Top 10 SF and Fantasy Novels?

[herongale]

So, NPR is doing this thing where they are going to put together a "Top 100 Science Fiction and Fantasy Novels" list. Earlier they solicited nominations for potential titles, and now they are asking for people to vote: to vote, you are asked to check off your favorite ten (only ten!) titles and submit your ballot

Comments

[herongale]

Hey, there was a lot on that list that I've never read, too. Most of it is stuff I never intend to even try reading. It's not like I'm averse to reading the classics but something has to spark my interest first.

AND I KIND OF KNEW YOU WOULD VOTE FOR THE BELGARIAD. That was honestly one of my runner-up choices. I don't consider that series to be especially well written (it's not written any better than the J.K. Rowling books imho) BUT THAT DOESN'T EVEN MATTER BECAUSE EACH BOOK AND EACH CHARACTER IS AWESOME. Also, Eddings really had a knack for informal snarky dialogue, and I believe the Belgariad is where you see those skills at his height. I totally know what you mean about feeling like the characters are friends of yours. I feel that way about a lot of them, too.

Ahhh Mercedes Lackey. SHE WAS MY FIRST INTRO TO CANONICAL SLASH TOO. But my favorite series of hers would be the "Heralds of Valdemar" trilogy, featuring Talia. The second book in that series in particular always got to me because I loved Kris and it is pretty much the DEFINITION of the perfect "blanket fic." All that time Talia and Kris spent holed up in that cabin in the forest in the snow... DELICIOUS.

And The Wheel of Time series is almost finished! The last book should be coming out early next year. NOW THAT I KNOW YOU ARE A FAN I WILL BE SURE TO LET YOU KNOW ONCE IT'S OUT SINCE I WOULD ADORE TO HEAR YOUR OPINIONS OF EVERYTHING. I think you'd really like the overall direction that series has gone and I feel pretty confident that Sanderson is going to end it in a kickass fashion. XDDDD

[silverthunder]

Oh, I'll freely admit that David Eddings is not as skilled a writer as - say - George R.R. Martin. But he is 100% more enjoyable, in my opinion. I can't even count how many times I've re-read his books, and the Belgariad is the one I've read the most. Mainly because it was the first, but also because I love the characters in it more than any other series of his.

Also - YES to the snarky dialogue. I love it. Very, very much. In fact, I used to have a whole bunch of bookmarks in each book so I could go back to my favorite funny bits.

I recently re-read some of Mercedes Lackey's Valdemar series, including "Heralds of Valdemar" and "Last Herald-Mage". I have to admit, I prefer the latter, but to be fair I read it first. I loved Kris, too, and was devastated by book 3. Maybe a little bit of me would've preferred Talia to end up with Kris. I like Dirk and all, but still.

I was obsessed with The Wheel of Time when I was first reading it (I think I was about 16 or so). I even made an Aes Sedai costume for Halloween. I didn't find a ring that was exactly right (at the time, I wasn't as much of an Internet junkie as I am now), but it was still fun.

I was so hardcore in love with Mat, too. I used to speculate endlessly on what kind of person his future wife was going to be. I never actually got far enough in the books to even meet her, though. I HOPE SHE IS AWESOME.

I also hope I can get them all in ebook format! I am collecting everything on my Kindle now. XD

[herongale]

MAT'S PROPHESIED BRIDE IS TOTALLY AWESOME. I love her to pieces. SHE HAS A LOT OF FLAWS BUT SHE CALLS MAT "TOY" AND JOKES ABOUT MAKING HIM HER CUPBEARER (a kind of sexy slave).

I WILL SAY NO MORE BECAUSE THAT GETS US INTO SPOILER TERRITORY.

P.S. you should see the ebook versions of the Robert Jordan books. THE COVERS ARE SO PRETTY. It's startling since I just got used to how craptastic the hard-copy covers are. It is my hope that when the series is complete that the republish the books all as hardcovers and softcovers with the NEW art, which is 1000000 times better.

[silverthunder]

I did go and check out the ebook versions, and wow! What an improvement! I remember thinking the original covers were kind of goofy-looking. I'm glad to see that new art is being done for the ebook editions; hopefully they re-release it in print, too.

I am actually kind of excited now! Can't wait to see what happens! SUCH HIGH HOPES FOR THE DYNAMIC BETWEEN MAT AND HIS FUTURE WIFE NOW ZOMG.