*sidles up to Is*
You mentioned DnD.. hint hint wink wink nudge nudge say no more squire.. [stop by the teapot sometime, we may have an opening for you]

And yes.. read House of Leaves.. then after the first 6months of random surreality and paranoid distrust of physics and geometry, read Neverwhere and fall madly in love with Door like i did

Then for good measure pick up some Murakami and indulge in a very truly unique and quite delicious mindfrell of surreal urban fantasyish thing, i advise Hard-boiled Wonderland and the End of the World, followed by the Windup Bird Chronicles.. then upon finishing those pick up some Charles deLint for a somewhat different take on a similar genre, there i advise Someplace to be Flying.. and hell any of the others, i can't remmeber titles right off.

After that go find a copy of Foucalt's Pendulum and bask in an immersive epic discordian mindfsck of intellectually delicious pageantry of mind history philosophy and Urban Planning For Gypsies..

And then for sheer ubertechnicryptogeekgasm, bury yourself in Cryptonomicon for a month or so.

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[Blue Mink Bifocals !] [fsck -Rf /world/usr/] [<!-- kalimonster -->] [Capite Terram]
"You'll have to face it, the endings are the same however you slice it. Don't be deluded by any other endings, they're all fake, with malicious intent to deceive, or just motivated by excessive optimism if not by downright sentimentality. The only authentic ending is the one provided here: John and Mary die. John and Mary die. John and Mary die." -Happy Endings [Margeret Atwood]
NPC.Interact::PressButton($'Submit');

[This message has been edited by Dormouse (edited February 20, 2004).]

I'm an official Terriaddict. I've read the whole series twice and I'm on the mailing list. I like the Sword of Truth because you just can't put them down, he just makes it so you need to find out what happens next to the characters.

It may be a bit annoying that Richard doesn't learn to use his magic any better, but I think it'd be really boring if he could just use magic to get out of every situation; it's nice when his need is so great that his gift completely guides him (like in the Wizard's Keep or at the end of Naked Empire). Besides (as Terry said) it's not about the magic, it's about the characters and the story. Anyone could write a book where some generic wizard casts generic spells.

Pillars of Creation was actually a welcomed break to the series, and it showed in much more detail than before how the order worked and how it failed to work.

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tristan is the best friend of the jedi

"I am the signature virus! Copy me into your signature so that I can take over the world! Moohahahee!"

But fantasy is just "life writ large". Does a 15 year old know how a couple married for 60 years feel? Can he discuss the workings of the political system of his world? Create a world that obeys the laws of physics? Write someone pining for their loved one's unexpected violent end?

I'm 19, and I don't think I have enough knowledge to write a convincing fantasy novel, either. I think there's a good reason most great fantasy authors are at least in their 40s before writing their "magnum opus", though I don't think I explained it that well.



I'm sure there are, but aSoIaF is great because it's so different to everything else out there. And, really, why use elves and dwarves? Is it so impossible to think up another new species?

I read an article about him once. I think it's pretty cool that she got into the writing industry so young, but they say that "the second book is the hardest"... so I hope he makes it!

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GhostOfYoda - General doer of stuff.

[This message has been edited by GhostOfYoda (edited February 21, 2004).]

*corrects GoY on gender*


matthew: well, i can't say anything that will change your opinion on this matter. just read the book then tell me he doesn't have enough "experience" to write about those things.

(oh and i've traveled around the world quite a bit, i'm 15... so i have MORE experience than the average american in that area... hmmm, maybe this kid has experienced some things at a younger age? or maybe he just understands them? you don't have to have DONE things to understand them. though the understanding doesn't go as far (depending on what it is)
ack, i didn't mean to rant again )

Dormy: well, i'll have to come by and wriggle my rogue-y self into a game (=

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why is a raven like a writing desk?

[Edit: In response to Dor's brief mention of Neverwhere]

Neverwhere is awesome. I just reread it, and really crave a sequel. Gaiman did kinda leave it open at the end, with Door's mention of uniting the baronies and peoples of London-Below.

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All the prism in the world couldn't make hue.

[This message has been edited by Vincent Valentine (edited February 22, 2004).]

Don't read Neverwhere. It eats your soul. (Actually it made me fail a book report, I was to busy reading Neverwhere to read the book for school)
That reminds me, anyone read "Good Omens" yet? It's supposed to be good.

Good Omens is freaking outstanding as well.. Pratchett + Gaimen == <3

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[Blue Mink Bifocals !] [fsck -Rf /world/usr/] [<!-- kalimonster -->] [Capite Terram]
"You'll have to face it, the endings are the same however you slice it. Don't be deluded by any other endings, they're all fake, with malicious intent to deceive, or just motivated by excessive optimism if not by downright sentimentality. The only authentic ending is the one provided here: John and Mary die. John and Mary die. John and Mary die." -Happy Endings [Margeret Atwood]
NPC.Interact::PressButton($'Submit');

Hmm.. good omens.. i've heard of it, but not read it yet, i dont think. it odd, sicen i've only not read about 5 of his. i'll have to check it out. I dont think it will top Night Watch, though. that was awesome.

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"No good can ever come from staying with normal people"
-Outlaw Star
"Some people play tennis. I erode the human soul"
-Tycho, Penny Arcade
"I'm a Cannabal-Vegitarian. I will BBQ an employee if there is no veggie option"
-DX:IW