Crazydog7 Posted February 13, 2009 Share Posted February 13, 2009 I love David Gemmell and have been holding off on reading his stand alones for a few years because I knew that with his death no new ones would be coming out. I ordered the Troy books off Amazon and when those are done (in about three weeks at the rate I read) thats it no more Gemmell My question is this are there any more authors like a light fantasy read with a good simple moral tale? The only fantasy authors I read apart from him are GRRM I can do some Raymound Fiest but only in small doses have tried Goodkind and RJ but liked neither. Can anyone offer any advice on what to read? Much obliged. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arthmail Posted February 13, 2009 Share Posted February 13, 2009 Im going to sound like a pessimest here, but there is no one like Gemmell that i have found. He is my favorite author, which is in some ways surprising to me considering my love for complex worlds, but he is a master at what he does. Once you are done the Troy series, which are his best by far, there is nothing left but emptiness. Sorry, i wish i could say more, but the sooner you know the better. It will ease the suffering. ----melodrama over----- Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
murphy Posted February 13, 2009 Share Posted February 13, 2009 He's nothing like Gemmell, but Jim Butcher's Dresden files is a very fun read. Start with Storm Front. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crazydog7 Posted February 13, 2009 Author Share Posted February 13, 2009 [quote name='murphy' post='1685279' date='Feb 12 2009, 23.45']He's nothing like Gemmell, but Jim Butcher's Dresden files is a very fun read. Start with Storm Front.[/quote] Been there read that (started the thread) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamesL Posted February 13, 2009 Share Posted February 13, 2009 I agree - there really is no one else like Gemmell. You could try [b]Paul Kearney's [/b][i]The Ten Thousand[/i], which is a military fantasy with Gemmell-esque themes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cuchulain Posted February 13, 2009 Share Posted February 13, 2009 [quote name='JamesL' post='1685441' date='Feb 13 2009, 13.41']I agree - there really is no one else like Gemmell. You could try [b]Paul Kearney's [/b][i]The Ten Thousand[/i], which is a military fantasy with Gemmell-esque themes.[/quote] I completely agree. I love Gemmell, but I haven't really found anyone like him. Kearney comes the closest IMO. Also, while Feist usually isn't like Gemmell at all, the standalone [i]Honoured Enemy[/i] does have a similar feel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
polishgenius Posted February 13, 2009 Share Posted February 13, 2009 Yeah, Kearney has a definite Gemmell-esque feel. I had that though reading his first two 'Sea Beggars' books as well. Not just thematically, but his style too. Not fantasy, but Steven Pressfield (specifically, Gates of Fire which I've read) in his historical fiction reminds me of Gemmell too - Gates of Fire is based on the same events (Thermopylae) as Gemmell's legend and all. Richard Morgan's The Steel Remains also reminded me vaguely of Gemmell. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Calibandar Posted February 14, 2009 Share Posted February 14, 2009 I suppose you might give Brent Weeks a try. New series, cit in different sort of settings, but fast paced and full of action and plot development. Dave Duncan's Gilded Chain perhaps. Maybe King's Gunslinger, has simiularities to his Jerusalem Man series. I'm stretching here, I know. Some historical fiction authors might indeed be considered. Ah yes. You might try Winterbirth and Bloodheir by Brian Ruckley, certainly has similarities to Gemmell. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Liffguard Posted February 14, 2009 Share Posted February 14, 2009 [quote name='polishgenius' post='1685920' date='Feb 13 2009, 19.16']Not fantasy, but Steven Pressfield (specifically, Gates of Fire which I've read) in his historical fiction reminds me of Gemmell too - Gates of Fire is based on the same events (Thermopylae) as Gemmell's legend and all.[/quote] I was going to mention Steven Pressfield as well, but you beat me to it. I'll just say that I agree, Pressfield is the closest to Gemmell that I've yet read. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arthmail Posted February 14, 2009 Share Posted February 14, 2009 Do not waste your money on Brent Weeks. I disagree with Cal., because weeks sucks. His series is a joke, the names are brutal, and you are unlikely to find anything Gemmell like in them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crazydog7 Posted February 15, 2009 Author Share Posted February 15, 2009 [quote name='Calibandar' post='1686859' date='Feb 14 2009, 15.06']I suppose you might give Brent Weeks a try. New series, cit in different sort of settings, but fast paced and full of action and plot development. Dave Duncan's Gilded Chain perhaps. Maybe King's Gunslinger, has simiularities to his Jerusalem Man series. I'm stretching here, I know. Some historical fiction authors might indeed be considered. Ah yes. You might try Winterbirth and Bloodheir by Brian Ruckley, certainly has similarities to Gemmell.[/quote] Thanks for the recommendations I will happily check them out. I secound the Dave Duncan recommendation Gilded Chian and its companions were excellent. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Werthead Posted February 15, 2009 Share Posted February 15, 2009 Paul Kearney is very close in style and tone to Gemmell, but manages also to hold his own stylistically, which is very interesting. Also, Kearney has frankly a much higher standard of consistency than Gemmell, but that may also be down to his relatively low production rate compared to Gemmell. Richard Morgan is another one that comes to mind with that same bloody-minded, no-holds-barred attitude. [i]The Steel Remains[/i] is certainly somewhat Gemmellesque. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest thebadlady Posted February 15, 2009 Share Posted February 15, 2009 Dave Duncan was entertaining, but got very repetitive quickly. I am afraid I didn't enjoy David Gemmell very much. I'd agree Paul Kearney is very similar to Gemmell. Patrick Rothfus' Name of the Wind should be given a shot - its rather good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BookWyrm Posted February 16, 2009 Share Posted February 16, 2009 Now, far be it for me to suggest, I haven't read Gemmell yet, but i've always had the impression that if you liked him, then you would like Robert E. Howard's Conan stories. I thought I'd throw that toss of the dice... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Meili Posted February 16, 2009 Share Posted February 16, 2009 I agree. Gemmell is my favorite author and though there will be no more books from him, his wife was very impressive in finishing his last book. Although his writing is not the best ever, I find his heroes, the worlds he created and the story of each novel to be the most enjoyable books I have ever read. I have even cried reading a few of his and I never do that for books. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crazydog7 Posted February 16, 2009 Author Share Posted February 16, 2009 [quote name='Meili' post='1688418' date='Feb 16 2009, 13.34']I agree. Gemmell is my favorite author and though there will be no more books from him, his wife was very impressive in finishing his last book. Although his writing is not the best ever, I find his heroes, the worlds he created and the story of each novel to be the most enjoyable books I have ever read. I have even cried reading a few of his and I never do that for books.[/quote] I liked it that the miracles always had both a humanist and a divine explanation leaving the reader to make up his own mind. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rimmer Posted February 16, 2009 Share Posted February 16, 2009 Is he worth trying then? Which book/series is best to start on? I always thought he was a Young-Adult sort of writer, similar to Feist, Dragonlance, etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
williamjm Posted February 16, 2009 Share Posted February 16, 2009 [quote name='Rimmer' post='1688575' date='Feb 16 2009, 21.00']Is he worth trying then? Which book/series is best to start on? I always thought he was a Young-Adult sort of writer, similar to Feist, Dragonlance, etc.[/quote] I read Gemmell's [i]Legend[/i] last year and I wasn't hugely impressed with it. It was an entertaining read, the premise was good and he does write good battle scenes (and lots of them), but the dialogue was often poor, the quality of the characterisation was variable (at times it was good, at times the character development was overly simplistic) and I disliked the ending, particularly the saccharine surprise resurrection of one character. IIRC it was his first book so maybe it's too harsh to judge him on it, he may have improved later on but based on Legend I'd probably rank him about level with the likes of R.A. Salvatore or Feist's later books. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Meili Posted February 16, 2009 Share Posted February 16, 2009 [quote name='williamjm' post='1688644' date='Feb 16 2009, 16.03']I read Gemmell's [i]Legend[/i] last year and I wasn't hugely impressed with it. It was an entertaining read, the premise was good and he does write good battle scenes (and lots of them), but the dialogue was often poor, the quality of the characterisation was variable (at times it was good, at times the character development was overly simplistic) and I disliked the ending, particularly the saccharine surprise resurrection of one character. IIRC it was his first book so maybe it's too harsh to judge him on it, he may have improved later on but based on Legend I'd probably rank him about level with the likes of R.A. Salvatore or Feist's later books.[/quote] Try the Rigante series. Amazing books that suck you right into the story and get you emotionally attached to the characters more than any Martin character ever has (although the Red Viper is close!). Also try his Troy books for a great take on that legend. The rest of the Drenai books are excellent as well but in case you need to adapt to his style of writing, try Rigante first. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Werthead Posted February 16, 2009 Share Posted February 16, 2009 [quote name='Rimmer' post='1688575' date='Feb 16 2009, 21.00']Is he worth trying then? Which book/series is best to start on? I always thought he was a Young-Adult sort of writer, similar to Feist, Dragonlance, etc.[/quote] His early novels are weak, but fortunately he has a lot of self-contained series, and even some novels set in the same world which are individually stand-alone. After failing to get anywhere with [i]Legend[/i], I tried [b]The Troy Trilogy[/b] - written twenty years later - and the leap forward in quality is staggering. [b]The Troy Trilogy[/b] is superb and I'd recommend it to any epic fantasy or historical fiction fan. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.