tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5978497880525976810.post6876854476744726810..comments2024-01-17T01:33:01.361-08:00Comments on Staffer's Book Review: If you liked.... A Song of Ice and FireJustinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18030992882575439420noreply@blogger.comBlogger26125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5978497880525976810.post-57789647574054248512012-03-23T11:59:14.042-07:002012-03-23T11:59:14.042-07:00I think quality wise, it's certainly there. In...I think quality wise, it's certainly there. In terms of the cold reality than GRRM uses and his style of story telling, I don't get the same vibe. I think GGK gets caught up in form over substance which GRRM never does. I didn't consider UNDER HEAVEN by GGK for the list though.Justinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18030992882575439420noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5978497880525976810.post-64827460569637413222012-03-23T11:56:07.270-07:002012-03-23T11:56:07.270-07:00It's been awhile since I read it, and I know i...It's been awhile since I read it, and I know it's not "hey he's this underappreciated author", but I've always felt like TIGANA by GGK was in the "if you liked GRRM..." vein. who's with me?Kathleenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00923975835078747456noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5978497880525976810.post-29719468728177959672012-03-23T11:51:46.022-07:002012-03-23T11:51:46.022-07:00thanks I just went and picked it up!thanks I just went and picked it up!Kathleenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00923975835078747456noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5978497880525976810.post-47124017642883611242012-03-22T13:28:11.457-07:002012-03-22T13:28:11.457-07:00You realize I was only kidding about Abercrombie s...You realize I was only kidding about Abercrombie since a large % of people who answer the question "What to read after GRRM" say Joe.RobBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04014122096561992311noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5978497880525976810.post-91599517708977689332012-03-22T09:54:50.100-07:002012-03-22T09:54:50.100-07:00*Another* book on my huge to-read pile, Neth :)*Another* book on my huge to-read pile, Neth :)Paul Weimerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02444942522624902562noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5978497880525976810.post-70364536661281933952012-03-22T09:47:48.020-07:002012-03-22T09:47:48.020-07:00Another sadly overlooked fantasy trilogy that belo...Another sadly overlooked fantasy trilogy that belongs on a list like this is The Nessantico Cyle by S.L. Farrell. Very good, politically heavy trilogy set in a second-world with similarities to Renaissance Italy.Nethhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16963540055415924510noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5978497880525976810.post-68259799142447379982012-03-22T03:19:35.985-07:002012-03-22T03:19:35.985-07:00Sienkiewicz is great and I loved his "Polish ...Sienkiewicz is great and I loved his "Polish Trilogy", as it is sometimes mentioned, but I can't say that I honestly see it as "a Polish Gone with the Wind". Still, there are some other great works of his that deserve a mention, "Quo Vadis?" as Larry said is one of the best works of fiction, but besides these I enjoyed a lot "The Knights of the Cross" & "In Desert and Wilderness".<br />I personally love K.J. Parker's novels. I believe that K.J. Parker is one of the most original and powerful voices of modern fantasy fiction and I do hope that I would get the chance to read more such works. I currently am reading Daniel Abraham's "The Long Price Quartet" and it is great. I am just sorry that I got around so late to read it :)<br />As for the rest, I hope they don't end up like Daniel Abraham's works and I can start reading them sooner. But with so many books I want to read it is hard to say ;)Mihai A.https://www.blogger.com/profile/08534691063946241019noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5978497880525976810.post-41005913521495393772012-03-22T00:21:31.448-07:002012-03-22T00:21:31.448-07:00Kate Elliot is terrific.
And I know that George l...Kate Elliot is terrific.<br /><br />And I know that George likes Colleen McCullough a lot. He called her "a guilty pleasure".David Anthony Durhamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13885922955551669016noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5978497880525976810.post-19913767239101107872012-03-21T20:17:20.202-07:002012-03-21T20:17:20.202-07:00In another historical (and very accurate) shout-ou...In another historical (and very accurate) shout-out is another australian: collen mccullough's masters of rome series. politics,war and sex, fantasticThe Little Lost Ghosthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10856543170489218870noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5978497880525976810.post-11409416748594893852012-03-21T19:19:29.325-07:002012-03-21T19:19:29.325-07:00Ok, as people are adding their recs, I have to add...Ok, as people are adding their recs, I have to add one too. Crossroads Trilogy by Kate Elliot. Halfway through the first book I thought it was a direct rip off of ASOIAF(especially a very Dany like arc) By the end of the trilogy I liked that particular arc a whole lot more. <br /><br />Not as political or sweeping, but very very good. <br /><br /> And I love all the free kindle shout outs, keep it up!Nathan (@reviewbarn)https://www.blogger.com/profile/11708244950988794601noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5978497880525976810.post-31888466734914449402012-03-21T18:28:05.598-07:002012-03-21T18:28:05.598-07:00I should mention, too, that The Winds of Khalakovo...I should mention, too, that The Winds of Khalakovo is currently free in the US via the Kindle Store.<br /><br />http://www.amazon.com/The-Winds-of-Khalakovo-ebook/dp/B004UARU40/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1332379644&sr=8-1Brad Beaulieuhttp://www.quillings.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5978497880525976810.post-87703526838657659742012-03-21T17:42:28.421-07:002012-03-21T17:42:28.421-07:00I don't know either.
And "Sasha" is...I don't know either.<br /><br />And "Sasha" is free for the Kindle edition, too, as a way to hook people into the series...Paul Weimerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02444942522624902562noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5978497880525976810.post-79494941574167884032012-03-21T17:11:16.683-07:002012-03-21T17:11:16.683-07:00The series "A Trial of Blood and Steel" ...The series "A Trial of Blood and Steel" by Australian author Joel Shepherd will probably go down well with GRRM fans too. The first book in the series is "Sasha". These books are woefully under-appreciated and I will never, not ever, understand why more people aren't reading them.Stefan (Far Beyond Reality)http://www.farbeyondreality.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5978497880525976810.post-22766461431396085732012-03-21T17:08:16.609-07:002012-03-21T17:08:16.609-07:00I thought part of the reason Abercrombie and Sande...I thought part of the reason Abercrombie and Sanderson weren't named was not because they're not necessarily that dissimilar to Martin, but more because the point of what Justin is trying to do is let people know about lesser known or read authors, and both Abercrombie and Sanderson have strong followings. I think Conn Iggulden's Conqueror series which is historical fiction, not fantasy, deserves a mention here, that really brings home how George Martin drew on the Mongols for his Dothraki.Elfyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09955473789404631382noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5978497880525976810.post-85091630190526942562012-03-21T15:44:48.636-07:002012-03-21T15:44:48.636-07:00Thank you for the mention. Much appreciated. I lov...Thank you for the mention. Much appreciated. I love the company I'm keeping!<br /><br />And, hey... GRRM was kind enough to like Pride of Carthage too. In his own words (official quote - I'm not just making it up):<br /><br />"David Anthony Durham knocked me out with Pride of Carthage. He brought Hannibal, his brothers, and the Second Punic War to vivid, bloody life, and established himself as one of the bright new lights of historical fiction." - George RR MartinDavid Anthony Durhamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13885922955551669016noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5978497880525976810.post-28414098105346987222012-03-21T15:00:39.294-07:002012-03-21T15:00:39.294-07:00deluge is also free *but* Fire in the Steppe is no...deluge is also free *but* Fire in the Steppe is not available at all except as a £150 hardback :(<br /><br />also, your capthas are nearly impossible to solve :( :(The Little Lost Ghosthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10856543170489218870noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5978497880525976810.post-65607702724002517682012-03-21T14:47:56.366-07:002012-03-21T14:47:56.366-07:00the kindle edition of With Fire and Sword is free ...the kindle edition of With Fire and Sword is free on amazon.co.uk :)The Little Lost Ghosthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10856543170489218870noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5978497880525976810.post-87164646099200868112012-03-21T14:13:21.215-07:002012-03-21T14:13:21.215-07:00Hunh. I thought Heartland Theory was going to be w...Hunh. I thought Heartland Theory was going to be way way too esoteric for anyone except history geeks. So Silk Road popped out of my brain instead as the final answer. ;)Paul Weimerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02444942522624902562noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5978497880525976810.post-19830223120364233972012-03-21T14:08:56.255-07:002012-03-21T14:08:56.255-07:00I've read about half of "With Fire and Sw...I've read about half of "With Fire and Sword." It's a fantastic book...a little dense and difficult to read, but enjoyable. I plan to pick it up when I have some more time. I found some similarities between it and some of my stuff.John Zeleznikhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10301257444191880316noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5978497880525976810.post-24566003919383869442012-03-21T13:57:23.667-07:002012-03-21T13:57:23.667-07:00Very honored and pleased to be among such company....Very honored and pleased to be among such company. I've yet to read Durham and Abraham, but they've both been steadily creeping up my TBR list.<br /><br />As a small aside, I really liked Paul's description of the new batch of fantasy as "Heartland Theory" fantasy, but "silk road fantasy" is certainly more accessible.Brad Beaulieuhttp://www.quillings.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5978497880525976810.post-31413272364630358162012-03-21T13:34:42.537-07:002012-03-21T13:34:42.537-07:00I think I will really love this new feature!! It&#...I think I will really love this new feature!! It's a great idea and I'm sure it will help a lot of readers find a lot of interesting books or series that might have slipped under their radar. I know that I will definitely benefit from it! Thank you very much!Antonakishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07689804221175786522noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5978497880525976810.post-35734544602095125812012-03-21T12:49:57.995-07:002012-03-21T12:49:57.995-07:00It pleases me to see a Nobel winner here among you...It pleases me to see a Nobel winner here among your suggestions. Sienkiewicz is well-worth reading, although I have yet to delve much into this particular trilogy (<i>Quo Vadis</i> is an all-time favorite of mine).Larry Nolenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16001420558511460998noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5978497880525976810.post-75289388142791780852012-03-21T12:49:09.918-07:002012-03-21T12:49:09.918-07:00Thanks, Justin.
I've read Bradley and Abraham...Thanks, Justin.<br /><br />I've read Bradley and Abraham, of course, as anyone who reads my reviews knows. I've not tried Durham, though.Paul Weimerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02444942522624902562noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5978497880525976810.post-61694697077640582742012-03-21T12:40:50.880-07:002012-03-21T12:40:50.880-07:00I really don't think Abercrombie, or Sanderson...I really don't think Abercrombie, or Sanderson, or any of those guys really capture Martin's style. They're both too cartoonish albeit on opposite ends of the spectrum.Justinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18030992882575439420noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5978497880525976810.post-37532760764034144082012-03-21T12:39:22.471-07:002012-03-21T12:39:22.471-07:00Where's Abercrombie? This article lost all val...Where's Abercrombie? This article lost all validity without mentioning him. J/K, glad to see books (Henryk Sienkiewicz) I never heard of but interests me now. In other words, mission accomplished.RobBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04014122096561992311noreply@blogger.com