I didn't see the OP list Tokien. Me, I'm a bad geek, I didn't read LOTR until the films. However, this or next year, I intend to tackle The Hobbit, The Simarillion and Children of Hurin.
Recommend a fantasy series
- Thread starter Demiurge
- Start date
I wouldn't recommend skipping Prince of the Blood. While not the best, it introduces us to one of Feist's best characters, Nakor!The Riftwar Saga by Raymond E. Feist and parallel Empire Trilogy by Raymond E. Feist and Janny Wurts.
Yep, definitely the Riftwar, and the Serpentwar, and the Darkwar. (You can skip the standalone books in between the first two sets and jump on board with Shadow Of A Dark Queen, but I'd recommend catching The King's Buccaneer beforehand, and not worry about Prince Of The Blood)
However I WOULD recommend just simply stopping after the Serpentwar Saga as everything beyond that quite frankly sucks. Rage of a Demon King was the last good book Feist wrote, with the downhill slide starting in Shards of a Broken Crown (haven't even bothered reading his latest book yet, no motivation to.)And I can say that, having already read A Song of Ice and Fire, you've pretty much spoiled yourself. Be prepared to lower your expectations, because nothing else out there is as good!
of course Tokien. I hadn't even considered this but yes definitely if you have never read Tolkien you should. The Hobbit is a short, sweet little story (more for children) but LOTR will always remain my favourite book.
Although ASOIF comes pretty close these days.
I read this series when I was a kid and I still love it. I wish they'd do a proper film adaptation of it.
The Riftwar Saga by Raymond E. Feist and parallel Empire Trilogy by Raymond E. Feist and Janny Wurts.
Good call.
Another series I absolutely loved as a kid. Unfortunately I don't think the books are quite as good as an adult. I reread the series before the first movie came out and the books just didn't hold up as well as the Chronicles of Prydain do. Still a worthwhile read though.
Absolutely! I only started reading the books after the third movie came out but I plowed right through them. I wish she would write more!
And finally, I know a lot of people rag on Goodkind's Sword of Truth series, and I will admit it has its problems, but I thoroughly enjoyed the series. Just in case my username and avatar didn't give it away.
Whenever I see that series, I go "Shananananananana" Caddyshack style in my head.
I highly suggest the following series
Shanarra series by Terry Brooks.
http://www.amazon.com/Shannara-Series-by-Terry-Brooks/lm/1BGMLRQ7KSO9Z/ref=cm_lmt_srch_f_2_rsrsrs0
The Swords of truth series by Terry Goodkind
http://www.amazon.com/Sword-Truth-Terry-Goodkind/lm/R23O6Y0Y9O1CG5/ref=cm_lmt_srch_f_1_rsrsrs0
The Draonlance series by various authors- the list below are the base books (which are phenominal) but there are some really incredible series an trilogies. The Elven and Dwarven Nations trilogies are great. TONS of good stuff hereThere as to be about 100 Dragonlance books and i have practically all of them. only mising a few short story anthologies.
http://www.amazon.com/Start-nbsp-re...lm/R3U8VYXK4PZ6KS/ref=cm_srch_res_rpli_alt_15
These next two are a blend of fantasy and Sci-Fi but are phenominal.
The Apprentice Adept series by Piers Anthony
http://www.amazon.com/Apprentice-nb...ny/lm/2LKYFNUMT8AR/ref=cm_srch_res_rpli_alt_2
One of my absolutel favorite series The Incarnations of Immortality by Piers Anthony
http://www.amazon.com/The-nbsp-Inca...s/lm/10JV3XSLJFPHL/ref=cm_srch_res_rpli_alt_2
I read the Xanth series by Piers Anthony as a kid an stopped in my early 20's but still wel worth a read, especially the first 10 or so.
http://www.amazon.com/Piers-nbsp-An...s/lm/RPNAPZTEP279X/ref=cm_srch_res_rpli_alt_1
Carol Berg also has some excellent series.
http://www.amazon.com/Carol-nbsp-Berg/lm/R1PQX2D1UV3P1W/ref=cm_srch_res_rpli_alt_2
Shanarra series by Terry Brooks.
http://www.amazon.com/Shannara-Series-by-Terry-Brooks/lm/1BGMLRQ7KSO9Z/ref=cm_lmt_srch_f_2_rsrsrs0
The Swords of truth series by Terry Goodkind
http://www.amazon.com/Sword-Truth-Terry-Goodkind/lm/R23O6Y0Y9O1CG5/ref=cm_lmt_srch_f_1_rsrsrs0
The Draonlance series by various authors- the list below are the base books (which are phenominal) but there are some really incredible series an trilogies. The Elven and Dwarven Nations trilogies are great. TONS of good stuff hereThere as to be about 100 Dragonlance books and i have practically all of them. only mising a few short story anthologies.
http://www.amazon.com/Start-nbsp-re...lm/R3U8VYXK4PZ6KS/ref=cm_srch_res_rpli_alt_15
These next two are a blend of fantasy and Sci-Fi but are phenominal.
The Apprentice Adept series by Piers Anthony
http://www.amazon.com/Apprentice-nb...ny/lm/2LKYFNUMT8AR/ref=cm_srch_res_rpli_alt_2
One of my absolutel favorite series The Incarnations of Immortality by Piers Anthony
http://www.amazon.com/The-nbsp-Inca...s/lm/10JV3XSLJFPHL/ref=cm_srch_res_rpli_alt_2
I read the Xanth series by Piers Anthony as a kid an stopped in my early 20's but still wel worth a read, especially the first 10 or so.
http://www.amazon.com/Piers-nbsp-An...s/lm/RPNAPZTEP279X/ref=cm_srch_res_rpli_alt_1
Carol Berg also has some excellent series.
http://www.amazon.com/Carol-nbsp-Berg/lm/R1PQX2D1UV3P1W/ref=cm_srch_res_rpli_alt_2
I couldn't disagree more. Goodkind's work is some of the best fantasy I have read.
Read some more fantasy. I did. It changed my mind.
Excuse me, Terry Goodkind does not write fantasy. Sure there happens to be dragons in there but you should ignore that. It is not fantasy. He writes about important human themes. What are those you might ask? I am sure I have not found out yet but who knows maybe someone will someday enlighten me.
So far Mr Goodkind's books seem to convey the following messages: chickens are evil (yet goats are not)
seeing a statue will reveal the truth to you
Slaughtering peace protesters is ok
Torture is ok if the good guys do it
Scorched earth techniques are ok if the good guys do it
Mistreatment of children is ok if such children are annoying brats
Yes, so far it has been very enlightening
I've read a TON of fantasy in my life and it hasn't changed my opinion. The first few books are outstanding. Some of the later ones aren't quite as good but still very enjoyable.
Nicely summed up - that pretty much covers all the bases.
I admit that I have been a little unfair. I too quite like the early books. I don't class them as "some of the best" but there isn't too much wrong with "Wizards' First Rule" through "Temple Of The Winds" - I would even class WFR as among my favourite fantasy books - but I just find that the later books really seriously taint the earlier ones.
What really gets to me is that I read these when I was a teenager and at the time I even thought "this enlightened self-interest thing sounds good sense." Then, as the series progressed and I read them as they came out, I found myself becoming more and more disgusted at the laughable excuse for a philosophy being hammered out to me. In short, I grew the fuck up.
I am however enjoying the tv series. I am still a little bit invested in these characters, even though they've become twisted in my mind, and I like the way the show, in its mindless fun way, is everything the books are not. Not to say the books aren't mindless, they are, but they also aren't fun - at least, not anymore.
I've got a boatload of reccs for you:
* The Death Gate Cycle (consisting of the novels Dragon Wing, Elven Star, Fire Sea, Serpent Mage, The Hand of Chaos, Into the Labyrinth and The Seventh Gate)
and
the Rose of the Prophet (consisting of the novels The Will of the Wanderer, The Paladin of the Night and The Prophet of Ahkran) trilogy
and
the Sovereign Stone (consisting of the novels Well of Darkness, Guardians of the Lost, and Journey into the Void) trilogy by Tracy Hickman and Margaret Weis (their Dragonlance novels are also great)
* Merlin's Descendants (consisting of the novels Guardian of the Balance, Guardian of the Trust, Guardian of the Vision, Guardian of the Promise, and Guardian of the Freedom) by Irene Radford
* The Fionovar Tapestry (consisting of the novels The Summer Tree, The Wandering Fire, and The Longest Road) by Guy Gavriel Kay
* The Wall and the Wing and The Chaos King by Laura Ruby
* The Drizz't Do'urden Saga (consisting of the Dark Elf, Icewind Dale, The Hunter's Blade, and Transitions trilogies, the Paths of Darkness quartet, and the 'Legacy of the Drow tetrology)
and
the Cleric Quintet (consisting of the novels Canticle, In Sylvan Shadows, Night Masks, The Fallen Fortress, and The Castle of Chaos) by R.A. Salvatore (part of the Forgotten Realms shared universe)
* The Maztica Trilogy (consisting of the novels Ironhelm, Viperhand, and Feathered Serpent) by Douglas Niles (part of the Forgotten Realms shared universe)
* The Bitterbynde Trilogy (consisting of The Ill-Made Mute, The Lady of the Sorrows, and The Battle of Evernight) by Cecilia Dart-Thornton
* The Echorium Sequence (consisting of the novels Song Quest, Crystal Mask, and Dark Quetzal) by Katherine Roberts
* The Tyrants and Kings Trilogy (consisting of The Jackal of Nar, The Grand Design, and The Sign of the Sword) by John Marco
* Young Wizards (consisting of the novels So You Want to be a Wizard, Deep Wizardry, High Wizardry, A Wizard Abroad, A Wizard's Dilemma, A Wizard Alone, A Wizard's Holiday, Wizards at War, and the forthcoming A Wizard of Mars) by Diane Duane
* Fools Gold (consisting of the novels Sorcery Rising, Wild Magic, and The Rose of the World) by Jude Fisher
* His Dark Materials (consisting of the novels The Golden Compass, The Subtle Knife, and The Amber Spyglass) by Christopher Pullman
* Kushiel's Legacy (consisting of the novels Kushiel's Dart, Kushiel's Chosen, Kushiel's Avatar, Kushiel's Scion, Kushiel's Justice, Kushiel's Mercy, and the forthcoming Naamah's Kiss)
* The Spellsong Cycle (consisting of the novels The Soprano Sorceress, The Spellsong War, Darksong Rising, The Shadow Sorceress, and Shadowsinger)
* The Talisman and Black House by Stephen King and Peter Straub
* The Time Quartet (consisting of the aforementioned A Wrinkle in Time and the novels A Wind in the Door, Many Waters, and A Swiftly Tilting Planet)
* The Death Gate Cycle (consisting of the novels Dragon Wing, Elven Star, Fire Sea, Serpent Mage, The Hand of Chaos, Into the Labyrinth and The Seventh Gate)
and
the Rose of the Prophet (consisting of the novels The Will of the Wanderer, The Paladin of the Night and The Prophet of Ahkran) trilogy
and
the Sovereign Stone (consisting of the novels Well of Darkness, Guardians of the Lost, and Journey into the Void) trilogy by Tracy Hickman and Margaret Weis (their Dragonlance novels are also great)
* Merlin's Descendants (consisting of the novels Guardian of the Balance, Guardian of the Trust, Guardian of the Vision, Guardian of the Promise, and Guardian of the Freedom) by Irene Radford
* The Fionovar Tapestry (consisting of the novels The Summer Tree, The Wandering Fire, and The Longest Road) by Guy Gavriel Kay
* The Wall and the Wing and The Chaos King by Laura Ruby
* The Drizz't Do'urden Saga (consisting of the Dark Elf, Icewind Dale, The Hunter's Blade, and Transitions trilogies, the Paths of Darkness quartet, and the 'Legacy of the Drow tetrology)
and
the Cleric Quintet (consisting of the novels Canticle, In Sylvan Shadows, Night Masks, The Fallen Fortress, and The Castle of Chaos) by R.A. Salvatore (part of the Forgotten Realms shared universe)
* The Maztica Trilogy (consisting of the novels Ironhelm, Viperhand, and Feathered Serpent) by Douglas Niles (part of the Forgotten Realms shared universe)
* The Bitterbynde Trilogy (consisting of The Ill-Made Mute, The Lady of the Sorrows, and The Battle of Evernight) by Cecilia Dart-Thornton
* The Echorium Sequence (consisting of the novels Song Quest, Crystal Mask, and Dark Quetzal) by Katherine Roberts
* The Tyrants and Kings Trilogy (consisting of The Jackal of Nar, The Grand Design, and The Sign of the Sword) by John Marco
* Young Wizards (consisting of the novels So You Want to be a Wizard, Deep Wizardry, High Wizardry, A Wizard Abroad, A Wizard's Dilemma, A Wizard Alone, A Wizard's Holiday, Wizards at War, and the forthcoming A Wizard of Mars) by Diane Duane
* Fools Gold (consisting of the novels Sorcery Rising, Wild Magic, and The Rose of the World) by Jude Fisher
* His Dark Materials (consisting of the novels The Golden Compass, The Subtle Knife, and The Amber Spyglass) by Christopher Pullman
* Kushiel's Legacy (consisting of the novels Kushiel's Dart, Kushiel's Chosen, Kushiel's Avatar, Kushiel's Scion, Kushiel's Justice, Kushiel's Mercy, and the forthcoming Naamah's Kiss)
* The Spellsong Cycle (consisting of the novels The Soprano Sorceress, The Spellsong War, Darksong Rising, The Shadow Sorceress, and Shadowsinger)
* The Talisman and Black House by Stephen King and Peter Straub
* The Time Quartet (consisting of the aforementioned A Wrinkle in Time and the novels A Wind in the Door, Many Waters, and A Swiftly Tilting Planet)
D'oh! And I can't believe I didn't plug my own newly-released Light Of Heaven in this thread!
It's only one book, but part of the Twilight Of Kerberos series
It's only one book, but part of the Twilight Of Kerberos series
Having more time to think, and less boss looking over my shoulder, might I suggest Foster's Spellsinger series? A modern-day rock musician wannabe transported to a land where singing = spellcasting. Quite good.
Another good series is the Wizardry series by Cook. I believe the first one is called The Wizardry Compiled. Dark, complicated stories hidden under a somewhat humorous vein.
And I have to reiterate the Amber books-absolutely wild storyline.
Another good series is the Wizardry series by Cook. I believe the first one is called The Wizardry Compiled. Dark, complicated stories hidden under a somewhat humorous vein.
And I have to reiterate the Amber books-absolutely wild storyline.
Another vote for Zelazny's Amber series, frankly this should be the number one series on any fantasy list IMHO.
I noticed Steven Brust has a new Vlad Taltos book out, so I pulled the series out of my boxes to start over from the beginning. I started it back in '85 or so after getting hooked on Zelazny and the fellow in Bakka bookstore recommended Brust for me. The series holds up really well after all these years, the Taltos books are kind of a fantasy version of a hard-boiled detective novel, the Khaavren books (set in the same world) read like the Three Musketeers, absolutely hilarious.
I noticed Steven Brust has a new Vlad Taltos book out, so I pulled the series out of my boxes to start over from the beginning. I started it back in '85 or so after getting hooked on Zelazny and the fellow in Bakka bookstore recommended Brust for me. The series holds up really well after all these years, the Taltos books are kind of a fantasy version of a hard-boiled detective novel, the Khaavren books (set in the same world) read like the Three Musketeers, absolutely hilarious.
darkwing_duck1
Vice Admiral
Here's some unmentioned ones:
Glen Cook's "The Garrett Files" series. Fantasy Noir as opposed to Urban Fantasy...great reads all.
just about ANYTHING in the old Forgotten Realms books (pre Wizards of the Coast takeover) by either Ed Greenwood or Elaine Cunningham.
The "Bedlam's Bard" duology and the "Diana Tregarde Investigations" both by Mercedes Lackey
Glen Cook's "The Garrett Files" series. Fantasy Noir as opposed to Urban Fantasy...great reads all.
just about ANYTHING in the old Forgotten Realms books (pre Wizards of the Coast takeover) by either Ed Greenwood or Elaine Cunningham.
The "Bedlam's Bard" duology and the "Diana Tregarde Investigations" both by Mercedes Lackey
darkwing_duck1
Vice Admiral
If you had said "stop after 'Order of the Phoenix'" I might have agreed with you. Book six was at best a placeholder and book seven was a frakking diaster!
Moribito by Nahoko Uehashi (2 books....that I know of)
-Balsa was a wanderer and warrior for hire. Then she rescued a boy flung into a raging river, and at that moment, her destiny changed. Balsa is hired by the queen to protect the boy, the Prince Chagum, on his quest to deliver the great egg of the water spirit to its source in the sea. Without it drought will befall the land and thousands will die. As they travel across the land of Yogo and discover the truth about the spirit, they find themselves hunted by two deadly enemies: the egg-eating monster Rarunga . . . and the prince's own father.
Twelve Kingdoms by Fuyumi Ono (7 books)
-Yoko hates her life. She hates the nightmares. The thing she hates the most though is her hair. The bright red threatens to undue all her hard work at fading into the crowd. Little does she know that the intense nightmarish dreams she has are about to come true. Torn from school by a strange little being, she is thrust into the land of her nightmares. There she is persecuted just for being a foreigner. Little by little, Yoko takes a stand for herself and moves through the fairytale landscape. Through many intrigues and sword-clashing forays, gathering friends and allies along the way, she moves towards her destiny. But does she have what it takes to step up and be one of the rulers of The Twelve Kingdoms?.
-Balsa was a wanderer and warrior for hire. Then she rescued a boy flung into a raging river, and at that moment, her destiny changed. Balsa is hired by the queen to protect the boy, the Prince Chagum, on his quest to deliver the great egg of the water spirit to its source in the sea. Without it drought will befall the land and thousands will die. As they travel across the land of Yogo and discover the truth about the spirit, they find themselves hunted by two deadly enemies: the egg-eating monster Rarunga . . . and the prince's own father.
Twelve Kingdoms by Fuyumi Ono (7 books)
-Yoko hates her life. She hates the nightmares. The thing she hates the most though is her hair. The bright red threatens to undue all her hard work at fading into the crowd. Little does she know that the intense nightmarish dreams she has are about to come true. Torn from school by a strange little being, she is thrust into the land of her nightmares. There she is persecuted just for being a foreigner. Little by little, Yoko takes a stand for herself and moves through the fairytale landscape. Through many intrigues and sword-clashing forays, gathering friends and allies along the way, she moves towards her destiny. But does she have what it takes to step up and be one of the rulers of The Twelve Kingdoms?.
Thanks folks! Definitely a lot of great recommendations!
I've avoided the D&D based novels for the most part, but I admit that's a bias of my own.
I tried Riftwar, but dropped out of it. Some of it was brilliantly written, but then it would jump into chapters that seemed like they were written by somebody else and it was somebody's mediocre D&D campaign. I might try it again.
Amber may be my favorite of all time too.
Tolkein was just assumed. Though I have to admit that I never read more than a few chapters of the Silmarillion. More like the Encyclopedia of Arda than a novel, but by this point I know most of the backstory anyway.
I'm thinking more Epic Fantasy (doens't have to be High, gritty is good too). I'm going to read the Dresden series at some point, but I put that in another category.
Think I'll try to hunt down Mazalan first, and probably give the Riftwar series another shot.
I've read most of the older classics such as Howard's Conan (great short stories!), Leiber's Lankhmar, and Vance's Dying Earth already. Most of the new Conan stories aren't nearly up to Howard (and the later de Camp and Carter) works.
Oh, and I enjoyed the first 7 books of Shannara, but haven't read the last few. I've also read the Eternal Champion series by Moorcock, though I think he jumped the shark when he had Erekose meet Hitler. But the first two Erekose stories, and the original Elric, Corum and Hawkmoon are all great.
For anyone that hasn't read McMasters-Bujolds Chalion series I'd highly recommend those - best new fantasy I've read in years (new being in the last decade or so!).
Thanks again! If anyone wants to continue to debate about fantasy they like in this thread feel free!
I've avoided the D&D based novels for the most part, but I admit that's a bias of my own.
I tried Riftwar, but dropped out of it. Some of it was brilliantly written, but then it would jump into chapters that seemed like they were written by somebody else and it was somebody's mediocre D&D campaign. I might try it again.
Amber may be my favorite of all time too.
Tolkein was just assumed.
Though I have to admit that I never read more than a few chapters of the Silmarillion. More like the Encyclopedia of Arda than a novel, but by this point I know most of the backstory anyway.I'm thinking more Epic Fantasy (doens't have to be High, gritty is good too). I'm going to read the Dresden series at some point, but I put that in another category.
Think I'll try to hunt down Mazalan first, and probably give the Riftwar series another shot.
I've read most of the older classics such as Howard's Conan (great short stories!), Leiber's Lankhmar, and Vance's Dying Earth already. Most of the new Conan stories aren't nearly up to Howard (and the later de Camp and Carter) works.
Oh, and I enjoyed the first 7 books of Shannara, but haven't read the last few. I've also read the Eternal Champion series by Moorcock, though I think he jumped the shark when he had Erekose meet Hitler.
But the first two Erekose stories, and the original Elric, Corum and Hawkmoon are all great.For anyone that hasn't read McMasters-Bujolds Chalion series I'd highly recommend those - best new fantasy I've read in years (new being in the last decade or so!).
Thanks again! If anyone wants to continue to debate about fantasy they like in this thread feel free!
