The Makings of an Epic...

Yes, it's been a while since I last posted, I know. But I was busy. And a bunch of other websites and blogs were updated, and this blog isn't nearly as important, anyway.

Anyway, today's post is about some epic fantasies. And I'm writing this knowing it will rub some people in the wrong way. So, my apologies in advance.

Well, you were warned.

The Wheel of Time: Now, I'm a bit late reading this series by Robert Jordan, and I've only read the first one so far, but I've done a bit of research, and from reading the massive book 1, The Eye of the World, I've got an idea as to what this series could be like. Beware-- Don't go into this expecting a light read. There's a lot of world in this series, and Jordan delights in showing it to us. If you like the little details, this series will be the perfect fit for you. If you want every page of the book to be filled with action... go read Alex Rider instead. This is, as I understand it, the beginning of a 12-book epic, each of the books about the same length as this one (700-800 pages each). In otherwords, this series is not for the faint of the heart for the simple reason of length. However, it will provide you with many (many) nights of cozy fireside reading, if you let it. On a side note, I've seen that the author has just died, but there's another author who's already started work on book 12, due to be released sometime next year. Fans, don't worry. Jordan left detailed notes.

A Song of Ice and Fire: I've also just started reading this 7-book series by George R. R. Martin (that's right, another "R. R." fantasy author), and it's also enjoyable. But definately not The Wheel of Time. Now, that's not necessarily a bad thing. It's a bit of a welcome change from the norm. In some ways, it's almost an "anti-fantasy". Don't worry, there are still dragons. And castles. And swords. And it still demands a lot of your time.

The Inheritance Cycle: For some, this name is almost sacred. For some, it's blasphemy. One of the most fervently loved/hated fantasy series of late, Christopher Paolini's 4-book, dragon-centered, epic. Eragon, for whom the first book is named, has quite a lot of adventures for a teenage farmboy, as can be seen in the less-than-successful 2006 film. Though some parts of the books seem like a glorified homage to Tolkien and McCaffrey, they read well, and you might as well give it a try.