As an avid reader of complicated, multi-part fantasy novels, this is a question I hate. How do you explain to someone what the 4th book of Malazan Book of the Fallen is about? Or who the main character of The Warrior-Prophet by R. Scott Bakker is?


Whenever this question gets asked, my mind usually goes blank and then I end up responding dumbly with "a book", which just makes me look like a twat.

I know how you feel. I read the Warhammer 40k series and if someone asks me that question, I'd usually answer "oh, it's a sci-fi book, war and people flying all over the galaxy, totally not your thing" because most of the time those people asking are not readers unless they absolutely must and they're asking to make some kind of a judgement, not because they have a tiny interest in reading.
» Nuttz on 2013-03-02 08:57:09

ALL THE TIME
Or at least, this used to happen all the time. Have you read Matter? Or Hyperion? They aren't exactly big titles but they're devilishly hard to explain. And, space politics.
» middaymoon on 2013-03-02 12:18:44

The shrike is my favorite haha
I actually need to pick up the rest of those books...I still don't know what happens next!
» middaymoon on 2013-03-02 09:14:58

Perhaps having a simplified generalization on hand for the series might be helpful to think about? If someone shows any genuine interest after, "Oh, a fantasy novel about a land called ___ with ___ and ___" might be able to follow you when you talk about the actual book/series.

Perhaps?
» invisible on 2013-03-05 10:15:45

I just read Journey to Arcturus. It's 1920s sci-fi that pretty much becomes a mystical journey into the heart of man or some junk. You should check it out.
» middaymoon on 2013-03-14 04:43:37

I have a coworker who reads stuff like that and he always has trouble explaining what each book is about. The stuff I read is simple ... for a while it was James Patterson ... I really should start reading again.
» LostSoul13 on 2013-03-16 12:34:57

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