originally posted by winter
Can anybody recommend me a good fantasy (not sci-fi please) series that is currently complete? I can't handle the suspense of unfinished series anymore. I've read a lot of the usual suspects, MZ Bradley, Orson Scott Card, Goodkind, Eddings, Feist, Hobb, Kay, Kerr, Martin, McCaffrey, Nix, Rawn, Williams, etc. I need something new…
originally posted by Artemis
Oh Frank, because it is, that's why.
Everything has to be somewhere.
love,
Artie.
originally posted by Artemis
P.S.
Mine and Rob's 27th Anniversary today.
(that shouldn't be in Book Nook either)
Artie
originally posted by Frank T Davis
Winter,
I highly recommend Michelle West's two book saga entitled "The Sacred Hunt" followed by her six book saga entitled "The Sun Sword". All eight books have many of the same characters and it appears that the fantasy world of the six parter is a much expanded world of the two parter. I really enjoyed her work.
Frank
originally posted by Frank T Davis
U-N-C-L-E!!
Frank
originally posted by Cheryl Detmer
Mickey Zucker Reichert has great books. All of them are good. CJ Cherryh Atevi series. I agree with Frank on Michelle West. Definitely good reads. Mercedes Lackeys Valdemar series. Jane Fancher's Ring of Destiny books are great. Lots of books out there. I'll try to think of more.
originally posted by Emrys
Winter-
I'll assume you've read Janny's other series and stand-alones.
Susan Cooper: 5 book series (begins with The Dark is Rising). Might be found in the children's section, but a good read.
Mark Anthony: The Last Rune series (begins with Beyond the Pale)
Anne Bishop: The Black Jewels Trilogy (plus The Invisible Ring stand-alone) Checking, I see there's a new one out in this world (note to self: go fetch), but the trilogy has an ending.
Michael Stackpole: Dragoncrown Cycle, and its prelude The Dark Glory War. Also various (non-Star Wars) stand-alones. (I also liked his Rogue Squadron and I, Jedi books, though I haven't bothered with most of the SW related works.)
Andre Norton: lots of.
Patricia McKillip: The Riddlemaster trilogy
I can also name some "sets" - stand-alone books which mesh with each other. Each book can be read alone and has a definite ending, but the whole is greater than the sum of the parts.
Lois Bujold: world of Chalion (Curse of Chalion, Paladin of Souls, Haunted Hunt)
Dennis McKiernan: Into the Forge/Into the Fire, The Iron Tower, plus more (separate book "The Caves of Socrates" is also worthwhile)
Tanya Huff: the Keepers (Especially if you like cats. Snicker.)
Patricia Wrede: various
Probably more, but that's as far along my mental bookshelf inventory as I care to go at the moment.
originally posted by Hannah
My first fantasy series, still dear to my heart, was Lloyd Alexander's Prydain series. Very good, very finished. 
An easy, quick read for anyone who can read Janny.
originally posted by Hannah
Trys,
I don't suppose you have any way to recover the posts of mine that you saw to delete re: RJ? In another topic, I think. While it might have personally rubbed you the wrong way, or even Janny if she requested their removal, I failed to see how it broke any written rules of this chat area. But as had been shown in the past, this is more of a 'dictatorial' type of moderatorship, which I can deal with, for the most part, since I have learned long ago what types of things I can and can't say here, for fear of being deleted, and thus I usually try to keep my nose out of trouble.
It's just that I would like to have the text of my long, drawn-out dissertation on RJ for personal use. It's something I wanted to share with a friend (we're having a discussion on that author), and I couldn't remember half of what I said, and didn't want to have to type the whole thing out again…
I don't remember the post being incredibly flame-ish, although I can't deny that my feelings on his chosen writing style are pretty obvious, in comparison to Janny's especially. And goodness knows I'm not the first person to ever drift off-topic. Most off-topic posts seem to get moved to a more appropriate location. And it states in our 'rules' that any opinions expressed herein do not reflect the thoughts of "the board or its moderators", so I don't see where the concern about Janny's rep comes in. She can't be expected to be held accountable for every little remark we say. Though I understand trying to keep the posts in a peaceful and orderly tone, for the most part, especially towards one another.
I mod five or so communities myself (some more heavily-trafficked than others, admittedly), so I realize that sometimes people come along that you may think are complete morons, or really strongly disagree with, and you want to ban them for life. Obviously, we can't just randomly delete and ban people based on whether they irritate us on any given day. That's not a just way to mod a community.
I would also think about ammending the rules to be more specific about what is or isn't allowed (e.g., "No negative opinions are to be expressed about other authors"). Than you can just refer back to them, without any ambiguity, and we have no ground for arguing our claim.
/midnight rambling
Anyhow, do you have the means to send me the text? The more I think on it, the more that I doubt that you do… Never hurts to ask, though.
originally posted by Hannah
Oops… I was wakened out of a restless sleep, realizing that 1) if I had been thinking correctly, my request would have been more suitably e-mailed to you (the option honestly did not occur to me at the time) and 2) I probably sounded unduly waspish and/or rude, even though that was not an emotion I was feeling at the time. I don't like being censored anymore than the next person. And then there are the times, like now, when I wish I had been pre-censored to edit out unnecessary, rambling drivel. But you do have my apologies if I offended. Probably so, re-reading.
But, ehm, as I said, I woke up about three minutes ago (1:00 am, PST), and realized I needed to come back and ammend myself. So I've padded out here to the computer desk, tripping over the furniture, and turning the computer back all the way back on to say the above.
And now, hopefully, I can get some decent sleep…
originally posted by Sandtiger
Winter,
I highly recommend Jennifer Roberson's Sandtiger and Del books. ::Funny that:: 6 Books that make a complete set. (Sword Dancer, Sword Singer, Sword Maker, Sword Breaker, Sword Sworn, Sword Born).
Also, Carol Berg's Rai Kirah Trilogy (Transformation, Revelation, Restoration) and her Standalone, Song of the Beast.
Both excellent reading.
Sandtiger
originally posted by Cheryl Detmer
Argh forgot to mention Rai-Kirah Trilogy. Don't tell Carol that omg. That is the best of them all and it is completed for now. I second that recommendation of Carol Berg and her other books as well.
originally posted by Laurence J Johnson
Hello everyone, I have obtained a book (on loan)by an author called SHERI S TEPPER, this is a new author to me, are any of you familiar with her work? The book which I have is called THE FRESCO. Cheers from Laurence.
This chat does not have "rules" - it is run by an individual, with my name on it - a joint effort…you are free to say what you think, back up why you feel or think as you do…any author who writes can fail to please everybody…a reader can be disappointed in a story for may reasons that are legitimate for THEM.
Bear in mind two things: this area is done in free will for the joy of it - you are guests of each other, here, hosted by the Gryphon.
Honest disappointment over a story IS ok, just if it runs on to the point of (possibly) unduly coloring someone else's experience, or even putting a new reader off from assessing a book's story line for themselves - then it doesn't embrace free thought in quite another way. Or encourage the free enterprise of individualistic creativity.
This chat strives (imperfectly) to encourage more than one angle.
One reader's poison may be another's cuppa tea - there is room for all of them - - I don't think any ONE POST here that spoke about STORY was at all inappropriate - even if the head of momentum was building in only one direction.
This may well have been a legitimate direction - storywize, but personal comments about the author crept in - and that author is NOT HERE. Critiques of books - always OK. Critiques of AUTHORS who are not present to speak for themselves - not so OK, in my back yard.
Your personal opinions about other people's "shortfalls" may be more honestly done on their turf, not on mine, when they are fellow professionals. Stories are public. Personal comments are personal - and I do not care to have fellow authors HURT by things said about them here, if they are not party to the discussion, but could well find this by search.
Book Nook is for story discussion, not character commentary…
Please PLEASE note: nobody said or did anything awful!!! You are all longtime friends, and welcome here. Hannah, the above explanation was NOT PERSONAL but a general note of illumination so all can see that here, kindness matters.
I prefer to say we care about how we treat our differences - opinions that lead to understanding and open exchange of ideas are great, and can be "opinionated" - just please, it's about how a book made YOU feel, not how the author IS. With allowance for the idea that, another reader may feel OK to decide quite differently, even if they are the only one in a "crowd" of others.
Thanks - !!! I appreciate you all for the individuals you are, too.
1 Like
originally posted by fhcbandmom
Winter - please read the Coldfire Trilogy by C.S. Freidman. The story finsihes up in 3 books, but the main character will "haunt" you forever!
originally posted by Cheryl Detmer
I just recommended Janny's books to a group I know on a celebrity site at NBC.com. I didn't realize the actress read Harry Potter books and some fantasy and she wanted to hear our recommendations so I put in Janny's name. I don't know if she'll read her but I know she likes me and does listen to our recommendations. Thought it would help get Janny's name noticed too there. Everyone seems excited about the new Harry Potter book. I could tell by a sample I read of her that she is great author. I'll have to read those books too. I do enjoy the movies but haven't read the books yet. I will though. It does seem like the books are better like it usually is.
originally posted by Jeffrey L Watson
Hannah,
No I did not archive the posts before I deleted them.
To all,
As to why I deleted them, there are a couple of reasons.
1) The thread, in conjunction with the other one on the same subject that was occurring at the same time in another topic, had, in my opinion, gone on long a little too long and that it was treading close to the edge of attacking the author directly, something I can not in good conscience allow.
2) Everytime I read one of those posts, I was tempted to wade in with my opinion but fortunately I managed to avoid that (see below about use of personal energies).
So rather than try to sort out which posts were pushing the edge and either delete or edit lines out of them, I just deleted the entire thread.
So I suppose the question of censorship and/or dictatorial decisions should be addressed. Is it censoring, yes it is. As owner and moderator of this board I reserve that right for myself. Long time visitors here know this. I can only endeavor to be as fair as possible. Am I dictator, well I'm certainly the only one who makes the decision as to whether a post can stay (Janny can suggest but in the final evaluation it is my decision). However, I try not to dictate what people can post here in terms of their opinions, only in how they post those opinions. A rule of thumb I would suggest if you are ever wondering if your post is 'over the edge' on all subjects but specifically as it relates to the issue of dicussing other author's works in this forum: if you were standing in front of the author, would you say it to their face AND would they not be offended by what was said. It doesn't matter if you would say something offensive to them, only if they would be offended. Turned around if someone said something similar to you, would you be offended.
One other thought on the subject of what is appropriate to post. I'm a firm believer that spending one's personal energy in positive directions to support what one likes and wants is desirable and spending one's energy in opposite endeavors is not desirable. I try to do this in everything I do. I am not always successful, I am after all only human (oh only too human when it comes to things that I am passionate about). However, I will tend to apply those same rules to the content of this board, again, with varying success rates.
No one should take offense at having their post deleted, no one post caused me to delete the entire thread. It was all the posts together.
Jeff Watson
(Message edited by admin on June 25, 2005)
1 Like
originally posted by Trys
Laurence,
I like Sheri S. Tepper's works. Her early stuff had more of a science fiction bend than her later stuff. I have The Fresco on the shelf but have not yet read it. My favorite books by her are a loose trilogy consisting of Grass, Raising the Stones, and Sideshow. I hadn't read any of her stuff for a number of years when I found Sideshow and I was intrigued that one of the main characters was a conjoined twin. Excellent books these three.
Do let us know what you think of The Fresco.
Trys
originally posted by Laurence J Johnson
Hello Trys, thanks for the information, it will be a while before I read THE FRESCO, as I'm currently reading Anselm Audley's Heresy, the only comment that I will make about it at this time, is that it's well written!
Sheri S Tepper has written many books, I found them listed in the fantastic fiction website. The website address is shown below, skol from Laurence.
http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/authors/Sheri_S_Tepper.htm
originally posted by Auna
The Harry Potter books are extremely good. I'd definitely recommend reading them if you haven't yet. They are good reading even for adults.