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Raymond E. Feist's Riftwar books
GentlemanGajes — Tue, 08/25/2009 - 07:15
Anyone here fan of Feist's books? I am a big fan and although it's more average fantasy compared to the Gentleman Bastard sequence, it really are amazing works. Magician is a work of art!
Re: Raymond E. Feist's Riftwar books
Roland of Gilead — Tue, 08/25/2009 - 16:17I'm a fan. I've read the Riftwar Saga, the Serpentwar Saga and the Conclave of Shadows. I think Feist is one of the best writers in the genre at portraying a realistic medieval world. However, I think he gives his characters too much magical powers. Pug is virtually omnipotent, and that lessens the drama and suspense for me.
Have you read The Messenger in the second Legends anthology? An excellent story of a cavalry courier during a large battle, very plausible and exciting.
Re: Raymond E. Feist's Riftwar books
GentlemanGajes — Tue, 08/25/2009 - 22:30I don't believe I have read The Messenger, but I have read the three other legends (beginning with Honoured Enemy) wich I liked very much aswell. Besides from The Woodboy, The Messenger and Faerie's Tale I have read all books, now eagerly anticipating the second demonwar book. After Conclave of Shadows, the Darkwar saga, I thought they where good books, although part one and two where mostly interludes to book three, but the new Demonwar book is really refreshing and exciting.
About his characters and to much power, I think that's necessary for it's plot, if you see what they are up against and the whole big scheme they are in, just as "mere" humans. And for example the Serpentwar saga focusses more on Erik and Ru, wich do not have any special powers, except for being intelligent and have a sense for trade. As for the big scheme, it's more elaborated on in the Darkwar and Demonwar books. Also, even though they have great powers, Pug and Thomas still struggle with problems,like loosing the people they love, wich Feist really handles well in my opinion.
I haven't yet read Stephen King's Dark Tower series, but I have read quite a lot of other fantasy sequences and my opinion is that after J.R.R. Tolkien, Feist is a master. And now Scott Lynch, I find it hard to start in a new sequence, but when I started reading Lies of Locke Lamora, I was blown away by it's difference, it's harsh world, use of language, it's schemes and twists. I was hooked immediately.
- "GAJES!"
Re: Raymond E. Feist's Riftwar books
Roland of Gilead — Wed, 08/26/2009 - 16:01The characters of Erik and Ru were probably what I liked best about the SerpentWar saga. They were ordinary guys caught up in extraordinary events. In fact, I think Rise of a Merchant Prince was a brilliant example of what it would be like to become a financial success in a medieval society.
But when Pug and Nakor were in the story, I just felt that with a wave of their hands, all could be made well again. I just think Feist's magical system is too powerful, and with not enough of a downside to its uses, and not enough explanation as to how it's used. I think he's better with the medieval background than with the magical underpinnings.
Faerie Tale is a pretty decent horror novel, but not a great one, IMHO. Feist has wisely chosen to stick primarily to fantasy.
The Messenger is in the Legends anthology edited by Robert Silverberg, which has stories set in various authors' well-known fantasy worlds. Worth a look if you find a copy, and many of the other stories are excellent, too.
I don't rank Feist as high as you do, probably in the second tier of epic fantasy authors for me, with the likes of Paul Kearney and Chaz Brenchley.
Favorites are Stephen King, Tolkien, George R. R. Martin, Guy Gavriel Kay, with Scott Lynch charging up behind them after only two volumes. I'm also a big fan of the first two Covenant trilogies by Stephen R. Donaldson, but I'm having a great deal of trouble getting into the third series.
Re: Raymond E. Feist's Riftwar books
GentlemanGajes — Wed, 08/26/2009 - 23:58Hahaha, we really have different opinions, as although I liked the normal person parts, I always wanted to read more about Pug and the like, because I thought that were the most important pieces op the continuing story. The massive scheme that unfolds, the fighting between gods and other powers, Pug and Thomas, although having awesome powers, struggling to cope with the massive powers involved.. Although that and magic might be more properly explained in the books after the Conclave of Shadows.
- "GAJES!"