[lukaspriest]

What do you do when you simply cant find anything new thats good?

I began a love affair with GRRM's books several years ago, and I've reached the point to where I can't enjoy other fantasy. Its all just inferior. Since finishing up A Storm of Swords a while ago, I just can't find anything worthwhile to read in the meantime. I've picked up Marco (Jackal of Nar) Friedman (Coldfire) Modesitte (sp?), Rawn, Rusch (Fey), Erikson (Malazan), and compared to Martin, its all a bunch of drivel with cheesy, forced dialogue and downright foolish writing.

Have any of you guys been "ruined" by an author, in that once you've read his work, nothing else seems satisfying?

[This message has been edited by lukaspriest (edited May 07, 2002).]

[Rhaegar]

Yeah, GRRM "ruined" me for a while too. For a long time I kept re-reading ASoIaF because other books left me cold. But recently I have enjoyed Orson Scott Card, China Mieville, Steven Erikson, and I am currently enjoying John Marco's series.

But I'm dying to get my hands on "A Feast for Crows". That title alone suggest many exciting possibilities.

[James Barclay]

lukas, sounds like you need a break from fantasy. Read something else until you rediscover your appetite. Or else try to enjoy the fact that every author has his or her style, strengths and weaknesses. Even the apparently deified GRRM doesn't do everything right, you know...

[Luke Benjamin Daigle]

I can't believe what I'm hearing. Why is this series so acclaimed I can not understand at all. Now while I'll admit I haven't delved into the series so deeply having only read a Game of Thrones, it just amazes me that you would place such a series ahead of John Marco. Try Raymond Feist and I think you will change your mind about every other authors writing being dribble. Espeacially the collaboration with Janny Wurts of the Empire trilogy. But first and foremost I believe the Magician by Feist is one of the best fantasy novels to have ever been written.
Of course I to have felt an author has risen to a level no other can touch and then such any author I read be inferior, but eventually I always seem to find something just as enjoyable, I recommend you continue Marco's trilogy though the Grand Design has more plot twists than you can imagine, or his new book and I think even better new series "The Eyes of God" well good luck finding something else

[ezchaos]

Yes lukas, please take a break from fantasy. I, too, love GRRM's current series, but there are many other great authors out there. Take a break for a week or two and then pick something up that's totally new. You'll be bound to find something. This is coming from somebody who is pretty picky about what they read. If I can find new fantasy stories to read, so can you.

[This message has been edited by ezchaos (edited May 08, 2002).]

[lukaspriest]

Thats the problem, is that I HAVE!

I just finished reading "The Association" by...dammit, I think his last name is Little, about this couple that moves into this neighborhood with a Home Owner's Association from HELL. It was a good read. I still prefer -traditional- fantasy. The problem is that I have been looking everywhere for a new series...primarily from reviews on this site, and all of them have been disappointments. Well, Marco wasnt a disappointment, but the end of the first book didnt have me SCRAMBLING to get the next the way A Game of Thrones did. I think that is just has all the elements of a story that I enjoy(Brute warfare, social classes, etc), and its been hard to find a series with similar characteristics. Ahh well, I'll keep looking.

[Bardos]

I would agree with NOM in this.

Try enjoying each writer for his/her style, not what you'd want the story to be, or if the story is inferior to some other author's.

[Btw, supperior? Inferior? What does that mean in good literature (yes, I think fantasy litterature!)? Taste.]

If I don't like a story it's, usually, because I... don't like the story! http://www.sffworld.com/ubb/biggrin.gif not that I compare it with some other I've read.

But this all subjectif, anyway. http://www.sffworld.com/ubb/smile.gif

[Qin]

What do you do when you simply cant find anything new thats good?

I go to the philosophy and fiction sections.



[This message has been edited by Qin (edited May 08, 2002).]

[Ntschotschi]

I think that there are many authors who can compete with Martin.
But if you're looking for something compelling in a simmilar way I would recommend Kate Elliot's "Crown of Stars", Julian May's "Saga of the Exiles", Orson Scott Card's "Alvin Maker", or Robin Hobb's "Farseer" and "Magic Ship" series, if you haven't read them already.
I'd rank all of them on the the same lavel as Martin and I'm a huge Martin fan myself.

[Qin]

There are so many books out there that should be read. If fantasy can't provide anything interesting, that might be your subconcious telling you to look elsewhere. Why limit yourself just to fantasy?