Second Life Forums Archive - What are the Lindens' favorite Fantasy novels?

Cybin Monde

Resident Moderator (?)

Join date: 27 Jan 2004

Posts: 2,468

07-31-2006 20:14

as per this quote..

From: Karen Linden

So...when does someone ask us which FANTASY novels we read? There's as much fantasy in SL as there is science.

as fun and "behind-the-scenes" as the SF thread was, i felt it was more than appropriate to pose this similarly based question as to the sister genre of reading material.

What Fantasy works are the Lindens fond of?

this type of knowledge (along with SF and other genres) helps us SLers to have a peek behind the curtain of the Grand SL.

i thoroughly enjoyed the SciFi thread (and it prompted me to go looking for my old SciFi story i started in '91 that had a prediction of sorts about a future (even as of now) version of flash memory) and am looking forward to the responses to Fantasy.. which will reign supremem in amount of Linden responses? hmm.. *scratches chin*

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- Philip Linden

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Karen Linden

Dev. Program Manager

Join date: 25 Jul 2005

Posts: 396

08-01-2006 10:28

Alrighty, since I started it:

Of course The Lord of the Rings trilogy by J.R.R. Tolkien (no-brainer).

I also really love the Earthsea series by Ursula LeGuin, especially Tombs of Atuan.

I'm also a big Robert E. Howard fan, having read many many many Conan and Solomon Kane books.

I have to mention the fabulous His Dark Materials trilogy by Phillip Pullman. If you haven't read these yet, go out and do so today!

Finally, another "young adult" author I love is Garth Nix. The Sabriel trilogy is a good read. Shade's Children is probably better overall -- much spookier -- and therefore also highly recommended.

MichaelFrancis Linden

Linden Lab Employee

Join date: 19 Jun 2006

Posts: 3

08-01-2006 10:33

I'm a sucker for the Silmarillion by JRR Tolkien.

I also enjoyed the Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn series by Tad Williams.

And even though it can be a bit repetitive, I do also like the Wheel of Time series.

Torley Linden

Enlightenment!

Join date: 15 Sep 2004

Posts: 16,530

08-01-2006 12:46

I have not really read many fantasy novels. *stares into the abyss*

However, I was obsessed with Final Fantasy VI (III in American) when that came out... if it counts.

I am however a YUGE fan of cultural myths. I like trickster stories.

_____________________

Teeple Linden

Some Linden or other

Join date: 14 Dec 2005

Posts: 144

08-01-2006 17:12

Early Jack Vance. IIRC, the first fantasy novel I ever read was "The Eyes of the Overworld," one of the two Cugel the Clever novels. (Tor, I think you need to find this book. It's most definitely a trickster story.)

I was about 11, I think, and had never experienced intentional irony before. Talk about starting with a master...what an incredible writer.

Later on, I read some of the Xanth series by Anthony, and got a kick out of them. But just not in the same league at all.

Never having read Pratchett before a couple of years ago, I went on a Discworld binge and read most of his books over a 3-month period. I enjoyed them, mainly, but binge-reading's not the way for me to deal with a prolific author. I think my impression of Pratchett suffered a bit from not taking a few breaks.

At the top of the list: Gaiman's "Sandman" cycle. What a work of art.

-- teeple

Jack Linden

Administrator

Join date: 15 Dec 2004

Posts: 158

08-02-2006 08:11

Hmm, Fantasy is definitely a lesser passion than SciFi though I have read a lot of it over the years. Tolkien is still head and shoulders above the rest. It is a shame that so much Fantasy is still recyling the same old ideas. How I'd love to read a book where dwarves live in trees and elves are dimwitted and evil.

I liked the Thomas Covenant books by Donaldson very much, and I also like David Eddings (his Belgariad series for example). Karen clearly has good taste, as I can totally agree with her on LeGuin and especially Robert E. Howard - the Conan books are great fun. As Teeple mentions, the Sandman works by Gaiman are stunning, he is a great writer. I would also highly recommend Alan Moore's 'From Hell' and 'V for Vendetta' and Frank Miller's 'Ronin'.

Early Pratchett was hilarious but the joke wore thin after the first 6 or 7 books (I think Mort was probably my favourite).

Other oldies that I loved.. Michael Moorcock (the darkly gothic Elric Saga) and Mervyn Peake (Titus Groan is just brilliant).

Finally, the Dragonrider books by Anne McCaffrey were a good read.

Jack

Cyn Linden

A Linden

Join date: 27 Jun 2005

Posts: 16

Hands Down Winner

08-02-2006 08:26

Guy Gavriel Kay. LOVE HIM. Tigana especially, but the Fionavar Tapestry trilogy is quite good also. Loved Song for Arbonne..... -phew- ok, gotta get a grip

Enjoyed Eragon and Eldest recently also, although both owe a lot to those who have come before, lots of creative "borrowing" of mythologies of all kinds going on.

Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials is also superb.

_____________________

Anybody want a peanut?

What are the Lindens' favorite Fantasy novels?
Cybin Monde Resident Moderator (?) Join date: 27 Jan 2004 Posts: 2,468	07-31-2006 20:14 as per this quote.. From: Karen Linden So...when does someone ask us which FANTASY novels we read? There's as much fantasy in SL as there is science. as fun and "behind-the-scenes" as the SF thread was, i felt it was more than appropriate to pose this similarly based question as to the sister genre of reading material. What Fantasy works are the Lindens fond of? this type of knowledge (along with SF and other genres) helps us SLers to have a peek behind the curtain of the Grand SL. i thoroughly enjoyed the SciFi thread (and it prompted me to go looking for my old SciFi story i started in '91 that had a prediction of sorts about a future (even as of now) version of flash memory) and am looking forward to the responses to Fantasy.. which will reign supremem in amount of Linden responses? hmm.. scratches chin _____________________ "We, as developers, are doing the easy part – building the scaffolding for a new world. You, as the engines of creation, must breathe life into it." - Philip Linden "There is no life I know to compare with pure imagination. Living there, you'll be free if you truly wish to be." - Willy Wonka (circa 1971) SecondSpace (http://groups.myspace.com/secondspace) : MySpace group for SLers.
Karen Linden Dev. Program Manager Join date: 25 Jul 2005 Posts: 396	08-01-2006 10:28 Alrighty, since I started it: Of course The Lord of the Rings trilogy by J.R.R. Tolkien (no-brainer). I also really love the Earthsea series by Ursula LeGuin, especially Tombs of Atuan. I'm also a big Robert E. Howard fan, having read many many many Conan and Solomon Kane books. I have to mention the fabulous His Dark Materials trilogy by Phillip Pullman. If you haven't read these yet, go out and do so today! Finally, another "young adult" author I love is Garth Nix. The Sabriel trilogy is a good read. Shade's Children is probably better overall -- much spookier -- and therefore also highly recommended.
MichaelFrancis Linden Linden Lab Employee Join date: 19 Jun 2006 Posts: 3	08-01-2006 10:33 I'm a sucker for the Silmarillion by JRR Tolkien. I also enjoyed the Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn series by Tad Williams. And even though it can be a bit repetitive, I do also like the Wheel of Time series.
Torley Linden Enlightenment! Join date: 15 Sep 2004 Posts: 16,530	08-01-2006 12:46 I have not really read many fantasy novels. stares into the abyss However, I was obsessed with Final Fantasy VI (III in American) when that came out... if it counts. I am however a YUGE fan of cultural myths. I like trickster stories. _____________________
Teeple Linden Some Linden or other Join date: 14 Dec 2005 Posts: 144	08-01-2006 17:12 Early Jack Vance. IIRC, the first fantasy novel I ever read was "The Eyes of the Overworld," one of the two Cugel the Clever novels. (Tor, I think you need to find this book. It's most definitely a trickster story.) I was about 11, I think, and had never experienced intentional irony before. Talk about starting with a master...what an incredible writer. Later on, I read some of the Xanth series by Anthony, and got a kick out of them. But just not in the same league at all. Never having read Pratchett before a couple of years ago, I went on a Discworld binge and read most of his books over a 3-month period. I enjoyed them, mainly, but binge-reading's not the way for me to deal with a prolific author. I think my impression of Pratchett suffered a bit from not taking a few breaks. At the top of the list: Gaiman's "Sandman" cycle. What a work of art. -- teeple
Jack Linden Administrator Join date: 15 Dec 2004 Posts: 158	08-02-2006 08:11 Hmm, Fantasy is definitely a lesser passion than SciFi though I have read a lot of it over the years. Tolkien is still head and shoulders above the rest. It is a shame that so much Fantasy is still recyling the same old ideas. How I'd love to read a book where dwarves live in trees and elves are dimwitted and evil. I liked the Thomas Covenant books by Donaldson very much, and I also like David Eddings (his Belgariad series for example). Karen clearly has good taste, as I can totally agree with her on LeGuin and especially Robert E. Howard - the Conan books are great fun. As Teeple mentions, the Sandman works by Gaiman are stunning, he is a great writer. I would also highly recommend Alan Moore's 'From Hell' and 'V for Vendetta' and Frank Miller's 'Ronin'. Early Pratchett was hilarious but the joke wore thin after the first 6 or 7 books (I think Mort was probably my favourite). Other oldies that I loved.. Michael Moorcock (the darkly gothic Elric Saga) and Mervyn Peake (Titus Groan is just brilliant). Finally, the Dragonrider books by Anne McCaffrey were a good read. Jack
Cyn Linden A Linden Join date: 27 Jun 2005 Posts: 16	Hands Down Winner 08-02-2006 08:26 Guy Gavriel Kay. LOVE HIM. Tigana especially, but the Fionavar Tapestry trilogy is quite good also. Loved Song for Arbonne..... -phew- ok, gotta get a grip Enjoyed Eragon and Eldest recently also, although both owe a lot to those who have come before, lots of creative "borrowing" of mythologies of all kinds going on. Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials is also superb. _____________________ Anybody want a peanut?

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What are the Lindens' favorite Fantasy novels?