Whats the worst you've ever read? Scifi/Fanstasy

[WayneLigon]

FWIW I rather liked it, but I'm sure, there's something eluding me - I see all the neat 'small picture' stuff, but I can't shake the feeling, that there's a 'bigger picture' in there somewhere.

That, in a way, is the reason I don't read most of the alternate history books that seem to be very popular now. I've tried a couple and inevitably the characters will say or do something that is obviously meant to be a climactic point or Very Important Clue To The Enjoyment of The Book but I just don't get it because it will deal with some obscure point or minor incident I have no knowledge of, so the whole point of the thing just goes right over my head.

 

[Sado]

The Oathbound - It's been a while, but IIRC, every last male character of significance in this book was LITTERALLY a child-molesting rapist, aside from a pacifist old monk (read non-sexual/non-threatening). I don't think Mercedes Lackey has come in for enough nearly enough drubbing over books like this. As far as I'm concerned, this is the female equivalent of GOR novels. I like strong female characters, but strong female does not require that all men are child molesting scum.

Thats interesting, I was just about to start reading that. Since the two main characters are female I was kind of hoping they would get it on. I don't think that's ML's bag though.

 

[James Heard]

That book is my curse.

I've been reading it for four years now. I really have to take my time when I read it, because otherwise I'll just skim over the text and stop reading soon thereafter (it's my third try). But I find myself only rarely returning to it, so I'm still at page 130 or so.

It's one of my goals in life - finishing it

Heh. It's one of my favorite books. I've read it three times, and would probably read it more except it's like Hyperion by Dan Simmons - I don't want to spoil things by reading it just to read it. I consider both to be major influences and benchmarks on "what is good" in literature.

 

[barsoomcore]

Thats interesting, I was just about to start reading that. Since the two main characters are female I was kind of hoping they would get it on. I don't think that's ML's bag though.

Hee. No, I don't think so.

For THAT you can turn to Kushiel's Dart by Jacqueline Carey, a thinly-veiled romance acting like a fantasy novel. Plenty of what you're looking for there. Full of sado-masochism, rape, gay and straight sex of every description. With jacket blurbs from Robert Jordan, Storm Constantine and Eric Van Lustbader.

 

[Berandor]

Eric Van Lustbader.

Cool Name.

 

[WayneLigon]

Thats interesting, I was just about to start reading that. Since the two main characters are female I was kind of hoping they would get it on. I don't think that's ML's bag though.

Nope, they don't. Many of the people they meet assumes that of them, since Kethry is so pretty and Tarma is not, but they don't. Tarma's vengeance oath basically makes her neuter; it takes all the energy and drive that accompanies sex and sexual feelings and diverts it into her combat skills, so she has no feelings that way for anyone male or female. Kethry on the other hand, has quite a distinct and very hetero drive; after all she's sworn that Tarma's clan will live again through her. By the time of By The Sword, she has a husband and several, several kids.

Rackhir[/b]] The Oathbound - It's been a while, but IIRC, every last male character of significance in this book was LITTERALLY a child-molesting rapist

No, not every significant male in the series is a child-raping insane person. Go read it again and pay attention this time. It might seem like that since Kethry's sword geases her to find such people and lop their heads off.

 

[barsoomcore]

Cool Name.

Crappy writer.

 

[Tinker Gnome]

Any Movie/RPG/TV series novels - It's the literary equivalent of prostitution. It might feel good at first or for a little while, but eventually your pimp/publisher cuts your face up, it gives you VD or AIDS and kills your soul.

Me and my RPG novels are currently engaged in a monogamous relationship.

 

[Sado]

Me and my RPG novels are currently engaged in a monogamous relationship.

That's what you think. Ask them who they were with last night

 

[Acid_crash]

Hee. No, I don't think so.

For THAT you can turn to Kushiel's Dart by Jacqueline Carey, a thinly-veiled romance acting like a fantasy novel. Plenty of what you're looking for there. Full of sado-masochism, rape, gay and straight sex of every description. With jacket blurbs from Robert Jordan, Storm Constantine and Eric Van Lustbader.

Are there any books you do happen to like besides Barsoom? I mean, it seems that every author mentioned you have a problem with. I'm just curious what would make a good book to you if all these authors who have become really successful you find are bad authors?