A quick update and sad news...

[per_solo]

To me, at least.

I'll be pretty busy this weekend, but Filkertom posted last night that Robert Asprin had passed away.

YEARS ago...well, it's obvious I got into Sci-Fi thanks to Star Wars, Close Encounters, and MANY other movies.

How I got into fantasy is a little different. When I was a freshman in High School, my best friend loaned me "The Elftsones of Shanharra", a book I enjoyed, and was warned not to read the first one, as it was horrible to get through.

Well, after reading that, I started looking in the school library for other fantasy books...and one that was highlighted was "Another Fine Myth". So I grabbed it, not knowing what to expect.

It was hella fun. Bad Puns, cute story, neat system for how magic worked in that world...I started reading all of them I could. And was worried when the books went on hiatus (IRS Issues), but then they came back being written with another author as well.

I've only read one of the books that came out after the hiatus, but keep meaning to pick them up. They're not quite "popcorn" books, but they are easy reads, and fun.

Now I have a desire to get those again (My copies are missing), along with the Wild Cards books by George RR Martin.

But, I know that some check here that don't check Tom's LJ (Blasphemous, in my opinion in some cases. :-P), and felt I should pass the word.

Comments

[echoweaver.livejournal.com]

I was confused at first, since Shannara is by Terry Brooks, but I see where you're going. I got started on Asprin pretty early too. Sorry to hear he died, though like many authors from my childhood, he lost me in his later works. I left the series with Myth Inc.

[per_solo]

I read one of the books past Myth Inc...well, no..I read up until the hiatus (Which I think was a Myth Inc book...just not the first), and always meant to go back and see where the characters had gone.

*nods* Brooks, Asprin, and one or two others are what jumped me to fantasy. :-)

[renquestor.livejournal.com]

Unfortunately, I've never read any Aspirin, something I think I'll be changing rather soon. The only thing I'd heard in reference to him was a buddy of mine telling me a gaming story about the Dorsei Irregulars.

Rest in piece good sir.

On a sidenote, in reference to the Elfstones. Well, the first book in the series wasn't that hard to get through if you take one of two factors into consideration. 1) If you've never read LOTR you'll enjoy the hell out of the book. 2) If you've read LOTR, consider Sword of Shannara LOTR for dummies and you'll be fine.

[per_solo]

I do recommend starting with the first, and making your way through. You may see some difference in writing style, the further you go, but the first...9 or 10 were great, in my opinion. He had a neat wit, and if you can find the first editions that had Phil Foglio art, that was amusing, too.

I've heard tale of the DI, though have only run into them at one convention, in PA.

*heh* Sword of Shannara I read, WAY before I read LOTR. And, For some reason, I didn't enjoy Sword that much...Eflstones seemed much more polished...and, to my adult mind, I still have issues thinking of the Reaper, Changeling, and Dagda Mor. :-) I read a few of the later books, and again, Druid was the one that seemed best..primarily due to the stone city that was the setting of the ending of the book.

[indyellen.livejournal.com]

Just FYI, from an inside source I have, he passed away peacefully at his home waiting for his ride to the airport for Marcon.

However, it was much, much too soon.

I like the Myth books, but I liked the Phule's Company books better. Maybe it's just me...