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Jacob Send a noteboard - 29/01/2010 07:28:02 PM
It seems we have to disagree about what you did or didn't suggest, then. :P Because "one of the stronger examples" and "a higher quality writing and storytelling than average" sounds to me like you do hold it in fairly high regard, even if you pointed out in the same post that it wasn't all that original or a masterpiece.


I meant as an indicative fantasy novel... representing the average fantasy story construction and mode. As such, even if I don't hold the work in high regard, I do think it is a great example of fantasy in general.

I'm not so sure that I have. Especially now that you confirm that you read the book a long time ago and haven't reread it since (or did you just mean you didn't reread it specifically for this book club?). As I wrote elsewhere in the thread, my opinion of the Empire series was fairly high based on my memories of reading it - but it's a lot lower now that I actually reread most of it. Then I don't think it's that unreasonable to suspect you might have a similar experience if you reread Magician, or that if you reread it and still liked it a lot, part of the reason why would be nostalgia, like with Eddings for so many people. I might be underrating the book by saying that, but then, neither of us seems to have read it any time recently. ;)


Nope. I wouldn't rank the book even close to my top 100 fantasy novels. You see, my comments are directed at my stated premise, that Magician is an indicative work of fantasy fiction, and one of the better examples of average. If a person wanted a good example of the fantasy mode and style but not wanting to get caught up in a long series, Magician would be one of the several books that I'd suggest... not the top of the list still.

I admit I may have misinterpreted your reply to Myrdhyn as being more critical of WoT than it actually was. A number of times in recent months, you've made similar comments about not thinking WoT is all that great, and perhaps the contrast between that negative tone and your enthusiastic tone about Magician has made me misjudge your comparative views of the two, when in fact the remarks were made in very different contexts and can't be compared.


I'm not so much critical of Wheel of Time as I am of people who seem to elevate that series to levels that it just doesn't attain. I enjoy the books, and I am perfectly willing to understand that people LOVE them, consider them their favorite fantasy novels. There are just many things that WoT isn't. I try to at least get people to enter into conversation on those areas where our opinions disconnect.

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Magician by Raymond E Feist: Book Club now open. Rebekah - 18/01/2010 05:13:45 PM 2082 Views
Characters Rebekah - 18/01/2010 05:14:59 PM 1146 Views
My thoughts Rebekah - 18/01/2010 05:33:08 PM 1154 Views
Actually, Caraline is one of my favourites AgentOrange - 18/01/2010 09:42:49 PM 1228 Views
Crazy. Rebekah - 19/01/2010 07:33:48 PM 1273 Views
I liked her also. Spriteling - 28/01/2010 08:53:33 PM 1051 Views
Re: Characters Tashmere - 19/01/2010 12:03:30 AM 1080 Views
Re: Characters Rebekah - 19/01/2010 07:32:06 PM 1083 Views
I feel just the opposite Tashmere - 20/01/2010 03:10:56 AM 1114 Views
Oh, that I agree with. Rebekah - 20/01/2010 07:57:56 AM 1033 Views
You do understand. I definitely agree. Tashmere - 20/01/2010 12:25:40 PM 1140 Views
Re: Characters *spoilers* Nolan - 19/01/2010 03:49:30 PM 1247 Views
Hm. Rebekah - 19/01/2010 07:35:32 PM 1136 Views
Re: Characters Myrdhyn - 19/01/2010 07:49:52 PM 1086 Views
Amos Trask The Wandering Gambler - 21/01/2010 05:44:29 PM 1109 Views
Re: Amos Trask sarasedai - 22/01/2010 06:54:18 PM 1045 Views
Re: Amos Trask Myrdhyn - 25/01/2010 03:44:14 PM 1104 Views
World building. Rebekah - 18/01/2010 05:16:21 PM 1145 Views
Cool, simple and effective magic system. AgentOrange - 18/01/2010 09:47:15 PM 1161 Views
I haven't read Magician in ages, so... Legolas - 18/01/2010 10:16:46 PM 1063 Views
The Hall of Worlds makes a first appearence in... AgentOrange - 19/01/2010 12:01:19 AM 1072 Views
No, that sounds right. Legolas - 19/01/2010 12:16:58 AM 1153 Views
Shodow of a Dark Queen was a very very good book AgentOrange - 19/01/2010 09:00:47 AM 1111 Views
Re: World building. Myrdhyn - 19/01/2010 07:58:40 PM 1144 Views
there is a reason for that imlad - 27/01/2010 06:13:08 PM 1049 Views
Doh! I had completely forgotten that. Myrdhyn - 27/01/2010 07:28:08 PM 1175 Views
that said, it is my absolute favorite setting for D&D style gaming imlad - 29/01/2010 05:55:02 AM 1056 Views
Re: World building. Cockatiel of Doom - 08/02/2010 02:05:59 AM 1386 Views
Plot. Rebekah - 18/01/2010 05:17:30 PM 1135 Views
Re: Plot. Tashmere - 18/01/2010 11:51:55 PM 1063 Views
I really enjoyed the plot. Spriteling - 28/01/2010 08:52:28 PM 1110 Views
Re: I really enjoyed the plot. Myrdhyn - 29/01/2010 03:14:52 PM 1015 Views
Is the book too long? Rebekah - 18/01/2010 05:20:54 PM 1137 Views
I would be curious to see the original version too. Tashmere - 18/01/2010 11:55:06 PM 1070 Views
To give an example of edited bits Wibble - 01/02/2010 11:17:26 PM 1191 Views
Thanks, Wibble. *NM* Tashmere - 02/02/2010 01:18:19 AM 479 Views
General stuff &c. Rebekah - 18/01/2010 05:21:52 PM 1159 Views
Magician is one of my favourite fantasy books. Rebekah - 18/01/2010 05:27:02 PM 1257 Views
I couldn't have said it better *NM* Nolan - 19/01/2010 03:31:38 PM 506 Views
A "comfort read". I like that description. Tashmere - 20/01/2010 03:14:53 AM 1097 Views
The Empire series is better than Feist by himself, IMO. Rebekah - 20/01/2010 07:55:30 AM 1187 Views
Hmm. Maybe I will give it another shot. Craig was just trying to talk me into that yesterday. Tashmere - 20/01/2010 12:29:25 PM 1040 Views
in that case, you should be wary of the most beautifully written fantasy series of all time imlad - 27/01/2010 06:32:07 PM 1078 Views
Oh, I loved that series! At least after the first hundred pages or so. That didn't qualify as dark Tashmere - 31/01/2010 07:58:08 PM 972 Views
first time i read Servant of the Empire imlad - 27/01/2010 06:19:42 PM 1055 Views
i loved Riftwar bu TOTALLY LOVED the Empire trilogy imlad - 27/01/2010 06:17:14 PM 1150 Views
nm *NM* Tashmere - 20/01/2010 03:15:20 AM 528 Views
I think that my husband made a good choice when he used it to help hook and reel me into fantasy. Tashmere - 18/01/2010 11:58:00 PM 1129 Views
It is a very good introduction into the fantasy genre... and a fun read. *NM* Jacob - 19/01/2010 03:26:34 PM 482 Views
Is it, though? Nebhead - 20/01/2010 06:32:19 PM 1241 Views
If not Magician, then what? Myrdhyn - 20/01/2010 07:50:35 PM 1145 Views
How is WoT weighty in comparison to Magician? Jacob - 20/01/2010 08:22:05 PM 1042 Views
Re: How is WoT weighty in comparison to Magician? Myrdhyn - 20/01/2010 08:45:48 PM 1170 Views
Absolutely. Jacob - 20/01/2010 08:19:19 PM 1109 Views
May I ask... Legolas - 20/01/2010 10:25:19 PM 1085 Views
I think Feist's writing is superior to Jordan's. Rebekah - 20/01/2010 10:29:20 PM 1048 Views
Well, as I said, I'm having to base this on the Empire books... Legolas - 20/01/2010 10:56:27 PM 1035 Views
Jordan has written not one believable female. Not one. Rebekah - 20/01/2010 10:59:25 PM 1057 Views
I find the suggestion insulting. Jacob - 21/01/2010 06:13:03 PM 1023 Views
I meant no offense. Legolas - 21/01/2010 08:05:08 PM 1178 Views
Jacob - 29/01/2010 07:28:02 PM 1143 Views
I've reread the original Riftwar books and the Empire series multiple time imlad - 27/01/2010 06:29:27 PM 1118 Views
yeah, much better intro to fantasy then say David Eddings ** shudders ** *NM* imlad - 27/01/2010 06:22:51 PM 473 Views
Yes, for more mature readers (ie not children). Rebekah - 20/01/2010 08:28:10 PM 1018 Views
Re: Yes, for more mature readers (ie not children). Myrdhyn - 20/01/2010 08:46:38 PM 1194 Views
Aye, so do I. Rebekah - 20/01/2010 08:57:29 PM 1121 Views
Re: Aye, so do I. Myrdhyn - 20/01/2010 09:02:03 PM 1019 Views
Agreed - people who first read him as adults are probably going to find him boring and repetitive. Legolas - 20/01/2010 10:19:05 PM 1121 Views
I'm pretty sure that that criticism can be levelled at many 'popular' genre writers/series. Jacob - 21/01/2010 06:19:11 PM 1030 Views
I imagine so, yeah. Legolas - 21/01/2010 07:45:45 PM 1060 Views
if you want to start the kids on fantasy even earlier, try this imlad - 27/01/2010 06:41:14 PM 1089 Views
Re: if you want to start the kids on fantasy even earlier, try this Myrdhyn - 27/01/2010 07:40:52 PM 1031 Views
Xanth and Shannarra got me hooked on Fantasy Nolan - 27/01/2010 08:20:30 PM 982 Views
Re: Xanth and Shannarra got me hooked on Fantasy Myrdhyn - 27/01/2010 10:58:36 PM 1103 Views
I like the word "billiondy" *NM* Nolan - 31/01/2010 03:58:28 PM 510 Views
Thanks. You have my permission to use it. *NM* Myrdhyn - 04/02/2010 06:40:40 PM 472 Views
I started with Narnia at age 7 and read the Hobbit within a year imlad - 29/01/2010 06:01:01 AM 977 Views
While it has its dark moments, it is much lighter than most fantasy. A very fun, easy read. *NM* Myrdhyn - 19/01/2010 07:50:52 PM 491 Views
Best thing about it is spawning the Empire Series mick - 21/01/2010 02:09:14 AM 999 Views
Thanks Rebekah!!!! Nolan - 27/01/2010 08:37:03 PM 1012 Views
A great popcorn read Mark - 27/01/2010 11:28:34 PM 956 Views
Has anyone decided to continue on with the series? Knightscape - 29/01/2010 06:12:01 AM 1120 Views
Shadow of a Dark Queen is where I stopped with Feist. Rebekah - 29/01/2010 07:45:11 AM 923 Views
Yes Mark - 29/01/2010 10:08:20 AM 1123 Views
Re: Yes Myrdhyn - 29/01/2010 03:18:15 PM 947 Views
I know Mark - 29/01/2010 03:52:09 PM 1128 Views
Re: I know Myrdhyn - 30/01/2010 01:46:31 AM 1130 Views
Prince of the Blood (Original if possible) Why? Nolan - 31/01/2010 04:05:25 PM 1033 Views
Due to some Retcon Mark - 01/02/2010 11:12:47 AM 1216 Views
you mean there are now THREE versions?? imlad - 05/02/2010 05:45:51 AM 1206 Views
I don't think so Mark - 05/02/2010 10:42:59 AM 1239 Views
thats probably the one i am thinking of then imlad - 05/02/2010 11:40:48 PM 1238 Views
I want to, yes. Spriteling - 29/01/2010 01:40:22 PM 1424 Views
I have them all. Shall I add it to your list? Wibble - 29/01/2010 07:44:46 PM 1146 Views
I will read more after I finish The Count of Monte Cristo *NM* Tashmere - 31/01/2010 07:59:52 PM 481 Views
As far as I know, I have read everything imlad - 05/02/2010 05:39:35 AM 987 Views
At The Gates of Darkness is the most recent Mark - 05/02/2010 10:54:26 AM 1395 Views
don't think I've even seen that one yet imlad - 05/02/2010 11:46:29 PM 956 Views
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