David Eddings or J.R.R Tolkien

[brent.bennett]

I've finished reading Robert Jordans, The Wheel of Time; Terry Goodkinds, The Sword of Truth; J.K Rowlings, Harry Potter; and I'm almost done reading Terry Brooks, Shannara series. So What next? I was thinking either David Eddings or J.R.R Tolkien. What to do what to do.... Will someone help me?

 

[Pyan]

Woo - what a choice!

Robert Jordans, The Wheel of Time; Terry Goodkinds, The Sword of Truth; J.K Rowlings, Harry Potter; and I'm almost done reading Terry Brooks, Shannara series.

Well, I'll probably get shot down in flames here, but after that lot, I would say see how it should be done, and go JRRT!

 

[The Ace]

Difficult, Eddings is more accessible, Tolkein a classic. I'd toss a coin.

 

[Connavar]

I havent read either but i would go with the classic one.

 

[brent.bennett]

what difference does it make wether its a "classic" or a "non-classic"? what would a "classic" have that a "non-classic wouldnt"?

 

[Who's Wee Dug]

If you want to continue in a simular vein carry on with Eddings, then JRR which would leave you a clear indication between the style of modern and the older classic fantasy.

 

[GOLLUM]

If you need to choose b/w the two I would go with Tolkien any day of the week...

 

[brent.bennett]

Ok. I'm sensing the majority of people would go for Tolkien. Would anybody suggest a series even better then Tolkien and Eddings?

 

[brent.bennett]

Ok. In Tolkien's respect, I realize that there's a whole lot more then just the Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings Trilogy. There is also 12 or so History of Middle-earth books, and The Silmarillion, and a whole bunch of Books in the Lord of the Rings World that I dont even know about. Is there a suggested order of reading for it all?

 

[GOLLUM]

Ok. I'm sensing the majority of people would go for Tolkien. Would anybody suggest a series even better then Tolkien and Eddings?

Well there's plenty but for EPIC fantasy you should try Steven Erikson's Malazan series, Roger Zeleazny's Chronicles Of Amber, George RR Matin's Song Of Ice and Fire sequence, R Scott bakker's Prince Of Nothing trilogy, Stephen Donladson's Crhronicles Of Thomas Covenant, JV Jones Sword Of Shadows trilogy, Greg Keyes Kingdom Of Bone and Thorn quartet, Kate Eliott's Crown Of Stars series, Robert Jordan's Wheel Of Time series, Tad William's Memory, Sorrow and Thorn trilogy, Paul Kearney's Sea Beggars series, RA Salvatore's Ice Wind Dale and Drak Elf trilogies, Ed Whittemore's seminal Jerusalem quartet and Ian Irvine's View From The Mirror Quartet. There's more but this is a good start.....

 

[BloodNguts]

what difference does it make wether its a "classic" or a "non-classic"? what would a "classic" have that a "non-classic wouldnt"?

The classic would hopefully be memorable. I would put George RR Martin & Robin Hobb on the top of the list if you like big epic plots that have more than one storyline. Plots that cover many books, etc. Zelazny is a crazyman and at least the first few books are very cool. Hard to compare because he writes in first person. They are more adventures than epics but apparently they are hard to forget.

 

[Fried Egg]

I would give David Eddings a wide berth. But I wouldn't bother with Tolkien either. Why not go try somehting different, but exceptional, and try Robert Howard's Conan books?

 

[Dexter]

Tolkien is better in quality (much better, IMO), but Eddings spends less time describing the details of the world, making for a more action-packed story. I'd (re)read Tolkien before Eddings, myself. The Hobbit is a short novel and would make an excellent introduction. If you liked that, I'd tackle The Lord of the Rings.

GOLLUM offers up many fine alternatives to either Tolkien or Eddings. I'd like to second Tad Williams, Roger Zelazny, Stephen R. Donaldson, and George R.R. Martin. I'd also like to add Patricia McKillip (RiddleMaster of Hed trilogy).

And Welcome to the Chrons!

 

[GOLLUM]

I would give David Eddings a wide berth. But I wouldn't bother with Tolkien either. Why not go try somehting different, but exceptional, and try Robert Howard's Conan books?

Now you're talking....

 

[Connavar]

I recommend Robert E Howard too. He is so much different from all the others fantasy writers mentioned in this thread.

Conan is a must read

 

[Snowdog]

I can't stand Eddings personally, but if you like Jordan, Goodkind, Brooks you'll probably like him. And if you like that sort of fantasy, try Raymond Feist.

 

[Gav]

Eddings is rubbish (I await the flames of annoyance but that doesn't alter the fact it's true).
Tolkein created (amongst others but is probably the biggest influence in modent epic fantasy) the genre you are interested in so read him.

 

[Connavar]

Eddings is rubbish (I await the flames of annoyance but that doesn't alter the fact it's true).
Tolkein created (amongst others but is probably the biggest influence in modent epic fantasy) the genre you are interested in so read him.

Dont worry about flame of annoyance he doesnt seem to have as huge fanbase in these forums as some of the other Epic fantasy writers.

Had you dissed Erikson,Martin,Feist for example there would be a difference.

Funny enough i have seen people recommend to me in several forums alot of the modern fantasy writers but no one has ever told to me to read Eddings i wonder why

 

[Fried Egg]

I have a soft spot in my heart for Eddings' "Belgariad" series but that is because it was the first fantasy series I bought when I was twelve and it was a got me into fantasy generally.

When I re-read it many years later, I couldn't stand it any more (nor anything else he's written for that matter). His books have their place...

 

[Soggyfox]

His books have their place...

unfortunatley so, i was heart broken aftre reading the last 4 books, it was torturous, i read them as i'd read everything else. It appeared to be one story repeated 4 times and that was the series. I was gutted.