OK, so I need some help and advice from any of you who may have read more fantasy than I have, because I am struggling. I am 300 pages into the fifth book of A Song of Ice and Fire, which have been (mostly) excellent thus far, but I am dragging because so much of this series (and the other fanatasy novels I have read) is about people trying to get somewhere and getting waylaid en route.
I talked to a friend of mine who is a HUGE fantasy nut and said exactly that-- "It's all people trying to get somewhere, but getting re-routed over and over by stuff" and he looked at me with a puzzled expression and said "Shauna, that's what fantasy IS..."
I do not in any way want to pass negative judgement on a whole genre, because I have enjoyed what little I read, but I am losing steam on the epic journey theme. Those of you who have read Max and Menna, or even most of the stories in Listening In, know that I am temporallly challenged. I cannot tell a story in chronological order, so this is a bit out of my comfort zone to read for so long.
So, you fantasy buffs out there, help me out. I love the writing style, the characters, the plots, etc., but can't jump into any more "journey" books. Have you read great fantasy that don't include the journey theme? Can you recommend some?
I've read a lot of fantasy and you're right - it all seems to center on a journey, like Tolkien's or Terry Brooks's works. I did read The Lies of Locke Lamora earlier this year and it did NOT involve a journey. Think Ocean's Eleven meets fantasy.
ReplyDeleteLol. This is exactly why I am avoiding the Lord of the Rings, classics though that they are. I even found too much "journeying" in The Hobbit. I want to read more fantasy, but I too want to skip the "there and back again" type stuff, so I'll be looking forward to the recommendations you get here. For the record, The War Master's Daughter mostly takes place in a single building. :)
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