|
Post by victorlhouette on May 28, 2011 13:46:59 GMT -1
The Name of the Wind intimidates me given it's big enough to bludgeon a man to death. And it isn't even a stand alone novel but part of a series. It's another Wheel of Time thing!!
Twilight project sounds fun. Myself and Emma were giving out about it again the other day.
Evil Jedward. (Jacob and Edward)
|
|
kirbi
Full Member
Posts: 167
|
Post by kirbi on May 28, 2011 13:52:03 GMT -1
Yeah, I'm only just past the first chapter though - there were lots of notes to be made.
|
|
jim
Full Member
The whole world is going to hell...and i'm driving the bus!
Posts: 213
|
Post by jim on May 29, 2011 19:14:33 GMT -1
Actually, i've been wondering lately, are there any good stand alone fantasies? Just 1 freakin book, not 5, or 15. every other genre can do it, why can't fantasy>? if such books exist, let me know, i want to try them
|
|
|
Post by Billy Kennedy on May 29, 2011 19:54:55 GMT -1
I know Diana Wynne Jones did a whole heap of standalone fantasy books. Howls Moving Castle, Dogsbody, Archers Goon etc. Other than that, I have no recommendations, but a quick google search reveals there are tons of them.
|
|
|
Post by victorlhouette on May 29, 2011 22:01:23 GMT -1
Terry Pratchett. If you count his stuff. =P Neil Gaiman - that's less of a joke answer. I'm pretty sure all of his novels are stand-alone. Unless you insist on counting Anansi Boys and American Gods as one. I wouldn't though - they don't even have the same feel about them.
It is odd though. There are stand-alone fantasy books, but they seem obscenely rare. It's an odd trope of fantasy... I wonder what it is about the genre that leads to that. Probably something to do with constructing a whole new world... wanting to explore all the possibilities of that world... some similar shite.
|
|
jim
Full Member
The whole world is going to hell...and i'm driving the bus!
Posts: 213
|
Post by jim on May 29, 2011 23:00:44 GMT -1
Terry Pratchett Discworld novels are all sequential. they're not interdependent as such, but still aren't really standalone. Except a few of them.
Neil Gaiman I agree with you, but I've read nearly all of them. I was kinda looking for something new.
@billy, i'll take that on board, might try to track one of those down next time i'm book hunting.
Got 2 more Walking Dead graphic novels yesterday, really enjoying them in general.
|
|
joe
Junior Member
Posts: 98
|
Post by joe on May 30, 2011 9:46:47 GMT -1
The Name of the Wind intimidates me given it's big enough to bludgeon a man to death. And it isn't even a stand alone novel but part of a series. It's another Wheel of Time thing!! Twilight project sounds fun. Myself and Emma were giving out about it again the other day. Evil Jedward. (Jacob and Edward) The series is intended to be 3 books, and they're easy enough reads (and by that I mean it's not epic fantasy)
|
|
|
Post by Billy Kennedy on May 30, 2011 10:46:21 GMT -1
jim Pratchett does have some standalones though. Nation, Good Omens, Strata, Dark Side of the Sun, etc.
|
|
reginald
Junior Member
Farewell Rudl
Posts: 57
|
Post by reginald on May 30, 2011 15:12:39 GMT -1
Read it at the start of the year but forgot about it. The Stand... its Steven King and if you haven't read it I'd suggest doing so for sure! It is amazing! Possibly one of my favorite stand alone books of all time.
|
|
jim
Full Member
The whole world is going to hell...and i'm driving the bus!
Posts: 213
|
Post by jim on May 30, 2011 20:16:21 GMT -1
@billy: agreed. But strata is more sci-fi, nation is more fiction than fantasy. Love good omens dead right on that one. Don't know dark side of the sun.
|
|
kirbi
Full Member
Posts: 167
|
Post by kirbi on Jun 12, 2011 12:12:19 GMT -1
Read 6 books this week on holiday: Dead Reckoning - Newest Southern Vampire Mystery, still silly, still entertaining. Lipstick Jungle - Surprisingly enjoyable feminist chicklit. Last line is super-crap however. Jemima J. - Surprisingly clever and fun chicklit. Soon I Will Be Invincible - Really good and fun superhero fiction with a great ending - I think pretty much everyone on here would enjoy it. The Virgin Suicides - Short, atmospheric and wonderfully written - way better than the movie. Wuthering Heights - Glad that I've now read it, and it was ok... How do people actually sympathise with the love story though? Heathcliff is a complete dick, and Cathy isn't much better - they don't seem to deserve happiness. And half way through number 7: The Afterparty - Really enjoying it so far, will probably finish it tommorow. And I'd like to thank Megan, Jim and Steve for loaning books to me so I didn't have to fill my luggage with them.
|
|
|
Post by NoExclamationMarks on Jun 12, 2011 13:38:37 GMT -1
Only read 3 over there myself. The Afterparty - Really weird and delightfully unique. Made a definite impression. Kinda a hard book to describe though. Some interesting characters and situations and the twists and turns are really fun to follow. Newest Sookie Book - These books are so trashy, but very readable. You get through them in no time and they have their moments. They're fun to read but I always judge myself afterwards for enjoying them. The Beach - I was rereading this one; reading it is becoming a holiday tradition. Possibly my favourite book. Great characters, amazing atmosphere and pacing. The way the island turns from paradise to a complete nightmare, all building towards a massive climax is expertly done. I really haven't come across any other book that creates a sense of foreboding or urgency as well as this one.
|
|
|
Post by Indiana Johnson on Jun 12, 2011 18:33:40 GMT -1
^I'd say that The Beach has the best build and pacing of any book I've read.
|
|
reginald
Junior Member
Farewell Rudl
Posts: 57
|
Post by reginald on Jun 13, 2011 21:39:15 GMT -1
Actually, i've been wondering lately, are there any good stand alone fantasies? Just 1 freakin book, not 5, or 15. every other genre can do it, why can't fantasy>? if such books exist, let me know, i want to try them They're not stand alone but they're nice short books its a series by this guy called Garth Nix and the books in it are Sabriel, Lirael and Abhorsen.
|
|
|
Post by victorlhouette on Jun 14, 2011 10:35:18 GMT -1
Aww yeah! Sabriel is awesome! As are the others, but you know. That's a mouthful. Fuck though, Sabriel is class. Has the best cat ever, also. =P
Also doesn't apply (as it's the first in a trilogy) but I'm about 3/4 of the way through that book 'The Way of Shadows' and it is "right good."
|
|