Novel series that you can't stand.
- Thread starter Dark Jezter
- Start date
Kid Charlemagne
I am the Very Model of a Modern Moderator
I've heard Elric described as almost the ideal anti-hero, in a fantasy context Kind of the Anti-Conan.
Conan is physically powerful and fights black magic. Elric is physically weak and fights with the aid of black magic.
Conan comes from a background of poverty and ruin, and wins a Kingdom. Elric comes from a background of absolute wealth, and gives a Kingdom away.
Conan strives to save the world and his friends, Elric kills his friends, and ultimately destroys the world.
Plenty more "parrallels," if you dig deep.
Moorcock's prose can get away from him at times, though. I remember reading that he wrote some ungodly amount of words per day, just pouring it out on the page. Needs an editor sometimes.
If you like him, try Warhound and the World's Pain. Especially if you like Dark Fantasy. It's not an Elric book, it's set in the real world (mostly) around the eary renaissance.
Conan is physically powerful and fights black magic. Elric is physically weak and fights with the aid of black magic.
Conan comes from a background of poverty and ruin, and wins a Kingdom. Elric comes from a background of absolute wealth, and gives a Kingdom away.
Conan strives to save the world and his friends, Elric kills his friends, and ultimately destroys the world.
Plenty more "parrallels," if you dig deep.
Moorcock's prose can get away from him at times, though. I remember reading that he wrote some ungodly amount of words per day, just pouring it out on the page. Needs an editor sometimes.
If you like him, try Warhound and the World's Pain. Especially if you like Dark Fantasy. It's not an Elric book, it's set in the real world (mostly) around the eary renaissance.
Kesh
First Post
I don't recall any full series I ever hated. Anything written by Dickens, though... *shudder*
Dune rocks, but I haven't read beyond the first book. Saw the second series on Sci-Fi channel and was a bit lost. From what I hear, it gets weirder than that.
I've avoided Jordan's work, for precisely the reasons listed above. Too much bad press.
I love Weis & Hickman's Dragonlance novels, but detest the books by other authors. Got burned by too many of them.
Same with most Star Wars books. I enjoyed the Zahn trilogy, but most other authors really screwed up the characters and/or setting badly. One exception was The Truce At Bakura, which was rather refreshing.
Oooh! Star Trek novels! Now that's a breeding ground for bad prose!
Occasionally, there's a good one. Spock's World, Prime Directive, and the return of the replicants (can't remember the title). Others are really really bad. We're talking "Spock as a pirate" level of bad.
Wait, i do have one. Arthur C. Clarke's Rama series. The first one was interesting. Second was okay. After that, he brought in a "co-author" and everything he's put out since has been crap.
Though if Stephen King never finishes his Dark Tower series, I'll be royally P.O.'ed.
Dune rocks, but I haven't read beyond the first book. Saw the second series on Sci-Fi channel and was a bit lost. From what I hear, it gets weirder than that.
I've avoided Jordan's work, for precisely the reasons listed above. Too much bad press.
I love Weis & Hickman's Dragonlance novels, but detest the books by other authors. Got burned by too many of them.
Same with most Star Wars books. I enjoyed the Zahn trilogy, but most other authors really screwed up the characters and/or setting badly. One exception was The Truce At Bakura, which was rather refreshing.
Oooh! Star Trek novels! Now that's a breeding ground for bad prose!
Occasionally, there's a good one. Spock's World, Prime Directive, and the return of the replicants (can't remember the title). Others are really really bad. We're talking "Spock as a pirate" level of bad.
Wait, i do have one. Arthur C. Clarke's Rama series. The first one was interesting. Second was okay. After that, he brought in a "co-author" and everything he's put out since has been crap.
Though if Stephen King never finishes his Dark Tower series, I'll be royally P.O.'ed.
mojo1701
First Post
Sonikal said:...did I spell 'faeces' right?...
uh, no, it's feces. But you're right. It always seems that way. I think that the so-called "classics" are nothing but put-together babble by 'professors' with nothing better to do than bore students.
BTW, I've been reading the Pianist (in Polish, too!). Although it's a good story, the author (there's even a little intro to the book done by his son) wasn't a professional writer; he just wrote his experiences. If I didn't know about that, I'd think it's a very boring book, but given the circumstances, it's a good book, but there are parts where he's just describing his days.
KnowTheToe
First Post
Mallus said:
Because the less you know about a subject, the more valid your opinion on it is
[BTW, I don't like Austen at all. You just have to accept that a work can be good, a masterpiece even, and just not be to your tastes.]
Your logic has no place here you fiend! If you are going to attack in such a vicious mannor maybe you should go somewhere else! On the other hand you have a good point. I want pizza. I am going to go get pizza. Good bye.
mojo1701
First Post
Mallus said:
Because the less you know about a subject, the more valid your opinion on it is
[BTW, I don't like Austen at all. You just have to accept that a work can be good, a masterpiece even, and just not be to your tastes.]
Yeah, I guess. I wasn't bashing professors or great literature, or anything, and I'm still an immature 16-year-old kid; but I have read more than 60% of the students in his school have read. [Note: I'm not boasting or anything, I'm just saying that anyone I've ever talked to doesn't read. "Oh, what are you reading for?" to which I reply "It's fun." "How can it be fun? You can't see anything that's going on." "That's the point. You have to use your imagination." "Imagi-what?"]
Edit: KnowTheToe replied before I did: I just had pizza
Last edited:
And I wasn't bashing you. I'm just a snarky guy twice you age who is bored at work on a Friday.mojo1701 said:
You really nailed it, you know, the most import thing about reading is enjoying it. In the end it doesn't matter what you read. Currently, I'm putting off Moby Dick in favor of Phillip K. Dick and a stack of Alan Moore comics {Promethea and Top 10} I borrowed from a friend.
Try Austen in a few years. Maybe you'll find something of value in her writing then {'course I never did...}.
What do you like to read, BTW? At 16 I was all about Dune and Thomas Covenant...
[edit: Pizza... lovely pizza. And beer... lovely beer.... err, not that I'm suggesting you should grab a beer. There are laws against that...]
Last edited:
Similar Threads
