[Radone]

Have you ever read a book that you thought was a great read. It was written well, the plot was was engaging, and the themes raised made you really think. But when you finished it, you weren't too enthusiastic about reading the sequel? It's kinda like how I felt with the movie, "Seven". After seeing it, I could appreciate the quality of the movie, but I was depressed the rest of the day.

[Tony Williams]

Sparrow, by Mary Doria Russell. For the same reason that you've quoted - too downbeat and depressing. I've had the sequel, Children of God, on my shelf for years but I doubt that I'll ever read it.

[bearhat]

Chimaera by Ian Irvine.

Loved the whole series. It was well written and its use of technology in fantasy made me think, and I liked the original setting. But Chimaera was the last book of the quartet and it failed to resolve the story and introduced a cliffhanger end that seemed forced. It seemed like a device to make people read the next series. I felt cheated.

That's what you mean right? Great book, loved it, but made me feel annoyed and not want to read another by that author.

[Radone]

That's exactly what I meant Bear. Other examples:
A non-genre author would be Hemingway. I can see how much thought and effort went into his writing, and I can appreciate the amazing craftsmanship. But, everything is so oblique; things are always alluded to and events stated as simple facts without much emotional detail. Its left to the reader to supply much of the action and feelings of the characters. It's hard reading for me, and I'm ultimately too lazy to put up with it.
I get the same feeling with Mieville that I sometimes get with Melville. Lots of words and gorgeous descriptions and prose, but somewhat of an overkill in both cases. It's tough to see the story sometimes.
The same can be said of Cecilia Dart-Thornton: she has a gorgeous voice as a writer, but for me, she needs a lot of trimming.

[Randy M.]

Outside fantasy, Dune. Thought it was pretty much terrific, but didn't see a need for any further stories about it. I was sated.

Randy M.

[Dranxis]

Dune also comes to mind. While in hindsight the concepts explored in the book are fascinating, and I loved the way the plot unfolded, I never actually 'enjoyed' reading it, if that makes sense. I just couldn't get myself to care about the characters or what happened to them.

Also, some of the Dragonriders of Pern books. Like with Dune, I loved McCaffrey's world-building and imagination, but I just didn't care about what was happening to the characters. If you can't tell, I consider characterization very important. :)

[Beleg]

Oh, Sparrow, definitely. Not too downbeat or depressing, I just couldn't engage with the central character. However, the premise and the execution, specially in the later part is top-notch.

[Icarium]

I'm probably gonna get stone for this but i never could bring myself to like Lord of the rings by tolkien... it's supposed to be a master piece and to be like the best fantasy ever, but i could never get past the fact that this book bored me to tears...

[Tony Williams]

No need to be defensive about it. If everyone liked the same books life would be far less interesting.

It isn't SF, but after years of seeing Jane Austen fims and TV adaptations, and hearing what a wonderful author she was, I at last decided to work my way through my wife's complete set of her work. So I picked up the first book - and gave up after half a dozen pages. I found her writing style long-winded and convoluted, and it had an arch and knowing tone which irritated me.

Then there was Patrick O'Brien's Napoleonic naval warfare books (a film - Master and Commander - was made a couple of years ago). These have been praised to the skies, and again my wife had the lot, so I started reading. I did get through the first two novels, but with mixed feelings: the sailing and sea battle parts were brilliant, but the hero consistently made a fool of himself when ashore, and I couldn't relate to him. I gave up very early in book 3, when he was yet again being done out of his rightful gains by someone he'd annoyed. I just couldn't face the prospect of about 20 volumes of this, so I gave up...

Oh well, more time left to read other things!

[vicki_girl]

I'm probably gonna get stone for this but i never could bring myself to like Lord of the rings by tolkien... it's supposed to be a master piece and to be like the best fantasy ever, but i could never get past the fact that this book bored me to tears...


It bored me, too, so you're not alone. When I first picked it up, I forced myself to finish the first one, and couldn't pick up the second.

However, after seeing the movies, I read the whole thing, and appreciate it. I can't say that I will ever love it.

I absolutely love the movies though