Moderator Froggy the Great Posted July 13, 2004 Moderator Share Posted July 13, 2004 On the Cherryh thread, "Brothers of Earth" is a very very good book, and I'm never reading it again. It's the sort of book where the happy ending comes 1/4 into the book, and then you have to make it to the eventual satusfying ending after it all goes to heck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hexxenhammer Posted July 13, 2004 Share Posted July 13, 2004 Hi all, this is as good a place as any for my first post. David Drake's "Lord of the Isles" series is very good. And all of you CAV players need to read the "Hammer's Slammers" stories to get a real feel for future military action. Everything by David Drake is good though, especially "The Dragon Lord", a Howard pastiche set in a dark ages England ruled by Arthur, and "Birds of Prey", with a Roman secret agent trying to stop an alien invasion (and it's got dinosaurs!). I have to second Leiber. He's my all time fave. I've even got a Reaper version of Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser on my shelf. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FuzzyIzmit Posted July 13, 2004 Share Posted July 13, 2004 Books...who has time to read books anymore I wish I could read some of the ones you guys are suggesting, they sound really good. I have been working on the same book for 6 months now, and it isnt because I am a slow reader, it is because I cant find time to sit down and read anymore (although i have started to wash my laundry at a laundry mat, so that is a good place). There are so many other things i need to be doing...reading just gets left behind. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
turtle Posted July 13, 2004 Share Posted July 13, 2004 Books...who has time to read books anymore I wish I could read some of the ones you guys are suggesting, they sound really good. I have been working on the same book for 6 months now, and it isnt because I am a slow reader, it is because I cant find time to sit down and read anymore (although i have started to wash my laundry at a laundry mat, so that is a good place). There are so many other things i need to be doing...reading just gets left behind. Bachelor and I have recently (This weekend) joined a book Club. Because of the very fact you describe, Fuzzy, we chose one which only demands 1 book per month. And after 3 days, I'm only on page 2..... (I did read the foreqrd, though, which is like 10 pages, so I technically have gotten through about 12 pages in 3 days. Only 516 pages to go.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nasus Posted July 13, 2004 Share Posted July 13, 2004 Speaking of Cherryh, I'm in the middle of reading the Morgaine saga. I'm hooked now, but it was kinda hard to start. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mannblack Posted July 14, 2004 Share Posted July 14, 2004 Surprised no one mentioned the Dark Tower Series by Stephen King last book in the series is due out in Sept Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Qwyksilver Posted July 14, 2004 Share Posted July 14, 2004 I tend to read for my lunch break. It's the perfect time to escape reality for 30-60 minutes, which I definitely need on many days. I read fairly fast, so this usually allows me to get through at least a book a week. I also frequently read for an hour when I get home from work as a way to unwind. Reading before I go to bed is a VERY bad idea for me. Too often I have gotten to a point I was not willing to put down, and the next thing I know it is 4:30 AM, the sun is starting to poke its head up and I have to "get up" for work in two hours. I drag myself into work and usually the first comment I get is...good book eh? Just one more chapter is an evil habit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Decado Posted July 14, 2004 Share Posted July 14, 2004 Right now I am reading The Highwayman by RA Salvatore. its very good so far and highly I recommend his Demon War series. Decado Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Durak Posted July 14, 2004 Share Posted July 14, 2004 Right now I am reading The Highwayman by RA Salvatore. its very good so far and highly I recommend his Demon War series. Decado The Highwayman is quite a departure from his usual books. I thought however the dwarves were a little one sided however (no depth). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mgmaranda Posted July 14, 2004 Share Posted July 14, 2004 You want epic and to know the characters read Fritz Leiber, He was practically playing D&D years before it was released and his characters progress similarly. They start as newbs but get better cooler and always behave in a manner realistic to them and their world. They are some of the best and have spoiled me for so much else. Fritz Leiber: Excellent consistent, quick reading with detail and interesting plot ideas and execution that can match (something often lacking in new or original ideas) De Camp: can be good and epic though the characters are always clearly defined. They usually act consistently but don't always grow much. But the world and many of the quests feel grand. Lovecraft: Doesn't have epic heroes but epic beasts and villains. Tolkien: ‘Nuf said George R.R. Martin: is good but since he plans on writing at least 6 books and has taken over a year on book 4 you may just want to wait. But it is truly Epic and should be good once finished. (so don't hurt me if you like it) Lawrence Watt-Evans: worth reading his Duusura books are excellent and inovatice about the character epic in scale but with a light hearted twinge that is fun and keeps them from being too serious. (Lure of the Basilisk, The Sword of Behelue, 7 Altars of Dusuura and The Book of Silence) He also is writting a series called Dragon Weather or at least that is the first book's title, Dragon Society is the second and the third I can't think of the title to. But they were good reads as well. To keep it short there are others mostly old dusty and out of print but find Leiber and Watt-Evans if you haven't already. They are well worth it. I also will not critique other authors mentioned by people because it may not all be positive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Decado Posted July 15, 2004 Share Posted July 15, 2004 Durak, have you read any of the other Demon War novels? The whole line is a pretty big departure from his other works. A departure for the better IMHO. Don't get me wrong I really enjoy the Drizzt books and cannot wait for the next one to be released but the Demon War series really keep me on the edge of my seat because none of the characters are safe from getting killed off. I like that. I also think that the original Demon War trilogy has the best villian I have read. RAS has not done too much with the dwarves other then making them a pretty tough foe for the heroes to fight. I like the spin he put on them and would like to see a few explored with further depth myself. Decado Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deflagratio Posted July 19, 2004 Share Posted July 19, 2004 Hip Hip for Lawrence Watt-Evans. The third book in the Dragon Weather series is Dragon venom though I don't know if it is out yet. The Actual book dragon weather is a great read. It reminds me a lot of Count of Monte Cristo. A boy excapes slavery, gets rich, learns sword play, and goes for revenge. One of the great things about this book is that the main drive comes not from the fantasy aspect of the book but from a pschychological (me no spell good) standpoint. Orson Scott Card: Read The Ender's Game series up to Xenocide. The entire Ender's Shadow series. David Gemmel: The rigarante series is ok. The first 1 one is the best as it deals with the extremes of masculinity from true chivalry to the bloodthirsting. Beowulf: LLLLOOOOOVVVEEEEEEEEDDDDDDDD it. A must read for everyone. A classic tale of a huge warrior slaying monstrous creatures with his bare hands and of dragon slaying. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle: Morte d'Arthur is a very very very long and slow read but it is the most wildly known version of the legend of King Arthur. LOTS AND LOTS of small short stories about the other knights of the round table and constantly uses the same phrases over and over but to any Arthur nut it is a must read. Gotrek and Felix: A tale of a Trollslayer who is too strong to die and the scholar/swordsman who has sworn to follow him and right an epic based on their adventures and Gotrek's death. Awsome read working through the first one right now. Frank Herbert: Dune is one of my all favorite books. Sadly the series declines in a spiral that starts in the second book and seems about to crash into the 8th level of heck with the recently written prequels by his son and a crappy starwars writer. Brian Jacques: My favorite author for the longest time. I started reading the Redwall books in 5th grade and didn't stop until tenth. Sadly the most recent ones are teh suck. Well there is my long winded 2 times god knows how many cents. Hope you read some of these and enjoy. Also J.R.R. TOLKIEN: LORD OF FANTASY WRITING. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mourningcloud Posted July 21, 2004 Share Posted July 21, 2004 Sir Arthur Conan Doyle: Morte d'Arthur is a very very very long and slow read but it is the most wildly known version of the legend of King Arthur. LOTS AND LOTS of small short stories about the other knights of the round table and constantly uses the same phrases over and over but to any Arthur nut it is a must read. actually deflagratio the actual le morte d'Arthur is sir thomas mallory old sir arty conan (not "arnie" conan hehe) wrothe the infallible Sherlock Holmes series, among others, which are excellent unto themselves. i saw someone who mentioned gotrek and felix on this thread-well ill give away some of the best kept secrets of current game inspired writing if you all are interested... anyone?... well since i have absolutely no proof anyone even reads my too-long posts, ill give them away anyway. Warhemmer (40k actually)- the Gaunts Ghosts by Dan Abnett. excellent. masterful. his writing is so smooth and vivid you can practically smell the soldiers, the ozone from las-rounds, the stink of chaos. i swear i hear people shouting in the background during the battle scenes. anything by him is well worth the cash. learn what warhammer 40k players already know-his books are the shizznit. no lie. wizards of the coast-the Greyhawk books written by Paul Kidd (and only those written by Paul Kidd). white plume mountain, descent to the depths of the earth, and queen of the demonweb pits. what! those are waay old d&d modules-books based on them? yucko! actually they are rip roaring fun, with excellent characters and good old d&d monster bashing and the only scene ive ever read in a book that gave me spider nightmares for a month. youve been warned. they are as good as anythiing lieber or howard ever wrote. no lie. this has been another mourningcloud dissertation. no lie. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Decado Posted July 21, 2004 Share Posted July 21, 2004 The Gotrek & Felix, along with Paul Kidds Greyhawk books, are great reading if you desire to read some gaming fiction. Of course I also have to recommend the first two original Dragonlance trilogys and RA Salvatore's boks set in the Forgotten Realms for more great gaming fiction. Elaine Cunningham has also written some very enjoyable books set in the Forgotten Realms. Decado Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FuzzyIzmit Posted July 21, 2004 Share Posted July 21, 2004 I dont care what anyone says...La Morte de Arthur is not a good read. The book should be burned in horrible horrible ways... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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