Kevin's Watch

iquestor wrote:Jack Chalker's Well World series - OK Vote, who here has read these???? Pulpy SciFi at its best !!

I've read the first three books (Midnight, Quest and Exiles), and am waiting for the fourth and fifth to be sent my way... it's nothing too mind-bogglingly complex, but it's a fun and unusual kind of story from a writer who is definitely obsessed with physical transformations (where else would you get a female 1-m. long beetle, a centaur, a tree-woman, a small human, a bat-creature, an ermaphroditic mermaid, a crystal thingy and a snakey six-armed creature as major characters in a sci-fi book? And that's only one of them!).

The wizard of Earthsea series is really great!!I'll definately reccomend those.Avoid with prejudice the Swords of Shannara series,it lacks depth and it's sometimes really scatterbrained.......The one series I didn't see mentioned is The Dragon Riders of Pern....IF you follow the entire series it's got some really cool plot/storyline twists that are really worth the read.It combines sci-fi with epic fanatsy that's really satifying....BUT hey,I'm nuts about dragons anyways,but it's a great read with depth of character and thought of an entirely different and strange cultures with scientific explainations thrown in.Read the first one and go from there.......

I'm a big fan of the Wheel of Time. My biggest complaint is a few plot lines stretch out too long for comfort in the middle of the series, and now at the end it seems that things are happening too fast. But the characterization is complex, and authentic. The characters actually develop over time, just as you would expect events to affect real people. The world is vast and well-drawn, with enough details to keep you busy for months trying to memorize them all. Jordan is great at foreshadowing, but he also leaves enough mystery to keep you coming back. I'd say give the series a chance. If you don't love it by book 4, stop reading.

Another series I would recommend is the Belgariad series and the Mallorean series by David Eddings. The books are fun to read, and while not complex in the way that the chrons are, you are likely to find some food for thought. Besides, the characters are quite endearing. I've read it multiple times, and the last person I recommended it to loved it as well (he also loved my recommendation of the chrons). Here is the first book in the series: tinyurl.com/hcme6

I am also a fan of Katherine Kurtz and her Deryni books. There are a lot of them as well, but they deal with different time periods. If you're interested, I would start with Camber of Culdi. The books are available on Amazon, and the newest one will be out in December. Here's her website: www.deryni.net/derynihome.html

Happy reading. . .

Aelyria Mireiswen wrote:
Another series I would recommend is the Belgariad series and the Mallorean series by David Eddings. The books are fun to read, and while not complex in the way that the chrons are, you are likely to find some food for thought. Besides, the characters are quite endearing. I've read it multiple times, and the last person I recommended it to loved it as well (he also loved my recommendation of the chrons). Here is the first book in the series: tinyurl.com/hcme6


Happy reading. . .

Now there's another FUN read!!!!
Ever try to see if the Will and the Word ever worked for you?
I have the complete series on the Belgariad and the Mallorean with Polgara the Sorceress and Belgarath the sorcerer. This series I stumbled upon and have gotten a complete kick out of it!!!!!!! Ever read the Sparhawk series?Aphrael remains my favorite little Goddess!!

spacemonkey wrote: Now there's another FUN read!!!!
Ever try to see if the Will and the Word ever worked for you?
I have the complete series on the Belgariad and the Mallorean with Polgara the Sorceress and Belgarath the sorcerer. This series I stumbled upon and have gotten a complete kick out of it!!!!!!! Ever read the Sparhawk series?Aphrael remains my favorite little Goddess!!

Have I tried the Will and the Word? Of course! Who hasn't? I loved Mr. Wolf. . . and I particularly enjoyed Silk as well. Those books were great fun.

I've never read the Sparhawk series. . . is it by Eddings? I did try reading the Ruby Throne (?) books by him, and did not find them as engaging for some reason.

Yep, those are by the Eddingses as well,about six books if I recall correctly,hang with the Ruby Throne for about 150 pgs,it gets real good!! That is known as the Ruby Knight series.Trust me it gets good......

Ah. . . see, I didn't even realize that Sparhawk and the Elenium (just looked it up on amazon.com) were the same books. I don't own any of them, and I don't know if my local library has them (we're a rather small city). I can look for them as soon as I finish the books I have out now.


~Lyr

Haha, Eddings is always a topic of some contention here.

Search for the several threads on the subject.

We used to have a Jordan forum for the WoT books too, but it's been disbanded and the threads are lying loose in this one (I think.)

Feel free to revive any of them if you want.

Pretty much agree about Jordan. Only problem is, while you may love it by Bk 4, chances are you'll hate it by Bk 7, and if not then, by Bk 10. Really started to save it in 11, but for the sudden rush of speed.

--A

Regarding WOT. . .meh. . . don't we humans always want something to complain about? I do love the writing, though.

Thanks for the tips about the WOT threads. I'll talk about it if someone else brings it up, or asks for recommendations, but I don't think I will revive threads, unless there is a lot of interest in them. I belong to a WOT board, and I get all the discussion about WOT that I want there. I came here for a different perspective, and to talk about other things (mostly).

"O wonder!
How many goodly creatures are there here!
How beautious mankind is!
O brave new world,
That has such people in't!"

I like it here a lot.

Aelyria Mireiswen wrote:Regarding WOT. . .meh. . . don't we humans always want something to complain about? I do love the writing, though.

Thanks for the tips about the WOT threads. I'll talk about it if someone else brings it up, or asks for recommendations, but I don't think I will revive threads, unless there is a lot of interest in them. I belong to a WOT board, and I get all the discussion about WOT that I want there. I came here for a different perspective, and to talk about other things (mostly).

"O wonder!
How many goodly creatures are there here!
How beautious mankind is!
O brave new world,
That has such people in't!"

I like it here a lot.

As you have been told Lyr......Be welcome and True!!

Thank you. *curtsies*

Aelyria Mireiswen wrote:Another series I would recommend is the Belgariad series and the Mallorean series by David Eddings.

*twitches violently, collapses, dies*

I didn't say that it was the zenith of fantasy, just that it's a fun and easy read.

*sighs, and starts performing CPR on Matrixman* Good thing I'm certified in First Aid, CPR, and can use an AED. . . by the by, someone go get me the AED (automatic electronic defibrilator).

~Lyr

Aelyria Mireiswen wrote:*sighs, and starts performing CPR on Matrixman* Good thing I'm certified in First Aid, CPR, and can use an AED. . . by the by, someone go get me the AED (automatic electronic defibrilator).

~Lyr

WOW. Same with me. I work in ambulance and have an advanced 1st aid certificate and can do the same!

Well, then. . . I think you are more qualified than I, because my certification is basic first aid. Would you like to take over?


I had to get certified for all of that because of the client contact I have. That way I am trained if something goes wrong.

Interesting story. . . One of my co-workers had a guy OD on psychiatric medications (police had been out, said he wasn't a danger to himself, and left, then he took more). The guy refused to go to the hospital in an ambulance, and he would only agree to go with his case worker. She was driving him to the nearest hospital with a regular psych. ward (25 miles away), and he kept falling asleep and would stop breathing several times on her. She couldn't very well pull over, so any time he would sort of nod his head down, she'd slap his arm to wake him up. Heavens. . . it was a mess. That man wanted to commit suicide so many times, but he would always call us in the middle of it. . . and then get mad that we'd intervene. Yeah, my job can be fun at times.

The act of suicide is a strange thing - oddly enough. As you know, most do it to get attention yet when you try and help them they're hardly thankful.

Yes, I know. It gets so frustrating, though. You know that eventually the person will slip up, something will go wrong, and likely he/she will be successful. Just like Sylvia Plath. . .

Aelyria Mireiswen wrote:Yes, I know. It gets so frustrating, though. You know that eventually the person will slip up, something will go wrong, and likely he/she will be successful. Just like Sylvia Plath. . .

All one can do is just hope they help themselves; we can only try and hope.

I have to keep reminding myself I cannot save anyone. Period. I can help them, walk along side them, but I cannot do it for them. They must choose it or not.

Very true!

Anyway, work day is over and I'm off. Take care.