[Lani]

Hey,
I need a book for an english study and I wondered if anyone can suggest something for me. The criteria for the book is that the book is supposed to use sophisticated language. Please, don't suggest Tolkien though, otherwise any help would be welcome.
Thanx in advance.

[Rob B]

Try one of the following, all known for their language
The King of Elfland's Daughter by Lord Dunsany
The Compleat Dying Earth by Jack Vance
The Book of the New Sun by Gene Wolfe.

[Hobbit]

I would have thought A Clockwork Orange by Malcolm Bradbury is about as strange/sophisticated as you're going to get, though I'm not sure you could use it for an English Study (though Bradbury partly wrote it as a way of 'developing' language). It is a very 'adult' book, not to mention violent.

What about Ray Bradbury for some of his prose? Try any of his short stories or Something Wicked This Way Comes, for example.

Failing that, Gormenghast (Titus Groan, Gormenghast, Titus Alone) by Mervyn Peake, or TH White's The Once and Future King (the basis for the film 'The Sword in the Stone' but MUCH more sophisticated) are all goodies.

Hobbit

[Cygnus]

I second Hobbit's nomination of the Gormenghast books. I thought that I had a reasonable grasp on the English language until I read that book. My dictionary was never too far away! But, if you didn't like Tolkien you might not like Peake since their styles are similar.

[Penumbra]

You might also try The Boat of A Million Years by Poul Anderson, recently deceased.

[Lani]

Cygnus, it's not that I didn't like Tolkien, it's that I already read him, and he is an obvious choice, so that's why I asked not to reccomend him. http://www.sffworld.com/ubb/smile.gif

[e-Morgana]

I've just finished reading Peril's Gate by Janny Wurts and found the language in that very complex - maybe that would be another idea.
Also, isn't Stephen Donaldson known for his "wordiness".

[Rob B]

A CLOCKWORK ORANGE was written by Anthony Burgess. Maclcom McDowell played the main character in the movie. You smoking your pipe again, Hobbit? j/k

[JohnH]

I am not sure exactly what the criteria for sophosticated is. Use of varied prose? Esoteric phrasing? A certain literate style?

If you want fantasy (and it seems you might posting this question here), try Patricia McKillip. A Song for the Basilisk or The Tower at Stoney Wood both have a certain style that might fall into what you are looking for. Also both are not too long or part of a series.

Guy Gavriel Kay also is one to take a look at in terms of fantasy.

If you just want sophisticated try The Thought Gang by Tibor Fisher. Or his Collector Collector. Both are incredibly sharp, witty and downright hilarious at times.

If you like intrigue, history and suspense, try anything by Perez-Reverte. Fascinating stuff and definitely sophisticated imo.

[Cadfael]

The Worm Oroborus, by E.R. Eddison... very flowerery and chivalric prose.