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May 23, 2020
10:55
:26
am
SpiffCoug
UnapologeticSequelTrilogyFa
Tolkien essentially took the modern Fantasy genre from 0 to 1. That's the hardest step.
Every Fantasy story of the last 80 years has built off of what Tolkien started.
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SpiffCoug
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SpiffCoug
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Question for fans of the Stormlight Archives: how does it compare to Tolkien?
The Dark Knight
5/22/20 9:20pm
Tolkien is worlds better.
YSMACK
5/22/20 9:21pm
I’ve been trying to get my son to read Tolkien but he just can’t get through it. Stormlight is his
Cosmodiar
5/22/20 9:25pm
I agree Tolkien is better but Sanderson is different.
byujdmba
5/22/20 9:30pm
Yeah, but WOT books 7-11 don’t count.
Blue Print
5/22/20 9:44pm
True, and yet I'm one of the few who still love those middle books.
Cosmo's Uncle
5/22/20 9:56pm
You must really love the intricacies of embroidery.
Blue Print
5/22/20 9:58pm
By the time I got to the middle of the series, I was so invested in the world
Cosmo's Uncle
5/22/20 10:04pm
Sanderson did some good things, but his weaknesses w characters hurt
YSMACK
5/22/20 10:34pm
Wait, what!
Geldir
5/23/20 8:49pm
LOL. And?
YSMACK
5/24/20 2:51am
Sanderson isn't weak in character building.
Blue Print
5/24/20 10:04am
We disagree.
YSMACK
5/24/20 11:50am
I reread them all a couple of years ago. I was surprised at my reaction to them.
BlueCoug
5/22/20 10:23pm
Actually one other thing
BlueCoug
5/22/20 10:25pm
I would say the first 2 or even 3 books are masterpieces.
YSMACK
5/22/20 10:37pm
Mat is one of the best characters if not the best
Turd Ferguson
5/22/20 11:24pm
Wheel of Time was an incredible series and easy to reread.
JohnnyComeLately
5/22/20 10:01pm
Funny. I’m re-reading and am at "Crossroads."
byujdmba
5/22/20 10:42pm
I gave up on WoT after book 2.
panguitch
5/22/20 10:29pm
To be fair, no one really is. He’s the master
YIsForBrigham
5/23/20 10:04pm
I honestly prefer Stormlight Archives to anything Tolkien has written. Don't get me wrong, I loved LOR but writing has
TheLoneCougar
5/24/20 6:57pm
I love how Hemingway uses words, you can almost taste and feel...
So it goes...
5/24/20 7:49pm
I've never read Sanderson, but it took me a few attempts to warm up to Tolkien..
So it goes...
5/22/20 9:29pm
I love both. Both Wonderful. Tolkien in the context of WW2 helps me understand
BostonCougar
5/22/20 9:47pm
I'm a fan of both. Tolkien is a far better writer, but Sanderson is easier to
Cosmo's Uncle
5/22/20 9:55pm
Two different books-The first two Stormlight, are for me, maybe my favorite
Incentivize
5/22/20 10:01pm
The only fantasy I've read besides Tolkien is...
So it goes...
5/22/20 10:13pm
Yes. It's ok. Came out the same time as Shannara, in a rush to capitalize on
panguitch
5/22/20 10:16pm
They must not have been very good, because I can't remember a thing about them..
So it goes...
5/22/20 10:31pm
Nothing can compare to Tolkien. Sanderson is one of the best fantasists today.
panguitch
5/22/20 10:22pm
Well said. Amazing to me that “Fantasy Fans” of today can’t see how amazing Tolkien was
JohnnyComeLately
5/23/20 10:05am
Tolkien defined the genre for a couple generations
El Jefe
5/23/20 10:22am
Like panguitch said it’s like comparing the Iliad to Gladiator.
JohnnyComeLately
5/23/20 10:33am
I agree that Tolkien defined what we would call Classic Fantasy, although it's still fairly recent
El Jefe
5/23/20 10:39am
Tolkien essentially took the modern Fantasy genre from 0 to 1. That's the hardest step.
SpiffCoug
5/23/20 10:55am
I agree, every modern day fantasy writer uses some aspects of Tolkien in their works.
JohnnyComeLately
5/23/20 11:00am
Totally different experience. Sanderson is really good in how easy he is to read
IUCougar
5/22/20 10:52pm
Malazan BOTF is my favorite fantasy series.
jaromp
5/23/20 8:51am
The writing is Malazan BOTF is just absolutely top notch. I loved that series.
No touching
5/23/20 2:02pm
Absolutely agree with your statement about Malazan being better the second time
Cosmo's Uncle
5/23/20 10:31am
I agree MBotF is a slog
Reedme
5/23/20 4:13pm
It is hard to say that it gets easier (or better). But all the story lines do
IUCougar
5/23/20 8:34pm
I tried Malazan. That was HARD.I gave up pretty quick.No idea waht was happening
Geldir
5/23/20 9:08pm
I found those books opened up to me a lot on a second reading.
YSMACK
5/24/20 3:36am
I find Sanderson to have better character development than Tolkien and less
IrishBlue
5/22/20 10:53pm
Tolkien is literature, Sanderson is entertainment.
valleus
5/22/20 11:29pm
Quite a statement. Care to elaborate?
SandYFan
5/23/20 1:40am
Tolkien was a professor at Cambridge, knew multiple languages, extremely
valleus
5/23/20 9:00am
Oxford. The label "literature" is for poseurs. Sanderson sneaks some deep stuff
panguitch
5/23/20 10:39am
“Literature is for poseurs.” Sure thing dude. People will be reading Tolkien in
valleus
5/23/20 10:45am
I think Sanderson will be more durable than you think.
Cougarrr
5/23/20 10:54am
Sanderson is head and shoulders above most fantasists today. Of course he will
panguitch
5/23/20 10:57am
Tolkien said his stuff wasn’t literature
Sumguy
5/23/20 11:04am
RE: Tolkien is literature, Sanderson is entertainment.
lolapaluuza
8/23/20 1:19pm
I credit Tolkein for getting me into "adult level" fantasy when I was a kid, but
DoctorWho
5/23/20 1:19am
Tolkien is so dry! It's painful. I can't put Sanderson down.
annapcoug
5/23/20 6:30am
Tolkien made a world, not just a story.
El Jefe
5/23/20 8:29am
Tolkien was an academic. Sanderson is a professional.
TwinsRight
5/23/20 9:13am
I love both authors, but they are very different in style and how they approach both story telling and world building.
durandal
5/23/20 12:47pm
One more suggestion. If you haven't already, read The Hobbit. It's much easier to read than LotR and it sets up
durandal
5/23/20 2:07pm
Sent this as a BM, but wanted to see if other people had input on it.
Geldir
5/23/20 9:29pm
Sanderson original Mistborn series is very good
I'mBatman
5/23/20 9:54pm
Stick with it! The first part of the Way of Kings was hard for me to get into. The start fakes you out about 3 times
durandal
5/23/20 9:56pm
I finished the first book
I'mBatman
5/23/20 10:03pm
Ah, well fair enough then. I loved the second book, but it may not be for you.
durandal
5/23/20 10:08pm
I never liked her character either.
EtTuKalante
5/23/20 10:18pm
Kaladin is great, but sometimes a little superhero-ish. That can be a tendency
panguitch
5/23/20 10:30pm
Agree completely. Kal is amazing & Shallan is awful (see below on 1 reason why)
YSMACK
5/24/20 3:22am
Shallan's character is awful.
YSMACK
5/24/20 2:42am
Textbook deadpan sarcasm
TwinsRight
5/24/20 8:30am
Where do you fit CS Lewis on here?
OU Cougar
5/23/20 9:58pm
I'm not familiar with Sanderson. Where would I start to begin his series? Are...
CougaReb
5/24/20 12:43am
Start with the Mistborn series.
Cru Jones
5/24/20 12:46am
Seconded.
BostonCougar
5/24/20 9:14am
Most of his fantasy novels take place in the same universe he calls the Cosmere.
durandal
5/24/20 9:38am
There is one specific instance for reading order being important, IMO. That is
DoctorWho
5/24/20 10:21am
I think you should also read the Mistborn Secret History before Oathbringer
El Jefe
5/24/20 10:23am
I'm assuming by "the book" you are talking about Oathbringer. If so, I agree.
DoctorWho
5/24/20 10:25am
Fixed 😁
El Jefe
5/24/20 11:19am
That definitely would enhance the reading, though I think they can still be thoroughly enjoyed in any order.
durandal
5/24/20 11:58am
I'd read them in roughly publish order. His writing skills improve over time.
BlueCoug
5/24/20 10:49am
Here's the recommended reading order from Sanderson himself
Reedme
5/24/20 12:19pm
He finished Wheel of Time when Robert Jordan died, if you've heard of those or are interested.
TheLoneCougar
5/24/20 7:01pm
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