Ok,you guys. A huge number of you seem to almost worship these series of books. I have read neither, and am not likely to. What’s all the hype about? What makes these so darn good? Having not read these books, I must WAG from what I do know of them that at least H Potter is kid-stuff.
I know that you are probably going to tell me to run out, buy the things, and read them myself, and then I will know.
Sorry folks, but these just don’t rev my motor, from what I do know of them. I might be able to be convinced to read one or two if someone can explain what’s so great about 'em.
Not condescending either series here, just don’t get the attraction.
I’ve read both. Dragonriders for obvious reasons. I don’t normally read Sci-Fi, these are more fantasy. Harry Potter is NOT a childrens book. Not in the condesending, talk-down-to-you way, anyway. I think both series are popular because they are easy to follow, fast moving, have a continuing plot/plots, and are like soap operas on paper.
I haven’t read Harry Potter, but I can tell you what I like about Dragonriders. It’s Science Fiction with Dragons! It has an entire, extremely complex society/economy. It’s got really neat characters/plots/locations. It isn’t a kid’s series, but kids can enjoy it. The dragons have a valid purpose in the society and they have a psychic/psychological bond with their riders, so that’s a whole other layer of relationship, as well as that between the human characters. Oh, yeah, and when a female dragon goes into season…well, I’ll let you find out for yourself.
Harry Potter is kids stuff yes… but its an interesting series and as was said before its continuous with different settings… As you go farther in the series you learn more about his past and his relatives and such… I can’t really say what draws me to it only that I find it interesting…
Dragonriders of Pern is really cool cuz its set on another planet sometime in our future yet they have reverted to almost primitive means… before this happened though they had to ‘create’ Dragons to help them protect themselves from Thread cuz there is no way they can get back to Earth… they only had enough for a one way trip… the books go through several thousand turns (years) and so you see how they start out at the beginning after arriving you see the first dragons and the stories take place at various times over the years… the most of the stories though take place at the 9th Pass and there are certain happenings that are constant with all but shown from different viewpoints (ie Holder, Harper, Dragonrider etc)… each book can be read as a stand alone or it can be read in order… either way its good and its got its own society similar enough like ours to be familiar but different enough to be interesting…
Um I’ll be quiet now since I’m rambling 
There’s one litmus test, for me, when judging how “good” a book is.
It engrosses me.
And if, for a few hours I can escape my mundane existence to a world of magic, castles, dragons, quiditch, Hogwarts and talking portraits, all the better.
Sorry, but no other fantasy writer will ever compare to Michael Moorcock. The Elric books are by far the best fantasy stories ever made.
Freak, not trying to start anything here, but have you read Tolkien?
Yeah, Tolkien’s just a bit too cute for my tastes.
That and I’ve never met a man who’s read both but prefers Tolkien.
I’ll consider reading Moorcock and do a comparison. However, Tokien may be “cute” but it is THE classic. I read it over and over. I also love Jordan, Feist, Eddings, (oh, crap, I’ve gone blank…) Dammit, who’s the one that writes the Urban Fantasy type thingies??? I’ll have to look it up when I get home. Charles DeLint?
Personally, I think the only reason Tolkien is THE classic is because more people have read him than Moorcock.
Um, I take it then that you’re a Moorcock fan?
Harry Potter’s popularity also seemed to escape me. I have read the books, and definite;y enjoy them, but they aren’t that special. I’ve read plenty of books in the same genre aimed at that age group that are just as well written, and they don’t get even a tenth as much publicity.
But then I spoke to a parent of a set of twins who enjoy the books, and got a bit more insight. It seems that most kids books these days tend to go for a bit of moralising, heavy-handed. They seem to have subjects like divorce, abuse, bullying, all these issues that are all a bit depressing, trying hard to be a good influence for their readership - but actually just not having any real fun appeal.
And J K Rowling and her Harry Potter stories are just great fun adventures, with no moralising (though there are some positive aspects to many of the hero characters), and no modern depressing issues.
And the marketing has been masterful.
(I’ve never read Michael Moorcock. And probably never will. Just so’s you know)
…prefer Howard. Jordan even stole Howard’s best character for several books then claimed he wasn’t an influence…
I far prefer Tolkien. Elric is an interesting counterpoint to the Conan concept, and Moorcock writes quite well. But 3 books of whining self-pity and idiotic decisions are my limit for a single character. I call it the anti-hero anti-sense phenomenon. Donaldson did the same thing with Thomas Covenant.
As to the OP – I haven’t read either. From the rports of each that I have seen I imagine that I would enjoy the Harry Potter books more than the Pern books.
Mercedes Lackey has written a good bit of urban fantasy, but it’s not her best stuff. I don’t think that’s who you’re talking about, though…
I remember first reading the Pern books when I was 7. They were incredibly engaging–complex and full of action and deep personalities. I still wish there was some way I could meet Master Robinton…
As for Harry Potter, they’re fun, fast-paced books with a nice balance of humor and drama. There’s really nothing special about them, except that they get kids to read. They have a moral component, but they don’t sermonize about it like far too many kids books; they give examples–examples that fit well into the story. Yes, there are other, equally good, childrens’ books–maybe even better ones. These are the ones that caught on, and I’m glad they did.
Okay, the Dragonriders of Pern. I don’t know. I never get excited about these books the way I do about other authors/series. However, whenever I do read them I really enjoy them. They are solid, well-crafted, personality-driven long-running plotlines that are reliable in a comforting sort of way, like hot chocolate on a rainy day. Like I said, I don’t get excited about them, but they’re better than a lot that’s out there, and she’s written a ton, and you can always pick one up without fear of disappointment, because they are all good.
As for Harry Potter, I have to say, I wouldn’t have been able to put my finger on it, because I haven’t read much recent fiction for young people, but I think the theory that they are just good adventure stories without a lot of moralizing is probably pretty right on. I found myself annoyed with the heavy-handedness of certain books even when I was around the Harry Potter age. I’m sure it’s worse now, since kids have so much more to deal with, moralizers are probably going into high gear to try and compensate. Those kind of books just aren’t fun to read, though. When I was a kid I wanted escape, I wanted fun, and I wanted to see realistic kids as the heroes. The Owlstone Crown comes to mind. Anyway, I think this is why the Harry Potter books are so popular. They set a certain tone that kids can respond to, untroubled by adult preoccupations.
They are both good, solid, well-crafted, accessible adventure series with humor and charm. End of sales pitch.
I dunno, I just thought Elric was a much more believable character than Bilbo. That and I think Moorcock was much more imaginative than Tolkien.
I suppose I should say something about the OP… ummmm… I like dragons.
[paraphrase]
Gee, I want to get away from Melnibone for a while. I know! I’ll pu my cousin back on the throne. Sure he tried to kill me and usurp thethrone before, but this time he’ll behave himself.
[/paraphrase]
Then again – to each his own. Personally, I like wizards.