There's quite a few. 26 in total on the series, I believe, but I could be mistaken. I really love the magic system in place, and after the first few books the world-building really catches up to be massive. But Jordan makes his money in absolutely gorgeous settings, and just descriptions in general. I always felt like I could visualize his settings and creatures better than most others. Yep, I'm definitely interested in getting back to them, and I'll probably even restart entirely, but I've got five novels to read critically next month...well maybe six actually. Hopefully time will clear.
I tried reading it. I didn't make it far into The Wheel of Time, but what I read struck me as a long-winded Tolkien knock-off. It seemed drab. I don't know if that's true or not, though. Does it get better?
Entirely different world in general. Feels less like a knock off then most other fantasy. Invented entirely different creature sets that I adore. And the magic system is entirely different. Yes, it is a long read. But it gets better. Dont try to power through them. He is more long winded, but I like the flavor.
Yes, it gets better. The first book I texted my brother the whole time I was reading it and kept comparing it to Lord of the Rings, and he finally told me to be quiet and just read it. So, I did, and by the time I got to the end, I was on the Rand Train 100%. ^^ This. The magic system is interesting, and the characters/creatures (Loial is a particular favorite) give so much depth to the story. It is ... quite tasty.
Ok, I may try it. My local bookshop just reopened I think or will soon (yay phase 2), and I know they have all the Tor titles. It is harder to be more long-winded than Tolkien though. I love The Hobbit and The Silmarillion, but LOTR largely leaves me cold as it was written. Your brother sounds very wise. It is usually best to shut up and read it.
It's a different kind of long-winded. Tolkien loved to set up and draw out his histories, down to utter monotony at times (there are a few chapters I can think of that I could really enjoy never reading again). Jordan like to add a lot of imagery and draw out scenes. I kind of love it to be honest, but he didn't really catch the richest of his stride until book two, where it becomes a bit more visceral. As @Dogberry's Watch mentions, some of the characters are quite incredible, especially Loial, Perrin, or Morraine for me. But truly, yes, don't go around comparing it like a slightly off-set pair of twins. They are children of entirely different families. If you do choose to read it, put the other out of your mind.
I am reading The Old Man and the Sea. I love it very much. However, I intend to soon embark upon The Gormenghast novels. I have tried them before and never made it much further than several hundred pages. However, I think that they are among the finest achievements of English literature; the brilliance of Mervyn Peake is really amazing. @Steerpike, encourage me. I assume you have read them.
Yes, a couple of times. They're among my favorites. I love Peake's writing, dense as it can be. I know the style isn't for anyone, which is fine. My approach the first time was to enjoy the words for their own sake, and after going along in that fashion I was drawn into the characters and story as well, especially in the first two books.
The Pulp Fiction thread got me digging through my 1950s sci-fi, and I picked out Rendezvous with Rama by Arthur C. Clarke. It was written in the 70s, and it isn't pulp fiction, but you get the idea. I haven't read it since high school. Decent enough book. The writing is kind of Dick and Jane and the characterization is nonexistent, but it does the trick.
I always thought of Clarke as being one of the better writers of that older Sci-Fi era, although a bit metaphysical sometimes. Can't remember if I read Rama or not.
Whether or not you’ve got a copy of the book in your hands is beside the point. This has absolutely nothing to do with you. You’re not the one reading the goddam book.
For what it's worth, I was making a reference to this clip sort of to mirror the "derivative and cliche" phrase.
Yeah, he's decent enough. Nary a hint of characterization anywhere to be found, though. I mean, there are characters that exist and say things, but there doesn't tend to be much to tell any of them apart. Rama is his best I think out of the 10-12 paperbacks I have on my shelf.
I know I've read a few of his short stories, but I honestly can't remember any of them. Perhaps that speaks for itself.
There are some characters with character in 2010: Odyssey 2. It's always been interesting to me though how like David Bowman (he came first) Neil Armstrong turned out to be. Those of us who follow him on social media know that Buzz Aldrin is...quite interesting, but I've heard that it was because of that interestingness that Armstrong got the honor of putting down the first bootprints. NASA didn't want someone who might showboat and spoil the image of the program. Like Armstrong, Bowman was just the picture of quiet, boring confidence and competence. In 2002, some yahoo moon-landing denier tried to harrass then 72-year-old Aldrin into admitting that Apollo 11 was a hoax. It didn't end well for him.
Interesting story, and why would you harass someone in the street? That guy asking the questions was the coward. I don't get the people who want to believe it didn't happen, what do they get out of it? I'm sure there's a book or two out there about it all, just to keep it on topic
Yeah, so now I'm reading Rama II, which was around the time he started writing with Gentry Lee (1988?) and doing more collaborations in general. Characters with characters starting showing up too. They're still really vanilla, but at least he made an attempt.
The denier booked a room in the hotel and pretended that he was organizing an interview with Buzz Aldrin for a Japanese children's TV science show. Scam from the word go, when he showed the his footage to the cops they declined to charge Aldrin.
