Marvellous recs. They're things I'd never have thought of, but seem like they'd intrigue me. Just wondering, how do I get hold of Leafie and Kono Danshi?
As for fantasy novels, yes, Jordan is worth it. I'd still say, despite all my rage at him, and him being singularly responsible for turning me off multi-volume fantasy tales, he does spin a superlative yarn. But if you DO want a kick-arse female lead, I say check out Daughter of the Empire and its two sequels (the Empire trilogy). It's a political epic about a woman conquering a system. It was co-written by Raymond Feist and Janny Wurts, and the reason the female character is good is probably because of Janny Wurts. Feist writes wonderful, memorable characters - who are all men. So it was nice to see his worldbuilding skills (it is set in one of the worlds he created prior to this series) but with a female input in the character development.
Also, you saying they age Daenerys in the show suddenly makes me more interested in watching it. They must have literally corrected the only thing that really pissed me off about Martin. Hah. Not to mention all this talk really makes me want to go back to my original life goal of being a fantasy novellist. I mean, I still WANT to do it, but all these other life priorities getting in the way. From age 35, I'll sit down, take a writing course, and finally get to the goal I've always wanted. If it kills me.
Well, if you don't mind authors dying before the story is finishes, then Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series is another epic ride to pick up. Well, for the first six books, it's awesome. Then it gets patchy. Book Ten might as well be an encyclopedia for all the 'plot' you get. I think nine is mindblowing, though, if I remember correctly. NOTE: the female characters in Jordan's novel are a fucking joke. It's like he took all the stereotypes of wimmin and their wimmin ways and put them into the secondary female cast (cannot remember a single significant female hero at the moment). In comparison, Martin is a bloody feminist. Daenerys' rape (sorry, I don't see it as anything else, having a 12-year old fuck an adult with a beard) made me seriously uncomfortable, but apart from that, you have a diverse cast of awesome women. Jordan is a writer still stuck in the 80s (also: dead), whereas Martin is a 21st century fantasy novellist.
Also, just finished From the New World myself. Stunning series. Reminded me a lot of Kemono no Souja Erin. Now suffering from post-Awesome Anime Syndrome, though. Desperately trying to find something to fill the gap. Any recs?
I read the books when I was a teenager and they were great - although I got a little fed up around book four, I think. That's still sitting in a pile of boxes half unread. I believe some time around then, I just got pissed off with fantasy novelists writing a trillion books for one series and I could see Martin going the way of Robert Jordan ("Hey, I'll get to book ten - YES BOOK TEN - and then I'll fucking die! How about that for a cliffhanger??"). So I figured I'd drop it until someone told me the story had a definite conclusion. Then anime took over as my number one hobby. Considering they adapted Goodkind's Sword of Truth, a somewhat lesser series altogether (although first book is awesome!), for television, it was only a matter of time till they got to Martin. I've heard only good things, but I don't really have the time right now. That said, if they ever get to Raymond Feist's novels, I'll cream my pants. Magician was always my favourite fantasy novel and either that or the Riftwar or Serpentwar series deserve some form of adaptation.
I haven't read that manga but I'd be the most thrilled if the new project was unrelated to any of his previous works. Which given the whole "Penguinbear" thing seems somewhat unlikely but... eh, naivety is sweet until it breaks your heart.
Yeah the retro anime fan shaking his stick at the current state of things can be annoying but at the same time it makes me a little grumpy to see what SEEMS to be a decrease in original/well-written shows. Stuff like Madoka, Shiki and Wandering Son keeps me hopeful though! c:
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Marvellous recs. They're things I'd never have thought of, but seem like they'd intrigue me. Just wondering, how do I get hold of Leafie and Kono Danshi?
As for fantasy novels, yes, Jordan is worth it. I'd still say, despite all my rage at him, and him being singularly responsible for turning me off multi-volume fantasy tales, he does spin a superlative yarn. But if you DO want a kick-arse female lead, I say check out Daughter of the Empire and its two sequels (the Empire trilogy). It's a political epic about a woman conquering a system. It was co-written by Raymond Feist and Janny Wurts, and the reason the female character is good is probably because of Janny Wurts. Feist writes wonderful, memorable characters - who are all men. So it was nice to see his worldbuilding skills (it is set in one of the worlds he created prior to this series) but with a female input in the character development.
Also, you saying they age Daenerys in the show suddenly makes me more interested in watching it. They must have literally corrected the only thing that really pissed me off about Martin. Hah. Not to mention all this talk really makes me want to go back to my original life goal of being a fantasy novellist. I mean, I still WANT to do it, but all these other life priorities getting in the way. From age 35, I'll sit down, take a writing course, and finally get to the goal I've always wanted. If it kills me.
Well, if you don't mind authors dying before the story is finishes, then Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series is another epic ride to pick up. Well, for the first six books, it's awesome. Then it gets patchy. Book Ten might as well be an encyclopedia for all the 'plot' you get. I think nine is mindblowing, though, if I remember correctly. NOTE: the female characters in Jordan's novel are a fucking joke. It's like he took all the stereotypes of wimmin and their wimmin ways and put them into the secondary female cast (cannot remember a single significant female hero at the moment). In comparison, Martin is a bloody feminist. Daenerys' rape (sorry, I don't see it as anything else, having a 12-year old fuck an adult with a beard) made me seriously uncomfortable, but apart from that, you have a diverse cast of awesome women. Jordan is a writer still stuck in the 80s (also: dead), whereas Martin is a 21st century fantasy novellist.
Also, just finished From the New World myself. Stunning series. Reminded me a lot of Kemono no Souja Erin. Now suffering from post-Awesome Anime Syndrome, though. Desperately trying to find something to fill the gap. Any recs?
Hey there, Air! Long time no hear.
I read the books when I was a teenager and they were great - although I got a little fed up around book four, I think. That's still sitting in a pile of boxes half unread. I believe some time around then, I just got pissed off with fantasy novelists writing a trillion books for one series and I could see Martin going the way of Robert Jordan ("Hey, I'll get to book ten - YES BOOK TEN - and then I'll fucking die! How about that for a cliffhanger??"). So I figured I'd drop it until someone told me the story had a definite conclusion. Then anime took over as my number one hobby. Considering they adapted Goodkind's Sword of Truth, a somewhat lesser series altogether (although first book is awesome!), for television, it was only a matter of time till they got to Martin. I've heard only good things, but I don't really have the time right now. That said, if they ever get to Raymond Feist's novels, I'll cream my pants. Magician was always my favourite fantasy novel and either that or the Riftwar or Serpentwar series deserve some form of adaptation.
I haven't read that manga but I'd be the most thrilled if the new project was unrelated to any of his previous works. Which given the whole "Penguinbear" thing seems somewhat unlikely but... eh, naivety is sweet until it breaks your heart.
Yeah the retro anime fan shaking his stick at the current state of things can be annoying but at the same time it makes me a little grumpy to see what SEEMS to be a decrease in original/well-written shows. Stuff like Madoka, Shiki and Wandering Son keeps me hopeful though! c:
OK but only because it is you. ;)