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Post by Deleted on Aug 4, 2018 6:58:51 GMT
What i did enjoy was the audios of Gabaldons Outlander series very much enjoyed Davina Porter reading them Just as I enjoyed Stephen Fry reading the Harry Potter series. We are spoiled for choice nowadays. Gaiman just leaves me cold but enough people love his books.I enjoyed the sandman graphic books. I agree— Davina is EXCELLENT. Stephen Fry too...and I love Jim Dale’s as well. Have not heard JIM DALE DOING IT
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Post by Rob Morris on Aug 4, 2018 7:56:39 GMT
All scifi and fantasy? That's a pretty broad statement. I agree it's true in some cases, but I don't find it to be true in all. I've definitely found things worth reading. And I've also read some things that truly weren't worth the effort. You make a fair point - a lot of my statements are pretty broad and it is a failing of my debating style. I always hope it's clear I'm being over-general, but I am repeatedly told otherwise, so I apologise. I really should stop that. Obviously it can only be the ones I've tried to read. In my experience all that I've read (or given up on) has been (for me) bloody awful in the way previously described. Maybe I've been lead astray. (It must be said that I'm very easily lead.) I will happily take suggestions on stories/novels/novelas that might change my broad opinion. But I'm not a fan of Asimov, Tolkien or Martin. And yet I love P.G. Wodehouse who could be argued to have the same faults. So bear my utter lack of consistency there in mind.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 4, 2018 8:16:11 GMT
Rob did you ever read the Dune novels?I found those a good read but must say the audios of them are magnificently well done. which neatly brings us back to the thread of Alec Newman (which will keep Ela happy)
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Post by Rob Morris on Aug 4, 2018 8:44:13 GMT
Rob did you ever read the Dune novels?I found those a good read but must say the audios of them are magnificently well done. which neatly brings us back to the thread of Alec Newman (which will keep Ela happy) I haven't. I'll admit I'm always a little wary of epic series type stuff because of prior experiences. That said I was persuaded by an ex boyfriend into Harry Potter and that I found to be an exception (and indeed, it formed the basis of my final year Uni paper) so perhaps I should try another one. It will only be once the reading pile gets down to a managable level, mind... So maybe 2020?
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Post by Deleted on Aug 4, 2018 9:03:12 GMT
Rob did you ever read the Dune novels?I found those a good read but must say the audios of them are magnificently well done. which neatly brings us back to the thread of Alec Newman (which will keep Ela happy) I haven't. I'll admit I'm always a little wary of epic series type stuff because of prior experiences. That said I was persuaded by an ex boyfriend into Harry Potter and that I found to be an exception (and indeed, it formed the basis of my final year Uni paper) so perhaps I should try another one. It will only be once the reading pile gets down to a managable level, mind... So maybe 2020? yes well on audio they aren’t exactly cheap but definitely worth a try at least and at least on iTunes you get a sample.
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Post by Ela on Aug 5, 2018 2:10:34 GMT
Rob did you ever read the Dune novels?I found those a good read but must say the audios of them are magnificently well done. which neatly brings us back to the thread of Alec Newman (which will keep Ela happy) I haven't. I'll admit I'm always a little wary of epic series type stuff because of prior experiences. That said I was persuaded by an ex boyfriend into Harry Potter and that I found to be an exception (and indeed, it formed the basis of my final year Uni paper) so perhaps I should try another one. It will only be once the reading pile gets down to a managable level, mind... So maybe 2020? The first Dune novel is an interesting read. And of course, it's often cited as a classic of science fiction (though it's as much fantasy as scifi, when you get right down to it). From there on, it gets weirder and weirder. The second and third of the Dune novels by Frank Herbert have some interesting elements. From there through the last one he wrote ( Charterhouse Dune), the story line strays into the downright bizarre. I haven't bothered with the ones written by his son, as a number of people whose opinions I respect have told me they're not worth the effort. Also, epic type stuff? There's epic type stuff and then there's Wheel of Time, which I have to admit I've avoided, as it seemed to be going on forever and ever amen.
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Post by Ela on Aug 5, 2018 2:17:02 GMT
All scifi and fantasy? That's a pretty broad statement. I agree it's true in some cases, but I don't find it to be true in all. I've definitely found things worth reading. And I've also read some things that truly weren't worth the effort. You make a fair point - a lot of my statements are pretty broad and it is a failing of my debating style. I always hope it's clear I'm being over-general, but I am repeatedly told otherwise, so I apologise. I really should stop that. Obviously it can only be the ones I've tried to read. In my experience all that I've read (or given up on) has been (for me) bloody awful in the way previously described. Maybe I've been lead astray. (It must be said that I'm very easily lead.) I will happily take suggestions on stories/novels/novelas that might change my broad opinion. But I'm not a fan of Asimov, Tolkien or Martin. And yet I love P.G. Wodehouse who could be argued to have the same faults. So bear my utter lack of consistency there in mind. I'm a big fan of Tolkien, so there's that. I've read Asimov and Martin. I like Ray Bradbury quite a bit, so maybe he's worth a try. Also enjoyed the Abhorsen Trilogy by Garth Nix. His writing is more aimed at young adults, but I thought he created an interesting world in those books, with some elements I haven't really seen a lot elsewhere. Or at least, not used in the way he uses them.
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Post by Trace on Aug 5, 2018 4:55:42 GMT
I have read ALL of Tolkien, because it seemed that I should...I found bits of greatness wedged in the midst of page after page of historical events that I could not connect with. The Silmarillion was especially painful. However, I'm going to vow to give them all another try, on unabridged audio. I think I may like them better that way. Rob--may I suggest Susan Cooper? Her The Dark is Rising Sequence (5 books) are wonderful fun. They are definitely "young adult"--but in the same way that Rowling is. Pure enjoyment for the kid in all of us. And a couple of the books in the sequence won the Newbery Medal. The first one, Over Sea and Under Stone, has very little, if any fantasy element to it. In fact, if I hadn't known there were four more books, I probably would have stopped after reading it. Not that it wasn't good, or captivating in its own way...it just seemed a bit childish, and I couldn't envision how this would all turn out to be one of the greatest fantasy series of the late 20th century. But, book 2, The Dark is Rising, from which the whole sequence takes its name, was thrilling, engrossing, and genius. I was hooked, and I loved the remaining three. The others are Greenwitch, The Grey King, and Silver on the Tree. Through it all, a puzzle full of good and evil, camaraderie, magic, folklore and legend will begin to reveal its pieces, and slowly take shape, and by the ending, I think you will have enjoyed every minute of Cooper's marvelous journey. Speaking of Cooper's books, I think unabridged recordings by Alec Newman would be brilliant!!
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Post by Ela on Aug 5, 2018 5:05:40 GMT
Rob, I admit I have no idea how your taste in reading runs, but while I was away from the computer I thought of a fantasy novel I love: The Riddle-Master by Patricia A. McKillip. It's actually a trilogy, but the copy I bought has all three parts of the trilogy in one book. It was something a bit different from the usual type of fantasy novel, lots of twists and turns in the plot, and a surprising ending.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 5, 2018 5:29:54 GMT
I have read ALL of Tolkien, because it seemed that I should...I found bits of greatness wedged in the midst of page after page of historical events that I could not connect with. The Silmarillion was especially painful. However, I'm going to vow to give them all another try, on unabridged audio. I think I may like them better that way. Rob--may I suggest Susan Cooper? Her The Dark is Rising Sequence (5 books) are wonderful fun. They are definitely "young adult"--but in the same way that Rowling is. Pure enjoyment for the kid in all of us. And a couple of the books in the sequence won the Newbery Medal. The first one, Over Sea and Under Stone, has very little, if any fantasy element to it. In fact, if I hadn't known there were four more books, I probably would have stopped after reading it. Not that it wasn't good, or captivating in its own way...it just seemed a bit childish, and I couldn't envision how this would all turn out to be one of the greatest fantasy series of the late 20th century. But, book 2, The Dark is Rising, from which the whole sequence takes its name, was thrilling, engrossing, and genius. I was hooked, and I loved the remaining three. The others are Greenwitch, The Grey King, and Silver on the Tree. Through it all, a puzzle full of good and evil, camaraderie, magic, folklore and legend will begin to reveal its pieces, and slowly take shape, and by the ending, I think you will have enjoyed every minute of Cooper's marvelous journey. Speaking of Cooper's books, I think unabridged recordings by Alec Newman would be brilliant!! I like what you say about retrying material on audio if you have an engaging narrator to a tale it can definitely help there were books I couldn’t get into cannot remember the author ne was quite highly regarded for moment his name scapes me. I think i may have to see if he is on audio and give him a try. I remembered Gene Wolfe The Book Of The New Sun couldn’t get into it at all
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Post by Deleted on Aug 5, 2018 5:59:59 GMT
I haven't. I'll admit I'm always a little wary of epic series type stuff because of prior experiences. That said I was persuaded by an ex boyfriend into Harry Potter and that I found to be an exception (and indeed, it formed the basis of my final year Uni paper) so perhaps I should try another one. It will only be once the reading pile gets down to a managable level, mind... So maybe 2020? The first Dune novel is an interesting read. And of course, it's often cited as a classic of science fiction (though it's as much fantasy as scifi, when you get right down to it). From there on, it gets weirder and weirder. The second and third of the Dune novels by Frank Herbert have some interesting elements. From there through the last one he wrote ( Charterhouse Dune), the story line strays into the downright bizarre. I haven't bothered with the ones written by his son, as a number of people whose opinions I respect have told me they're not worth the effort. Also, epic type stuff? There's epic type stuff and then there's Wheel of Time, which I have to admit I've avoided, as it seemed to be going on forever and ever amen. I also stopped after Chapterhouse Dune-preferred to stick to the original authors work. I get suspicious when someone continues the cynic in me always thinks money making scheme but you never know one day i may decide to continue with the others. Wheel of time what is it 10 twelve books lol-and not small books either.Have i that many hours.I always look up I tunes see how long it takes to narrate a tale and then decide-Have i got 24hours to spare 😝
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Post by Ela on Aug 5, 2018 6:04:30 GMT
Keep in mind that Wheel in Time was still being written (and no end in sight) when people first started urging me to try it. Maybe there would still be no end in sight if the author had lived longer. Who knows? I guess the story just kept growing for him in the telling.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 5, 2018 6:06:44 GMT
Keep in mind that Wheel in Time was still being written (and no end in sight) when people first started urging me to try it. Maybe there would still be no end in sight if the author had lived longer. Who knows? I guess the story just kept growing for him in the telling. And boy did it grow? I go into the book store and see all these Fantasy books and think Nah,it is retreading same scenarios.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 5, 2018 8:54:52 GMT
I tend to divide speculative fiction into two sub-categories when I read -- warm and cold. Stuff written to appeal directly to the heart and stuff written to appeal directly to the head. The original I, Robot has a few stories that are a bit too dry and surgical for my tastes (cold sci-fi), but Harlan Ellison's screenplay version is wonderfully evocative and concise (warm sci-fi). It's one of my favourite books to read now when I'm stuck on something. Anything by Ellison is good if you want punchy, emotive prose really. Same goes for Terry Pratchett's Discworld come to think of it (punchy and profound in the best possible way). What else... The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas is what I tend to recommend to people for Ursula LeGuin (at six pages long). Alfred Bester is also very concise with The Demolished Man as a particular highlight (prime influence on the PsiCorps in Babylon 5). I've a great fondness for Alan Moore's run on Swamp Thing, which takes what sounds a silly concept and shapes it into something rather clever. All warm sci-fi/fantasy and very direct. On main topic, I'd be very happy to see Alec Newman turn up in some Who. I tend to know his voice more from video games these days, but he was great as Paul and the augment, Malik, on Enterprise. I had no idea he was in Dark Shadows, I'll have to chase up these releases for a listen.
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Post by bobod on Aug 5, 2018 9:29:04 GMT
I'm with Rob - I'm not a huge fan of Sci-fi or Fantasy as a genre.
I love Doctor Who, Blake's 7 and Star Trek. But in a space adventure series kind of way. The same way I like Dark Shadows. I'm often put off when they get too scifiy.
People often recommend sci-fi stuff on Netflix as I like Doctor Who.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 5, 2018 9:35:08 GMT
I'm with Rob - I'm not a fan or Sci-fi or Fantasy as a genre. I love Doctor Who and Star Trek. But in an adventure series kind of way. The same way I like Dark Shadows. I'm often put off when they get too scifiy. That reminds me really nicely of V for Vendetta. The graphic novel, rather than the film in this case. Has all the hallmarks of a thriller and what surveillance tech was very probable in the late 1980s (when it was written), but is now stone cold reality in the 2010s. Very much recommended.
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Post by Rob Morris on Aug 5, 2018 10:16:28 GMT
Terry Pratchett's work is a major exception to my dislike of fantasy. I guess because aside from being funny, he's got (had) a genuinely clever insight into the human mind. (My Dad, a now-retired-vicar, had a long correspondece with him as he found his work very sound. Which amused Pratchett enormously.)
The Dark is Rising is a good call. It does float across my radar occasionally and I think "oh, I should give that a try". So I think I really should.
And I should probably try V for Vendetta. I have never really been a graphic novel reader, but have the Dark Shadows collections now and found them more readable than I expected so I should perhaps explore.
But back on topic: Turns out Alec has been in two Big Finish Whos. The Silent Scream as linked at the start and Blue Forgotten Planet, apparently.
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Post by aussiedoctorwhofan on Aug 5, 2018 10:36:29 GMT
David Eddings- the Belgariad and the Mallorean.. I haven't read them since 1990.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 5, 2018 10:57:37 GMT
Terry Pratchett's work is a major exception to my dislike of fantasy. I guess because aside from being funny, he's got (had) a genuinely clever insight into the human mind. (My Dad, a now-retired-vicar, had a long correspondece with him as he found his work very sound. Which amused Pratchett enormously.) The Dark is Rising is a good call. It does float across my radar occasionally and I think "oh, I should give that a try". So I think I really should. And I should probably try V for Vendetta. I have never really been a graphic novel reader, but have the Dark Shadows collections now and found them more readable than I expected so I should perhaps explore. But back on topic: Turns out Alec has been in two Big Finish Whos. The Silent Scream as linked at the start and Blue Forgotten Planet, apparently. Yes and also in Blue forgotten planet is JJ Field who is excellent and would have a great vocal for a Dark Shadows(Canadian) I believe partner to Neve CAMPBELL(SCREAM). I loved the Graphic Novels of Stephen Kings Dark Tower-far superior to the movie and beautifully drawn.Neil Gaimans Neverwhere graphic novel was equally lovely
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Post by newt5996 on Aug 5, 2018 13:29:56 GMT
Keep in mind that Wheel in Time was still being written (and no end in sight) when people first started urging me to try it. Maybe there would still be no end in sight if the author had lived longer. Who knows? I guess the story just kept growing for him in the telling. Wheel of Time I found to be great especially when listened to on audiobook
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