From: Dana Hedberg (dah@signalinteractive.com)
Date: Sat Feb 26 2000 - 07:25:31 MST
Eugene Leitl wrote:
>
> Dana Hedberg writes:
>
> > 1. The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant the Unbeliever (Trilogy) by Stephen
> > R. Donaldson
>
> Actually, there is a second series, so it's a hexalogy in toto. None
> of it extremely exciting. Unless you've got a Hansens' disease fetish...
>
Agreed. Which is why I didn't list it as books I recommend from Fantasy.
What I believe is most relevant in these books (at least to the list
members) is the moral/ethical implications the anti-hero Thomas Covenant
wrestles with after finding himself transported to the dream-like "Land"
where he is expected to be their savior. It's more complicated than this
summary, but this is the basic idea.
> > 2. The Nine Princes of Amber (Five book set) by Roger Zelazny
>
> About the worst you can get from Roger Z. Decent by common fantasy
> standards, but really not too hot. Read anything by him but that.
>
There's a second series of five here too. I didn't mention it because I
don't recommend it over the others I've already listed. I think you are
a little too harsh here, Eugene. For originality this set sits near the
top. For character development (remember, this is all within the context
of Fantasy literature) it is also an excellent read. For its extropy
value, I would read it with an eye towards how the hero rises up against
the system to create something more in his Libertarian-esque image.
To be sure, he has written better stuff, but I would hardly suggest
avoiding this altogether.
> > 3. The Black Company (Eight book set, and counting) by Glen Cook
> > 4. The Riddle Master of Hed (Trilogy) by Patricia A. McKillip
> > 5. The Lord of the Rings (Trilogy) by J. R. R. Tolkein
>
> The etalon. No more, no less. 'nuff said.
>
Etalon? I have to admit I couldn't find anything on the connection
between that word and the books I mentioned above. I will also admit to
not looking all that hard.
> > 6. The Dark Tower (Four book set, and counting) by Stephen King
>
> Some of it pretty decent, as I recall. I still stand and fall by "The
> Last Stand", though.
>
An excellent book.
> > 7. The Dragon Prince (Trilogy) by Melanie Rawn
>
> Sounds familiar, but that's about it.
Political machinations, ethical dilemmas about the treatment of other,
"alien" intelligences (the Dragons), elitism, how emotions affect
rational thought and the impact that has on the acquisition of magical
skill (i.e., the cost of gaining transhuman-like abilities), etc.
Btw, I should have mentioned in my initial reply that I would lump
Aristoi into the SciFi-Fantasy hybrid genre. Anytime you have martial
arts living side by side with nanotechnology, I think you have a
combination book.
I'd be extremely interested in your recommendations from Fantasy (if
any).
-Dana
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