I Convinced Myself To Read 5 Fantasy Books [100 Book Challenge #20-25]

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00:00 The King of Elfland's Daughter by Lord Dunsany
01:57 A Wizard of Earthsea by Usrula K. LeGuin
04:21 Swords and Deviltry by Fritz Leiber
07:48 Nine Princes in Amber by Roger Zelazny
12:48 Black Easter by James Blish

[@shaihulud7316]

Glad to see that you may be warming up to the fantasy genre next comes 70's prog rock and 20 sided dice

[@limalepakko6074]

I look forward to hearing your opinion about Camel and Genesis’ concept albums

[@polaris6933]

It's really nice that your videos get to the point immediately without drawn out intros or outros.

[@waltera13]

Your Shirt is EPIC. I remember when all my male gradeschool teachers wore shirts like that.

[@feudist]

I'm pretty sure I bought that shirt at Zayres in 1979.

[@donaldb1]

It's possibly worth noting that _Swords and Deviltry,_ although now published as the beginning of the series, is actually more in the mode of a prequel, that is they are origin stories for characters that were already long established.

[@Steve_Stowers]

Yes. The other books in the series are, if not better, at least more typical or representative.

[@dustyoldhat]

So cool to see how the production value has gone up on this channel in terms of video and lighting quality and how you show the book covers. Awesome man.

[@venturelord3]

You've got me quite excited to find my way to some Blish novels now. Thanks for another wonderful round of reviews.

[@gon8go]

I just finished the king of elflands daughter as well and I agree 100% about the prose. I'd call it lyrical. I actually found a 1970's concept album about this book on youtube.

[@Steve_Stowers]

Dunsany's prose is something special. But, as a story, I liked his other fantasy novel, The Charwoman's Shadow, better.

[@xx99Username99xx]

I checked out The King of Elfland's Daughter because I was curious to get a look at what pre-Tolkien fantasy was like, and I really loved it. Although the writing style comes across as odd by modern standards, you quickly get used to the rhythm of it, and then it takes on, as you said, a poetic quality. A big part of that had to do with the repeated phrases you mentioned--like "beyond the fields we know" and "told of only in song"--which gave the book a very distinct overall aesthetic that I'd describe as deeply melancholy, but at the same time a bit playful. Even though the style of the narrative was somewhat distant--it didn't really try to put you directly inside the characters' heads like most modern writing does--it still felt immersive in its own way, and the characters still felt compelling. Ziroonderel was a fun take on the wise old helper. The three generations of the royal family of Erl were all compelling in their own ways, with their distinct obsessions. The trolls, well they were just silly little guys, and made for a very amusing side story. And Lirazel, she had one of my favorite scenes, after the Christians of Erl told her not to blaspheme by worshiping the stars (whose beauty she'd never witnessed since it's always twilight in Elfland) and so, not understanding their reasoning, she goes to the river to worship the stars' reflections instead. I don't know why, but I found that scene oddly touching. And the very final scene of the book, what an image that invoked, one of my favorite endings I've ever read.

[@waltera13]

That was just an Amazing comment! Reading it reminded me ( that I have to check the dates ) of how much the arts and crafts movement and the writings of William Morris contributed to this new art form of protracted fairy tales in a novel format. I believe Dunsany and George MacDonald, (and What was her name?) were following in his creative footsteps.

[@meesalikeu]

yeah this is really nice to hear and makes me want to read it thank you - i need to put down the watching sports and pick it up more notches on the reading lol!

[@dugebuwembo]

I really loved how otherworldly and irreproachable Lirazel is depicted, as a fae she is at odds with the mundane world; laughing at funerals, paying obeisance to the stars, never ageing...

[@Warstub]

I too was inspired by the book... kzbin.info/www/bejne/fZXQqGyJqJKWkNE

[@otttube]

I appreciate your review of “Wizard of Earthsea”, and I’m quite happy that I both read the book at a ‘right age’ and that I had spent quite a bit of time journeying on a small wooden sailboat.

[@brancellbooks]

Great video! I’ve been eyeing Lord Dunsany’s works for a while, and your review bumped it up the ol’ TBR.

[@neilmannion9322]

I really enjoy the prose in Earthsea, I found it unique from what i've read and it made it seem like an old fable. It would be interesting for you to continue the series as its focus and themes change and there is such a large time gap between when she wrote them.

[@delwynklassen3644]

I agree. Tombs of Atuan is my favourite, but I love her world and magic system, so The Other Wind holds a special place for me.

[@noahmatuszewski8085]

Great selection of fantasy titles, including a few of my favorites! Your assessments are both enjoyable & insightful.

[@bookssongsandothermagic]

Love the way you review books and this is a great delve into an area you often avoid. (I think) You have definitely persuaded me to look for the Elfman’s Daughter, which I have wondered about for decades. The others are books I know and I was fascinated by your take on them. Great video Matt, as always.

[@RebeccaRiga]

Found your channel through @theshadesoforange and already love it! Picked up a few recs and I'm anxious to commit to them sooner rather than later.

[@patr5902]

The Left Hand of Darkness was published the year after Earthsea. It's not a matter of LeGuin evolving as a writer between the two. LeGuin essentially created the YA book form with Earthsea having simpler writing intentionally targeting a younger audience. It may seem a bit cliché now but when published it fundamentally changed the writing industry.

[@dawnmoriarty9347]

Back then there was significant encouragement to write well for the younger age groups. Then, to me it feels as though there was a gap before the glittery vampires came along

[@Scottlp2]

I believe it is the 1st and 3rd books in Earthsea series have brief significant adult wisdom. I think the line in 3rd book is experienced wizard telling novice something like “you make think I have power and can do whatever I wish, but as I have grown in power and wisdom I find the way grows narrower until there is only one thing I can do [in each situation]”. True wisdom .

[@domdib]

@@Scottlp2 - one example of a number where Le Guin's Daoist perspective emerges - and all in service of the tale.

[@TheWRYYYYYYY]

These reviews always have something I need to check out, Black Easter definitely goes to my TBR list!

[@GrandTeuton]

If you haven't already, you should get Doctor Mirabilis by Blish - it's in the same set of books with Black Easter and A Case of Conscience. Blish was really a fine writer, and had some really deep themes and concepts in his stuff. I'm glad you've put him out there for more readers to discover.

[@chocolatemonk]

is Mirabilis a place to start this series. . .? seems a lack of online discussion or I have yet to find one. . . .i am not on reddit

[@GrandTeuton]

@@chocolatemonk I would not start there. The order I read them (and it may be purely based on when I found them), was A Case of Conscience, then the Black Easter / Day After Judgment, then Doctor Mirabilis. Frankly, Mirabilis is the first chronologically, but the novels are really only on related themes, not a trilogy / tetralogy in the normal sense.

[@chocolatemonk]

@@GrandTeuton well I have Mirabilis so I might as well start there thx;!!!!

[@GrandTeuton]

@@chocolatemonk Just so you know, it's sort of historical fiction. I really liked it, but it's a bit of a slow read, as I recall; slower than the others, anyway. Enjoy!

[@stephenmorton8017]

OK! you convinced me of the Blish and Dunsany. currently really enjoying Shadow and Claw. went to the library looking for the last two but no luck, so i snagged The Redemption of Time to contemplate Three Bodies a bit more. hope to find Sword and Citadel soon. Blish reminds of George Turner's career. a favorite.

[@JackMyersPhotography]

Matt, excellent video and critique. Your enthusiasm for James Blish’s work has really spilled over to me quite effectively. I’m completely hooked and I never would have been had I not discovered your reviews of his work. The hard part of that is that finding quality editions of his work inexpensively, which is next to impossible. But I am enjoying the hunt. By the way, that shirt is absolutely fabulous.

[@Bookpilled]

Thanks Jack.

[@awabooks9886]

I paused the vid, flipped over to eBay, and was mortified to find a battered paperback for the "low, low" price of $18 😬. Champagne taste this lad has 😏

[@JackMyersPhotography]

@@awabooks9886 I think in the case of Blish, it’s money well spent. I just have to plan the spending a little better. 🧐

[@awabooks9886]

@@JackMyersPhotography You know it! I wish there was a more affordable digital version. I prefer a book in my hand, but when they get pricey I'll go for the bits & bytes.

[@outlawbookselleroriginal]

That was fun, Matt. I'm sure others have said this before, but I feel the important thing with the Leiber and LeGuin is context - the first 'Swords' stories started appearing at the very end of the 1930s and were not foxed up into books until much later, so they['re seminal when it comes to the establishment of the form of S&S (which is why they feel like D&D scenarios- they're taproot works). LeGuin's series were actually more 'middle grade' aimed and for me it's the simplicity alongside the focus on magic being in words that I like - the sophistication grows in 'Tehanu'. Re Zelazny, I like 'Nine Princes' and like that suspense to fantasy shift. I find the way Zelazny meshes the 'hip' stuff with the anachronistic material deeply enjoyble, personally, I find he has real facility with this that most other writers couldn't pull off - though clearly it didn't work for you. Agree totally re Banks, as ever. For many years now, I've had a Fantasy reading rule (for anything published after 1977 with a few exceptions): Read volume one, then quit. Take care, man.

[@hathrot9185]

I'm also not a big fantasy reader, but E R Edison's The Worm Ouroboros and the tangentially related trilogy following that work, the "Zimiamvian Trilogy" is breathtaking in its beautiful prose and world building. Mistress of Mistresses, A Fish Dinner In Memison, and The Mezentian Gate are the books in the trilogy, and they inhabit time and space in a very wonderful way.

[@Warstub]

Oh yeah, dude! The King of Elfland's Daughter is a masterpiece and like you said, beautiful prose. The book inspired me to compose a classical work for nylon string called 'In Fields We Know', as well as use 50/50 mix of the book's words with my own to form the lyrics of a prog-metal song I wrote called 'Elfland's Daughter'.

[@klipkultur3680]

I also love James Blish. Right now I'm reading A.C. Clarke's The Fountains of Paradise. Keep up the pace and take care.

[@rickkearn7100]

Lord Dunsany an influence on Tolkien? Never would have been aware without your insight, BP. Top shelf! Always wondered what his inspiration might have been. Black Easter is on my winter TBR list thanks to you, big Blish fan here. Thanks so much for your ongoing dedication to the SF and Sci Fantasy community. Absolutely brilliant. Cheers.

[@Coolto22]

Black Easter being marketed toward fans of Rosemary’s Baby you say? Sign me up!

[@klingonsexy]

I have read all of the Amber novels, separate and under the main title, several times; each time, I realize something new that escaped me in earlier readings. I'm going to read the other books on this list because you piqued my interest. Thank you!

[@moderskeppets]

Putting James Blish in the queue. Havent gotten to him yet. Great vid as always.

[@benriley6716]

I really enjoyed the Amber series. I'm with you on some the slang verbiage but I also enjoyed it to an extent. As a guilty throwback pleasure. In a way it grounded the story for me in a shadow earth of the 1970s. Which seemed to fit with the story. Good book overview. You definitely put Lord Dunsany on my 'To Read' list.

[@stevenklinden]

Interesting thoughts on Swords and Deviltry - I found "The Snow Women" dull and somewhat insufferable, and thought it made Fafhrd unlikeable in an unpleasant way, while I enjoyed "The Unholy Grail" and "Ill-Met in Lankhmar" quite a bit more. I do think that the subsequent (and earlier-written) volumes of Fafhrd and the Grey Mouser are a lot more fun, though mostly less serious than these late stories.

[@richmcgee434]

As mentioned in other comments, these stories were actually written well into the series, and suffer a bit from being retroactive origin stories for the characters. Reading the stories in publication order produces a quite different (and I think better) experience than the chronological sequence they've been collected in.

[@sid1gen]

Great video, as usual. I will get the Dunsany book (I have The Land of Time And Other Stories, by Dunsany, that Penguin published) and the two by Blish. I have Le Guin's works in the LOA editions, but I never liked her style (or topics). The Dispossessed was a chore to me that I read for a class about 25 years ago. Thanks again for reading these books and commenting on them.

[@BenjaminsBookclub]

Going to have to keep my eye out for Black Easter! You got me very excited to read it, but all the copies I find online are very very expensive unfortunately. I need to get into fantasy, always looking for good bridges between sci-fi or horror and fantasy.

[@TheEricthefruitbat]

The Fafhrd and Grey Mouser stories WERE groundbreaking when they were written. Along with Conan, they set the stage for sword and sorcery fantasy. These days, anyone who touches on that genre is using the concepts and tropes developed by Leiber and Howard.

[@DamnableReverend]

And I love Howard and the conan stories, but Leiber's characters are kind of on another level. There's a lot more diversity anda lot more fun to be had. If you read the stories in the way that theyr'e published nowadays in those anthologies with the linking pieces Leiber wrote later, it really does feel like you grow up with these characters and grow fond of them just as they frustrate you often with their bad behavioura nd foolishness.

[@meesalikeu]

@@DamnableReverend to be fair leiber lived almost three robert e. howard lifetimes. in other words a normal lifespan. you wonder how howard would have grown as a writer had he lived that long.

[@DamnableReverend]

@@meesalikeu Oh yeah, I think about that all the time, as something of a Howard fan, too. What if he'd beena ble to travel more, later in life, visiting some of the kind of places all over the world he loved to set aventures in.

[@Carepedoit]

And yes, they were cited as source material in D&D

[@joncarroll2040]

Joe Abercrombie has made a career merging Howard and Leiber.

[@mileshurtauthor]

Bingo with the Jung influence on Earthsea. I read that at university in a class run by a lecturer who was into Jungian literary criticism. The first book of Earthsea is clearly an exploration of the shadow archetype.

[@waltera13]

Which is kinda amazing in a kid's book from '68.

[@meesalikeu]

@@waltera13 but also normal for the course for those more adventerous days. remember this was the era where, for example, wonder woman lost her powers for a few years and opened a mod clothing shop lol.

[@dixieflatline1189]

Having read most of these when I was a teenager, the two books that I still remember well are Black Easter & Nine Princes. I read through the earthsea novels when I was 13 or 14 but only remember the first one in any detail. The problem I have found is now in my 50's, revisiting the books somehow devalues those memories. They were great at the time, but time has moved in terms of intellect & preferences. TLDR they were great 1st time reading when I was young. 😮 Post Game of Thrones, I feel the Amber series could really work - rather than hashing out variations on the same 5 stories that Hollywood like to do.

[@davidaldinger3666]

The Fafrd&Grey Mouser stories were actually a major pillar for the design of D&D. Like Conan they fall into the adventure category

[@TheJayman760]

I read Nine Princes in Amber when it came out so I didn't notice the hipster lingo. I had to wait a year or two between books, and couldn't wait for the next installment. I recommend you continue with the series - one of my favorites of all time.

[@k.s.k.7721]

For a wonderfully written fantasy, with a more contemporary setting, you can't do better than "Little, Big", by John Crowley. Filled with quirky settings, a generations-long story and a surprising ending; it's wonderful. It plays with the ideas of "worlds within worlds" and the creation of myth cycles in everyday life. It would come under the classification of "urban fantasy", exploring the mystery and mythos of contemporary life. I just bought my 2nd copy, as I've worn out the first one.

[@DavideMana]

Swords Against Death is probably the best Fafhrd & Grey Mouser collection, and highly recommended (check out "Bazaar of the Bizarre"). I still love Ill Met in Lankhmar for its noir-ish atmosphere, and yes, that story was heavily influential in the early development of D&D - this is where the thief class comes from (basically to allow you to play the Mouser) as does the whole concept of the Thieve's Guild you find in any major city in any D&D universe.

[@awabooks9886]

Yep, and TSR inked a big Lankhmar license in the early 80s for AD&D 2e.

[@DavideMana]

@@awabooks9886 I have the whole Lankhmar set on my shelf (yes, I have no shame 😅).

[@awabooks9886]

@@DavideMana 😅. I've sold my AD&D 2e stuff, but I loved the Lankhmar boxed set and many of the mods. Good times 🤓

[@Ahnor1989]

The second book of the Earthsea series was my favourite of them, I can recommed that.

[@Steve_Stowers]

All the Earthsea books are worth reading. The first three were written fairly close together; then she came back to Earthsea years later and wrote three more books (one of them a collection of short stories). Those later books are more adult, and have a noticeably different, less condensed writing style.

[@UncleDansVintageVinyl]

I agree. "The Tombs of Atuan" is by far my favorite of the three from the original trilogy.

[@ajaxplunkett5115]

Old time fantasy writer here and you read 4 books that i have also thought good to great but then you throw me a super curveball -- BLACK EASTER !!! missed that one. Because it was the one book NOT in Gary Gygax's Appendix N book influences or the D&D basic set Molvay book list. The other 4 have been influences on D&D through the years. Surprised you didn't mention the sci fi author friends he snuck into the book. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Anthony Boucher: "Father Boucher, who had commerce with some intellect of the recent past that was neither a mortal nor a Power, a commerce bearing all the earmarks of necromancy and yet was not;" Jack Vance: "Father Vance, in whose mind floated visions of magics that would not be comprehensible, let alone practicable, for millions of years to come;" Robert Anson Heinlein: "Father Anson, a brusque engineer type who specialized in unclouding the minds of politicians;" Roger Zelazny and/or Samuel Delany: "Father Selahny, a terrifying kabbalist who spoke in parables and of whom it was said that no one since Leviathan had understood his counsel;" J. Michael Rosenblum:[5][6] "Father Rosenblum, a dour, bear-like man who tersely predicted disasters and was always right about them;"[7] James Blish: "Father Atheling, a wall-eyed grimorian who saw portents in parts of speech and lectured everyone in a tense nasal voice until the Director had to exile him to the library except when business was being conducted;" [7]

[@Bookpilled]

I clocked the Vance reference but missed the others. Thank you for filling in those gaps.

[@richmcgee434]

Appendix N is a very good (albeit quite old) reading list for fantasy in general.

[@Johanna_reads]

Although not every book appealed to your taste, I really enjoyed listening to your thoughts on all of them! I'm going to have to pick up The King of Elfland's Daughter. I can't believe I haven't heard much about that book given the influence it's had on Tolkien and possible Moorcock. Thanks!

[@gerrardandstuff]

Wizard of Earth sea was a pivotal book for me, but then I was 9 when I first read it. Absolutely shaped the way I have viewed and consumed literature, film and media for the last two decades. Did another reread very recently at the age of 28 and it still has a powerful nostalgia for me. While not as complex as the stuff I read these days it still takes me back to a place where it a began for me

[@HarryCollett]

Also mate, I can strongly recommend Damnation Alley by Zelazny. It’s a really simple A to B story that I read in an afternoon when I need a palate cleanser from chewing through ‘harder’ stuff. My favourite Zelazny book by a mile.

[@joncarroll2040]

One of the major influences on Moorcock is Fletcher Pratt's The Well of the Unicorn which is itself an unauthorized sequel to another Dunsany book (I believe a play actually). I can't really recommend it because the plotting plods along and the language is archaic without the poetry of a Dunsany or an Eddison. Broken Sword by Poul Anderson (which I do recommend) is another influence on Elric which is much more clearly where Moorcock drew elements like his descriptions of elves and gods and Stormbringer.

[@salty-walt]

Fafrd & Grey Mouser are great characters who keep giving. . . . until they don't. But the stories were written over soo many years. Ill Met in Lankhmar was older than youo'd think, and there little gems strewn about the series characters that are, understated good writing that have a lot to say about the characters and the world. Great Movie line: "What do you say, even split - 60/60?"

[@alf.2929]

Your criticism of 9 Princes in Amber reminds me the same criticism of the recent tv series of Willow and yes it grates the few who watched it as well.

[@DamnableReverend]

yeah, the storie are mentioned, along with vance's Dying Earth, in the appendices to one of the early D&D editions. It's a"recommended reading" section, basically, where they tout their influences.

[@Atop77]

Great reviews dear sir. Dunsany has always blown my mind everytime I read him. Another pair of great early and super ahead of their time, trendsetting novels are A Voyage to Arcturus by David Lindsay and Lilith by George MacDonald. I am fuckin stoked to read Black Easter. Gonna hunt that sucker down asap!

[@noahmatuszewski8085]

Should you find yourself returning to the well of fantasy, I would highly recommend The Gormenghast Trilogy by Mervyn Peake. An atypical story beautifully written.

[@EdDale44135]

I wanted more from Gormenghast than it gave. The language was overly flowery for me and dense.

[@Kjt853]

I too really liked the Gormenghast Trilogy. The language is dense, no doubt, like a mating of Charles Dickens and Samuel Becket. I can understand why it wouldn’t appeal to all tastes, but it’s well worth looking into.

[@thekeywitness]

Black Easter sounds awesome. I’ll look for it next time I’m stateside.

[@MakeMeAmerican1812]

Interesting your opinion on Zelazny, because I am just finishing reading Lord of Light which has the same thing, but in that book the use of contemporary language every so often is intentional to give you a hint of what is really going on. Although I did think that he did it a little too much.

[@MrVvulf]

11:00 That's a criticism I agree wholeheartedly with you on regarding Zelazny's writing. It occurs in many of his works, and always struck me as 1940s speech patterns, not 1970s. It's like something from a "Humphrey Bogart as private eye" movie. I enjoyed the Amber books, but feel Zelazny was better with the "big picture ideas" when doing sci fi. Some of his short stories are awesome, and of course, "Lord of Light" are worth the time despite the occasional awkward prose passages.

[@salty-walt]

Wow, Great feedback. I LOVE that you challenged yourself w/ fantasy & that you (very reasonably) picked books that were key, and worth exploring, regardless of sub-genre. Hmm, I'm not sure that came out right, but "Classics", Icons, watershed books, books people in the comments will yell at you to read anyway. I had the same let down with the Earthsea books myself. "Finally" got around to them in my twenties, after older things and a lit degree & *instatnly* felt the "I shoulda read this at 12" vibe. I persevered and it was worth it, but it was bittersweet , like this *could've* been a foundational work, and now I'll never be that balanced. Doesn't talk down to the young reader. There's a lot of quiet, passive wisdom in the book. @nd book's mostly about a female character.

[@TheLeniverse]

Yes, I read the first Earthsea book when I was 11, and it was definitely a foundational work for me. Read the quartet in my teens. I have re-read them multiple times, and recapture some of the magic from that early reading experience. But as I have grown older, I also have a new perspective on the female character and her choices (and lack thereof). I now appreciate the way LeGuin basically did a feminist reconstruction of her own work in the fourth book.

[@salty-walt]

@@TheLeniverse Oh Definitely. It's great to hear LeGuin discuss this in interviews as well. That's part of why I was telling Matt he should read them anyway.

[@domdib]

I feel sorry that you didn't connect with "A Wizard of Earthsea". Yes, there is a strain of Jungian allegory in the tale; along with Le Guin's Daoist sensibilities - and because these are both sources of real wisdom, I can return to this book and its sequels as an adult and still receive nourishment. Moreover, the prose is beautifully spare, in keeping with the setting, and worth the price of admission on its own; and the characters are wonderfully drawn and convincing. Not to mention a great 'soft' magic system, for connoisseurs of the genre. And in my edition, also some great line drawings too!

[@chrispadovanibs8648]

Hahaha the bit about Zelazny peering through the hole he poked in the fourth wall made me laugh out loud. Primo content.

[@Fissi0nChips]

Surprised to see Lord Dunsany mentioned here. I've not read a lot by him and I am only aware of him because of HP Lovecraft but this one has me intrigued to read.

[@EdDale44135]

I’ll recommend Lois McMaster Bujold’s Sharing Knife series as a fantasy you may enjoy. Her Penric and Desdemona series is another, more high fantasy series you may enjoy.

[@brianpineda3505]

great recommendations thanks! i read blood music by grear bear which was a 8/10 for me and roadside picnic which was a 9/10 for me because of your videos. i think i will give the james blish book a try next

[@melanieomer9186]

If you like Greg Bear, but also like fantasy, he wrote a great book called Songs of Earth and Power.

[@meesalikeu]

roadside is a 10/10 for me and mite be my fav sci fi story. its one of them for sure.

[@joaquimpedroferreira1862]

The quintet of Earthsea is amazing.

[@The_real_Marcoman]

0:02 The cover art is La Belle Dame sans Merci from John William Waterhouse (1893). ❤

[@twynstyck7807]

I absolutely love the third book in the Earthsea cycle. I think you should give the series a chance, I don't feel too strongly about the first one either. They're different enough.

[@Scottlp2]

There is a line I think from 3rd one of great wisdom, something like [master sage talking to student] you think we can do anything, but as we grow in power and wisdom the way grows narrower until we can only do one thing.

[@markphillips3186]

I’m sad you did not enjoy A Wizard of Earthsea. I understand that you may come to the book too late. However, I strongly recommend that you persevere through the five main volumes and the collected short stories. The third volume has a wonderful pay off to what came before. The fourth, Tehanu and the Fifth, The Other Wind, are two of the great books of fantasy. They follow Sparrowhawk /Ged into his Kate middle age and old age as he deals with the loss of his power. They also deal with gender politics within Earthsea and the differences in men’s and women’s magic.

[@GorillaGrodd]

Definitely going to check out James Blish now.

[@rhclark6530]

I had a similar experience, trying to read the Earthsea novels in my thirties. I tried again in my late 50s and loved them. Put it in your google calendar. ; )

[@douglasdea637]

I've read quite a bit of fantasy and Zelazny's Amber books are my favorite. One of the few series I've read twice. I've even played the Amber Diceless RPG. The characters are the best part of the series. They are powerful and yet never really knowing what is going on completely. The first series, the Corwin books, is better than the second, the Merlin books. Both are worth reading though.

[@personmcpersonperson2893]

Another great video 👍🏻

[@jbellinger99]

You need to read the first two "Gormenghast" books. I do not know what happened to the third, the author died before it was complete, and it is a mass. But the first two books are some of the finest "fantasy" books i have ever read. Not a high fantasy by any means, but a story stuffed with wonderful Dickensian characters living in a huge and ancient castle-grounds which stands as the world entire.

[@blueblood8658]

Just in case, you were planning on reading any more fantasy, I highly recommend "The Traveller in Black" by John Brunner to you. Brunner himself has written some really good scifi stuff, but this book is just great. Love the prose and the worldbuilding. 🙏 Never heard of Black Easter, definitely going to check it out :)

[@e.matthews]

A fantastic recommendation! If I recall correctly, it made me teary-eyed at, of all things, a lamp being blown out! So many ideas were being played with back then in remarkably novel ways!

[@richmcgee434]

Seconded, or thirded. A very enjoyable read, and greatly underappreciated these days.

[@ernestschultz5065]

Looking a bit less disheveled in this video, Matt. I always enjoy your vids!

[@effem892]

I've never heard you mention John Crowley or M John Harrison, both the best living fantasy / sci-fi / whatever they fancy writers in my crappy opinion.

[@aniketsanyal5586]

thumbs up for this comment! I'm not familiar with Little, Big by Crowley but know it's super important. And Harrison is perfect reading in genre or out, I've gone back over The Committed Men, Viriconium, The Centauri Device on my shelf just recently, totally slots into the British end of 70s New Wave stuff to start ... high recommendation for anything Harrison past or present

[@outlawbookselleroriginal]

M John is the greatest. Crowley is no slouch either - but these are guys working well above the level of the commercial end of things, right.

[@markphillips3186]

Strongly recommend Little, Big. A beautifully crafted story of a family enchanted by Fairy to enact revenge on humanity. It has for me the most lyrical final paragraph I have ever read

[@Warstub]

@@markphillips3186 I started Little, Big and loved it, but as the book continued on I just couldn't stay interested and stopped reading at about halfway. I think people need to understand that it's a very pastoral novel about a family and it certainly isn't going to appeal to many. But your comment about the end does make me want to go back to it... some day.

[@UncleDansVintageVinyl]

I'd be interested in your take on Zelazny's "Jack of Shadows." I prefer it to any of Zelazny's other works that I have read.

[@alf.2929]

For the longest, I did think James Blish was a hack because of all the novelization of Star Trek he'd written. I think I had a couple of those novels even though I've never read any of them.

[@dawnmoriarty9347]

I know exactly what you mean. I read A Case of Conscience and was converted

[@nicohanley1816]

quick question, in your top 15 sci fi book video you mentioned a video where you felt beside yourself after reading dune for the first time. which video was that? I couldn’t find an older video of yours with a dune review

[@durwoodmaccool890]

I like that there are things about books that really irritate you but that can't be easily articulated. I get that a lot too from different things, I'll just absolutely hate something, but can't explain why. It's nice to know I'm not alone, it almost makes up for not properly appreciating Banks.

[@peteraa4418]

I was introduced to Zelazny's Amber series via audio tape, which he read himself. Loved it as he has this beat-poetry atyle as he reads. Great voice as well. I read most of his work soon after. A night in the lonesome October is a really fun read and one of the greatest mash-ups of all time. Lord of Light is amazing. For me, most of his stuff is. The Amber series is a great tentpole and popcorn romp but if you can't get over the hep cat lingo every now and then... Yeah... :-D... George RR Martin was very fond of Roger's work and played in or knows about a D&D group Roger was in (reference: In Memoriam: Roger Zelazny. GRRM's site) Edited for style and to correct the D&D GRRM anecdote

[@meesalikeu]

i have not heard that in particular just i think it was an interview, but yeah he has an interesting voice.

[@alllines3210]

Great video. Blish is legend

[@travisporco]

it would be fun to get your take on all the books featured in Barlowe's Guide to Extraterrestrials.

[@doug2424]

Black Easter is one of my favorite blish books the other is and all the stars a stage.

[@michaelsamerdyke108]

I'm glad you like Fafhrd and the Grey Mouser. I find Leiber very interesting. Actually, the second volume, Swords Against Death, collect the first published Fafhrd and Mouser stories, published in the Forties. "Swords and Deviltry" was a preqyel, maybe one of the first. I like "Tombs of Atuan" more than "Wizard of Earthsea." (And I read the Earthsea books when I was sixty.) I find the first three books to be rather didactic. The first (Wizard) teaches that you must embrace your shadow self. (Jungian, as you said.) "Tombs" teaches that you must leave home, and the third, "The Farthest Shore," teaches that you must accept your mortality. There is very little humor in any of them, but they are interesting. I loved "Nine Princes in Amber" when I read it around 1978 or so. Never got into the other Amber books, although I tried for a while.

[@jumpingjohnflash]

Another influence on Tolkien may have possibly been "The Princess and the Goblin" and "the Princess and Curdie" by George MacDonald written in 1872 and 1883 respectively.

[@henryanona1640]

Have you read Zelazny's Hugo winner Lord of Light? I think it's his best.

[@awabooks9886]

I think your Earthsea critique is fair. I enjoyed it as a teenager, tried it again in my 50s...nope. Leave the pleasant memories where they were 😌

[@dawnmoriarty9347]

I have a whole stack of books like this. Can't bear to get rid but daren't read them again just in case it ruins the feelings

[@dreadogastusf3548]

I was eager to see your criticism of these respected fantasy stories. Felt a bit disappointed that you did not like them as much as I did. About half-way through, I noticed that I was much younger when I read them. My take-away is that I should reread Blish's stories now that I am a bit more mature.

[@HarryCollett]

Man props for getting through Fafrd and Grey Mouser. I couldn’t finish it. Just didn’t work for me.

[@christopherbean4009]

Just wanted to say thank you for these videos you do. I found some of the books you have recommended in other videos at the book thing for free. I'm hyped to read them once I'm finished with first law. Have you read the first law trilogy. (Highly recommend it)

[@Bookpilled]

Thanks. Haven't read it.

[@chrisconnors7418]

Linguistic anachronisms pull me out of a story fast in both book and tv. Seeing a 17th century woman say “you think?” as a response to someone stating something obvious ruined the entire scene, and stuck with me for over a decade (I can even name the actor, the tv show, and probably the episode). When they happen in books I can overlook it if not common, but repeated out of place phrases ruin the reading experience. “Why are you using California Valley Girl speech patterns in Victorian era Scotland!?” The Lockland novels had some similar issues with two of the characters sounding like they were from 21st century. Still enjoyed the books though by gritting my teeth and powering through those speech patterns. James Blish was one of my favourite authors along with the usual big names back in the 70s. I went through all his books in the school library.

[@richmcgee434]

Anachronisms in speech and behavior are only acceptable when it's a clue that the character is not, in fact, from the time and place they're currently in. You can be a Valley Girl in Victorian Scotland if that's what you actually are, but the locals had better react to your weird foreign ways appropriately. "Appropriately" might include imitation or adoption of your anachronisms if you're popular/powerful/impressive enough, of course - which could lead to other spacetime-displaced characters tracking you down through random natives peppering their speech with "fer sher!" and "totally!" "I think we're getting close to our time-crime suspect. That innkeeper just asked me if I wanted to super-size my meal."

[@porterhutch]

thank you! great suggestions

[@EdDale44135]

Huh, I took those little 70’s things as being the main character being a guy from the 70’s. He isn’t just a member of the royal family of Amber, he is also the person we first met at the beginning of the book. But I started it as teen so may have enjoyed that humor more.

[@salty-walt]

Moorcock wasn't a big fan of Dunsany, I believe he liked George MacDonald more, but Elric's chief genesis was Poul Anderson's "The Broken Sword" as well as a Norse Myth with a Magic Sword who's name escapes me. I'll drop it in a reply when I find it. Love the video, Loved the choices! Great to hear about the Blish!

[@DamnableReverend]

I kid of hate that "Epic Pooh' essay from Moorcock, though it's certainly interesting and something I often refer to in discussions. Just seems so pett and bitter, even though he states that his reasons are basically political. It's something I feel a writer of his quality should be above doing. Maybe I am a little attached to Tolkien because of his part in my childhood, but I don't think he's above criticism or anything -- just feels like Moorcock was maybea little jealous and wanted to take down a fantasy titan with weird accusations about borderline fascist parochialismy

[@waltera13]

​@@DamnableReverend Moorcock himself is really, really far from petty. However for a good 30 years every time he was up for winning a fantasy award, and people would interview him, the only other fantasy writer they knew to talk to him about was Tolkien - and let me tell you being compared to a writer that you don't personally care for, for 20 or 30 years is enough to make anyone chomp at the bit a little.

[@DamnableReverend]

@@waltera13 I suppose that's somewhat understandable. i still found it sort of laughable, like he just had let all this resentment build up till it splurged all over the page. Some of the things he levelled against TOlkien 9and to an extent, Dunsany) seem really excessive. it's his right not to enjoy those writers, but I felt i was being harangued.

[@waltera13]

@@DamnableReverend You hadda been there. . . .

[@michaelmorrison2258]

Blish, what a master. The more I reread, the more I am horrified by these characters, and the more I love their undeserved ending.

[@doublestarships646]

Throw a tomato at me if I'm wrong but it feels like Fantasy authors subconsciously fall victim falling for the trap of trope prisons created by the genre. Everyone is always trying to become the next Tolkien while avoiding the fact that Fantasy should be experimented on and evolving past those overused tropes. Fantasy is fantasy and should be treated more alien than Sci-fi. New Fantasy should feel like I wouldn't be able to exist in it, y'know? I don't know but Fantasy should be way better than it is today. I just find it odd that many writers keep using the same tropes but painting a different coat of paint on it. Awesome video by the way.

[@Bookpilled]

Agreed

[@JackMyersPhotography]

That is very well said, I agree. I’ve heard some people argue that science-fiction is really an offshoot of fantasy, and if those people happen to be correct, and I can’t say if they are or not, it would make your comment totally correct. Fantasy really does need to find new directions. Have you ever read any Tim Powers, like his one book “Anubis Gates“ I found that to be a really great read, and a different kind of fantasy.

[@doublestarships646]

@@JackMyersPhotography I'll look into it for sure. Right now it's hard to find anything unique in the massive sea of safe genre fiction. There's an abundance of authors playing it safe and falling in line when it comes to the genre unfortunately. There's always an oppressive kingdom, leaders, or whatever in all those books lol.

[@doublestarships646]

@@JackMyersPhotography I think it's worse when it's blatantly obvious that they shoehorn in culture war arguments and sacrificing the immersive experience to literally talk to you about the values of whatever side they're on. It's incredibly corny and extremely tacky. I always saw it as ads during a movie on TV whenever they break the books character whenever they express their beliefs. Plus it's pretty much obvious that most of them are only doing it to cater to a crowd just for sells or cred. This goes for all sides by the way. Stan Lee had an interesting way of doing it where he always left it in background of the story but never letting it get in the way of the plot. As in it's there if you want to look into it but it's definitely not an entire lecture lol. I would say the perfect balance of this would be how X-MEN comics did it.

[@awabooks9886]

Agreed! ...I'm not as widely read as I should be, but if you're looking for intelligent, trippy fantasy that charts its own course, try A. A. Attanasio's Perilous Order of Camelot series, beginning with "Dragon and the Unicorn". Yes it's the Arthurian legend, but Attanasio bends it to his own craft--and he's a bit of a word surgeon 🤓

[@michaelhanson3509]

Amber gets better honestly, he does the "multiverse" concept well with the shifting between dimensions. At least that was my take.

[@TheAzure4]

Hey, maybe a bit of a lesser known one but I'd love to know what you think of "the broken god" by David zindell. I remember it being a very thematically rich and lyrical sci fi novel and I don't know why nobody talks about it!

[@DavidKetchin-gt5nj]

At last someone else has said it out loud. Dunsany is better than tolkein. I was blown away by The elf Kings daughter.

[@SoulsJourney]

You're description of Blish and that book makes me wonder if he was acquainted with, or knew of, Jack Parsons.

[@meesalikeu]

i would guess he may have been aware, but probably they never met. blish was a ny guy who eventually married a brit & moved to england and parsons was very el lay.

[@lex6819]

In the Earthsea trilogy, the 2nd book was the best: The Tombs of Atuan. Much more literary than the first book.

[@StopFear]

Has anybody read the short book by Roger Zelazny called Jack of Shadows? I am not sure whether I could objectively call it a "good book". THe book is short so it feels almost like a long short story. I read it in my teenage childhood in the early 90s and I remember being very impressed by it. I have read it again recently after finding it in a book box and I still like it. If he used the 60s "cool" lingo in it it did not affect me since the first time I read it it was in my first language which is Russian. I have lived more of my life speaking English in the United States than speaking Russian, so reading it in English felt more natural to me since English is the language I think in now. It still impresses me with the way the world is presented in it which is fantasy, but it is also such a crazy world, it is as if it took place in a parallel dimension or another planet.

[@Verlopil]

I love all of those books having read many at the target age for them. Not the Dunsany of course. Your analysis is fair on all points, except maybe the dated language. I seem to recall that being a part of the characters that used it, which to me makes it acceptable. Plus, I probably used to use it. You might like Guy Gavriel Kay's books, and John Crowley's Little Big, perhaps Peake's Titus Groan and Peter S Beagle's A Fine and Private Place. They're superior writers/books who have a great deal of depth to their works, and their prose is beautiful.

[@Bookpilled]

Crowley and Peake are both on my list. As is Beagle. I disliked Summer Tree intensely but I hear Tigana is better

[@Verlopil]

@@Bookpilled The Fionavar Tapestry books (starting with The Summer Tree) are Kay's high fantasy series, his first work and written in response to his work on the Silmarillion. They are very different from his subsequent works. I suppose some might call Tigana high fantasy, but it is unlike any books I would label that way, and one of my favorite of his books. His books after that are set in real world analogues, like Renaissance Venice or Theodosia's Constantinople or Tang dynasty China. They are basically very well-researched historical novels with a touch of magic.

[@DamnableReverend]

Moorcock does talk a little bit about Dunsany, and complains a lot about Tolkien, in his infamous essay "Epic Pooh". Personally I think he protests too much. maybe sad Elric isn'ta household name like Baggins? I don't know. I loved Elfland's Daughter though. I should re-read it. SO many of these early 20th century fantasy works I read in the early 2000s, so it's been quite a while, now. Every so often I'll read a short piece by Dunsany as he was one of the masters of the really short fantastic/weird story. I'm a huge fan of Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser. I read 'Ill met" first, and while I got the same feeling at the time, that it was a bit like a D7D campaign, yes, the influence works the other way, and I guess it didn't take me long to forget about all that. I like the other two tales in the book, especally "The Snow Women", too, but for me, having read the whole series, it's when the two meet that things really come to life, and so now, with my experience of sharing the lives of these characters through all the books of mostly short stories and nvoellas, I spend those two first tales looking forward to their relationship being established in the final story. If you're in the mood again, I definitely, wholeheartedly suggest moving on to Swords against Death, Swords in the Mist, and Swords and Wizardry. Things do start to get increasingly silly as the series goes on, but the writing is always great and Leiber has a playful touch that can turn on a dime from hilarity to horror. he also tries a lot of fun literary experiments throughout the series. Also, I have to say, nobody, and I mean noone, describes what it would feel like to be placed under a curse quite the way Fritz does. I remember having the same feeling of being thrown out of the story by zelazny's keyhole in the fourth wall (really like the way you put that). I never went further with the Amber series, because when I tried to read it, I hadn't yet rekindled my interest in fantasy, and it just didn't really work for me. Iv'e since come to really appreciate Zelazny though, and think I should give Amber another go. I can see why he did the odd modern turns of phrase thing -- after all, Amber is a kind of bridge between the contemporary time of the books' writing and a fantastic world. So there are occasional glimpses of the 1970s in the books, and because of that, I suppose that kind of language ought to seem less alien or out of place. I'm trying to justify it but I'm still not sure it's any good. Well, I'll see one day. last year I read two Zelazny books, which were very different from one another, but both of which Ir eally loved. One was Creatures of Light and Darkness, which was very weird and experimetnal, but awesome, and the other was A Night in the Lonesome October, which was an absolutely adorable love letter to the genre of horror, and many of its tropes and characters.

[@1cathexis]

I was more than gob-smacked to find out the Blish books were mostly over $60 US - just for the used PBs! Wish you'd mentioned that. Now, was this a GW "deal"? Or did you pay those kind of prices? If you found THIS as a GW buy you scored. But still think you should warn watchers when you are raving on a mostly OOP and pricey book.