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Posted By: StevenAV Apr 15, 2002 - 03:06 pm

I think that J.R.R. Tolkein did a great job on The Hobbit,Lord of the Rings,Two Towers,& The King's Return. I recommend it for anyone.

Posted By: Bmat Apr 15, 2002 - 06:12 pm

StevenAV, I would be interested to hear what you particularly liked?

Posted By: D3n15 Oct 05, 2002 - 08:28 am

The Hobbit was amazing, I read it 9 years ago I think... it's got plenty of action and moves along.

The Lord of The Rings trilogy though... it's good yes... but some parts of it just seem dragged out. I can't be much more specific than that though since I read it after The Hobbit... and my memory isn't so good I can remember so many details after that much time.

So, if your looking for pure & quick entertainment in your reading, you might do better than read LOTR, but if your a tad bit more dedicated, sure it's worth a reading. If I had access to the books, I'd re-read them just to make sure my assesement is correct (but I'm definately not buying them just to re-read it).

Posted By: Dark Knight Oct 06, 2002 - 05:28 pm

For me there were way to many dwarves in the Hobbit story, what was it 12, I lost track of them all....

As for LOTR it is a bit slow to start with...but then gets going....

Posted By: Shanko9 Nov 05, 2002 - 12:46 am

The Hobbit is an excellent read, and I enjoy it still to this day. It is amazing how the Lord of the Rings unravels itself from the tiny tale that the Hobbit is.

Tolkien's work is for the more intellectual fantasy reader. He was a professor at Oxford and a brilliant linguist. He wrote several entire languages, and detailed the creation of an entire world and several cultures, including a long and detailed history. In fact, he has a book entitled "The Silmarillion" that is almost like a textbook in its vivid detail. He is the master of description, and his books are an excellent read.

If, however, you are unable to appreciate that level of literature, I really really recommend Raymond E. Feist. I've read thirteen of his books. They really are amazing. Start with "Magician: Apprentice." It's his first book and the first chronologically. Simply amazing.

Posted By: Iznardi Nov 05, 2002 - 09:01 am

I've given up on adult fiction and returned to the world of fiction for youth. Here are four books that can be appreciated by anyone at any age:

The Thief (Caldecott award winner) by M.W. Turner
Smart-mouth Gen is taken out of the king's prison to help in a quest. Now everyone wants to know if this teenager is really the big-shot thief he claims to be. Possibly the best hero in a decade.

Midnight Magic (by Avi)
A magician's apprentice must save his master from a court intrigue. The problem: if he helps the queen and princess, the evil duke will kill his master. If he helps the evil duke, the duke will become the next king--and will kill his master.

Sasquatch (by Roland Smith)
What do you do when your dad gets involved with a bunch of gun-happy Bigfoot hunters out camping on a dangerously unstable Mt. St. Helens?

Pendragon by D.J. MacHale
Just reading this one now. A fourteen-year-old gets sucked into a faraway medieval society and into a lot of trouble.

They're all clean, wholesome, fast-paced, and a heck of a lot better than what I've seen in the science fiction section lately at the bookstore.

Posted By: Bmat Nov 05, 2002 - 10:19 am

Iz, very interesting suggestions. I wonder if you would open a new topic with your comments and suggestions? They might get more visibility.

Posted By: Shanko9 Nov 06, 2002 - 12:18 am

Before turning to children's literature, please do give a last chance to an author with a large and worldwide following, Raymond E. Feist. I can suggest a reading order. His characters are charismatic, and you don't want them to die, but they are not completely invincible. There is a very real aspect to his characters, even if they are protagonists. His world, Midkemia, has a very real feel to it, and its design makes it easy to relate to. It is almost like our world...yet not quite so. Altogether, I would love to read all of those books over again. They are simply amazing.

Posted By: Shanko9 Nov 06, 2002 - 12:19 am

You can find his books in any public library

Posted By: Nomad Nov 06, 2002 - 08:23 am

Im not one for long winded opinions, So let me just say, about Tolkiens Hobbit/LoTR series, that they are a read for those who may want to really emerse onseself oin in a very detailed and made up culture. When I was reading the book. I found myself constantly looking back to the maps in the front of the books. It gave me a real sense of what this world of tolkiens really looked like.

With that said, I can agree with some about the long windedness of some of the descriptione within the books. Made, for me, for very slow reading in parts. However, once you get past all that, the story took me away and really emersed my mind into a different world. So, good and bad on both parts. Goot remember when these books were actually written. He (Tolkien) was WAY ahead of his time on this. I'm not a "major" fan of Tolkien, but enjoyed the above books very much.

Posted By: Odrade Nov 08, 2002 - 04:26 pm

The Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings series was a groundbreaking series when it first came out. Fantasy didn't exsist like we know it now, with more book than can be read. I think for someone who is just starting fantasy, it is a good series to begin with. it gives an idea of sorts how fantasy books are constructed. And if they get tired at the end of The Hobbit, it is easy to stop there.

I think Tolkein did a great job, especially considering he started almost a new genre. But it is not for everyone either.

The one thing to beware of if you are new to the series is comparing it to the movies. Yes, the movies follow the book, (and the rest probably will too) closely, but it is easy to try to find some of the high points in the movie, and miss some of the things the book emphasises more.

For those who find Tolkein the evil stepfather of fantasy, lording over all others, don't take it so seriously. SOme of you get so upset when it comes to Tolkein. Jeez.

Posted By: Nomad Mar 24, 2003 - 07:28 am

Arthur C. Clarke Interview Broadcast on Web Today

An interview with the reclusive Sir Arthur C. Clarke will be broadcast on the Planetary Society's public radio show, Planetary Radio, Monday, March 24 at 8:30 p.m. ET. The broadcast is available on the web at www.KUCI.org, and will be archived at the Planetary Society's website.

In the interview, Sir Arthur discusses his new novel, "The Last Theorem," as well as his thoughts on where to look for the next technological revolutions. Clarke will reveal the origin of hobbits, as told to him by J.R.R. Tolkien himself, according to a statement from the Planetary Society.

"One nice thing about the science fiction world: I don't recall any great enmity, possibly because we were all a beleaguered minority and had to stand together," Sir Arthur said.

Planetary Radio airs live on KUCI, 88.9 FM, the public radio station at the University of California, Irvine. The program includes a Q&A segment for listener's questions about the universe. The program also discusses space facts, trivia and things visible in the night sky.

Posted By: sweetheart_to_the_written_word May 26, 2003 - 04:53 am

i have to dissgree slightly with 'The Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings series was a groundbreaking series when it first came out.', as it took over 10 yrs for the lotr to get fully recognised. it was then that the book hit the big time as the americans discovered it and the infectious nature of middle earth spread itself like wildfire.also, when referring to tolkein, its wise to use past tense because he is, however unfortunately, very dead lol. i am a huge fan of the books, but i do agree that they do drag in some areas, for example i found this to be true of tolkeins description of the flowers in caras glaladon (galadriel and celeborn's city in lothlorien) but thats just my view, e.g. my sister found this description wonderfull. however much i adored this book, it is one, unfortunately, for dedicated readers or perfectionists, as the third is the best, so (akin to the harry potter series) there is no point just reading the first one, as that one just sets up the series - you have to read them all! the return of the king is pure heaven, and the last line of the last (or penultimate?) chapter will remain in my mind forever '"well. im back" said sam.' - says it all if uv read it. however i am in slight doubt that tolkein created this genre of fiction, or that he was way ahead of his time, but he certainly was a master in his own right. ironically, as it would never happen, only quality of words such as those used by tolkein himself, could ever describe the majesty of this haunting and beautiful epic.

if you are after a slightly lighter or shorter read, i advise terry pratchett's discworld series - they are hilarious, with some brilliant theories on the world and death as well as our cultures - all successfully hidden under a heap of absurdities which you cannot but help laugh at. to give you hint, the stories revolve around a world which consists of a disc (and its hub at the centre) which rests on the backs of four giant elephants, which in turn stand on the back of a gargantuan turtle, who swims through space. just wait till you get to his theory on the big bang