A choice between two Stephens

Post by **variol son** » Sun Jun 27, 2004 10:20 am

Well, which one? Now that I have finished the Discworld series, which series should I start reading? Stephen Erikson's Tales of the Malazan Book of the Fallen, or Stephen King's Dark Tower?

Please help me.

Sum sui generis
Vs

Post by **FizbansTalking_Hat** » Sun Jun 27, 2004 1:05 pm

Erikson's Malazan Book of the Fallen, it will not dissapoint. Cheers.

Post by **I'm Murrin** » Sun Jun 27, 2004 1:53 pm

Tales of the Malazan Book of the Fallen. Erikson's is one of the most detailed and realistic fantasy worlds ever created.
While I enjoyed the Dark Tower books a little, I really don't like King's work that much.

Post by **Fist and Faith** » Sun Jun 27, 2004 4:49 pm

Zindell's Neverness books.

Post by **variol son** » Sun Jun 27, 2004 7:55 pm

Um, Fist, that wasn't one of the options.

Sum sui generis
Vs

Post by **Fist and Faith** » Mon Jun 28, 2004 6:54 am

Yes, I know. Your question was flawed. But I gave the correct answer anyway. Just trying to help.

Post by **CovenantJr** » Mon Jun 28, 2004 9:51 am

Fist and Faith wrote:Your question was flawed. But I gave the correct answer anyway.

Post by **dANdeLION** » Mon Jun 28, 2004 11:28 am

Heh. Yeah, I stay away from Dark Tower as a matter of principle.

Post by **Roland of Gilead** » Mon Jun 28, 2004 5:56 pm

The question is actually flawed for a different reason:

Erikson spells his name Steven, not Stephen as do King and Donaldson.

Go with Dark Tower. You'll catch up just in time to finish it with the publication of Dark Tower VII in September.

If you go with Malazan, you'll be waiting to see its end for many years.

Post by **A Gunslinger** » Mon Jun 28, 2004 6:12 pm

dANdeLION wrote:Heh. Yeah, I stay away from Dark Tower as a matter of principle.

To stay away from the Tower out of principle suggestes that you haven't read any of it. I would recommend strongly the Tower books, including Talisman/Black House the Stand AND Insomnia.

The deal is this, King, is for the most part a decent writer, but not GREAT. With the Tower, however, he transcends his normal MO and style. The series is poignant, peortic, laced with fantasy/sci-fi, and stands as some of the genres greatest material! Brook no delay, Sai, and get thee a copy of the Gunslinger.

Post by **dANdeLION** » Mon Jun 28, 2004 6:31 pm

Dang it GS, how many times do I have to tell you that the reason I avoid King is because I have already read so much of him?

Post by **A Gunslinger** » Mon Jun 28, 2004 6:46 pm

as many as it takes for me to recall, apparently.

;0

Post by **dANdeLION** » Mon Jun 28, 2004 6:53 pm

Fine. If it will make you feel better, then I'll borrow Tom's copy after he's done torturing himself trying to get through it. Then I can hate it from experience.

Post by **A Gunslinger** » Mon Jun 28, 2004 6:55 pm

*using Mr. Burns' voice* EXCELLENT.

Post by **Roland of Gilead** » Mon Jun 28, 2004 7:05 pm

I would take a slightly different tack from Gunslinger to recommend DT, Dandelion.

I think DT is heavy with all of King's strengths and light on his weaknesses. As few of those as there are.

Give it a shot. And don't stop with just Gunslinger, either, because it's not representative of the series. You must continue with Drawing of the Three. If you still think it sucks after that, then I say thankya, and may it do ya fine. You aren't, and never will be, a fan.

Post by **CovenantJr** » Mon Jun 28, 2004 8:45 pm

A Gunslinger wrote:I would recommend strongly the Tower books, including Talisman/Black House the Stand AND Insomnia

Insomnia is a Tower-related book? I've read it, but I've only read the first of the DT series. Curiosity at that connection alone is enticing me to invest in the Drawing of the Three.........but not sufficiently strongly to actually do it

I must press on with page 2 of the Book of the New Sun

Post by **A Gunslinger** » Mon Jun 28, 2004 8:52 pm

CovenantJr wrote:
A Gunslinger wrote:I would recommend strongly the Tower books, including Talisman/Black House the Stand AND Insomnia
Insomnia is a Tower-related book? I've read it, but I've only read the first of the DT series. Curiosity at that connection alone is enticing me to invest in the Drawing of the Three.........but not sufficiently strongly to actually do it I must press on with page 2 of the Book of the New Sun

The whole point of the book is that Ralph and Lois have to rescue Patrick Danville from the Crimson King (the entity that torments Ralph but also sits atop the DT). Danville, you might recall draws pictures of Roland and the Tower and will one day "when he is 18, save the lives of two men, one of which MUST make it to the Tower".

Post by **A Gunslinger** » Mon Jun 28, 2004 8:53 pm

Also, the DT series would e a god passtime while we wait for RotE.

Post by **FizbansTalking_Hat** » Mon Jun 28, 2004 9:02 pm

I still think that Erikson is an amazing and brilliant authors. But, to each their own. Cheers.

Post by **Furls Fire** » Tue Jun 29, 2004 1:29 pm

Hile Luke!! As a follower of Roland's quest for the Tower, I say, and hear me I beg, that you must begin the journey as well. You may find him a bit bleak, if ya ken, but he will draw you in as he has others. Do not let the world move on without knowing why, Sai Luke. If it do ya fine, take up the Tower, and I'll say thankya.

Dark Tower I: The Gunslinger (make sure you get the revised 2003 version.. The man in black fled across the desert, and the Gunslinger followed..)

Dark Tower II: The Drawing of the Three (The clearing of the customs)

Dark Tower III: The Waste Lands (Blaine is a pain, and that's the truth)

Dark Tower IV: Wizard and Glass (Roland! I love thee! charyou tree)

Dark Tower V: Wolves of the Calla (come come commala)

Dark Tower VI: Song of Susannah (Hile Mia! Hile Mother!)

Dark Tower VII: The Dark Tower (Childe Roland to the Dark Tower came...)

Kevin's Watch

Kevin's Watch

A choice between two Stephens

A choice between two Stephens