Fantasy novels

[kurotoshiro]

Thanks for all the replies. Some interesting suggestions there. There's a few I'll definitely look into. I have read some David Eddings and Raymond E Feist, many years ago. I liked them at the time, but I'm not sure about that type of thing now. From what I can remember, it's all farm boys discovering magical powers and going on quests to defeat dark lords. I'd like to find something a bit different.

I've also read a bit of Pratchett, and I don't have any objections to it, but I can only take humourous fiction in small doses.

It's very hard to say what I'm actually looking for. I think it would have to be something that is serious (non-humour) fantasy, and doesn't have any of the usual cliches (so no farm boys, quests, dark lords, elves and dwarves, magic rings, etc). If a writer with genuine literary style like Cormac McCarthy wrote fantasy novels, that would probably be ideal for me, especially if they had the bleakness and grittiness of "The Road" and "Blood Meridian".

btw, nobody has mentioned the Wheel of Time. No fans?

[Deleted]

Jan 11, 2013 23:23:18 GMT womble said:

Whilst not exactly fantasy, the "Stainless Steel Rat" series, set in a far future where we have inhabited all the planets, is a cracking read, for anyone.
It's not standard sci-fi and has a brilliant master criminal with a conscience, as the main character.
Really great reading. Worth reading from the start as well.

Love the SSR, and most of Harry Harrison's work. If you like that try Robert Asprin's Phule series. Sci Fi a military company of misfits turned into a crack squad by a playboy billionaire. He also wrote the Myth series about a magicians apprentice, great comedy not like the normal magician fantasy. And the time Time Scout series about time travel.

[comfrey]

Naturally Pratchett Discworld but you could try Elizabeth Moons Morgaine saga. She usually writes science fiction and I think the Morgaine books are her only foray into fantasy.

I like Fantasy but many of them are written in a relaxed manner which can make them seem somewhat lacking in intelligence. Suits me fine though

[Ratfinkz]

I'M currently reading through Anne McCaffreys Dragon Books the first of which is Dragon Flight and thoroughly enjoying them. Also love the poison study trilogy by Maria v Snyder.

[4madcats]

+1 for Pratchett & McCaffrey, totally different styles but both excellent, can re-read both over & over.

Someone I can happily re-read on a regular basis is Jim Butcher & the Dresden Files, think a very very grown up Harry Potter with alot more nasties.
He's also done a shorter series called the Codex Alera series, think he describes them as swords & saddles style.

[giles]

Does Science Fiction count? If so, Iain M Banks (without the M he writes straight fiction, but that is worth a look as well - Wasp Factory for instance). Brian Aldiss, particularly the Helliconia series. Neal Stephenson' s Baroque Cycle - first book is called Quicksilver.

[pixiguru]

The Karen Miller king maker king breaker series is amazing! I have all of them and am just about the re read some of it! Got the 2nd book in the 2nd part of the series she also did another series called the godspeaker trilogy. Again brilliant!

[FFgirl]

The Discworld kids/young adult ones are pretty good, they were my introduction to Terry Pratchett. The Wee Free Men is one

[esmecullen]

I'm a fan of Marion Zimmer Bradley's Darkover novels, not too keen on her Arthurian novels but the Darkover ones are very good, mix of Sci-Fi & Fantasy

[Ratfinkz]

Ooo I'm no really a pratchett fan though occasionally will read one my partner has them all but I do love the wee free men series!

[vectorin]

Jan 11, 2013 20:28:06 GMT kurotoshiro said:

(btw, I have not attempted to read The Wheel of Time. Mainly because it's such a frighteningly large series of books. But I could be convinced to give it a go, if the writing is good).

You should try it! Im reading 4th book now and its really good example of an epic fantasy novel. And large series are welcomed by me if they are written good

[pixiguru]

Im hopefully getting the whole wheel of time ebooks soon to give it ago.

[dizzi]

+1 for Eddings. If you don't want the "farm boy has magical powers and saves the world" storyline give the Belgariad/Mallorean a miss and go for the Elenium/Tamuli instead. Sparhawk aint your ordinary fantasy hero - middle-aged, battle-scarred, flawed and grumpy knight. There's a fair few cliches in there, but also some original moments too - not least of which is the Elenium ending which is a bit more "honest" than happy-ever-after (a little like Tolkien in that regard imo). Also The Redemption of Althalus has a thief as our hero, a really good "light" standalone read.

Also +1 for Feist for serious fantasy and Pratchett's Discworld for humour with some breath-takingly astute observations about people and society generally. The later ones are more serious, with the last Snuff one of the most thought-provoking fantasy books I've ever read.

Also you could try Piers Anthony's Incarnations of Immortality series, I've not read them for years but I remember reading about 5 of them (big thick books too) in a week!

And another +1 for Marion Zimmer Bradley.

[Bluefish]

Another +1 for feist, and how about the Halo series? I thought they were brill.

[santa668]

Since Rob Jordan's WoT is pretty much farm boy discovers ineffable powers, fights darkness, etc etc, and spends 13 books what could have been done in 3, maybe 4, would not recommend... Especially if you did not like George R R Martin's interminable style. I've also never made it all the way through one of Erikkson's books

+1 to Pratchett, Eddings and McCaffrey, beautiful stuff, almost the definition of great fantasy. Robin Hobb's trilogies are breathtaking and doesn't tend to succumb to classic fantasy tropes.
For something slightly different to the usual fantasy story arcs, try Elizabeth Moon's Paksenarrion series (originally a trilogy), and Lois McMaster Bujold's Chalion trilogy. Janny Wurts - To Ride Hell's Chasm is extraordinary. Trudi Cananvan's two trilogies are enjoyable also.
There's a lot of very very good fantasy out there! But it does tend to get hidden beneath some poor swords n sorcery clones.

Nick