Favourite Books?

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the important thing to remmember about the hobbit is that it started this way...tokien wrote "there was a hobbit who lived in a hole" on a scrap of paper and thought "where the hell did that come from".
hehe and thats straigh from his mouth
he was a linguist, and already been working up an imaginary language that became elvish, and was really his prime reason for writing the books originally.
C.S. lewis, a VERY good friend of his, enguraged him to keep writing, and I think it's very clear that the writing gets better as you move through the books. for the first work of an un-trained writer, the hobbit is exellent.
One of the best things about reading LOTR is the feeling of sharing the suprise with the author, he only had the most general outline, and some things you just feel as if you and he are with them..."How the hell are we going to get this damn ring into the fire" ...beacuse it took him a long time to figure out how to do it without some cheesy Deus ex machina.
I know alot of people find it "hard to wade through" I guess some people just read REALLY slow.
But from haflings to orcs to ents to our conception of elves, all of this is due to tolkien. it really is the first epic legend of our time, the first since the aurthurian legends where fully developed, or the Prose Edas. Every "sword and sorcery" "fantasy" book since has been so heavily influenced by it most are pale imitations. Of course the plots seem overly familiar if you've read TSR books or Brooks or Eddings, because LOTR is where all of those plots where ripped off from.

 

you can never go around Tolkien for almost all fantasybooks are based on what Tolkien created. Tolkien made not only a story but a world, with how the world was created, with culture, languages and much more. No-one made a fantasy-story with so much background-information as Tolkien did.

 

My favorite book would have to be The Wayfarer Redemption by Sarah Douglass

~Essence~

 

I realize that this is a fantasy world sort of thread, but has anyone read any Clive Cussler? Dirk Pitt is my secret hero, and whenever I feel like some light escapism I pick up some Cussler. Most of the books are quite similar, but entertaining none-the-less.

Extremist - I have read The Celestine Prophecy. Interesting read.

[This message has been edited by Lord Moeken (edited May 31, 2001).]

 

Now, what are you waiting for? Get "The Tenth Insight" in the first bookshop!

 

um let me see... so many to choose from

Of course my very very favorite is the dragonlance chronicles, next would be the sword of shannanara(sp?)series. And i also like marion zimmer bradley for her sword and sorceress short stories.

 

The dune series, up to god emperor.
David Brins uplift saga.
Orson Scott Cards enders game series.
LOTR
Anything by Kurt Vonnegot, Richard Braughtigan, or Tim Robbins.
All quiet on the western front. (hemmingway isn't fit to suck Remarque's ummm you get the point)
One flew over the cuckoos nest
early steinbeck, prior to Grapes of Wrath.
The complete works of W.B. Yeats, still trying to memorize "a terrible beauty is born" I promise I won't bore you all by typing it.

that list is not in order.


[This message has been edited by jester1137 (edited June 01, 2001).]

 

I've read nearly every book mentioned in this series. And its really difficult to pick out one or two. Add to the list JV Jones, Terry Pratchet, Barbara Hambly (her earlier stuff mostly), Tad Williams, and too many more to mention. I also like most of the older Forgotten Realms trilogies (what is it with fantasy books and trilogies? huh?).

Also, Clive Barker's Weaveworld is one of my favorite books. It's kind of a mix of fantasy and horror, wonders and monstrosities both. Finally, for pure horror, I really like Douglas Clegg, who is new, but pretty scary. Hes got a new book called "Naomi", which I haven't started yet.
Should be frightening...

 

Anything that involves Raistlin. Think I'm falling in love....

Anyway, woohoo for my first post.

 

Lord Balduran - I loved Weaveworld! That was very different and very creative. (Gotta get that mirrored coat)

On the "dark fantasy" note - I have to recommend Steven King's "Dark Tower" series. The Gunslinger is a great character. This is a classic tale with some very creative twists, not the same ol' story

(Example of the typical story:
small town boy is really a powerful mage but doesn't know it. Read along and watch him get a magic sword, a pretty girl friend and learn to shoot firebolts out of his arse!)

 

Favorite Book : Neuromancer

The only book I've been able to read countless times and get a new understanding each time I do.

 

I have several all-time favs:

The Riftwar series by Feist
Shannara series by Brooks
Amber series by Zelazny
Homecoming series by OSCard

Though I do like Stephen King, Dean Koontz, Michael Crichton, Cresham, and others.

 

Although a big fan of LotR, and the Wheel of Time (up to book 3, the plot just seemed to keep meandering off into oblivion after that), I'd have to say the best read I've had to date would be Victor Hugo's masterpiece Les Miserables. Also up there are the works of Chuck Palahiuk, ie Fight Club and Survivor.
I'm currently, however, working on Niel Stephenson's Snow Crash, and it's aiming for the near top of my list.


[This message has been edited by Alex (edited July 18, 2001).]

 

Dune, I just love this story

 

I'm trying to read LoTR(again). I think if I get past The Fellowship, I'll be homefree. I'm reserving judgement until I finish completely(though the fact this is my 4th attempt to read through should be something of an indicator for my current opinion).

My favorite books/serie are...
Series: Toss-up between the Wheel of Time and the Death Gate Cycle.
Short stories: Lovecraft, baby.
Individual books is tough...but Steven Brust's novel of the Beginning and the Revolt of the Angels To Reign in Hell is at the top of the list now(not a preachy book, completely redefines the story of Heaven and the Fall of certain angels).

 

Anything by Raymond E. Feist, best author I know. And Michael Moorcock for the really odd stuff.

I don't like Tolkien either. So flame me

 

Tom Clancy's Red Storm Rising was the best book that i had ever read, and i am in the middle of Rainbow Six right now. He's got to be one of the best writers ever.(IMHO)

They should make a movie out of Red Storm Rising... Or maybe not, the pyro technics might cost to much.(yet another reason to love that book, they blow all kinds of sh*t up )

[This message has been edited by jack-of-all-trades (edited July 20, 2001).]