OT-Black Company

[HoneyBadger]

Not really. Typing is typing. The difference is in what sells, and the bigger, thicker books carry-literally-more weight than short stories, and therefore more emphasis for the readers to empathise with the story/characters/plot, and want more of the same.

[JimMorrison]

And as has been pointed out in reference with the Wheel of Time, a reduced sense of obligation. Once the decision is made to NOT end on a third book, you can keep stringing people along forever. Even if the author dies early (not to make light of that per se, or to blame him for dying) or sales eventually fall off because the writing has gotten so bad, and so irrelevant, you have still conned 10 million people into paying 20$, 30$, maybe $50 for this stuff. If combined sales of a series top $100 million for unsatisfying junk, then what is the incentive for the publisher to find some brilliantly written, but short and controversial (AND unorthodox) story, that won't even hit best seller lists, let alone break $1 million in sales? They do not want quality, they don't care if in 20 or 30 years a book is considered a classic, and a revolutionary writing - they're making decisions to make themselves wealthy NOW, and nothing else, it's just business.

I can't believe this is still an argument.

(Also I can't believe I went to do something else, and this post sat here unsent for 5 or 6 hours. O.o)

[MaxWilson]

Isn't that the way publishing has always been? The reason Dickens' novels are so interminably long is partly that he was paid by the word.

-Max

[HoneyBadger]

Oh and I loved the first Black Company book. Good voice and great use of battlefield magic! The part where the guy with the flying carpet is dropping these green strands down on the enemy, and the threads are cutting people up and leaving horrible, bright green wounds, that was honestly gruesome. I wish there had been more background on the original Taken, though.

[Wrana]

Though the thread became probably too long for any sane person to read , I have currently found the time to accomplish this! Thanks to all who mentioned authors I haven't read already.
Thanks also for reminding about Margareth Weis. Though she's not on par with Barbara Hambly or Caroline Cherryh, she writes well enough. And while she started from very humble beginnings of T$R book-hack, she had overgrown this. Her later books stink of melodrama, though, sometimes. But generally good-written and enjoyable. I personally like Star of the Guardians cycle most, though it's not fantasy and so slightly OT here...
Another case of gaming-company-books-done-well is, of course, production of Games Workshop. Here they seduced some already known British authors into writing some books using a world where their game takes place as a shared universe. I enjoy Jack Yeovil = Kim Newman particularly, but Brian Craig (don't remember actual name) is also good. This series is generally worth to read (maybe less so for those who don't play Warhammer, but still good nevertheless) and dark fantasy is what World of Warhammer is all about!
Considering maps - it's probably good idea, though Martin's would hold no interest for me! Glen Cook didn't place official maps in any of his books afaik, but there are good-quality ones produced by fans. There is good map of Turtledove's World of Videssos also...
As for publishers - well, I generally agree with HoneyBadger's idea, but must point out that I had to take part in preparing some few books for publishing and it's really exact & boring job. Few authors would make this work willingly - and especially make it well.

HoneyBadger said:
Leif, the Mahabharata is a trilogy consisting of approximately 1.8 million words. I don't think they had personal computers and word-processors 2400 years ago.

Well, and Iliada is ten times smaller and ten times better! But here we can't blame poor quality on publishers' establishment - it's just a case of graphomania. Which isn't rare among self-publishers, unfortunately - but I can't say that it's less common among authors liked by publishing houses, too. What I can add to this is that even recommendations by good authors on a back page doesn't garantee the quality of the book - sometimes I doubt if these authors are even aware that their names are placed there. But maybe it's just money - or even just good personal relationships...

[HoneyBadger]

I like the Videssos books. They're currently free to read from the Baen free library.

[Wrana]

Yes. This can also mean that map can be used freely for non-commercial purposes, eh? Turtledove and Barbara Hambly are also, by the way, the only professional medievists in the field. And it tells. Considering game use Hambly's maps are also good and could be useful.

[Beorne]

Stop writing on this thread! I have no time and I must absolutely read it all ... and it is increasing ...

[Aezeal]

a few points to start
1. I don't know any black company books (I don't think even the biggest stores here in Holland have them, but the more I encounter the name I'm thinking of ordering them)

2. I FULLY agree Martin writes great books and I think it is better than Tolkien in quite some ways.

3. dragon of .... etc.. is IMHO not a very good series and I don't think there is good character development at all.

4. I like Jordans books, even the late/last ones

Then I want to bring some autor's into the light (I guess most of you 'read them already but if you haven't these are books you must read.. even if you don't think they are as great as I think they are I'm sure you'll find them at least good and worth the reading time

Having said that I think it's strange that Steven Erikson hasn't been mentioned I think his Malazan books of the Fallen are one of the greatest series there are (for me this is the best series together with Martin)

I also like Feists (Magician and his serpentwar saga)

another series I like very much so far (only seen first book of this sereis (I think the rest isn't written yet): the name of the wind by Patrick Rothfuss

An oldie (don't know exactly how it really fits in timeline with other book but one of his books was amongst the first I bougth) I like too is Tad Williams (Dragonthrone series (real name to long) and his war of the Flowers book

Last but not least I'd like to mention Scott lynch's books about locke lamora (The lies of locke lamora and red seas under red skies) about a conman in a fantasy setting it's different and it's good

also: Drizzt books (RA Salvatore) and discworld novels are always fun between more "serious" series, and not bad at all

[Ballbarian]

I love the Drizzt books (RA Salvatore). My daughters have recently started reading my collection and appear to be hooked as well.