Epic fantasy

  • Why does epic fantasy have to be so epic …

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    I love epic fantasy books. Battles, magic, nasty villains, noble heroes. One of the best summers of my life was when I discovered this genre and devoured books by the likes of David Eddings, Terry Brooks, and Robert Jordan. Reading these adventures made me want to write my own epic fantasy books.

    But lately, I’ve been wondering something — why do epic fantasy books have to be so, well, epic?

    Seriously, have you seen The Gathering Storm, the latest book in the Wheel of Time series by the late Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson? It’s 784 pages long and 2.6 inches thick, according to Amazon. You’d have to start lifting weights just to have the arm and wrist strength to hold that sucker in your lap for any length of time. And I don’t even want to imagine how many clicks or scrolls that it would take to get through an e-book version of it. Thousands, probably.

    I used to love the Wheel of Times series. I read the first several books during the course of that magical summer that I mentioned above and eagerly awaited the next installments. But as the years progressed, I started to like the books less and less. Why? Because they were so epic — not in the story that they told but in the hundreds and hundreds of pages that it took to get from the beginning to the end of each book. Everything was described in vivid detail in each book, but I began to feel like not much was actually happening, as far as the action and story arcs went.

    Maybe it’s me, but as I’ve gotten older, I just don’t have the patience or the desire anymore to read pages and pages of world building that do absolutely nothing to move the story along. And I’m not just talking about Robert Jordan here. Lots of fantasy authors are guilty of this, although it seems to happen more in epic fantasy books than in say, urban or young adult fantasy.

    Why? I think it’s because world building is such a big part of what epic fantasy is all about. Readers of the genre expect to be transported to another world full of magic, swords, sorcery, creatures, court intrigue, mythology, demons, or whatever populates an author’s world. It takes time and space to build an intricate world, explain the rules, and fully immerse the reader in the wonder and adventure of it all.

    But when did folks get so long-winded about it?

    Sure, you may have a cast of thousands in your epic fantasy book a la Robert Jordan, but do you really have to tell me every single thing about their appearance, clothes, customs, religion, money, and politics? With no dialogue or action to break up the descriptions? There’s a fine line between world building and info dumps. Sadly, for me, that’s what a lot of epic fantasies have turned into.

    This is why I like books by the likes of Alex Bledsoe, Lisa Shearin, and Scott Lynch so much. Each one of these authors offers the epic fantasy reading experience, but without going overboard on their world building. And they’re doing some different things in the genre too. Bledsoe combines fantasy with a world-weary, film noir-type detective. Shearin is writing female-focused epic fantasy. Lynch incorporates elaborate heists into his books.

    They all help me remember why I fell in love with epic fantasy books in the first place, and I hope to find more authors to read like them, folks who can tell a good story and not get bogged down in the details.

    What about you guys? Are you still digging epic fantasy? Why or why not? What are some of your favorite books in the genre? Share in the comments.

  • Holiday gift guide …

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    I love buying books to give as Christmas gifts, and I’m pretty good at picking out titles that my friends and family like. Seriously, it’s a weird, random skill that I have.

    So I thought that I’d put my skill to good use and share some of my picks for gifts for the book lover on your holiday shopping list. Here goes:

    Contemporary romance: Nobody writes it better than Lisa Kleypas, so check out Sugar Daddy, which is part romance, part coming-of-age story about a girl growing up in Texas. Another good bet is Kristan Higgins, whose books like Too Good to be True feature lovable dogs.

    Epic fantasy: The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch focuses on a group of thieves and a con gone wrong. Also, check out The Sword-Edged Blonde by Alex Bledsoe, which features a Sam Spade-type private investigator in a sword-and-sorcery fantasy world. For dragon lovers, you can’t go wrong with His Majesty’s Dragon by Naomi Novik. Magic Lost, Trouble Found by Lisa Shearin is good for those who like female-focused epic fantasy.

    Paranormal romance: Kresley Cole’s Immortals After Dark series is great for romance readers who like a variety of paranormal creatures and books with a dark, fairy tale feel. Start with the first book, A Hunger Like No Other. For vampire lovers, check out Halfway to the Grave by Jeaniene Frost or Dark Lover by J.R. Ward.

    Romantic suspense: Roxanne St. Claire’s Bullet Catchers series is fun, action-packed romantic suspense. Kill Me Twice is the first book in the series. For darker reads, check out Anne Stuart’s Ice series, which focuses on a group of spies and includes Black Ice.

    Thrillers: Lee Child’s Jack Reacher series is a solid choice. The first book is Killing Floor. For more of a vintage read, check out Devil May Care by Sebastian Faulks. It features Ian Fleming’s super spy, James Bond.

    Westerns: Although he’s better known for his detective novels, Robert B. Parker has written a couple of westerns, including Appaloosa, which was recently turned into a movie. And there’s always Louis L’Amour. Several of his short story collections are available.

    Western historical romance: Try Jodi Thomas’ Whispering Mountain series, which kicks off with Texas Rain. Also, A Creed Country Christmas by Linda Lael Miller would make a great before-Christmas gift. Never Love a Lawman by Jo Goodman is another good western romance to check out.

    Young adult: For teens who like epic fantasy, Graceling by Kristin Cashore is a good bet. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins is another great YA read, and for teens who can’t get enough vampires, check out Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead.

    I could go on (and on … and on …), but those are some pretty good choices when it comes to books. Looking for something besides a book to give? Check out these items:

    Harlequin Notables stationary: I love this vintage line of stationary that Harlequin is offering, which features everything from notepads to collectible postcard tins. Also, watch the site for special deals, like buy 2 books get 1 free. Plus, if you’re a new customer, shipping is free on your first order. (I took advantage of that offer myself).

    Holographic bookmarks: I saw some of these at my local Hallmark store. Basically, they’re bookmarks that you turn this way and that to make the images on them move. Pretty cool and a little more interesting than your typical bookmark.

    Gift cards: Yeah, I know they’re a little boring, but sometimes, it’s just easier to give a gift card than it is to hunt for a certain book. And then, the person you’re buying it for can get exactly what he or she wants.

    What about you guys? What books would you suggest? Which ones are you giving or getting for Christmas? Share in the comments.