Welcome. Let me start with this caveat... don't start reading the other threads in the GRRM forum until you've read the four books in ASOIAF. The threads are full of spoilers without any warnings for the uninitiated.
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Originally Posted by lillumultipass  Oh, and finally, I must add that the standard cliche of the yound lad saving the world with his friends (a la Tolkien or Eddings) is not what I prefer, even though I enjoyed reading the Belgariad. It is not that I don't like young heroes, but I prefer when they are at school/learning for instance (like in Harry Potter or some Ursula Leguin's books). |
In defense of Tolkien, LOTR was the first adult fantasy that I ever read. I'd read and loved C.S. Lewis' Narnia series, but LOTR is what I cut my teeth on. I'd have to disagree that Frodo and Sam do not have the same feel that Garion, Pug, Jimmy the Hand, Rand al'Thor, Shea and Flick Ohmsford, and Tanis Half-Elven do. Mayhaps (oh, it's so hard to type without ASOIAF references), it's that I read Tolkien first and that his template is what most authors use, but Frodo and Sam seem much less formulaic and predictable to me.
Anyway, the previous paragraph was to say that if you don't want to read the innocent young man saves the universe story, then read ASOIAF. When I started ASOIAF, I thought it would be a Feist or Eddings clone... I was more than pleasantly surprised to find it's not.
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Originally Posted by lillumultipass P.S: retrospectively, I wonder whether this topic should have been placed in a more general section of the forum. |
Don't worry about it. If it needs to be moved, Brian or another Jedi Thread Master will help out, I'm sure.
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Originally Posted by Sparks the Knave ahh I see. No contest. read ASoIaF first. the after effects be damned  |
StK is correct, imo. In a perfect world, we'd read the perfect story that corresponds perfectly to our age, our life experience, our personal interests, and our current emotional states. Since we're not in a perfect world and since I cannot gauge your current emotional, spiritual, and psychological status I'd say go ahead and read it... it's good.
I referred to LOTR above and if I'd been thirty-two years old the first time I read it instead of twelve I wonder how I'd perceive it. Would I treasure Gandalf, Aragorn, and Frodo or would I think that they are copied directly from Allanon, Panamon/Menion/Balinor, and Shea? I think ASOIAF is coherent, well thought out, consistent in naming patterns, very detailed, highly intriguing, full of moral quandaries, bloody, and frequently surprising.
In my opinion, a person could build themselves up for a filet mignon by eating Big Macs. Thinking "
If I eat the filet mignon I'll never be able to enjoy a Big Mac again" will keep you from ever getting to the filet mignon.
My pardons for excessive advice... it's what I do best.