Which next serie: Erikson, Martin, Hobb's liveship, Abercrombie, Lynch or Marco???

**lillumultipass** · August 2nd, 2008, 02:58 PM

Hello,

well, after finishing Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn (that I didn't really like), I read Gemmell's Lion of Macedon & Dark Prince, and really loved it! Then, I quickly read two sci-fi books by a french author. Now, I would like to start a fantasy serie, but I don't really know which one.
I have read the farseer trilogy about a year ago, and I have the 3 liveship books, so I might read them. However, I don't really know why, but I am not sure I will like them.
I also have the first Malazan books, but I am a bit reluctant to start a serie which is not finished yet. This also tholds rue for A game of thrones...
Finally, I should receive soon both the first Abercrombie and the first Lynch from Amazon.

I know these are all good books, so I guess starting with one over the other is not that important, but if someone has an opinion, I would be glad to hear it.

Thanks

**Luonas** · August 2nd, 2008, 03:20 PM

Originally Posted by lillumultipass

Hello,

well, after finishing Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn (that I didn't really like), I read Gemmell's Lion of Macedon & Dark Prince, and really loved it! Then, I quickly read two sci-fi books by a french author. Now, I would like to start a fantasy serie, but I don't really know which one.
I have read the farseer trilogy about a year ago, and I have the 3 liveship books, so I might read them. However, I don't really know why, but I am not sure I will like them.
I also have the first Malazan books, but I am a bit reluctant to start a serie which is not finished yet. This also tholds rue for A game of thrones...
Finally, I should receive soon both the first Abercrombie and the first Lynch from Amazon.

I know these are all good books, so I guess starting with one over the other is not that important, but if someone has an opinion, I would be glad to hear it.

Thanks

The malazan series is quite wonderful, only two books remain, so at most it will only take 2.5 more years until it's done. And that's ten books, I would say risk it, since Erikson is reliable in that aspect. Of course, if you don't like the first books it will not matter at all...

**lillumultipass** · August 2nd, 2008, 03:42 PM

Well, yes, I am really hesitating about that. The thing is, starting Erikson's books is really committal, since it will take me a few years to read them all (depending on the time I have...and the amount of vacations I take!).
This is also true for the Liveship traders (albeit a bit less committal), since I plan to read the liveship and then all the Fool's books.

**Chr0n** · August 2nd, 2008, 04:33 PM

Same goes for me, I don't like starting a series until it's done - I'll just hunger for the end of it and don't get the satisfaction when I can close the last book of a series and say to myself "Done, that was another great cycle."

But hey, if it will take you a couple of yers till you read 'em you can as well pick 'em up. When you've read through the last 2 books will most likely be available.

**Icarium** · August 2nd, 2008, 04:52 PM

well... abercrombie s books are really good and the trilogy is finished... i guess that might be your best bet if you want a finished serie... Liveship is not bad but it s.... not boring exactly but... well... so yeah, i d go with abercrombie or erikson.

**King Bonez Xx** · August 2nd, 2008, 08:39 PM

well, since you don't want a real "commitment" as you put it then i think abercrombie's your best bet. a trilogy that'll probably be a fun read for you if you disliked williams's series.

**Michigan** · August 2nd, 2008, 09:50 PM

Haven't read all the authors you mentioned but one I would recommend you stay away from Marco. Hobb would be a safe bet.

**dArkNESS rISiNG** · August 2nd, 2008, 11:55 PM

Erikson, hands down, though Abercrombie is pretty good. Erikson has been releasing books every year, so if it takes you 2 years to read his first 8 books the others should be out or the 10th nearly out. The books are very good and I think you will become immersed in the plot; it's really complicated and the backstory is very interesting. Not to mention there are the ICE books set in the same world. It will take more "commitment" than the other books since they are just trilogies, but it will defintely be worth it.

**lillumultipass** · August 3rd, 2008, 01:13 AM

Thx guys for these answers! Well, I think it took me something like 8 months to read Williams, given that it took me around 3 months to read the first one (the beginning was soooooooo boring...)! Also, I had many many financial books to read as well, so that I didn't always have that much time. All in all, 1 year and a half to read the 8-9 books in Erikson's serie would be a good guess.
So maybe I could indeed start with Abercrombie, and then Erikson.
I see that Marco does not have many supporters out there

Originally Posted by Icarium

Liveship is not bad but it s.... not boring exactly but... well... so yeah, i d go with abercrombie or erikson.

lol Icarium...I don't know why, since I haven't even read it, but I kind of feel the same way about Liveship...

Originally Posted by King Bonez Xx

well, since you don't want a real "commitment" as you put it then i think abercrombie's your best bet. a trilogy that'll probably be a fun read for you if you disliked williams's series.

Yeah, I didn't really like Williams, maybe because I didn't really like its style, and also because I think I am really getting fed up with the "scullion becomes hero and dragon-killer" concept. Also, I found that the end of To green angel tower was clearly sub-par...

**elvraie** · August 3rd, 2008, 09:19 AM

I read the Liveship Trilogy a few years ago. Loved the characterisation of the boats. It is not a quest book, though. Good characterisation for humans.
'Then, I quickly read two sci-fi books by a french author.'
Who is the French author and was it any good?

Was it Pierre Bordage 'Les Guerriers du Silence' by any chance.

**lillumultipass** · August 3rd, 2008, 10:03 AM

Originally Posted by elvraie

I read the Liveship Trilogy a few years ago. Loved the characterisation of the boats. It is not a quest book, though. Good characterisation for humans.
'Then, I quickly read two sci-fi books by a french author.'
Who is the French author and was it any good?

Was it Pierre Bordage 'Les Guerriers du Silence' by any chance.

I see that you are a connoisseur! No, it was not Pierre Bordage (which was very good by the way...), it was Alexis Aubenque, and even though it was a quick read, the style left much to be desired: I guess I could have written it! But it was an easy read, and quite imaginative also...

**Werthead** · August 3rd, 2008, 10:28 AM

Erikson, Martin, Hobb's liveship, Abercrombie, Lynch or Marco???

Not Marco, the guy's awful.

I'd say Abercrombie first up. It's a completed trilogy, it's funny and fast-paced and the ending is brilliant. Best ending to a fantasy trilogy since...well, possibly LotR.

Then i'd say Hobb. I thought Liveship was overlong and too drawn-out, but it's her best series and, again, complete. Plus if you really like it, there's the three-book Tawny Man trilogy that follows on from it and Farseer as well.

Erikson will keep you going for a long time. Eight books, the shorest of which is 750 pages long and the others are all about 1,000 pages long in paperback. Two more books to come, but he's about halfway done on Book 9 already and it'll be out early next year with Book 10 following a year later, so not too long to wait.

Lynch has a fairly long way to go (Book 3, out of seven, is out in February) but his books are somewhat self-contained.

GRRM is the best fantasy author out there but in good conscience I have to say he takes a long time between books, as in 3-4 years apiece. However, to balance that out the GRRM fan community is superb and the time between books can be spent debating them and making new friends

**lillumultipass** · August 3rd, 2008, 10:38 AM

Originally Posted by Werthead

Not Marco, the guy's awful.

I'd say Abercrombie first up. It's a completed trilogy, it's funny and fast-paced and the ending is brilliant. Best ending to a fantasy trilogy since...well, possibly LotR.

Then i'd say Hobb. I thought Liveship was overlong and too drawn-out, but it's her best series and, again, complete. Plus if you really like it, there's the three-book Tawny Man trilogy that follows on from it and Farseer as well.

Erikson will keep you going for a long time. Eight books, the shorest of which is 750 pages long and the others are all about 1,000 pages long in paperback. Two more books to come, but he's about halfway done on Book 9 already and it'll be out early next year with Book 10 following a year later, so not too long to wait.

Lynch has a fairly long way to go (Book 3, out of seven, is out in February) but his books are somewhat self-contained.

GRRM is the best fantasy author out there but in good conscience I have to say he takes a long time between books, as in 3-4 years apiece. However, to balance that out the GRRM fan community is superb and the time between books can be spent debating them and making new friends

What do you mean by "the guy's awful"? You mean, his personality is awful? Or his books? 'Cos I have read some good reviews of "Tyrants and Kings".

I have already read the Farseer trilogy, and I enjoyed it, but didn't adore it. I own the three Liveship Trader books as well as the Tawny Man serie, but since reading the first 3 more or less entails reading the other 3, I haven't had the courage to start yet.

I guess I will start with Abercrombie then.

As to GRMM, I think I will indeed wait for the last book; btw, when is it due? 2010?

**Werthead** · August 3rd, 2008, 05:38 PM

Originally Posted by lillumultipass

What do you mean by "the guy's awful"? You mean, his personality is awful? Or his books? 'Cos I have read some good reviews of "Tyrants and Kings".

His books. Or book. I only read The Jackal of Nar and it was extroadinarily tedious. The worldbuilding was atrocious and the characters were two-dimensional caricatures at best. The only opening book to a series I've read that is worse is Wizards' First Rule.

As to GRMM, I think I will indeed wait for the last book; btw, when is it due? 2010?

More like 2015, assuming 3 years apiece for books 6 and 7.

**King Bonez Xx** · August 3rd, 2008, 06:49 PM

Originally Posted by lillumultipass

Yeah, I didn't really like Williams, maybe because I didn't really like its style, and also because I think I am really getting fed up with the "scullion becomes hero and dragon-killer" concept. Also, I found that the end of To green angel tower was clearly sub-par...

completely agree. luckily, all of the books on this list are much different from that. i stand by my abercrombie vote, by the way.