Is it still worth it?

[Needle]

Characters were flat. I didn't even recognize most of them anymore, and I stopped caring about them altogether.

The Wheel of Time is finishing strong, though. Brandon Sanderson is exactly what that series needed to get back on its feet.

Sorry more thread jacking! Just had to say I agree with C of K wholeheartedly here. Love the first 4 or 5, then it got bogged down. Sanderson is indeed finishing up strong, I love it again.

 

[Koopa]

Futher thread jacking, is this sanderson not working with the ideas, drafts that Jordan left behind? If so he did not run out of good ideas, just the ability to write it out properly maybe because he wanted the series to drag on.

 

[biodroid]

KiwiBird - I heard somewhere that RJ was going to write something like 30 books in the series before he passed, maybe Sanderson is trying to capitalise on WOT's popularity? I do not want to speculate but I assume RJ has a huge fanbase. I reckon they should just wrap up WOT and let it be what it is. I haven't read any WOT books but would like to in the future.

 

[Mesanna]

Well basically Brandon Sanderson IS wrapping up WoT. There was so much material left by RJ, that they decided it needed three books to finish and Sanderson is finishing it under contract as arranged by RJ's wife Harriet. Two of the final books are already out, with the third due next Spring. Brandon is a very reliable writer, in that he tends to deliver what he promises, or at least he gives his fans plenty notice and good reasoning if he can't deliver (i.e. the final book was originally scheduled for November this year, but has been put back till next Spring). I'm very confident the book will be delivered on schedule, and I wouldn't hesitate to tell anyone who was considering starting WoT to go ahead, because it's as good as wrapped up.

On a side note, I'm a bit WoT fan, but I've never heard 30 books before. I think that might just be an internet rumour.

 

[soulsinging]

What series do you think are in contention for the greatest ever? I only ask because I'm looking for something new to read. I'm looking for a series that's already done. Not Malazan though; I tried that series and hated it (I read through Memories of Ice).

David Gemmell doesn't really write series, though he does have many books set in a particular world. He is fantastic. I also liked Joe Abercrombie's First Law trilogy. The first book in Patrick Rothfuss' trilogy was excellent and I hear the sequel is as good if not better, so that's promising.

I've never tried to read Malazan but I can tell it's not really my thing.

 

[soulsinging]

Well basically Brandon Sanderson IS wrapping up WoT. There was so much material left by RJ, that they decided it needed three books to finish and Sanderson is finishing it under contract as arranged by RJ's wife Harriet. Two of the final books are already out, with the third due next Spring. Brandon is a very reliable writer, in that he tends to deliver what he promises, or at least he gives his fans plenty notice and good reasoning if he can't deliver (i.e. the final book was originally scheduled for November this year, but has been put back till next Spring). I'm very confident the book will be delivered on schedule, and I wouldn't hesitate to tell anyone who was considering starting WoT to go ahead, because it's as good as wrapped up.

On a side note, I'm a bit WoT fan, but I've never heard 30 books before. I think that might just be an internet rumour.

You know, I read about 5.5 books of WoT before giving up since it was clearly going nowhere. Hearing what Sanderson has done is intriguing though... would it be possible to just skip the last 5 or whatever by Jordan and see how it ends?

 

[Needle]

Futher thread jacking, is this sanderson not working with the ideas, drafts that Jordan left behind? If so he did not run out of good ideas, just the ability to write it out properly maybe because he wanted the series to drag on.

Kiwi, yes I read an interview with Sanderson and he is working from RJ's drafts. Personally I don't think RJ just wanted it to drag on, but he so much he wanted to add that it got really crazy! He probably could have (should have) put some of it in a different set of books, I feel it would have made them much more readable.

You know, I read about 5.5 books of WoT before giving up since it was clearly going nowhere. Hearing what Sanderson has done is intriguing though... would it be possible to just skip the last 5 or whatever by Jordan and see how it ends?

soulsinging, yes I think it is very possible to just pick up at the last three. I have read the 2 already released and think they are quite good. The main characters are finished with their sidetracks and heading in to do what their supposed to be doing! There may be some things you miss, but nothing you can't probably get in a nice summary somewhere are from a fellow reader.

 

[Mesanna]

You know, I read about 5.5 books of WoT before giving up since it was clearly going nowhere. Hearing what Sanderson has done is intriguing though... would it be possible to just skip the last 5 or whatever by Jordan and see how it ends?

I'd agree with Needle. There must be book summaries on the web somewhere that you could read for the middle books. I'd actually start with Knife of Dreams (RJ's last book), because he really started to get it back together in that book, then go onto Brandon Sanderson's first book The Gathering Storm (which I thought was excellent), followed by Towers of Midnight.

The criticisms about WoT do have merit, and it's a shame because it is a great story and the first five or six books are well worth reading, but apart from a few stand out moments, the middle books aren't of the same standard. And yet ... I do love the series!

Sorry for the continued thread hi-jacking, but I'm interested in the comments about the Malazan series. I've had the first book lying in the (huge) pile next to my bed for about 2 years(!) and I've never got round to reading it. Is it really hard work to read, as some have said? (though I've read the same about ASOIAF) I keep meaning to make a start on it whenever I've got time of work, and never quite get round to it.

 

[C Of K]

Futher thread jacking, is this sanderson not working with the ideas, drafts that Jordan left behind? If so he did not run out of good ideas, just the ability to write it out properly maybe because he wanted the series to drag on.

The series was supposed to be a trilogy at first. RJ had enough good material to support a trilogy, or maybe a few books more. Then he extended it to 6 books, and the series was still ok, but declining. RJ felt the need to extend his story far beyond 6 books however, and yet he had no good ideas with which to fill those volumes without closing off the threads that he began in the first few books. After 10 volumes the end was nowhere in sight, and he was not closing off those threads. That's what I meant be saying he had no good ideas left.

His readers have known roughly what is supposed to happen regarding the important plot lines that he established in the beginning, just not exactly how those events will play out. In his last books, RJ didn't end his most important plot threads in favor of developing newer, equally important, plot threads. Much of what he wrote from book 7 - 11 was idle material. There isn't really much good to say about them imo.

Sanderson has been closing off the important ideas that RJ neglected for so long. Unfortunately, he's having to make a lot of it up by himself, because RJ was dead set on leaving many threads hanging, never to be finished.

 

[Gazz]

Yes, it is. Even if the latest books aren't as strong, "A Storm Of Swords" in the middle there is probably my favorite book(s) of all time, and the latest two are still superior to just about anything else out there, with the possible exception of Scott Lynch.

 

[biodroid]

******SPOILERS AHEAD******
I have finished A game of Thrones, and I must say WOW! I was not expecting that type of ending, it definitely seems like it will develop into something even better (I hope). GRRM is very skilled I admit, I like how the ending is handled, I have to bite my tongue while watching the show when my wife is watching. But I am also glad that the show refreshes the story for for me. I was very pi**ed off that Ned got killed but am glad that he handled Arya's POV elegantly so she didn't have to see his death.

 

[Alayne Stone]

ADWD is half awesome (North) and half meh (Meereen).

 

[The Imp]

******SPOILERS AHEAD******
I have finished A game of Thrones, and I must say WOW! I was not expecting that type of ending, it definitely seems like it will develop into something even better (I hope). GRRM is very skilled I admit, I like how the ending is handled, I have to bite my tongue while watching the show when my wife is watching. But I am also glad that the show refreshes the story for for me. I was very pi**ed off that Ned got killed but am glad that he handled Arya's POV elegantly so she didn't have to see his death.

I had forgotten that you were the OP. I'm delighted that you're delighted seriously, you have a great ride coming

 

[Yog-Sothoth]

I am about half way through A Game of Thrones and it's pretty good so far. I can imagine that the next 2 books will be good according to the reviews but then it drops significantly in A Feast for Crows and A Dance with Dragons. Is it still worth my while to carry on reading this series even though according to most the series actually becomes dull and boring?

That's natural, the tension and events in the first three books are so nerve-wrecking and epic that it would be ridiculous to not have some "breathing space" for the characters - in a "aftermath" sort of way - in the fourth book. I personally love Feast of Crows, I'm half way through it now. There are certain characters though where I do speed-reading(cough Brienne cough), but you will like being introduced by George to new regions and cities like Dorne and Oldtown, which before were on the periphery throughout the story. I can't say more than that because I would spoil it for you, but you should definitely continue reading!

'A Song of Ice and Fire' is one of those rare realistic fantasy epics where alot of the times there is no joy in victory, as the victors suffer all kinds of setbacks that prevents them from basking in their triumphs, and many times the exiles and the defeated ones end up gaining more from those same defeats. It doesn't matter how highborn you are, or if you were born a lowly servant, you can fall hard to nothingness or rise high in station.

The Game of Thrones doesn't end with the first book.

 

[biodroid]

I have A Clash of Kings waiting for me after I read Stephen Kings 11/22/63 and Guy Gavriel Kay's Tigana. Trust me I am eager to get going with ACOK but I just want to get through the above mentioned books.

 

[Koopa]

I mentioned this before, but i am allowed to repeat right?
The first part of the book is boring, a further setting up. The second part is very good (even though most is still furtther setting up for the next book).

Overall it is a good book. Even though it could have done with a bit more editing.
Was the Quentyn martell story really necessary? i don't think so. he had shown plenty of the dragons, and of Dany lack of political acumen already. Quetyn in the end was a waste of space. So too so far that sellsword Daario. So dany is sexually active... Whooptidoo.

My opinion of the book has in the last 2 weeks greatly improved. What happened? I read the Inheritance by Paolini. Okay, so i knew from the last 2 books not too except much. That Eragon so far was the only book barely worth reading. But i had stuck with the series so far and wanted to know the end. (A bad habit of mine to continue reading it all till the end, i still do not know how i got through Karen Miller Godspeaker) In any case too say it was not very good is an understatement.

 

[NenadBulaja]

I mentioned this before, but i am allowed to repeat right?
The first part of the book is boring, a further setting up. The second part is very good (even though most is still furtther setting up for the next book).

Overall it is a good book. Even though it could have done with a bit more editing.
Was the Quentyn martell story really necessary? i don't think so. he had shown plenty of the dragons, and of Dany lack of political acumen already. Quetyn in the end was a waste of space. So too so far that sellsword Daario. So dany is sexually active... Whooptidoo.

My opinion of the book has in the last 2 weeks greatly improved. What happened? I read the Inheritance by Paolini. Okay, so i knew from the last 2 books not too except much. That Eragon so far was the only book barely worth reading. But i had stuck with the series so far and wanted to know the end. (A bad habit of mine to continue reading it all till the end, i still do not know how i got through Karen Miller Godspeaker) In any case too say it was not very good is an understatement.

ASoIaF is currently in category on it's own. WoT is shoving sings of waking up, so it may be worth reading last two and rest of upcoming books in the series. Noticed you are from Belgium, so there is maybe chance you can get your hands on copy of Volkodav by Maria Semenova, not quite as good as ASoIaF, but much better than Paolini IMO.

 

[soulsinging]

Yes, it is. Even if the latest books aren't as strong, "A Storm Of Swords" in the middle there is probably my favorite book(s) of all time, and the latest two are still superior to just about anything else out there, with the possible exception of Scott Lynch.

I agree with the first part but not the second. A Storm of Swords is one of the most impressive novels I ever read. But I'm not so kind to AFFC and won't read anything else until he's proved my Robert Jordan v2.0 predictions wrong by finishing the series, hehe.