Book Club???

... Perhaps you should also recommend that the book be easy to find/in print. The thing with Fantasy novels is that there are a lot of obscure titles. :/

 

... Well, I got excited about a book... and then I realized that for some reason, it's temporarily unavailable to order in Canada and the Library has a ridiculously long list for holds on the item :/

 

http://www.bookdepository.co.uk

Free worldwide delivery.

 

As a fantasy fan, I suppose it comes as a shock that I've never read any of the books from the "A Song of Fire and Ice" series. Which is why I've decided to put this down as a quintessential and award-winning read for any contemporary fantasy peruser who might be in a similar bind.

I recommend:

A Game of Thrones: Book One of A Song of Ice and Fire, by George R. R. Martin.

I'm looking for a suitable summary to post up here.


Side note:... Oh bloody hell, I'm just having a hard time picking between these two. Enty, I leave it to you to decide which you want to add to the poll.



"The Blade Itself," by Joe Abercrombie (2007)

Here's a brief extract from the novel, to get a sense of the author's style. I've poked around the internet community and everyone seems to be raving about this guy.

 

Lord Foul's Bane from the Thomas Covenant series (Stephen R. Donaldson)...I've always wanted to finish it but I never had the chance.

ETA: Thankfully we have an EXQUISITE used bookstore nearby. It should have that one.

 

I'd love to join.
I read philosophy, political science, and some old literature.

 

Ahh my hero!

 

Fantasy is fine for me.

I've read a song of ice and fire though. I'm onto book 5 I think

 

Oh wow, I read that years and years ago. I must have been in the 7th grade, I think? Too bad I don't remember most of it.

Anyway, I know I'm a little late to the party but I'm in for the book club thing! Can't guarantee my commitment, though... I tend to be terrible at keeping to a schedule. I'll do my best!

 

Very brief description of Lord Foul's Bane from Amazon.com (partial book jacket):

Amazon link here: Amazon.com: Lord Foul's Bane (The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant the Unbeliever, Book 1) (9780345348654): Stephen R. Donaldson: Books

You can also read the first several pages as a tease. Book might be a bit dated...but in the beginning, the main character suffers from leprosy in modern times (1977) before embarking on his journey to the new world. Very Tolkien-esque.

 

Why not a series like the Wheel of Time?

The first book, the prequel to the series would be New Spring.

 

But would the prequel detract from the first book in the series, "Wheel of Time"? I haven't read Jordan (I've wanted to but I haven't) but I don't want the (later) prequel to spoil any surprises!

 

I have read, I think, up to book 11 in the series. It is quite good!

 

I've heard the first few are fantastic but they get worse and worse as the series progresses. culminating in a farcical (too many characters) last two books

Is that an accurate assessment?

 

Yea, it gets a little too over-the-top after a while. As an example: Someone says something, some woman faints, another vomits, like a crazy anime movie.

By book 8 it felt a bit drawn out. Not everyone would agree with that though. I simply don't get into stuff that is overbearingly complex.