Reading!

[writerspry]

My crazy-ass work and social schedule has not permitted me much time for leisure reading, and that was one of the resolutions I made for 2010, so I've begun a ritual of reading whenever I have a spare moment, and so far it's been rewarding.

At Tycho's recommendation a while back I picked up The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss. Confession: I am

Comments

[allthingsaaron]

Name of the Wind is really excellent and is one of the big books to help tide me over for the next Song of Ice and Fire release (another series you might enjoy, very similar in tone, based heavily on the war of the roses in a fantasy world where magic has basically been scoured from the land by a legion of academics who realize that its continued use could destroy the world, with what little remaining used scarcely because even the practitioners don't understand it).

To me Name feels less like Ender and more like a better, more adult version of Harry Potter. I like how the setting doesn't give you giant info dumps that pull you out of the suspension of belief, it feeds it to you slowly because the protagonist is also learning after being thrust into, literally, a university setting. It's nice and low-key and organic, as is the magic system itself. I really can't wait for The Wise Man's Fear and hate that it's been delayed for like, three years now.

[writerspry]

Having ventured further into the novel today, I agree with you. It really is more of a mature Harry Potter world. I'd only gotten as far as Kvothe's admissions testing and bunk assignment, and his past on the streets of Tarbean gave me a distinctly Ender Wiggin or even Bean feel to it. Super-bright child raised in hostile urban environment.

But now, all the Masters and the students and the location itself of University reeks of a smarter, more grounded Harry Potter world. Like you say quite aptly, it's low-key and organic.

I just finished the chapter where Ambrose tricks him out of a silver talent and sends him into the stacks with a candle. I want to fucking murder Ambrose. My face got flush with anger and I had to step away from the book for now.

[zsyed]

I read it on Tycho's recommendation as well, and really, really enjoyed it. It was gripping and I honestly can't wait until the sequel, which I believe has finally been completely (or at least a draft of it).

[zsyed]

Will post more thoughts later, just on a quick LJ break at work, heh.

[thelazarus]

Read it on PA's recommendation too, even though I didn't really expect to like it all that much. Buuuuut it ended too soon and I want more.

[westernwizard]

Read it a year ago, honestly was not a fan. I felt like Kvothe was a bit Gary Stu-ish for my taste. He was good at too many things at too young an age (except women, of course!).

It's not a bad book, and if the hype had not been so much, I think I would have enjoyed it a lot more. But for all the love it got, I felt it did not come close to living up to it.

Also the fact he is STILL not done with the second book is a bad sign, since the first took him something like 7 years to write.

[westernwizard]

Also if you're looking for more interesting fantasy, couple things I've enjoyed recently.

1) Well known, but the Malazan Books of the Fallen. Epic fantasy in the truest sense. The books start being 1-1.2k page paperbacks later on, the world is massive and detailed, the power struggles are for the very fabric of the world, and no one is safe. If you've ever read George R R Martin and at least mostly enjoyed what he did (minus how long it takes him to put out new books) Malazan will be right up your alley. Erikson manages to put out a new book roughly every year, on schedule. Also 9 of the 10 planned books in the series are already out.

2) The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms. Not as good as the bits of hype I heard for yet another brand new fantasy author, but I really enjoyed it overall. If you want an idea on this one, check out the author's description on John Scalzi's blog.

[writerspry]

I'm unfamiliar with Gary Stu, so I don't know to make that analogy, but while I was fascinated by Kvothe's ability to learn so many things so quickly, I was apprehensive, because so many authors then have their hero apply those skills and lessons right away, when really life isn't like that

[westernwizard]

Gary Stu = Male Mary Sue

Malazan is a bit of both, the power does scale up, but the characters tend to remain believable with real problems as well as ridiculous ones. Soldiers who care about each other and watch out for each other, leaders who worry about their men, and great sweeping change that threatens the entire world.

Note, well liked characters are not guaranteed to be safe, another of the big things you have from Martin. Which is part of why the power levels aren't as silly, just because someone is a massive badass does not mean they will live throughout the whole thing. Even Gods aren't safe.