Should I give the First Chronicles to My Nephew?

[Critteranne]

(Before you ask, he's 27, so he's old enough. ) On the one hand, he loves fantasy, and he loves it when I buy him fantasy novels. On the other hand, he prefers series like the Drizz't books (his favorites), Robert Jordan, etc. So will he just wind up hating on the Thomas Covenant books?

I just know he's going to hate Thomas Covenant himself. On the other hand, maybe he'll like the Land and the other characters. On the third hand (eww, how did I get three hands?!), he will probably get annoyed with SRD's writing style.

P.S. I thought of lending him my copy of the First Chronicles once I'm done the third book (soon), but I want my copies back.

[Blackhawk]

Absolutely..if he doesnt like them then it will only take the first book. Its hard to imagine someone actually not liking something i consider the best set of books ive read to date... good luck and hope he enjoys it.

[ninjaboy]

ABSOLUTELY! If he's 27 it's probably about time he stopped reading Children's fantasy.

I pretty much coerce everyone I know who likes Fantasy to read the series.. It's the only way one of the true masterworks of Fantasy has a chance do get the wide acclaim it deserves.

Unfortunately I often run out of copies, but I know this second-hand bookstore in Fitzroy that's got quite a few copies. So next time I'm there I will buy as many as I can because I keep making new friends who like fantasy. Also, everyone who I get started on the series gets hooked, so that's great.. And I'm not sure age has much to do with it, I started reading the books when I was 13 and absolutely loved it..

And even if your nephew doesn't like it.. What have you lost? Nothing.

[[Syl]]

Give it to him. Just don't be surprised when he stops on or after LFB. This has been the case with all of my friends who read only light fantasy. They suddenly find themselves incredibly busy in their day-to-day lives. And then there's a new Harry Potter or some other thing to finish, and then... There's some out there who will say, "Wow, I had no idea these were out there!" and thank you profusely. Most of us have to find our way to it, though.

[High Lord Tolkien]

I would.
But just remember, we all love the Chronicles but lets be honest....the first half of Lord Foul's Bane just sucks.
(Or before he gets to the Land rather)
It's brutal to read for the first time.
My wife and a friend have tried and after a year of gentle prodding from me they have no interest.

[Orlion]

I'd give him the series, personally. I've found that people are more likely to (eventually) read something if they are given the book than if they are merely borrowing.

It's no guarentee, but hey, it is time these light fantasy readers give the real deal a try. It's a shame that there will always be people that prefer (figuritively, of course!) hamburgers to a delicious, medium rare steak, lightly seasoned and grilled...sigh, I've got drool on my keyboard!

[Cameraman Jenn]

It can't hurt to try so I say give him a set. powellsbooks.com usually has cheap used copies.

[Menolly]

It's a shame that there will always be people that prefer (figuritively, of course!) hamburgers to a delicious, medium rare steak, lightly seasoned and grilled...sigh, I've got drool on my keyboard!

The Galley awaits more posts of yours, Orlion...

[Ur Dead]

Don't give the book to him. Lend it to him to read. If he likes it he may go out and buy the others or ask you to lend him the others.

[Cameraman Jenn]

Medium Rare? I say wave it at the grill and slap it on the plate.

[Critteranne]

Absolutely..if he doesnt like them then it will only take the first book. Its hard to imagine someone actually not liking something i consider the best set of books ive read to date... good luck and hope he enjoys it.

Well it can't hurt. I know it took me a few tries to get started. I started it eons ago (probably shortly after it first came out) and read and liked what I had read, but didn't get back to it for some reason.

Maybe it can be a belated birthday present. He's getting married soon, but I don't think the First Chronicles would be an appropriate wedding present. "Congratulations! Here's a book about an anti-hero whose wife leaves him after he gets leprosy. Then he ends up in the Land and rapes Lena. But don't let that stop you from reading more."

ABSOLUTELY! If he's 27 it's probably about time he stopped reading Children's fantasy.

Well he has read Tolkien, too. He likes the Drizzt book because of the emphasis on Drizzt's philosphy, so maybe he would like the Chronicles because of the emphasis on all the inner stuff. I just hope he has the time to concentrate on something like this. He is getting married soon.

I like the lighter stuff, too, myself. But it's nice having something that goes beyond that and yet still uses the same "tools" of storytelling, and is still actually interesting. I'd rather give him something like the Chronicles than some of the literary fantasy novels that critics love and yet I can never get into.

Give it to him. Just don't be surprised when he stops on or after LFB. This has been the case with all of my friends who read only light fantasy. They suddenly find themselves incredibly busy in their day-to-day lives. And then there's a new Harry Potter or some other thing to finish, and then... There's some out there who will say, "Wow, I had no idea these were out there!" and thank you profusely. Most of us have to find our way to it, though.

I'll warn him that it might take a while.

I would.
But just remember, we all love the Chronicles but lets be honest....the first half of Lord Foul's Bane just sucks.
(Or before he gets to the Land rather)
It's brutal to read for the first time.
My wife and a friend have tried and after a year of gentle prodding from me they have no interest.

I'm weird (shocking I know), but I really liked the beginning. Oh I hated the sheriff and the townspeople. But I am a sucker for stories where people mentally and emotionally beat up on the main character. I guess I like finding people to despise (hope that doesn't make me the Despiser ) in a story.

[Critteranne]

I'd give him the series, personally. I've found that people are more likely to (eventually) read something if they are given the book than if they are merely borrowing.

Good point. Luckily the used bookstore near work had a complete set with actual matching covers. I ended up with the British set. It was either that or two books with the Darrell Sweet covers and one with the pastoral covers.

It's no guarentee, but hey, it is time these light fantasy readers give the real deal a try. It's a shame that there will always be people that prefer (figuritively, of course!) hamburgers to a delicious, medium rare steak, lightly seasoned and grilled...sigh, I've got drool on my keyboard!

But what's the medium rare steak without the fried onion the size of Revelstone? I know, Bad Anne. Baaad Anne. Hmm, what kind of fantasy novel is the equivalent of a Bloomin' Onion?

Don't give the book to him. Lend it to him to read. If he likes it he may go out and buy the others or ask you to lend him the others.

Knowing him, I'd better just give him the whole first trilogy at once. In years past, I've gotten him book one of a series for his birthday, and he always ends up pointing out that I never got him book two, book three, etc. And he never has much money. Oh, and I think he may have issues with the local library for some reason. So I'd better give him the whole trilogy, just to cover all the bases.