Your favorite book series

[Robby Foxfur]

I really like the halo book series i think it adds a lot more dept to the characters and to the universe they are in. my favorite so far is either Ghosts of Onxy or The Cole Protocol or First Strike.

 

[Korten12]

What are your guys favorite book series?

Myn at the moment is the Ranger Apprentince Series, I just began book three and it is really good.

(Sorry if this is a copy thread.)

A Song of Ice and Fire.

I read Ranger's Apprentice and I hated it.

Made me want to vomit generic fantasy things out of my eyeballs.

I won't berate the book any more, but what do you like about it? The one thing I did like about it was that Halt wasn't portrayed as being tall and handsome. But the rest of his character and everybody else's (except the bad guys) were pretty Mary-Sue. At least to me.

um... you sure you read it? it said Halt is short and oldish (he has a beard.)

He's not really that old and his age doesn't hamper him at all. He's the same misanthrope every author almost seems obligated to create in every fantasy universe and the author of Ranger's Apprentice almost ignores physics and reality when he made a stumpy ranger being able to take on barbarians by himself. Not to mention a 14 y/o boy being able to get stomped on by a horse and live.

um... its fantasy for a reason... I find it stupid when people get angry for something not being realistic, so what? Does it matter? Does everything need to be realistic? If someone wrote a story that a 17 year old picked up a gun and becomea pro isntantly would that make the story bad just becuase it wasn't realistic?

It is fantasy. Hard-to-believe, non-immersive fantasy.

Part of writing fantasy is creating a world that is believable. You can use "It's Fantasy!" as an excuse, yes. It's a perfectly valid excuse. But if you can't create a world with emotion, with characters people can relate to or characters, plots and actions that are conceivable or make sense, your story will suffer for it.

That's why I didn't like Ranger's Apprentice. It's what's called "Mary Sue" writing, where the characters or plot all benefit the protagonist; generally somebody without flaws or vices who can do no wrong, or if he has, it's justifiable.

Did you only read the first book? From what I see you think the main character can do no wrong and he has made mistakes like everyone else.

Stopped at around the third.

The characters don't have any flaws.

But flaws I mean, there's no drawbacks to them. A prodigal warrior who has the skill of a warrior who's been fighting all his life slays barbarians at what? Age 14?

Give me a break.

The "Ranger's Apprentice" who is a deadeye aim and stops an entire enemy invading army by himself, by way of burning a bridge.

The Ranger himself, whose only flaws are being the cool, anti-social character everybody fears.

These characters have no personality flaws. When they do things wrong, they're always things that are later compensated for. I would have liked to see the boy who threw himself under the horse just die instead of coming out alive. Make a mistake that actually matters for once.

But it's not exactly a "Mature Fantasy" read, especially for someone who's used to things like A Song of Ice and Fire, so I guess it's pointless to hammer it much more.

The only things that got me other than the Mary-Sueness of some parts (most of the parts), was the reference to the real world. Things like "secretaries" who wait outside the offices of kings, as if they're business CEOs. The numerous references to "coffee", etc. etc. I'm nitpicky and fairly pissy when it comes to immersion-ruining things, and whether they can be explained away or not doesn't make a difference to me. It still takes away from the overall quality of the book for me.

that would have ended the book... >.>

Well I am not going to agrue anymore but your also saying a series sucks and talking about characters that you haven't even heard seen their whole story and so your basing off of only not even half of the series so all your assumptions about the characters aren't to be taken seriously as you don't know. Those characters might have changed after the third book and becuase you didn't read after three you wouldn't know.

 

[Ensiferum]

What are your guys favorite book series?

Myn at the moment is the Ranger Apprentince Series, I just began book three and it is really good.

(Sorry if this is a copy thread.)

A Song of Ice and Fire.

I read Ranger's Apprentice and I hated it.

Made me want to vomit generic fantasy things out of my eyeballs.

I won't berate the book any more, but what do you like about it? The one thing I did like about it was that Halt wasn't portrayed as being tall and handsome. But the rest of his character and everybody else's (except the bad guys) were pretty Mary-Sue. At least to me.

um... you sure you read it? it said Halt is short and oldish (he has a beard.)

He's not really that old and his age doesn't hamper him at all. He's the same misanthrope every author almost seems obligated to create in every fantasy universe and the author of Ranger's Apprentice almost ignores physics and reality when he made a stumpy ranger being able to take on barbarians by himself. Not to mention a 14 y/o boy being able to get stomped on by a horse and live.

um... its fantasy for a reason... I find it stupid when people get angry for something not being realistic, so what? Does it matter? Does everything need to be realistic? If someone wrote a story that a 17 year old picked up a gun and becomea pro isntantly would that make the story bad just becuase it wasn't realistic?

It is fantasy. Hard-to-believe, non-immersive fantasy.

Part of writing fantasy is creating a world that is believable. You can use "It's Fantasy!" as an excuse, yes. It's a perfectly valid excuse. But if you can't create a world with emotion, with characters people can relate to or characters, plots and actions that are conceivable or make sense, your story will suffer for it.

That's why I didn't like Ranger's Apprentice. It's what's called "Mary Sue" writing, where the characters or plot all benefit the protagonist; generally somebody without flaws or vices who can do no wrong, or if he has, it's justifiable.

Did you only read the first book? From what I see you think the main character can do no wrong and he has made mistakes like everyone else.

Is there more of a fantasy element after the first book? Because I read the first book and it felt so starved of any actual fantasy elements that I'd hesitate to even call it fantasy. It felt a lot more like medieval fiction. Sure some of the characters were interesting but on the whole I felt cheated when I was expecting a fantasy story. It's a pretty big stretch to call your book fantasy when it's 850 pages long and only a few of those pages relate to fantasy at all.

 

[Whytewulf]

So just for sake of discussion, here are my favorite series, in no order.. well sort of an order..

The Belgariad and Mallorean from David Eddings.
Icewind Dale by R.A. Salvatore (I read the first 3 Drizzt Books, need to figure out if I want to re-read and cacth all 11 books I think it is now???)
Enders Game (Only 3 books in so far and need to catch up)
The Cleric Quintent by R.A. Salvatore

Similar Series I enjoyed, but very polarizing:
Percy Jackson by that guy who wrote it.
Eragon (I enjoyed, but not for everyone), for Goodness sake, don't watch the movie.
Harry Potter

I of course enjoyed Lord of the Rings, but that probably wouldn't surprise anyone.

 

[havass]

The Chaos Walking Trilogy. No, seriously. Go read it.
Also, The Percy Jackson series by Rick Riordan. The movie was okay as a movie on it's own, but fails as a movie about the book. The book's MUCH better than the movie.
And also the Keys to the Kingdom. That was a damn good series.

 

[RoyalSorceress]

For modern nothing can compare to Lord of the Rings and The Chronicles of Narnia.

I couldn't agree more, those are two of my favorite series.
I also like the Redwall series and most of the books by Dianna Wynn Jones, mostly the Derkholm series and the Eight Days of Luke.

 

[procyonlotor]

A Song of Ice and Fire.

Here it is, folks, the best that Fantasy has to offer. I've been searching for similar quality like a ravenous beast and everything else falls short.

Although it is a 'love it or hate it' affair (Mainly due to Jordan's entirely unique writing style), check out 'The Wheel of Time' by Robert Jordan. Epic is the word to describe. 13 released books (12 chronological and a prequel set 20 years before the 1st book), a 13th to be released late this year and one last title to end the series after that.

I will just say that Robert Jordan died in late 2007, after finishing work on the 11th serial. Brandon Sanderson (Mistborn Trilogy) is finishing the series with the help of Jordan's widow Harriet.

Take a wild guess at my favorite. >.> I'm also a fan of the Bartimaeus trilogy by Jonathan Stroud, the His Dark Materials trilogy by Phillip Pullman, the Scarecrow and Seven Ancient Wonders series by Matthew Reilly, and I'll stop myself with Derik Landy's Skulldugger Pleasant series.

I guess I can understand why a lot of people like WoT so much, but it's not for me. I made it all the way to book nine before I realized I was just wasting my time.

In fact, this is spot on. http://uncyclopedia.wikia.com/wiki/The_Wheel_of_Time

 

[Mikeyfell]

The Noble Dead saga by Barb and JC Hendee

It would have been Doppelganger by Marie Brennan

 

[Bruin]

What are your guys favorite book series?

Myn at the moment is the Ranger Apprentince Series, I just began book three and it is really good.

(Sorry if this is a copy thread.)

A Song of Ice and Fire.

I read Ranger's Apprentice and I hated it.

Made me want to vomit generic fantasy things out of my eyeballs.

I won't berate the book any more, but what do you like about it? The one thing I did like about it was that Halt wasn't portrayed as being tall and handsome. But the rest of his character and everybody else's (except the bad guys) were pretty Mary-Sue. At least to me.

um... you sure you read it? it said Halt is short and oldish (he has a beard.)

He's not really that old and his age doesn't hamper him at all. He's the same misanthrope every author almost seems obligated to create in every fantasy universe and the author of Ranger's Apprentice almost ignores physics and reality when he made a stumpy ranger being able to take on barbarians by himself. Not to mention a 14 y/o boy being able to get stomped on by a horse and live.

um... its fantasy for a reason... I find it stupid when people get angry for something not being realistic, so what? Does it matter? Does everything need to be realistic? If someone wrote a story that a 17 year old picked up a gun and becomea pro isntantly would that make the story bad just becuase it wasn't realistic?

It is fantasy. Hard-to-believe, non-immersive fantasy.

Part of writing fantasy is creating a world that is believable. You can use "It's Fantasy!" as an excuse, yes. It's a perfectly valid excuse. But if you can't create a world with emotion, with characters people can relate to or characters, plots and actions that are conceivable or make sense, your story will suffer for it.

That's why I didn't like Ranger's Apprentice. It's what's called "Mary Sue" writing, where the characters or plot all benefit the protagonist; generally somebody without flaws or vices who can do no wrong, or if he has, it's justifiable.

Did you only read the first book? From what I see you think the main character can do no wrong and he has made mistakes like everyone else.

Stopped at around the third.

The characters don't have any flaws.

But flaws I mean, there's no drawbacks to them. A prodigal warrior who has the skill of a warrior who's been fighting all his life slays barbarians at what? Age 14?

Give me a break.

The "Ranger's Apprentice" who is a deadeye aim and stops an entire enemy invading army by himself, by way of burning a bridge.

The Ranger himself, whose only flaws are being the cool, anti-social character everybody fears.

These characters have no personality flaws. When they do things wrong, they're always things that are later compensated for. I would have liked to see the boy who threw himself under the horse just die instead of coming out alive. Make a mistake that actually matters for once.

But it's not exactly a "Mature Fantasy" read, especially for someone who's used to things like A Song of Ice and Fire, so I guess it's pointless to hammer it much more.

The only things that got me other than the Mary-Sueness of some parts (most of the parts), was the reference to the real world. Things like "secretaries" who wait outside the offices of kings, as if they're business CEOs. The numerous references to "coffee", etc. etc. I'm nitpicky and fairly pissy when it comes to immersion-ruining things, and whether they can be explained away or not doesn't make a difference to me. It still takes away from the overall quality of the book for me.

that would have ended the book... >.>

Well I am not going to agrue anymore but your also saying a series sucks and talking about characters that you haven't even heard seen their whole story and so your basing off of only not even half of the series so all your assumptions about the characters aren't to be taken seriously as you don't know. Those characters might have changed after the third book and becuase you didn't read after three you wouldn't know.

It wouldn't have ended the book, the author could have been creative for once and made up a new character *Gasp*.

So, even though the first three books were trash I'm:

A) Supposed to believe the others weren't.
B) Not judge the characters.
C) Supposed to stomach that the author becomes a better writer and does something original with the story.

All very unlikely things, as far as I'm concerned.

But yes, the argument is pointless. It's not a series meant to be crucified, criticized or scrutinized by somebody like me. It's meant to be read and enjoyed by a younger audience who accepts the characters and plotlines.

I've never been good at just accepting things though. Even in a Song of Ice and Fire, I always asked "Why?".

And George always gave me an answer.

Ranger's Apprentice just said "Shut up and keep reading,".

 

[arsenicCatnip]

Dark Tower Series - Stephen King

Hugely Epic.

Til the end anyway.

One of my favorite series (Exiles, by Melanie Rawn) is apparently never going to be finished, since the third title of the trilogy has been in the works for over TEN FREAKING YEARS without an official publication date.

So, I will answer this the same way I always do: Kushiel's Legacy, by Jacqueline Carey. It's comprised of three trilogies; the first, the Phèdre Trilogy (consisting of Kushiel's Dart, Kushiel's Chosen, and Kushiel's Avatar) about a young courtesan who is an intense masochist. This makes her the chosen of the god (yes, little g) Kushiel, who was God's punisher. She saves her kingdom from the plans of a woman whom she loves, but who intends to take over.

The second is the Imriel Trilogy (Kushiel's Scion, Kushiel's Justice, Kushiel's Mercy) about a young man who is the other side of the coin to Phèdre: he is of Kushiel's bloodline, and an heir to the throne besides. The books follow him growing up, and learning to 'be good', as he is the son of the traitor from the first trilogy.

The third trilogy is set many years later, and follows a young woman named Moirin. Thus far I've only read book one, but it's good!

WARNING: this series can, and does, devolve into BDSM porn. Phèdre is a masochist (called an anguissette), and Imriel a sadist. It gets very graphic about battles as well, but if you can stomach it, it makes awesome alt-history fiction.

 

[Ensiferum]

For modern nothing can compare to Lord of the Rings and The Chronicles of Narnia.

I couldn't agree more, those are two of my favorite series.
I also like the Redwall series and most of the books by Dianna Wynn Jones, mostly the Derkholm series and the Eight Days of Luke.

Redwall is another great series that I really enjoyed. Could you pick a favorite from that series if you had to? I haven't heard of the others but will have to check them out.

 

[HT_Black]

Hm. That would indeed be hazardous to one's health, and I can't say I've ever done something like that; do you think being stomped by a draft horse at age twelve is a comparable experience?

Was the draft horse in full gallop, was it trained to kill, was it being ridden by the "evilest man in the world" and was it deliberate?

No, no, no, and maybe. Sorry, Ranger's Apprentice, but this guy's right: that dumbass is D-E-A-D, and suspension of disbelief be dead and buried.

 

[child of lileth]

I pretty much only read light novels, but my favorite series right now is probably Spice and Wolf.

 

[Tanis]

The Night's Dawn Trilogy - Peter F. Hamilton

 

[Mcupobob]

The tomorrow series, god I hope the movie comes to the U.S.

 

[strum4h]

I have never read a real "series." I mostly stick to novels.

 

[Agayek]

Although it is a 'love it or hate it' affair (Mainly due to Jordan's entirely unique writing style), check out 'The Wheel of Time' by Robert Jordan. Epic is the word to describe. 13 released books (12 chronological and a prequel set 20 years before the 1st book), a 13th to be released late this year and one last title to end the series after that.

I will just say that Robert Jordan died in late 2007, after finishing work on the 11th serial. Brandon Sanderson (Mistborn Trilogy) is finishing the series with the help of Jordan's widow Harriet.

The problem with Wheel of Time, and to a lesser extent A Song of Ice and Fire, is that it tries to be a dozen books at once, and half of them are uninteresting at best. Wheel of Time is extremely annoying because out of the six or so different stories told in the first book, only two of them are worth the time to read. The rest are just bland. Song is only slightly better in that regard. There's 4 stories in them that are well worth reading, but the other 8 are just as boring as WoT.

When either of those books are good, they're phenomenal. The problem is, that accounts for less than half of each of the actual books.

And before anyone asks, I was halfway through book 4 of Song and most of the way through the first WoT book when I stopped reading either.

 

[I am Jack's profile]

It's not a series yet but the book "Rant" by chuck palahniuk is set to have to more books come out telling storys based around the books central characters.

I still haven't found all the pieces of my mind after the first bool

 

[SodaDew]

The Hunger Game book series