My apologies if you see this post again as i made a mistake and wanted it to be a new thread rather than a reply.
Well…here goes…this may seem odd …or maybe not.
I’m reading currently my the 3rd book in a fantasy series written by Steven Erikson. The series is called Malazan: The Book of the Fallen. There are 10 or more books to this series and the title of the one I’m on now is called “Memories of Ice”
The thing about this particular series is that I think it is unlike any other out there because it focuses more on plot and the implied pieces of a puzzle as you read, whereas most series put strong emphasis on characters. Malazan has characters for sure, but they are not what’s driving the story as such. I’m picking up new words from this author all the time.
I love the imagery and the brilliant prose in Erikson’s writing. Anyone else reading this or a fantasy series?
I have not read the series. I’ll add it to my list.
I’m currently committed to reading the Wheel of Time series by Robert Jordan. It’s 11 books in the series and a very complex set of characters.
I didn’t mention it before but I’m up to the 10th book in WoT Knife of Dreams…but took a detour and I’m now reading New Spring …it is geared as the book before the 1st one.
I like Moraine. She’s intelligent and wise and she can fight when she needs to.
It has taken quite a long time 2 years plus to get to the 10 book of WoT as I read this simultaneously with Malazan …I know crazy…
Truth is I got to the 9th book of Malazan and I decided to start over from the beginning because I was reading the series way to fast and missed a whole lot…so when I went back last year in Oct it was like I was reading it for the 1st time.
Do you read books by tablet /kindle or literal physical pages?
Well I have heard different definitions of high fantasy.
One is that the story sees magic as a common thing and not done just in special moments. There is a high level of magic, races, objects, gods which interact in the lives of people,
A Song of Ice and Fire - would be a low fantasy as magic does not take precedence in people’s everyday life. There is magic for sure but in special areas…the amount is low. The impact of magic does affect things but still not low not impacting everything.
Malazan- magic and fantastical races elements etc are very crucial and central to people affecting everyone. Magic absolutely affects the stories. Magical races are very prevalent. And their influence is immense.
I learned this by watching you tube explanation by Michael from Bitten by radioactive book intro to low and high fantasy…and just from my reading experience.
Fantasy is also broken down into several sub categories as well
Hope I did not confuse the definition of “high” fantasy.
Have you ever read Jim Booker- The Dresdan Files?
I recommend Malazan…but it is deep stuff.
If you like subtlety and schemes and heavy plot settings…then you will love this.
But it is pretty gruesome in its descriptions …war, etc. yet I have never seen a better magic system…if you get into it…you will be hooked…just remember no matter what level of reader you are avid into fantasy or not …you need to read these books slowwwwwwwwwwwly…everything is connected and you will not know many things at first but the aha moments will come. It is not a coming of age series on one character who is the hero…Malazan is like no other. Seriously. There is no series out there like Malazan…maybe the Prince of Nothing by Bakker…or The Black Company…by Cook …have some things …but it is also Erikson’s writing.
Steven Erikson is an archeologist and his world building is amazing. Growing up he played many D & D games with his friend Ian Esslemont and many of his ideas come from those.
Thank you for trying to answer my question about the difference between High fantasy and Fantasty, spincycle, but unfortunately I am none the wiser.
Not to worry though. I had never heard fantasy called ‘high’ before, that is why I asked.
Sorry, but as you’ve probably gathered, it doesn’t sound like my sort of thing at all, I guess that’s why I haven’t got a clue what you mean.
I have never liked things like Star Trek, Dr. Who, stories about Martians and Aliens landing etc . . - or is that science fiction? Is science fiction the same as fantasy?
I’d best leave it at that, but thanks for trying anyway.
Mups, Sci-Fi & Fantasy are different, but they often overlap.
Anne McCaffrey said she wrote Sci-Fi not Fantasy, but most of her books about Pern were, to me, fantasy, until she brought in AIVAS, Artificial Intelligence Voice-Address System from the first landing on Pern. Discovered by the settlers many decades of turns (years) after. Then it was Sci-Fi.
Recently started rereading my Discworld collection.
I may consider having another look at the Gor novels.
I found Lord of the rings to be heavy going for little reward and George R R Martin to be like reading a phone directory.
I’ve just only ordered the first book and anticipate its delivery soon.
To be honest, I prefer the physical book but I am thinking of getting a Kindle. What’s your preference? I try to read one book at a time.
Not a big fan of fantasy or SF but read LOTR when in my early 20s, I doubt I would read it again.
Later in life have enjoyed Douglas Adams and Terry Pratchett very much and have read all of the latter’s books several times and most of the former’s. I collected most of Pratchett’s books as hardback and a lot of first editions however I tend to read them on my Sony eReader and listen to them as audiobooks when I travel.
Not really sure what the difference between SF and Fantasy actually is but I presume it has something to do with magic.
I also have most if not all Terry Pratchetts books, in hard back paperback & some in audio & I have read most several times.Not sure if any are first editions, but I do have two hard backs signed by Sir Terry.
I always thought Sci-fi is advanced technology, space ships & that sort of thing. Fantasy is magic, unicorns, flying dragons & pastoral planets, like Anne McCaffrey’s Pern, or Sir Terry’s Discworld.
