Ta Da! The Fantasy List!

[harmony_bites]

I've been reading off this list from The Complete Idiot's Guide to the Ultimate Reading List and did a post on the Romance List--which is my least favorite genre. Now I just finished the list of my favorite genre, the Fantasy List. Naturally I'd read a lot more of these to begin with and I liked a lot more. I tried to rate the below on something of

Comments

[imhilien]

Novik - I like these, but only in a lukewarm way. Having said that, I hope Peter Jackson gets around to filming them - the first three, at least. :)

Pterry - Love him. I recommend 'Going Postal' which is a good read as well as being a scathing critique on the way utility companies can go downhill when privatised. Yup.

Putney - I can recommend her 'The Marriage Spell', set in Regency England where magic exists (the upper classes here sneer at magic, because it ignores class barriers).

Sinclair - 'An Accidental Goddess' is her weakest story, IMHO, but don't let that put you off her other sci-fi / rom books. I recently re-read her 'Finders Keepers' and was sad to finish it (again).

[harmony_bites]

I hope Peter Jackson gets around to filming them

I loved the Novik books--the first one made me cry--which is rare and I love Temeraire--he makes the books for me. I'm looking forward to what Jackson will make of them in a CGI era post-Avatar where flying dragons can be brought off.

Sinclair - 'An Accidental Goddess' is her weakest story, IMHO, but don't let that put you off her other sci-fi / rom books. I recently re-read her 'Finders Keepers' and was sad to finish it (again).

The problem is I hated her style. Very romance novel with frequent and over the top descriptions of how gorgeous the hero and heroine are. I found it painful to read and style tends to be something that usually stays consistent, though some authors (Tamora Pierce comes to mind) do grow.

[cleobulle]

Ah, reading your list made me eye my dusty GRRM books on my bookshelf. I think I've given hope of ever seeing the series completed. I only really liked a couple of characters anyway

[harmony_bites]

Terry Pratchett. Love. Love. Love. You might want to try the TV adaptations.

Didn't know of those. I'm reading and loving Good Omens right now.

I second what Imhilien said about Sinclair. AG is her weakest book. But she does writes SFR with a strong accent on the R of Romance. I don't know what she was doing on a Fantasy rec list.

I suspect they wrote up the list with a general reader more than fantasy reader in mind, so listed writers that have crossover appeal--otherwise I can't understand not only listing Sinclair but Asaro, Dayton (both their books "Luna" imprints from Harlequin) Putney or Spencer on a top 40 fantasy list--they just don't belong there--but I think they were trying to hit the "paranormal romance" reader with those.

Don't understand Drake's presence either. Brooks, Jordan, Jacques, Maguire I at least get. I might think their books run from mediocre to awful, but they're popular within the fantasy genre so would be naturals to list.

I also second the rec for the Princess Bride movie. It's better than the book

[cleobulle]

I understand the need for a crossover appeal. Many people get sucked in that way. It makes them try books they'd never have been interested in before.

I hope you enjoy Stardust and The Princess Bride if you manage to get a hold of them.

A very short and non-spoilery MV of Stardust to give you a feel of the look of the movie:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oBqlKgvrh1o
Prince Septimus is not the main character but he is my favorite.

I myself found the Neverwhere dvd by chance while browsing through Play.com. I'd no idea that more of Gaiman's work had been made into movies/miniseries. I was originally browsing for some BBC documentaries that I could use in class when I came across it. That was a very good surprise.

[death_ofme]

I can't believe someone else has read Mercedes Lackey - maybe it's just over here where I'm from where no one has fucking heard about her XD (although I would reccomend "Take a Thief" for a first timer as it's a compelling story that holds up on its own without needing to know anything about the universe, but a good introduction to her trademark world as well). Did you know she has a new series out? Go check it out *pushes out the door*

Also....Richard Adams *fluttery sigh* I remember reading Watership Down when I was eleven and thinking "whoa...the world's dark" haha. And then the CBC broadcast the animated television series for children...which was still incredibly traumatic. Ahh, Mr. Adams, with WD and Plague Dogs he singlehandedly created the most fodder for "disturbing children's films not actually meant for children".

(btw - I know you've been quiet and all recently....but are you going to be around for the Exchange? *puppy eyes*)

[harmony_bites]

Did you know she has a new series out? Go check it out *pushes out the door*

I loved Lackey in early adulthood (as in right out of my teens) and feel she was at her best back then. I haven't liked her new stuff for a while--hated her "Mags" and this patois in the Collegium Chronicles. So these days I don't jump on it when she has something new--but yeah, I am (was?) a fan, and have read tons of her books.

(btw - I know you've been quiet and all recently....but are you going to be around for the Exchange? *puppy eyes*I don't rule out popping back in someday. I still have a WIP I'd hate to leave unfinished, although I'm both writer's blocked and still feel this day after Thanksgiving stuffed when it comes to Snape/Hermione. Otoh, I still love that pairing, although every times I've had a jonesing for them and have peeked on Ashwinder (aside from a new story by Bambu) I haven't exactly been impressed--more like repulsed. Almost all the authors I loved are gone, and those I was close to (and am still close to as RL friends) are no