Every once in a while, science fiction and fantasy is given love from the literary world.
Usually only a little love though.
The New Yorker, the long-standing quintessential magazine of New York City known for its breadth of reporting, commentary, criticism, essays, fiction, cartoons and poetry, has run an article titled “Seven Essential Fantasy Reads: Going to Second Base.”
Now if the New Yorker was only read in New York City, I’d say their opinion is a small sampling, despite that city’s diversity and population. But the magazine is read all over the world and offers some of the best glimpses into literary fiction.
The writer, Macy Halford, asked her Yale physics friend to come up with the seven must reads for a fantasy nerd. Needless to say, I was interested in what a Yale guy could come up with. Turns out he didn’t do too badly—Tad Williams, Terry Brooks, Guy Gavriel Kay, Robin Hobb, Terry Goodkind, Patrick Rothfuss and Steven Erikson.
Click HERE to read the article.
Personally, I look at the list and I can see where the Hugh Lippincott got his choices. Each of those listed bring a depth to the fantasy genre, either in how they changed the industry a as a whole or for their literary merit.
With the exception of maybe one.
Tad Williams, in many ways, countered J.R.R. Tolkien’s work. The trilogy Memory, Sorry & Thorn is a rebuttal on certain levels to what Tolkien considered a “once golden age” in our history. As Tad is fond of saying, Tolkien hated that the electric light came to Oxford, that tradition and the old ways should be preserved in the face of progress. The quality of Tad’s series is also nearly unmatched, and its brilliance lies in the story, its memorable characters and the wordsmith-quality Tad brought to it. This story will always be in my top five of all time and it begins with The Dragonbone Chair.
The Lord of the Rings fans scream that Terry Brooks is on the list due to the first 1/3 of The Sword of Shannara echoing Tolkien’s masterpiece so closely, but they also fail to recognize the fantasy genre exists today because of Terry Brooks, who proved fantasy could be a commodity and make money in an industry at a time overrun by non-fiction. Although I disagree with the choice of The Scions of Shannara as a good example of Terry Brooks—I happen to feel quite strongly that The Elfstones of Shannara is Terry’s masterpiece—I also understand that Scions offers readers a great jumping on point. Just for his historical significance, Terry belongs on the list.
Guy Gavriel Kay is a huge name in the business. I mean, let’s face it, the man helped compile and edit The Silmarillion. But his own fiction is just as historically significant as Tolkien’s compendium. Guy builds convincing worlds with gray characters and his writing style is just beautiful to read. He is definitely in my top ten, closer to five.
What can I say about Robin Hobb? She is of course one of the sweetest authors you will ever meet, but she also happens to be—in my humble opinion—the best writer of those listed who brings their characters to life on the page. I feel I know Fitz Chivalry. I feel I know the Fool—despite still not knowing his/her gender. They are so well crafted I sometimes want to put my own writing down when I read her work. She definitely belongs in the top five. Glad to know a Yale physics guy knows that!
Terry Goodkind. Here is where I disagree with Mr. Lippincott. I read Wizard’s First Rule several years ago so I could discover what all the fuss was about. People either love Goodkind or hate his work, and I had to find out for myself what side I fell on. For the most part I enjoyed Wizard’s First Rule. I took exception to some of it but overall it was a solid debut. Then I read the second book and got lost. The man simply crosses a line when it comes to inserting his own theories and philosophies in his writing. Often entire chapters are devoted to waxing monologues of Ayn Randian philosophy. For me, once the story takes a backseat to the writer’s beliefs, I am lost. I too am lost to Goodkind.
Instead, I’d insert George R. R. Martin in Goodkind’s place. But more on that at the end.
Patrick Rothfuss is another really good friend of mine, one I’ve known since before his success and one I am so happy to have seen achieve it. The Name of the Wind is a fine example of what a debut book should be—well-written with memorable characters. If Pat can pull this trilogy off, and I think he can, Kvothe may well stand at the pinnacle of memorable characters in the genre, equaling Gandalf, Allanon, Fitz, Tyrion or Drizzt. That is high praise, especially since only one book has been released by Pat. But knowing Pat, I also know he is a tireless perfectionist despite his unruly beard and happy paunch. If he is happy with 80% of The Wise Man’s Fear right now, then we are in for a treat once it is released. I think Mr. Lippincott has the ability to see the future, and that future has already begun in the now.
Steven Erikson is, quite literally, the smartest person I have ever met. Super talented and über-educated, he is able to write a rat-killing door-stopper once a year. As you can imagine, his fans adore him for it. But the complexity of the Malazan series and overall story is dwarfed by the characters Steve creates. He has created hundreds of them and they all have distinct personalities. Steve definitely belongs on the list, mostly in my opinion because he has managed to write a book a year for almost the breadth of his career and maintain a quality that his peers in truly epic fantasy have not been able to duplicate.
Now, that makes a fine list. I agree with almost all of it, as you see.
But there is J.V. Jones and George R. R. Martin, both of whom would be in my top 7 probably. The problem with both writers is they have a tendency to be late in delivering their work, which of course means their work will be great once it is delivered but it annoys the fans to no end. Martin gets the edge of Jones to me, at least where it comes to this list, because Martin really could achieve a level of appreciation in the fantasy genre that eclipses that of Tolkien—if the man can finish his opus.
The question is, what do you all think? Good choices? Not good choices? Is Mr. Lippincott right? Or do you rail against him?
Post your thoughts!
