| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| BARDOBARBAROS |
Posted - 28 Oct 2007 : 17:39:37
I want some opinions about these books...I have not read them ....Are they worth buying or not???
|
| 23 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Brimstone |
Posted - 15 May 2009 : 13:45:56
quote:
Originally posted by Jorkens
Well, the large character gallery and numerous parallel stories in Eds books is a matter of taste. I can see that it can get a bit convoluted for some peoples preference. For me that is the part that makes me enjoy Eds novels. One gets the opposite situation with fight scenes in many other Realms books; some readers love to picture the flow of the battle whereas I start skipping pages.
I think thats what I like about Ed's writing. The large cast of characters. 
I have not read The Band of Four yet. I just started reading Falconfar: Darklord and I love it! I also got Dark Warrior Rising, so I look forward to a good read THO. 
Sorry about the Thread Necromancy scribes. 
Brimstone |
| MerrikCale |
Posted - 25 Nov 2007 : 04:12:16
quote:
Originally posted by Rinonalyrna Fathomlin
quote:
Originally posted by MerrikCale
And feel free to challenge me at any time. I can take it.
Understood, but I see no point in trying to convince people to like something they said they don't like. For example, I read the Last Mythal trilogy and disliked it for several reasons. There'd be no point in convincing me that the experience I had with the books was better than it really was, so I wouldn't do that to anyone else.
Thanks for explaining your opinion better, though.
I understand. To each his own. And for what its worth, I found the Last Mythal to be average at first with a steady downturn as the series progressed. Realms of the Elves wasn't half bad though |
| Rinonalyrna Fathomlin |
Posted - 25 Nov 2007 : 01:56:23
quote:
Originally posted by MerrikCale
And feel free to challenge me at any time. I can take it.
Understood, but I see no point in trying to convince people to like something they said they don't like. For example, I read the Last Mythal trilogy and disliked it for several reasons. There'd be no point in convincing me that the experience I had with the books was better than it really was, so I wouldn't do that to anyone else.
Thanks for explaining your opinion better, though. |
| MerrikCale |
Posted - 23 Nov 2007 : 03:47:12
quote:
Originally posted by Rinonalyrna Fathomlin
quote:
Originally posted by MerrikCale
quote:
Originally posted by Blueblade
narrative concentration on a relatively small cast of characters.
and thats where Ed always jumps the shark
Just out of curiosity, why do you say that? I'm not challenging you, I just want to understand your opinion better.
I have always found Ed puts too many characters in his book and gets bogged down. On a side note, I find his dialogue unnatural and often silly. However, some of his books I have enjoyed notably Elminster in Hell and Stormlight. Others not so much. But the band of Four were unreadable in my opinion based on the above.
And feel free to challenge me at any time. I can take it. Plus, I know I'm in the minority around here anyway when it comes to Ed's abilities as an author of fiction. But let me say, you'll be hard pressed to find anyone in his league as a game designer. IMHO. |
| Jorkens |
Posted - 17 Nov 2007 : 09:09:24
Well, the large character gallery and numerous parallel stories in Eds books is a matter of taste. I can see that it can get a bit convoluted for some peoples preference. For me that is the part that makes me enjoy Eds novels. One gets the opposite situation with fight scenes in many other Realms books; some readers love to picture the flow of the battle whereas I start skipping pages. |
| Rinonalyrna Fathomlin |
Posted - 16 Nov 2007 : 18:41:42
quote:
Originally posted by MerrikCale
quote:
Originally posted by Blueblade
narrative concentration on a relatively small cast of characters.
and thats where Ed always jumps the shark
Just out of curiosity, why do you say that? I'm not challenging you, I just want to understand your opinion better. |
| The Hooded One |
Posted - 16 Nov 2007 : 03:17:38
Now, now, Red Walker, Ed didn't choose the name for the series or the idea behind it (have four main characters akin to the four base original D&D character classes). That was Brian Thomsen's doing.
For Tor, I believe Mr. Thomsen decides on an idea for a series (the Band of Four or Ed's current now-drow dark elf books), discusses it with Ed, and then Ed writes it.
And MerrikCale, Ed's too old for shark-jumping (bad knees equals poor swimming, and VERY poor leaping out of the water skills). When he and I were both younger, though . . .
love,
THO |
| MerrikCale |
Posted - 16 Nov 2007 : 02:17:20
quote:
Originally posted by Blueblade
narrative concentration on a relatively small cast of characters.
and thats where Ed always jumps the shark |
| Rinonalyrna Fathomlin |
Posted - 16 Nov 2007 : 02:16:31
quote:
Originally posted by The Red Walker
Anyone surprised Ed did a Series that has the Acronym BOF ???
Anyone.....at all?
I...don't get it? |
| Blueblade |
Posted - 15 Nov 2007 : 15:13:10
Just what the lady said. It's a industry term for a simple, chronological storyline with a minimum of big jumps in location (aside from a brief scene aboard a ship, late in the series, all of the action in these books takes place up and down one river valley) and narrative concentration on a relatively small cast of characters.
Unlike, say, the fantasy series of Jordan or Martin. Or J.V. Jones or Julian May, for that matter. Or many of Ed's Realms books.
Please note that I'm not saying one fictional form is better than the other. Some stories are best told one way, and others another way.
I'm just curious as to why you thought the Band of Four books were convoluted and therefore you didn't like them, MerrikCale, when you expressed a liking for the Watercourse trilogy, which IS really convoluted. Or was it something else you disliked?
BB |
| MerrikCale |
Posted - 15 Nov 2007 : 03:57:05
quote:
Originally posted by The Hooded One
"Convoluted"? Oh, dear. Ed and his editor on that series will be surprised indeed. They both thought the Band of Four books were "straight-ahead, simple swords & sorcery," like the Tor catalogue copy at the time described them.
I read them all and thought the same thing.
Ah, well. Different strokes . . .
love,
THO
Really? Straight-ahead compared to what? |
| The Red Walker |
Posted - 15 Nov 2007 : 02:21:22
Anyone surprised Ed did a Series that has the Acronym BOF ???
Anyone.....at all? |
| The Hooded One |
Posted - 15 Nov 2007 : 01:45:37
"Convoluted"? Oh, dear. Ed and his editor on that series will be surprised indeed. They both thought the Band of Four books were "straight-ahead, simple swords & sorcery," like the Tor catalogue copy at the time described them.
I read them all and thought the same thing.
Ah, well. Different strokes . . .
love,
THO |
| Karzak |
Posted - 13 Nov 2007 : 12:16:28
quote:
Originally posted by HawkinstheDM
quote:
Originally posted by Karzak
It depends. If you can stand, or even like EG's Realms novels, then you'll probably like those too. The style's similar, and so's the sense of humor.
I disagree, I enjoy Ed's Realms novels, but did not enjoy the first two of the Band of Four novels nearly as much as his Realms ones. I liked the first better than the second though. I have not read any of the later ones.
Hmm, I thought the Realms novels and the BoF books had a lot in common, myself. But oh well.
Edit to disclaim: I've only read one Band of Four book, though. |
| Ergdusch |
Posted - 13 Nov 2007 : 08:30:28
Seems like the translation into German took some of this convoluted, difficult, 'Ed' Style out... |
| MerrikCale |
Posted - 12 Nov 2007 : 22:01:58
quote:
Originally posted by HawkinstheDM
quote:
Originally posted by Karzak
It depends. If you can stand, or even like EG's Realms novels, then you'll probably like those too. The style's similar, and so's the sense of humor.
I disagree, I enjoy Ed's Realms novels, but did not enjoy the first two of the Band of Four novels nearly as much as his Realms ones. I liked the first better than the second though. I have not read any of the later ones.
I agree with you. I have never been a fan of Ed's fiction, but some of his realms book are decent. The band of Four is unreadable its so convuluted |
| Hawkins |
Posted - 12 Nov 2007 : 20:37:00
quote:
Originally posted by Karzak
It depends. If you can stand, or even like EG's Realms novels, then you'll probably like those too. The style's similar, and so's the sense of humor.
I disagree, I enjoy Ed's Realms novels, but did not enjoy the first two of the Band of Four novels nearly as much as his Realms ones. I liked the first better than the second though. I have not read any of the later ones. |
| Karzak |
Posted - 12 Nov 2007 : 17:20:47
It depends. If you can stand, or even like EG's Realms novels, then you'll probably like those too. The style's similar, and so's the sense of humor. |
| MerrikCale |
Posted - 12 Nov 2007 : 03:30:16
quote:
Originally posted by BARDOBARBAROS
I want some opinions about these books...I have not read them ....Are they worth buying or not???
I found them extremely difficult to get through myself. I would stay away. |
| The Sage |
Posted - 10 Nov 2007 : 23:03:52
I've been itching to read the TOR and SOLARIS books ever since Ed first mentioned them here. I purchased them immediately upon release... but I've had other books in my evergrowing stacks that I've had to read.
Hopefully next week.
|
| The Hooded One |
Posted - 10 Nov 2007 : 19:20:17
. . . And I should point out to all interested scribes that Ed has two new non-FR fiction series currently being released.
From Tor Books, DARK WARRIOR RISING (a non-drow "dark elf" novel, possibly Ed's best yet) is out, with a sequel, DARK VENGEANCE, due next year.
From Solaris (Black Library; dist. by Simon & Schuster), DARK LORD, the first of the Falconfar trilogy, is out (sequels to follow, one a year: ARCHWIZARD and then FALCONFAR).
Try 'em. Good fun!
love to all,
THO |
| BARDOBARBAROS |
Posted - 29 Oct 2007 : 16:28:14
ok .. thank u!! yes i know that is not est within the FAerun |
| Ergdusch |
Posted - 29 Oct 2007 : 09:55:58
You do know that the Band of Four series is not set within the Forgotten Realms?
The are set within the Kingdom of Aglirta. The novels are:
1. The Kingless Land
2. The Vacant Throne
3. A Dragon's Ascension
4. The Dragon's Doom
5. The Silent House (A chronicle of Aglirta)
You'll find more info on the series here.
They are quite a good read, a straigt forward fantasy story told by one of the greatest authors of the genre, IMO. If you can get your hands on those books for a reasonable price and you like to read fantasy outside of the Forgotten Realms, I'd recommand you to get them. These books were actually the once that introduced me to Ed Greenwood's work for the first time. (Edit note: I read them in German though, there called 'Ring der Vier')
Ergdusch |
