Today, the guys in the Goodreads Top 5 Wednesday group have an interesting topic, one which is straight forward and to the point: Forgettable Books. “Whether you loved or hated them at the time, these are books that you just don’t really remember.”

Is it wrong for me to feel bad about participating in this list?  I mean, I’m not necessarily saying the books I select are bad.  A story doesn’t have to be horrible because it did not make an impression on me personally, right?

With some misgivings, here are my five selections.

5. Dragonworld 

I read this one way back in the 1980s.  I was a preteen at the time.  I loved anything resembling Tolkien, so this high fantasy tale of dragons and warring nations really grabbed my attention.  All I recall about the novel is that I enjoyed it but not enough to ever desire to read it again. I’m sort of tentative to revisit it, since most of the novels I read during my teen years have not held up well.

Purchase Dragonworld at Amazon

4. The Anvil of Ice

Another novel from back in the 1980s read by me during my teen years.  Again, I have nearly no memory — good or bad — about the novel.  I vaguely recall it being a fairly slow builder with a definite mythology feel to it, but I have no clue why I never chose to pick up the next volume of the series and continue with the tale.  Strange how some series fade from your mind and life.

Purchase The Anvil of Ice at Amazon 

3. Black Trillium

This book caught my eye due to the cool, intriguing cover and the three authors who penned it.  No, I wasn’t a huge fan of Marion Zimmer Bradley, Julian May or Andre Norton, but I’d always heard of them, was constantly told I should give their books a try, and decided this was a great opportunity to do so.  I read the book, but have no feelings about it one way or another.

Purchase Black Trillium at Amazon

2. The Harrowing of Gwynedd

When I first began reading fantasy, the Deryni books by Katherine Kurtz were among my favorites.  The magic infused medieval world with its nobles, knights, and universal Church captured my imagination, and I was a faithful reader until I struggled mightily to finish this slow, dull story.  Not sure why I found this Deryni tale so forgettable, but I did.  So much so I honestly recall nothing about this book or the rest of the trilogy.

Purchase The Harrowing of Gwynedd at Amazon

1.  The Swordbearer

Everyone who follows my blog at all knows how much I love Glen Cook’s fantasy stories; I rarely miss one of his offerings or fail to enjoy them.  This novel was probably the most forgettable of all of them to me though.  All I recall about it is that the lead character finds a magic sword and was gifted with some powers (which reminded me a lot of Elric of Melnibon), as well as there being a dwarf.  Other than that I have no know what this story was about.

Purchase The Swordbearer at Amazon 

Well, that is my list.  Agree?  Disagree?  Ever heard of any of my picks?  Read them?  Let us know!