tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8573136768377847579.post8507826908859767331..comments2023-12-28T17:51:10.368-06:00Comments on Spiral Galaxy Musings: Now, for the Fantasy CanonKaren Burnhamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16803309172414793939noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8573136768377847579.post-78910482024324421462010-07-14T18:31:46.782-05:002010-07-14T18:31:46.782-05:00Yes, Dying Earth first, definitely.
Let's see...Yes, <i>Dying Earth</i> first, definitely.<br /><br />Let's see if I can help make your list a little shorter...<br /><br />Despite having recently recorded a <a href="http://mysteryfix.com" rel="nofollow">song</a> based on it, I would have to say that <i>The Compleat Enchanter</i> hasn't aged all that well, and is definitely inferior to <i>Well of the Unicorn</i>.<br /><br /><i>Riddle-Master</i> seemed to me like a bunch of running around the landscape to no particular purpose. <i>Cities In Flight</i> hasn't aged all that well either. <i>The Centauri Device</i> is a long way from being Harrison's best. I haven't read <i>Grass</i>, but the Tepper book I did read was a snoozefest.<br /><br />There, some straws for you to grasp at. :)Tim Waltershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08057940001397928717noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8573136768377847579.post-110481617779776632010-07-14T09:51:21.178-05:002010-07-14T09:51:21.178-05:00I'm not surprised that pre-Tolkein fantasy fee...I'm not surprised that pre-Tolkein fantasy feels more modern than Tolkein--I felt the same way about early George MacDonald and most of Lord Dunsany. I'll give "The Well of the Unicorn" a look.<br /><br />However, it seems to me that in terms of influence I can get the most-bang-for-my-Jack-Vance-buck by sticking with "Tales of the Dying Earth." At a certain point I just have to limit the list. Otherwise I'll be in my 70's not having gotten to the 1970's.<br /><br />Although I'll note that after talking with Gary K. Wolfe recently, I'm putting Dan Simmons "Song of Kali" back on the list. These lists keep getting longer, not shorter! ;-)Karen Burnhamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16803309172414793939noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8573136768377847579.post-76404998653548491882010-07-14T03:01:28.201-05:002010-07-14T03:01:28.201-05:00The Well of the Unicorn is both outstanding and a ...<i>The Well of the Unicorn</i> is both outstanding and a huge influence on modern fantasy--in fact it seems more modern than Tolkien, even though it was published before LOTR. And despite the title, there are no unicorns in it...<br /><br /><i>Lyonesse</i> is one of Jack Vance's best.<br /><br /><i>Three Hearts & Three Lions</i> isn't as good as <i>The Broken Sword</i>, but it's pretty good, and it's quite different.Tim Waltershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08057940001397928717noreply@blogger.com