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/lit/ - Literature

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5995395 No.5995395 [Reply] [Original]

Is there any chance I'd like this even though I dislike contemporary fantasy for being just glorified Tolkien fanfiction?

>> No.5995399

Hell no.

>> No.5995467

Eh, I wouldn't say it's all that close to Tolkien, fanfiction or otherwise.

It's a pretty shit series though so I'd suggest avoiding it just for that alone.

>> No.5995505

People who say books like this are ripoffs of LotR are mistaken. They're actually ripoffs of D&D manuals

>> No.5995824

>>5995505
>People who say books like this are ripoffs of LotR are mistaken. They're actually ripoffs of D&D manuals

I thought I read it was ripped off of GURPS and The Book of the New Sun.

I was looking for a new series as well. Stormlight Archives was just horrible I couldn't get more than 500 pages into it. Gentlemen Bastard series looked interesting at the book shop.

>> No.5995837

>>5995824
How do you rip off GURPS? Isn't that the system that's designed to accomodate any world ever?

>> No.5995848

>>5995395
There's nothing in that series that rips off Tolkien. Definitely not Tolkien fanfiction at least.

>> No.5995862

Probably not these. They're stupidly self-indulgent. and I mean that in the worst possible way. They are set in a world full of a bunch of overly geeky bullshit that only the author apparently understands, because he is shit at exposition or explaining what's going on in the story. His fanboys mistake that sloppy, self-indulgent writing and lack of exposition for depth - honestly, not true at all. He's also the only author I've read who can write about historical monuments to mother/son incest, women producing messed up children by having sex with dead men's corpses or a guy wearing a necklace made of severed toes, and make all of that BORING. Avoid.

>> No.5995869

>>5995837

Whatever happened to the Game of Thrones GURPS book? Did licensing stop? I would love to get my hands on that book and play the shit out of it

>> No.5995898

>>5995824
>The Book of the New Sun
I would be very surprised if that were true.

>> No.5995907

>>5995862
What did you feel was lacking exposition exactly?

>> No.5995917

>>5995862
I agree with your post for the most part but really only the first book is lacking in exposition. The rest of them are comparatively straightforward in that regard.

>> No.5995941

>>5995917
>trust me, it gets better
No it fucking won't, that naiveness is what gets shit writers like Erikson to sell millions. You're just a Stockholm syndrome case who can't admit wasting his time on a 10 000 pages of excrement.

>> No.5995958

>>5995941
He never said it gets better, he just said the exposition is pretty straight forward outside of the first book. Which, in that aspect, it is. The first book is the only that's pretty jarring in the way it drops you into the middle of events unfolding with no real explanation.

>> No.5995960

>>5995941
>that kneejerk stupidity
>that shit reading comprehension
Erikson is shit. It doesn't get better, for the most part. The exposition is a lot more clear in later volumes, that's what I'm saying. It's still self-indulgent garbage with flat characters and boring 'epic' battles and gods.

That being said, you do seem a tad dense and perhaps anything that requires the least bit of thinking is still a bit too much for you.

Perhaps reading isn't for you.

>> No.5995993

I've never even heard of this series. I'm reading the wiki and it seems like its all over the place.

>> No.5996005
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5996005

>>5995960
>gets defensive as fuck when getting called out for wasting his time on a gigantic pile of shit

>> No.5996059

OP, read the first two at most if you're curious, but it's not very good. Definitely too long with no depth.

>>5996005
just go away dude you obviously are dense

>> No.5996091
File: 193 KB, 1357x2048, WoR_FASHION-AZIR_v02_fmt.jpg [View same] [iqdb] [saucenao] [google]
5996091

I've read the first four books. Should I continue with the series? I liked the concept of Itkovian, the Shield Anvil, and I feel like Karsa might have a nice adventure while everyone seems to rave over him but that's about it. Also I imagine Ben would pull some "according to keikaku" shit all throughout the series which would be amusing.

>>5995824
>SA
>horrible
Yeah The Way of Kings is known for stretching waaay too far in its middle and the pacing is beyond horrible in that segment but shit gets pretty fucking real and when it happens, it's sudden and doesn't stop.

>> No.5997471

>>5995395
Christ no. Find something a bit more original if you want to get away from Tolkien's shadow.

>> No.5997869

>>5997471
Actually I've not read much fantasy besides Tolkien as a kid and some Pratchett in high school and I'd like to get back to it, not the other way around. I'm doing Miéville's Bas-Lag right now and like it, but it feels difficult to find anything else that's on a middle ground between Tolkien worship, other autism cults like steampunk, and not-fantasy.

Anyway, I'll probably not go for Erikson given the replies in this thread.

>> No.5997992

>>5995958
>The first book is the only that's pretty jarring in the way it drops you into the middle of events unfolding with no real explanation.
But it's not just that. They drop you into a character with a 1 chapter lifespan. I do suck with names even at the best of times, but fuck.

>> No.5998003

>>5995395
I'm thinking about getting book of the new sun but I dont want to waste tie and money if it's just more generic shit like OP's pic. can anyone give me a quick rundown of the setting and mood of those books? what do they compare to? I can only gather so much from wikipedia.

>> No.5998022

>>5998003
It's like GoT but it has a bigger cast and more character deaths.
Liberal use of magic too.

>> No.5998032

>>5998022
He's asking about Book of the New Sun and I feel like you responded to Malazan. Just to make sure everyone's on the same page.

>> No.5998038

>>5998022
I have not read Game of Thrones, but I've watched the first season. I dont see the big deal but I can understand how people can like it. thanks anon I think I'll give it New Sun a try.

>> No.5998069

>>5998032
>>5998022
fuck so which is it?

>> No.5998075

>>5998038

The books are better then the show, most people who like the show watch it for the shock value. You can tell because whenever people talk about it, its always about how "shocking" something that happened in an episode was.

>> No.5998093

>>5996091
Karsa's story doesn't have any sort've satisfying conclusion in the main books. That's kind of the thing I hate about Malazan is how many plot threads he just leaves dangling. Karsa is getting his own trilogy at some point though.

>> No.5998140

>>5998093

That sounds pretty awful, honestly.

>> No.5998523

>>5998075
I disagree entirely. The text is sloppy, grinding and spends far too much time on things of little import.
There are some characters better done in the book (Tyrion and Jamie), but the rest are improved greatly by the personality of their actors. In particular I expect great things from Melisandre and Little finger depending on how their personalities progress in the upcoming books.

>> No.5998688
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5998688

>>5998093
Oh. I hate authors who don't tie up loose ends. Probably won't even bother to finish the series then.

>> No.5998734

>>5998093
You'd better stay away from literary fiction if you can't even handle that.

>> No.5999283

>>5998523

The books have an incredible amount of shock value as well. A seven year old kid sucking his mother's boobs, implied penis torture, and lots and lots of rape.

>> No.5999842

>>5996005
It bothers me immensely knowing there are people on here, stupid fucks like you, that think you can weigh in on things you clearly haven't read, even shitty things like Malazan Book of the Fallen.

>> No.5999885

>>5998734
I read plenty of literary fiction but when I read something that is, by in large, plot driven I expect some sort've resolution and not just 'whelp you'll just have to wait for this trilogy I'm gonna write to milk this series for all it's worth.' I mean it's not like Karsa Orlong was a bit player in the whole of the series, he ended up being very important and pretty much all you get by the end is a moment where he walks into the fuckin sunset and that's it. It was literally a set-up so that Erikson could sell more books.

>> No.6001096

>>5999283
there aren't bonus points allocated for shock value

>> No.6001481

>>5998523
I disagree entirely. The text isn't sloppy at all, only unadorned and literal (which fits the mood), and downright bad in only 3-4 instances.
Complaints about 'spending too much time on things that don't matter' are common among those who are evidently seeking nothing but straightforward plot, which is exactly what the show is, along with some silly dialogue and poor acting. It strips all the meat off from the books. The author deviates from the typical rush from one plot-point to another, and stops occasionally to spend time with a character, or indulges in the richness of his world or some thematic emphasis (like the role of impersonal forces, which felt entirely absent in the show).

Also there is nothing inherently wrong with utilizing shock, especially if it serves a purpose. Asoiaf happens to be a great example of how to utilize it, except for a few of those weird moments of edginess.

>> No.6001560

>>6001481
I mean the writing, not what is written.
You'd think with the amount of time he spends on them the books would be a bit more polished.

>> No.6001717

>>5999283
A seven year old kid being breast-fed isn't shock value.
Also why do people think that there's rape on every second page?

>> No.6003174

>>6001481
But there's no meat to the books. All those "things that don't matter" are only there for them to be there. I understand the purpose, but it's not nourishing - earth, not meat.

>> No.6003383

>>6003174
>But there's no meat to the books.

>> No.6004470

Malazan is awesome don't listen to these faggots OP

Immerse yourself in power reveals and fantastic world building