James Barclay

[nixie]

James Barclay, he doesn't seem to draw much attention here.His first two series, Chronicles of Raven and Legend of the Raven, I found to be enjoyable reads. Nothing overly complex and easy to follow and not scared to kill of characters.His latest offering The Ascendants of Estorea a duology, is more ambitious, has more depth and takes him, imo from being not a bad author to brilliant. Anyone else?

 

[PenDragon]

I only read a third of one Raven book then dumped it. To me it read like someone's D&D game (and not a very good game either). Sorry that's a bit harsh I know but I was very underwhelmed.

 

[Culhwch]

Me too. I think I must have started the first of the Chronicles of Raven series, drawn mostly by the book's design, but I found the opening far too turgid to waste any more of my time in finishing the book. If he has indeed improved, I may give his new series a look-in, granted my library gets it in.

 

[Gav]

Hackeyed, dull, uninspiring... three words that spring to mind. It was like reading a spotty teenagers account of their LARP roleplaying weekend. I picked it up because the reviews were so good on the back including "best description of magic ever". When I read it I kept thinking "I've read this all before..."

I ended up leaving it on a train.

 

[PenDragon]

So it's not just me being a miserable old sod then. Good to know.

 

[Gav]

Hey! I'm quite happy with miserable-ness.

 

[PenDragon]

Opps,I didn't phrase that very well.

What I meant is ...

... it's not just that I'm old and miserable others think Barclay's not that good ...

.... as opposed to ...

.... it's not just me that's old and miserable the others are old and miserable too.

The old and miserable, for me, comes into it becasue I'm guessing if I read something like Dawnthief when I was younger I might have enjoyed it. I loved the Belgariad when I read it ('84 or '85 I think), loved it. I've reread it recently and realised that it's pretty weak.

 

[nixie]

Ha well, I'll have to accept that there is only me round here likes Barclay