Fantasy Aficionados discussion

I put the first book in this series, The Runelords: The Sum of All Men, in my wish list over at Audible.com.

This series seems intriguing, and yet I am hesitant. Has anybody read these books? Are they any good?

I had put that one on my to-read list after I discovered that this is Dave Wolverton, who wrote the vastly under-appreciated On My Way to Paradise
I'll get to it one of these days...

I have read the einter Earth King Series. I have to say I really enjoyed these books. This was one of the first books that I read that has a truly unique magic system. It does have some of the basic magics that we are used to seeing in books that are sprinkled through out it but the primary magic system of endowing attributes was truly unique. The story has a good flow and also covers many of the morals dilemmas that are inherent with this magic system.

Overall I was very impressed with the books in this series, and, when time permits, I will be picking up the Scion of Earth Series as well.

I've read the series as well. The first three novels are excellent and the fourth isn't bad. After the 5th novel though, I really felt like Farland/Wolverton dropped the ball. Aaron is right, the magic system in the novel is really interesting in that the "magicians" of the time had found a manner in which to take a particular ability from one human being and bestow it on another. Any man, in essence, can become a superhuman if bestowed enough abilities from others however it comes at a great cost to those giving said ability. I think the series is worth reading without a doubt I just with Farland had gone a different direction in latter novels. Regardless, I certainly don't regret having read them :)

I'm from Salt Lake City, UT and so it David Farland. He was at the state fair signing copies of the book so I picked up the first in the series and he wrote me a little message. I was really excited about it until I found out from several trustworthy sources that there are hidden Mormon themes in the book. Epic turn-off.

Really? I've never heard that. How odd

Are you versed in the Mormon religion? I'm not Mormon but having grown up in the Mormon mecca its hard not to know a lot about it. If you didn't notice it maybe I'll be able to read it without making connections. However, I'm still uncomfortable with supporting that religion.

Not well versed. I live in the Bible belt so it's like 90% Christianity here. I took the books at face value.

Maybe I'll try that. Mormon propaganda gives me the creeps though. No offense to any Mormons. Well I guess thats a dumb thing to say. If I was Mormon I would be really offended by that. Sorry. Its just an opinion.

I suppose I could always give it a shot and if I find something that doesn't sit well I could stop. I try not to judge things I haven't experienced for myself so in the interest of not being a hypocrite I'll have to fit these into my reading schedule.

Lol well there are plenty of other superior fantasy novels that could be in your queue prior to these ;)

He is a good friend to Brandon Sanderson, and Farland is not his real name, Wolverton. He like ya writer Nancy Farmer won the Writers of Future series, his back in 1988, created by L. Ron Hubbard.

Farland is also a Mormon, so there might be some Mormon-like things in his book. I doubt it would be propaganda though. If it's there, I imagine that it'd be more of an unconscious, writing what you know sort of thing.

It doesn't matter a hill of beans to me if there are Mormon or any other sort of overtones to any authors' stories.
Of course a novelist's sensitivities or proclivities or beliefs are bound to surface in his writing. It's human nature.
But as long as the story is good, and the characters are developed, I really don't care if there are aspects of someone's religious beliefs "hidden" in the story. I'm not afraid or creeped out at all. It's just a story.

I own this (it was given to me as a gift), but have put off reading it because I'm ashamed of the cover :P

Bill wrote: "It doesn't matter a hill of beans to me if there are Mormon or any other sort of overtones to any authors' stories.
Of course a novelist's sensitivities or proclivities or beliefs are bound to sur..."

Totally agree with this. I just want to be swept away by a really good story. That means there needs to be great character development, great prose, a strong and interesting plot, etc. If an author wants to put in their own belief system or moral into the story, let them. I don't have to agree.

You guys make perfectly valid points. I suppose all writers infuse their stories with their own beliefs.

I got the book when it was $3.99 along with Lord of Isles by David Drake also $3.99, both of those book spend two or three times reading at least half way though it, not liking it very both. I guess I just did not connect with any of the characters.

Hmm...I actually liked the cover. Were you talking about this one , Dawn?

The only thing I don't like about it is the artist is the same one that does all of the Jordan covers and I think he's a bit of a hack when it comes to capturing faces.

I read the first books and liked them. i thought he draged it a little. read it before you read Erikson or Martin.

I'm currently working on the second of this series. It seems pretty good the first wasn't to bad the constant references to exactly the amount and number of endowments every person has does seem to be becoming rather cumbersome. That being said it hasn't deteriorated to the point where it is affecting the story being told yet.. I say yet because I can see it possibly becoming a major annoyance to flow of the story.
Despite being on the second book its on hold at the moment due to my poor timing to start, right before the Rothfuss was released what was I thinking???

I ... didn't like Runelords. Never finished it. I hated the magic; even with it being (for the good guys) voluntary on the donors' part it was over-the-top squicky for me. And, as you say, I remember the compulsion to go on about the endowments.

@ Grant - agreed. Darrell K. Sweet is a Fantasy Artist (picture that in a flowery font). He's nowhere near bad, and his horses are beautiful, but most of his people look alike... Half my books seem to have covers by DKS. (Wait, now I have to check...)

40 DKS's. But I still have a lot of data entry to do...

Jason, did you ever give this a shot?

I enjoy Gregory Manchess' work and wish he'd get more covers. I also really enjoy Jamie S. Warren Youll's work (A Song of Ice and Fire covers, The Lies of Locke Lamora). If I had to pick any current fantasy cover-artist, he'd be my go-to guy :)

As for Sweet, well his backgrounds and animals etc are quite good. It's just very specifically the faces that he fails to capture. They're Always lacking.

There seems to be a clan of Youlls in art - Steven Youll is also very good. I'm a fan of Michael Whelan (met him once - you never saw anyone so star-struck) (me, not him) and Don Maitz (he went to my art school), John Jude Palencar and Christian McGrath (of the Harry Dresden covers). Oh, and Dorian Vallejo (though NOT his father) and Romas (also from my school)... I tend to pay as much attention to the jacket art as I do the plot summary when I'm picking books. I've got books I hate but can't get rid of because they have Don Maitz covers ...

Talking about cover artist I love everything that Larry Elmore did on D&D products along with Keith Parkinson did from D&D, Shannara to Sword of Truth, sad that he died on my birthday.

I didn't even know Keith Parkinson was dead ... damn. Damn. He was great.

Tracey wrote: "40 DKS's. But I still have a lot of data entry to do...

Jason, did you ever give this a shot?"

Not yet. My tbr pile is a mountain...LOL

Grant wrote: "Not well versed. I live in the Bible belt so it's like 90% Christianity here. I took the books at face value."

Which part of the belt?

Arkansas. Ten yards from the Louisiana border

AN AMAZING BOOK! One of my favorite fantasy books ever

I enjoyed the first two books in the series. The third was so so. I have the fourth but haven't gotten around to reading it yet. I've heard that after the fourth it sorta goes to the next generation. I'm not much for books jumping from generation to generation. That's why I skipped Katherine Kerr's books. I'd prefer to stick with the main characters the whole way through.

I actually went to a workshop held by David Farland, and it was one of the best things I've ever done, as a writer. He is an amazing teacher and mentor.

To be perfectly honest, I've only read the first book in the series. I loved it. I keep meaning to go on with the series, but so many other things have been occupying my attention these days. I didn't notice any blatant Mormon themes in the work, but then, I wasn't looking for any. I thought the magic system was one of the most intriguing I've encountered in a while.

Are there issues I have with his writing? Of course. I have issues with everyone's writing, to one degree or another (especially my own!). But this is still one of my favorite fantasy novels.

I liked the first three books but after that it just didn't keep my interest.

Christine wrote: "I liked the first three books but after that it just didn't keep my interest."

Me too and I have the rest of the series, unread, but cant find the 1st 3. Do you think I could read the rest without re-reading the 1st 3? It's been a looong time.

Whether or not there are Mormon themes in the book, Mormonism is a great fantasy by itself!

*shakes head* Classy comment.

I've read all eight of them, though it was a little while ago so they are not fresh in my memory. From what I remember, I agree with the general theme of the posts. The first 4 books (the Earth King series) are very good and I really enjoyed them. The next four books (Scions of the Earth series) were enjoyable, but not quite as good. Farland seemed to drag things out and one of them stepped slightly away from the story arc to focus on one character.

One thing that bothered me was how he would recap what happened in previous books in great detail. I understand refreshing readers memories, but it was excessive.

Apparently David Farland is working on the 9th and final book to the series now, so I will definitely read it to see what happens and how all the problems get resolved.