Subj : Re: Good Older Fantasy &
To : Gamgee
From : Boraxman
Date : Fri May 09 2025 08:26 am
-=> Gamgee wrote to Foriest Jan Smith <=-
Ga> @MSGID: <
[email protected]>
Ga> @REPLY: <
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-=> Foriest Jan Smith wrote to All <=-
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.
I only know of two sequel books, and a prequel or two. I've read two of the
sequels, Foundations Edge and Foundation and Earth. There is a distinctly
different tone and atmosphere, and both follow a different story arc, with the
second continuing from the first. I think pretty much every other Asimov book
or story I've read, I rate higher than these two. I have one of the prequels
which I found at a second hand bookstore and got out of curiosity, but my
expectations are low.
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. ;-)
My uncle lent me Lord of the Rings when I was 9 or so. He was quite the
Tolkein
fan, but as far as I know, not into fantasy, just Tolkein. I had already read
the Hobbit by then, and quite enjoyed it, but the size of Lord of the Rings was
daunting and the pace slower. It sat on the back burner and I didn't read it
until much later in life. It IS the gold standard of fantasy, and set the
template for many other fantasy works later. Tolkein was to fantasy what iD
Software was to First Person Shooters, but to be honest, that may be UNDER
stating it.
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