladly recommend it to anyone. Too bad about the 2009 date for book 2, but it's a series I'd be looking forward to.

[Dancer+]

Oh dear.

I thought the book was reasonable but I was unable to really get involved in the story. It lacked some magical element for me unfortunately Overall it's better than most fantasy.

[Optimus Prime]

I agree Dancer.

I'm wondering if book 2 will step it up a bit. He definitely has talent.

[Morgoth]

Xander;272205 said:

I agree Dancer.

I'm wondering if book 2 will step it up a bit. He definitely has talent.

If he just gets out of that university part, i'll be happy. It's been done so so so many times before, it partially ruined the book for me

[Dancer+]

I have to say I do quite like that cliche. It has to be done right but I don't feel it was as such plus you feel that the storyline does have to move away from there.

[paladin]

The University portion was pretty good imho. Sure it's been done, but people have to learn somewhere, so what's the big deal? His relationship with the teachers and the exploration of the school added something positive that wouldn't have been there.

[Morgoth]

paladin;272404 said:

The University portion was pretty good imho. Sure it's been done, but people have to learn somewhere, so what's the big deal? His relationship with the teachers and the exploration of the school added something positive that wouldn't have been there.

the thing is, I didn't think it was all that well done. It was so incredibly predictable I wanted to weep. up to that point I felt i'd finally found something that could rank up with Erikson and all that, but from the moment the university was described I knew exactly how that part of the plot would develop. and lo and behold... *sigh* .. I admitt there were good tibits along that arch, but all in all it was so unoriginal and predictable I got really really frustrated

[polishgenius]

The University sequence was in some ways very similar to the one in Wizard of Earthsea, but in my opinion it's so much better that it doesn't really matter.

[Morgoth]

polishgenius;272503 said:

The University sequence was in some ways very similar to the one in Wizard of Earthsea, but in my opinion it's so much better that it doesn't really matter.

I think you can in many ways exchange very similar to large parts being copied, but then, I'm picky and like my authors to at least try to be original

[polishgenius]

Inspired. The word is inspired.

¬_¬

As I said way back in this topic, I was surprised how many people compared the book to HP considering the huge similarities to Earthsea.

Still, it comes down to writing skill, and I like Rofthuss's a lot. Le Guin's, not so much. It's very expanded anyway, Earthsea is in a lot of ways a sketch of a book.

[polishgenius]

I'll also add that this book has now achieved a place on my casual-reread pile - that being the books that I pick up when wanting to kill some time without being in the mood for a new book or a proper reread, and just dip into it for a short time, out of order and picking up whichever bit happens to grab me. That puts it on a very short list indeed - currently Erikson, Lynch, Pratchett, Harry Potter and The Scar by Mieville.
That's not the same as my favourite books list - lots of books I think were better than a lot which I can't dip into at will, especially Potter - but I thought I'd say anyway.

[Aztiel]

I liked the book a lot - I don't know why everybody hates on the university bit, I liked it a lot. He gets my money, though, for personally responding to my emails! I'm go to college in Wisconsin, and Rothfuss teaches English at another college in my state, and when I sent him an email asking about if he'd ever be down to my campus he responded within a few days. Very cool.

[Obdigore]

So I picked this up and read it, despite the fact the blurb on the back put me off numerous times.

Very good for a first book. Would read another, and will probably get the hardcover too. (I finally picked it up when I saw it in paperback)