So i'm currently on book 12 of the Horus Heresy series. Only another 7 to go to get up to date. Its a long slog but the books are surprisingly good considering its 40k fluff.
Whats the longest series of books that you've stuck with and finished ? did you ever get to the point where it was painful but you felt it was your duty to finish ?
The 20 books of Patrick O'Brian's "Aubrey and Maturin" Napoleonic naval series, from Master and Commander through to Blue at the Mizzen. Brilliant, every one.
Terry Pratchett's Discworld series (now 39 books I believe). Some are better than others, but all make me chuckle. ;D
Quote from: Hertsblue on 07 March 2012, 10:02:33 AM
The 20 books of Patrick O'Brian's "Aubrey and Maturin" Napoleonic naval series, from Master and Commander through to Blue at the Mizzen. Brilliant, every one.
Terry Pratchett's Discworld series (now 39 books I believe). Some are better than others, but all make me chuckle. ;D
Doesn't count. There are really only about three books in the series once you've struck out what he plagiarised from Adams, Allen, Waugh, Beachcomber, Monty Python, Twain....
Which three ?
Have to agree with you FK....I DO enjoy the Pratchett books LOTS....But they do seem to be somewhat 'derivative'.....If that makes sense ?
But are there any truly original 'plots' and ideas nowadays ?
Cheers - Phil
I see the Horus Heresy stuff as a bit of guilty pleasure I just wish Dan Abnett was contracted to write them all as there is a big difference in standard with some of the other authors.
Most frustrating series is George R R Martins - well written books but the releases are just so painfully slow I have to reread the whole series again each time to remember what the hell is going on.
Quote from: Techno on 07 March 2012, 12:26:14 PM
Which three ?
Have to agree with you FK....I DO enjoy the Pratchett books LOTS....But they do seem to be somewhat 'derivative'.....If that makes sense ?
But are there any truly original 'plots' and ideas nowadays ?
Cheers - Phil
I don't quarrel with that. The Douglas Adams line was flexible enough to wrap around fantasy, and Shakespeare himself swiped half his stories too. But Pratchet lifts things unchanged from many other sources, and often screws them up along the way. It was funny when Mark Twan said "Reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated". When the Patrician of Ankh-Morpork thinks it is important to
insure that stories of his death are greatly exaggerated, and so shows himself after being wounded, we have a case of clumsy and parasitic copying.
Culture thrives on imitation. Cancerous growths are another matter.
I gave up on Horus Heresy after Mechanicum. Really looked forwards to that one and it was dire...
Pratchett i suppose, but i ditched them after Pyramids (awful). Did read Guards! Guards! though and that was good.
Other than that, not much really. A few core trilogies like Lord of the Rings (actually one book originally but split by the publishers), Stephen Lawhead's 'Silver Hand' novels...um...Dune.
Personally i prefer books that are complete, rather than those that sprawl across may tomes. Either that or a 'series' that gravitates around a common theme or setting.
I'm currently reading Cherie Priest's 'clockwork century' novels (just finished Dreadnaught, just started Ganymede). I highly reccommend them.
Quote from: Luddite on 07 March 2012, 01:29:02 PM
I gave up on Horus Heresy after Mechanicum. Really looked forwards to that one and it was dire...
its actually one of my favourites so far..... the main disappointment being that for 98% of the book i thought we were going to get through a novel without any space marines..... but clearly they couldnt bring themselves to do it :)
Quote from: FierceKitty on 07 March 2012, 01:03:13 PM
I don't quarrel with that. The Douglas Adams line was flexible enough to wrap around fantasy, and Shakespeare himself swiped half his stories too. But Pratchet lifts things unchanged from many other sources, and often screws them up along the way. It was funny when Mark Twan said "Reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated". When the Patrician of Ankh-Morpork thinks it is important to insure that stories of his death are greatly exaggerated, and so shows himself after being wounded, we have a case of clumsy and parasitic copying.
Culture thrives on imitation. Cancerous growths are another matter.
Yep !.....Adams was a 'Gennious'....You're right.... TP
does lift a
lot of his ideas almost verbatim from mythology or other (ahem) 'sources'....Still enjoy the way the characters themselves develop through the series though.
Cheers - Phil.
Neal Asher's Cormac series, loved it all, but then I realised it was 6 books I'd read in 8 months and I couldn't remember what happened when. Spatterjay was easier!
Trudi Canavan's Archmage series, you have to wait until 1/2 way through book three before ANYTHING gets going...
A Game of Thrones is starting to get long, but I am enjoying them, glad I missed the 5 year hiatus though!
Quote from: Matt of Munslow on 07 March 2012, 12:27:08 PM
I see the Horus Heresy stuff as a bit of guilty pleasure I just wish Dan Abnett was contracted to write them all as there is a big difference in standard with some of the other authors.
yes i agree, though i think overall the series is much less hit and miss than with other Black Library stuff (usual formula: Page 1, set the scene. Page 2, Space Marines/IG start firing. Page 399 Space Marines/IG stop firing. Page 400, Postscript - Space Marine/IG hero looks forward wistfully to the next time he can start firing again)
I'm surprised the Potter boy hasn't made an appearance... ;)
Quote from: Luddite on 07 March 2012, 04:34:03 PM
I'm surprised the Potter boy hasn't made an appearance... ;)
I read them as long as my kids did - then happily stopped.
I enjoyed the early parts of Stirling's "Dies the Fire" series; but I am getting to the point where I will not be very sorry when it ends. I am not quite to the point I was with Turtledove where I just packed it in, and will not start another.
The Wheel of Time by Robert Jordan. I stopped reading at Book 10 and I'd probably have to start from the beginning to remember what has happened. Jordan has died but more books in the series keep appearing.
Anything to do with Hammer Slammers in my opinion , Drake should have given up on the idea before he actually wrote anything down
Quote from: FierceKitty on 07 March 2012, 12:00:12 PM
Doesn't count. There are really only about three books in the series once you've struck out what he plagiarised from Adams, Allen, Waugh, Beachcomber, Monty Python, Twain....
Perhaps it's just my warped sense of humour, but plaigiarised or not, I never found
any of these authors anywhere close to being as funny as Pratchett. :P
Agreed Ray.
Even tho' I would hardly describe myself as a 'book worm'...I DO notice bits that TP has 'borrowed'....from wherever.
Doesn't stop me really enjoying the novels in the slightest.....I love 'em ! :-bd
Cheers - Phil.
One deffinatly not borrowed, Sledging Elephants from Movives, Movies.
IanS
Good point Ian !
Cheers - Phil
It's also one not to read in a Pub, split most of a pint on that one.
As for endless ones - E.C. Tubbs - the Dumerest Saga, and isn't there something like Perry Rodan as well.
IanS
Patrick O'Brian's Aubrey Maturin series for me. Came to them late, was completely sold on them, still am. The great advantage of such a long series of novels is by the time you get to the end of the last one, you've forgotten enough about the first to start again (or at least that works for me!). I just find them so funny, and witty, and I keep finding new things to burst out laughing about. They are great stories, and wonderfully observed. They have been my bedtime reading, a chapter a night, more or less, for the last two years - and I am coming to the end of the series for the second time, and about to start again. All I can say to the sadly deceased author is "I drink to you sir, in bumpers, three times three!".
Mollinary (aged 57 1/3)
Quote from: ianrs54 on 08 March 2012, 09:35:43 AM
One deffinatly not borrowed, Sledging Elephants from Movives, Movies.
IanS
very true :)
one of my favourite autors and to be honest i dont care where he gets his ideas from :D :D
Quote from: mollinary on 08 March 2012, 06:45:21 PM
Patrick O'Brian's Aubrey Maturin series for me. Came to them late, was completely sold on them, still am. The great advantage of such a long series of novels is by the time you get to the end of the last one, you've forgotten enough about the first to start again (or at least that works for me!). I just find them so funny, and witty, and I keep finding new things to burst out laughing about. They are great stories, and wonderfully observed. They have been my bedtime reading, a chapter a night, more or less, for the last two years - and I am coming to the end of the series for the second time, and about to start again. All I can say to the sadly deceased author is "I drink to you sir, in bumpers, three times three!".
Mollinary (aged 57 1/3)
Hear him, hear him! The other great feature of O'Brian's writing is his ability to capture early nineteenth century attitudes and mores. No revisionist modern-day PC - ism in his stories. :-bd
"The Wheel of Time by Robert Jordan. I stopped reading at Book 10..."
A buddy of mine got about that far as well, and gave up. I don't think an ending is in view even now. :o
I stopped reading the Horus Heresy with Descent of Angels. I started the series when it first came out. I was sorting my wedding out then. It's six years now... Surely it must end soon.
Completely agree with the Patrick O'Brian. I finished the Surgeons Mate at the start of the week. I been slowly buying them over the last year as I feel you can't rush those books. They are like a fine wine - made to be savoured. I need to get the rest though before the issue a new edition and change all the covers.
Patrick O'Brian for me also, along with the incomparable Flashman!
Surprised nobody has mentioned Alan Mallinson's Hervey (light dragoons) series.
Starts at Waterloo and works its way back and forth from the Peninsula to S. Africa and the Greek War of Independence. The latter volumes have got a bit slow, but period detail is good and I find them easier to read than O'Brien's books (only managed one and a half :(); i reckon the latest, vol 10?, should be out in paperback shortly.
They are certainly not page-turners in the Cornwell style but repay a sunny afternoon in the garden with a beer or two. ;)
Quote from: Malbork on 19 April 2012, 01:09:11 PM
Surprised nobody has mentioned Alan Mallinson's Hervey (light dragoons) series.
Read two or three of them but found Hervey a bit two dimensional. Same with Bernard Cornwell's Sharpe series - his later medieaval books are much better. I enjoyed
Azincourt.
If you're into whodunnits, I strongly recommend Lindsey Davis's Falco series. Not sure how "Roman" the plots are, but great fun.
Quote from: Hertsblue on 20 April 2012, 09:17:40 AM
Read two or three of them but found Hervey a bit two dimensional. Same with Bernard Cornwell's Sharpe series - his later medieaval books are much better. I enjoyed Azincourt.
If you're into whodunnits, I strongly recommend Lindsey Davis's Falco series. Not sure how "Roman" the plots are, but great fun.
Au contraire, I found young Hervey's character a believable representation of his time and class, very unlike the chippy late 20th century Sharpe and his proto PIRA sidekick Harper....
QuoteIf you're into whodunnits, I strongly recommend Lindsey Davis's Falco series. Not sure how "Roman" the plots are, but great fun.
Thoroughly enjoyed the first 6 or so but I think things fell apart a little. I agree they are great fun even if the whodunntit aspect is a bit more Agatha Christie than Robert Graves.
Have to agree with Ben re Sharpe & Co. The medieval and Wessex books are better IMHO. In this time period the Oathsworn series by Robert Low is worth a look for Viking lovers.
Quote from: AndyT on 07 March 2012, 05:55:59 PM
The Wheel of Time by Robert Jordan. I stopped reading at Book 10 and I'd probably have to start from the beginning to remember what has happened. Jordan has died but more books in the series keep appearing.
I cant remember how far I managed to get with them, but it bodes ill that there was no end in site before he died. I have a feeling the Game of thrones books will go the same way :-<
Proust.
As in Marcel Proust's A la recherche etc.
I know, I'll get my coat :)
Cheers,
Aart