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Agreed in the case of Lions of al-Rassan. Legolas Send a noteboard - 07/04/2012 10:34:02 AM
I said elsewhere on occasion when his name would be brought up that I disliked his heavy-handed borrowing from historical sources, as it dried up my interest almost immediately, as I knew what would broadly happen, as I recognized the real-life analogues to the characters.

Haven't read Sarantium or Under Heaven. The thing with borrowing so heavily from real sources is that you're pretty much damned if you do and damned if you don't. Either you follow history as it really happened and then the most interested readers will also be the ones who already know what will happen. Or you deviate from history as it happened at a certain point, as in Lions of al-Rassan, and then those readers will be hypercritical about how realistic or plausible your departure from history is.

I loved how Jacqueline Carey did it, though - sufficiently far from real history that she could write her own stories without bothering the history buffs.
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Is there a universally liked fantasy book? Tim - 06/04/2012 08:51:12 PM 2021 Views
I like The Fionavar Tapestry, but I don't expect everybody does. Legolas - 06/04/2012 09:08:18 PM 1467 Views
Not really Larry - 07/04/2012 01:23:38 AM 1358 Views
That surprises me. I would think you'd have enjoyed LIONS or TIGANA. *NM* Ghavrel - 07/04/2012 07:39:08 AM 532 Views
I disliked Sarantium and Under Heaven Larry - 07/04/2012 07:49:50 AM 1342 Views
Agreed in the case of Lions of al-Rassan. Legolas - 07/04/2012 10:34:02 AM 1257 Views
i love ggk. haven't read the other one. interesting question... curious to see what comes of it temeraire - 07/04/2012 03:19:45 AM 1202 Views
Seems a silly question to ask. Ghavrel - 07/04/2012 07:37:44 AM 1260 Views
Simply--no. Palatine - 07/04/2012 04:37:16 PM 1663 Views
Except for LOTR wasn't that original. Stephen - 07/04/2012 05:14:49 PM 1160 Views
Perhaps. Palatine - 08/04/2012 04:33:07 PM 1318 Views
Re: Perhaps. dacole - 09/04/2012 02:39:42 AM 1208 Views
Agreed. Tolkien is the closest you'll get. Tom - 09/04/2012 12:46:04 AM 1305 Views
I agree about Tolkien DomA - 11/04/2012 12:35:51 AM 1279 Views
Sword of Truth series. *NM* Kotagg - 07/04/2012 06:11:27 PM 529 Views
Seconded. We should all grow yurds. *NM* Artsapat - 09/04/2012 07:33:00 PM 623 Views
I haven't read either of those A Deathwatch Guard - 07/04/2012 11:52:47 PM 1210 Views
Hm. I think it'd be hard to hate David Eddings' The Belgariad beetnemesis - 09/04/2012 06:32:49 PM 1145 Views
That only counts for those who have nostalgic feelings for it, I'm afraid. *NM* Legolas - 09/04/2012 08:45:48 PM 558 Views
Yes, trying to read it for the first time aged 19 wasn't an enjoyable experience. Stephen - 10/04/2012 01:03:19 AM 1150 Views
More like having your love for it curdle into hate after reading the Mallorean, Elenium & Tamuli Cannoli - 10/04/2012 02:42:49 PM 1398 Views
Ha, at least in Mallorean it was a plot point (albeit a lame one) beetnemesis - 10/04/2012 03:52:27 PM 1275 Views
nostalgia kick for sure. i daren't reread that Foxhead - 01/05/2012 10:25:24 PM 1606 Views
I would've thought Tigana. rebelaessedai - 10/04/2012 04:24:56 AM 1151 Views
Horrendous Book Wibble - 10/04/2012 12:16:55 PM 1226 Views
I love Tigana, but yeah, Wibble's not the only one who doesn't. Legolas - 10/04/2012 07:13:00 PM 1162 Views
Good to know. rebelaessedai - 16/04/2012 04:56:48 AM 1510 Views
I read Tigana very recently Stephen - 16/04/2012 02:12:38 PM 1295 Views
Well, like I said, it's not one of my faves. rebelaessedai - 10/05/2012 03:53:49 AM 1351 Views
Of course not. Who could like something that's not real? *NM* jh - 10/04/2012 07:39:30 PM 539 Views
Oh, that's a really good question. Vivien - 10/04/2012 08:52:51 PM 1272 Views
Re: Oh, that's a really good question. DomA - 10/04/2012 11:33:36 PM 1200 Views
I had Hobb recommende to me LadyLorraine - 11/04/2012 03:38:35 AM 1209 Views
Same here. Stephen - 16/04/2012 02:14:06 PM 1222 Views
so the tawny man onwards kind of sucked Foxhead - 01/05/2012 10:27:41 PM 1373 Views
ursula le guin - earthsea? *NM* Foxhead - 01/05/2012 10:28:35 PM 654 Views
The first one, at least, should be liked by everyone. (IMO) Tim - 01/05/2012 10:59:34 PM 1194 Views
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