Quote:
It's just a pity that you did not include a single Weis&Hickman book, I know that they are considered to be Tolkien-rip offs. And I have to agree that especially the Dragonlance books are pretty much that. But they do write good, the first trilogy ('Chronicles') and the Twins trilogy are quite good, and neither of them ever denied that those books are heavily based on Tolkien. Not everything has to be original to be good, even Tolkien isn't completely original, most authors aren't.
My not including
Weis and Hickamn has little to do with them being
unorignal as much as it based out of my extreme distaste for there work as a whole. I don't think they excel at anything. I think there plots border on sophmoric, their characters archetypical, their prose weak and indifferent from most fan fiction, and hopelesly irrelvant and unthougthful. It's true I cannot admit to being a fan of
Dragonlance, but I think their
Deathgate cycle is even worse. There is simply nothing in there work that jumps out at me that screams quality.
I point to the act that even their fans when discussing the merit of their work are often left with the presence of Raistlin as their last leg to stand on in most debates concerning the quality of the series. I just don't get wowed like that by one character (particulary one who I think is among the most overated in the genre; yet I admit his apeal on some rudimentary level)
I agree the concept of orignal is too often used, and says nothing in relation to quality. There are numerous titles on my list that are not original at all but the quality shine, the authors' talent shines, talent I just don't recognize
Weiss and
Hickman having. You point out the works often talked when discussing there best works (
Chronicles,
Twins, which I don't think are horrendous novels; however even at my most benevolent times I consider them average at best.
The Deathgate Cycle I just think is truly horrific.
All that said, I am aware of thrre fanbase-a rather large one at that, and respect anyone opinion to like what they want, as we all have different opinions, and read for different reasons, but in this case - regarding my list (which is just for fun), they were not even a consideration. There were some 60 or so novels/series/cycles etc that were left off, that I felt deserved equal merit to those I listed, but
Dragonlance was certainly not one of them. Truth be told they are among my least favored authors; at FBS and other boards I frequent I'm rather known for my particular distatse for
Dragonlance.
We had a discussion there debating it's status as a classic if you care to chime in (we would love to hear your opinions)
HERE Edited, Thu May 26 13:02:08 2005 by AinulindaleFBS