Fantasy Book Club discussion

Hey everyone! It's about that time of the month. Time to get those nominations in for our group reading, this time to cover November (to read) and December (to discuss what we've read).

Bear with me, as I've just taken this duty over from Becky. I don't have her elegance, but I do have her guidance with this process. I just want to say thanks Becky, for all the time you've done this pollster thing so well.

And now, the nominations:

We're just doing general fantasy for this turn, so if everyone will limit themselves to 2 fantasy book nominations. Please add a little explanation to why you would like to cover the book. It doesn't have to be a huge paragraph, just a little something to help talk us into it.

I'll be taking the nominations from now through the 12th of September, and then I'll set up the poll....

Thanks Chris... :D

For my nomination, I'm going to throw Graceling by Kristin Cashore out there. I've heard VERY good things about this book, and it seems that everyone who has read it has loved it. Plus, girls who kick butt... kick butt. ;)

I'll throw The Law of Nines by Terry Goodkind... I think that's what I'd suggest for anyone who like "Sword of the Truth" series.

Wow. The first two books out of the gate are both available at my local library. That doesn't happen often....

I should pose a question for you though, Cody. Is Law of Nines fantasy? I've heard that it is, but I've also heard that Goodkind was writing it specifically to spurn the fantasy tag he has...

Well, sort of, Chris. It's pretty much a novel as Terry trying to say. I'm only on Chapter 13 so far. So far, it is really good. It also have a film from Terry as you should check it out on YouTube.com pretty neat and thrilling.

Something is connecting between Sword of the Truth series and The Law of Nines. That's all I can say about it. Other than, it's amazing work by Terry.

Well, I checked out a book review (http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20297...) and Wikipedia. They seem to concur that it's a "thriller with heavy doses of fantasy". That works for me...

Warbreaker by Brandon Sanderson. I love Sanderson and haven't had a chance to read this yet.

The only danger with a Goodkind nomination is that any discussion on his work, which inevitably leads into the way that he responds to criticism of his work, often devolves into something very polarized.

I would nominate Chris Evans'Iron Elves A Darkness Forged in Fire, as I have heard very, very good things about this book elsewhere (www.FantasyLiterature.com), and have been really wanting to read it. Unless, of course, it has already been done here (admittedly, I have not checked).

I would, as a second nomination, suggest Janny Wurts' The Ships of Merior, as the July discussion on the first book in her Wars of Light and Shadow series, The Curse of the Mistwraith was quite strong. It is a great fantasy series that deserves wider attention and publicity.

I'm going to nominate The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde, and hope it wasn't done here before. (I'm too lazy to go back and look at all the winners.)

I'm hoping it passes muster, because it's not strictly fantasy, but I've been assured it has distinct fantasy elements... so I'm going on that.

Anyway, I've been meaning to read this for awhile, I've heard mostly good things about it, and I'm sick to death of epic fantasy presently... so, there ya go.

Those nominations all work for me...

I will put forward two suggestions which have won recent awards, both are considered Young Adult Fantasy.

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
Winner of the recent 2009 Hugo Award for Best Novel.
Newbery Medal Winner (2009)
Locus Award, Young-Adult Book (2009)
Cybils Award for Middle Grade Fantasy & Science Fiction (2008)
British Fantasy Award Finalists (2009)

Tender Morsels by Margo Lanagan
Printz Honor Book, 2009.
Nominated for the World Fantasy Award 2009, yet to be decided on for winner.
Winner Best Novel at the Ditmar Awards 2009
Shortlisted for the 2008 Aurealis Award for Best Fantasy Novel

Great to see you have taken over as Pollster Mod, Chris and a big thanks goes out to Becky for all the work she done for the group as the previous Pollster Mod.

Here's mine:

The Hobbit, Or There and Back Again by J.R.R. Tolkien.

It's a classic of the genre, being a book for all ages. Perhaps the beginning of the modern epic style, this is one that is a great re-read. And if you haven't read it, it's a must-read.

I've seen lots of great discussion on Tolkien lately and thought this would be a good nomination.

...and for my second nomination:

The Magicians by Lev Grossman.

I've seen some of the reviews, and they're fantastic. The book looks quite fascinating.

The list so far:

Graceling by Kristin Cashore
The Law of Nines by Terry Goodkind
Warbreaker by Brandon Sanderson
A Darkness Forged in Fire by Chris Evans
The Ships of Merior by Janny Wurts
The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde
The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
Tender Morsels by Margo Lanagan
The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien
The Magicians by Lev Grossman
Dark Heart by Margaret Weis & David Baldwin
Honored Enemy by Raymond E. Feist & William Forstchen
The Demon Awakens by R.A. Salvatore


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There be some damn fine fantasy in that there list!

Chris wrote: "...and for my second nomination:

The Magicians by Lev Grossman.

I've seen some of the reviews, and they're fantastic. The book looks quite fascinating."


'The Magicians' does look interesting. If mine doesn't win, I hope yours does. :>

- Margaret Weis and David Baldwin's Dark Heart
- Raymond Feist and William Forstchen's Honored Enemy
- And I'll second Lochaber's nomination for Janny Wurts' Ships of Merior (fits in nicely with my re-read list!)

My nominations

The Demon Awakens by R.A. Salvatore

Sabriel by Garth Nix

I added yours, Grimward...

Clytan, I'm adding the Salvatore book, but we read Sabriel last month. The discussions are happening as we speak: http://www.goodreads.com/topic/group_...

Saw that and thanks, Chris!

Chris wrote: "I added yours, Grimward...

Clytan, I'm adding the Salvatore book, but we read Sabriel last month. The discussions are happening as we speak: http://www.goodreads.com/topic/group_......"

I'm sorry didn't notice Sabriel was done! I'm not sure how to check which books have been done before.. Is there a list somewhere?

I would second the nomination for The Eyre Affair, want to re-read that.

You can just follow the link at the upper right for the group labeled 'bookshelves'. I think there is one at the bottom too.

Or here: http://www.goodreads.com/group/booksh...

Thanks for the help, Chris.

Last night to submit nominations. I'll set up a poll tomorrow....

Faith of the Fallen? by Terry Goodkind..

Star Wars: The Rules of Two?

Cody, I'm afraid I'll have to disqualify both of those suggestions. Neither is the first of its series, and we try to avoid taking volumes further down the row unless we've read the first one as a group. (Hence the Janny Wurts book - it's #2, but we read #1 a few months ago).

Also, remember to limit yourself to two nominations in the future.

And that being said, the nominations are now closed. I'll have a poll up in a few minutes...

The Poll is up. Happy voting!

http://www.goodreads.com/poll/show/23...

That's understandable... no problem. Thanks.

blackrose wrote: "I'm going to nominate The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde, and hope it wasn't done here before. (I'm too lazy to go back and look at all the winners.)

I'm hoping it pass..."

I love the whole series - I was constantly chuckling while reading!:)

Results are in, and we have a winner:


The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien

Thanks for all the nominations and votes. It was a great list this time around, and quite difficult to choose. Some of the runner's up would be great to have in next month's poll...

Chris wrote: "Results are in, and we have a winner:


The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien

Thanks for all the nominations and votes. ..."

Ah.. That's what I figured. Glad I still have it.

Cody wrote: "Chris wrote: "Results are in, and we have a winner:


The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien

Thanks for all the nominations an..."

Cody! The "Glad I still have it" bit implies that you might have gotten rid of this classic of classics. Should be able to read it in a night, and feel like you were taken back in time...

Great choice.