Robin Hobb

[Saturos]

I am starting to run out of books to read, so I think it's time I buy a new series or two. I am considering to author Robin Hobb, and his three trilogies, The Farseer, The Liveship Traders, and The Tawny Man. But I want some opinions first. Should I go for Hobb, or are there other better out there?
My favourite fantasy authors are Eddings, Tolkien, Feist and Martin.

[Melusine]

Err, Robin Hobb is a "she".
Her books are definitely worth the read! I've read the first two trilogies and they are awesome. This coming from a literature student who thinks Eddings is utter crap, so if you liked him you'll love Hobb.
I'd recommend you start with the Farseer books and then move to the Liveship ones, because that's the order she wrote them in, and if you pay attention you'll find little references and hints in the latter series that point back to the former. Very cool. [img]smile.gif[/img]

[Sir Taliesin]

<font color=orange>Hobb is an excellent writer! Another good writer, who I like better than Hobbs is J.V. Jones and her Baker Boy Series! But either would be excellent!</font>

[ 04-19-2004, 04:41 PM: Message edited by: Sir Taliesin ]

[RoSs_bg2_rox]

yep I agree. I've read the Farseer Trilogy and the Tawny Man. Both brilliant reads! Highly Recommended!

[Saturos]

Originally posted by Melusine: Err, Robin Hobb is a "she".

Did not know that. Will do my research better next time. [img]tongue.gif[/img]

What would you guys say is Hobbs best qualities as a writer? What makes her books so enjoyable?

[Thoran]

Within the first chapter of the book you'll know the writer is a she (I did), the point of view is subtly femanine. Little things, like all the burly sailors spending and embarrasingly significant amount of time talking about their feelings. [img]smile.gif[/img]

She's one of my favorite authors, I thought the Liveship series was refreshingly origonal and incredibly imaginative. The characters were relatively standard epic fantasy form, but there were enough twists and turns in the well architected plot to keep things very interesting. Additionally, the characters were INTERESTING, they had lots of depth (courtesy of the aforementioned femanine POV) and sufficient complexity (not Martin level but better than most authors) to keep you wanting to know what's going to happen to them.

She's on my "Highly Recommended" list of authors.

[Davros]

I had read all the authors you had listed Saturos, and liked them all. When I started to read Hobbs though, she became my favourite. The Farseer trilogy was I think her best work, but the other 2 series continue on with the world and (moreso in the 3rd series) the characters she developed in the first 2.

I don't agree that it is easy to pick that Robin is female from the writing style. The first books had a wonderfully dark quality. I am sure that I made the same gender mistake as Saturos about 2 years ago .

[Thoran]

I was thinking more along the lines of character development being the area where I could tell.

I've personally not seen a bias in female sci-fi/fantasy authors towards light/airy writing... they seem to be as capable of dark brooding atmosphere as the guys.

C.J. Cherrah is one of my favorite sci-fi authers (and one of my favorites overall) and I doubt anyone could detect her gender based on writing style... but with Robin it was pretty obvious (to me).

[RoSs_bg2_rox]

I also didnt find it obvious, infact I did thing she was a male for a time, but then I found out one day through something or other, so no, for me the writing didnt seem feminine in anyway.

[Saturos]

Alright, thanks for your input, guys. Needless to say that I have already ordered her first series? [img]smile.gif[/img]