Comments on: Isn’t this beautiful?

By: Bjørn Stærk

Bjørn Stærk — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 17:57:48 +0000

Moorcock is most famous for the Elric novels, which I haven't read. I have read (and liked) the Corum series. But after you've sampled Moorcock as a fantasy author, you must not fail to try his historical novels about Colonel Pyat, beginning with Byzantium Endures. Also, Wizardry and Wild Romance (which is where Epic Pooh is from) is a good source of fantasy recommendations.

By: Torvald

Torvald — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 15:41:35 +0000

I’m mr. Anonymous above. Hadn’t heard of or read Moorcock, but I found the article ‘Epic Pooh’. Made me chuckle a bit:) I might have to sample some of his own attempts at fantasy… Thanks for the tip.

By: Bjørn Stærk

Bjørn Stærk — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 17:28:50 +0000

"I'm surprised you haven't read a Game of Thrones ages ago."I don't read books because they're obligatory classics. There are so many, I wouldn't have time for exploration. I agree with you about fantasy. That's why I've read so little of it until recently, because I OD'd on Jordan etc. some years ago. Have you read Michael Moorcock's Wizardry and Wild Romance? I like Tolkien, but that might just be nostalgia, and in any case I respect Moorcock's criticism of it.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 10:31:55 +0000

I’m surprised you haven’t read a Game of Thrones ages ago. I think fantasy is the worst genre of literature. Anything seems to get published. Utterly talentless writers like Jordan are revered, mediocre writers like Tolkien are deified, in short, the critical faculties of the fan base are just not there. That’s probably an age-related thing:). When you read Martin you will realize this. Not because he’s bad, but because he will highlight the shortcomings of his colleagues. HBO are doing a pilot of this series, by the way. I pray it will get picked up!

By: Bjørn Stærk

Bjørn Stærk — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 07:18:36 +0000

"but perhaps also some disappointments"Yes, and that's as it should be. I get worried when I only read books I like, maybe I'm not exploring enough? So I try to pick up a few books almost at random. Last year I bought a grab bag from Subterranean Press, meaning _they_ got to choose the books. I liked almost none of them. But there was one short story that stood out, and so I discovered Patrick Rothfuss. "Time has become too precious to fumble in the blind when it comes to books"Fumble is okay, I think, but you have to be brave enough to put the book down when you don't like it. The way this often works is that somebody hears about a Classic, so they begin to read it, but they can't really get into it, and it goes very slow, but they read on out of duty to Great Literature. Much better to pick something up quickly, and put it away quickly if it doesn't interest. Btw, the recommendations I always follow are from interviews with writers I like, when they're asked about unjustly forgotten authors. Those recommendations are gold.

By: Tormod Landet

Tormod Landet — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 23:38:46 +0000

I've enjoyed your blog, and can see that you are in for some treats in your stack, but perhaps also some disappointments. Enjoy <>Before They Are Hanged<> on it's own as the series really degrades into epic fantasy in the final book, just as you predicted.You have quite some variety in what you read, and I have found some books I might pick up myself. What is a better gift than a good recommendation? Time has become too precious to fumble in the blind when it comes to books.