Subj : Re: Good Older Fantasy &
To   : Boraxman
From : Gamgee
Date : Fri May 09 2025 07:59:33

-=> Boraxman wrote to Gamgee <=-

 -=> Gamgee wrote to Foriest Jan Smith <=-

 FJS> I've been getting into lots of older sci-fi stuff as of late (the old X
 FJS> Minus One serials, Jules Verne, some older sci-fi anthologies I own
 FJS> from the 70s and 80s (Machines That Think, edited by Isaac Asimov is
 FJS> what got me into sci-fi!), but I'm itching for more good stuff. I do
 FJS> have an older copy of the Foundation Trilogy I've been meaning to try
 FJS> but I'm wondering if there's any other good sci-fi of the 50s-60s I
 FJS> should keep an eye out for (I have half a mind to look for more sci-fi
 FJS> pulp magazines, lol).

 Ga> I have always considered the Foundation Trilogy to be the "gold
 Ga> standard" of science fiction.  Doesn't get any better.  Read that
 Ga> first. Be advised that there are 3-4 "sequel" books to that trilogy,
 Ga> that are pretty much garbage.  Stick with the original three.

 Bo> I only know of two sequel books, and a prequel or two.  I've read two
 Bo> of the sequels, Foundations Edge and Foundation and Earth.  There is a
 Bo> distinctly different tone and atmosphere, and both follow a different
 Bo> story arc, with the second continuing from the first.  I think pretty
 Bo> much every other Asimov book or story I've read, I rate higher than
 Bo> these two. I have one of the prequels which I found at a second hand
 Bo> bookstore and got out of curiosity, but my expectations are low.

Yes, that is correct now that I think about it.  I grouped the 
additional books all as "sequels", but you're right - some were 
"prequels".  All of them were disappointing, at least to me.

 FJS> On the same note, I've completely neglected Fantasy. I have yet to find
 FJS> ANY fantasy novels I like. A penpal sent me some ebooks of authors like
 FJS> Anne McCaffery, Brandon Sanderson, E.E. Knight, etc. I had already had
 FJS> some interest--having read some older short stories by Robert E. Howard
 FJS> (I'd love some recommendationso f those if you have any). But I'm
 FJS> mainly interested getting my hands on anything decent fantasy wise that
 FJS> isn't anime or Skyrim, lol.

 FJS> If anyone has any recommendations of either, I'm dying to know!

 Ga> Well, again the "gold standard" (IMHO) of this genre is The Lord of the
 Ga> Rings.  Three books, doesn't get any better.  Oh - there is a "prequel"
 Ga> to these three called "The Hobbit", which should DEFINITELY be read
 Ga> first.

 Ga> That should keep you busy for a little while.  ;-)

 Bo> My uncle lent me Lord of the Rings when I was 9 or so.  He was quite
 Bo> the Tolkein
 Bo> fan, but as far as I know, not into fantasy, just Tolkein.  I had
 Bo> already read the Hobbit by then, and quite enjoyed it, but the size of
 Bo> Lord of the Rings was daunting and the pace slower.  It sat on the back
 Bo> burner and I didn't read it until much later in life.

You're not the only person who has done those books in that way.  ;-)

 Bo>  It IS the gold
 Bo> standard of fantasy, and set the template for many other fantasy works
 Bo> later.  Tolkein was to fantasy what iD Software was to First Person
 Bo> Shooters, but to be honest, that may be UNDER stating it.

As a former ID Software addict, I am 100% in agreement; and great 
analogy!  ;-)



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