Have fantasy novels gotten "better" since D&D?

[T. Foster]

I've been trying to think of a fantasy novel written post-1974 that I like.

I'm afraid I can't think of any.

Have you read the "Book of the New Sun" series by Gene Wolfe (Shadow of the Torturer, et al.)? Pretty good stuff there, published (IIRC) in the early 80s.

 

[Raven Crowking]

So long as you worry about dialogue, pacing or characterization. He is the standard-setter for world-building, also.

FIFY.

 

[Geoffrey]

T. Foster, I've never read Gene Wolfe. I'll keep him in mind.

Here is a short article that argues that D&D's influence on fantasy literature has been unfortunate:

http://www.visi.com/~thornley/david/rpg/dndimpact.html

I mostly agree with the article.

 

[CRGreathouse]

My general impression is that the quality has dropped, rapidly if anything.

 

[CRGreathouse]

So long as you don't worry about dialogue, pacing or characterization. He is the standard-setter for world-building, though.

Actually I rather like the characters in LotR and think the dialogue is peerless (see the Tolkien letter on levels of writing, "My dear Gandalf", in his letters or in Shippey). I can understand how people are frustrated by the pacing, but I found the book to be a quick read. Admittedly this was not so when I first read the book in the 5th or 6th grade... then I found Book I to be a tough read without action to keep me going.

 

[RainOfSteel]

[...] not to mention that a lot of novels today are extremely derivative of earlier sources. I couldn't tell you how many novels I've read that are bascially LotR knockoffs...

And I couldn't begin to tell you how derivative LotR is.

 

[Hussar]

I've been trying to think of a fantasy novel written post-1974 that I like.

I'm afraid I can't think of any.

That's just incredibly sad. I'm a broken record here, but there are just so many excellent authors in the genre right now, and I'm not even a particularly strong fantasy fan (I prefer harder SF personally). If you can't find great fantasy right now, you're not looking very hard.

 

[Thurbane]

And I couldn't begin to tell you how derivative LotR is.

No doubt. I've attended lectures on the origins and roots of Tolkien's works.

...but that hardly excuses 50 years of novels that are thinly disguised LotR copies...

 

[Raven Crowking]

That's just incredibly sad. I'm a broken record here, but there are just so many excellent authors in the genre right now, and I'm not even a particularly strong fantasy fan (I prefer harder SF personally). If you can't find great fantasy right now, you're not looking very hard.

I quite enjoy some of Charles de Lint, especially his earlier work. I've been thinking of coming up with a list of great recent fantasy novels, but sadly a lot of my books are in boxes right now.

RC