Hmm, I disagree with all but one of those "plot flaws" and I disagree that the whole thing is just a setup for books 2 and 3. If it was, then I certainly had so much fun reading it that it doesn't matter. Aside from this one guy who I think is wrong (and I'd argue the point if A. he was here and B. it didn't have spoilers), have you found anything else like that?
I'm planning to read it! Sounds like something I would enjoy. I bookmarked this thread when you made it and tossed it into my mental book list of things to read, currently there is one more book to read before I get to it.
I'm currently reading the goldan compass, but when I'm done with that I might give this a whirl. of course I'm borderline illiterate and only read like 10 pages a week.
<!--quoteo(post=1653810:date=Oct 3 2007, 03:12 PM:name=DiscoZombie)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(DiscoZombie @ Oct 3 2007, 03:12 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1653810"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->you're going to make this go to Tycho's head.
I'm currently reading the goldan compass, but when I'm done with that I might give this a whirl. of course I'm borderline illiterate and only read like 10 pages a week.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
You can't fix illiteracy by reading less! The only option is to read <i>more</i>.
I just started book 4 of Song of Ice and Fire <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/nerd-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="::nerdy::" border="0" alt="nerd-fix.gif" />
Does this book have: Dragons Shadow creatures Massive armies of barbarians and giants Massive armies of traditional european style knights Massive armies of Mongol style steppe warriors Zombies Evil priest witches Every character backstabbing almost every other character every chance they get Big frickin direwolves
<!--quoteo(post=1653883:date=Oct 3 2007, 06:52 PM:name=OttoDestruct)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(OttoDestruct @ Oct 3 2007, 06:52 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1653883"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->I just started book 4 of Song of Ice and Fire <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/nerd-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="::nerdy::" border="0" alt="nerd-fix.gif" />
Does this book have: Dragons Shadow creatures Massive armies of barbarians and giants Massive armies of traditional european style knights Massive armies of Mongol style steppe warriors Zombies Evil priest witches Every character backstabbing almost every other character every chance they get Big frickin direwolves<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Sort of. Really, why you're asking questions about it instead of reading it right now is beyond me. I guess I just have to accept that some people, when faced with such overwhelming evidence of the awesomeness of something, simply reject it all and go into a sort of mental fetal position. Just read the book.
I took an hour long drive to the book store I used to work at, remembered this thread, hijacked a computer there, and spent 30 minutes trying to find this thread on their accursed machines. Where were you to cover my back, Tycho? I never DID find the name of the book and went home empty-handed as they had nothing good for piano either.
<!--quoteo(post=1653946:date=Oct 4 2007, 01:47 AM:name=Testament)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Testament @ Oct 4 2007, 01:47 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1653946"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->I took an hour long drive to the book store I used to work at, remembered this thread, hijacked a computer there, and spent 30 minutes trying to find this thread on their accursed machines. Where were you to cover my back, Tycho? I never DID find the name of the book and went home empty-handed as they had nothing good for piano either.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
You can just search for topics I've created. There's only like, what, 10? It's not a huge number.
[WHO]ThemYou can call me DaveJoin Date: 2002-12-11Member: 10593Members, Constellation
<!--quoteo(post=1654398:date=Oct 6 2007, 12:01 PM:name=Nil_IQ)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Nil_IQ @ Oct 6 2007, 12:01 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1654398"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->I got it off Amazon UK months ago. I think you must live in a different UK to me.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Finished the book now, and I thank Tycho for bringing it to my attention.
It was every bit as enjoyable and lovable as I had hoped, full of mystery, life, love, and adventure. It also had frequent short chapters (5 pages or less), which are a god-send if you only have a small window of time in which to read.
Hmm, maybe I should give this book a go. I'm bit short on reading material at the moment anyway <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/sad-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":(" border="0" alt="sad-fix.gif" />
It's not like there's any lack of praise! Did I mention it won a Quill Award? I might have, but it's good to know. I'll say it again. It won a Quill Award. Best Science Fiction/Fantasy/Horror.
<!--quoteo(post=1659573:date=Nov 6 2007, 02:15 PM:name=sgt.waffles)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(sgt.waffles @ Nov 6 2007, 02:15 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1659573"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->I'm more into Sci-fi and Sci-fi fantasy books...<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
It's funny, because I've written a reply to THE EXACT SAME STATEMENT once already. In THIS THREAD. <u><b>THREE TIMES</b></u>. Honestly.
Private_ColemanPhD in Video GamesJoin Date: 2002-11-07Member: 7510Members
<!--quoteo(post=1659573:date=Nov 6 2007, 03:15 PM:name=sgt.waffles)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(sgt.waffles @ Nov 6 2007, 03:15 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1659573"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->I'm more into Sci-fi and Sci-fi fantasy books...<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
From the description of the book, seems like a rip of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earthsea" target="_blank">EarthSea</a> by Ursula K. Le Guin. What is it about his writing that sets him apart from other authors?
<!--quoteo(post=1659730:date=Nov 7 2007, 11:28 AM:name=digz)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(digz @ Nov 7 2007, 11:28 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1659730"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->From the description of the book, seems like a rip of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earthsea" target="_blank">EarthSea</a> by Ursula K. Le Guin. What is it about his writing that sets him apart from other authors?<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
"Names" as sources of power is hardly unique to Earthsea. The Name of the Wind is most definitely not a ripoff of Le Guin's stuff. What is it about his writing that sets him apart? Well, he's <i>really good</i>. That's kind of the big thing. Anything else I say is just a subset of that. If I mention that no word is wasted, well, that's just part of his being a really good writer. Just read it! It's not like there's a lot of conflicting viewpoints. There's no confusion as to whether the thing is a masterpiece or not. All it takes is a cursory glance at this forum or a quick scan of the reviews to show that everyone loves this book, on a level ranging from "I really liked it" to "it is one of my favorite books ever."
locallyunsceneFeeder of TrollsJoin Date: 2002-12-25Member: 11528Members, Constellation
I haven't read Earthsea, but I'll tell you what I can from reading the wiki article.
Firstly, the idea of the naming magic is similar in the books, however, there are is more than one magic system in <u>Name</u>. The books seem to have a common theme of the use of magic for practical purposes.
Next, <u>Name</u> tends to stay away from standard tropes such as dragons and goblins and faeries. It's not to say that some of these things don't exist in <u>Name</u> but they do in a way that doesn't follow the standard fantasy cookie cutter.
I can't speak to Earthsea's writing style, but I greatly enjoy Patrick's style. It's hard to describe other than well written. He avoids lengthy Tolken-like description, which I appreciate, but he still manages to convey a sense of a real living world. He's almost minimalist in divulging facts about this place he has created, but it still feels like he has all of the details worked out, that's there is more that he's not choosing to tell. Yet.
It's hard to compare the world-building of one book to a series though. Definitely worth the read.
Comments
FTI, The Name Of The Wind is now available in the UK. Woop!
I'm enjoying it.
I'm currently reading the goldan compass, but when I'm done with that I might give this a whirl. of course I'm borderline illiterate and only read like 10 pages a week.
I'm currently reading the goldan compass, but when I'm done with that I might give this a whirl. of course I'm borderline illiterate and only read like 10 pages a week.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
You can't fix illiteracy by reading less! The only option is to read <i>more</i>.
Does this book have:
Dragons
Shadow creatures
Massive armies of barbarians and giants
Massive armies of traditional european style knights
Massive armies of Mongol style steppe warriors
Zombies
Evil priest witches
Every character backstabbing almost every other character every chance they get
Big frickin direwolves
Does this book have:
Dragons
Shadow creatures
Massive armies of barbarians and giants
Massive armies of traditional european style knights
Massive armies of Mongol style steppe warriors
Zombies
Evil priest witches
Every character backstabbing almost every other character every chance they get
Big frickin direwolves<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Sort of. Really, why you're asking questions about it instead of reading it right now is beyond me. I guess I just have to accept that some people, when faced with such overwhelming evidence of the awesomeness of something, simply reject it all and go into a sort of mental fetal position. Just read the book.
You can just search for topics I've created. There's only like, what, 10? It's not a huge number.
FTI, The Name Of The Wind is now available in the UK. Woop!
I'm enjoying it.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I got it off Amazon UK months ago. I think you must live in a different UK to me.
The UK isn't a real place silly bear.
It was every bit as enjoyable and lovable as I had hoped, full of mystery, life, love, and adventure. It also had frequent short chapters (5 pages or less), which are a god-send if you only have a small window of time in which to read.
Ya'll should read the book. It's soooooooooooooo good!
10/10/10
I can't believe I put down this book to read "The Last Templar".
...
Worst decision ever of my entire life. God damn terrible book.
It's funny, because I've written a reply to THE EXACT SAME STATEMENT once already. In THIS THREAD. <u><b>THREE TIMES</b></u>. Honestly.
<div align="center">Thanks for the info.</div>
And why do i not care what you think? Or even care about the fact that you exist?
"Names" as sources of power is hardly unique to Earthsea. The Name of the Wind is most definitely not a ripoff of Le Guin's stuff. What is it about his writing that sets him apart? Well, he's <i>really good</i>. That's kind of the big thing. Anything else I say is just a subset of that. If I mention that no word is wasted, well, that's just part of his being a really good writer. Just read it! It's not like there's a lot of conflicting viewpoints. There's no confusion as to whether the thing is a masterpiece or not. All it takes is a cursory glance at this forum or a quick scan of the reviews to show that everyone loves this book, on a level ranging from "I really liked it" to "it is one of my favorite books ever."
Firstly, the idea of the naming magic is similar in the books, however, there are is more than one magic system in <u>Name</u>. The books seem to have a common theme of the use of magic for practical purposes.
Next, <u>Name</u> tends to stay away from standard tropes such as dragons and goblins and faeries. It's not to say that some of these things don't exist in <u>Name</u> but they do in a way that doesn't follow the standard fantasy cookie cutter.
I can't speak to Earthsea's writing style, but I greatly enjoy Patrick's style. It's hard to describe other than well written. He avoids lengthy Tolken-like description, which I appreciate, but he still manages to convey a sense of a real living world. He's almost minimalist in divulging facts about this place he has created, but it still feels like he has all of the details worked out, that's there is more that he's not choosing to tell. Yet.
It's hard to compare the world-building of one book to a series though. Definitely worth the read.