posted
The Long Price Quartet is new (book 4 should be soon to be released in hardback -- the other three are available in paperback) fantasy series by a new author, Daniel Abraham.
No magic, but much depth. It's really good.
Posts: 5462 | Registered: Apr 2005
| IP: Logged |
posted
I have enjoyed the "Belgariad" by David Eddings. I know that some here find it too talky and a bit light.
"The Magician Apprentice" is the start of a fairly good series that pits Eastern fantasy against Western. However it starts running on long and long as the books get old.
However, when the author writes with his daughter the "Daughter of the Empire" trilogy, set in those Eastern lands, it is very good.
Posts: 1941 | Registered: Feb 2003
| IP: Logged |
posted
The Vlad Taltos books by Steven Brust. I'd suggest sticking with the published date books start with Jhereg) for at least the first couple. Above all, the series is really, really fun.
I can write more, if you like, or you can read all the amazon reviews.
Posts: 2409 | Registered: Sep 2003
| IP: Logged |
posted
Are you talking about magic in an action sense, or do you prefer a world where magic seems to be infused in everything?
I want to recommend A Song of Ice and Fire, but there really isn't too much in the way of magic. Sir Apropos of Nothing is fun, but might stray too far towards parody.
Is magic really a dealbreaker? Maybe you should pick up A Game of Thrones and give it a try.
Posts: 368 | Registered: Aug 2007
| IP: Logged |
quote:Originally posted by Darth_Mauve: I have enjoyed the "Belgariad" by David Eddings. I know that some here find it too talky and a bit light.
"The Magician Apprentice" is the start of a fairly good series that pits Eastern fantasy against Western. However it starts running on long and long as the books get old.
However, when the author writes with his daughter the "Daughter of the Empire" trilogy, set in those Eastern lands, it is very good.
Really? Janny Wurts is Raymond Feist's daughter? I had no idea.
I second the Belgariad and the Riftwar Saga (and Daughter of the Empire). You might also check out A Man of His Word, by Dave Duncan. It's a four book series that's great. And if you like it, there's a sequel (also four books) called "A Handful of Men". Duncan also has a wonderful trilogy called The Seventh Sword (or the Sword of Destiny).
There are two things by Stephen R. Donaldson that I'd recommend as well. The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant the Unbeliever is phenomenal. I first read it as a teenager and I credit it with my survival. That's a trilogy, with a sequel trilogy (and two books of the final quadrilogy out). He also has a two book thing called Mordant's Need. It's gentler than the Covenant books, but at least as good.
The Secret Country trilogy by Pamela Dean is one of my favorite reads ever. And she did a novel called Tam-Lin as well, which is a standalone, and terrific.
Another single book is Ariel, by Steven Boyett. It's wonderful and beautiful.
And I'm going to put in a word for Terry Goodkind's Sword of Truth series, but it's 11 books and a novella, so that might be too long for you.
Posts: 12266 | Registered: Jul 2005
| IP: Logged |
Two authors I have been enjoying recently. Also Patrick Rothfuss, although he's a bit like Robin Hobb.
Posts: 5957 | Registered: Oct 2001
| IP: Logged |
quote:Originally posted by Jhai: The Vlad Taltos books by Steven Brust. I'd suggest sticking with the published date books start with Jhereg) for at least the first couple. Above all, the series is really, really fun.
I can write more, if you like, or you can read all the amazon reviews.
Brust also wrote To Reign in Hell, which is a novelized version of Milton's Paradise Lost. It's wicked cool.
Posts: 12266 | Registered: Jul 2005
| IP: Logged |
quote:Originally posted by Darth_Mauve: However, when the author writes with his daughter the "Daughter of the Empire" trilogy, set in those Eastern lands, it is very good.
Do you have any source for Feist being the father of Janny Wurts? I just checked Wikipedia (granted, not the last word on anything), and I don't see anything to back that up.
Posts: 12266 | Registered: Jul 2005
| IP: Logged |
quote:Originally posted by EmpSquared: Are you talking about magic in an action sense, or do you prefer a world where magic seems to be infused in everything?
I want to recommend A Song of Ice and Fire, but there really isn't too much in the way of magic. Sir Apropos of Nothing is fun, but might stray too far towards parody.
Is magic really a dealbreaker? Maybe you should pick up A Game of Thrones and give it a try.
I don't care either way. Fun magic or symbolic magic - either way, something where it get's used.
These suggestions are great. Thanks so much everyone! Maybe I'll report back when I read a bunch.
Posts: 1604 | Registered: Mar 2003
| IP: Logged |
posted
I agree with Joe Abercrombie and Scott Lynch. I would say that the former is even more fun if you have read a lot of fantasy because its set up is very conventional, but then how it plays out is not.
I rate the Prince of Nothing trilogy, but doubt that 'fun' is the appropriate adjective.
Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell The Alvin Maker Cycle The Prince of Nothing The Long Price Quartet The Iron Dragon's Daughter Perdido Street Station A Song of Ice and Fire Lord of the Rings The Earthsea Cycle The Khaavren Romances The Taltos Cycle Dune The Dark Tower Discworld The Gentlemen Bastards Sequence Sandman Fables
My favorite juveniles: The Belgariad The Malloreon The Chronicles of Prydain The Chronicles of Narnia The Dark is Rising A Wrinkle in Time Farmer Giles of Ham and Other Stories A Man of His Word The King's Blades Harry Potter and His Many BooksPosts: 37449 | Registered: May 1999
| IP: Logged |
posted
I just finished the Mistborn trilogy, by Brandon Sanderson, about a month ago, and I thought it was very good. The magic is absolutely integral to the lives of the characters that have the ability to use it. I felt that the second book dragged a bit, since there was quite a lot of maneuvering to get the storyline ready for the third book, but the ending of the second book made it worthwhile and the third book was very, very good.
I also thoroughly enjoyed Kate Elliot's Crown of Stars series, although it does have seven very long books. Most of the characters can't actually wield magic, but it permeates the whole world.
posted
Sorry about the Wurts connection to Feist. For some reason I thought they were related, but my memory is far from perfect.
If you want some modern Fantasy I suggest Fairy Tale by Feist. Heavy on magic and about the best elves I've seen.
Posts: 1941 | Registered: Feb 2003
| IP: Logged |
quote:Originally posted by TomDavidson: You wouldn't consider those juvenalia, Lisa?
Not really. I mean, The Secret Country would be juvenile, but I don't see how A Man of His Word is. There's a lot of adult content in it. There's torture and sex.
I suppose you could make a case for Eddings... though there's some sexual content there as well. Do you see them as juveniles because Garion is a kid in the Belgariad? Would the Riftwar Saga be juvenile as well because Pug and Tomas are kids at least through the first book?
Posts: 12266 | Registered: Jul 2005
| IP: Logged |
quote:Originally posted by Darth_Mauve: However, when the author writes with his daughter the "Daughter of the Empire" trilogy, set in those Eastern lands, it is very good.
Do you have any source for Feist being the father of Janny Wurts? I just checked Wikipedia (granted, not the last word on anything), and I don't see anything to back that up.
Janny Wurts' website has a picture of her. She looks too old to be Raymond Feist's daughter (he was born in 1945, according to wikipedia). She's married to Don Maitz, and his website says his artistic career has spanned 30 years. Maitz and Wurts live in Florida, the wikipedia article says that Feist lives in San Diego with his children.
Posts: 2034 | Registered: Apr 2004
| IP: Logged |
posted
Memory Sorrow and Thorn by Tad Williams, though that can be hard to get into as he sets up his world for the first ~150 pages in Dragonbone Chair. Otherwise an excellent series, with a magical world that isn't overly magical.
I also recommend Belgariad and Mallorean. I find them to be quick, entertaining reads. David Eddings' series The Elenian is a bit darker if you like things that way.
Posts: 4112 | Registered: May 2001
| IP: Logged |
posted
*thumps forehead* Okay, since Memory, Sorrow and Thorn is on my list of top five fantasy series, I have no idea how it didn't make the list above. *laugh*
That, by the way, is why I hate making best-of lists; I'm always gripped by fear that I'm going to miss some obvious thing that makes me appear to be a Philistine. Posts: 37449 | Registered: May 1999
| IP: Logged |
posted
Wow, Trent, I've never met anyone else who's read Lawrence Watt-Evans. I actually like him quite a lot and I make a habit of looking for him in used book stores, because most of his writing is out of print. I was delighted to find two new ones this week (The Cyborg and the Sorcerers and its sequel).
Anyway, I'll add to the list "The Hero and the Crown" and "The Blue Sword" by Robin McKinley. I adore those books and they were the gateway drug on my long slide into fantasy lit addiction.
Posts: 2849 | Registered: Feb 2002
| IP: Logged |
quote:Originally posted by TomDavidson: My favorite adult fantasies:
Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell The Alvin Maker Cycle The Prince of Nothing The Long Price Quartet The Iron Dragon's Daughter Perdido Street Station A Song of Ice and Fire Lord of the Rings The Earthsea Cycle The Khaavren Romances The Taltos Cycle Dune The Dark Tower Discworld The Gentlemen Bastards Sequence Sandman Fables
My favorite juveniles: The Belgariad The Malloreon The Chronicles of Prydain The Chronicles of Narnia The Dark is Rising A Wrinkle in Time Farmer Giles of Ham and Other Stories A Man of His Word The King's Blades Harry Potter and His Many Books
Tom, I hate you! You took most of my recommendations, even the YA books that no one usually mentions.
Honestly, reading your list was a best hit's list of my own bookcases. I have one bookcase just for my favorites, and almost every one of those books are on those shelves.
I'd also recommend The Curse of Chalion and The Paladin of Souls by Bujold. I love that series, and really most of her stuff is good....but those two are among the best I have ever read. I am reading her The Sharing Knife series about Lakewalkers now and love it, the first books is called The Sharing Knife: Beguilement.
Posts: 15082 | Registered: Jul 2001
| IP: Logged |
quote:Originally posted by Eaquae Legit: Wow, Trent, I've never met anyone else who's read Lawrence Watt-Evans. I actually like him quite a lot and I make a habit of looking for him in used book stores, because most of his writing is out of print. I was delighted to find two new ones this week (The Cyborg and the Sorcerers and its sequel).
Yeah, I also have a nice big used book store that I fish around in every once and awhile to find a new old Watt-Evans. It's nice that he posts some of his work online before it get's published.
And Belle, not sure if you know but Princep's Fury came out a couple of months ago. Haven't had a chance at it though, it's currently in transit.
Posts: 247 | Registered: Jun 2008
| IP: Logged |
posted
I have indeed read it! It was not my favorite, until toward the end when Butcher pulled out one of his "What the?" moments. You know, the ones where you as a reader just say...wait a minute...did he just DO that?
So in all, I rank it pretty high...though I think Cursor's Fury is still my fave.
Posts: 14428 | Registered: Aug 2001
| IP: Logged |
quote:Originally posted by Belle: My latest fantasy series is the Codex Alera by Butcher. I'm actually quite fond of it.
I just read that as well, and loved it. Enough so that I buy them in hardcover, which I don't do often.
Posts: 15082 | Registered: Jul 2001
| IP: Logged |
posted
Natural Mystic mentioned Steven Erikson, but no one else has. I'm reading Gardens of the Moon at the moment, and finding it rather uninvolving so far, mainly because there aren't any characters I care about in any way so far. I'm not quite 200 pages in, but seem to find other things to do rather than read it, which is not the way I read at all usually.
Anybody else read any of the Malazan books?
Posts: 867 | Registered: Dec 2003
| IP: Logged |
posted
Gardens of the Moon is the weakest of the Malazan series - I think it has some plotting flaws and it has some inconsistencies with regard to the later books. It also suffers from the fact that he has built an extremely complex world with a variety of civilizations (it is telling that he was an archaeologist) and he has to convey this without turning it into a text book. The other books are easier because the readers know more. HOWEVER there are few better than Erikson for bringing things together for a grand ending - I will be very surprised if you still feel this way for the last hundred pages.
Posts: 644 | Registered: Sep 2008
| IP: Logged |
posted
If you're willing to dip into alternative fantasy, then I highly recommend Jim Butcher's Dresden Files books.
His writing is not always spectacular, but he is always engaging, very witty, you get attached to the characters and has a really well-done fantasy world built in modern-day Chicago.
Posts: 1038 | Registered: Feb 2006
| IP: Logged |
posted
Yeah, I have read Butcher's Dresden books too. Very engaging, lots of fun.
Garth Nix has a fantasy series - Sabriel, Lirael, and Abhorsen that is marketed young adult but in my opinion some of the best fantasy I've read. Definitely not childish.
Posts: 14428 | Registered: Aug 2001
| IP: Logged |
Will second enthusiastically A Song of Ice and Fire, although he takes so darn long to write the things...
Posts: 867 | Registered: Dec 2003
| IP: Logged |
posted
Jhereg by Steven Brust (and all of the sequels) - I've read and re-read these since they started appearing when I was high school in the '80s. Very fun, more like fantasy/mystery/crime books.
Memory, Sorrow and Thorn by Tad Williams - next to the LOTR this my favorite fantasy epic. An original world setting that feels familiar and believable coupled with archetypal heroes that stay with you forever.
The Deed of Paksenarrion by Elizabeth Moon - Might tend towards the juvenile but an exciting read. Feels a lot like an AD&D world.
I'm very surprised no one has mentioned Wizard's First Rule by Terry Goodkind. The series gets too long, too dark and too preachy (politically) but the first three books are pretty exciting.
Posts: 2 | Registered: Aug 1999
| IP: Logged |
quote:Originally posted by _ajax_: I'm very surprised no one has mentioned Wizard's First Rule by Terry Goodkind. The series gets too long, too dark and too preachy (politically) but the first three books are pretty exciting.
Sixth post on this page.
Posts: 12266 | Registered: Jul 2005
| IP: Logged |
posted
I'll second the Sword of Truth series, though I've only read the first- parts of it were just FUNNY.
My recommendations deal with my current interests, so...
Rhapsody by Elizabeth Haydon is the first of six books (really, two trilogies) in The Symphony of the Ages. It takes a bit to get into the MAIN storyline, but once you do, it's well worth it- I read for three days straight to finish the second two books, Prophecy, and Destiny, because I was so into them.
Green Rider by Kristen Britain is the first of what's right now a trilogy- the third just came out in paperback, but as I'm weird and read the last sentence, I'm 99% sure there will be a fourth(I'm reading the third right now).
Posts: 1591 | Registered: Jul 2005
| IP: Logged |
quote:Originally posted by Darth_Mauve: I have enjoyed the "Belgariad" by David Eddings. I know that some here find it too talky and a bit light.
I third or fourth or whatever that series and the one following it (The Malloreon). The audiobook versions of those are really amusing. Cameron Beierle's performace gets a thumbs up.
Also firsting/seconding/thirding/n-ing: - The Chronicles of Prydain are exceptional as well as Lloyd Alexander's stand alone The Arkandians, which had me laughing and laughing throughout when I was down with something flu-like. - All the Wrinkle in Time books by Madeline L'Engle - Anything by Diana Wynne Jones, but if I had to choose ONE it would be Hexwood - Codex Alera series by Jim Butcher (Princep's is waiting for me to get to it. Took a slight detour into Agatha Christie land first.) Love the Dresden Files as well. - Patricia C. Wrede's princess quartet was highly amusing. - Anne McCaffrey's Pern novels (starting with the three Dragonriders of Pern novels) and her Acorna series (with Margaret Ball) - The Last Unicorn by Peter S. Beagle
Posts: 691 | Registered: Nov 2008
| IP: Logged |
quote:Originally posted by _ajax_: [QB] Memory, Sorrow and Thorn by Tad Williams - next to the LOTR this my favorite fantasy epic. An original world setting that feels familiar and believable coupled with archetypal heroes that stay with you forever.
I really need to give this series another try. I've started it a time or two on Tom Davidson's recommendation, but I've never gotten more than 60 pages into it. I like William's Otherland series, so I can easily believe that the people recommending the book are right that it's worth reading.
quote:The Deed of Paksenarrion by Elizabeth Moon - Might tend towards the juvenile but an exciting read.
I'll second this. Moon isn't among my favorite authors by any stretch of the imagination (though I've recently been told that I really need to give The Speed of Dark a try), but the Paksenarrion books are pretty solid. They definitely get more interesting as they go along.
Has anybody mentioned Guy Gavirel Kay's Sarantine Mosaic duology, or his Last Light of the Sun? They're mostly unrelated to each other, but they're set in a shared world (along with The Lions of Al-Rasan, which I haven't yet read but which is on my list), and are fantastically well written. I love the way Kay writes barely fantasized verions of actual history, and the writing is just achingly good.
Gene Wolf's Soldier duology, comprised of Soldier of the Mist and Soldier of Arete, is well worth reading, as are The Knight and its sequel The Wizard. I'm told his The Book of the New Sun series is incredibly good, but I haven't gotten around to reading it yet. Probably much to quisling's displeasure, since its her copies of the book that I've got on my shelf. I should get to that one, probably next.
Welcome to Hatrack, ajax. Did you name yourself after the programming language, Big Ajax, or Little Ajax?
Posts: 16059 | Registered: Aug 2000
| IP: Logged |
posted
Oh, and I can't believe no one has mentioned The Chronicles of Amber, and the series that inspired it, Philip Jose Farmer's World of Tiers.
Posts: 12266 | Registered: Jul 2005
| IP: Logged |
posted
On Tad Williams, I've just started reading War of the Flowers (yes, finally gave up on Gardens of the Moon, just couldn't get engaged after 200 pages, and I'm too old too waste reading time on books that feel like a chore) and have read the Otherland books which were extremely good and never felt repetitious or strung out like the Wheel of Time series.
I gave up on the Terry Goodkind books after the one with that ludicrous statue of Richard and Kahlan on the cover, couldn't handle the political tract that became at the end, and the fact that at the end of the book nothing had happened. Agree that the first few were good reads though.
Posts: 867 | Registered: Dec 2003
| IP: Logged |
quote:Originally posted by Lisa: Oh, and I can't believe no one has mentioned The Chronicles of Amber, and the series that inspired it, Philip Jose Farmer's World of Tiers.
Oh yeah! I can't believe that either!
Posts: 16059 | Registered: Aug 2000
| IP: Logged |
Printer-friendly view of this topic
![[Smile]](smile.gif)
![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
I have one bookcase just for my favorites, and almost every one of those books are on those shelves.
