Recommend me a fantasy book/series - Page 2

self biased · August 23, 2003, 15:59

anything written by larry niven is worth it's weight in gold. yes, he's primarily a hard SF writer, but one has to read anything from his "the magic goes away" series and be in awe of his fantastical skill as well.

Buck Birdseed · August 23, 2003, 16:13

I stopped reading "high" fantasy in my late teens 'cause it's so ****ing stuck up its own arse its unbeleivable. Before that I probably read most of what's been suggested here and especially liked Katherine Kerr and, unfortunately invalidating all my opinions, Robert Jordan.

These days I have accepted Fantasy as light-touch fun, and read it purely for entertainment purposes. To that end I keep going back to Robert E Howard's utterly classic Conan series of short stories/novellas, which is just blood and swords and giant jewels and loincloths but at the same time musty, earthy and incredibly well paced. Strong "1930s racist" warning, but if you can see past that it's chock-full of chuckle-at--vividly-described-giant-spider fun. All of them are collected in two editions in the Fantasy Masterworks series.

Terry Pratchett is a Fantasy author that uses a warped, humorous setting to reflect upon our own world. It's funny, well written and surprisingly thematically deep in the best of his work. Recommended especially is the exquisitely multilayered Feet Of Clay and the lovely Hogfather.

Does Neil Gaiman count as fantasy? If so go buy American Gods NOW.

Jon Miller · August 23, 2003, 16:38

a lot of good books mentioned here (Assasins was very good, Robin is a girl BTW)

Jon Miller

Jon Miller · August 23, 2003, 16:39

Neil Gaiman counts as fantasy but is not of the LoTR mold

unfortunately American Gods was old and boring and was better done by others

his books of Nevewhere and Stardust are great though

Jon Miller

reds4ever · August 23, 2003, 19:51

Quote:

Originally posted by Verto
Have you read the Belgariad or The Mallorean series (both connected) by David and Leigh Edding? They were good books, IMO, to read and enjoy.

I enjoyed the first couple of books, but they're a bit 'samey' for me

st_swithin · August 23, 2003, 20:15

"The Chronicles of Narnia" by C.S. Lewis.

Particularly the 7th book: "The Boy and His Horse"
and the 1st book: "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe"

molly bloom · August 23, 2003, 21:16

I can't recommend the 'Earthsea' series by Ursula K Le Guin too highly. It's one of those instances of writing for children surpassing writing for adults (actually not that difficult in the fantasy genre).

You can buy the first three separately, they are slim elegant volumes about the size of a collection of Rimbaud's early poems, so will fit sleekly into the inside breast pocket of your Brooks Brothers overcoat, or Diesel jacket.

Begin with the 'Wizard of Earthsea', and I think you'll be hooked. She manages to incorporate Taoist thought, linguistic theory, Jungian inner landscapes and a concern for balance, without hitting you over the head with a stick.

http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/au..._K_Le_Guin.htm

Another I could recommend would be Joan Aiken's series of novels set in an alternate England, in which the Stuart branch of the Royals never had to flee- the most famous of the books would be 'The Wolves of Willoughby Chase', made into the film of the same name.

http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/au...Joan_Aiken.htm

In a more modern vein, how about China Mieville's two novels set in the same world?

'Perdido Street Station' and 'The Scar' are both massy tomes, however. Best read them while waiting for an original thought to appear in Bush Baby's head....

PLATO · August 23, 2003, 21:28

The Mirror of Her Dreams I think is the name of it. By Donalson. Of course I enjoyed The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant as well. (The 1st...not the 2nd)

Jon Miller · August 23, 2003, 22:08

mirror of her dreams is really really good (if it is what I am thinking it is, 2 books one entitled a man rides through?)

singles there is stuff like the paladin by cherryh and many many more

Jon Miller

LDiCesare · August 24, 2003, 04:17

Le Guin's Earthsea series is indeed excellent.

Eddings' Malloreon and Belgariad are a set of cliches with cardboard characters. Once you've read the first, the rest is all of the same with little originality. Eddings writes well, though. He's made another series which is better than these, where all the heroes are knights of a church, but whose name I can't remember.

Tad William's Dragonbone Chair and the following books (also known as Memory, Sorrow and Thorn) are quite good, but I feel the end is a bit long in the coming. Still very good books, and a nice world with neat ideas. Plus some good people die, which is something uncommon in these books.

I second the reading of Conan and their like (Thongor of Lemuria by Lin Carter) is always refreshing.

SpencerH · August 24, 2003, 08:15

Quote:

Originally posted by PLATO
The Mirror of Her Dreams I think is the name of it. By Donalson. Of course I enjoyed The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant as well. (The 1st...not the 2nd)

That sets you apart from most of humanity then

SpencerH · August 24, 2003, 08:19

I could be wrong but I doubt Boris would like either Eddings or Conan (although Red Nails by REH is special).

Buck Birdseed · August 24, 2003, 08:21

Quote:

Originally posted by Jon Miller
unfortunately American Gods was old and boring and was better done by others

In what way and by who? I thought it was very atmospherically done, he's got a great dark edge to his writing.

Turambar · August 24, 2003, 08:47

I can't believe nobody's mentioned Steven Erikson's Malazan Book of the Fallen series! In my opinion the only fantasy authour who has written better is Tolkien and I've read a hell of a lot of fantasy.

Pick up the first book Gardens of the Moon! The series is better than A Song of Ice and Fire which I also strongly recommend!!

Lorizael · August 24, 2003, 09:30

Quote:

Originally posted by Buck Birdseed

In what way and by who? I thought it was very atmospherically done, he's got a great dark edge to his writing.

I thought the book was written incredibly well but came close to being ruined by the ending. I was simply expecting more.

Boris: Stay away from the Dragonlance crap. There's no point to the books. It's all about praising the heroes for killin' lots of **** and being models of western morals. Eck.

/me considers promotion of his own writing, but then reconsiders, thinking it would be infantile and silly.

Wraith · August 24, 2003, 09:40

Some stuff that's already been mentioned, worth mentioning again:

The A Song of Ice and Fire series by George R. R. Martin
The Discworld series by Terry Pratchett
The Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser series by Fritz Leiber
The Black Company series by Glen Cook
The Earthsea series by Ursula K LeGuin
The Magician series by Raymond E Fiest
The Compleat Enchanter series by Pratt and DeCamp

--"Have you read the Belgariad or The Mallorean series (both connected) by David and Leigh Edding? "

They're okay, but he seems to be writing the same trilogy over and over again...

Some other titles to consider:
The Wars of Light and Shadow series by Janny Wurts (may be too epic for you, since you don't seem to want long series)
The Adventures of Master Li and Number Ten Ox series by Barry Hughart
The Lord Darcy series by Randall Garrett
The Coldfire trilogy by C. S. Friedman
The Book of Swords series by Fred Saberhagen (another long one)
The Dying Earth series by Jack Vance
The Castle Periolous series by John DeChancie
The Chronicles and Legends series from the Dragonlance books (although you should skip the fourth Chronicles book), following up with Soulforge if you like Raistlin.

That ought to keep you busy for a while.

Wraith
Fantasy isn't our crutch -- its arcane

PLATO · August 24, 2003, 10:29

Quote:

Originally posted by Jon Miller
mirror of her dreams is really really good (if it is what I am thinking it is, 2 books one entitled a man rides through?)

singles there is stuff like the paladin by cherryh and many many more

Jon Miller

Yes thats the one I'm talking about.

Quote:

That sets you apart from most of humanity then

What can I say?

LDiCesare · August 24, 2003, 12:40

Quote:

paladin by cherryh

Good one indeed.

If you like pseudo-historical stuff with only a little magic in it, you can try Guy Gavriel Kay (Tigana, A Song for Arbonne...).

Richard Bruns · August 24, 2003, 16:22

Quote:

Originally posted by Buck Birdseed
These days I have accepted Fantasy as light-touch fun, and read it purely for entertainment purposes. To that end I keep going back to Robert E Howard's utterly classic Conan series of short stories/novellas, which is just blood and swords and giant jewels and loincloths but at the same time musty, earthy and incredibly well paced. Strong "1930s racist" warning, but if you can see past that it's chock-full of chuckle-at--vividly-described-giant-spider fun. All of them are collected in two editions in the Fantasy Masterworks series.

I second this. If you want pure fun without any pretension, then the old pulp authors are the way to go. Don't forget the works of Edgar Rice Burroughs. (Tarzan, John Carter, etc.)

TCO · August 24, 2003, 17:38

Quote:

Originally posted by st_swithin
"The Chronicles of Narnia" by C.S. Lewis.

Particularly the 7th book: "The Boy and His Horse"
and the 1st book: "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe"

The seventh book is the Last Battle.

TCO · August 24, 2003, 17:41

Quote:

Originally posted by Buck Birdseed

Does Neil Gaiman count as fantasy? If so go buy American Gods NOW.

American Gods is a pretentious, wordy, boring, you-can-see-where-its going overly long book. Go read the rips on Amazon. Only pseudosophisticates find it deep. it is kaka from the ass. And the dude, doesn't know **** about America or about travelling around. There are so many better road novels than this wrt America.

Huckleberry Finn
The Grapes of Wrath
Walking Across America
Travels with Charlie
I See by My Outfit: Cross country on a motor scooter*
On the Road
Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance

*This is by Peter Beagle who also wrote The Last Unicorn and who is a Tolkein advocate big time.

------------------

Boris read The Last Unicorn

TCO · August 24, 2003, 17:42

reply with quoted when I meant to edit.

St Leo · August 25, 2003, 01:31

Quote:

Originally posted by self biased
anything written by larry niven is worth it's weight in gold. yes, he's primarily a hard SF writer, but one has to read anything from his "the magic goes away" series and be in awe of his fantastical skill as well.

I'd also like to recommend the rather different Perdido Street Station and The Scar books by China Mieville.

St Leo · August 25, 2003, 01:34

Quote:

Originally posted by Buck Birdseed
Feet Of Clay and the lovely Hogfather.

Feet of Clay -- Great
Hogfather - Sucks

TCO · August 25, 2003, 20:35

Commonality is that several of us recomend Ursela LeGuin.

Jon Miller · August 25, 2003, 20:37

sh eis good

I actually ahven;t read all of earth sea

Jon Miller

TCO · August 25, 2003, 20:39

There are only 3 right? Seemed as if someone alluded to more...

Jon Miller · August 25, 2003, 20:43

I think there ended up being 5

I have read the last one and some of the others

I might have read them all, but if so it has been a while

Jon Miller

mrmitchell · August 25, 2003, 20:45

The Berenstain Bears First Time Readers

great classics

Menlas · August 25, 2003, 20:52

I'm surprised that nobody mentionned the excellent Deathgate cycle, by Weis&Hickman.
The first book is called Dragon Wing.
The most amazing thing about this cycle is that the books are better and better (the last ones are fabulous).
One of the best fantasy books I've ever read