In trying (but failing) to win a free Harry Potter iPod, I managed to score 1 free audiobook from audible.com. I need a little help in the decision-making process. I was thinking of a classic, but I prefer to read and digest those over time, so I think I’ll make an attempt to expand my knowledge in the Fantasy Fiction genre.
To that end, I’ve narrowed it down to two authors that I’ve wanted to start reading for a while: Robert Jordan and Terry Brooks. From the former, I’d start the Wheel of Time series, and for the latter, the first in the Shanarrah series.
If you’ve read them, let me know which I should choose and why. (Or, if you have some other, much better recommendation, feel free to give it).
Update: The responses so far have been basically thumbs down on both Jordan and Brooks. Feel free to suggest others, in any genre. Thanks!
Final Update: I went to the audible.com site and checked out the recommended books…then I had an idea: this is 1 free book, and I might as well make it an expensive one to get the most out of it. So despite wanting to “read” a few of the books you all mentioned, I chose Wicked by Gregory Maguire (I’ve been wanting to pick it up for a while). It’s longer and more expensive than the ones you recommended, and it’s much less likely to be regularly available at my local library than a better known work like Leguin.
Thanks for all your input.
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{ 11 comments… read them below or add one }
I’ve read the Wheel of Time series in fits and starts (I’ve made it through most of the fourth book). It is quite good but the books are very long and the series will apparently never end. I’ve read some complaints that the middle books slow to a crawl.
What I have read, however, has been original and entertaining. I’m just daunted by the size of each of the 11 books.
After I read “The Sword of Shanarrah” I felt like I’d just fought my way through an obvious LotR rip-off. The characters are shallower, but they match up almost identically with the original “fellowship” in book 1. It’s not horrible; word is that Brooks was actually commissioned to write the book to cash in on Tolkien fans hungering for more.
I’ve read Brooks’s autobiography/how to write book, Sometimes the Magic Works, and he is very explicit about his debt to Tolkien and his attempt to write in a very similar vein. Maybe he overdid it a bit.
Like others have said already, the Wheel of TIme series is a loooonnggg one and “Sword of Shannara” is a Tolkien rip-off. However, I would personally go with “Wheel of Time” simply because that kept my interst for at least 5 books whereas I had to force myself to finish “S of S”.
I would recommend neither. Jordan needs an editor with complete knowledge of his final vision to cut back all the unnecessary words. Pratchett rips off Tolkien to a ridiculous degree. (That said, I did actually read the first 8 Wheel of Time books, but I haven’t bothered with the latest one.)
I would suggest, rather, The Book of Three by Lloyd Alexander, which is available at audible.com – it’s the first of another quintessential fantasy series based loosely on Welsh mythology.
I agree with everyone else; though I would advise against both of these authors if you have other choices.
Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell, by Susanna Clarke
The Curse of Chalion, by Lois McMaster Bujold
A Wizard of Earthsea, by Ursula LeGuin
The Blue Sword, by Robin McKinley
The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant the Unbeliever, by Stephen R. Donaldson (I think book 1 is called Lord Foul’s Bane.)
Those are all, imho, good bets. A couple are found in the YA section but are great nonetheless (ageless as HP is ageless).
Ditto, Stephanie. I highly recommend the “Chronicles of Prydain” by Lloyd Alexander. I read them when I was younger; I still remember the titles: The Book of Three, The Black Cauldron, The Castle of Llyr, Taran Wanderer, The High King. They are written for children, kind of like the Narnia books and don’t have quite the depth or appeal of Harry Potter.
I didn’t jump in earlier since I can longer check blogs from work (probably a good thing), but I read Wicked over the summer and enjoyed the idea– fleshing out the history of the Wicked Witch of the West. There’s quite a bit of stuff in there that might disagree with you in places, but I thought the overall narrative satisfying, in that he took the land of Oz to places I’d never thought about before, from politics to mystery religions to social ills of Munchkinland. I’d be interested in reading some of his other books– especially Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister. I saw quite a few of his titles for $1 at Goodwill this summer, but something kept me from picking them up. Maybe one day… let me know what you think. It fits well in the modern remake of fairy tales genre (if there is such a thing…I KNOW I’ve read a book or story like that but I can’t think of any at the moment other than Maguire’s).
Allison, isn’t there one out there from the wolf’s point of view (as opposed to the three little pigs)?
I know I’m too late and all, but..
Wheel of time = Waste of time
If you want a good recommendation (in my opinion) you cannot go past the Assassin, Liveship Traders and Fool series by Robin Hobb aka Megan Lindholm. Excellent stuff!
Matt
Terry Brooks Word and Void Series is a very good choice. Better than the others. Also the Magic Kingdom of Landover series is a good one too.