Gaiman Vs. Gemmell?

[Hospes]

I have grown steadily with Gemmell though with his passing and with my completion of his remaining books (which were quite simply, the most inspiring words I've read) Gaiman's name flashes at me every time I walk by a bookshelf hoping to see a new Gemmell novel.

Should I look into Gaiman? or Just re-read Gemmell.

Thoughts and opinions from all

[Connavar]

I admire and enjoy Gemmell too as you can geuss by my nick. I will always reread him no matter of my other favorites.

I havent read much of Gaiman but i think any writer that gets critical acclaim in fantasy is atleast worth trying out.

Also try Tim Powers he is focused on historical fantasy like Gemmell but with his own take.

[Hospes]

Thanks for your input :-) I'll take interest an interest in Tim Powers, maybe he'll warm me up as a transition to Gaiman haha.

[Culhwch]

Well, I have only read one Gemmell book, but I have to say that he and Gaiman are worlds apart. If you're looking for similar authors, Gaiman is not your man. I would recommend him, though, as he is an excellent writer.

[Fried Egg]

I would definitely recommend branching out rather than just re-reading what you know. There are so many other good authors out there.

Perhaps a good author to try, if you liked Gemmel, would be Robert Howard. Read his Conan stories and you will see much of what you liked in Gemmel's work.

[GOLLUM]

Well I'm a little biased owning every novel and graphic novel Mr Gaiman has ever had published. It sounds slighly obsessive but Gaiman for me any many other people is one of the best in the business. His ideas are often original and groundbreaking and he's won just about every award there is.

By way of summary, his best graphic novel sequence is definitely Sandman, his best known children's book is Corlaine, his best adult novel is probably American Gods and his collection to date is Stranger Things Happen (adult) and M Is For Magic (children).

Having said that he's not much like Gemmell, if you want something along similar lines albeit of a better quality IMO, as Fried Egg suggests more gemmell-like are Robert E. Howard esp. but not exclusively his Conan series, Wagner's Kane sequence, Charles Saunder's Imaro, Kuttner and C.L. Moore's Sword and sorcery and Fritz Leiber's Fahrd and the Grey Mouser. For pure action try R.A. Salvatore's forgotten realms, his Ice Wind Dale and Dark Elf trilogies in particular being the best.

Hope that helps some.....

[GOLLUM]

Originally Posted by Hospes

Thanks for your input :-) I'll take interest an interest in Tim Powers, maybe he'll warm me up as a transition to Gaiman haha.

I've got all but a couple of Tim Power's novels...BTW I don't strike you as obsessive compulsive do I?... His books are very entertaining but once again nothing like Gemmell's work.

Best Powers books for me are: Drawing Of The Dark, The Stress Of Her Regard (by reputation, about to get that one myself), Last Call, Anubis Gates and Declare. I've also got his short story collection Strange Itineraries which is excellent.

[Erunanion]

I have only read one Gemmell book (and for the life of me I can't remember the title), but I heartily enjoyed it; it captured the feel of good role-playing to me, the spirit of fantasy adventure carrying the reader along without getting bogged down in the deeper aspects of the genre. A good book for the train - and I don't mean that in a damning-with-faint-praise kind of way.

I will definitely be taking Fried Egg's advice though; the big black-bound edition of the Conan stories has been leering at me from the bookshop shelf for far too long.

[GOLLUM]

Originally Posted by Erunanion

I will definitely be taking Fried Egg's advice though; the big black-bound edition of the Conan stories has been leering at me from the bookshop shelf for far too long.

Sounds like the Victor Gollancz edition? Does it have large gold lettering and say The Complete Chronicles Of Conan?? I've got that one and it's very good value.

[Erunanion]

That's the one It gives the impression that a great deal of attention has been paid to the binding and printing quality. Its good to get some positive feedback. Now even less excuse to not buy it!

[Connavar]

Originally Posted by GOLLUM

I've got all but a couple of Tim Power's novels...BTW I don't strike you as obsessive compulsive do I?... His books are very entertaining but once again nothing like Gemmell's work.

Best Powers books for me are: Drawing Of The Dark, The Stress Of Her Regard (by reputation, about to get that one myself), Last Call, Anubis Gates and Declare. I've also got his short story collection Strange Itineraries which is excellent.

Of course Gemmell and Powers has only some historical fantasy feel in common. But i think Powers is criminally underrated and try to make him less underrated as much as i can

[GOLLUM]

Originally Posted by Connavar

Of course Gemmell and Powers has only some historical fantasy feel in common. But i think Powers is criminally underrated and try to make him less underrated as much as i can

All power to you Sir Conn.... Powers is not the only one underrated so I'm reminded of Paul Kearney, M. John Harrison (more to the mainstream than fans) and Patricia McKillip but more because the latter may not be as widely known by the mainstream and other authors.

[Taltos]

Originally Posted by GOLLUM

All power to you Sir Conn.... Powers is not the only one underrated so I'm reminded of M. John Harrison (more to the mainstream than fans)

Some snippage, but ...

Oh no, you just didn't call M. John Harrison underrated - did you I just can't find anything worthwhile in this particular author - care to comment on why should anyone ever read him ?

Oops this in not the topic about him - but about Gaiman and Gemmell - as others have said, they are both fine authors, but very, very, very different.

[GOLLUM]

Originally Posted by Taltos

Some snippage, but ...

Oh no, you just didn't call M. John Harrison underrated - did you I just can't find anything worthwhile in this particular author - care to comment on why should anyone ever read him ?

That may depend upon which works of Harrison you have read. Is there a particular piece that turned you off him? It's not all great but the majority of his work that I have read I have found quite visionary.

I very much liked his Viriconium series as I found it to be quite fresh in the way he played around with some specific fantasy tropes and I very much liked his dark desriptions of the city ala China Mieville.

If you get the chance to read his collection of revolutionary stories in Things That Never Happen some of which wonderfully combine quantum physics with urbane social life or his beautifully described indeed touching stories revolving around love and commitment in Anima you will find it diffcult to not be moved by this author.

I don't know if you follow Ian Banks, China Mieville, Richard Morgan, Clive Barker etc.. but they all hold Harrison in extremely high regard and they in turn esp. Mieville and Morgan are two authors whose work I also like.

If you're referring to the Centauri Device which granted appears as part of the SF Mastertwork series I didn't like that particular story all that much myself.

Other notable novels although I'm not a big SF fan include Light and it's sequel Nova Swing. I have both of these as well.

Cheers....

[Taltos]

Originally Posted by GOLLUM

That may depend upon which works of Harrison you have read. Is there a particular piece that turned you off him? It's not all great but the majority of his work that I have read I have found quite visionary.

What I've found is a lot of descriptions and almost no story. So far I've read two of his books (The Pastel City and The Centauri Device) and both were really disappointing, then again I'm not a fan of long and winded descriptions - which is probably the cause I really don't like his writing. And no, I will not try him again - Centauri Device was his second and last chance to impress me

Originally Posted by GOLLUM

I very much liked his Viriconium series as I found it to be quite fresh in the way he played around with some specific fantasy tropes and I very much liked his dark desriptions of the city ala China Mieville.

Damn, I have two Mieville books waiting to be read - if they are also all descriptive - I'll hate myself for buying those.

Originally Posted by GOLLUM

I don't know if you follow Ian Banks, China Mieville, Richard Morgan, Clive Barker etc.. but they all hold Harrison in extremely high regard and they in turn esp. Mieville and Morgan are two authors whose work I also like.

I just love Morgan - but he is very different - much more story and character centered.