[MattNY]

It seems odd to me that there have been so many mixed reviews on this novel. Sure, there were flaws, but I personally found them easy to overlook, especially considering this was a debut novel. For me, The Name of the Wind was probably the most enjoyable novel I've read in the last 4 or 5 years. I found it absolutely brilliant, flaws and all. The Wise Man's Fear is probably the most highly anticipated novel for me in 10 years.

I am not too surprised. The more people that read a particular work, the more there will be differing opinions. I consider LOTR to be almost on some sort of fantasy holy ground, but there are many, here included, that dislike the series. While the NOTW isn't as big a namebrand as LOTR is, in fantasy circles, it is fairly well known at this point.

It is good that you did enjoy it that much though, there is nothing like discovering that sort of book that just grips you from start to finish. I do not regret reading it and still enjoyed my time with it overall.

[Stephen Aryan]

I avoided this book initially because of all the hype, same with The Painted Man. Wish I had not waited. The Name of the Wind was one of the most interesting fantasy series in a long time. Very unique voice in the fantasy genre, really enjoyed it and while it was not 100% perfect, I think he will only get better and better with time and I can't wait to see what he does next.

[PogiRunner]

What I liked most about this book was the prose, more so than the actual story.

I felt the the second half towards the end contained some silly tangents that seemed random, inconsistent, and unnecessary.

Not much is resolved throughout the book. I understand this is the first part of a trilogy, but nevertheless, it should contain a satisfying ending with at least some closure and hints at what is to come in future volumes. I do not feel the book accomplished this. This is surprising considering drafts were supposedly already completed for the final two books before this one was released.

I believe Kvothe, the main character and the one telling his story, is 'too powerful', and at times, annoying. Granted certain people are exceptional and gifted, but Kvothe seems to unrealistically become by far the best at whatever he does under any circumstances.

I realize that this book has received high praise including here. For a debut novel I think it is OK, but I was not blown away. I believe Rothfuss does have potential based on his writing style and storytelling ability.

[nquixote]

Arf. I got to page 250 and had to put it down. The opening was really good, but all the childhood flashback scenes were just interminable and dull and gray (with the exception of the Chadrian). Maybe I'll pick this one back up again later, but for now I just can't keep slogging on.

Maybe I'm just jaded with modern fantasy. Of the three recent authors I've read - Abercrombie, Rothfuss, and Lynch - only Lynch has really blown me away. Maybe it's the "Martin shadow effect"...

[Eventine]

Maybe I'm just jaded with modern fantasy.
Perhaps it's just Big Fat Fantasy you're having an issue with. Maybe try something a bit different?

[nquixote]

What's Big Fat Fantasy? What's the alternative?

I love Martin, and that was pretty dang fat. Lynch too. I miss being able to really lose myself in a fantasy world...

[Evil Agent]

Maybe I'm just jaded with modern fantasy. Of the three recent authors I've read - Abercrombie, Rothfuss, and Lynch - only Lynch has really blown me away. Maybe it's the "Martin shadow effect"...Just do what I'm doing right now: re-read Martin. :)

[TheImp]

What's Big Fat Fantasy? What's the alternative?

I love Martin, and that was pretty dang fat. Lynch too. I miss being able to really lose myself in a fantasy world...

try the lions of al rassan or the blade itself. i find these books hold up to GRRM well, just don't expect them to be the exact same thing obviously.

[Eventine]

What's Big Fat Fantasy? What's the alternative?

I love Martin, and that was pretty dang fat. Lynch too. I miss being able to really lose myself in a fantasy world...

<thread derail>
I classify Big Fat Fantasy as your typical 300+ page, volume n of x type epic, usually utilising some sort of pseudo-medieval setting. The sort of stuff that dominates the stores ala Martin, Jordan, Feist, Abercrombie, etc.
As for the alternatives? There's a lot of stuff out there. I'm sure Owlcroft would drop a list of a few hundred novels on you. TheImp mentioned Kay, who I think is a great writer of real-world historical analogues with a touch of magic. Tim Powers writes great "Secret Histories" set in the modern day that include fantastic elements. Mary Gentle uses a similar secret history technique but tends to go a bit further back for her settings. Jasper Fforde writes funny, entertaining meta-fiction. A few examples off the top of my head that are all at least one step removed from staid BFF.
</thread derail>

[nquixote]

I like any kind of fantasy if it's done well, but certain Big Fat Fantasies have been my all-time favorites - Martin, Eddings, Donaldson, Wurts, Williams, and Lynch, for example, among others. But dang it, do "BFF" right! I want to have magic - weird mysterious stuff is my favorite, but if you must sling fireballs, give me slam-bang descriptions that do the pyrotechnics justice. I want to have politics - that means nations and rulers and maybe armies, because BFF stories are fundamentaly war stories on some level. I want to have epic scale - there should be hints of mega-scale destruction, even during the "slow build" as a story ramps up. I want vividly depicted foreign cultures. I also want quests, adventure, and personal danger.

Martin's stuff has all of this, in spades.

The Name of the Wind had very little of it. There was the barest hint of epic scale - the demon hordes crossing the mountains - but it seems to have been dropped. There is very little politics. There are not many adventuresome quest type events. And the magic is neither spooky and shrouded in mystery nor particularly flamboyant and pyrotechnic. And the culture is a bland off-the-shelf piece of plastic so generic that it's very rarely described, as if the author knows it's generic and is assuming we'll fill in all the details with memories of other books we've read.

In other words, The Name of the Wind shows that Patrick Rothfuss does not know how to write the very good kind of Big Fat Fantasy.