Reccomended Reading: Fantasy Novels

[Southern Cross]

I have to recommend The Obsidian Trilogy by Mercedes Lackey and James Mallory,though only the first two novels have been published.Not only are they up to her usual standard,but I could swear that the United States was ther inspiration for Armethalieth,the City of Bells,especially after the tragedy that happened earlier this month.

[JMcL63]

Gene Wolfe's The Book of the New Sun is a classic fantasy series with an atmosphere as unique and compelling now as it was 20 years ago when it was first published. More recent books that I would recommend are Trollslayer and its sequels by Bill King, featuring his epic heroes Gotrek and Felix. These are essentially monster-hunting romps featuring strong characterisation, including a great backing cast, some epic fight scenes, and some great moments of comedy. Fine entertainment.

[jml]

Homer, The Illiad and The Oddessy. Not the easiest reads, I grant you, but pure brilliance. You should probably get a good, readable modern translation, but it's best to read Homer in the original Klingon...

Too right. Well, except for the Klingon bit.

Which reminds me. Paradise Lost by John Milton is similarly excellent. It is poetry in Elizabethan English, and it contains some of the best lines ever penned. It also lays out an impressive mythology, one based heavily on Christianity with many classical influences. As far as I'm aware, it is the English language's answer to The Iliad and The Odyssey.

"Yet from those flames
No light, but rather darkness visible."

Lines like these make me want to write lines like these.

[tancred]

Can't believe I forgot to mention Katherine Kurtz.
The Deryni books (now at 4 trilogies, at least 2 full novels, at least 3 collections of short stories, and goodness only knows what else) are absolute classics.

Kurtz is a historian by training, and it shows in her work. Really good series of stories. And the first-written trilogy (Deryni Rising, Deryni Checkmate, High Deryni) is being re-issued in hardback.

Another incredibly good fantasy author is Harry Turtledove. He's also a classically-trained historian (is this a pattern with me?)
The Misplaced Legion introduced his world of Videssos, which is essentially the Holy Roman Empire (Byzantium) with magic added.
One of the four series set in this world alternates between Videssos (the Roman Empire analogue) and the Persia equivalent (the name in the book escapes me now).
The series tells the story of the war between these two great powers from the point of view of both sides.

Turtledove's Agent of Byzantium is an unconnected book that deals with an Middle Ages version of Bond, a spy who works for the Holy Roman Empire. Also rollicking good fun.