[Smaug]

I am also new on this website. I noticed that no-one has mentioned or referred to Stephen Lawhead. Especially his trilogy referring to the Pendragon Cycle. It is brilliant and more realistic than GRRM. I am probably biased as I am English (since the series is referred to medieval England) and not Americamn as I would assume the majority of you guys are from.

But it is very good...and I would recommend you to buy it and read it on a rainy day! It is about Roman Britain and the legends of Arthur and Atlantis.

Oh...don't you guys wish that Smaug the Magnificient was reincarnated and flamed all the gay hobbits? Chuckle..just a thought.

[Cadfael]

Welcome Smaug, my name is Thorin Oakenshield, prepare to die http://www.sffworld.com/ubb/smile.gif I notice that Bilbo always... ahem... 'dissappears'... when there is trouble

The Pendragon Cycle is a good set of books IMHO, but I would hesitate to say they are as good as GRRM (and I am from the UK as well). If you like the Authurian legend, the Mary Stewart books The Merlin Trilogy is a fine read. It tells the tale in a new light, the way it could have actually happened, Merlin has powers of teleikinisis, precognition and so on. For your info the books are...

The Hollow Hills
The Crystal Cave
The Last Enchantment

There was another book, not really part of the trilogy, but a sort of conclusion to the story, but I cannot for the life of me remember it. It dealt with Mordred, Authur's son by his sister... any ideas guys?

[This message has been edited by dennizm (edited April 01, 2001).]

[Mance]

I also think Talesin is a brilliant story. But, was it not part of a quintet of books?
I also think that GRRM is a better author than lawhead, but lawhead is excellent. I'm not american either, I'm from Northern Ireland

[Smaug]

I never said Lawhead was better than GRRM and I wouldn't dream of saying that!! I meant that Lawhead writes more realistically than Martin who has already has a reputation of realism writing.

But hey guys, nice to know there are others that appreciate Lawhead.

[Arty]

Dennizm ........ that book was called The Wicked Day. It was not worth mentioning in the same breath as the other 3.
Those books were me very first brush with Arthur. It gives me goosebumps thinking about them.

[Aleya]

I love Stephen Lawhead's books. I especially loved the Song of Albion series. You also have to remember Taliesin was also written during the first part of his career.

Have any of you read his later stuff about the Crusades? I interviewed him recently about that stuff for my site. He seems really into the whole historical accuracy thing and apparently he visits everywhere he writes about, both of which really improve the atmosphere of the books IMHO.

I'm from Northern Ireland too. Cheers all you UKers http://www.sffworld.com/ubb/smile.gif I was starting to think Americans were taking over the SFF world! http://www.sffworld.com/ubb/smile.gif