The "Saga" Thread
Saga- 1.) An epic tale in literature recounting events in the lives of historical and/or mythological figures. 2.) A long story or novel, or a series of stories and novels, often following the lives of a family or community over several generations. 3.) A complicated series of events or personal experiances stretching over a considerable period of time, or a detailed account of such a series of events or experiances.
I've always found that Saga's are the greatest stories. They tend to be long, but usually they are worth it. They are long, because there is much to tell. Many of the more popular sci-fi and fantasy these days are more like short stories than true Saga's. Star Trek, Star Wars, and other popular genres within sci-fi might be considered Saga's only for the sheer volume of stories that have been built up over time, but I would hesitate to call them true Saga's.
A good Saga, I think, must have drama, serenity, adversity, fortune, catastrophe, victory, hate, love, war, peace, despair, and inspiration. They are the tales of hero's and courage. They are the tales of tragedy and truimph. They are the tales of loss and rebirth. Usually, the tragedy comes in a time of peace, when it is least expected (as they usually do...). The aftermath is one of terrible consequences and trouble. More often than not, we follow the events of only certain individuals, rather than the many that take part. Usually, the individuals are in some way key to the Saga itself. They have important parts to play, and great stories to tell. A Saga isn't just a long story, it is usually a Legendary story. Some are purely fiction, but others have their births in some grain of truth. We now know 'The Iliad' was one such tale...
For a long time, it was believed that there was never a city called 'Troy', but then the ruins were found. How much of the Saga was true, and what was simply embellishment or bald-faced lies is beside the point. The story has valuable lessons to teach. It is from 'The Iliad' that we recieve such common terms as 'a trojan horse', or 'an Achilles' heel'. One portrays infiltration into the otherwise impenetrable, and the other a weakness in the invincible. Each is a lesson in humility, that even the strongest and most well defended are not without weakness and vulnerability. "Pride goeth before a fall".
In the movie, "The Lord of the Rings", Samwise Gamgee spoke of 'the tales worth telling, and the fights worth fighting'. The Saga's are those tales. I can think of a few that are worth mentioning that I have read, and here they are;
(It is also worth mentioning, that I refer to the literature... not any films)
"The Lord of the Rings" - J. R. R. Tolkien
"The Odyssey" - Homer, the Greek
"The Iliad" - Homer, the Greek
The Books of "Dune" - Frank Herbert
"Battlefield Earth" - L. Ron Hubbard
"The Chronicles of Narnia" - C. S. Lewis
"The Bible" - not applicable
A Saga isn't merely a novel, it is a story that is years in the telling and great in its scope. I'm sure I've missed more than a few, but then there are so many I'm sure I shouldn't be expected to count for them all.
I merely listed the ones I'm most familiar with, that I consider among the greatest.
If you feel I have left any out, please feel free to add to the list.
My point in making this thread, is that there may be Saga's I'm unaware of and might want to read. If so, and you list it, then I (and others) may have the chance to read it afterwards. This isn't so much a book club, as much as it may be an open forum of great stories. If it is a great story worth reading, and worth having been told about, then list it here. 
enjoy...
I've always found that Saga's are the greatest stories. They tend to be long, but usually they are worth it. They are long, because there is much to tell. Many of the more popular sci-fi and fantasy these days are more like short stories than true Saga's. Star Trek, Star Wars, and other popular genres within sci-fi might be considered Saga's only for the sheer volume of stories that have been built up over time, but I would hesitate to call them true Saga's.
A good Saga, I think, must have drama, serenity, adversity, fortune, catastrophe, victory, hate, love, war, peace, despair, and inspiration. They are the tales of hero's and courage. They are the tales of tragedy and truimph. They are the tales of loss and rebirth. Usually, the tragedy comes in a time of peace, when it is least expected (as they usually do...). The aftermath is one of terrible consequences and trouble. More often than not, we follow the events of only certain individuals, rather than the many that take part. Usually, the individuals are in some way key to the Saga itself. They have important parts to play, and great stories to tell. A Saga isn't just a long story, it is usually a Legendary story. Some are purely fiction, but others have their births in some grain of truth. We now know 'The Iliad' was one such tale...
For a long time, it was believed that there was never a city called 'Troy', but then the ruins were found. How much of the Saga was true, and what was simply embellishment or bald-faced lies is beside the point. The story has valuable lessons to teach. It is from 'The Iliad' that we recieve such common terms as 'a trojan horse', or 'an Achilles' heel'. One portrays infiltration into the otherwise impenetrable, and the other a weakness in the invincible. Each is a lesson in humility, that even the strongest and most well defended are not without weakness and vulnerability. "Pride goeth before a fall".
In the movie, "The Lord of the Rings", Samwise Gamgee spoke of 'the tales worth telling, and the fights worth fighting'. The Saga's are those tales. I can think of a few that are worth mentioning that I have read, and here they are;
(It is also worth mentioning, that I refer to the literature... not any films)
"The Lord of the Rings" - J. R. R. Tolkien
"The Odyssey" - Homer, the Greek
"The Iliad" - Homer, the Greek
The Books of "Dune" - Frank Herbert
"Battlefield Earth" - L. Ron Hubbard
"The Chronicles of Narnia" - C. S. Lewis
"The Bible" - not applicable
A Saga isn't merely a novel, it is a story that is years in the telling and great in its scope. I'm sure I've missed more than a few, but then there are so many I'm sure I shouldn't be expected to count for them all.
I merely listed the ones I'm most familiar with, that I consider among the greatest.If you feel I have left any out, please feel free to add to the list.
My point in making this thread, is that there may be Saga's I'm unaware of and might want to read. If so, and you list it, then I (and others) may have the chance to read it afterwards. This isn't so much a book club, as much as it may be an open forum of great stories. If it is a great story worth reading, and worth having been told about, then list it here. enjoy...
Comment