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Summary: The true successor to Tolkien
Review: I know Tolkien wasn't the originator of fairy tales or even the fantasy genre, but for this specific sub-genre of sweeping, epic fantasy of good vs. evil, let's just for argument's sake call him the grandfather of fantasy. Anyway, Tad Williams is his true descendant, taking familiar themes efficiently used by Tolkien and making them totally his own. You can clearly see the tribute to Tolkien, but you can also clearly see this is no rip-off, by any definition. Williams recognizes the sources that inspired Tolkien and also borrows from other mythological traditions, deftly blending them into his own unique concoction. His characters are extremely well-developed and believable.Other reviewers have stated that The Dragonbone Chair takes a while to get going and that is true, but it's totally necessary. Williams gives his world a strong sense of reality the mundane and everyday, making the fantastic and the remarkable that much more exciting and terrifying to behold. This is a theme also demonstrated in The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, though not, I almost hate to admit, as convincingly. I'm not saying Tolkien couldn't depict the fantastic and terrible, just that Tolkien's universe had a stronger sense of otherworldliness even from the get-go. You already know Middle Earth and beyond is a mystical and magical world, from the moment Gandalf enters the stage, if not before. Williams' Osten Ard has such a strong sense of the mundane and the cruel (contrasting sharply with the idyll of the Shire) that we almost get the feeling that those fantastic tales of dragons and elves are just that, tales, until those fantastic aspects start rearing their heads. Even then, some of the more amazing and terrifying happenings in Williams' fantasy seem to have at least a toe-hold in believability - I don't know how best to explain any of this; it's just my overwhelming impression. In this way, it's as if Williams' books are less of an escape (which is where Tolkien's main strength lies) than an extension of our own troubled experience. Strangely, that doesn't make them less enjoyable to read, but instead gives us a strong anchor which which to sympathize with Simon and his companions. Understand that I am not putting Williams above Tolkien - they each have their own strengths (and weaknesses, though they are scant). But I would certainly put him in the same echelon. I probably should wait until I finish the entire Memory, Sorrow and Thorn series before making any comparisons, but I'm too inspired so I figured I'd mention Terry Brooks and Robert Jordan. Both have very well-realized visions. But Brooks is perhaps too simplistic in his depictions and his characterizations too stilted. Don't get me wrong, I like the Shanarrah books; they just don't ring with the same power as Tolkien or Williams. Jordan's world is, if anything, too complex, yet not entirely believable or easy to follow. There are too many concepts and characters. Plots seem to come, then go and never return. The characterizations border on, if not exceed, the obnoxious. Also, there is too much padding and no end in sight. I like the characters in Memory, Sorrow and Thorn and, long as it is (and that's still not approaching the formidable length of Jordan's Wheel of Time), I know I can expect a resolution. This went on much longer than I'd intended but let me just say this last: if The Dragonbone Chair seems like it's slow at the beginning, I urge you to stick with it, because it gets much, much better.
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Summary: It took me three tries, but it was VERY worth it...
Review: It is one of the lowest starts I have ever read... but what a way to finish... I actually had to try three times before I got past the slow part (around page 200) and got into the REAL stuff... don't get me wrong, I guess the slow start was a necessary part for comprehending all the plot, but it was very tedious... Overall: SIMPLY AMAZING... adn the sequels, even better!! Enjoy!!
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Summary: Good book, but...
Review: I've read all the great reviews this series got, and I have to think that maybe I missed something. I thought the plot was great. Tad also does a great job with scene developement, better than Tolkien in my opion. When reading the story, it's easy to imagine the world and the activities going on. The story takes off a bit slow, but the environment keeps you interested. The main character starts off very immature, which is understood, but it takes far too long for him to grow up. He crys at every opportunity for the first book and most of the second. I remind you that the story is great. You follow the main character through the whole story and watch him grow. Really great! Now for my recommendations. Tad's other stories are good too, but you'll need an open mind. I give Tolkien only a 4.5 rating for Lord of the Rings, and I give G. Martin a 5 star for the first bood Game of Thrones.
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Summary: Tad Williams is a great author, but entirely unorigional
Review: TAD WILLIAMS is a great author, his writting is fantastic and his characterisation superb (though not perfect. Tolkien rules, Feist comes close and Goodkind isn't bad either) All this said, i have to continue to say that his book is one of the LEAST origional fantasy I have read. Feists MAGICIAN (published long before Williams) centered itself around Pug, a castle orphan who is caught in the middle. Simon is Pug all over again, and again, and again. His circumstances, his nature, his ineptitude are all the same. Morgenes is Kulgan, from MAGICIAN. The mysterious, but kindly, magician who sees more in pug/simon than anyone else and makes him his apprentice. The SITHI are incredibly similar to GOODKIND's FORBIDDEN. But all this aside (and I could go on and on) it is a good read. Fun, well written, it is worth continuing with.
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Summary: The best books I have ever read . . .
Review: I have read many, MANY, books, but I have never read a better series of books than this trilogy by Mr. Williams. The descriptions, the story, the CHARACTERS. Outstanding!! I am a fantasy-book freak in a family of readers. No one else is very interested in these kinds of books. But I raved to such an extent that I got my mom and sister to read them (I do not believe they have ever read any other fantasies...), and they LOVED them too. I recommend these books to all lovers of the written word!
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Summary: A REMARKBLY INTELEGENT FANTASY
Review: The first 300 pages or so are a mere introduction that is neccessary for a book of this calibre. Extremely well thought out, the characters react precisly as would a real person. however it is not this that lends this book its brilliance it is the plot. The plot is mind-blowing, so I won't reveal it to you, add in touches of realism and style and you have a superb and elegantly crafted book.
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Summary: Great. Fantastic. Absolutly marvelous.
Review: In my school library, I was looking up the keyword 'dragon' when I fell across this book. I picked it out and read the summary, then I opened up the book and read the first sentence. I was immediately drawn into the book. Granted, it took a few months, but I am *finally* done with the book. What do I have to say? It's great! Sure, it's long, but the plot is original. The way Tad Williams describes everything makes it so clear! I especially loved the descriptions of the Sithi and their works. The plot progresses in a very smooth way, jumping from character to character and describing their parts in the story. The emotions of the characters are described very clearly, too. Also, parts of the book got me thinking about certain aspects of life. Simon's growth and maturity throughout the book, for one thing. Although he accomplished many things and became a hero, and even though he witnessed many gruesome times, even though his body was physically changed into that of a man's, Simon remained the same basic person throughout the book. All this was well sown into the plot like a quilt, and it wasn't choppy. The things that I didn't like: Miriamele, the fact that so many (good) characters died, and part of the way it ended. I think my favorite book was the Stone of Farewell, my second favorite was the Dragonbone Chair, and my least favorite was To Green Angel Tower. Even though it's a very long book (around 3200 pages [paperback--including all four paperback books]), I would recommend this to any great reader, especially one who loves Tolkien's works.
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Summary: Tad Williams is the best writer and this is his masterpiece!
Review: If you love fantasy, especially dealing with elves, "MEMORY,SORROW,and THORN" will thrill you. As for those who claim that Tad borrowed from Tolkien, Tolkien is an average writer compared to Tad Williams! Williams' characterization is unbelievably superb, his descriptions are fascinating, and his plot is truely inspired. The only gripes I have with this series are: That the last book was wrapped up too quickly; and that Miriamele (the heroine) was rather fake. The best thing about Williams is that he can invent many characters of many types, and bring them all to life (except Miriamele). The books are balanced perfectly between the hero's personal problems and the globe's problems. Even though this series is almost 3,000 pages, you will be entranced until the very end!!!!!!! Buy it! Read it! Read it again!
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Summary: third times a charm
Review: After reading the reviews of this book, I think that I am finally going to complete it. I have read the first quarter of it twice and couldn't get interested, but someone said that it doesnt't get going until about one third way through, so here I go.. Thanks for the input.
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Summary: Memory, Sorrow and Thorn One of the Better Fantasy Series
Review: This book begins the quartet of "Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn," and is one of the better fantasy series currently available for reading. Well written, with a developed mythos, good characterization, and solid plotting, this series must stand as one of the better, if not among the best, of the fantasy series availble for reading. Much of the story and world are freshly rendered, and rarely does the reader encounter the overly familiar or implausible contrivances that plague so much of contemporary fantasy fiction. Nor are the characterizations idealized or juvenile. While this series does not rise, for me, to the imaginary involvement of works such as "Lord of the Rings," the first three "Chronicles of Thomas Covenant," Bradley's "Mists of Avalon," Kay's work since "Fianovar," and Martin's or Jordan's (despite its flaws) ongoing series, nonetheless, I cannot recommend this quartet highly enough. One note of caution: Action addicts may have difficulty with the "Stone of Farewell" as the first 150 pages are devoted to establishing background and character development of the main protagonist, but I believe if they perservere, only the true adrenelin junkie will feel short-changed. And for you, there is always Eddings or Bradshaw or comics.
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