Okay, first off, let me thank all of you who posted suggestions – with your input, this summer's features look incredible. I went "off the reservation" for one feature but I know you'll be thanking me for doing so shortly. (I'll explain myself below.) So, without further ado, here are the features for the summer of '09!
Paul
JULY ’09 FANTASY/SCIENCE FICTION
1. Warbreaker by Brandon Sanderson
This one was a no-brainer. In four short years – since the release of his debut novel Elantris in 2005 – Brandon Sanderson has become one of the biggest names in fantasy. (In fact, as you all know, he was recently chosen as the author to complete the final novels in the late Robert Jordan’s Wheel of Time cycle!) After his critically acclaimed Mistborn trilogy, the publication of Warbreaker will come as a decided oddity for fantasy fans: it’s a standalone novel. In a genre inundated with shelf-bending series, Warbreaker – like Elantris – is not the first installment of a saga – it’s a one-volume epic and it is easily one of the best fantasy novels of the year! (And Brandon will be visiting us in a few weeks!!!)
2. The Road by Cormac McCarthy
Okay, it's obvious by now I'm a hardcore freak for post-apocalyptic fiction. The Road movie is coming out this fall and here is the perfect opportunity for the few people on the face of the Earth who have yet to read this intensely polarizing read to do so – and that means me and Ryan!
3. The Sword of Shannara by Terry Brooks
This one is a readers' choice and if anything in epic fantasy is a guaranteed great read, it's this book. Nothing really to say here other than it's an unarguable classic that inspired many of us middle-aged readers to get into epic fantasy in the first place. (And it will be fun pointing out all of the Tolkien similarities!)
AUGUST ’09 FANTASY/SCIENCE FICTION
1. The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
Again, like The Sword of Shannara, a contemporary classic. One of my favorite fantasy reads in the last decade. A bit of a strange book – we've been waiting how long now for the sequel? It will be interesting to see what comes of this alleged series – it has all the potential to be a LOTR-class read but as the sequel keeps getting delayed, more and more questions seem to be arising...
2. Ice Song by Kirsten Imani Kasai
This is my "off the reservation," sleeper pick. I forget who brought this up – Tig maybe? – but it seems like I've been featuring a lot of male writers and male-dominant storylines. So I've searched high and low for a truly remarkable fantasy or SF novel written by a woman AND I'VE FOUND IT!
Ice Song is a debut novel by Kirsten Imani Kasai. Yes, it was released in late May but who cares? I've read the first few chapters and I love it. Kirsten's first novel has already been compared to Jacqueline Carey and Ursula K. Le Guin! This one is going to be good!
3. The Elfstones of Shannara by Terry Brooks
The continuation of our readers' choice picks. Not quite as great as The Sword of Shannara, but really really good. An interesting tangential dialogue will be about series length – what is too long? when should a writer stop? This saga now is, I believe, almost two dozen novels long, if you include the Word & Void stuff...
Paul
Great line-up Paul. It looks like I might be reading three books for each of the next two months! And now to find the time!
paulgoatallen wrote:
Okay, first off, let me thank all of you who posted suggestions – with your input, this summer's features look incredible. I went "off the reservation" for one feature but I know you'll be thanking me for doing so shortly. (I'll explain myself below.) So, without further ado, here are the features for the summer of '09!
Paul
JULY ’09 FANTASY/SCIENCE FICTION
1. Warbreaker by Brandon Sanderson
This one was a no-brainer. In four short years – since the release of his debut novel Elantris in 2005 – Brandon Sanderson has become one of the biggest names in fantasy. (In fact, as you all know, he was recently chosen as the author to complete the final novels in the late Robert Jordan’s Wheel of Time cycle!) After his critically acclaimed Mistborn trilogy, the publication of Warbreaker will come as a decided oddity for fantasy fans: it’s a standalone novel. In a genre inundated with shelf-bending series, Warbreaker – like Elantris – is not the first installment of a saga – it’s a one-volume epic and it is easily one of the best fantasy novels of the year! (And Brandon will be visiting us in a few weeks!!!)
2. The Road by Cormac McCarthy
Okay, it's obvious by now I'm a hardcore freak for post-apocalyptic fiction. The Road movie is coming out this fall and here is the perfect opportunity for the few people on the face of the Earth who have yet to read this intensely polarizing read to do so – and that means me and Ryan!
3. The Sword of Shannara by Terry Brooks
This one is a readers' choice and if anything in epic fantasy is a guaranteed great read, it's this book. Nothing really to say here other than it's an unarguable classic that inspired many of us middle-aged readers to get into epic fantasy in the first place. (And it will be fun pointing out all of the Tolkien similarities!)
AUGUST ’09 FANTASY/SCIENCE FICTION
1. The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
Again, like The Sword of Shannara, a contemporary classic. One of my favorite fantasy reads in the last decade. A bit of a strange book – we've been waiting how long now for the sequel? It will be interesting to see what comes of this alleged series – it has all the potential to be a LOTR-class read but as the sequel keeps getting delayed, more and more questions seem to be arising...
2. Ice Song by Kirsten Imani Kasai
This is my "off the reservation," sleeper pick. I forget who brought this up – Tig maybe? – but it seems like I've been featuring a lot of male writers and male-dominant storylines. So I've searched high and low for a truly remarkable fantasy or SF novel written by a woman AND I'VE FOUND IT!
Ice Song is a debut novel by Kirsten Imani Kasai. Yes, it was released in late May but who cares? I've read the first few chapters and I love it. Kirsten's first novel has already been compared to Jacqueline Carey and Ursula K. Le Guin! This one is going to be good!
3. The Elfstones of Shannara by Terry Brooks
The continuation of our readers' choice picks. Not quite as great as The Sword of Shannara, but really really good. An interesting tangential dialogue will be about series length – what is too long? when should a writer stop? This saga now is, I believe, almost two dozen novels long, if you include the Word & Void stuff...
Paul
paulgoatallen wrote:Okay, first off, let me thank all of you who posted suggestions – with your input, this summer's features look incredible. I went "off the reservation" for one feature but I know you'll be thanking me for doing so shortly. (I'll explain myself below.) So, without further ado, here are the features for the summer of '09!
Paul
JULY ’09 FANTASY/SCIENCE FICTION
1. Warbreaker by Brandon Sanderson
This one was a no-brainer. In four short years – since the release of his debut novel Elantris in 2005 – Brandon Sanderson has become one of the biggest names in fantasy. (In fact, as you all know, he was recently chosen as the author to complete the final novels in the late Robert Jordan’s Wheel of Time cycle!) After his critically acclaimed Mistborn trilogy, the publication of Warbreaker will come as a decided oddity for fantasy fans: it’s a standalone novel. In a genre inundated with shelf-bending series, Warbreaker – like Elantris – is not the first installment of a saga – it’s a one-volume epic and it is easily one of the best fantasy novels of the year! (And Brandon will be visiting us in a few weeks!!!)
2. The Road by Cormac McCarthy
Okay, it's obvious by now I'm a hardcore freak for post-apocalyptic fiction. The Road movie is coming out this fall and here is the perfect opportunity for the few people on the face of the Earth who have yet to read this intensely polarizing read to do so – and that means me and Ryan!
3. The Sword of Shannara by Terry Brooks
This one is a readers' choice and if anything in epic fantasy is a guaranteed great read, it's this book. Nothing really to say here other than it's an unarguable classic that inspired many of us middle-aged readers to get into epic fantasy in the first place. (And it will be fun pointing out all of the Tolkien similarities!)
AUGUST ’09 FANTASY/SCIENCE FICTION
1. The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
Again, like The Sword of Shannara, a contemporary classic. One of my favorite fantasy reads in the last decade. A bit of a strange book – we've been waiting how long now for the sequel? It will be interesting to see what comes of this alleged series – it has all the potential to be a LOTR-class read but as the sequel keeps getting delayed, more and more questions seem to be arising...
2. Ice Song by Kirsten Imani Kasai
This is my "off the reservation," sleeper pick. I forget who brought this up – Tig maybe? – but it seems like I've been featuring a lot of male writers and male-dominant storylines. So I've searched high and low for a truly remarkable fantasy or SF novel written by a woman AND I'VE FOUND IT!
Ice Song is a debut novel by Kirsten Imani Kasai. Yes, it was released in late May but who cares? I've read the first few chapters and I love it. Kirsten's first novel has already been compared to Jacqueline Carey and Ursula K. Le Guin! This one is going to be good!
3. The Elfstones of Shannara by Terry Brooks
The continuation of our readers' choice picks. Not quite as great as The Sword of Shannara, but really really good. An interesting tangential dialogue will be about series length – what is too long? when should a writer stop? This saga now is, I believe, almost two dozen novels long, if you include the Word & Void stuff...
Paul
!
Ryan_G wrote:
great choices Paul. I may have to skip Warbreaker until it is in paperback due to cost issues. But I am definetly on board for the other 5. I can't wait.
paulgoatallen wrote:Okay, first off, let me thank all of you who posted suggestions – with your input, this summer's features look incredible. I went "off the reservation" for one feature but I know you'll be thanking me for doing so shortly. (I'll explain myself below.) So, without further ado, here are the features for the summer of '09!
Paul
JULY ’09 FANTASY/SCIENCE FICTION
1. Warbreaker by Brandon Sanderson
This one was a no-brainer. In four short years – since the release of his debut novel Elantris in 2005 – Brandon Sanderson has become one of the biggest names in fantasy. (In fact, as you all know, he was recently chosen as the author to complete the final novels in the late Robert Jordan’s Wheel of Time cycle!) After his critically acclaimed Mistborn trilogy, the publication of Warbreaker will come as a decided oddity for fantasy fans: it’s a standalone novel. In a genre inundated with shelf-bending series, Warbreaker – like Elantris – is not the first installment of a saga – it’s a one-volume epic and it is easily one of the best fantasy novels of the year! (And Brandon will be visiting us in a few weeks!!!)
2. The Road by Cormac McCarthy
Okay, it's obvious by now I'm a hardcore freak for post-apocalyptic fiction. The Road movie is coming out this fall and here is the perfect opportunity for the few people on the face of the Earth who have yet to read this intensely polarizing read to do so – and that means me and Ryan!
3. The Sword of Shannara by Terry Brooks
This one is a readers' choice and if anything in epic fantasy is a guaranteed great read, it's this book. Nothing really to say here other than it's an unarguable classic that inspired many of us middle-aged readers to get into epic fantasy in the first place. (And it will be fun pointing out all of the Tolkien similarities!)
AUGUST ’09 FANTASY/SCIENCE FICTION
1. The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
Again, like The Sword of Shannara, a contemporary classic. One of my favorite fantasy reads in the last decade. A bit of a strange book – we've been waiting how long now for the sequel? It will be interesting to see what comes of this alleged series – it has all the potential to be a LOTR-class read but as the sequel keeps getting delayed, more and more questions seem to be arising...
2. Ice Song by Kirsten Imani Kasai
This is my "off the reservation," sleeper pick. I forget who brought this up – Tig maybe? – but it seems like I've been featuring a lot of male writers and male-dominant storylines. So I've searched high and low for a truly remarkable fantasy or SF novel written by a woman AND I'VE FOUND IT!
Ice Song is a debut novel by Kirsten Imani Kasai. Yes, it was released in late May but who cares? I've read the first few chapters and I love it. Kirsten's first novel has already been compared to Jacqueline Carey and Ursula K. Le Guin! This one is going to be good!
3. The Elfstones of Shannara by Terry Brooks
The continuation of our readers' choice picks. Not quite as great as The Sword of Shannara, but really really good. An interesting tangential dialogue will be about series length – what is too long? when should a writer stop? This saga now is, I believe, almost two dozen novels long, if you include the Word & Void stuff...
Paul
Ryan, this is a feature for our discussion group and Brandon will be joining the discussion group in July. There are several people who can't afford the hard-cover. However, Brandon has put the whole book online -- the published copy. So if you would like to join our lively discussion, and not wait, you can read it online. Here is the post on it from the Elantris thread:Nadine
Scribe
Posts: 1535
Registered: 10-30-2006Reply 115 of 163
Viewed 106 times
Nelsmom wrote:Paul,
I think it would be a great idea too. I'm looking forward to it. Just hope I get the book by then.
Toni
No problem, Toni. You can read it online. Brandon has made the whole book available.
You are a library book reader anyway so it makes little difference. Most of us are buying the book to support Brandon. Also I don't like the idea of reading a book online or printing 600 pages. I'm the type that likes to curl up in a comfortable chair with a book that doesn't outweigh me, with my magic markers, paper clips, and post-it notes. The online version used to be a preliminary but now it is the actual published copy. I compared it to my published copy and it is the exact same thing.
Of course if I get any nifty coupons in my email that may change things a little.
Nadine wrote:
Ryan_G wrote:
great choices Paul. I may have to skip Warbreaker until it is in paperback due to cost issues. But I am definetly on board for the other 5. I can't wait.
paulgoatallen wrote:Okay, first off, let me thank all of you who posted suggestions – with your input, this summer's features look incredible. I went "off the reservation" for one feature but I know you'll be thanking me for doing so shortly. (I'll explain myself below.) So, without further ado, here are the features for the summer of '09!
Paul
JULY ’09 FANTASY/SCIENCE FICTION
1. Warbreaker by Brandon Sanderson
This one was a no-brainer. In four short years – since the release of his debut novel Elantris in 2005 – Brandon Sanderson has become one of the biggest names in fantasy. (In fact, as you all know, he was recently chosen as the author to complete the final novels in the late Robert Jordan’s Wheel of Time cycle!) After his critically acclaimed Mistborn trilogy, the publication of Warbreaker will come as a decided oddity for fantasy fans: it’s a standalone novel. In a genre inundated with shelf-bending series, Warbreaker – like Elantris – is not the first installment of a saga – it’s a one-volume epic and it is easily one of the best fantasy novels of the year! (And Brandon will be visiting us in a few weeks!!!)
2. The Road by Cormac McCarthy
Okay, it's obvious by now I'm a hardcore freak for post-apocalyptic fiction. The Road movie is coming out this fall and here is the perfect opportunity for the few people on the face of the Earth who have yet to read this intensely polarizing read to do so – and that means me and Ryan!
3. The Sword of Shannara by Terry Brooks
This one is a readers' choice and if anything in epic fantasy is a guaranteed great read, it's this book. Nothing really to say here other than it's an unarguable classic that inspired many of us middle-aged readers to get into epic fantasy in the first place. (And it will be fun pointing out all of the Tolkien similarities!)
AUGUST ’09 FANTASY/SCIENCE FICTION
1. The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
Again, like The Sword of Shannara, a contemporary classic. One of my favorite fantasy reads in the last decade. A bit of a strange book – we've been waiting how long now for the sequel? It will be interesting to see what comes of this alleged series – it has all the potential to be a LOTR-class read but as the sequel keeps getting delayed, more and more questions seem to be arising...
2. Ice Song by Kirsten Imani Kasai
This is my "off the reservation," sleeper pick. I forget who brought this up – Tig maybe? – but it seems like I've been featuring a lot of male writers and male-dominant storylines. So I've searched high and low for a truly remarkable fantasy or SF novel written by a woman AND I'VE FOUND IT!
Ice Song is a debut novel by Kirsten Imani Kasai. Yes, it was released in late May but who cares? I've read the first few chapters and I love it. Kirsten's first novel has already been compared to Jacqueline Carey and Ursula K. Le Guin! This one is going to be good!
3. The Elfstones of Shannara by Terry Brooks
The continuation of our readers' choice picks. Not quite as great as The Sword of Shannara, but really really good. An interesting tangential dialogue will be about series length – what is too long? when should a writer stop? This saga now is, I believe, almost two dozen novels long, if you include the Word & Void stuff...
Paul
Ryan, this is a feature for our discussion group and Brandon will be joining the discussion group in July. There are several people who can't afford the hard-cover. However, Brandon has put the whole book online -- the published copy. So if you would like to join our lively discussion, and not wait, you can read it online. Here is the post on it from the Elantris thread:Nadine
Scribe
Posts: 1535
Registered: 10-30-2006Reply 115 of 163
Viewed 106 times
Nelsmom wrote:Paul,
I think it would be a great idea too. I'm looking forward to it. Just hope I get the book by then.
Toni
No problem, Toni. You can read it online. Brandon has made the whole book available.
You are a library book reader anyway so it makes little difference. Most of us are buying the book to support Brandon. Also I don't like the idea of reading a book online or printing 600 pages. I'm the type that likes to curl up in a comfortable chair with a book that doesn't outweigh me, with my magic markers, paper clips, and post-it notes. The online version used to be a preliminary but now it is the actual published copy. I compared it to my published copy and it is the exact same thing.
Since we are going to be doing the first Sword of Shannara trilogy, some of you might want to get The World of Shannara which will be out on August 18. Below are some reviews of the book and at the B&N website you can read a sample chapter under "Features."
I might add that this is not a new book and you can pcik up a used hardcover copy for literally pennies. I did and it is on its way to me. I paid $1.99 for mine and the total cost plus shipping was under $6.00!
From the Publisher
The beloved Shannara series by #1 New York Times bestselling author Terry Brooks is universally acclaimed as a towering achievement, an unquestioned masterpiece in fantasy literature. Now, for the first time, all the wonders of Shannara have been gathered into one single, indispensable volume in which Terry Brooks shares candid views on his creation. Lavishly illustrated with full-color paintings and black-and-white drawings, this comprehensive guide ventures behind the scenes to explore the history, the people, the places, the major events, and of course the magic, of one of the world’s greatest fantasy epics.
What sets Terry Brooks apart? Is it a knack for creating complex, unforgettable characters like Allanon the Druid, Shea Ohmsford, and Amberle the elven-maid—men and women, gnomes and wizards, who come alive on the page and in our hearts? Is it the haunting and utterly believable evil of his darker creations: the foul Dagda Mor, the insanely murderous Jachyra, the enigmatic Ilse Witch? Or is it the way his adventures effortlessly partake of the timeless quality of myth? Whatever the secret of Brooks’s storytelling magic, generations of readers have fallen under its spell, returning again and again to the pages of beloved classics like The Elfstones of Shannara and The Druid of Shannara, and relishing his newest novels in the Voyage of the Jerle Shannara saga.
Sure to tantalize and delight old fans and newcomers alike, The World of Shannara is the ultimate gateway into the fantasy realms of Terry Brooks—and the perfect companion to take along on the journey of a lifetime.
Megan Isaac - VOYA
The detailed complexity of established fantasy worlds is among their most compelling and most limiting factors. Readers versed in the lore and legends of such worlds relish arcane historical tidbits and sprawling family trees. Newcomers, however, often find these worlds unfathomable. For this reason, this volume is likely to appeal only to loyal followers of Brooks's series, serving as a sort of encyclopedia to the historical, geographical, and magical culture of the Shannara novels. The fifteen chapters are organized primarily by region and give a brief overview of each of the Four Lands as well as discuss the various races that inhabit them and the chief cities or sites of each area. Inset boxes provide snapshot biographies of important persons, explanations of particularly potent magical items, and descriptions of unusual creatures. Frequent illustrations by David Cheny add color and visual appeal to the book. Although some fans will enjoy the detailed discussions of favorite characters or maps of important fortresses, others might regret that all of the new back stories and explanatory material are the work of Patterson, Brooks's chosen collaborator, rather than that of the author himself. Instead of investing in this volume, most libraries can best serve readers by making certain that plenty of copies of the original Shannara novels themselves are available. 2001, Ballantine, 224p,
School Library Journal
Adult/High School-Number one on The New York Times best-seller list more than 30 years ago, Shannara (Del Rey) remains a masterpiece in fantasy literature. This volume, a guidebook to the "Shannara" epic, is beautifully illustrated with full-color and black-and-white drawings and includes descriptions of all the major characters with details of homelands including histories. The foreword was written by Brooks, giving his blessings to and thoughts on the project. Looking forward into the future and not interested in defining the past, he was convinced by friends that the time was right for a summary of his work. For anyone who wondered about the fortress Southwatch, there is a history. The maps, sketches, and detailed descriptions provide a blueprint, bringing the places to life. New and old fans will love reading about and actually seeing Brooks's druids, creepers, gnomes, wizards, and more come alive in the pages of this book. Hours of reading fun are packed in this volume.-Linda G. Sinclair, Alexandria Library, VA Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.
