originally posted by Omar Sakr
I came by to mention Steven Erikson and the Malazan Book of the Fallen - but I see he's been covered 
I think his series is the best that has ever been written. He is simply phenomenal. That being said Janny remains my favourite.
Patrick Rothfuss is, I think, a little overrated. Solid fantasy, to be sure, but really, there was nothing groundbreaking or especially unique to the story. It was just well written, character stuff.
Joe Abercrombie is fantastic, to be sure, dark, vicious and humourous, to a fault.
As for the Wheel of Time - I very much disagree with the notion that a) it should have ended in 10 books, as no one here came up with the story, no one here can judge what should have been the length and b) that books 7 to 10 became progressively worse - if anything, those three books are the highlight of the series, the pace ramps up dramatically. It's truly fantastic stuff.
There's a perception I think, that a lot of what Jordan did was unnecessary and it's really depressing to come across. WOT is perhaps one of the most ambitious fantasy epics ever written and every new chapter, every book merely adds new depth to a splendidly diverse storyline. Having seen the first chapter released as a sneak preview on the TOR website, I have to say though, that the outlook is grim. It was very poorly done.
The latest series that I've been reading is George. R. R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire. Here's another series that hasn't quite lived up to the hype. I've just finished the second book. It's quite strange. It exists in an odd place for fantasy - a bizarre mixture of old and new that I'm not quite sure what to make of.
It's exceedingly well written to be sure; dark, grim characters, a viciously realistic world and actions - these are the hallmarks of the new wave of fantasy, the new style (I say new, I mean in the last 5-7 years or so) - but it's contrasted with an old style of prose and, here's the kicker, an even older style of dialogue. The dialogue, for me, is what jars the most. It doesn't match the grim characters, or the inherent realism Martin tries to stamp on us repeatedly. It's that high and lordly style of speech characterised by much older fantasy.
Well, it was, anyway. Toward the end of the second book, it began to loosen up a little. For the first time, a character said 'F***' - which annoyed me a little, since it seemed inconsistent with all that came before, but whatever. I'm still enjoying it very much…
(I think I'm rambling now…sorry. I'll stop)
originally posted by Mark Stephen Kominski
Am thoroughly enjoying Terry Brooks' The Elves of Cintra right now. Been away from Brooks since Armageddon's Children, and am finding I missed his touch. Very different from our Talespinner, to be sure…
originally posted by Konran
Terry Brooks is one of the authors I just Can Not Do. I tried like five times to get into him and just failed miserably. I don't know what it is.
originally posted by Frank T Davis
Have started reading the second novel "Dragonfly Falling" of Adrian Tchaikovsky's "Shadows of the Apt" triology and am enjoying it very much. Lots of drama, fight scenes and war intrigue, etc. Excellent story line makes for very entertaining reading. Though the books are published in the UK, you can purchase them in the states without having to pay the exorbidant shipping costs.
Frank
originally posted by Auna
I realized that with a long series that spans decades like Wheel of Time, it's very likely the reader changes tastes before the series ever gets done. The author likely also changes over that much time. That could be why so many readers, including myself, tend to part company with the series around book five or six.
I'm just happy Janny's stuff seems to be getting better and better (my tastes align with her growth as a writer).
originally posted by Clansman
I have had The Gathering Storm in my hot little hands since October 28. I am about 200 pages in (given my limited reading time), and so far, I am impressed. I can already spot the differences between Jordan chapters and Sanderson chapters, but the chapters done by both are fairly seemless so far.
Within the first 200 pages, already some superfluous plot lines have been wound up, and the story is getting tighter. I hope Sanderson keeps notching it up, because I haven't had this good a read from Jordan since book 6 and the Dumai's Wells scene.
With respect, Omar, Jordan lost his way in books 7 to 10. The story was not advanced as nearly as quickly as it should have been, and compared to the first 6 books, it simply ground to a halt. The whole Perrin-chasing-Faille-and-the-Shaido story line could have been completely deleted, or done much more quickly than it was. Mat has this never-ending journey from Altara to Caemlyn. Flick the reins, for crying out loud, and get the cart moving!
Had Jordan stayed focused on the main plots, those four books could have been pared down to two books, and Sanderson would not have such a monumental task to bring the story under control (which appears to be like stopping a speeding freight train – you need a lot of distance). Book 11 got the story back on track a lot, and it appears that The Gathering Storm is doing the same, but even better.
Why did it take Perrin three books to find Faile, break the Shaido Aeil and win her back? Why has it taken Mat three books to trudge across the continent with Tuon et al when he did in one book in The Eye of the World? The books just got…really…sloooooooooooooowwwwwwww.
In contrast, each new novel in The Wars of Light and Shadow gets faster and faster, each is better than the last. Just as it should be, and I think Janny would agree with me (you do agree, don't you?), that we should expect nothing less.
Clansman, if you are directly asking?
I lose myself, with series that have characters who do not change after surviving a Major Experience. When, by book 4, they are still whining teenagers, I drop out.
I lose myself with series that seem to endorse the philosophy that all of life has base motivations, revenge is All, and the cynical outcome, or the point that all striving has no meaning, or, life and choices do not matter - I drop out.
Reading is highly personal - I endorse the full range of choice.
But as an author who is disbarred (by etiquette) from certain sorts of interaction, I can tell you what hurts to no end: readers who will not try another big series BECAUSE some writer or another failed to deliver (for whatever reason) - and who seem to do their best to convince everyone else not to bother, too.
There ARE series out there that are written from a matured standpoint - that deliver with a BANG! - and are superbly well done, with each volume building on the last. Worse, many of them are hanging quite under the radar…I was thrilled to see you give Carol Berg's trilogy a try. Excellent pick. Her Lighthouse duet is awesome also.
The proof is in the pudding - I think eventually the books will sort themselves out. But by sheer mass and numbers, I find a few of the very best series works are being drowned out.
This is starting to change - more mature readers are voicing their opinions, which helps a lot. And sites like fantasyliterature.com, which sorts its reviewers to books by their taste, can really help readers find more of what they like.
There are plenty of readers to go round - the difficulty has always been connecting the reader to their preferred style of content. Overcoming that challenge could quite change the landscape and make it possible to have a far wider range of reading choices.
originally posted by max
A new series is coming out in January called 'The Keepers of Sulbreth' by Susan Gourley. and how do I know this you ask?? I work with the author's sister here at our little country hospital!! Why, I am that close to fame. But all that aside, I read the editors comments and it might be good. [smilin at ya]
originally posted by Clansman
I have been reading a little mystery of late. Rennie Airth has created a golden age mystery, without the hokeyness (like a drawing room revelation by the investigator at the end, a la Poirot, etc.) of golden age mysteries. The crimes are not your standard upper class murder, but a serial killer/mass murderer at loose in the idyllic English countryside. John Madden, a rather wonderfully flawed Inspector with Scotland Yard, is the protagonist, and who battles not only a psychopathic killer of great intelligence, but a moribund police force that is resisting change.
I am in the midst of the second of three books. They are River of Darkness (set in 1921), The Blood-Dimmed Tide (1932), and Dead of Winter (1944). The first one was the best mystery I have ever read. Only trouble is that Airth turns out a book only every five years, but the quality is worth the wait.
originally posted by Mark Stephen Kominski
Sorry Clanny, but I can't seem to keep John Madden, the NFL Football former coach and popular announcer/commentator, out of my head in reading your summary!
*Bats head, futilely*
Wonder if Inspector Madden will cross paths with the Pevensie family as they escape the Blitz (or, perhaps, return from it?) in the third book… 
originally posted by DarthJazy
Ihighly recommend the new starwars series fate of the jedi. I find it mond boggling how the whole series has so many different authors and story integrity never fails. Janny you should see if you could write a starwars novel i would loove to see your style in my favorit all time story line. since you are my favorite author
originally posted by Hunter
Is there such a thing as "new" star wars? My kids watch the Clone wars animation and it seems like a re-hashing of old Star Wars stuff for a new generation.
I don't think George Lucas is ready for a well developed, intricately carved female character in the Star Wars world.
originally posted by DarthJazy
He had one named mara jade but i wont say more cause it would be a spoiler. and if you read the EU it goes way beyond the basics
originally posted by Tadgh Moriarty
My two cents.
Malazan Book of the Fallen - Steven Erikson - series
The Name of the Wind - Patrick Rothfuss
Erikson's books are great. A barrage of characters with a looping timeline makes it great for rereading. I don't know how many times i've reread the series so far. There's always an itty bitty piece of info i may have glanced over and with each new book you may gain a different perpective on one if not many of the characters. Also most of the characters do grow and the author does not shy away from killing off some the main characters which makes it all the more satisfying if a bit traumatic to the reader if you liked the character.
Rothfuss' series is a change of pace focusing on one character. Tis only the first book thats out but I found it to be a good read start to finish
originally posted by Konran
C.J. Cherryh's newest, Deceiver, is out, and as always a fun ride. I think there are some other Cherryh fans on the board, thought I'd drop that little hint
originally posted by Trys
Konran,
There are other Cherryh fans here. I'm one. I've bought the book, but I've gotten behind on reading this series. I've bought them all though and will read them at some point.
I just finished Greg Keyes's The Briar King and enjoyed it. I found it to be better than I expected based on the first couple of chapters. The plot is twisty and interesting. I found myself caring about the the main characters a great deal. Be aware this is a book of shifting multiple points of view and that may have been what threw me off at first. One downside, this is the first book in a series(?). There are at least three of them so far and I've bought the next one.
originally posted by Mark Stephen Kominski
Reading Tad Williams' Shadowrise, and liking it…
originally posted by Frank T Davis
I have read all of the Fantasy that C.J. has written and enjoyed her novels greatly. She is a fantastic writer. Far too much great fantasy to read yet before I venture into reading SF.
Have started reading Russell Kirkpatrick's "The Fire of Heaven" trilogy and am enjoying it. It follow`s the typical good vs evil with a group of diverse individuals getting together to engage evil. He has just enough twists to keep the reading very entertaining.
After completing this series I will likely read Tad Williams' "Shadowrise", volume three of "Shadowmarch". Also a very good read.
After that, I will likely read Carol Berg's latest, "Spirit Lens", another author who I enjoy greatly.
Then I will start on Jim Butcher's "Dresden Files". I recently read his "Codex Alera" saga and really enjoyed it.
Hopefully, by this time Ms Wurts will have gifted us with volume 9 of her most entertaining and enjoyable saga. Just looked back at "Stormed Fortress" and was surprised to note that it was published in '07.
Frank
originally posted by Hunter
Thanks Konran for the tip on Deceiver. The Foreigner series is very enjoyable.
My favorite read lately has been Carol Berg.
I also HEAR wonderful things about Cherryh's Deceiver and Kay's Under Heaven. Those are stacked waiting until I turn in this book.
Frank T. Davis - I am marking up past the halfway point for final polish on the FINISHED draft of Initiate's Trial. Turn in will be very soon, now.
Yes, it was 07. I have gone as fast as I could…I lost my Dad, have had to do more for my Mother, since, but mostly - this was the start of an ARC. There was a similar slog to get done with Fugitive Prince. More, until the British deal went through, I had no idea what lay ahead. I actually wrote 3 chapters of another standalone (maritime fantasy) thinking I'd have to start over completely in the USA - but then the import contract worked out, and the rest of the series went under contract. Add to the fact this manuscript went 200 pages LONGER than I'd hoped…and you have the time delay. I simply cannot go any faster, and maintain the quality.
You will get blown away with Initiate's Trial - I've taken every step to be certain it is up to or crackingly faster paced than Stormed Fortress - we are past the tipping point in the series, in total, now, and the pace will NOT LET UP.