Recommend me a fantasy book/series

Boris Godunov · August 23, 2003, 12:19

Okay, I've lately had the urge to find a good fantasy book or series, but I've no clue where to turn.

I love the LoTR, but I don't have to have something that copies it.

I am not opposed to books based on RPGs, so long as they are really good.

I hated the Wheel of Time series. I think Robert Jordan is a talentless hack and that his books are full of bad writing, cardboard characters and boring, predictable plot situations. So if it's like Jordan, I won't like it.

And no Harry Potter.

I've never read any Terry Goodkind, but some have said he's like Jordan. Is that true?

VetLegion · August 23, 2003, 12:27

G.R.R. Martin Song of Ice and Fire

There are three books so far, I have read two. They are very good. So good people are getting pissed off at Martin waiting for sequels

You can find scanned copies on IRC, read a few pages and you can buy them if you like them.

Boris Godunov · August 23, 2003, 12:32

Okay, when I say series, I do want to avoid the endless stream of books, a la Jordan. I think one of the things that sucks most about Jordan is that he is stretching out a story that could have been told in 3 books (or less) into a 12-book saga that he may not finish before he dies. The needless padding and frustrating go-nowhereness of his books are a big part of the problem.

So maybe a trilogy is the limit!

Richard Bruns · August 23, 2003, 12:33

Terry Pratchett

Just a suggestion

Yes, he will probably produce an infinite series of books, but they are all seperate stories, and don't rely on each other. You can just pick up any one at random and read it.

Jon Miller · August 23, 2003, 12:35

there is only suppose to be 6 in a song of ice and fire

and a lot happens in every book

Jon Miller

Koyaanisqatsi · August 23, 2003, 12:38

The Runelords, by David Farland.

And I wholeheartedly second Song of Ice and Fire. Really, really good books. I'm one of the ones who's impatiently waiting for the next book. I'll give you a warning though, since one was given to me before I started reading that series: If you're one of those people who gets attached to the main characters, this series isn't for you.

VetLegion · August 23, 2003, 12:38

Boris, just check it out and thank me later

Jon Miller · August 23, 2003, 12:40

terry pratchett is humor fantasy and Discworld is insanely long (but the books more or less can be read independently from others)

if you are looking for something like Lord of the Rings I would not recommend it (I would recommend it if you are looking for something fun to read)

I would recommend George RR Martin's series or Cherryh's series (any of them, but I consider the Fortress ones weaker) or even the series with a dragonbone chair and green angels tower (who writes this again? I have forgotten)

Donaldson also has a (couple) good fantasy series out as does Wolfe.

Jon Miller

Proteus_MST · August 23, 2003, 12:41

Quote:

Originally posted by Richard Bruns
Terry Pratchett

Just a suggestion

I second this

And, if you like some Horror with an Universe (part Fantay, part real World) which is just as deep like the World of LotR,
you should definitely try the Books of H.P. Lovecraft.

Imran Siddiqui · August 23, 2003, 13:06

Harry Potter

reds4ever · August 23, 2003, 13:36

the 'Swords' series by Fritz Lieber

avoid 'the chronicals of thomas covenant' like the plague

The Andy-Man · August 23, 2003, 13:39

Would Jules Vern count?
Homers 'Odyssey'?

Or must it be dwarves and fireballs?

Kuciwalker · August 23, 2003, 13:39

I haven't read the Wheel of Time series, so I wouldn't know if Terry Goodkind's Sword of Truth was like it, but I just recently read the first six

in about 24 hours total, too

and I really liked it. The sixth book, Faith of the Fallen, is extremely powerful, and has become my all-time favorite book.

Hot Mustard · August 23, 2003, 13:43

The Tales of Alvin Maker series - Orson Scott Card
-Seventh Son
-Red Prophet
-Prentice Alvin
-Alvin Journeyman
-Heartfire

A Dream of Eagles series - Jack Whyte
-The Skystone
-The Singing Sword
-The Eagles Brood
-The Saxon Shore
-The Fort at River's Bend
-Metamorphosis
-Uthur

The Runelords series - David Farland (seconded)
-The Runelords
-Brotherhood of the Wolf
-Wizardborn

Koyaanisqatsi · August 23, 2003, 13:50

Quote:

Originally posted by dejon
A Dream of Eagles series - Jack Whyte
-The Skystone
-The Singing Sword
-The Eagles Brood
-The Saxon Shore
-The Fort at River's Bend
-Metamorphosis
-Uthur

Also good, but I liked the Pendragon Cycle better (Stephen Lawhead)

Jon Miller · August 23, 2003, 13:59

terry goodkind is garbade, worse than Jordan

I copuld read up through book 10 in Jordan's series, couldn't read past book 3 in Goodkinds

and the Thomas Covenant Series soem people like and others don't I personally like the mirror series better

Jon Miller

SpencerH · August 23, 2003, 14:14

Boris since you dislike Jordan from the get-go I've looked through my stacks and pulled out a few unusual authors/series. Some may be very hard to find though.

Kate Elliot - the kings dragon-
1st of 4 books in the series - have a unusual 'gritty' feel to the writing

Barbara Hambley- The time of the dark-
Unusual situation and characters but the first book starts a little slow

Glen cook -The Black company-
1st of a long series about them. Many other great series.

Roger taylor -The Call of the sword-
1st of four books very different

David feintuch -The Still-
1st of 2 so far. Actually has, dare I say it- :whisper: homosexuals :whisper:

Elizabeth Moon -The Sheepfarmers daughter-
1st of 3 with two prequels. Written by an ex military (female). In a later book it actually deals with the importance of latrines.

Ramo · August 23, 2003, 14:20

Yep, Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire series is awesome. I've read no other fantasy books like the ones in this series. It's also very loosely based on the War of Roses, if you care about that kind of thing.

It's taking him far too long to write A Feast of Crows (the fouth book) though.

I'd also recommend Ursula K. LeGuin's Earthsea series, which has a good bit of Jungian psychology behind it.

Pratchett's also great, of course. He's to fantasy what Vonnegut is to fiction.

Makeo · August 23, 2003, 14:26

Magician - Raymond E Feist

Obviously doesn't have the depth of LoTR but similarish.

TCO · August 23, 2003, 14:34

1. Give Potter a chance. Yes, they are written towards younger kids. But they get more interesting as they go on. and the "world created" is very fun. The school is neat and the kids are cool. I avoided it from the hype as well. But I liked it when I got into it. And it is not like a Jordan thing being stretched out. It is fun. But read in order.

2. Chronicles of Narnia by CS Lewis

3. Prydain books (5) by Lloyd Alexander. (Newbury medal award winners.)

4. The Once and Future King by TE White

5. Any other book by White (Stuart Little, etc.)

6. The Wind and the Willows.

7. The Ursala K. Leguin stuff (EArthsea trilogy I think.) Like Potter, but much shorter books and more of an older student and darker issues. cool world.

Snotty · August 23, 2003, 14:45

The author that Jon Miller was looking for was Tad Williams. He wrote the memory, sorrow and thorn trilogy starting with the dragonbone chair. Thoroughly enjoyable fantasy series although each of the 4 paperback books run to over 800 pages each truly making this an epic, with all the pros and cons that brings. Although it is wrapped up well rather than dragged out. He also did a quite passable near future series called 'Otherland' that might be worth checking out. The VR internet backdrop allows him to create all manner of fantasy worlds and other funky settings.

Katherine Kerr did a good series starting with 'Daggerspell'. Rather convoluted at first but when you get your head around the time line jumps and which reincarnation each spirit is, it makes for a very unique fantasy experience.

If you like something more violent pick up pretty much anything by David Gemmel. Legend and Waylander would both be good places to start.

And finally. I dredge this up from memory so anyone feel free to correct me. I think the author is called Robin Hobb (?) and he (she?) wrote the assassins (?) trilogy and another trilogy called the liveships (?). All based in the same universe, deep, dark and with fantasic use and explanation of the magic in the world.

Proteus_MST · August 23, 2003, 14:46

Raymond E. Feist.

This brings his Midkemia Saga into my mind.

Another very extensive Fantasy-Series which I liked.

It is bout the Kingdom of Krondor (with Similarities to the medieval Europe), Children becoming magicians and later in the Series about the preence of a rift which Connects Midkemia to anothr Planet inhabited by Tsuranis (which much resemble Samurai and use vry sharp Swords made of wood).

Maybe you should try this.

Another good Book:

Wolfgang Hohlbein: The Dragons Daughters (or The daughters of the Dragon, duno how the exact Title is in english, as I´ve got this Book in German)

And of course (for another great Fantasy-Series):

Anne Mc Caffrey: The Dragonriders of Pern

Rogan Josh · August 23, 2003, 15:01

Transformation by Carol Berg

http://www.sff.net/people/carolberg/

TCO · August 23, 2003, 15:03

The Dragon and the George (but not any of the follow ons) by Gordon Dickson

The Compleat Enchanter (or follow on books) or (part of books) by Pratt and DeCamp

The Land of Unreason by Decamp

Verto · August 23, 2003, 15:05

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.

Makeo · August 23, 2003, 15:06

I made a civ2 scenario based on midkemia world way back when.

TCO · August 23, 2003, 15:08

Quote:

Originally posted by Makeo
I made a civ2 scenario based on midkemia world way back when.

I didn't know you knew how to make scenarios...

Makeo · August 23, 2003, 15:40

I don't.

Asher · August 23, 2003, 15:47

Quote:

Recommend me a fantasy book/series

Speaking American: How the Democrats Can Win in the Nineties

monolith94 · August 23, 2003, 15:53

the democrats did win in the nineties, it's this new decade we're having trouble finagling.

I'd like to mention the golden compass, a book I had heard much about, so I just went ahead and bought it. At first, I couldn't see what all the fuss was about, but as I continued into it, I got hooked, and it was a pretty interesting read, even if I find the high-minded literary and academic message of dubious strength.