board77

I have been very, very careful in avoiding fantasy books. The few I read after Tolkien let me down horribly, so largely I have left the genre alone.

But the other day I watched the first episode of the TV series, and liked it, but found t confusing, so Mr Ber helpfully bought me the first book in paperback.

I'm hooked!

The thing that clinched it for me was the realisation that this was Dune in a Tolkien-like universe. I'm only halfway through the first book, but I foresee many hours of enjoyment...

_________________

"The most terrifying day of your life is the day the first one is born [...] Your life, as you know it... is gone. Never to return. But they learn how to walk, and they learn how to talk... and you want to be with them. And they turn out to be the most delightful people you will ever meet in your life."

Many hours! And sleep deprivation.

I just ordered the 5th book on Amazon, with delivery in mid July. Finally... after a 6 year wait. I first read the series in 2005.

_________________
Well, I'm back.

We listened to it on audiobooks from the library a few years ago. You wouldn't believe how many hours those books add up to! OK, maybe you would... "Game of Thrones" 33 hrs and 53 mins, "Clash of Kings" 37 hrs and 17 mins, "A Storm of Swords" 47 hrs and 37 mins , "A Feast for Crows" 31 hrs and 10 mins. It took us months of both commuting and bringing the story inside to listen to, to get through them all.

It will be nice to get back to that story this year. IF they get the audiobook done this year, that is! And maybe "nice" isn't the right descriptive word for this work.

For comparison, many novels only take 8 to 10 hours of listening time.

Ohhh! Many hours of engrossing reading ahead, I love it!

You're right Maria, these people are anything but nice. The blurb on my paperback says "characters so venomous they could eat the Borgias".

_________________

"The most terrifying day of your life is the day the first one is born [...] Your life, as you know it... is gone. Never to return. But they learn how to walk, and they learn how to talk... and you want to be with them. And they turn out to be the most delightful people you will ever meet in your life."

I just finished the first book. I'm really enjoying the series as well.

Did you ever try reading Guy Gavriel Kay?

_________________
Abandon this fleeting world
abandon yourself.
Then the moon and flowers
will guide you along the way.

-Ryokan

http://wanderingthroughmiddleearth.blogspot.com/

The Fionavar Tapestry was on my "to read" list, but I never got round to it. Would you recommend it?

_________________

"The most terrifying day of your life is the day the first one is born [...] Your life, as you know it... is gone. Never to return. But they learn how to walk, and they learn how to talk... and you want to be with them. And they turn out to be the most delightful people you will ever meet in your life."

I read some Guy Gavriel Kay after it was recommended to me. Have to say I found it a bit meh. It was fine, but nothing I'd ever bother to read again. I would highly recommend Robin Hobb though. Three trilogies, loosely tied together.

The Farseer Trilogy:
Assassins Apprentice
Royal Assassin
Assassin's Quest

The Liveship Traders Trilogy:
Ship of Magic
The Mad Ship
Ship of Destiny

The Tawny Man Trilogy
Fool's Errand
The Golden Fool
Fool's Fate

The first two trilogies are set in different parts of the same world. The third ties them together to make a 9 book cycle. Fabulous stuff.

_________________

These are my friends, see how they glisten...

<writes down recommendations>

I need something to read this summer.

_________________

And I've reserved Game of Thrones (22nd in the queue) and The Assassin's Apprentice (should be next in the queue for that).

_________________

I'd read Robin Hobb's stuff, and now some of the audiobooks are out, so my husband and I are listening to them together. Great series! I hope they get the Tawny Man series out in audiobook soon!

Hobb's Elderlings books are the best fantasy novels I've read after LotR.

I've read the first and last of Hobb's Trilogies, but never seem to get around to reading the Liveship Traders. I've read The Farseer Trilogy several times now, and it never gets old!

I've just embarked on the ambitious project of trying to read the Wheel of Time this summer. I read the first book way back in first year of secondary school (ten years ago, I think), and loved it, but never got onto the great Hunt. A nearby bargain bookshop is selling them each for €4 so I've decided to try again. I'm hooked and am already halfway through the first book in 2 days!

_________________
Sleep is a death; Oh, make me try by sleeping what it is to die.

Yeah also the trilogy that takes place in Sarantium....uhm...*googles*... ah the Sarantine Mosaic. I also really like Tigana.

_________________
Abandon this fleeting world
abandon yourself.
Then the moon and flowers
will guide you along the way.

-Ryokan

http://wanderingthroughmiddleearth.blogspot.com/

I'm nearly finished with the first book and can't wait to start playing catch-up with the HBO series. I noticed Eru's comment on Facebook about having to wait a whole week for another installment so I can't wait to tune in.

_________________
Lay down
Your sweet and weary head
Night is falling
You’ve come to journey's end
Sleep now
And dream of the ones who came before
They are calling
From across the distant shore

Why do you weep?
What are these tears upon your face?
Soon you will see
All of your fears will pass away
Safe in my arms
You're only sleeping

Winter is coming!!!

Yeah... hooked.

_________________

"The most terrifying day of your life is the day the first one is born [...] Your life, as you know it... is gone. Never to return. But they learn how to walk, and they learn how to talk... and you want to be with them. And they turn out to be the most delightful people you will ever meet in your life."

Just finished Hobb's Ship of Magic. Thanks for the recommendation! A great sea story, plus it looks at slavery and other versions of ownership or mastery of one person over another.

_________________
Well, I'm back.

Assassin's Apprentice is waiting for me at the library. I'm looking forward to getting it and starting it.

I started reading A Game of Thrones yesterday, though I wanted to wait till I had a few more of my other books done. I was in the mood for fiction, which is kind of rare, so I indulged. It's good so far.

_________________

I am liking Tyrion Lannister more and more, and I think Peter Dinklage's portrayal of him has a lot to do with it. I started reading at the same time as watching the HBO series, so the characters have always had for me the actors' faces, but I think that in any case some of the casting choices are absolutely spot on. Lena Heady as Cersei is brilliant, beautiful and yet absolutely despisable, although she has rare glimpses of humanity - just like the character in the book. Actually, I think most characters are very well developed, they're largely three-dimensional, except perhaps Robb Stark; I think it's no coincidence that so far - halfway through book 2 - we've had no chapters written from his POV.

The one case where an actor's casting has completely shattered the suspension of disbelief for me was Mark Addy as Robert Baratheon. I "believed" Robert until I realised he was played by The Fat Guy from The Full Monty.

_________________

"The most terrifying day of your life is the day the first one is born [...] Your life, as you know it... is gone. Never to return. But they learn how to walk, and they learn how to talk... and you want to be with them. And they turn out to be the most delightful people you will ever meet in your life."

I read the book before watching the series so when I saw Peter Dinklage as Tyrion I was like "But he's not ugly, he's good looking" beyond that Dinklage is spot on for the role.

_________________
Lay down
Your sweet and weary head
Night is falling
You’ve come to journey's end
Sleep now
And dream of the ones who came before
They are calling
From across the distant shore

Why do you weep?
What are these tears upon your face?
Soon you will see
All of your fears will pass away
Safe in my arms
You're only sleeping

I haven't seen the series, but Ber's raving convinced me to buy the first book. I should have got it for the Kindle as it's too bulky to lug about on the train. I'll get round to it soon though.

I am a terrible fuss-pot when it comes to fantasy and dislike most of those books I've tried after Tolkien.

_________________
Also found on Facebook - hunt me down via the MetaTORC group.



I just adore the concept of washing Dirty Horseboys!