The Gormenghast Trilogy

Post by **FizbansTalking_Hat** » Wed Jul 07, 2004 3:59 am

Like it, hate it, love it, what are your thoughts?

Post by **danlo** » Wed Jul 07, 2004 4:52 am

Are you going to make a topic on everything you've ever read?

Very good! Ever read The High House by James Stoddard? You would definately enjoy it!

Post by **FizbansTalking_Hat** » Wed Jul 07, 2004 5:20 am

And why not make a topic on everything and anything I've read, its nice to see what others think, what their thoughts are, hence the "discussion" aspect of the boards and the internet. Cheers

Post by **danlo** » Wed Jul 07, 2004 2:21 pm

You don't have to explain-I was just being silly and trying to compliment you for your intrepid topic making (which a significant majority of members on this board are too timid to do) at the same time...

Oh some people are so sensitive!

Anyway have you read The High House? It's very Gormenghast like and the author drops famous old fantasy writers names in the oddest places!

Post by **FizbansTalking_Hat** » Wed Jul 07, 2004 2:36 pm

I have never heard of that, I'll look for it, thanks and no worries, and at most boards I post a lot of topics, it doesn't bug me, thats what this place is for. Cheers.

Post by **Roland of Gilead** » Wed Jul 07, 2004 8:11 pm

Fiz is the Emperor of Topic-Making at the Shannara board. Hence his occasional humorous references to having seen something I wrote before. I tend to respond to his topics on both forums.

Post by **FizbansTalking_Hat** » Wed Jul 07, 2004 8:13 pm

Roland of Gilead wrote:Fiz is the Emperor of Topic-Making

Hmm, emperor of topic making, I could indeed get used to that title, at least the emperor part, haha cheers.

Post by **Myste** » Wed Jul 07, 2004 8:25 pm

I know it's gauche to refer to the tv versions of things, but in this case I don't care. However flawed, the BBC version was GORGEOUS.

I've only read the three of them once.They're like the equivalent of eating double-fudge flourless chocolate cake for me--I love it, but it's so rich I feel like dying afterward.

Stoddard sounds interesting, danlo. I'll keep an eye out for it.

Post by **FizbansTalking_Hat** » Wed Jul 07, 2004 8:45 pm

I've seen bits and pieces of the BBC version but I don't know the story cuz I never really sat down to watch it so I figure I'll read it a bit, but I did see the making of the bbc production, and how they actually found a white albino crow, one of like 5 in the world or something, pretty amazing, they figured they could have done it CG, but they decided to go wtih a real bird instead, cheers.

Post by **Myste** » Wed Jul 07, 2004 9:34 pm

That's cool, I didn't know that, Fiz. I mean, I knew it wasn't CG, but I didn't realize they were so rare. Cheers right back atcha.

Post by **CovenantJr** » Wed Jul 07, 2004 11:46 pm

I saw the BBC production, and was going to read the books, but never got round to it. I liked the tv version though. Very dark, very clever.

Post by **I'm Murrin** » Thu Jul 08, 2004 9:26 am

I think I saw the TV version, but I can't remember much of it. I think it was alright, though.

Post by **Vain** » Thu Jul 08, 2004 10:10 am

I managed to read Gormenghast, and only Gormenghast and in my opinion it's one of the best books ever written.

Post by **CovenantJr** » Thu Jul 08, 2004 10:15 am

*sighs resignedly and adds Gormenghast to the galaxy-spanning list of books to read*

Post by **I'm Murrin** » Thu Jul 08, 2004 10:21 am

It's on my 'Saved for later' list in the Amazon shopping basket.

Post by **FizbansTalking_Hat** » Thu Jul 08, 2004 5:46 pm

The thing is, so many people I know say its such a great book but its nver really mentioned or discussed in the forefront of the genre, I wonder at this. Could you put it in the same category as LOTR or ASOIAF, your thoughts?

Post by **Myste** » Thu Jul 08, 2004 5:56 pm

For me, Ghormenghast belongs on the same shelf as LoTR, ER Eddison, Evangeline Walton, and Lord Dunsany--I consider it ground-breaking, something new for its time. It's not really comparable to anything else, except in the most general terms. It's a major trilogy in the canon of 20th century fantastic literature.

I know I run the risk of being stoned for blasphemy here, but I don't think ASOIAF holds a candle to it. As much as I enjoy reading Martin, I can't help but think of his prose as anything more than serviceable. Peake does things with language and sound in Ghormenghast that are mind-boggling--which does not make him terribly comfortable to read.

Post by **Vain** » Fri Jul 09, 2004 2:03 pm

Myste wrote:.... Peake does things with language and sound in Ghormenghast that are mind-boggling

This really does sum up Gormenghast in a nutshell - he is absolutely brilliant and I remember reading passages, chapters, over and over again just to let it all sink in.....and to then sit back and say: "WOW !!"

Post by **FizbansTalking_Hat** » Fri Jul 09, 2004 2:36 pm

Very well said Myste, I agree, his language is difficult, but at times so can Tolkiens, I think it just shows how handy they are with their literary usage. Cheers.

Post by **Myste** » Fri Jul 09, 2004 5:47 pm

Vain wrote:
Myste wrote:.... Peake does things with language and sound in Ghormenghast that are mind-boggling
This really does sum up Gormenghast in a nutshell - he is absolutely brilliant and I remember reading passages, chapters, over and over again just to let it all sink in.....and to then sit back and say: "WOW !!"

It's true--Gormenghast is not for the commitment-shy. But it's very fulfilling.

Kevin's Watch

Kevin's Watch

The Gormenghast Trilogy

The Gormenghast Trilogy