I will consider it. Unfortunately due to an eye issue I'm pretty much 100% audiobook at this point, which means anything I want to read is basically a $15 investment, so I have to REALLY have an interest in it.cubikill said:
Can you recommend brilliant books based on what I've loved so far
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Wow, the amount of names being thrown out there is kind of overwhelming 
When I finished listening to the audiobook of The First Law, I spent the rest of the day incredibly depressed. Loved the books mind you and have been wanting to read the other three books in that world. I actually started to prefer Luthar the most by the end of it. Him, The Dogman and Ferro.
Kingkiller Chronicles and The Black Company are also on the what to read next list.
When I finished listening to the audiobook of The First Law, I spent the rest of the day incredibly depressed. Loved the books mind you and have been wanting to read the other three books in that world. I actually started to prefer Luthar the most by the end of it. Him, The Dogman and Ferro.
Kingkiller Chronicles and The Black Company are also on the what to read next list.
BloatedGuppy said:
My opinion on him is that he's desperate to be a good man but that he's fond of people being scared of him. I don't think he was lucid whilst he did most of what he's been told he's done but that even with those things aside he's not a nice person. Most of the truly excessively violent episodes aren't him in a way, but even without those he's a bloodthirsty bastard. For example he nearly kills Ferro in a rage, which I can totally believe he didn't want to do so I don't see that being voluntary, but in Red Country he kills the leader of the Ghosts very pragmatically without being 'the other guy' and doesn't feel any remorse.
Then again he manages to hold it in for more than a decade around Shy and manages to not kill her at the tavern so it's quite possible he just lets go and enjoys it. He's very similar to Gorst in the previous book, neither of them likes being ridiculed or looked down on and Logen says he's ashamed of his name but misses it when people aren't giving him the deference he feels he deserves.
On the other hand it's difficult to condemn him for being good at killing when that is literally his job. Loads of characters in that series enjoy (or don't regret) what they do without being evil, Glokta may be a torturer but that's not something he does for fun, it's his job and evidence obtained under torture is valid there. Hell in any other series he'd be something like Commissioner Gordon.
Then again he manages to hold it in for more than a decade around Shy and manages to not kill her at the tavern so it's quite possible he just lets go and enjoys it. He's very similar to Gorst in the previous book, neither of them likes being ridiculed or looked down on and Logen says he's ashamed of his name but misses it when people aren't giving him the deference he feels he deserves.
On the other hand it's difficult to condemn him for being good at killing when that is literally his job. Loads of characters in that series enjoy (or don't regret) what they do without being evil, Glokta may be a torturer but that's not something he does for fun, it's his job and evidence obtained under torture is valid there. Hell in any other series he'd be something like Commissioner Gordon.
Well, if you don't mind a fantasy book that has much more idealism and lightness of tone compared to 'Song of Ice and Fire', I think I'd recommend the Dragonlance series.
I've only recently got into it when I started reading the first book, I.E, Chronicles Vol. 1. And it's been pretty good so far.
I've only recently got into it when I started reading the first book, I.E, Chronicles Vol. 1. And it's been pretty good so far.
ForumSafari said:
Is it Logen or Logan? Damn my memory!
You seem to share my girlfriend's more generous take on him (and Glotka too, for that matter). I have a fairly dim view of most of the protagonists, some of whom are arguably even worse than the antagonists (Bayaz, I am looking in your direction). Shy is probably the closest thing to a genuinely heroic character in all six books, and a few, like Monza, would comfortably fit as serious villains in the majority of fantasy series. Logan "tries" to be a good man, but when Black Fucking Dow is trying to kill and replace you because you're too damn evil to lead, you know you have a serious problem.
Still, that's what I love about it. I've always had a thing for anti-heroes. I think it's why I love The Wire and The Sopranos so much, and why I have a hard time watching shows or reading books where the main characters are all pure as the driven snow. It's dull.
You seem to share my girlfriend's more generous take on him (and Glotka too, for that matter). I have a fairly dim view of most of the protagonists, some of whom are arguably even worse than the antagonists (Bayaz, I am looking in your direction). Shy is probably the closest thing to a genuinely heroic character in all six books, and a few, like Monza, would comfortably fit as serious villains in the majority of fantasy series. Logan "tries" to be a good man, but when Black Fucking Dow is trying to kill and replace you because you're too damn evil to lead, you know you have a serious problem.
Still, that's what I love about it. I've always had a thing for anti-heroes. I think it's why I love The Wire and The Sopranos so much, and why I have a hard time watching shows or reading books where the main characters are all pure as the driven snow. It's dull.
the demon cycle: the warded man / the desert spear / the daylight war - by peter brett
the godspeaker trilogy: empress / the riven kingdom / the hammer of god - by karen miller
the prince of thorns / the king of thorns / the emperor of thorns - by mark lawrence
the steel remains / the cold command - by richard k. morgan
(side note, richard K morgan has an amazing trilogy of kind of cyberpunk fantasy, Altered Carbon / Broken Angels / Woken Furies)
the godspeaker trilogy: empress / the riven kingdom / the hammer of god - by karen miller
the prince of thorns / the king of thorns / the emperor of thorns - by mark lawrence
the steel remains / the cold command - by richard k. morgan
(side note, richard K morgan has an amazing trilogy of kind of cyberpunk fantasy, Altered Carbon / Broken Angels / Woken Furies)
Actually, there's 14 books in the series - Skin Game is going to be number 15 (due out next year, I believe). And I wholeheartedly second all the recommendations you madeAgayek said:
Heh, nice thread.
I'll chip in with a vote for Rothfuss as well. I'm almost done reading the second novel, and although his weird similes can get irritating at times, his descriptions of a particular atmosphere or interaction between characters really draws you in.
Maybe not on the same level as some of these authors; Markus Heitz with his high fantasy saga on dwarves. A gripping reinvention of an overused and, often, boringly stereotyped race. If you can find them where you live, you could give these books a shot.
I'll chip in with a vote for Rothfuss as well. I'm almost done reading the second novel, and although his weird similes can get irritating at times, his descriptions of a particular atmosphere or interaction between characters really draws you in.
Maybe not on the same level as some of these authors; Markus Heitz with his high fantasy saga on dwarves. A gripping reinvention of an overused and, often, boringly stereotyped race. If you can find them where you live, you could give these books a shot.
Gonna have to second these. Richard Morgan is a fantastic writer, and his Land Fit For Heroes series (The Steel Remains/The Cold Commands) is my favourite thing he's done by far. You should probably read Altered Carbon first, though, even though it's not quite what you seem to be asking for here since it's pure sci-fi rather than fantasy. Besides the fact that it's just a great novel, it has... Connections to the LFFH series that you might miss otherwise.sateryn said:
I love much the same books as you, so I might have a few suggestions.
Joining the chorus on Rothfuss: Great writing that flows of the page, but has some pacing problems. If you get sucked into the writing the pages will fly by and you will be completely engrossed in the story. After finishing the books, almost feels like I've been on a vacation.
Tigana by Guy Gavriel Kay
It's a fantasy based on the period of Italy where different city states fought each other (Machiavelli and all that). Much like ASOIAF it is inspired by a certain period, but it is a completely made up world with magic and all that. Great book with wonderful gray characters and great emotional pay-offs. It's a stand-alone so you get a contained story.
Hyperion Cantos by Dan Simmons
Technically a sci-fi epic, but has a lot in common with fantasy books. Seven "pilgrims" are sent to a planet which inhabits the infamous Shrike which will grant the request of those who live to see him. Throughout the two books you get to know each of the pilgrims and the books manage to make each character's story thrilling, unique and interesting on their own, essentially giving you several books and genres contained in one book. Honestly, one of the most masterful books I've ever read and I'm not even sure how Dan Simmons managed to write something so complex yet so emotionally rewarding. Considered a classic among sci-fi books.
Joining the chorus on Rothfuss: Great writing that flows of the page, but has some pacing problems. If you get sucked into the writing the pages will fly by and you will be completely engrossed in the story. After finishing the books, almost feels like I've been on a vacation.
Tigana by Guy Gavriel Kay
It's a fantasy based on the period of Italy where different city states fought each other (Machiavelli and all that). Much like ASOIAF it is inspired by a certain period, but it is a completely made up world with magic and all that. Great book with wonderful gray characters and great emotional pay-offs. It's a stand-alone so you get a contained story.
Hyperion Cantos by Dan Simmons
Technically a sci-fi epic, but has a lot in common with fantasy books. Seven "pilgrims" are sent to a planet which inhabits the infamous Shrike which will grant the request of those who live to see him. Throughout the two books you get to know each of the pilgrims and the books manage to make each character's story thrilling, unique and interesting on their own, essentially giving you several books and genres contained in one book. Honestly, one of the most masterful books I've ever read and I'm not even sure how Dan Simmons managed to write something so complex yet so emotionally rewarding. Considered a classic among sci-fi books.
Seconding Tigana by Guy Gavriel Kay, but more than that one I recommend The Last Light of the Sun and Under Heaven by the same author. He's my absolute favorite contemporary writer. His work is similar to Martin's in that it deals with politics in a sophisticated historical fantasy setting.
The two I've mentioned are my favorites out of his ten novels: Sun evokes Celts and Vikings, and deals with Sidhe creatures, and Under Heaven is based on Tang dynasty Chinese politics with some Mongolian mythos thrown in. I have yet to read the follow up to Under Heaven, which was released earlier this year. It's called River of Stars and takes place about four hundred years later (based on the Song dynasty). I'm told it's fantastic.
The two I've mentioned are my favorites out of his ten novels: Sun evokes Celts and Vikings, and deals with Sidhe creatures, and Under Heaven is based on Tang dynasty Chinese politics with some Mongolian mythos thrown in. I have yet to read the follow up to Under Heaven, which was released earlier this year. It's called River of Stars and takes place about four hundred years later (based on the Song dynasty). I'm told it's fantastic.
Kingkiller chronicles, by Patrick Rothfuss. Guarantee you'll love it.BlackJimmy said:
You could try Sword of Truth series by Terry Goodkind. It's a hit or miss series, most people love it or hate it. If you like it, you'll probably also like "The Fifth Ring" by Mitchel Graham.
You might want to try Percy Jackson series or Ranger's apprentice series. They're YA so you might not like them, but if YA style doesn't bother you I think you'll love the stories.
Anything else I might have suggested is on your already read lest, or is an even further distance from you're core reading set. Good luck.
For a lighter take on Sword & Sorcery, mixed with some high tech as well give Robert Asprin's Myth Adventures a try.