Re-reading your favorites

[Phantasm]

I've only recently started looking up my favourite books on the net, but something that has really struck me is that no-one else has seemed to enjoy Julian May's "Galactic Milieau" trilogy as much as I did.

I can't find any fan-sites or anything.

I'll be re-reading those for years.

That's one of my favourite series of books, and one I read again every few years.

[Avatar]

I could have sworn I'd posted in this thread...maybe it got lost in one of the roll-backs or something. Uh, yeah, I re-read everything. Often several times if I like it.

I read pretty quick, and buy new books infrequently, so I've always got a shortage of new stuff to read. The book I've been re-reading the longest though is probably The Hobbit. Must have read it 15 times in the last 20 odd years.

But I usually go through all my favourite series at least once every couple of years or so.

--A

[I'm Murrin]

I have a lot of books to get through first, but, lately I feel the need to reread the Earthsea books, once I have time, to see how my impressions have changed (it's been a long time).

[Zarathustra]

The book I've been re-reading the longest though is probably The Hobbit. Must have read it 15 times in the last 20 odd years.
--A

Me too! I think it's because it was the first fantasy book I ever read (in 8th grade). I fell in love with fantasy with that book. I still remember the strange thrill of discovering how much more mature, dark, and complex LOTR was in comparison. No "sequel" has ever outdone its "prequel" like LOTR! I've read that trilogy probably 6 times. But my favorite Tolkien book--Silmarillion--I've only read about 3 times.

I do plan on rereading all of Asimov's Robots, Empire, and Foundation, series all the way through in order (25 books?). I didn't realize they all connected when I first read them. But then, Asimov didn't realize they would all connect when he wrote them.

I've read TCTC 3 times in 20 years. I reread each Gap book as the next one came out, and then all over again together, twice (my favorite SRD series). I've only read MN once . . got to dust those off.

Other than that, I haven't reread anything else. I do plan on rereading Song of Ice and Fire. That series reaffirmed my love for fantasy. I didn't think modern fantasy could ever be great again (well, except for my book).

And that brings me to my own novel. I've reread it close 20 times in the process of rewriting it over the last 5 years. I think it's just about ready.

[Avatar]

It was certainly one of, if not the first, fantasy book I ever knew. My parents read it to me before I could read, and once I could read, I read it myself. Repeatedly.

The first time I read the Silmarillion I found it heavy going, but I was probably a bit young for it. Only read it once since then, but that's just because I don't own a copy.

--A

[Zarathustra]

The Silmarillion is hard to get through at first. Well, it's not even the beginning, it's the chapter, "Of Beleriand and its Realms." Man, that chapter is torture to get through. Nothing more than a geography lesson combined with a geneology lesson.

But if you can make it through the whole thing, you'll see Tolkien's greatest work--stories of heartbreaking beauty, of massive scope, and intimate, magical wonder. This is nearly perfect fantasy, or "High Fantasy," if people still use that term. I always wanted more Elves in my Hobbit and LOTR, and Elves were delivered in copious quantities here! The magic of Beren seeing Luthien dancing in the woods after passing through the hell of Gorgoroth--wow. And how the story of these two lovers ties the entire mythology together right down to the end of Return of the King . . . it's a dizzying view to see these thousands of years of history intricately plotted out. And of course the battles are on a much larger scale: you've got multiple Balrogs and dragons fighting in these wars, and then eventually the gods (Valar) get involved in the action. The Silmarillion makes LOTR look tiny.

[Ainulindale]

I just teread Bakker's The Thousandfold Thought - yep still brilliant.

[Avatar]

...it's a dizzying view to see these thousands of years of history intricately plotted out...

Damn, I'm going to have to find a copy and read it again. That epic scope is one thing I really look for in fantasy.

--A

[Zarathustra]

...it's a dizzying view to see these thousands of years of history intricately plotted out...

Damn, I'm going to have to find a copy and read it again. That epic scope is one thing I really look for in fantasy.

--A

Cool, but you have to read it all the way to the end. I think the last part is called "Of the Rings of Power and the Third Age." That finally wraps things up and brings it full circle. An interesting outtake or alternate version of that chapter can be found in Unfinished Tales. (Or maybe it's just a related Tale, can't remember.) Anyway, it describes how Gandalf met up with Thorin month/weeks before the Hobbit, and realized that this disgruntled Dwarf could settle one of the many problems growing on his troubled mind--Smaug--and how a certain Hobbit figured into Gandalf's machinations. It's interesting to see Tolkien linking all these stories up in his mind.

[Trapper]

Great posts Malik23.

I may be wrong, but from what I've read LOTR was written basically written to justify to Tolkien's publishers that he should get published.

For me what makes LOTR great is the references to earlier events. Even the best CGI in the movies is in the first 10-20 secs of the first movie when you see what the battles at the end of the 2nd age might have looked like.

I believe it was Sam who surprised Aragorn on Weathertop by singing (and I may be wrong about this or misquote)

Gil-galad was an Elven-King
Of him the Harpers sadly sing
The last whose realm was fair and free
Between the mountains and the sea.

His sword was bright his lance was keen
Upon his brow a star a star was seen
The countless stars of Heaven's field
Were mirrored on his silver shield

But long ago he passed away
And where he dwelleth none can say
For into darkness passed his star
In Mordor where the Shadows are...



Tolkien never let you forget that, no matter how much you empathised with the characters involved, no matter how important their actions, this was just One part of history.

The man was subjected to the horrors of trench warfare in WWI.

I can't really relate.

I can only sympathise and admire.

[theDespiser]

so far, ive re-read the first two CTC, the Gap Cycle, the Robot series by Asimov...and...thats it so far...and the Harry Potter books...

[stonemaybe]

Compulsive re-reader, here! Possibly because I tend to skim-read and not all the details go in, so on subsequent reads I can still pick up things I missed. But mainly I think it's a case of visiting old friends again!

Trapper439 wrote:

I've only recently started looking up my favourite books on the net, but something that has really struck me is that no-one else has seemed to enjoy Julian May's "Galactic Milieau" trilogy as much as I did.

I can't find any fan-sites or anything.

I'll be re-reading those for years.

I love these books! Have re-read them many many times. The original four are just fantastic, but I also love the way he wraps up the whole story in the more recent books (trying not to be a spoiler - you know, the Marc thing?). Hate the Elizabeth character though. But that's ok because the rest are great! Time to start a new thread?

[Loredoctor]

I'll probably re-read Consider Phlebas, soon. Oh, and H.G.Well's A Modern Utopia.

[Spiral Jacobs]

I often reread stuff, especially when new books in a series come out and I want to be completely up to speed.
Right now I'm rereading Mordant's Need and am planning to reread Alastair Reynolds' books after that.

[Phantasm]

I'll probably re-read Consider Phlebas, soon. Oh, and H.G.Well's A Modern Utopia.

Consider Phlebus is another of my periodical re-reads.