I used to read a lot but having kids greatly reduced my free time. I read a lot of Fantasy but prefer Sci-Fi by a bit.

I started the Eye of the World series when only the first two were out. Really enjoyed it but it started dragging on and then Robert Jordan died. I heard someone picked up the series to end it but don't know if it is done already or not or how he did.

I read a lot, although I greatly prefer SF over Fantasy. I've read LOTR and I started Eye of the World. It was good, but not good enough read the entire, massive series.

@Alderian,

The last book (that Jordan was going to write) was split into 3 books, because the new author couldn't fit everything in. I'm not sure how many of the 3 are finished.

I'm fairly certain that any given poem by W.B. Yeats - which is at the most three or four pages - contains more literary merit than any fantasy novel ever written.

My point is, drop the page minimum nonsense.

Is it necessary to make a ridiculous and clearly unprovable claim to make your point?

What is a ridiculous claim? That W.B. Yeats (or any other comparable poet) has more in a few pages of verse than pulp genre authors have in a thousand pages?

Yeah, mean, you know, art is just art man and like, its subjective, so, yeah, you know, everything is like, good to someone, right? Standards and systems of aesthetics are for total close minded squares who like don't get it man like why they have to be all 'this is better than this', you know, we're all one with the earth.

Seriously, though. You're offended by me and jwalters' asinine condescension in the opening post?

*and not, rather.

"I'm fairly certain that any given poem by W.B. Yeats - which is at the most three or four pages - contains more literary merit than any fantasy novel ever written."

This is a ridiculous claim. You have not read every every fantasy novel ever written. It's an unnecessary hyperbole to prove your point.

I'm not offended, I'm just saying that "People can be considered well read even if they typically read works less than 300 pages" would work better.

No reason to get uppity.

So reading The Catcher In The Rye doesn't count as reading? Anyway, I mostly read academic history.

I'm not sure if anyone can post anything off-topic on this board without starting a battle of words it's as if a bunch of wannabe tacticians (myself included) have all gathered in the same place.

@McHuff

For that matter, I'm not sure anyone can post anything on-topic without the same thing happening : )

I read a lot of SF (and I do mean a *lot*). My liking of SF was known from an early age, very early. When the very first Dr Who episode aired in 1963 my mother made sure I watched it. She knew I'd love it and I did. I was five years old.

My favourite author is Larry Niven. Why? Read his short story collection "Neutron Star". That's why.

"So reading The Catcher In The Rye doesn't count as reading?"

I'd go with that: I hated every word of that book.

btw, does reading the press from a diplomacy game you play in which included djbent count? I'm pretty sure that that touches 300 pages.

I suspect my username gives me away as a fantasy reader...

I'd say I read a lot. My favourites are Robert Jordan, Robin Hobb and Alice Borchardt

Right now I'm reading the Song of Ice and Fire of George Martin. Getting towards the end of the first book (A game of thrones) I am getting excited to read the following books.

* Song of Ice and Fire series

should be coming to HBO later this year

I read, yes I read fantasy. I'd have to say my favorite author is Scott Lynch (of Lies of Locke Lamora [big surprise right?]). Martin's Song of Ice and Fire is a close second though. And the HBO series won't hit TV until next Spring.

I used to read a lot of Fantasy, back in the 80s and 90s. Favorites were David Eddings, Michael Moorcock, Roger Zelazny (Amber series), Katherine Kurtz (great stories, terrible endings, every time) and a few others I can't recall right now.

Song of Ice and Fire is a great series. Having to wait for the next one is giving me Wheel of Time flashbacks though.

Tom Clancy

Someone try to name a better author. I dare you.

If you want a better author in the genre, David Morrell.

Try Steven Erikson. His "The Malazan Book of the Fallen" is some of the smartest fantasy to come out in some time. BTW, I'm one of the old dudes that has read tons of fantasy and science fiction over the years. This is a great one. Just be prepared for some very high level reading. This ain't your momma's fantasy.

Joe Abercrombie & Scott Lynch are the two I've enjoyed the most in recent years.

Pratchett is (of course) a god, but I feel his last two have not been quite up to the ridiculously high standard he sets

And the fanstasy sequences of Peter F Hamilton's current series are very good.

I'm still reading Feist, but that's a real chore now

And (especially for T_M_W) - Iain Banks. Either his 'proper' books, or the complete awesomeness of the Culture novels.

And, of course, Stephen R. Donaldson. His "Covenant" series rivals Tolkien. Seriously.

I totally agree with The_Master_Warrior. Tom Clancy is an exelant auther.

@Alderian,
there are now 11 or 12 books out in the series. i'm on the 6th. someone told me that it picked up around the 10th, but i wouldn't know as this is the first time i've gone through the books. as for the Sci-Fi, Orson Scott Card is a favorite in that category. ever read Ender's Game? great book.

@lulzworth,
I'm not saying that there's nothing of real substance that was writen in less than 300 pages, i'm just trying to reduce the amount of people that don't do serious reading from posting on this thread. i personally love poetry. my dad is a poet, and has self-published a poetry book.

@abgemacht,
i've never gotten around to reading the rest of the LOTR series. i read the hobbit, and the fellowship of the rings, and got through half of the two towers. somehow, i never ended up finishing the books though.....what i did read of them were indeed very well writen.

has anyone read the harry potter books? i know it's not very classical literature, but they're very well writen, have good plotlines, and are MUCH better than the movies.

hrrg. i don't know how to spell exelant. i think it's exelent now that i look at it...

@ OP:

The Secret of Dragonhome. Best fantasy book I ever read.