Fantasy novel

DrSuredeathDrSuredeath Join Date: 2002-11-11 Member: 8217Members
edited December 2006 in Off-Topic
<div class="IPBDescription">Hunger for more</div>Ok, one thing I took up when the board went bye bye is fantasy novels.

It began with curiosity. I always hear this thing about George R.R. Martin's Game of Thrones.
So I went ahead and tried it. Finished the whole series in one month. Love these incredibly depressing(!) books.

So while I was searching about Game of Thrones, Wheel of Times came up. Five months later, finished 11 books (the last 3 before KoD was a major grind)

Now, I'm beginning to worry, Borders shelves said "Like Jordan? Try this author: Terry Goodkind"
Now finished with Terry Goodkind...

Now I'm in the dilemma.. What's next? Is there a must read fantasy novel beside these?
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  • GeminosityGeminosity :3 Join Date: 2003-09-08 Member: 20667Members
    hmmm... hawkmoon is pretty good I guess. It's by Micheal Moorecock. He does a whole series of books called the Champions or something but I've only read two and the other (Elric of Melneborne) wasn't quite as impressive. Luckily it seems each is a standalone so you can read Hawkmoon without bothering with the others :3

    A lot of people tell me the Thomas Covenant series is good (by Stephen Donaldson) but I've not read it myself so I can't comment.

    I would've recommended wheel of time but you've done that lot already XD

    Of course there's always Lord of the Rings but if you've not read that already I'd be pretty surprised :o
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  • lolfighterlolfighter Snark, Dire Join Date: 2003-04-20 Member: 15693Members
    There's also The Hobbit. And Tolkien has written various other books too.
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  • AlignAlign Remain Calm Join Date: 2002-11-02 Member: 5216Forum Moderators, Constellation
    Stephen Donaldson is pretty good, though aged. Recently came out with a new brick, despite the very final end of the previous book.

    You could also try the Death Gate Cycle, which I still haven't bought and finished. At least the first four books are good.

    Maybe Philip Pullmans trilogy, Golden Compass, Subtle Knife, and Amber Spyglass, I dont remember what the series is called. Mind you, they were among my first fantasy novels, so perhaps they're too basic to experienced readers...
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  • TestamentTestament Join Date: 2002-11-02 Member: 4037Members
    While not strictly fantasy, try Ilium/Olympos by Dan Simmons. The Iliad with a decidedly sci-fi spin to it, with nanites. They explain everything!
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  • QuaunautQuaunaut The longest seven days in history... Join Date: 2003-03-21 Member: 14759Members, Constellation, Reinforced - Shadow
    <!--quoteo(post=1582939:date=Dec 1 2006, 01:33 PM:name=Testament)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Testament @ Dec 1 2006, 01:33 PM) [snapback]1582939[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->
    While not strictly fantasy, try Ilium/Olympos by Dan Simmons. The Iliad with a decidedly sci-fi spin to it, with <b>midichlorians</b>. They explain everything!
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    Fixed for plagiarism(I haven't read the novel, it just sounded soooooooooo similar).

    As for Fantasy novels...um...yeah. May wanna try science fiction though. Anything written by Eric S Nylund is good, but his best(and my favs) are "Signal to Noise" and "A Signal Shattered".
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  • DrSuredeathDrSuredeath Join Date: 2002-11-11 Member: 8217Members
    <!--quoteo(post=1582941:date=Dec 1 2006, 05:37 PM:name=Quaunaut)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Quaunaut @ Dec 1 2006, 05:37 PM) [snapback]1582941[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->
    Fixed for plagiarism(I haven't read the novel, it just sounded soooooooooo similar).

    As for Fantasy novels...um...yeah. May wanna try science fiction though. Anything written by Eric S Nylund is good, but his best(and my favs) are "Signal to Noise" and "A Signal Shattered".
    <!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    But... but... I want swords and horsey and shield and pink flamingo.
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  • TestamentTestament Join Date: 2002-11-02 Member: 4037Members
    <!--quoteo--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->
    Fixed for plagiarism(I haven't read the novel, it just sounded soooooooooo similar).<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    It's about a bunch of ego-exploded post-humans who embraced nanotech, forgot their heritage, and resurrected old human DNA to recreate the battle in The Iliad, then they resurrected scholars, more or less enslaved them, and then made them review and compare their battle to Homer's poem. It's a great read, and it takes place in 3-4 different stories throughout the book. That's why I love Simmon's writing style... every chapter ends in a way that makes you read through the next two or three chapters just to get the conclusion of the last chapter's events, so you really do refuse to put the book down.

    It's not just about Ilium, it's just where it starts. I recommend Hyperion by him as well. Guess sci-fi isn't very fantasy any more, though. Stephen Donaldson's Thomas Covenant stuff is good from what I've read, but it's not really up my alley.
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  • pardzhpardzh Join Date: 2002-10-25 Member: 1601Members
    That sounds really awesome, Testament. I'm going to look for it.

    Here's my suggestion contrary to unicorns and dragons:

    <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Fall-Atlanta-Ancient-Friday-Darkness/dp/1588468453/sr=8-1/qid=1165012575/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/002-9307212-3300857?ie=UTF8&s=books" target="_blank">The Fall of Atlanta</a>

    Part 1 of 4, amazing series. Got a really epic "lol some dude is totally behind the scenes controlling all this" feel to it across the 4 books. On the downside, if you don't like WoD or haven't at least played V:tM Bloodlines you probably won't understand much of it or enjoy it very much. Reading the entire series is a huge undertaking, but it's worth it.
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  • TychoCelchuuuTychoCelchuuu Anememone Join Date: 2002-03-23 Member: 345Members
    Everything by Terry Pratchett is absolutely pure gold. Lots of people also like Terry Brooks; I'd try his "Magic Kingdom for Sale" series before the Shannarra (sp?) stuff. I'd echo the Tolkien suggestion and also recommend the older stuff like Beowulf or Sir Gawain and the Green Knight or The Once and Future King or stuff like that.
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  • ScytheScythe Join Date: 2002-01-25 Member: 46NS1 Playtester, Forum Moderators, Constellation, Reinforced - Silver
    Pratchett is quality in every sense of the word. I've read almost every one of his books and own about a third. The depth of the world he paints is incredible. Most of his books are based on the Discworld. Some books deal with certain groups of characters on the Disc. Some follow Rincewind and the Wizards, some folow the Witches, some follow the Anhk-Morpork city watch, some follow other minor characters that interweave with the other ones on occasion.

    Highly recommended.

    --Scythe--
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  • TestamentTestament Join Date: 2002-11-02 Member: 4037Members
    Since I work at a book store, I picked up a little book by Neil Gaiman called Neverwhere... it's pretty neat so far. Very strange feel to it.
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  • ShzarShzar Join Date: 2003-09-21 Member: 21098Members, Constellation
    edited December 2006
    Stephen Donaldson is hawt hawt hawt. I give Thomas Covenant (especially the first 3) a high reccomendation.
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  • ToboldTobold Join Date: 2003-06-16 Member: 17405Members
    The Earthsea Quartet (Ursula K.Le Guin) is one of my favorites.
    Oh, and also the abhorsen trilogy by Garth Nix is awesome.
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  • kyliegirlkyliegirl Gorge Master Australia Join Date: 2002-12-11 Member: 10586Members, Reinforced - Shadow
    david gemmel fantasy books, the best.. and i dont read.. but these are awesome
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  • RustySpoonRustySpoon Join Date: 2003-07-10 Member: 18069Members
    edited December 2006
    <!--quoteo(post=1583563:date=Dec 3 2006, 07:16 AM:name=kyliegirl)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(kyliegirl @ Dec 3 2006, 07:16 AM) [snapback]1583563[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->
    david gemmel fantasy books, the best.. and i dont read.. but these are awesome
    <!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    Sorry, but usually people who don't read books have a different taste than the ones who read frequently.

    A casual reader might want a book that's hard to put down, like the Da Vinci code or any other "blockbuster" book. A more seasoned reader would like something more challenging. Something that leaves you thinking, not only of the events that happened in the book, but the literary significance of it all. Think symbolism, metaphors etc.

    Of course this is just my personal experience, and while I'm making generalisations, I'm not trying to insult casual readers.

    *Edit*
    For the record, I consider myself a casual reader. I got to Wheel of Time book 6 before it got repetitive.
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  • tankefugltankefugl One Script To Rule Them All... Trondheim, Norway Join Date: 2002-11-14 Member: 8641Members, Retired Developer, NS1 Playtester, Constellation, NS2 Playtester, Squad Five Blue
    I believe that's a too broad generalisation of "casual" readers. I read a lot (there's something wrong if I don't have a book lying on my pillow!), but I'm not put off by books like Da Vinci Code at all. In fact I thought it was pretty good. Easy reading and good books are not too different things <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":)" border="0" alt="smile-fix.gif" />

    Anyway; All of what I'd recommend of Fantasy is mentioned already, but if you want any borderline not-really-swords-and-dragons-fantasy-but-very-good-fiction, try Neil Gaiman. His graphic novels as well as his books.
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  • DrSuredeathDrSuredeath Join Date: 2002-11-11 Member: 8217Members
    I guess I'll check out the Covenant thing first then.
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  • QuaunautQuaunaut The longest seven days in history... Join Date: 2003-03-21 Member: 14759Members, Constellation, Reinforced - Shadow
    <!--quoteo(post=1583480:date=Dec 2 2006, 08:58 PM:name=Testament)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Testament @ Dec 2 2006, 08:58 PM) [snapback]1583480[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->
    Since I work at a book store, I picked up a little book by Neil Gaiman called Neverwhere... it's pretty neat so far. Very strange feel to it.
    <!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    Neil Gaiman is a God of writing I can only hope to become intelligent enough to comprehend.
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  • puzlpuzl The Old Firm Join Date: 2003-02-26 Member: 14029Retired Developer, NS1 Playtester, Forum Moderators, Constellation
    I'm currently reading Endymion by Dan Simmons, which is a follow-on to Hyperion and Fall of Hyperion. These books are amongst the most enjoyable books I have ever read.

    The Mars trilogy by Kim Stanley Robinson are superb too.

    In terms of 'classic' fantasy, I'd definitely recommend the Magician series by Raymond Feist, and the Chronicles of Amber by Roger Zelazny. Memory, Sorry and Thorn by Tad Williams is fairly good too.

    The Internet top 100 fantasy list has always been a good source for new reading: <a href="http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Cavern/6113/top100.html" target="_blank">http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Cavern/6113/top100.html</a>
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  • lolfighterlolfighter Snark, Dire Join Date: 2003-04-20 Member: 15693Members
    edited December 2006
    I can also recommend Stanislaw Lem's "The Invincible." It's pretty fantastic in every sense of the word.

    Original title: Niezwyciężony. <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tounge.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":p" border="0" alt="tounge.gif" />

    Oh by the way, the original is polish. The english translation is a translation of the german translation, so get the polish original if you understand polish, the german translation if you understand german but not polish, and the english translation otherwise.
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  • SnappyCrunchSnappyCrunch Join Date: 2004-08-03 Member: 30328Members, Constellation
    I'll throw my vote in for Terry Pratchett, with the comment that he's one of the few authors that is getting better the more he writes. Start with "Going Postal", as it's a recent book, but Pratchett is really good about making all of his books independently good reads, in or out of order.

    You also might want to take a look at Raymond Feist, starting with Magician:Apprentice
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  • DrSuredeathDrSuredeath Join Date: 2002-11-11 Member: 8217Members
    <!--quoteo(post=1583576:date=Dec 3 2006, 10:16 AM:name=puzl)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(puzl @ Dec 3 2006, 10:16 AM) [snapback]1583576[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->
    The Internet top 100 fantasy list has always been a good source for new reading: <a href="http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Cavern/6113/top100.html" target="_blank">http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Cavern/6113/top100.html</a>
    <!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    Wheel of Time and Sword of Truth don't even appear on that list
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  • TestamentTestament Join Date: 2002-11-02 Member: 4037Members
    <!--quoteo(post=1583576:date=Dec 3 2006, 06:16 AM:name=puzl)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(puzl @ Dec 3 2006, 06:16 AM) [snapback]1583576[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->
    I'm currently reading Endymion by Dan Simmons, which is a follow-on to Hyperion and Fall of Hyperion. These books are amongst the most enjoyable books I have ever read.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    I have most of the Endymion books here but I never got very far in them. I should try them out, probably. I was a big fan of Silenus, and he was a big thing in Endymion... does he stay a major character? Either way, yes , Dan Simmons is great. I should try to read his non-sci fi stuff.
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  • BobTheJanitorBobTheJanitor Join Date: 2003-12-10 Member: 24228Members, NS1 Playtester
    +1 vote for Pratchett. Deep meaningful topics with a frothy icing of humor on top. There are some books I go back and reread from time to time, but Discworld is the only entire series of novels I go back and reread from time to time.
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  • tankefugltankefugl One Script To Rule Them All... Trondheim, Norway Join Date: 2002-11-14 Member: 8641Members, Retired Developer, NS1 Playtester, Constellation, NS2 Playtester, Squad Five Blue
    <!--quoteo(post=1583600:date=Dec 3 2006, 05:07 PM:name=lolfighter)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(lolfighter @ Dec 3 2006, 05:07 PM) [snapback]1583600[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->
    I can also recommend Stanislaw Lem's "The Invincible." It's pretty fantastic in every sense of the word.

    Original title: Niezwyciężony. <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tounge.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":p" border="0" alt="tounge.gif" />

    Oh by the way, the original is polish. The english translation is a translation of the german translation, so get the polish original if you understand polish, the german translation if you understand german but not polish, and the english translation otherwise.
    <!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    Stanislaw Lem is probably one of the most underrated sci-fi writers; highly recommended.
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  • GeminosityGeminosity :3 Join Date: 2003-09-08 Member: 20667Members
    I'll throw in another recommendation for terry pratchett (how could I forget him? :o ) and add that I hear the Sword of Shanarra series is meant to be very very good. Essentially it's kinda a rip-off of lord of the rings but from all accounts it's no worse for it. Sadly I've not read it myself so this is entirely other people telling me it's worth reading :3
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  • kyliegirlkyliegirl Gorge Master Australia Join Date: 2002-12-11 Member: 10586Members, Reinforced - Shadow
    <!--quoteo(post=1583568:date=Dec 3 2006, 11:05 PM:name=RustySpoon)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(RustySpoon @ Dec 3 2006, 11:05 PM) [snapback]1583568[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->
    Sorry, but usually people who don't read books have a different taste than the ones who read frequently.

    A casual reader might want a book that's hard to put down, like the Da Vinci code or any other "blockbuster" book. A more seasoned reader would like something more challenging. Something that leaves you thinking, not only of the events that happened in the book, but the literary significance of it all. Think symbolism, metaphors etc.

    Of course this is just my personal experience, and while I'm making generalisations, I'm not trying to insult casual readers.

    *Edit*
    For the record, I consider myself a casual reader. I got to Wheel of Time book 6 before it got repetitive.
    <!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    i used to be a casual reader, and david gemmel books are hard to put down.

    my fiance reads books by david gemmel all the time, hes possibly read the same book over 50 times already. he loves them and he reads them all the time.. is that good enough for you? or are you gonna claim hes not "good" enough reader to qualify for this thread either.
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  • ShzarShzar Join Date: 2003-09-21 Member: 21098Members, Constellation
    edited December 2006
    <!--quoteo(post=1583572:date=Dec 3 2006, 08:38 AM:name=DrSuredeath)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(DrSuredeath @ Dec 3 2006, 08:38 AM) [snapback]1583572[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->
    I guess I'll check out the Covenant thing first then.
    <!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    Let us know what you think.

    I just thought of another author who I think was not mentioned yet... Robin Hobb. She constructs a very neat world, with politics and very believable, well-developed characters and an interesting idea about magic to boot. Give the Farseer trilogy a whirl. It's a good read for serious and casual alike; my bro and I both like it and we're pretty serious about fantasy novels, but so does my mother (who is getting serious about fantasy because of Hobb).

    And Robin Hobb is a WOMAN. A woman writing fantasy? Now that's HOTT (the second 'T' indicates additional hotness).
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  • CxwfCxwf Join Date: 2003-02-05 Member: 13168Members, Constellation
    Terry Brooks has been mentioned once or twice, so I'll second him. The Magic Kingdom for Sale series is fantasy/comedy, while the Sword of Shannara and Scions of Shannara series are more High Fantasy, closer to Tolkien (but less archaic).

    David Eddings is good for more High Fantasy

    Piers Anthony has a wide variety of fantasy and sci-fi books, and most are quite good. His Xanth series is an excellent example of the fantasy/comedy subgenre.

    LE Modesitt Jr's Magic Of Recluce series is very intriguing, and in-depth. Most of his characters have actual real lives, rather than spending all of their time adventuring away from home. He builds an entire system for the functioning of magic. If you like Michael Crichtons books (where he always takes time to explain, in depth, how his fictional sci-fi system works before it impacts the story), then you'll like Modesitt as well.
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  • spinviperspinviper Join Date: 2003-05-08 Member: 16151Members
    edited December 2006
    I recently got into a new sub-genre - "Urban Fantasy". You might want to try <a href="http://www.jim-butcher.com/books/dresden/" target="_blank">The Dresden Files</a> by Jim Butcher. "Popcorn" perhaps, but immensely entertaining.

    Edit: He also started a new fantasy series, <a href="http://www.jim-butcher.com/books/alera/" target="_blank">The Codex Alera</a>.
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