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#1 |
Lord Soth
![]() Join Date: March 5, 2001
Location: Southern California
Posts: 1,948
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There used to be a thread about the farseer trilogy here and I have no idea where it went, so I am starting this thread.
Everybody was going on about how great these books were and how they were the best books they ever read and so on. On several peoples advice I went out and picked them up. I know I might catch some crap for this, but here is my opinion on them: Robin Hobb is truly an excellent author who weaves a very coherent, and consistent story. In no way can I knock her writing ability. That said, for some reason after finishing the trilogy, I didn't enjoy them nearly as much as I thought I would. So I'm sitting here kind of wondering what aspect of the books did it for you. When I read a book, the story line is very important to me, but what really does it for me is the characters. I like to fall in love with the characters. I like to feel like I'm tagging along for a ride with someone who I know and admire. This book didn't give me that. While very developed, the main character, FitzChivalry was an empty hero. I tried to like him. You don't understand how badly I wanted to like him, but for the majority of the story, he was somebody that I wouldn't like. I didn't admire him. He wasn't the type of character that got me excited when he fought some big villian or did some great deed. He had some potentially cool abilities but he never developed or particularly wanted to develop them. He was an emotional basket case as well. If they had prozac back then, he would have been a definate canditate for it's use. His emotional roller coaster would go up and down through emotions that didn't seem natural. By that I mean, I found it hard to understand why he felt the way he did in a lot of situations. This too made it difficult for me to relate to him. All in all they were good books, and I did get some enjoyment out of them, but just not as much as I was expecting to. So, did you like these books? If so, why? ------------------ "The object of war is not to die for your country but to make the other bastard die for his." -General George Patton (1885-1945) ![]() Member of CLAN HADB [This message has been edited by MILAMBER (edited 08-16-2001).] |
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#2 |
Ironworks Moderator
![]() Join Date: March 1, 2001
Location: Midlands, South Carolina
Age: 49
Posts: 14,759
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Although I do not own these novels, I had to mention to you that I feel that you portrayed an excellent opinion.
Your in-depth perception of why you did not like it was well done. Sorry you did not like the novels, however. I never go by what other people tell me is a good read. Maybe I should. Maybe I am missing out on alot by restricting myself to the Forgotten Realms only. Yet, I do not feel deprived. I get my fulfillment of great stories with the plot that sucks you in and makes you cry for the death of a character, or scared to enter a cavern for what may lie ahead. I love that moment as the whole house is quite and still, and everyone is asleep except me, since I have to finish that last chapter before retiring, and then as I am reading, my mind sees the show as though it were a movie, and I no longer am just reading words. ------------------ ![]() Devoted member of the Ironworks Loyal guardian of the OHF Member of the Ancients' club |
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#3 |
Baaz Draconian
![]() Join Date: March 1, 2001
Location: ?
Age: 41
Posts: 729
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here is the farseer thread http://www.ironworksforum.com/ubb/No...ML/000078.html
it's kinka odd the resons you put for not liking it is exactly why I loved it. what I mean is that I loved the storyline and I could get into it. when FitzChivalry did end up in trouble I did want him to suceed. I think the reson why I could get into this so much was because he wasn't realy a hero. take err Batman for example when he fights some great vilian you already know that Batman will win and save the day but with Fitz it was different. you never realy knew if he would suceed or not because unlike other fantasy books the main character does mess up and get into trouble and not always save the day. but that's just my reson. ------------------ ![]() Drake A.K.A. bocaj |
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#4 |
Silver Dragon
![]() ![]() ![]() Join Date: March 4, 2001
Location: Knoxville, TN USA
Age: 62
Posts: 1,641
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<font color=orange>I enjoyed the Farseer series, but like you I wasn't enthralled the way I have been with say J.R.R. Tolkien, George R. Martin or J.V. Jones. She does do a fair job of fleshing out her books, which I like immensely. I just can't get into the charactors totally. They aren't always very likeable. Having said that, I will continue reading her new books though!</font>
------------------ Sir Taliesin ![]() If they take my gun can I still use my Axe? |
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#5 |
Silver Dragon
![]() ![]() ![]() Join Date: March 14, 2001
Location: Agharti. Mountains of Madness
Posts: 1,673
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I wrote a review somewhere but just to recap, The farseer books shit down from a great heigth upon every other book in the genre and not content with that they kick out all their teeth for good measure. It really is that good and perhaps the most refreshing thing about it was the non supermen charecters instead it was beautiful,human and touching instead of morally upright twerps doing acrobatics with scimitars, if you know who I mean.
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#6 |
Drow Warrior
![]() Join Date: June 13, 2003
Location: Never Never Land
Age: 55
Posts: 267
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This series definitly wasn't that great (good idea - assasin, average execution). I'll take Brust's world and char.s any day over Hobbs (though yes it is very YIN in style.)
The series was almost entirly on char. development, and the char.s were not that intresting. The "world" simply wasn't there, only a couple of places w/ any detail The magical aspect of the "world" was poorly fleshed out. The ending "revelation" was VERY weak. I did enjoy the fact that the main-char. didn't go uber. I also enjoyed the first book and its Life-at-the-Keep, as well as assasin development for the fitz's. All in all, average (at least compared to the books I've read). |
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#7 |
Guest
Posts: n/a
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I liked the Farseer trilogy mainly because it was pretty original. In most fantasy books it's just pure good against pure evil, and after many dangers, the weaker good comes out victorious (nothing wrong with that, BTW). In these books, however, things didn't turn out as you would expect at all. I think this was one of the strongest points of the book, altough is was also it's weakness.
First of all, you'd expect quite a lot of assassinations, just from the title alone. Instead, there were practically none. Then, a lot later on, Verity sets out to get the dragons, but instead of returning at the head of a large army, Fitz finds out that the dragons are all 'dead'. And finally, when you've read through the books, it becomes clear that there's noone who can be blamed for what happened. Regal wasn't evil, the raiders didn't start the war, Galen didn't blast the skill out of Fitz and so on. But on the other hand, the fact that the Elfbark they used to improve skilling was actually bad was something which I think was a wonderful development, and the 'we-are-pack' thing with Nighteyes was something I liked aswell (among many other things) The thing about these books is, that they're not what you've expected, and that can mean they can leave you a bit unsatisfied. But, like I said, that's what's best about them too. ------------------ The last arrow of Legolas kindled in the air as it flew, and plunged burning into the heart of a great wolf-chieftain. All the others fled. -J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings |
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#8 |
Thoth - Egyptian God of Wisdom
![]() Join Date: March 12, 2001
Location: Birmingham, West Mid\'s, England
Age: 88
Posts: 2,859
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Milamber, I understand your viewpoint, but I don't agree with it! He is an anti-hero, but since we meet him as a child and know the reasons for the way he develops, it is perfectly possible to both like and understand him, even when he does things that are abhorent - and we know HE abhors them too. Remember, he never WANTED to be an Assassin. He hated it. But he felt he had no options. Robin Hobb created a fully believable personality, and her writing is superb.
------------------ ![]() ![]() [This message has been edited by Fljotsdale (edited 09-06-2001).] |
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