Books!
- Thread starter wuwei
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Majin_Tenshi
The can opener went bye-bye...
Books? What is a books?
Oltobaz said:
Honestly, just look at the way Rendor was portrayed in the Elenium books. Take all the dimwitted prejudices about Arabs you can think of, double them, and there you go.
If you wanted arguments for why his books are shallow, well, that's really a matter of taste. But take the time to look at the storylines sometime. There ain't much there.
Oltobaz
Cancer no Deathmask
I haven't read the Elenium books,so I don't know about that character.Makkuro said:
And I found the stories and characters from the Belgariad and Mallorea to be really interesting.Too bad you don't see Mandorallen enough in the Mallorea though,but I digress...Anyway,I guess "the world doesn't beat to the rythm of just one drum",right?
HEAR ME YE ANGARAKS!!FOR I AM TORAK!!
Genn21... It's kinda hard to summarize in one post but here it goes (it's going to be long-winded; don't worry, I'm only providing a small portion of the storyline... no big spoilers):
STORYLINE SUMMARY
The events in "A Game of Thrones" takes place in the Seven Kingdoms; a continent ruled by seven major houses. The Seven Kingdoms undergoes periodic winters which last for years and a huge wall to the north of the continent protects the Seven Kingdoms from "unknown forces". The Seven Kingdoms was under the leadership of House Targaryan (one of the major houses) for about 2000 years. However, about 15-20 years before the present events took place, King Aerys Targaryan was overthrown by a rebellion led by Houses Stark and Baratheon. Near the final stages of the war, King Aerys was betrayed by one of the major houses sworn to protect the throne: House Lannister.
After the war, the leader of the Rebellion, Robert Baratheon, was proclaimed king and he had to marry one of the members of the trecherous Lannisters in order to provide unity and peace to the Kingdom. Now, in the present day, Ned Stark (the patriarch of the Stark House), is asked by Robert to become "Hand" for the King; the second highest position in the Seven Kingdoms. The previous Hand died in mysterious circumstances and as Ned Stark assumes his position, he realizes that there is a lot of political intrigue, plotting, and infighting behind the King's back.
Meanwhile, across the ocean, the last surviving Targaryan prince (the last ruling House decimated in the last war), Prince Viserys, plans to marry off/"whore" his remaining sister Daenerys to a powerful warlord in order to obtain the necessary troops in order to take back the throne for his familiy.
DESCRIPTION OF THE BOOK
The story is really epic in proportion. Each chapter is from one of the POVs from one of the 7-8 major characters in the series. Most of the main characters are from House Stark, however, the "opposite side" (there really is no good and bad per say in this novel) is also represented with members of House Lannister and House Targaryan given chapters. So one chapter may display Ned Stark's perspective and switches to Princess Daenerys (the Targaryan princess married off) and then switches to one of the Lannisters (a dwarf) and then goes back to Ned's POV. In addition, there literally hundreds of side-characters with their own distinct personalities.
What I like most about this novel is that there is no distinct "good" or "evil" (much like Berserk!), no classical struggle between "good and evil"; there are only personal interests on each side. Each character is flawed in his own way. For example, Ned Stark is considered to be an honourable man, yet, he fathered a son out of wedlock and refuses to tell his bastard son the name of the mother.
Like I said before, there's gratituous amounts of violence, sex, incest, political intrigue, etc. in the series. Much like Berserk.
Perhaps the best thing about the series is its unflinching, unromantic portrayal of Medieval times. The most ruthless and most trecherous people are usually the ones who win out in the end. Sometimes, it becomes a little too "disturbing" as likeable characters are killed off and put into really humiliating circumstances.
Anyways, just read the book! Talking about it makes me eager to re-read the whole series again.
krunkster
mankowodaisuki
Well I'm a little late but....
The Amber Cronicles by Rodger Zelazny
It actually quite old but it's nice simple read, well it's ten books long but what the who it has lots of twists and interesting characters but doesn't drown you in details like modern fantasy books.
I think I'll start a thread....
The Amber Cronicles by Rodger Zelazny
It actually quite old but it's nice simple read, well it's ten books long but what the who it has lots of twists and interesting characters but doesn't drown you in details like modern fantasy books.
I think I'll start a thread....
theblakeman
theblakeman- your local pervert
Read James Clavells Shogun or Bram Stokers Dracula
theblakeman said:
Shogun is okay, just don't take any of the Japanese in the book as accurate. Even besides the spelling, which is mostly phonetical, Clavell can't even get simple concepts as the order of names and the use of the word "no" right. It had me confused for years.
Dracula is great, if you don't mind Stoker's quirky Victorian values.
Manslayer,
Errr... Tyrion couldn't go through with sleeping with Sansa although if I was in his position... ^_^ (Yes, I'm a dirty old man).
Yeah, Tyrion is my favourite character in the series. How can you not love a dwarf with a razor sharp wit and whose favourite hobby is to sleep with whores... ;)
Errr... Tyrion couldn't go through with sleeping with Sansa although if I was in his position... ^_^ (Yes, I'm a dirty old man).
Yeah, Tyrion is my favourite character in the series. How can you not love a dwarf with a razor sharp wit and whose favourite hobby is to sleep with whores... ;)
Okay, let's see... I'll suggest Hyperion by Dan Simmons (You just need to get through the begining, Then it get's REALLY good!), Daughter of the Forest By Juliet Mariller... Anything by R.A. Slavatore The Dow are just too cool! Hmm and lastly, Sophie's World!! You gotta love the history/philiosophy/mythology included in that book!! It really covers many cultures anceint beliefs and lots of greek and norse mythology and roman philiosophy!! ^____^
~*Amadeus*~
~*Amadeus*~
Darok said:
Hyperion series are just awesome. You need to read both "Hyperion" and "Endymion" series to really totally understand and appreciate the excellence of the whole thing. Believe me, it worth the read. When I finished it, it was a total blast, a mind-rape, during some months ;D I'd even say it's somewhat comparable to the sensation I felt when I finished Berserk...
If you like SF stuff, go for Dune cycle. It's quite well-known. (on a sidenote I still think you can't really understand the movie - David Lynch's - without having read the books...)
Belgariad and Mallorea are OK. Not bad really, but IMO there's no comparison possible with the depth of Hyperion or Dune.
1984 is a classic... but still, such a rich and intelligent masterpiece.
It's kinda inappropriate to recommand "Stephen King's books" since IMHO it goes from sucking-monkey-balls to very-good... I'd say go for 'It' and 'The Plague' if you are not afraid by Bible-size books. I liked the novellas from Brume and Different seasons a lot too.
Still in fantastic stuff, I enjoyed Peter Straub's Ghost story. A kind of naive, old fashioned fantastic book.
Oh damn, I made too many suggestions
. Just to be a bit more helpful... If I'd have to suggest only one : Hyperion's series. Badass stuff.
Membrax said:
Tell me, how does it end ?Membrax said:
Herbert's the best :) Too bad he died before finishing Dune.
Membrax said:
Definitely one of the best novels I ever read, Orwell was such a visionary, it's both fascinating and scary.
Membrax said:
"Mist" (Brume) is imho the best thing King ever wrote, but I think anyone interested in his work should read The Dark Tower series.
roberto999
The Black Chick of Darkness
Have you tried "The Neverending Story" of Michael Hende ?
Don't get fooled from the two crappy movies. It is not kid stuff
http://www.doortofantasia.com/
Don't get fooled from the two crappy movies. It is not kid stuff
http://www.doortofantasia.com/
Oltobaz
Cancer no Deathmask
"Crappy movies"??I really like the first one,cheesy as it may be.The second one I saw WAY back when I was a kid but though I can't say I remember it very well,it struck me as being rather impressive (I still remember the decors,kinda...)
I need to watch that one again...
I need to watch that one again...