I’ve bought yesterday the first book in Robert Jordan’s Wheel of Time series and then went to check some comments online. It seems that it starts well but then gets extremely dispersive later on and with twelve books planned there’s even the risk that all the build-up may finish into a huge disappointment.
I was wondering what’s the general consensus about huge (long) fantasy cycles spawning many books, which ones are the best both from the world building aspect (what I like the most, writers as “architects”) and pure writing?
It’s years that I don’t read fantasy and I’d like some tips. No one-book stories, just those epic monstrous cycles. Is there one that it’s actually worth reading and well written?
Beside Robert Jordan I’ve heard of Terry Goodkind with the Sword of Truth, David Eddings who leaves me a bit more doubtful because it sounds more as history-fantasy crossover than pure high fantasy (and shorter books), Michael Moorcock (who I already know and Love), Terry Brooks with Shannara, George R R Martin with the Song of Ice and Fire, and Stephen Donaldson with the saga of Thomas Covenant, I’ve read the first half of the first book and I liked it, even if it’s a bit unconventional fantasy.
Is there’s something in this subgenre that is really worth reading and can get close to the Middle Earth?
I’d like to hear more about this if someone is well informed and opinionated.
If you want to make lame charts, even better ;)