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A Song of Ice and Fire / Other Topics / The Readers

Next 20 Messages Newest Messages

Dondarrion
User ID: 8527773 Jun 28th 3:17 PM
Hi, this is my first time posting anything, and I was just curious about what kinds of people read Martin's books, and why. I, for example, am a 17 year old male senior in high school, bored with the "literature" they make us study in English class. All my friends are amazed by the fact that I actually read books that aren't assigned to me.
So what are the rest of you like

Paula
User ID: 9321503 Jun 28th 4:06 PM
I am a 29 year old working mother and wife. I first became interested in fantasy/sci-fi at about 15 years old when I discovered Anne McCaffrey's Dragonriders of Pern. Like you, very few of my friends read for enjoyment. That holds true today, sadly enough.

I have heard that people read for two reasons: 1) to escape from themselves or 2) to read about themselves. I'd venture a guess that moost fantasy/sci-fi fans read for escape. That is true for me anyway. My husbands sister turned us on to Martin and we have in turn recommeded him to all of our friends that read. Like I said, not many. (I mean all my friends read, just not for enjoyment) But I even got a friend who reads nothing but trashy romance to read ASOIAF and she loved them.

Ser Gary
User ID: 9279843 Jun 28th 5:35 PM
Dondarrion, welcome to the board. You should go to the Welcome topic and check in there.

I am a 47-year-old creative and technical writer with an international corporation. Way back when, I read Tolkien, and later Brooks, then sort of slipped away from fantasy for many years. I was wandering around a bookstore a few years ago when I noticed the cover art for AGOT. I got interested, then intrigued, then bought it. No regrets. I am back reading fantasy thanks to the likes of Martin and Donaldson and Kay. To me, fantasy has no age limit, and I mean both the short and long of it.

Kristin Jun 28th 10:33 PM
I'm 22, married, with college credits in various disciplines (anthropology, literature, sociology, theater.....). Right now I work in management at a bookstore, where I run a SF and fantasy discussion group. We read GoT in December, and everyone _loved_ it. Ser Gary is right about there being no age limit to fantasy; I'm the youngest person in my group and the person closest to my age is about six years older than I am. The oldest is in his mid-forties, I think.

Moreta
User ID: 9565813 Jun 28th 11:08 PM
And I'm the youngest. :) I'm 16, turning 17 in August. I'll be a senior in fall, graduating in 2000 with Honors, whoo. The only reading that most of my friends do is for school.

I read the entire Narnia Chronicles in seven hours when I was 9. (Not uncommon for me to read 1000 pages in a day) From there, I've read Tolkien, McCaffrey, Goodkind, Jordan, etc. I only bought AGOT last month because of Jordan's remark on the front cover. I immediately got ACOK then the rest is history..... :)

Tom
User ID: 2268254 Jun 29th 0:39 AM
29 (almost 30) I also managed a book store but got out when it became too corporate. Currently I am a Career Manager and Relocation Transition Specialist. My goal is to eventually open my own Home Remodeling and Home Theater business. (Major hobby). I started in Fantasy at a very early age but did not start reading avidly until Lloyd Alexander's Chronicles of Prydain. After that it was all downhill. Narnia, Tolkien, Robert E. Howard's Conan, Robert Adams Horseclan novels, and the list keeps going. One of my all-time favorites is the Pern novels. I fell in love with the world.

Besides dreaming of writing, I would one day like to act.

Min
User ID: 9433023 Jun 29th 4:00 AM
Ok, for all those who don't know yet.
I will be 28 in about four weeks, and I am from Germany. I studied History and Languages, which I finished last year. Since the age of 20, I worked as a Journalist for newspapers and Radio. This year, I started to work for a TV company, doing journalistic work as well as being stage-manager and manager of productions. I love that job, I just like dealing with the technical staff and the actors.

I fell in love with books when I couldn't even read yet. So I tought maself reading because I didn't want to wait anymore when I was four years old. I love all kinds of books, not only fantasy. I must admid that I love the good old stuff, too. Shekespeare and the Master of all Times, Goethe. I also love the old Artus-Sagas, the originals from the middle ages.
I read Tolkie when I was nine or ten. Since then, fantasy is a thread in my life. I am also writing, and having a fantasy novel nearly finished.

Aside from that, I like music & singing, and I am into roleplaying (like GRRM himself). And I am having a dog called Bobby, though after having read GRRM, I thought about renaming him Shaggydog... :-)

Claidhaim
User ID: 9544623 Jun 29th 7:53 AM
Well, I'm 32 and an engineer in the good ole US of A. Been reading since High School. No, really, I read my first book, cover to cover, during Algebra my senior year. Since then, I've read almost every genre and have a hard time getting rid of books. I currently have a library of around 3-4k scattered all over my apartment and in boxes in storage. Let me tell you from experience, separate your books by the "read often", "read more than twice", and "read annually" catagories, then you won't have to dig through 12 boxes to find the book you want.

Mike H.
User ID: 8290473 Jun 29th 9:35 AM
I'm a 32 year old Process Engineer from Utah. I've been a reader as long as I can remember. I think it all started with the Hardy Boys books. I read the Hobbit as part of my 6th grade English class. Sword Of Shannara came out soon after and I was sold on fantasy. Funny thing is, I never read any more of Tolkein's stuff. :\

I can also quite clearly remember watching Star Trek: The Animated Series on TV. That also set the stage for an interest in Science Fiction.

Min
User ID: 9433023 Jun 29th 10:43 AM
Mike: Try the Lord of the Rings, please. It's obligatory.
I am kind of a Star Trek fan, too. Nothing fanatic, but I like the series.

Justin
User ID: 8798943 Jun 29th 10:55 AM
Hi everyone, I posted the orignial message under the name Dondarion and I must say I'm surprised by the variety of people who are all interested in this same style of book. It's great that so many people can appreciate these great works. Mike H., if you like both SF and Martin, I recommend Dan Simmons' Hyperion series, which is incredible. Actually, you've probably read it already, but if not check it out. And Min, I'm a musician too, guitar and synthesizer. The only thing I like better than good writing is good music.

Jeff
User ID: 8506593 Jun 29th 2:22 PM
I'm a 37 year old former Marine, married, with a little girl who's almost 3. I'm a lawyer specializing in labor and employment law. Reading, music, exercising, spending time with my family, and going to Cleveland Indians baseball games is how I temporarily escape from my job.

I started off with the ole Science Fiction book club 25 or so years ago, and really got hooked on fantasy by Tolkien, who is still the Master. :-))
Mike, if you ever do read Tolkien, please remember that Lord of the Rings came _before_ Sword of Shannara. You just may notice a _few_ similarities in the plot. :-)

Dirjj
User ID: 9990163 Jun 29th 2:46 PM
Well, geez, I guess I'll drop a post here too, though I'm daunted by all the professionals here. I suppose I could've been an engineer, but I hate math. Currently, I'm the Shipping Administrator (just a title, just think of me as a shipper) for a Silicon Valley electronics company. I'm 30, but still don't know what to really do in life. I've always wanted to be a writer, but until you're established, the bills need to be paid. I guess I've got the life experience to be writer. Like most writers, I've seemed to jump around from profession to profession. This is the first time I've ever done this type of work. Oh well.

I too started off my Fanstasy career with Lloyd Alexander (back in elementary school). From there, I've read all the Tokien books, Le Guin's Earthsea Trilogy, Brooks, Donaldson, Some Goodkind, Jordan, Martin, Feist . . . All kinds. I hope to write my own stories soon, I've had ideas since high school.

Sorry for the long post. :-). Oh yeah, real name Anthony.

ab

Mike H.
User ID: 8290473 Jun 29th 2:50 PM
LOL. Can you imagine trolling a discussion board by claiming that LOTR is ripping off Shannara? Seriously, though - I have seen the reverse statement put forth many a time. If I ever do get to Tolkien, I'll probably be like WTF? :)

Mike H.
User ID: 8290473 Jun 29th 2:54 PM
LOL. Can you imagine trolling a discussion board by claiming that LOTR is ripping off Shannara? Seriously, though - I have seen the reverse statement put forth many a time. If I ever do get to Tolkien, I'll probably be like WTF? :)

Mike H.
User ID: 8290473 Jun 29th 2:55 PM
Umm.. I have no idea how *that* happened.

:\

Omer
User ID: 0485244 Jun 29th 3:30 PM
Hi, I'm Omer, and I'm 18 from Israel. I'm studying buisness economics in colleague in brussels, belgium

I don't know exactly howI started to read Sci Fi, but Star Trek:TNG was a big part of it, and of course, the Master himself, Asimov.

The first fantasy I read was Margaret Weiss and Tracy Hickmann's Dragon Lance stories, and then I read more AD&D tie ins.

Slowly I read more and more, icluding Jordan,

Martin is my favorite Fantasy Writer, though

Min
User ID: 9433023 Jun 29th 3:37 PM
Omer: Just give a smile to Brussels from me. I love that city... *sigh*

Omer
User ID: 0485244 Jun 30th 2:49 AM
Min Das Wetter ist nicht so schon

Min
User ID: 9433023 Jun 30th 5:23 AM
:-) hier auch nicht... :-)

Next 20 Messages Newest Messages

Dondarrion User ID: 8527773	Jun 28th 3:17 PM Hi, this is my first time posting anything, and I was just curious about what kinds of people read Martin's books, and why. I, for example, am a 17 year old male senior in high school, bored with the "literature" they make us study in English class. All my friends are amazed by the fact that I actually read books that aren't assigned to me. So what are the rest of you like
Paula User ID: 9321503	Jun 28th 4:06 PM I am a 29 year old working mother and wife. I first became interested in fantasy/sci-fi at about 15 years old when I discovered Anne McCaffrey's Dragonriders of Pern. Like you, very few of my friends read for enjoyment. That holds true today, sadly enough. I have heard that people read for two reasons: 1) to escape from themselves or 2) to read about themselves. I'd venture a guess that moost fantasy/sci-fi fans read for escape. That is true for me anyway. My husbands sister turned us on to Martin and we have in turn recommeded him to all of our friends that read. Like I said, not many. (I mean all my friends read, just not for enjoyment) But I even got a friend who reads nothing but trashy romance to read ASOIAF and she loved them.
Ser Gary User ID: 9279843	Jun 28th 5:35 PM Dondarrion, welcome to the board. You should go to the Welcome topic and check in there. I am a 47-year-old creative and technical writer with an international corporation. Way back when, I read Tolkien, and later Brooks, then sort of slipped away from fantasy for many years. I was wandering around a bookstore a few years ago when I noticed the cover art for AGOT. I got interested, then intrigued, then bought it. No regrets. I am back reading fantasy thanks to the likes of Martin and Donaldson and Kay. To me, fantasy has no age limit, and I mean both the short and long of it.
Kristin	Jun 28th 10:33 PM I'm 22, married, with college credits in various disciplines (anthropology, literature, sociology, theater.....). Right now I work in management at a bookstore, where I run a SF and fantasy discussion group. We read GoT in December, and everyone _loved_ it. Ser Gary is right about there being no age limit to fantasy; I'm the youngest person in my group and the person closest to my age is about six years older than I am. The oldest is in his mid-forties, I think.
Moreta User ID: 9565813	Jun 28th 11:08 PM And I'm the youngest. :) I'm 16, turning 17 in August. I'll be a senior in fall, graduating in 2000 with Honors, whoo. The only reading that most of my friends do is for school. I read the entire Narnia Chronicles in seven hours when I was 9. (Not uncommon for me to read 1000 pages in a day) From there, I've read Tolkien, McCaffrey, Goodkind, Jordan, etc. I only bought AGOT last month because of Jordan's remark on the front cover. I immediately got ACOK then the rest is history..... :)
Tom User ID: 2268254	Jun 29th 0:39 AM 29 (almost 30) I also managed a book store but got out when it became too corporate. Currently I am a Career Manager and Relocation Transition Specialist. My goal is to eventually open my own Home Remodeling and Home Theater business. (Major hobby). I started in Fantasy at a very early age but did not start reading avidly until Lloyd Alexander's Chronicles of Prydain. After that it was all downhill. Narnia, Tolkien, Robert E. Howard's Conan, Robert Adams Horseclan novels, and the list keeps going. One of my all-time favorites is the Pern novels. I fell in love with the world. Besides dreaming of writing, I would one day like to act.
Min User ID: 9433023	Jun 29th 4:00 AM Ok, for all those who don't know yet. I will be 28 in about four weeks, and I am from Germany. I studied History and Languages, which I finished last year. Since the age of 20, I worked as a Journalist for newspapers and Radio. This year, I started to work for a TV company, doing journalistic work as well as being stage-manager and manager of productions. I love that job, I just like dealing with the technical staff and the actors. I fell in love with books when I couldn't even read yet. So I tought maself reading because I didn't want to wait anymore when I was four years old. I love all kinds of books, not only fantasy. I must admid that I love the good old stuff, too. Shekespeare and the Master of all Times, Goethe. I also love the old Artus-Sagas, the originals from the middle ages. I read Tolkie when I was nine or ten. Since then, fantasy is a thread in my life. I am also writing, and having a fantasy novel nearly finished. Aside from that, I like music & singing, and I am into roleplaying (like GRRM himself). And I am having a dog called Bobby, though after having read GRRM, I thought about renaming him Shaggydog... :-)
Claidhaim User ID: 9544623	Jun 29th 7:53 AM Well, I'm 32 and an engineer in the good ole US of A. Been reading since High School. No, really, I read my first book, cover to cover, during Algebra my senior year. Since then, I've read almost every genre and have a hard time getting rid of books. I currently have a library of around 3-4k scattered all over my apartment and in boxes in storage. Let me tell you from experience, separate your books by the "read often", "read more than twice", and "read annually" catagories, then you won't have to dig through 12 boxes to find the book you want.
Mike H. User ID: 8290473	Jun 29th 9:35 AM I'm a 32 year old Process Engineer from Utah. I've been a reader as long as I can remember. I think it all started with the Hardy Boys books. I read the Hobbit as part of my 6th grade English class. Sword Of Shannara came out soon after and I was sold on fantasy. Funny thing is, I never read any more of Tolkein's stuff. :\ I can also quite clearly remember watching Star Trek: The Animated Series on TV. That also set the stage for an interest in Science Fiction.
Min User ID: 9433023	Jun 29th 10:43 AM Mike: Try the Lord of the Rings, please. It's obligatory. I am kind of a Star Trek fan, too. Nothing fanatic, but I like the series.
Justin User ID: 8798943	Jun 29th 10:55 AM Hi everyone, I posted the orignial message under the name Dondarion and I must say I'm surprised by the variety of people who are all interested in this same style of book. It's great that so many people can appreciate these great works. Mike H., if you like both SF and Martin, I recommend Dan Simmons' Hyperion series, which is incredible. Actually, you've probably read it already, but if not check it out. And Min, I'm a musician too, guitar and synthesizer. The only thing I like better than good writing is good music.
Jeff User ID: 8506593	Jun 29th 2:22 PM I'm a 37 year old former Marine, married, with a little girl who's almost 3. I'm a lawyer specializing in labor and employment law. Reading, music, exercising, spending time with my family, and going to Cleveland Indians baseball games is how I temporarily escape from my job. I started off with the ole Science Fiction book club 25 or so years ago, and really got hooked on fantasy by Tolkien, who is still the Master. :-)) Mike, if you ever do read Tolkien, please remember that Lord of the Rings came _before_ Sword of Shannara. You just may notice a _few_ similarities in the plot. :-)
Dirjj User ID: 9990163	Jun 29th 2:46 PM Well, geez, I guess I'll drop a post here too, though I'm daunted by all the professionals here. I suppose I could've been an engineer, but I hate math. Currently, I'm the Shipping Administrator (just a title, just think of me as a shipper) for a Silicon Valley electronics company. I'm 30, but still don't know what to really do in life. I've always wanted to be a writer, but until you're established, the bills need to be paid. I guess I've got the life experience to be writer. Like most writers, I've seemed to jump around from profession to profession. This is the first time I've ever done this type of work. Oh well. I too started off my Fanstasy career with Lloyd Alexander (back in elementary school). From there, I've read all the Tokien books, Le Guin's Earthsea Trilogy, Brooks, Donaldson, Some Goodkind, Jordan, Martin, Feist . . . All kinds. I hope to write my own stories soon, I've had ideas since high school. Sorry for the long post. :-). Oh yeah, real name Anthony. ab
Mike H. User ID: 8290473	Jun 29th 2:50 PM LOL. Can you imagine trolling a discussion board by claiming that LOTR is ripping off Shannara? Seriously, though - I have seen the reverse statement put forth many a time. If I ever do get to Tolkien, I'll probably be like WTF? :)
Mike H. User ID: 8290473	Jun 29th 2:54 PM LOL. Can you imagine trolling a discussion board by claiming that LOTR is ripping off Shannara? Seriously, though - I have seen the reverse statement put forth many a time. If I ever do get to Tolkien, I'll probably be like WTF? :)
Mike H. User ID: 8290473	Jun 29th 2:55 PM Umm.. I have no idea how that happened. :\
Omer User ID: 0485244	Jun 29th 3:30 PM Hi, I'm Omer, and I'm 18 from Israel. I'm studying buisness economics in colleague in brussels, belgium I don't know exactly howI started to read Sci Fi, but Star Trek:TNG was a big part of it, and of course, the Master himself, Asimov. The first fantasy I read was Margaret Weiss and Tracy Hickmann's Dragon Lance stories, and then I read more AD&D tie ins. Slowly I read more and more, icluding Jordan, Martin is my favorite Fantasy Writer, though
Min User ID: 9433023	Jun 29th 3:37 PM Omer: Just give a smile to Brussels from me. I love that city... sigh
Omer User ID: 0485244	Jun 30th 2:49 AM Min Das Wetter ist nicht so schon
Min User ID: 9433023	Jun 30th 5:23 AM :-) hier auch nicht... :-)