Timewaster's Guide Archive

Quote from: Hobbun on June 25, 2010, 05:24:43 PM

Oh, already have the paperback all ready to read.  And not just Warbreaker, but also the Mistborn series and Elantris. The only one I don't have is Alcatraz.

Oooh, how about this then: read the first chapter each for Elantris, Mistborn #1 and Warbreaker. Then continue with the one you liked the best...

I'd be curious to see which one you pick.

To be honest, I would prefer to start with the one I like the “worst”, so each subsequent book just gets better and better. Very much like Phaz’s suggestion. And I am still seriously thinking about going with his suggestion and starting with Elantris first, then go to Warbreaker.

Obviously going by this reasoning, I am not going to read the Mistborn series out of order, even if the earlier books in the series are viewed as “better” (which I hope isn’t the case).

The only other question is going by my “worst” to best suggestions, where should Alcatraz be at?  I am pretty sure I am still going to start with Elantris and Warbreaker, but wonder if I should go to the Alcatraz books before reading Mistborn.

And the reason I was putting worst in quotes is I am not saying any of them are bad, but when you go from a book that is great to one that is awesome, that great book is the “worst” one.

I think I’ve been pretty lucky so far. His last two books he’s released for his tours, or going to release (TGS and WoK), have been in the Chicago area and at a very nearby bookstore, on top of it. I am anticipating ToM not coming to the Chicago area.

And to be honest, that’s ok with me. Not that I don’t want to see Brandon, of course I do. But I would really like to do my re-read of WoT, first. The last thing I want to worry about is any spoilers from questions people may ask in the Q&A. And besides, I know he’ll almost definitely stop in Chicago for AMoL.

Oh good, he'll be in the Chicago area. And it looks like he is using the same bookstore as where he signed at for TGS. Which works for me as it is only about 20 minutes from my house, at the most.   

Ok, thank you everyone for your suggestions.  I am probably going to start with Elantris or Warbreaker, first. But I haven’t decided, yet.

As for someone suggesting ‘slogging through the first 11 books of the WoT is worth it if you like traditional fantasy”, I definitely do like traditional fantasy and have every intention of rereading the series. I actually read up to book 8 of the series and stopped. But I stopped reading in general, not just WoT (long story). So I just want to reread the series again because I have forgotten so much and then also read 9, 10 and 11 before I start TGS.

As for my comment of reading Mistborn because it is ‘complete’, I said that because of a rule I have instigated now (for myself) that I try to wait until the series is over, or at least to the point by the time I finish the second to last book in the series, the last one is just coming out. I basically want to read all of them together. I started that rule because of WoT. I had to reread the series over twice as it was just too long between books and I would forget a lot of the little things (and some bigger ones) from prior books.

Not saying Brandon is going to be that way, in having years between books, but it is something I have found with the epic 800-1000 page fantasy books. It’s great they are huge, but something like that, understandably so, is going to take a huge amount of time to write, edit, revise and print. That is also why I have waited on reading Martin’s series (Song, Fire and Ice) as well.

It is awesome hearing that the endings in Brandon’s books are that top notch. That is the problem I have run into a lot of book series where the story itself is great, but the ending is so anti-climatic. I am really looking forward to reading Brandon’s work!

Thanks again to all for your suggestions. 

I will admit, I have not had the pleasure to read Brandon’s books as of yet (I know, shame on me) but I am in the process of finishing a series before I head off to GenCon.

However, I do plan to start up Brandon’s books afterwards. Now, which book/series do you recommend I start first? I was thinking of going with Mistborn as that series is completed (well, at least I think it is), but would it be better to go with Elantris or Warbreaker first?

I guess I just want to avoid the “Oh, that’s a good series, but I would have started with ________, first.”

What do you suggest?

I would be coming from the Chicago area. So for what you are describing, it doesn’t sound like it would be worth it (however much I would love to see Brandon again). When I had the pleasure to meet Brandon in October for the Gathering Storm book signing, he was able to do a reading, Q&A (albeit very short-though, not complaining) and signing. But as you said this would be a ‘late’ night signing at BYU, so I can also see why not having the reading or Q&A.

I just wasn’t sure if this was going to be unique in any way as it was Brandon’s home town/school, more like an actual party, but it doesn’t sound like it. Again, probably due to the lateness. The only difference I see from the signing I went to with him is he is apparently going to number The Way of Kings books at BYU, which was not done with Gathering Storm at my local bookstore.

Thanks for the information, Peter.

Ok, thanks Peter.

May I ask what the signing 'parties' are like at BYU? Are they more involved because it is Brandon's hometown? I ask because I am debating on coming out. If not for Way of Kings, but maybe for a future book signing (like maybe even Towers of Midnight). Is he willing to sign multiple books?

I guess I am just wondering if is it a more personable level due to being at his college, or is it more like the bookstores he visits for the tours?

I would like to come out for the BYU signing, but I also would be coming a long ways and wouldn't want it be a real short experience, if you know what I am getting at.

There's about 32 different shardworld books that are planned.  There are other books, such as Scribbler, which aren't shard world.  However, the shard books each have their own flavor and style.

So, what exactly is shard world?  Are Brandon's early books part of shardworld and do I need to read them before starting Way of Kings?