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The advantage with Eriksons books is that they are each a complete story. Some of the characters reappear but each book is a different story in its own right, simply set in the same world and incorporating some of the events from the previous book. I am about to start the third book but judging from the first two this is a series you could read as it is published without constantly having to go back over it to remember what happened in the last book.

They are long though, about 900 pages each, and are an 'intelligent' read, so I would not recommend them for those who like their fantasy fast and full of action. However if you like a bit of depth and realism in your stories then these are an excellent read. I would rate them slightly better than GRRM's due mainly to the fact that there are some characters in GRRM's that I really dislike reading about.

Edited by: Big Hills at: 1/14/03 8:15:18 am

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On my virtual travels, as far as I can tell George R R Martin and Stephen Erikson are considered the best intelligent fantasy writers (open to debate of course!). Their writings are 'realistic' (if that can be said of fantasy), gritty, deep characters, strong subject matter, and do not expect all the best characters to survive until the end.

They are in a different ball park to that of Jordan. Jordan does what he does well. Gemmell/Barclay do action fantasy well, Martin and Erikson do epic intelligent fantasy well - very well as far as i can tell.

Both authors are in line for about 9 books (a few small years until they are all completed).

I recommend reading up on Amazon to read the synopsis, and also the public writings to see how they found the books. You may not agree but it will give you a clue.

Manon I really need to read these too but I like to complete stories - I could wait half a year, but pah! 9 books total *sobs* - no fair!

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wow, thanks for the replys

they do sound interesting, i will make a note of this author and when i have completed some of my

To Read List......lol

then i will give his books a gander and see what he's like..900 pages wow that really is something i can sink my teeth into....lol

thanks again for the answers

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Dorothy Dunnett
Mary Renault
Colleen McCullough (Masters of Rome)
Eiji Yoshikawa
Ilium by Simmons (New book due this year)
Fiona McIntosh
More Steven Pressfield (only read Gates of Fire); Sharon Kay Penman; Nigel Tranter; and Bernard Cornwell

Edited by: Druiin at: 1/18/03 5:23:02 pm