Author Topic: Great Fantasy Books (Read 1925 times)

Polak76 · « **on:** August 09, 2006, 10:43:05 PM »

Greetings all.

Lately I've been in reading mode and have been churning though many of my collections. God its been good.
In the last year or so I've re-read David Eddings, Raymond E Feist, Tolkien, Robert Jordan, Terry Brooks and Weise & Hickmann. I forgot how much I missed them, especially my favourite series Magician with good ole Pug and Thomas.
Anyway I've taken a break from Fantasy and jumped over to Dan Brown's Divinci and just started the Anne Rice's Vampire series. Whilst they are a great read I already miss Fantasy.

Can anyone out their add some titles that they believe are a Fantasy MUST READ??!!
Its about time I try a new author.

Others I've already read are, Cecilia Dart Thornton, Robin Hobbs and Steven Donalson to name a few.

Harlas Ravelkione · « **Reply #1 on:** August 09, 2006, 11:23:13 PM »

Stephen Erikson's series: "Malazan tales of the fallen". 6 books are out and 4 are in the coming.

The best fantasy I have read thus far.

Nibor21 · « **Reply #2 on:** August 09, 2006, 11:27:04 PM »

Read David Gemmel (who sadly passed away earlier this month). I strongly suggest you start with 'Legend' which is a novel about the defense of a fortified pass. It is a brilliant book. It even spawned a computer game (which used to run on my vic 20! (for those of you who don't know what a Commodore Vic 20 is i suggest you look in history books)).

Anyway Gemmel has written loads of good books.

And if you want something beyond humourous then it needs to be Terry Pratchett

stragen · « **Reply #3 on:** August 09, 2006, 11:49:38 PM »

David Gemmel rates as one of the scariest authors. Not for his writing, which was 'muscular heroic storytelling', but for his Author Picture and Biography. The man was a giant at 6'6, who really did look like he game from the wrong side of the tracks. But his characters really appealed to me.

And for something completely different from read:

Janny Wurts "Curse of the Mistwraith" Series... There are three trilogies in that series. Emotive stuff, if you can get past the overly flower language. She has improved greatly since the 'Daughter of the Empire' stuff.

Philosopher · « **Reply #4 on:** August 10, 2006, 12:54:21 AM »

Again -- Ian Irvine, a shadow on the glass series.

It's great to read how the characters develop, one of my character's personality is based on a character in that book.

Edd.

Nibor21 · « **Reply #5 on:** August 10, 2006, 05:13:43 AM »

I suggest everyone check out the works of Lord Dunsany. If Tolkien is the father of fantasy then he is the grandfather. Most of his works can be found free online as the copyright has expired. His short stories are a great way of introducing anyone to fantasy.

If anyone reads his books and decides to name characters based upon them, please don't - I have already claimed that right a long time ago.

Also everyone who has reader happy fluffy fantasy like Dragonlance should go and look at The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant the Unbeliever by Stephen Donaldson. Many people have commented on the fact the Lord of the Rings is a harsh dark series of books. The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant the Unbeliever maks LotR look like the care-bears picnic of cuteness! The hero can't even claim to be a anti-hero and at the start of series has no saving graces at all. These books rock!

Honora · « **Reply #6 on:** August 10, 2006, 05:56:46 AM »

Barbara Hambly's Winterlands series.

darkstorme · « **Reply #7 on:** August 10, 2006, 01:21:24 PM »

Visceral.

Also, my recommendation of Guy Gabriel Kay, Rick Cook, Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett.

Polak76 · « **Reply #8 on:** August 10, 2006, 04:02:04 PM »

Actually I might try those other Stephen Donaldson chronicals. The ones I've read are, 'A man Rides through it' and 'mirror of her dreams'. They were fantastic concepts and well written.

Polak76 · « **Reply #9 on:** August 10, 2006, 04:06:59 PM »

Oh and while we're on a favorite books, how about favorite characters.
I'm a mage fan over warriors so it would have to be a contest between Pug (Milamber) from the Magician series, Nakor again from the Magician collection or Raisltin from Dragonlance. I think Raistlin however is my number 1.

Creighton · « **Reply #10 on:** August 10, 2006, 05:45:21 PM »

I'm old school...I still like curling up with my old Robert E. Howard "Conan" books...anything by Piers Anthony...The "Pern" series...the "Shannara" trilogy...and for a twist, try "Eyes of the Dragon" by Stephen King...yes, King wrote a purely fantasy story!

OH! And never let me forget the Nehwon Mythos stories...Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser are the greatest!!

Polak76 · « **Reply #11 on:** August 10, 2006, 10:43:42 PM »

Actually the Shannara books are one of those series that I'm missing books randomly. I might have to pick that one up again and complete it.

drgn_hntr_alpha · « **Reply #12 on:** August 11, 2006, 02:00:00 AM »

if you want a bit of D&D try The three swords by Fritz leiber
or you can go for Piers anthony's Xanth books Swell Foop is best iv read so far book 25, but so you dont get confused, start with #1 A spell for chameleon

gilshem ironstone · « **Reply #13 on:** August 11, 2006, 09:23:33 AM »

You should defintely read the "Nine Princes in Amber" series by Roger Zelazny. These novels were so imaginative, surprising and filled with rich characters. Highly entertaining and thought provoking. Two thumbs way up.

Pseudonym · « **Reply #14 on:** September 13, 2006, 08:54:54 PM »

I can't believe no-one has mentioned either Stan Nicholls or George R.R. Martin.
Must agree with Nibor21 with David Gemmell being number 1.
Yes, must accept Conan as being no 1.
If you have time to hunt out some more, i'd also recommend early Joel Rosenberg, Kenneth C. Flint, Jack Whyte (more historical fiction than fantasy but still good). . .
Favourite characters from fantasy books?
Conan as the quintessential barbarian
Tark (of the Golden Tide)
Harald Swiftaxe
Waylander
Raistlin Majere
Silk or Mandorallen (tough call)
Fafhrd and Grey Mouser
Jarlaxle (Artemis gets his @rse kicked every time!)
Druss
Mmmmmmm, maybe Elric?

Wraithdur · « **Reply #15 on:** September 14, 2006, 09:58:41 AM »

George R.R. Martin's "song of ice and fire"
good times.......goooood times

EdTheKet · « **Reply #16 on:** November 13, 2008, 05:14:54 PM »

Quote from: Harlas Ravelkione

Stephen Erikson's series: "Malazan tales of the fallen". 6 books are out and 4 are in the coming.

The best fantasy I have read thus far.

Sleep deprived but I finished volume 8 last night! Now I need to wait until volume 9 in September 2009!

I have to concur with Harlas though, the best.

Link092 · « **Reply #17 on:** November 13, 2008, 05:57:31 PM »

any one read Terry Goodkind?

Lord Dark · « **Reply #18 on:** November 13, 2008, 09:32:41 PM »

No, but my favorite series are the Wheel of Time (Until Robert Jordan died and he never finished the 13th book!

), The Wayfarer Redemption by Sarah Douglass, Eragon, Eldest and now Brisingr by Christopher Paolini ( I just can't get back into it since I havent read the first two in a while)... some of the Terry Brooks such as Magic Kingdom for Sale- SOLD!, Black Unicorn, etc., Harry Potter. Yeah, I like my fantasy books!

EdTheKet · « **Reply #19 on:** November 14, 2008, 03:10:32 AM »

Terry Goodkind, Robert Jordan, George RR Martin, L.E. Modesitt Jr, , Raymond E. Feist, Janny Wurts, Robin Hobb, Stephen Donaldson, Tolkien and many many others line the shelves of my bookcases.

However, none of those have kept me turning pages until the wee hours of the morning (on working days even) like Steven Erikson does