I'm looking for a new fantasy series to pick up. A friend of mine recommended this series, but I want some outside opinions.

They're the best. [img]graemlins/thumbsup.gif[/img] Check them out.. you won't regret it.

[ 10-25-2004, 12:44 PM: Message edited by: Dreamer128 ]

Ok, cool.

Now, how "fantasy" are they? Is there magic? Other races? Classic fantasy races (elves, dwarves, orcs, goblins), or new ones?

Without spoiling too much: It's mainly humans but there are some other races. Don't expect a FR scenario though. There is also some magic, but it's not very common.

Best fantasy series ever, in my opinion.

It's a custom world, but a LOTR clone, so no elves here.

It start out as a more realistic medieval world, but he introduce more fantastic and supernatural elements as the story goes on. I think it's well done, it really make it seem like something special, instead of the overabundance of magic on other books.

Hum, I've never heard of it. Can I get a bit of backround story on it? I'm kind of looking for some new reading myself.

Background story would spoil, just get it... [img]tongue.gif[/img]

Go get it, get it now... why are you still reading this? It is (I believe) the greatest fantasy series ever written.

just bought it and started reading today. I'm on chapter 3, and its pretty cool so far!

Luvian, I'm asking you because you're in canada too. Where would be the best place to buy it at the best price?
Amazon.com has it for 3.50. I guess that's US and I don't know if that's new or used, plus shipping.

[ 10-26-2004, 10:02 PM: Message edited by: Variol (Farseer) Elmwood ]

What are the other titles in the series?

I bought mines at Chapters at full price.

Go here

Well, I'm not sure if that was helpful. If I go by order of top to
bottom it's:
1. Storm of Swords
2. A Clash of Kings
3. A Game of Thrones

Does that sound right?

[ 10-27-2004, 07:18 AM: Message edited by: Variol (Farseer) Elmwood ]

Well, I'm not sure if that was helpful. If I go by order of top to
bottom it's:
1. Storm of Swords
2. A Clash of Kings
3. A Game of Thrones

Does that sound right? </font>[/QUOTE]1: A Game of Thrones
2:A Clash of Kings
3: A Storm of Swords

Ok, Ok, I put a hold on it at the Library!

I read the first two, now for the next two(book 3 is in 2 parts). Really superb writing, and an awesome plot! Tyrion rules!
The writing style and general plot is quite simillar to Dune series, and I like the little things, conspiracies and such and such.

[ 10-28-2004, 04:28 AM: Message edited by: Bozos of Bones ]

It's only in the UK version of them books that the 3rd one is in 2 parts methinks. And yeah, them be really really great... halfway through A Clash of Kings meself.

Thr french version has been split in 9 books.

After reading this thread, I'm going to pick these up ASAP.

If you can krunchyfrogg, do the library thing. You just never know how you'll feel about 'em.

Any news on the MUCH overdue Feast for Crows?

Georgie is certainly taking his time, but that's the price of getting into a series before it's complete. He'll get it out when it's done... I've seen dates as far out as late 2005 (although based on the updates on his website it seems he should be closer than that).

I'd rather have it RIGHT than fast... but hopefully he can do both before I'm 80 and too blind to read it. :D

btw: Here's my normal response to "Is 'A Song of Ice and Fire' any good?"
- It's the best Fantasy series since Hobbits and the Professor legitamized the genre.

or to steal some dialog from "The Princess Bride"...

(dread pirate roberts) "Are they really that good"
(sicilian) "Do you know Jordan, Williams, Bradley?"
(dread pirate roberts) "yes"
(sicilian) "HACKS!"

[ 11-03-2004, 04:36 PM: Message edited by: Thoran ]

Well, the problem with "right" rather than "fast" is, as you said, that I'm not getting any younger. Worse -- neither is JRR Martin. He and Cheney look like they have the same dietician.

I'm still waiting for a call from the library myself, but I was just thinking, it's about time for a new one by Terry Brooks. I met him 2 years a go at a book signing here in Halifax. He said this would be the last in the Shanara series for a while and than he was starting on something else for a while... can't remember what though?

Well, I just finished "Tanequil" by Terry Brooks, his lastest. It was good but he left me hanging again!
I picked up Game of Thrones when I returned Tanequil which was on hold for me. I'm at page 15 now and didn't read the prologue, so just a few pages in. It looks like it will be pretty good though.

Methinks you should read the prologue(s)...

Why did you skip the prologue??

It's like playing Baldur's Gate II without ever doing Irenicus's Dungeon...

I thought the Prologue was just a bit out of the book? Or was my wife wrong? Ok, I'll read it.

[ 11-22-2004, 07:02 PM: Message edited by: Variol (Farseer) Elmwood ]

The prologue is a run down of what has happened before the book.

I'm loving this book. I've had a lot of stuff (real life stinks sometimes, doesn't it?) get in the way, but I'm back to reading!

I was lucky enough to notice an Appendix in the back, which is really helping me keep track of all of the characters. There really are a lot in this first book, and I can only imagine more showing up as the books progress.

I have to say, I really love the detail in each character, and not being able to easily distinguish every "good guy" or "bad guy." These characters are much more like "real" people than in many other novels I've read.

I have also started reading these books. Don't get to attached to some characters as he does kill some off.

Also don't read it to fast. He hasn't finished the series yet!!!!!

Appendix eh! Well, that might help 'cos I'm starting to find that he's one of these dumb author's that uses words that nobody knows or understands. His sentence structure also leaves something to be desired. Sorry, I hate to crap on it but I've always been just an average reader and when I have to stumble through a book for no reason I get bored!

Well, french is my first language, and I didn't have any problem with any of the words, but I read a lot...

Just be prudent with the Appendix, sometimes the description it give can spoil.

The brilliance with GRRM is that there's so much hidden meaning in his writing - even if you reread them three or four times you'll pick things up you didn't before, nothing is as it seems. He's huge on symbolism and really makes you think. And yes, he's not shy about killing off or maiming or brutalising key characters - this is gritty fantasy at its best.

Here's a non-spoiler excerpt which typifies GRRM's writing, from the POV of one of the key characters in book 1:

-----
He dreamt an old dream, of three knights in white cloaks, and a tower long fallen, and Lyanna in her bed of blood.

In the dream his friends rode with him, as they had in life. Proud Martyn Cassel, Jory's father; faithful Theo Wull; Ethan Glover, who had been Brandon's squire; Ser Mark Ryswell, soft of speech and gentle of heart; the crannogman, Howland Reed; Lord Dustin on his great red stallion. Ned had known their faces as well as he knew his own once, but the years leech at a man's memories, even those he has vowed never to forget. In the dream they were only shadows, grey wraiths on horses made of mist.

They were seven, facing three. In the dream as it had been in life. Yet these were no ordinary three. They waited before the round tower, the red mountains of Dorne at their backs, their white cloaks blowing in the wind. And these were no shadows; their faces burned clear, even now. Ser Arthur Dayne, the Sword of the Morning, had a sad smile on his lips. The hilt of the greatsword Dawn poked up over his right shoulder. Ser Oswell Whent was on one knee, sharpening his blade with a whetstone. Across his white-enameled helm, the black bat of his House spread its wings. Between them stood fierce old Ser Gerold Hightower, the White Bull, Lord Commander of the Kingsguard.

"I looked for you on the Trident," Ned said to them.

"We were not there," Ser Gerold answered.

"Woe to the Usurper if we had been," said Ser Oswell.

"When King's Landing fell, Ser Jaime slew your king with a golden sword, and I wondered where you were."

"Far away," Ser Gerold Said, "or Aerys would yet sit the Iron Throne, and our false brother would burn in seven hells."

"I came down on Storm's End to lift the seige," Ned told them, "and the Lords Tyrell and Redwyne dipped their banners, and all their knights bent the knee to pledge us fealty. I was certain you would be among them."

"Our knees do not bend easily," said Ser Arthur Dayne.

"Ser Willem Darry is fled to Dragonstone, with your queen and Prince Viserys. I thought you might have sailed with him."

"Ser Willem is a good man and true," said Ser Oswell.

"But not of the Kingsguard," Sir Gerold pointed out. "The Kingsguard does not flee."

"Then or now," said Ser Arthur. He donned his helm.

"We swore a vow," explained old Ser Gerold.

Ned's wraiths moved up beside him, with shadow swords in hand. They were seven against three.

"And now it begins," said Ser Arthur Dayne, the Sword of the Morning. He unsheathed Dawn and held it with both hands. The blade was pale as milkglass, alive with light.

"No," Ned said with sadness in his voice. "Now it ends." As they came together in a rush of steel and shadow, he could hear Lyanna screaming. "Eddard!" she called. A storm of rose petals blew across a blood-streaked sky, as blue as the eyes of death.

From A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin
---------

I feel very clever since Memnoch explained the events around this scene some time ago, and I can't wait to see when it will come out.

Or if it will, it wouldn't surprise me if G.R.R. Martin just left it like that, something we can figure out as the reader, but that the character from that world never learn.

Ok, I'm going to quote a couple of lines on page 31. These are some of the things that I feel are really not necessary in a book and could at least be wirded a different way!

"And if you must wed him and bed him you will. He smiled at her. I'd let his whole khalasar fvck you if need be, sweet sister, all forty thousand men, and their horses too if that is what it took to get my army.

Unneseccary..

I don't see your point Variol, but if that passage offends then you better stop reading right now, cos it doesn't change. It's not a set of books for the faint hearted - he tells things pretty bluntly. Gregor's little speech at the end of the duel in the latest book is a certainly more lurid than that passage you have thrown up.

I agree with Davros... Martin's characters are as real as any I've ever read in a Fantasy novel, and you're going to run into MANY situations that will be as offensive as the above paragraph. Real people do and say things that are barbaric and inhumane, and so do Martin's. Certainly these books aren't for everyone, it's not light reading. A lot of people read fantasy for the uplifting stories, they want good vs. evil, the high epic form. Martin won't give you that, so I think his style definitely will turn off a lot of readers.

Usually when I recomend G.R.R. Martin I tell people it's a "dark" world, with shade of gray. I think I've forgotten to mention it recently.