<!--quoteo(post=1769010:date=Apr 28 2010, 02:28 PM:name=lolfighter)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (lolfighter @ Apr 28 2010, 02:28 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1769010"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->I still think Tycho's a pretentious ###### for calling a book the best book ever written, but at least I can see why he engaged in that little bit of hyperbole.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
remiremedy [blu.knight]Join Date: 2003-11-18Member: 23112Members, Super Administrators, Forum Admins, NS2 Developer, NS2 Playtester
<!--quoteo(post=1769010:date=Apr 28 2010, 12:28 PM:name=lolfighter)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (lolfighter @ Apr 28 2010, 12:28 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1769010"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->I remember this thread. I remember reading it and thinking Tycho was a pretentious ###### for calling a book the best book ever written, and resolved to never read this book purely to spite him. Then I promptly forgot all about this (including The Name of the Book). Then maybe half a year ago or so my brother recomended this book to me and I lifted an eyebrow and said "fantasy?" Because seriously, I could do without yet another "and then Kronar Ironpelt smote the epic dragon" piece of concentrated tripe. Yet another guy either desperately trying to be Tolkien (and failing miserably) or desperately trying not to be Tolkien (and either failing miserably or succeeding but still failing miserably at producing something palatable). But my brother, whose opinion I value, asked me to give it a chance. "Okay" said I and gave the book a few cursory licks. Then I devoured it whole while my brother watched, mouth agape. Then I asked him when the next one was due.
So I'm happy there's a date on it now. It's a year still, but I'm sure I can find something to pass the time with meanwhile.
I still think Tycho's a pretentious ###### for calling a book the best book ever written, but at least I can see why he engaged in that little bit of hyperbole.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd--> This post was almost as good as the best book ever written.
Just reading it again. And I'm sad. Because I'm at a really sad part of the book and also because they delayed the second one by another year... AGAIN.
puzlThe Old FirmJoin Date: 2003-02-26Member: 14029Retired Developer, NS1 Playtester, Forum Moderators, Constellation
edited April 2010
I'm gonna wait until the series ends... given that Martin seems to have a severe dose of Jordanitus, I just cba to go through the whole series-over-a-decade debacle again.
We need more authors like Banks, who set self-standing novels in a single world rather than these epic fantasy dramas that wear out before they finish.
ThansalThe New ScumJoin Date: 2002-08-22Member: 1215Members, Constellation
<!--quoteo(post=1769124:date=Apr 29 2010, 08:45 AM:name=lolfighter)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (lolfighter @ Apr 29 2010, 08:45 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1769124"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Martin?<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd--> Didn't you know that Dean Martin was also a fantasy author as well as being a singer, actor, and comedian?
<!--quoteo--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->So that’s part of the news, that I’ll be finished writing The Wise Man’s Fear by September.
But here’s the rest of the news: that means that the book can’t come out until March of 2011.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd--> Looks like were going to be waiting for awhile for the next one. Quote is straight from his blog.
puzlThe Old FirmJoin Date: 2003-02-26Member: 14029Retired Developer, NS1 Playtester, Forum Moderators, Constellation
<!--quoteo(post=1769138:date=Apr 29 2010, 03:59 PM:name=lolfighter)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (lolfighter @ Apr 29 2010, 03:59 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1769138"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Song of Ice and Fire? I thought this thread was about The Name of the Wind.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
It is. I was explaining why I'm waiting for the series to complete before reading it, citing a previous experience with Martin's SoIaF as an example.
FYI I made the same point on page one of the post, and SoIaF isn't the only series you can thought police in this topic :P
<!--quoteo(post=1769147:date=Apr 30 2010, 01:53 AM:name=lolfighter)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (lolfighter @ Apr 30 2010, 01:53 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1769147"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Yeah that's sort of why Phoenix revived the thread in the first place. Heh, that's kind of appropriate.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd--> Whoops bit behind the 8 ball there.
<!--quoteo(post=1769134:date=Apr 29 2010, 08:55 AM:name=steppin'razor)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (steppin'razor @ Apr 29 2010, 08:55 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1769134"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Not sure if I ever posted in this thread, but I bought it and loved it and now eagerly wait the second book. So thanks OP.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd--> I'm not sure if I like this post or lolf's post more but I'm glad to see people like the book either way!
ShockehIf a packet drops on the web and nobody's near to see it...Join Date: 2002-11-19Member: 9336NS1 Playtester, Forum Moderators, Constellation
edited May 2010
<!--quoteo(post=1769172:date=Apr 29 2010, 06:07 PM:name=puzl)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (puzl @ Apr 29 2010, 06:07 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1769172"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Come and see the violence inherent in the system!<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd--> But if the answer isn't violence, neither is your silence?
So, having read Name of the Wind, I still think it's inferior to both George R R Martin & Steven Erikson. It's a decent book, but it didn't stand out. That said, most Fantasy in a morass of bad writing, the number of really interesting series can be counted on one hand anyway. :( My only particular complaint was I really just didn't grasp why people liked the Kvothe character so much. Why are you so special? Is there any reason beyond 'I just am'? Making your protaganist a bit of a ###### doesn't make him 'interesting', it just makes him a bit of a ######.
Shockwave's various other inflammatory rules for buying fantasy novels:
1. Female writers. This sounds incredibly sexist, but I'm yet to read one that didn't seem to be genuinely worse, or at the very least didn't seem to expose some urge for Elf-sex in the writer. I'd be delighted to dismiss this rule by being introduced to a good one, because I feel bad for even noting it down.
2. Dragons on the cover. No really, they're a cliche now, just stop it. Especially when said dragon appears to be completely motiveless beyond 'Check me out, I has a fire breath attack'.
3. Author reccomendations / "The next <insert series here>". Why is it every book I read that has an author reccomendation by an author I like turn out to be awful? It's like some form of cleverly laid trap.
InsaneAnomalyJoin Date: 2002-05-13Member: 605Members, Super Administrators, Forum Admins, NS1 Playtester, Forum Moderators, NS2 Developer, Constellation, NS2 Playtester, Squad Five Blue, NS2 Map Tester, Subnautica Developer, Pistachionauts, Future Perfect Developer
<!--quoteo(post=1769649:date=May 4 2010, 10:09 AM:name=Shockwave)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Shockwave @ May 4 2010, 10:09 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1769649"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->1. Female writers. This sounds incredibly sexist, but I'm yet to read one that didn't seem to be genuinely worse, or at the very least didn't seem to expose some urge for Elf-sex in the writer. I'd be delighted to dismiss this rule by being introduced to a good one, because I feel bad for even noting it down.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
For #2, what about when the series is all about dragons? <img src="http://www.temeraire.org/books/inhismajestysservice/cover_lg.jpg" border="0" class="linked-image" />
<!--quoteo(post=1769649:date=May 4 2010, 12:09 PM:name=Shockwave)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Shockwave @ May 4 2010, 12:09 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1769649"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->[...]It's a decent book, but it didn't stand out. That said, most Fantasy in a morass of bad writing, the number of really interesting series can be counted on one hand anyway.[...]<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd--> So despite this one being decent and most Fantasy in a morass of bad writing, this one didn't stand out? That sounds like a contradiction.
<!--quoteo(post=1769651:date=May 4 2010, 01:25 PM:name=Align)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Align @ May 4 2010, 01:25 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1769651"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->For #2, what about when the series is all about dragons?<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd--> There's no hot fire-breathin' action goin' on here, so that one doesn't count.
ShockehIf a packet drops on the web and nobody's near to see it...Join Date: 2002-11-19Member: 9336NS1 Playtester, Forum Moderators, Constellation
<!--quoteo(post=1769654:date=May 4 2010, 01:09 PM:name=lolfighter)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (lolfighter @ May 4 2010, 01:09 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1769654"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->So despite this one being decent and most Fantasy in a morass of bad writing, this one didn't stand out? That sounds like a contradiction.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd--> Depends if you're considering quality as a relative function against the average of writing, or as a function of how entertained you are compared to any entertainment at all. It's better than most fantasy books, but it wasn't good enough to either place into my favourite books ever, nor would I reccomend it as something I'd rather be reading over doing some other things.
<img src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41NypfKGGvL.jpg" border="0" class="linked-image" /> Very interesting, written so anyone who has passed high school can understand it but goes into enough detail that it should satisfy all the questions you may have about the covered topics.
Comments
lol
So I'm happy there's a date on it now. It's a year still, but I'm sure I can find something to pass the time with meanwhile.
I still think Tycho's a pretentious ###### for calling a book the best book ever written, but at least I can see why he engaged in that little bit of hyperbole.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
This post was almost as good as the best book ever written.
Just reading it again. And I'm sad. Because I'm at a really sad part of the book and also because they delayed the second one by another year... AGAIN.
We need more authors like Banks, who set self-standing novels in a single world rather than these epic fantasy dramas that wear out before they finish.
Didn't you know that Dean Martin was also a fantasy author as well as being a singer, actor, and comedian?
George R.R. Martin - specifically his Song of Ice and Fire series.
But here’s the rest of the news: that means that the book can’t come out until March of 2011.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Looks like were going to be waiting for awhile for the next one. Quote is straight from his blog.
It is. I was explaining why I'm waiting for the series to complete before reading it, citing a previous experience with Martin's SoIaF as an example.
FYI I made the same point on page one of the post, and SoIaF isn't the only series you can thought police in this topic :P
And then the Scottish Resistance rose up in a grand rebellion...
Whoops bit behind the 8 ball there.
I'm not sure if I like this post or lolf's post more but I'm glad to see people like the book either way!
But if the answer isn't violence, neither is your silence?
So, having read Name of the Wind, I still think it's inferior to both George R R Martin & Steven Erikson. It's a decent book, but it didn't stand out. That said, most Fantasy in a morass of bad writing, the number of really interesting series can be counted on one hand anyway. :( My only particular complaint was I really just didn't grasp why people liked the Kvothe character so much. Why are you so special? Is there any reason beyond 'I just am'? Making your protaganist a bit of a ###### doesn't make him 'interesting', it just makes him a bit of a ######.
Shockwave's various other inflammatory rules for buying fantasy novels:
1. Female writers. This sounds incredibly sexist, but I'm yet to read one that didn't seem to be genuinely worse, or at the very least didn't seem to expose some urge for Elf-sex in the writer. I'd be delighted to dismiss this rule by being introduced to a good one, because I feel bad for even noting it down.
2. Dragons on the cover. No really, they're a cliche now, just stop it. Especially when said dragon appears to be completely motiveless beyond 'Check me out, I has a fire breath attack'.
3. Author reccomendations / "The next <insert series here>". Why is it every book I read that has an author reccomendation by an author I like turn out to be awful? It's like some form of cleverly laid trap.
Ursula K. Le Guin
<img src="http://www.temeraire.org/books/inhismajestysservice/cover_lg.jpg" border="0" class="linked-image" />
So despite this one being decent and most Fantasy in a morass of bad writing, this one didn't stand out? That sounds like a contradiction.
<!--quoteo(post=1769651:date=May 4 2010, 01:25 PM:name=Align)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Align @ May 4 2010, 01:25 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1769651"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->For #2, what about when the series is all about dragons?<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
There's no hot fire-breathin' action goin' on here, so that one doesn't count.
Depends if you're considering quality as a relative function against the average of writing, or as a function of how entertained you are compared to any entertainment at all. It's better than most fantasy books, but it wasn't good enough to either place into my favourite books ever, nor would I reccomend it as something I'd rather be reading over doing some other things.
I've played this game before too lolf. :)
<img src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41NypfKGGvL.jpg" border="0" class="linked-image" />
Very interesting, written so anyone who has passed high school can understand it but goes into enough detail that it should satisfy all the questions you may have about the covered topics.