I've reread the original Riftwar books and the Empire series multiple time
imlad Send a noteboard - 27/01/2010 06:29:27 PM
And although I had aged and matured (or did I?) a lot in the intervening years, I still love the worlds of Midkemia/Kelewan. I've reread the Eddings stuff, and fought it absolutely BLAH. When I tried to reread the Shanara books, they were even worse then the rereadings of Eddings.
So yeah, I'd have to say that overall Feist's books were good, and definitly something I would encourage someone new to fantasy to read.
In some ways, discounting the Feist books of the last decade at least, I prefer his stuff over Jordan's at times. I have always felt more at home with Pub and Jimmy, with Arutha and Amos. Sure, Rand & Co. have become a part of my life, but I think that also has to do with the fact that I've always had more people to talk to about WoT then the others, and there have been more (quality) WoT books to come out then there have been (quality) Riftwar books. Unfortunate.
Midkemia is one of those settings I would love to run or play an RPG in, much more so than Randland.
So yeah, I'd have to say that overall Feist's books were good, and definitly something I would encourage someone new to fantasy to read.
In some ways, discounting the Feist books of the last decade at least, I prefer his stuff over Jordan's at times. I have always felt more at home with Pub and Jimmy, with Arutha and Amos. Sure, Rand & Co. have become a part of my life, but I think that also has to do with the fact that I've always had more people to talk to about WoT then the others, and there have been more (quality) WoT books to come out then there have been (quality) Riftwar books. Unfortunate.
Midkemia is one of those settings I would love to run or play an RPG in, much more so than Randland.
at which age you read Magician? 
You kind of seem to be in a similar situation to what Rebekah describes about Eddings, i.e. overrating the book because of nostalgia, and enjoying it more because of that than you would if you read it for the first time now.
Admittedly, I haven't gotten around to rereading it myself, so I'm not really in a position to judge, but I did reread most of the Empire trilogy, which - again like Rebekah - I remember finding at least as good or better than the Riftwar saga itself, bac, when I first read it. During the reread, my opinion of it sunk significantly. So as a result of that, perhaps unjustly, I'm not inclined to rate Magician or the rest of the Riftwar saga all that high, certainly not higher than WoT.
You kind of seem to be in a similar situation to what Rebekah describes about Eddings, i.e. overrating the book because of nostalgia, and enjoying it more because of that than you would if you read it for the first time now. Admittedly, I haven't gotten around to rereading it myself, so I'm not really in a position to judge, but I did reread most of the Empire trilogy, which - again like Rebekah - I remember finding at least as good or better than the Riftwar saga itself, bac, when I first read it. During the reread, my opinion of it sunk significantly. So as a result of that, perhaps unjustly, I'm not inclined to rate Magician or the rest of the Riftwar saga all that high, certainly not higher than WoT.
Death to the Regressives of the GOP and the TeaParty. No mercy for Conservatives. Burn them all at the stake for the hateful satanists they are.
Magician by Raymond E Feist: Book Club now open.
- 18/01/2010 05:13:45 PM
2111 Views
Characters
- 18/01/2010 05:14:59 PM
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Re: Characters
- 19/01/2010 12:03:30 AM
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Re: Characters
- 19/01/2010 07:32:06 PM
1108 Views
I feel just the opposite
- 20/01/2010 03:10:56 AM
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World building.
- 18/01/2010 05:16:21 PM
1170 Views
I haven't read Magician in ages, so...
- 18/01/2010 10:16:46 PM
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The Hall of Worlds makes a first appearence in...
- 19/01/2010 12:01:19 AM
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Re: World building.
- 19/01/2010 07:58:40 PM
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there is a reason for that
- 27/01/2010 06:13:08 PM
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Doh! I had completely forgotten that.
- 27/01/2010 07:28:08 PM
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that said, it is my absolute favorite setting for D&D style gaming
- 29/01/2010 05:55:02 AM
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Plot.
- 18/01/2010 05:17:30 PM
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Is the book too long?
- 18/01/2010 05:20:54 PM
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I would be curious to see the original version too.
- 18/01/2010 11:55:06 PM
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*NM*
General stuff &c.
- 18/01/2010 05:21:52 PM
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Magician is one of my favourite fantasy books.
- 18/01/2010 05:27:02 PM
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A "comfort read". I like that description.
- 20/01/2010 03:14:53 AM
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The Empire series is better than Feist by himself, IMO.
- 20/01/2010 07:55:30 AM
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Hmm. Maybe I will give it another shot. Craig was just trying to talk me into that yesterday.
- 20/01/2010 12:29:25 PM
1070 Views
in that case, you should be wary of the most beautifully written fantasy series of all time
- 27/01/2010 06:32:07 PM
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Oh, I loved that series! At least after the first hundred pages or so. That didn't qualify as dark
- 31/01/2010 07:58:08 PM
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I think that my husband made a good choice when he used it to help hook and reel me into fantasy.
- 18/01/2010 11:58:00 PM
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It is a very good introduction into the fantasy genre... and a fun read. *NM*
- 19/01/2010 03:26:34 PM
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Is it, though?
- 20/01/2010 06:32:19 PM
1270 Views
If not Magician, then what?
- 20/01/2010 07:50:35 PM
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Absolutely.
- 20/01/2010 08:19:19 PM
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May I ask...
- 20/01/2010 10:25:19 PM
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I think Feist's writing is superior to Jordan's.
- 20/01/2010 10:29:20 PM
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I've reread the original Riftwar books and the Empire series multiple time
- 27/01/2010 06:29:27 PM
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yeah, much better intro to fantasy then say David Eddings ** shudders ** *NM*
- 27/01/2010 06:22:51 PM
486 Views
Yes, for more mature readers (ie not children).
- 20/01/2010 08:28:10 PM
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Re: Yes, for more mature readers (ie not children).
- 20/01/2010 08:46:38 PM
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Aye, so do I.
- 20/01/2010 08:57:29 PM
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Agreed - people who first read him as adults are probably going to find him boring and repetitive.
- 20/01/2010 10:19:05 PM
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I'm pretty sure that that criticism can be levelled at many 'popular' genre writers/series.
- 21/01/2010 06:19:11 PM
1055 Views
if you want to start the kids on fantasy even earlier, try this
- 27/01/2010 06:41:14 PM
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Re: if you want to start the kids on fantasy even earlier, try this
- 27/01/2010 07:40:52 PM
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Xanth and Shannarra got me hooked on Fantasy
- 27/01/2010 08:20:30 PM
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Re: Xanth and Shannarra got me hooked on Fantasy
- 27/01/2010 10:58:36 PM
1133 Views
I started with Narnia at age 7 and read the Hobbit within a year
- 29/01/2010 06:01:01 AM
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While it has its dark moments, it is much lighter than most fantasy. A very fun, easy read. *NM*
- 19/01/2010 07:50:52 PM
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Has anyone decided to continue on with the series?
- 29/01/2010 06:12:01 AM
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Yes
- 29/01/2010 10:08:20 AM
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Prince of the Blood (Original if possible) Why?
- 31/01/2010 04:05:25 PM
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Due to some Retcon
- 01/02/2010 11:12:47 AM
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you mean there are now THREE versions??
- 05/02/2010 05:45:51 AM
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As far as I know, I have read everything
- 05/02/2010 05:39:35 AM
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