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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 2004 Views
Characters Rebekah - 18/01/2010 05:14:59 PM 1081 Views
My thoughts Rebekah - 18/01/2010 05:33:08 PM 1086 Views
Actually, Caraline is one of my favourites AgentOrange - 18/01/2010 09:42:49 PM 1149 Views
Crazy. Rebekah - 19/01/2010 07:33:48 PM 1191 Views
I liked her also. Spriteling - 28/01/2010 08:53:33 PM 983 Views
Re: Characters Tashmere - 19/01/2010 12:03:30 AM 1014 Views
Re: Characters Rebekah - 19/01/2010 07:32:06 PM 1016 Views
I feel just the opposite Tashmere - 20/01/2010 03:10:56 AM 1050 Views
Oh, that I agree with. Rebekah - 20/01/2010 07:57:56 AM 952 Views
You do understand. I definitely agree. Tashmere - 20/01/2010 12:25:40 PM 1068 Views
Re: Characters *spoilers* Nolan - 19/01/2010 03:49:30 PM 1172 Views
Hm. Rebekah - 19/01/2010 07:35:32 PM 1068 Views
Re: Characters Myrdhyn - 19/01/2010 07:49:52 PM 1022 Views
Amos Trask The Wandering Gambler - 21/01/2010 05:44:29 PM 1043 Views
Re: Amos Trask sarasedai - 22/01/2010 06:54:18 PM 984 Views
Re: Amos Trask Myrdhyn - 25/01/2010 03:44:14 PM 1030 Views
World building. Rebekah - 18/01/2010 05:16:21 PM 1081 Views
Cool, simple and effective magic system. AgentOrange - 18/01/2010 09:47:15 PM 1088 Views
I haven't read Magician in ages, so... Legolas - 18/01/2010 10:16:46 PM 994 Views
The Hall of Worlds makes a first appearence in... AgentOrange - 19/01/2010 12:01:19 AM 1012 Views
No, that sounds right. Legolas - 19/01/2010 12:16:58 AM 1086 Views
Shodow of a Dark Queen was a very very good book AgentOrange - 19/01/2010 09:00:47 AM 1049 Views
Re: World building. Myrdhyn - 19/01/2010 07:58:40 PM 1066 Views
there is a reason for that imlad - 27/01/2010 06:13:08 PM 976 Views
Doh! I had completely forgotten that. Myrdhyn - 27/01/2010 07:28:08 PM 1103 Views
that said, it is my absolute favorite setting for D&D style gaming imlad - 29/01/2010 05:55:02 AM 984 Views
Re: World building. Cockatiel of Doom - 08/02/2010 02:05:59 AM 1313 Views
Plot. Rebekah - 18/01/2010 05:17:30 PM 1055 Views
Re: Plot. Tashmere - 18/01/2010 11:51:55 PM 986 Views
I really enjoyed the plot. Spriteling - 28/01/2010 08:52:28 PM 1049 Views
Re: I really enjoyed the plot. Myrdhyn - 29/01/2010 03:14:52 PM 948 Views
Is the book too long? Rebekah - 18/01/2010 05:20:54 PM 1066 Views
I would be curious to see the original version too. Tashmere - 18/01/2010 11:55:06 PM 1003 Views
To give an example of edited bits Wibble - 01/02/2010 11:17:26 PM 1143 Views
Thanks, Wibble. *NM* Tashmere - 02/02/2010 01:18:19 AM 451 Views
General stuff &c. Rebekah - 18/01/2010 05:21:52 PM 1084 Views
Magician is one of my favourite fantasy books. Rebekah - 18/01/2010 05:27:02 PM 1185 Views
I couldn't have said it better *NM* Nolan - 19/01/2010 03:31:38 PM 481 Views
A "comfort read". I like that description. Tashmere - 20/01/2010 03:14:53 AM 1019 Views
The Empire series is better than Feist by himself, IMO. Rebekah - 20/01/2010 07:55:30 AM 1115 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 968 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 1002 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 901 Views
first time i read Servant of the Empire imlad - 27/01/2010 06:19:42 PM 972 Views
i loved Riftwar bu TOTALLY LOVED the Empire trilogy imlad - 27/01/2010 06:17:14 PM 1072 Views
nm *NM* Tashmere - 20/01/2010 03:15:20 AM 498 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 1053 Views
It is a very good introduction into the fantasy genre... and a fun read. *NM* Jacob - 19/01/2010 03:26:34 PM 456 Views
Is it, though? Nebhead - 20/01/2010 06:32:19 PM 1170 Views
If not Magician, then what? Myrdhyn - 20/01/2010 07:50:35 PM 1067 Views
How is WoT weighty in comparison to Magician? Jacob - 20/01/2010 08:22:05 PM 972 Views
Re: How is WoT weighty in comparison to Magician? Myrdhyn - 20/01/2010 08:45:48 PM 1098 Views
Absolutely. Jacob - 20/01/2010 08:19:19 PM 1038 Views
May I ask... Legolas - 20/01/2010 10:25:19 PM 1014 Views
I think Feist's writing is superior to Jordan's. Rebekah - 20/01/2010 10:29:20 PM 965 Views
Well, as I said, I'm having to base this on the Empire books... Legolas - 20/01/2010 10:56:27 PM 960 Views
Jordan has written not one believable female. Not one. Rebekah - 20/01/2010 10:59:25 PM 983 Views
I find the suggestion insulting. Jacob - 21/01/2010 06:13:03 PM 951 Views
I meant no offense. Legolas - 21/01/2010 08:05:08 PM 1106 Views
Jacob - 29/01/2010 07:28:02 PM 1080 Views
I've reread the original Riftwar books and the Empire series multiple time imlad - 27/01/2010 06:29:27 PM 1040 Views
yeah, much better intro to fantasy then say David Eddings ** shudders ** *NM* imlad - 27/01/2010 06:22:51 PM 455 Views
Yes, for more mature readers (ie not children). Rebekah - 20/01/2010 08:28:10 PM 946 Views
Re: Yes, for more mature readers (ie not children). Myrdhyn - 20/01/2010 08:46:38 PM 1127 Views
Aye, so do I. Rebekah - 20/01/2010 08:57:29 PM 1051 Views
Re: Aye, so do I. Myrdhyn - 20/01/2010 09:02:03 PM 953 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 1052 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 962 Views
I imagine so, yeah. Legolas - 21/01/2010 07:45:45 PM 987 Views
if you want to start the kids on fantasy even earlier, try this imlad - 27/01/2010 06:41:14 PM 1006 Views
Re: if you want to start the kids on fantasy even earlier, try this Myrdhyn - 27/01/2010 07:40:52 PM 959 Views
Xanth and Shannarra got me hooked on Fantasy Nolan - 27/01/2010 08:20:30 PM 915 Views
Re: Xanth and Shannarra got me hooked on Fantasy Myrdhyn - 27/01/2010 10:58:36 PM 1022 Views
I like the word "billiondy" *NM* Nolan - 31/01/2010 03:58:28 PM 479 Views
Thanks. You have my permission to use it. *NM* Myrdhyn - 04/02/2010 06:40:40 PM 453 Views
I started with Narnia at age 7 and read the Hobbit within a year imlad - 29/01/2010 06:01:01 AM 900 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 461 Views
Best thing about it is spawning the Empire Series mick - 21/01/2010 02:09:14 AM 930 Views
Thanks Rebekah!!!! Nolan - 27/01/2010 08:37:03 PM 944 Views
A great popcorn read Mark - 27/01/2010 11:28:34 PM 918 Views
Has anyone decided to continue on with the series? Knightscape - 29/01/2010 06:12:01 AM 1041 Views
Shadow of a Dark Queen is where I stopped with Feist. Rebekah - 29/01/2010 07:45:11 AM 885 Views
Yes Mark - 29/01/2010 10:08:20 AM 1053 Views
Re: Yes Myrdhyn - 29/01/2010 03:18:15 PM 876 Views
I know Mark - 29/01/2010 03:52:09 PM 1050 Views
Re: I know Myrdhyn - 30/01/2010 01:46:31 AM 1056 Views
Prince of the Blood (Original if possible) Why? Nolan - 31/01/2010 04:05:25 PM 967 Views
Due to some Retcon Mark - 01/02/2010 11:12:47 AM 1145 Views
you mean there are now THREE versions?? imlad - 05/02/2010 05:45:51 AM 1132 Views
I don't think so Mark - 05/02/2010 10:42:59 AM 1161 Views
thats probably the one i am thinking of then imlad - 05/02/2010 11:40:48 PM 1158 Views
I want to, yes. Spriteling - 29/01/2010 01:40:22 PM 1357 Views
I have them all. Shall I add it to your list? Wibble - 29/01/2010 07:44:46 PM 1076 Views
I will read more after I finish The Count of Monte Cristo *NM* Tashmere - 31/01/2010 07:59:52 PM 449 Views
As far as I know, I have read everything imlad - 05/02/2010 05:39:35 AM 907 Views
At The Gates of Darkness is the most recent Mark - 05/02/2010 10:54:26 AM 1327 Views
don't think I've even seen that one yet imlad - 05/02/2010 11:46:29 PM 893 Views
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