first book

[Jason_Taverner]

I can't wait my sister has got me a copy of NOK for christmas, she had to get it from ebay, she saw a signed hardback going for £100+

[Rane Longfox]

She bought it for £100?

Madness - I got the same edition for £15

[Werthead]

This argument. Again. Crikey. When ICE first made those comments it generated some heat, so when Pat from Pat's Fantasy Hotlist did a Q&A a little while later he asked him about his initial comments. Here's the reply:

Thank you for the chance to respond to this flame-up. Firstly, have I read Martin’s series? Yes, with great pleasure -- overall. That I “singled him out” (so to speak) by actually mentioning him simply demonstrates that I think he is worth mentioning. That I think he’s worth mentioning should indicate a lot about my regard for him as a writer, overall, in the genre – someone whose contribution is significant enough that it cannot be ignored. In my opinion he is an excellent writer, one of the most talented in the genre, and as an avid reader of fantasy I welcome that. However (here it comes), the Latin saying is: “There is no disputing matters of taste.” Of course there are elements of his series, A SONG OF ICE AND FIRE, that are not to my taste. This should be true for any reader of any series or author. I raised one of those elements (chivalric panoply and conventions) previously as an example. I may have been too peremptory and if so I apologize for that.

(btw, he said in the same interview that Return of the Crimson Guard takes place on Quon Tali and the one after that takes place on Korelri)

I think the problem is that I think ICE meant he isn't keen on the use of the medieval mileu as a setting for fantasy stories (maybe he had a bad experience with Terry Brooks when he was younger or something), rather than the use of medieval cliches, since GRRM doesn't really do that. One of the lead elements of ASoIaF is showing that chivalry doesn't really exist off the tourney field: the second war comes, it goes out of the window.

At the end of the day authors' opinions are just that, opinions. Sometimes you agree with them and sometimes you don't. It's also worth mentioning that Erikson hasn't read GRRM (as far as I know) and GRRM only read Gardens of the Moon and wasn't impressed. As far as I know he didn't dislike it, he just couldn't see what the fuss was about (and to be fair, based on GotM by itself, he does kind of have a point). Bakker said the same thing, then he read Deadhouse Gates and was blown away by it (common reaction).

As for Night of Knives: hell, I'm not spending £35 on it. Wait four months and get the Bantam edition off Amazon.co.uk.

[hedgeknight]

Just finished Gardens of the Moon - whoohooo! Loved it!
A pox and a plague upon all of you who "twisted my arm" and MADE me buy and read this book!
Now I'm hooked! So much going on in GotM - how many characters can a 1st novel introduce? Sheesh. Loved all of the back and forth POV's and action. Fast paced and fun - loved it!
Is Deadhouse Gates the next book?
-g-

[nixie]

Yes, Deadhouse Gates then Memories of Ice

[Rane Longfox]

Aye, Deadhouse Gates. Which, you'll be glad to hear, has an almost entirely new character cast

[Jason_Taverner]

Originally Posted by Rane Longfox

She bought it for £100?

Madness - I got the same edition for £15

no she bought me a normal edition about £20

[Rane Longfox]

Aha, thats not so bad then

But signed hardback... for £15. Mwahahahaha!

[Somebloke]

Originally Posted by Rane Longfox

Aye, Deadhouse Gates. Which, you'll be glad to hear, has an almost entirely new character cast

Mind you, that's a lot of his charm; his stories have dozens of characters and are set across years and continents.

[hedgeknight]

Originally Posted by Rane Longfox

Aye, Deadhouse Gates. Which, you'll be glad to hear, has an almost entirely new character cast

Whoohoo! I'm just glad he puts a glossary in there - helps me keep up a little bit.
-g-

[Connavar]

Hi im totaly new to Erikson and reading Gardens of the moon right now.

Usually i dont like this type of fantasy and the book is confusing as hell but its interesting. I hope the other books is as good as it is said.

Speaking about GRRM, i was reading not long ago A Game of Thrones and wasnt impressed at all. Despite the hype i have no plans to read him again in the near future.

Erikson i like his effective prose and i like the world even the first book you are thrown in the middle of things.

[Rane Longfox]

Yeah, a lot of people are put off by being thrown right into the middle of it. I enjoy it, personally As long as you don't need detailed explanations in advance, it's fine!

[Connavar]

I am used to it now. Even in Djuristhan(sp?) with the hole assassin war,mage cabal and Krupke's wierd dreams didnt seem strange when i saw it.

Funny the start of the book is much easier to understand than everything that happens in the last free city.


Now i really understand people that kept telling me not to give up on the first book cause it was wierd and not as good as the other books.


It isnt easy to understand things but its interesting at every turn and twist and that is what keeps me not being bothered by the book being "special" in how its written.

[Rane Longfox]

Well, I actively liked Gardens... personally. Probably my third or fourth favorite in the series.


But then, I'm quite strange.

[Jason_Taverner]

Originally Posted by Rane Longfox

Well, I actively liked Gardens... personally. Probably my third or fourth favorite in the series.


But then, I'm quite strange.

totally agree I would say my third maybe fourth fav, one of the best endings in any book I always feel,