Fav Fantasy writer

ivan_2068 wrote: Peter wrote: Well, Dune is generally regarded as science fiction (often concerning the future, spaceships, other planets, advanced technology, etc). Fantasy, on the other hand, generally involves magic, and often, a pseudo-medieval setting. The two genres are related, yes, but generally treated as separate (though sometimes the lines blur, and writers often don't necessarily stick to just one or the other). I don't know if Herbert has ever written any pure fantasy.   But, just in case you don't want to take my word for it, I got this from the Official Dune Website: "Frank Herbert's Dune series is one of the grandest epics in the annals of imaginative literature. Selling millions of copies worldwide, it is science fiction's answer to The Lord of the Rings, a brilliantly imaginative epic of high adventure, unforgettable characters, and immense scope."   Great books, BTW, though, for me, the first was easily the best. You make a point Peter, when saying limits are blur, lets see an example: Star Wars: A futuristic space saga with spaceships, interstellar voyages, etc no doubt about it, but it has all the characteristcs of Fantasy that you mention: Magic: The limits beyond magic and mysticism in the Jedi Knigts is very soft, so at least we have one component of Fantasy. Swords: Light sabers are the equivalent to swords. the monsters we see take the place of the dragons, etc. Pseudo Medieval settings: We have Queen Amidala, Princess Leia, Jedi Nights who fight for the sake of goodness. What's this Sci Fi or Fantasy? Iván

Space opera!

It's a "fairy tale" set in space -- think of the opening: "long, long ago, in a galaxy far, far away..." substitute "kingdom" for "galaxy," and you have a typical fairy tale opening. 

For sure, Ivan, that one is a major blend. I've always noticed how Star Wars "looks like sci fi, but acts like fantasy," as it were. Princesses, magic (the "force"), etc -- it is really more fantasy than sci-fi.

(Notice that I was careful to use words like "generally" and "often" in my post -- there are always exceptions.)

SW is pretty clumsy in its sci fi, too -- witness the spaceships making sound in the vacuum of space! Ha! Too much of the "science" is never explained, as well: just how does a non-aerodynamic craft, with no wings or rocket blast, levitate silently when within a planet's atmosphere? "Anti-gravity?" All indications are, such a thing is flat-out impossible.

There are many other examples of such fantasy/sci fi blends, but that one is certainly an obvious one! (For one excellent such blend, check out Robert Silverberg's stunning Lord Valentine's Castle. An amazing, engrossing read!

Science fiction is a type of "fantastic" literature, anyway. (An offshoot of fantasy, which came first in the guise of the folk/fairy tale.)

But there are generally certain broad parameters between the two.

Most popular fantasy is sword and sorcery -- but by no means does all fantasy fall into that category.

Much science fiction (Larry Niven, Arthur C. Clarke, David Brin, william Gibson, etc) focusses on actual, possible science and technology (so-called "hard" science fiction)  but some sci fi, like that written by Ursula K. LeGuin, for example, in her outstanding novels The Dispossessed and The Left Hand of Darkness, effectively "gloss over" all that, and concentrate instead on social sciences like anthropology (her father was a famous anthropologist) and psychology. Her character development, insights into human nature, and portrayals of the clash of "primitive" and technological cultures, is simply awesome, but the science of say, interstellar travel, is just taken for granted as being in place, with no real attempt to explain or justify it. (She writes excellent fantasy too, in her Earthsea series, as well as mainstream fiction. A very versatile author, and certainly one of America's best, in ANY genre!) 

Both types of sci fi can be equally rewarding reads, in different ways.

Happy reading!

ooo nicely put. i would tend to lean towards Sci Fi still with most everybody i hope... but  it clearly has elements of both (or according to Peter) and i can see your point. sames true for music and its just that that sets off many arguments in these very forums.. prog or not,  metal or not, mainstream or not, etc.

AHHHHHHHH!!! i love fantasy novels but you put my four top authors on here!... how is a guy supposed to chose? AAAAAHHHHHHHHH brain aneurism!!! i ended up casting my vote for terry goodkind since his was a lonly percentile of ZERO... George RR Martin, Robert Jordon, and David Eddings all had votes so i had to level out the playing feild a little bit. i read almost as much as i listen to music so this poll has done me serious emotional dammage. watch out for a lawsuit progarchives!! im comin' for ya'!

 PS Feast for Crows is wonderfull and Knife of Dreams looks scrumptious as well, though i havnt had the pleasure of beggining Jordan's yet.

PEACE!,

mike

Badabec wrote: The best fantasy-author is the german author Ullrich Kiesow!

And by "the best," of course, you mean "my current favourite, of the limited number of authors I've read," right?

Sigh -- does there always have to be one "winner," in everything? Art is not sports, you know.

Gawd, I hate this prevailing mentality that increasingly reduces all human endeavor to competition, and "winners" and "losers!"

Peter wrote: gdub411 wrote: for fantasy with some humour try Fritz Leiber or the outrageous Robert Aspirin.

Yep. (I prefer Leiber and his brilliant Fafhrd & Grey Mouser books, though.)

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Fafryd and The Grey Mouser are exactly what I am talking of. Also , as far as setting goes, nothing beats the dark and dangerous world of Newhon on which our two anti-heroes, rogues tread. Plus, name a city in any other book as cool as that as decadent Lankhmar

Tony R wrote: Lord Foul, the Despiser

Speaking of being irritating on the web, here are some more character-revealing fantasy villain names, that, my sources say, Donaldson originally considered:

Baron Bumfogg, the Redolent

Major Trauma, The Drunk Driver

Captain Bringdown, the Buzzkiller

Lord Icky, the Unwashed

Sir Wheezalot, the Athsmatic

General Mayhem, the Unrestrained

Prince Ponce, the Preening

Duke Doorknob, the Dorky

Prince Pronghorn, the Priapic

Sir Swish, the Unmanly

Princess Nympho, the Easy

President Bush, the Bumbling Belligerent

Sorry, Donaldson fans -- I'm just happy to see so many committed readers here!

No?

OK, I'll go read a book: hmmm... one of the wife's "bodice rippers":

"He was a handsome (and unfeasibly well-endowed) Scottish laird, as wild and free as his highland home. She, his captive, was a haughty, highborn English noblewoman. Sworn enemies, they would nonetheless (eventually) have sex, just before the end of the novel."

Now THAT'S original! And isn't that Fabio on the cover?

Read on, Progholes!

Peter wrote: Tony R wrote: I can't believe that nobody here has mentioned Stephen Donaldsen from the list The Chronicles Of Thomas Covenant-The Unbeliever (6 books) are outstanding.   Since its publication in 1977, this award-winning trilogy has become an indisputable fantasy classic. Outselling The Lord of the Rings in its day, hailed by critics and loved by readers all over the world, no fantasy library could be considered complete without it. Thomas did not believe the strange world he found himself in, but, undeniably, the Land tempted him. Back in his world, his illness made him an outcast, unclean, a pariah – but here, he is the reincarnation of Berek Halfhand, saviour and hero. Only the mystic power of his white gold ring can protect the Lords of Revelstone and the Land from the evil of Lord Foul, the Despiser. Foul possesses the Illearth Stone, his deadly armies hold sway, and to free himself from his prison, he will destroy the Land. With only a small but determined band of followers, Covenant is inexorably drawn into a confrontation with evil that will decide the fate of both worlds . . . I cannot recommend them too highly. Er, doesn't that plot synopsis remind you of something? A trifle derivitive, no? Too much of the newer fantasy is too formulaic, IMO. (Much like some say about neo prog/retro prog.) Hmmm... "Lord Foul -- the Despiser".... I guess he's a bad guy, right? Signed, Major Pain, The Irritating

...Good one. The whole Thomas Covenant series bores me to tears.

Micheal Moorcock is my favorite and for fantasy with some humour try Fritz Leiber or the outrageous

Robert Aspirin.