Just Read Sword of Shannara...

[AFGNCAAP]

I think by "characterization" you must mean something else. Few of the characters actually are, well, characters. There just racial types to represent each nation.

That reminds me...

Two of these "nation-representative" characters in the Belgariad (esp. in the 1st book, IIRC), strongly reminded me of Fafhrd & the Grey Mouser (initially--later development of said characters revelaed them not to be carbon-copies of the Twain). IIRC, these 2 met Garion while in the wild, before Garion learned about all about his heritage & such.

One of the 2 was essentially a were-bear (I can't recall the character's name, but he was a tall red-haired Northerner-type; in a way, almost a fusion between Fafhrd & Beorn from The Hobbit). The other, a small, slender man who was named Silk, IIRC. The were-bear wasa great warrior, while Silk was a small, sly, thief-ish type of character.

Like I said, these characters are further revealed/developed to bedifferent than the Twain, but they sure did look like them in the beginning...

 

[Desdichado]

I've never read Iron Tower. So I've no opinion in the matter. Should he be sued?

Dennis McKiernan essentially rewrote the Lord of the Rings, changing some names around, and making a few very minor changes. The Iron Tower trilogy, is probably worth reading once just to see how blatantly obviously one can rip off one's inspiration and still get away with it.

 

[The_Universe]

I tried to read the shannara series several times--they had been recommended to me by several of my friends, and are generally considered "classic" fantasy. I found them too dull to get through. There was just no reason to keep turning the pages. I am by no means an intellectual elitest, which means that I am probably just missing something since the books sell so many copies--SOMEBODY must have founds something they liked. Unfortunately, I didn't.

On the other hand, I picked up 'Magic Kingdom for Sale' at my local library when I was in junior high, and sped through the whole series. Brooks is not entirely untalented, but I think that Shannara is far from his best work.

But then, I started seriously reading fantasy with Lawhead's pendragon cycle and Lloyd Alexander's Black Cauldron stuff. *shrugs*

 

[kingpaul]

On the other hand, I picked up 'Magic Kingdom for Sale' at my local library when I was in junior high, and sped through the whole series. Brooks is not entirely untalented, but I think that Shannara is far from his best work.

Ah yes, that series was rather fun to read.

But then, I started seriously reading fantasy with Lawhead's pendragon cycle and Lloyd Alexander's Black Cauldron stuff. *shrugs*

I enjoyed the first 3 books of Lawhead's pendragon, but the additional ones (I have Pendragon, I think there was a 5th one) I didn't enjoy. His other series (Dragon King, Doom, Song of Albion) are also pretty good.

And Lloyd Alexander is just plain good reading.

 

[ergeheilalt]

I think by "characterization" you must mean something else. Few of the characters actually are, well, characters. There just racial types to represent each nation.

No, actually - I did mean characterization.

Digging through my old English Lit notes ...

Characterizations the artistic representation of human character or motives.

While Eddings takes a character from each nation, these characters are not racial archtypes. They grow and they change, each one reminding reader (well me at least) of distinct human qualities. Mandallorean is the standard fantasy fare as far as the paladin role goes, however, his role in the grand scheme of things identifies him as a paragon for impulsive decisions made because "it's the right thing to do.". Relg (Ulgo fanaticly religious, lets-shove-people-into-rocks dude) represents the unwillingness man in general has to change, however that change is inevitable - and that is evident in the way in which Relg falls to the Maarg woman.

I read deeply into literature. I consider Edding's characters to have a better sense of developement than Brooks. Brook's stories almost all start out the same with the classic buildingsroman beginning of a young man on his quest to be come a man, to take his place in the world. While I love Brook's stories and characters, I don't feel that the characters are truly "alive" in the literary sense.

Again, I could be just taking out my rear - but these aspects are what make certain stories better than others in my opinion.

Erge

 

[Hypersmurf]

Brook's stories almost all start out the same with the classic buildingsroman beginning of a young man on his quest to be come a man, to take his place in the world.

Or, in the case of Brin, a young woman on her quest to become an evil uber-sorceress, to take over the world.

-Hyp.

 

[Olgar Shiverstone]

Heh, if you believe Joseph Campbell's theories, there hasn't been an original fantasy/mythic story since, oh, Beowulf?

Brooks may not write timeless literature, but I still find it to be an entertaining diversion. I listened to his latest trilogy (well, one book spread over three books, but still) on a series of long car trips, which definitely helped the time go by quickly.

 

[Duncan Haldane]

How was Sword of Shannara based on the Lord of the Rings? I admit, I haven't read either in a number of years, but I don't remember there being any similarities beyond the typical fantasy stereotypes you tend to see.

Any specific examples I might be missing?

It's been a long time since I read Sword, but the copy I had had a fold out picture of the characters once they were collected in a (fellowship? group.
It's a Brothers' Hildebrandt picture, as was the cover. I remember going through the picture, one by one, naming who they represented in LotR. The only differece I recall is that there were two elves in Swords versus the one Legolas.
Now, I'm not saying that it was exactly LotR, but when I can move through a party of 9 vs a party of 10, and match them up so easily, it's gotta have some merit.

I have read all over Brook's works, except for the very latest Shanara, and Episode I. But, apart from one I bought for a 14-hour plane flight, and one I bought a friend as a gift, any that I bought (borrowed some from libraries and from friends), I bought for a very very low price - at most $5 each (in Aus, about 1/4 to 1/3 the RRP).

I find his stuff light hearted, easy reads. The magic kingdom series even more-so. And I really enjoy the Demon of the Word trilogy.

Duncan

 

[Desdichado]

While Eddings takes a character from each nation, these characters are not racial archtypes. They grow and they change, each one reminding reader (well me at least) of distinct human qualities.

Only a very few main characters grow and change, while the rest are parodies of the nation (or the nations are parodies of archetypical characters, chicken and egg thing there.) The Belgariad itself is not as bad about this as some of his later books, but it's still very obvious to me, at least.

 

[Desdichado]

Heh, if you believe Joseph Campbell's theories, there hasn't been an original fantasy/mythic story since, oh, Beowulf?

I don't.