Memory, Sorrow and Thorn: The Dragonbone Chair - any opinions and info from you?

**Elan Morin Tedronai** · March 24th, 2002, 03:58 AM

Well, this saga isn't published in Bulgaria. My mother who live in Austria brought to me the first book "the Dragonbone Chair"! I have been looking at the good anotations from you here, and I was wondering what kind of information and opinions can you give me about that book. Is she good? What's thge storyline in three words? What's the world? Etc, etc.
I'll be very glad!

Elan Morin Tedronai

**Keyoke** · March 24th, 2002, 06:04 AM

The Dragon Saga by Tad Williams.. By far one of my favorites in the realm of Fantasy.

It was Epic in my eyes. I loved the world, the characters, even the bad guys.

The story? In short.. It's the old world revolting against the new. Where age old grudges come back to settle a score. My only flaw to this book was that I found the second book a little slow.. But, still a excellent.

Great great series!

Keyoke

**Warewolf** · March 24th, 2002, 06:16 AM

Very highly recommended. One of the best COMPLETE fantasy series available, IMO. The ending seemed a bit rushed, but Williams' world and characters was vivid and well built. I loved his reimagining of elves and dwarves. A bit of a dark side to it, but very very good.

**Crysania** · March 24th, 2002, 08:15 AM

In my top five. I LOVE it. The first book DOES start off a little slow, don't be warned off. KEEP GOING. The characters are great for the most part. And the race of the SITHI is my favorite of all races I've ever read in fantasy. I just want to go live among them. I go around buying what I think are sithi clothes, sithi candle holders, sithi foliage. And when I can afford to build my own house it will be A'sua!!!!

So read it, man!

**Alucard** · March 24th, 2002, 09:07 AM

I have only read the Dragonbone Chair from williams, so that is the only thing i can give an opinion on. But here goes...

I thought the book had it's problems. The pacing, IMO, was very erratic. The book had moments where it was a real page turner, and it had others where it just dragged. To elaborate.....The book started out very slow, but then, somewhere after the hundred page mark, it got really good and the "hook" sunk in. Soon after though, it slowed down and started to feel drawn out. But then a new character is introduced and it picked up. Then a lot of travel ensues and slows down once again. Well, You get the point. Very up and down. Some people really like this style. But I can't say I'm too crazy about it. I never like to feel like I'm forcing myself to read because there might be a good part coming up. I like it when the book pulls me along. At times, with this books, this was the acse, but switched back and forth too often for my tastes.

Another problem I had with it was that it was a bit predictable. It's very classic fantasy...for better or for worse. There's a lot of things you can figure out from the get go because of this. I don't consider this a bad thing normally except that with the book's often times slow pacing, predictability only made it feel slower.

But I don't want to rag on it too much. The book definitely has it's good points. For starters, thw world is well thought out. What some would call good "world building". The races, particularly the Sithi, are very good. They're different enough from the other staple races of the genre to feel fresh and interesting. Also, Simon's growth from a somewhat sulky and lazy scullion to a thoughtful and resourceful hero is handled very well. I thought this was probably the best aspect of the book. It was done very gradually and subtly, which made it very believable. Williams handled this (which is also a very classic formula) fantastically. And Pryrates, the villian, was great. Nice and creepy. Really gives you the chills.

So in all, I'd say it was a good book, but not a great one. The pacing was too slow for me to consider it better than good. But I still reccomend it, especially if your a Tolkien fan (seems right up that alley, pacing and all).

But, I also know that I've read one book in a set of three, so my opinion could be subject to change once I've read the rest (not of the first book, per say, but of the series in general).

**Thom** · March 24th, 2002, 10:09 AM

I really loved it. One of the best fantasy serie i read. The story and the setting are excellents, the caracters are really well written. I like the book because Williams entered the element of suspence. When i was 100 from the end of the serie i was wondering. "how is he going to finish this" but it as a really nice ending.

**Eventine** · March 24th, 2002, 11:47 AM

I have to agree with Alucards opinions of the first book (mostly!).
I found it slow going and hard to pick up at times.
I persevered with the series though and raced through the next 4 books.
I'd reccomend it, but as usual would suggest reading Otherland instead.

**Rob B** · March 24th, 2002, 12:02 PM

I place this trilogy in my top 5, easily. Sure at times Tad gets a bit descriptive, but I don't think he wasted one word.

The world is completely alive. It is fully realized and rich on the same level as Middle-Earth or The Land (from Covenant).

**DarthV** · March 24th, 2002, 02:19 PM

I think Tad Williams is one of the authors that pretty much everyone, at least those who have read his stuff on the forum, agrees that his novels are top notch. MST is easily one of the three best fantasy series that I have read.

**Elan Morin Tedronai** · March 24th, 2002, 10:32 PM

I heard that he's starting the 4th book from the series. Is that true FitzFlagg?

**Elan Morin Tedronai** · March 24th, 2002, 10:36 PM

Originally said by FitzFlagg:
The world is completely alive. It is fully realized and rich on the same level as Middle-Earth or The Land (from Covenant).

...or Jordan's Wheel

.

**allanon** · March 25th, 2002, 12:54 AM

Did you start it already old boy?

**Elan Morin Tedronai** · March 25th, 2002, 12:56 AM

Not yet, my old budy! I forgot to take it from my grandma's house. So I am gonna start it tomorrow!
Tomorrow never dies!

**Rob B** · March 25th, 2002, 03:23 AM

Elan: the whole Memory, Sorrow and Thorn series is complete and was finished about 10 years ago. Perhaps the language and different country is adding to the time.

I personally thik Osten Ard is more alive and organized that Randland.

**Mithfânion** · March 25th, 2002, 09:21 AM

I heard that he's starting the 4th book from the series. Is that true FitzFlagg?

As Lord Flagg states, the series is complete. However, Tad Williams is (or wil commence soon with) writing a new book about the world of Osten Ard, tentatively titled "a Chronicle in Stone". Apparantly it will be like nothing authors have ever done with their world. The book will span several ages and shed some surprising lights on some of the events witnessed in MS&T but also events prior to it. Sounds very exciting. Innovative man that Tad

Should be out in 2003 anyway.