THE BORE

General => The Superdeep Borehole => Topic started by: Phoenix Dark on July 26, 2007, 05:38:13 PM

Title: Is George RR Martin's fantasy series worth starting?
Post by: Phoenix Dark on July 26, 2007, 05:38:13 PM
You guys are a rather literate bunch, and many seem to like fantasy. So, is Martin's series any good? I've heard it starts good but the latter books have been met with mixed feelings. What are the strengths and weaknesses of the series, in your opinion?
Title: Re: Is George RR Martin's fantasy series worth starting?
Post by: MrAngryFace on July 26, 2007, 05:38:52 PM
I actually prefer Steven Erikson's books, but Martin's stuff is good too.
Title: Re: Is George RR Martin's fantasy series worth starting?
Post by: Cyanista on July 26, 2007, 05:58:51 PM
Yes.
Title: Re: Is George RR Martin's fantasy series worth starting?
Post by: MrAngryFace on July 26, 2007, 06:00:33 PM
I dunno tho some of his erotic descriptions are just extra gross once youve seen his picture
Title: Re: Is George RR Martin's fantasy series worth starting?
Post by: Cyanista on July 26, 2007, 06:02:21 PM
They were universally gross to begin with.  Dwarf sex, dear god.
Title: Re: Is George RR Martin's fantasy series worth starting?
Post by: Phoenix Dark on July 26, 2007, 06:03:21 PM
MAF you're referring to Malazan Book of the Fallen? I looked it up on Wiki, sounds interesting.

I think I'll start both series
Title: Re: Is George RR Martin's fantasy series worth starting?
Post by: Mupepe on July 26, 2007, 06:22:58 PM
Quote from: Cyanista on July 26, 2007, 06:02:21 PM
They were universally gross to begin with.  Dwarf sex, dear god.
You ever seen the movie 'Tiny Twats'?
Title: Re: Is George RR Martin's fantasy series worth starting?
Post by: TVC15 on July 26, 2007, 06:24:36 PM
(http://www.midamericon.org/photoarchive/05conq005.JPG)

"HE FELT THE WARMTH BETWEEN HER LEGS."
Title: Re: Is George RR Martin's fantasy series worth starting?
Post by: Phoenix Dark on July 26, 2007, 06:37:32 PM
...there's really sex in the books..? :-\
Title: Re: Is George RR Martin's fantasy series worth starting?
Post by: MrAngryFace on July 26, 2007, 06:39:09 PM
Quote from: Phoenix Dark on July 26, 2007, 06:03:21 PM
MAF you're referring to Malazan Book of the Fallen? I looked it up on Wiki, sounds interesting.

I think I'll start both series

Its a great series. The first book will be kind of confusing because conceptually the way things 'work' and the world the story takes place in are very different. At LEAST stick through to the end of the second book 'deadhouse gates' which IMO is the best ive read, but im about 3 books behind, but I think the series is almost over.
Title: Re: Is George RR Martin's fantasy series worth starting?
Post by: Van Cruncheon on July 26, 2007, 06:42:05 PM
not just "sex", but sex so lurid you'd hafta NSFW the title. especially the scene where this chick lets one of her handmaidens finger her.

spoiler (click to show/hide)
(http://www.midamericon.org/photoarchive/05conq005.JPG)
 "she gagged as he thrust his swollen manhood into her mouth, and his seed splashed hotly down her choking gorge"
[close]

:hyper :hyper :hyper

Title: Re: Is George RR Martin's fantasy series worth starting?
Post by: Howard Alan Treesong on July 26, 2007, 06:42:15 PM
I hate seeing photos of authors.

Gene Wolfe is like the greatest English prose author of the past 25 years AND he invented Pringles, but he looks like this:

(http://www.themodernword.com/scriptorium/wolfe.jpg)

China Mieville looks exactly like the quality of his prose, which is "trying too hard":

(http://www.darkecho.com/darkecho/horroronline/images/china.gif)
Title: Re: Is George RR Martin's fantasy series worth starting?
Post by: Van Cruncheon on July 26, 2007, 06:43:53 PM
ugh, gene wolfe liked creepy, purple sex scenes, too. shadow and claw = cry cry
Title: Re: Is George RR Martin's fantasy series worth starting?
Post by: Van Cruncheon on July 26, 2007, 06:45:18 PM
(http://blogs.epicindia.com/leapinthedark/steven_erikson.jpg)

steven erikson looks like he wants to me to go to his basement for some candy :'(
Title: Re: Is George RR Martin's fantasy series worth starting?
Post by: TVC15 on July 26, 2007, 06:45:25 PM
I don't care what you say, Patel, Perdido Street Station rocks.
Title: Re: Is George RR Martin's fantasy series worth starting?
Post by: Van Cruncheon on July 26, 2007, 06:46:40 PM
(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/94/Neal_Stephenson.jpg/180px-Neal_Stephenson.jpg)

"hi i'm a randroid taco"
Title: Re: Is George RR Martin's fantasy series worth starting?
Post by: MrAngryFace on July 26, 2007, 06:47:22 PM
Steven Erikson doesnt look like he could even think up some of the chapters in his books.
Title: Re: Is George RR Martin's fantasy series worth starting?
Post by: Van Cruncheon on July 26, 2007, 06:48:10 PM
(http://www.bilinmeyen.com/uplimages/hubbar.jpg)

"i think you need to be cleansed, my precious little clam child"
Title: Re: Is George RR Martin's fantasy series worth starting?
Post by: Howard Alan Treesong on July 26, 2007, 06:49:03 PM
The Scar > Perdido Street Station

m. john harrison looks like a 50-year-old hippie who dropped out of life to start a "small label" vineyard in Carmel-by-the-Sea

(http://www.albertocairo.com/literatura/articulos/2003/harrison.jpg)

John M. Ford looks like an awesome mad scientist, at least. CHECK OUT THOSE EYEBROWS

(http://www.sfwa.org/news/2006/johnmford.JPG)
Title: Re: Is George RR Martin's fantasy series worth starting?
Post by: Van Cruncheon on July 26, 2007, 06:59:01 PM
margaret weis
(http://koti.mbnet.fi/jsinton/kuvat/5_margaretweis.jpg)

- or -

usula k leguin
(http://anotherbook.net.pl/authors/ursula_k_le_guin.jpg)

who you gonna tonk in the batonk-a-tonk, patel?
Title: Re: Is George RR Martin's fantasy series worth starting?
Post by: Phoenix Dark on July 26, 2007, 07:00:07 PM
I don't want to read about that kind of sex. The covers of the books look like romance novels  :-\

I'll start with Erikson
Title: Re: Is George RR Martin's fantasy series worth starting?
Post by: Van Cruncheon on July 26, 2007, 07:01:17 PM
so you love big black dick porn, but won't read a fantasy novel with a 15-year-old former princess getting it in the tuckus from a barbarian lord?
Title: Re: Is George RR Martin's fantasy series worth starting?
Post by: MrAngryFace on July 26, 2007, 07:02:03 PM
Erikson is superior to Martin IMO
Title: Re: Is George RR Martin's fantasy series worth starting?
Post by: TVC15 on July 26, 2007, 07:04:05 PM
Quote from: Professor Prole on July 26, 2007, 06:59:01 PM
margaret weis
(http://koti.mbnet.fi/jsinton/kuvat/5_margaretweis.jpg)

- or -

usula k leguin
(http://anotherbook.net.pl/authors/ursula_k_le_guin.jpg)

who you gonna tonk in the batonk-a-tonk, patel?

Tracy Hickman was totally the talented and sexy half of that duo.  And he's a mormon.
Title: Re: Is George RR Martin's fantasy series worth starting?
Post by: Phoenix Dark on July 26, 2007, 07:05:16 PM
Quote from: Professor Prole on July 26, 2007, 07:01:17 PM
so you love big black dick porn, but won't read a fantasy novel with a 15-year-old former princess getting it in the tuckus from a barbarian lord?

She's 15? That changes everything. I'll get both :whip
Title: Re: Is George RR Martin's fantasy series worth starting?
Post by: Human Snorenado on July 26, 2007, 07:05:28 PM
I think that you would have a hard time comprehending either series, PD.

Title: Re: Is George RR Martin's fantasy series worth starting?
Post by: TVC15 on July 26, 2007, 07:06:13 PM
RAOUL!
Title: Re: Is George RR Martin's fantasy series worth starting?
Post by: Van Cruncheon on July 26, 2007, 07:06:54 PM
(http://www.realityends.com/author/img/stephendonaldson.jpg)

"his preterite umbrage thus expelled in a rindle of argent fire, he found himself exhausted, debilitated; the turgid excess of his self so squandered"
Title: Re: Is George RR Martin's fantasy series worth starting?
Post by: FatalT on July 26, 2007, 07:07:08 PM
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm still only on page 10! :(
Title: Re: Is George RR Martin's fantasy series worth starting?
Post by: Howard Alan Treesong on July 26, 2007, 07:08:57 PM
not cool Raoul!
Title: Re: Is George RR Martin's fantasy series worth starting?
Post by: Van Cruncheon on July 26, 2007, 07:09:47 PM
yeah, i thought we were doin' a NO SPOILERS thang here, dude. delete! delete!
Title: Re: Is George RR Martin's fantasy series worth starting?
Post by: Howard Alan Treesong on July 26, 2007, 07:10:43 PM
think of the innocents caught in your crossfire
Title: Re: Is George RR Martin's fantasy series worth starting?
Post by: Human Snorenado on July 26, 2007, 07:11:54 PM
You guys are some pansies.  IT'S SPOILER TAGGED.

Sheesh.
Title: Re: Is George RR Martin's fantasy series worth starting?
Post by: FatalT on July 26, 2007, 07:12:47 PM
Quote from: Synthesizer Patel on July 26, 2007, 07:10:43 PM
think of the innocents caught in your crossfire

(http://xs317.xs.to/xs317/07305/collateral.jpg)
Title: Re: Is George RR Martin's fantasy series worth starting?
Post by: MrAngryFace on July 26, 2007, 07:13:33 PM
Spoiler tags need to require a click. Mouse-overs happen by accident.
Title: Re: Is George RR Martin's fantasy series worth starting?
Post by: Howard Alan Treesong on July 26, 2007, 07:13:45 PM
we already established in the other thread that SPOILER TAGS ARE USELESS ON EB

I totally opened and saw your text accidentally
Title: Re: Is George RR Martin's fantasy series worth starting?
Post by: Van Cruncheon on July 26, 2007, 07:16:09 PM
it's a bloody simply fix, too -- change OnMouseOver to OnMouseDown in the JavaScript for the spoiler tag.
Title: Re: Is George RR Martin's fantasy series worth starting?
Post by: Phoenix Dark on July 26, 2007, 07:17:22 PM
What happened? If he posted spoilers I missed em. But Raoule, that's low: this is a cool thread. FatalT just started DH so that was not fair. Granted I didn't see what you posted but come on mang
Title: Re: Is George RR Martin's fantasy series worth starting?
Post by: Howard Alan Treesong on July 26, 2007, 07:18:52 PM
Quote from: Professor Prole on July 26, 2007, 07:16:09 PM
it's a bloody simply fix, too -- change OnMouseOver to OnMouseDown in the JavaScript for the spoiler tag.

QFT, after Raoul's stunt I just ran the fix locally and it works. who can implement this into our code?
Title: Re: Is George RR Martin's fantasy series worth starting?
Post by: MrAngryFace on July 26, 2007, 07:19:35 PM
ANYWAY, just drop it PD. Ill harass Willco about the spoiler tag thing.

Patel: PM the fix to Willco, he can do it.
Title: Re: Is George RR Martin's fantasy series worth starting?
Post by: Cyanista on July 26, 2007, 09:18:28 PM
Blah blah Harry Potter.

You know, the Earthsea Trilogy is really good fantasy without any icky sex scenes.  Ursula holdin it down for the ladies.
Title: Re: Is George RR Martin's fantasy series worth starting?
Post by: Van Cruncheon on July 26, 2007, 10:29:01 PM
(http://anotherbook.net.pl/authors/ursula_k_le_guin.jpg)

"let us scissor, dear cyanista"
Title: Re: Is George RR Martin's fantasy series worth starting?
Post by: QVT on July 26, 2007, 10:49:13 PM
I go over this constantly, but GRRMurder is fucking awful and does nothing but murder characters or have them have disgusting sex or get maimed or become stupid after being awesome.

You'd be better off reading any number of books, R Scott Bakker's Prince of Nothing, or anything Gene Wolfe has ever written, in particular.
Title: Re: Is George RR Martin's fantasy series worth starting?
Post by: recursivelyenumerable on July 25, 2011, 02:01:44 PM
Wait, are those actually John Ford's natural eyebrows? I have trouble believing that.
Title: Re: Is George RR Martin's fantasy series worth starting?
Post by: Maximus on July 25, 2011, 02:11:58 PM
.......? did you decide to start reading the forum from the very beginning?
Don't do that its bad for your posture.
Title: Re: Is George RR Martin's fantasy series worth starting?
Post by: recursivelyenumerable on July 25, 2011, 02:36:31 PM
Yeah I don't normally bump old threads, but those eyebrows were too amazing to let go without comment.
Title: Re: Is George RR Martin's fantasy series worth starting?
Post by: Maximus on July 25, 2011, 05:17:11 PM
(http://www.sfwa.org/news/2006/johnmford.JPG)

Just imagine his sex face
Title: Re: Is George RR Martin's fantasy series worth starting?
Post by: Howard Alan Treesong on July 25, 2011, 05:26:21 PM
Quote from: Maximus on July 25, 2011, 05:17:11 PM
(http://www.sfwa.org/news/2006/johnmford.JPG)

Just imagine his sex face

He kinda looks like TVC at 45
Title: Re: Is George RR Martin's fantasy series worth starting?
Post by: chronovore on July 25, 2011, 06:23:57 PM
Quote from: Maximus on July 25, 2011, 05:17:11 PM
(http://www.sfwa.org/news/2006/johnmford.JPG)

Just imagine his sex face

I lol'd.

Also, I just started George RR Martin's series. Boy was I surprised to see the people posting at the start of this thread.

So far the first book is pretty good. I am having a little trouble dealing with Standard Entitlement-based Royalty Fantasy right now, for some reason. Maybe I should go back to Erikson, or China "Tries Too Hard" Mieville.
Title: Re: Is George RR Martin's fantasy series worth starting?
Post by: Howard Alan Treesong on July 25, 2011, 06:25:37 PM
Hey, Melville has gotten a LOT better since 2007!

The City and The City and Embassytown both have him back firmly in my good graces

I rescind my previous snarcasm
Title: Re: Is George RR Martin's fantasy series worth starting?
Post by: Phoenix Dark on July 25, 2011, 06:27:56 PM
The City and The City is VERY good; read it in the library over the course of a few days. I haven't read his earlier stuff though.
Title: Re: Is George RR Martin's fantasy series worth starting?
Post by: recursivelyenumerable on July 25, 2011, 06:36:48 PM
I liked c&c, but found the first half a bit tedious for some reason I've forgotten.
Title: Re: Is George RR Martin's fantasy series worth starting?
Post by: Human Snorenado on July 25, 2011, 08:19:50 PM
I was only able to read about 100 pages of Perdito Street Station.  Not for me, I'm afraid.

I will say that Rothfuss did a really, really good job w/ The Name of the Wind, however.  You can tell that the novel was worked over for years and years- it's very polished.  Not only is it written well and a good read besides, but it has the most important characteristic to be a crossover success imo- short chapters.
Title: Re: Is George RR Martin's fantasy series worth starting?
Post by: chronovore on July 28, 2011, 01:55:53 AM
Just starting out in A Game of Thrones -- Just finished the chapter, "BRAN" today. That... um, wow, that totally didn't go down the way I thought it was going to.  :'( :'( :'(
Title: Re: Is George RR Martin's fantasy series worth starting?
Post by: Howard Alan Treesong on July 28, 2011, 11:47:42 AM
Quote from: Creepy Old Guy on July 25, 2011, 08:19:50 PM
I was only able to read about 100 pages of Perdito Street Station.  Not for me, I'm afraid.

I will say that Rothfuss did a really, really good job w/ The Name of the Wind, however.  You can tell that the novel was worked over for years and years- it's very polished.  Not only is it written well and a good read besides, but it has the most important characteristic to be a crossover success imo- short chapters.

Despite it being his most name-checked, Perdido Street is maybe Mieville's worst. give The City and the City a try, seems more up your alley