mangahunterd Posted November 3, 2004 Report Share Posted November 3, 2004 I was thinking about this today at work... instead of working which is nothing new... How many times have you had a hankering for a great fantasy book and go to the bookstore only to be assaulted with hundreds of books that you have no idea if their worth it?? You look at the flashy cover and see the blurb on the back and maybe even read a few pages and become intrigued... Then you get it home and promptly sit down to read it and realize that it isn't even fit to use as kindling. As for me the answer is too many times... Luckily all of the guys I game with (Eosin, Nightstick, Edsel and the boys) are really avid Fantasy readers so I tend to pick their fickle brains to see what they liked and what they didn't. However I would like to see what everyone else is reading and what they think is great fantasy fiction. So for simplicity let's omit the "Classics" like Tolkien because I think most of us can agree that he is responsible for shaping modern fantasy as we know it. Instead let's look at modern masters of Fantasy... So with that I will start off with some of my favorites! George RR Martin's Song of Fire and Ice series Michael Moorecock- Elric Saga, Count Brass, History of the Runestaff Fritz Leiber- Fafhrd and Gray Mouser sagas Robert Asprin- ED. Thieves World Series, "Myth" Series David Gemmel- I like most of his books but in my opinion they all tend to run together as he is a formula writer, not that it is bad, just repetitive... Robert Newcomb- Fifth Sorceress I know there are more but I am having brain glaze right now... but it is a start.... So what are you reading?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DRThrush Posted November 3, 2004 Report Share Posted November 3, 2004 Re: Reccomended Reading: Fantasy Novels The Vlad Taltos books by Steven Brust are excellent: Jhereg, Yendi, Teckla, and so on. Really good stuff. The other "series" of books set in the same world are also very good, and written in a Dumas-esque style (along the lines of the 3 musketeers). The Phoenix Guards, Five-Hundred Years After, and so on. The Chronicles of Amber are sci-fi/fantasy by one of the best authors either genre eer had to offer, Roger Zelazny. Additionally his books about Dilvish the Damned are more traditional fantasy fare. All of his books are about very high powered people. David Eddings wrote two pentologies that are very good, the first series is called The Belgariad and consist of Pawn of Prophesy, Queen of Sorcery, Magician's Gambit, Castle of Wizardry, and Enchanters' End Game. The second series follows the first and is called the Mallorean. You already mentioned George R R Martin's "A Song of Ice and Fire" but it's so damn good I have to mention it too. If you haven't read these books you are really missing out. However, he is not done with the series so that means waiting... and waiting... and waiting for the next installment. -Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captain Obvious Posted November 3, 2004 Report Share Posted November 3, 2004 Re: Reccomended Reading: Fantasy Novels I really liked Jhereg for the conspiracy in it, and somewhat for the fantasy crime-lord aspect, but a lot of it (especially dialogue) just seemed too modern, and a lot of the rest too alien. I guess I like fantasy to be in a fantastic but recognizable world. I have the same gripe with Eddings, although to be fair, I've only read one book of his, and it was in the middle of a series. Oddly enough, I don't have that problem with the Guardians of the Flame series by Joel Rosenberg. I guess it's because the characters with the modern sound to their speech came from our (modern) world. The natives of the fantasy world don't seem so modern. Other than that, Leiber, Howard, and Moorcock, I find myself reading a lot of stuff that's not quite fantasy, but is fairly close. Lovecraft, Burroughs, Wells, and Verne spring to mind. For a laugh, I'd recommend Craig Shaw Gardner's "A Malady of Magicks" and related books. They're about a wizard who develops an allergy to magic, and his randy apprentice, and they're full of such wisdom as "Even for a wizard there will often come times when someone close to you, perhaps even your spouse, criticizes your habits by comparing them to those of animals. This is distinctly unfair to the animals, who have far better habits than we in many areas. When, for example, have you seen a frog collecting taxes or a squirrel running for electoral office? Present arguments like these to those people who criticize you. If they still do not see the wisdom of your ways, you may then feel free to bite them." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Long Posted November 3, 2004 Report Share Posted November 3, 2004 Re: Reccomended Reading: Fantasy Novels I listed my favorites, with explanations, in the FH bibliography. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mangahunterd Posted November 3, 2004 Author Report Share Posted November 3, 2004 Re: Reccomended Reading: Fantasy Novels What's FH??? I have never heard of it Actually reading another thread on this board made me think if this today. After I left work I was banging my head to try and remember Jack Vances name while at my FLNBS.... In fact it got so bad that I came home, looked up the thread and am now armed to go tomorrow at lunch to get the Tales of the Dying Earth Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fitz Posted November 3, 2004 Report Share Posted November 3, 2004 Re: Reccomended Reading: Fantasy Novels This is a warning rather than a recommendation, but if it saves one person then it will have been worth while. "Dark Is The Sun" by Philip Jose Farmer is one of the worst-written books I have ever read. If you see it in your friendly local fantasy/sci-fi bookshop, don't buy it. I'm not kidding; it's truly execrable -- it reads like something written by an enthusiastic and inventive, but woefully literarily inadequate fourteen-year-old dungeon master. I've managed to drag myself almost half way through it, but I don't think I can take much more ham-handed exposition and ludicrously wooden dialogue. Bleeagh. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DRThrush Posted November 3, 2004 Report Share Posted November 3, 2004 Re: Reccomended Reading: Fantasy Novels This is a warning rather than a recommendation, but if it saves one person then it will have been worth while. "Dark Is The Sun" by Philip Jose Farmer is one of the worst-written books I have ever read. If you see it in your friendly local fantasy/sci-fi bookshop, don't buy it. I'm not kidding; it's truly execrable -- it reads like something written by an enthusiastic and inventive, but woefully literarily inadequate fourteen-year-old dungeon master. I've managed to drag myself almost half way through it, but I don't think I can take much more ham-handed exposition and ludicrously wooden dialogue. Bleeagh. As far as I have been able to ascertain that is par for the course for Mr Farmer. -Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
War Cry Posted November 3, 2004 Report Share Posted November 3, 2004 Re: Reccomended Reading: Fantasy Novels The Thomas Covenant series was pretty good. Don't remember the author off-hand though. I also liked The Annals of the Black Company by Dan Cook. The Belgariad was okay. Loved the characters, wasn't particularly fond of the story. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NightStick Posted November 3, 2004 Report Share Posted November 3, 2004 Re: Reccomended Reading: Fantasy Novels What's FH??? I have never heard of it [/i] ummmmmmmm, lets see....... Does the title of this thread mean anything?..... HINT But then again, it wasn't all that long ago that I was askin that question..... OOOOOOOPS, Or is this what they call SARCASM? In all seriousness though, Fantasy Hero. But then again, You already knew that! BTW - Will you be at Edsels for the next session? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garou Posted November 3, 2004 Report Share Posted November 3, 2004 Re: Reccomended Reading: Fantasy Novels I enjoyed: Rose of the Prophet trilogy (Weiss and Hickman), as well as the original Dragonlance books. Dragon Price trilogy (Melanie Rawn) Chronicles of an Age of Darkness: The Wizards and The Warriors, The Women and the Warlords, etc (Hugh Cook) I also would have included many of the others already mentioned on this thread. Grunts (Mary Gentle) Discworld series (Terry Pratchett) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Southern Cross Posted November 3, 2004 Report Share Posted November 3, 2004 Re: Reccomended Reading: Fantasy Novels I also enjoy Dianne Wynne Jones.Anybody who includes a talking,dimension-traveling, female elephant in one of her books (see the novel The Merlin Conspiracy for details) is a fine writer in my book. I'd also recommend The Dark Lord of Derkholm and it's sequel The Year Of The Griffin.Those books are clearly inspired by her previous book The Tough Guide To Fantasyland (which neatly skewers most fantasy fiction). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tancred Posted November 3, 2004 Report Share Posted November 3, 2004 Re: Reccomended Reading: Fantasy Novels I recommend the Deed of Paksenarion by Elizabeth Moon. She has been (rightfully, IMHO) compared to Tolkien. Yes, she's that good. This trilogy (which begins with Sheepfarmer's Daughter) was originally published in paperback, and has just (finally) been re-released in a single-volume giant hardback. GREAT read. For a very different type of fantasy, read Randall Garrett's Too Many Magicians or Lord Darcy Investigates. This is a fantasy series where magic works in the modern day, alongside technology. These are out of print as far as I know and may be hard to find, but are definitely worth it if you can find them. The Thomas Covenant books were written by Stephen R. Donaldson. He's just begun a third series set in the same universe. Haven't read that one yet. I must second the recommendation for the late great Roger Zelazny. ANYTHING that has his name on it is great fantasy, virtually by definition. The Amber series (actually two series of five books each) are all-time classics, right up there with The Lord of the Rings. Both Amber series have been re-printed in a giant trade paperback (the Great Book of Amber, I think it's called). There's also an homage series by John Gregory Betancourt, set before the original Amber books. I like it, but I've seen quite negative reviews too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teh bunneh Posted November 3, 2004 Report Share Posted November 3, 2004 Re: Reccomended Reading: Fantasy Novels The Chronicals of Master Li and Number Ten Ox (Barry Hughart) are a great read. It's a trilogy of mysteries set in a semi-mythical China. The three books are Bridge of Birds, Eight Skilled Gentlemen, and Story of the Stone. Bridge of Birds is the best -- I literally couldn't put it down. I set it down at about 3am, went to bed, and then got up a half hour later to finish it. Bill. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mangahunterd Posted November 3, 2004 Author Report Share Posted November 3, 2004 Re: Reccomended Reading: Fantasy Novels Yeah I knew what FH stood for I was jsut being silly.... Um, Yeah. I had been working on TPS reports all night for Lumbergh.... Don't know about next session though... of course I hear he is running the zombie game so I may have to make a special appearance.... Zombies good.... Anyway... Another book that I had almost forgotten about is called Initiate Brother by Sean Russell. It is pretty awesome and would make for a good Oriental Style FH game setting. It is a Duology and pretty entertaining. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Confusion Posted November 3, 2004 Report Share Posted November 3, 2004 Re: Reccomended Reading: Fantasy Novels What about "Another Day, Another Dungeon" by Greg Costikyan. The Sequal "One Quest, Hold the Dragons" was only ok though. Also, the first four stories of Tiger and Del (Sword Dancer, Sword Singer, Sword Maker and Sword Breaker) by Jennifer Roberson. I did not like "Sword Born" all that much, felt like a cop-out. "Sword Sworn" was good though, nicely wrapped things up. But the first four stand on their own. Robin Hobb, "The Farseer Trilogy," "The Liveship Traders," (for high seas fun) and finally "The Tawny Man." Great fun, though I will admit I have not read "The Tawny Man" trilogy yet, I'm waiting for all three to come out in paperback, thankfully though, that should be the end of this month. I'll also speak up about George RR Martins "Song of Fire and Ice" series. That bloody rules, but the publication date for book four moved again, it looks like December 30th now, instead of the end of October. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Man Posted November 3, 2004 Report Share Posted November 3, 2004 Re: Reccomended Reading: Fantasy Novels Just finished "Transformation" by Carol Berg, a random pickup that turned out to be pretty damn good. More sorcery and intrigue than combat. Cover art -sucks-, though. Prior to that was Vernor Vinge's "Deepness in the Sky", which is not fantasy by any stretch but is a very good book. David Gemmell's "Legend" was good after the first couple of chapters. Dave Duncan's "Gilded Chain" is a good musketeeresque book with quite a bit of magic thrown in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nero's Boot Posted November 3, 2004 Report Share Posted November 3, 2004 Re: Reccomended Reading: Fantasy Novels Read The Dark Tower series by Stephen King. It's a weird mix of genres, much like the official HEROverse setting, but it's predominantly a Wild West story with heavy fantasy elements thrown in, set in a post-apocalypse sci-fi universe. --yeah, it's weird, but it worked goshdarnit NB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheQuestionMan Posted November 3, 2004 Report Share Posted November 3, 2004 Re: Reccomended Reading: Fantasy Novels You do yourselves a disservice if you leave out these author's books Lois MacMaster Bujold's *The Curse of Chalion *Paladin of Souls David Gemmell's http://www.gemmellmania.co.uk/content.php?article=6 ***Drenai Tales *Legend *The King Beyond The Gate *Quest For Lost Heroes *Waylander *Waylander II - In the Realm of the Wolf *The First Chronicles Of Druss The Legend *The Legend Of Deathwalker *Winter Warriors *Hero in the Shadows *White Wolf *Swords of Night and Day ***Sipstrassi Tales *Wolf In Shadow *Ghost King *Last Sword Of Power *The Last Guardian *Bloodstone ***Rigante Tales *Sword In The Storm *Midnight Falcon *Ravenheart *Stormrider ***Greek Tales *Lion of Macedon *Dark Prince ***Others *Dark Moon *Echoes of the Great Song *Knights Of Dark Renown *Morningstar ***Ombnibuses *The Complete Chronicles of the Jerusalem Man *The Drenai Tales [OOP] *Stones of Power: A Sipstrassi Omnibus *The Drenai Tales - Volume 1 *The Drenai Tales - Volume 2 *The Drenai Tales - Volume 3 ***Graphic Novels *Legend: The Graphic Novel *Wolf in Shadow: The Graphic Novel Cheers QM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DRThrush Posted November 4, 2004 Report Share Posted November 4, 2004 Re: Reccomended Reading: Fantasy Novels What about "Another Day, Another Dungeon" by Greg Costikyan. The Sequal "One Quest, Hold the Dragons" was only ok though. Also, the first four stories of Tiger and Del (Sword Dancer, Sword Singer, Sword Maker and Sword Breaker) by Jennifer Roberson. I did not like "Sword Born" all that much, felt like a cop-out. "Sword Sworn" was good though, nicely wrapped things up. But the first four stand on their own. Robin Hobb, "The Farseer Trilogy," "The Liveship Traders," (for high seas fun) and finally "The Tawny Man." Great fun, though I will admit I have not read "The Tawny Man" trilogy yet, I'm waiting for all three to come out in paperback, thankfully though, that should be the end of this month. I'll also speak up about George RR Martins "Song of Fire and Ice" series. That bloody rules, but the publication date for book four moved again, it looks like December 30th now, instead of the end of October. On George R R Martins website he has a letter to the fanbase where he dicusses these "release dates". He doesn't even know when the book will be done because he hasn't finished writing it yet, and doesn't know when he will finish it, so there is no way that anyone else can produce a valid release date. Check it out: www.georgerrmartin.com -Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mangahunterd Posted November 4, 2004 Author Report Share Posted November 4, 2004 Re: Reccomended Reading: Fantasy Novels You know I understand that he basically had to re-write the whole book from scratch but it just seems like he is dragging this thing out... At this point I am wondering if he will ever finish the story.... Okay... how embarassing... I have a Masters Degree and I still can't spell Recommended Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DRThrush Posted November 4, 2004 Report Share Posted November 4, 2004 Re: Reccomended Reading: Fantasy Novels I read an interview of Mr Martin in which he explains that he was going to write two books, until he realized how much story he was ignoring. I will be glad for the effort and time and he is taking on the books, as long as he maintains the level of quality I have seen from him to date. -Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mangahunterd Posted November 4, 2004 Author Report Share Posted November 4, 2004 Re: Reccomended Reading: Fantasy Novels I read the same interview an I do appreciate that he wants to put out the best product he can.. I want him to as well... I am like may other fans, just antsy to see what happens next.... and excited to be able to read it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jml Posted November 4, 2004 Report Share Posted November 4, 2004 Re: Reccomended Reading: Fantasy Novels I am a sucker for Guy Gavriel Kay's Fionovar Tapestry series. It's cross-worlds fantasy heavily influenced by Tolkienic, Celtic and Arthurian myths. If anything it tends slightly towards the sappy, but he's good enough to get away with it. I shed a tear or two reading the first book of the series. Although it's old, The Worm Ouroboros by E. R. Eddings is worth a mention because it is exceptionally good yet poorly known. Caveat: the style of English may put off some people. Incidentally, George R. R. Martin (likely my favourite living author) has excellent taste in books, both within fantasy and without. If you poke around http://www.westeros.org you can find his recommendations, which include Jack Vance, Robin Hobb and George MacDonald Fraser (the author of the Flashman series -- novels about a man named Harry Flashman, who is not a superhero. 10 points if you can name the first novel in which Flashman appeared). Janny Wurts' War of Light and Shadows series is better than a poke in the eye with a sharp stick, and Raymond Feist's Riftwar books are fantasy's answer to Die Hard. Although I haven't read it, my local dealer highly recommends Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke. In the dangerous business of literature, you have to trust your dealer. I trust mine. I am purchasing this book as soon as I complete my thesis. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThothAmon Posted November 4, 2004 Report Share Posted November 4, 2004 Re: Recommended Reading: Fantasy Novels Fritz Leiber - Fafhrd and Grey Mouser series - simply the best fantasy ever Michael Scott Rohan - Winter of The World trilogy (Anvil Of Ice etc) - fantastic writing and truly wonderful working of apocalyptic Nordic mythology - check the magical creations and see how they would fit an FH campaign Barry Hughart - Master Li and #10 Ox series - superior quality Oriental fantasy guaranteed to make you grin R E Howard - Conan series - under rated classic fantasy literature Lord Dunsanay - The King Of Elflands Daughter, The Gods Of Pegana etc - stunningly evocative turn-of-the century fantasy tales that inspired authors from HP Lovecraft to Tolkien to Fritz Leiber Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beetle Posted November 4, 2004 Report Share Posted November 4, 2004 Re: Reccomended Reading: Fantasy Novels If you're looking for epic fantasy, you can't do better than Tad Williams's "Memory, Sorrow & Thorn" trilogoy composed of The Dragonbone Chair, The Stone of Farewell and To Green Angel Tower. Excellent books. A lesser name that some may not be familiar with is Lawrence Watt-Evans. I'm a really big fan of his work, in large part because he concentrates on having his characters act like "real" people. His darker early work, "The Lords of Dus" (The Lure of the Basilisk, Seven Altars of Dusarra, The Sword of Bheleu and The Book of Silence) are very good and have an interesing cosmology. His Ethshar novels (a series of mostly unconnected stories set in a common world) are very different, in that they keep a generally lighter tone. It's too bad Ethshar's been put on the back shelf because I think they filled a niche that seems to be ignored in fantasy today. Finally, his more recent stuff (Touched by the Gods and the "Dragon Venom" trilogy) is also decent. Also, Steve's recommendations in the back of FH were very good (except for the mean comments about Fionavar which clearly show him to be a communist under alien control ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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