Fantasy novels

[martym9]

+ 1 for The Thomas Covenant Chronicles and + 1 for any Tadd Williams book, but particularly Otherland. Have just started his new book, Dirty streets of Heaven, which looks promising. Orson Scott Card's Ender series of books were brilliant, especially...Speaker for the Dead, which brought a tear to my eye, at one point.

[booblay]

I don't think you're going to find anything as amazingly written as Blood Meridian. But for good serious fantasy, I suggest Phillip Pullman, the His Dark Materials trilogy, maybe some Ursula Le Guin (she's done some very good stuff and some pants stuff). Reckon you could stomach any magical realism? That's basically fantasy for people who think they're too clever for normal fantasy. If so, try 100 Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. I would put that next to Blood Meridian in terms of amazing style. And if you like that kind of thing (dark, weird writing) I'd also suggest the Wind Up Bird Chronicle, and Kafka on the Shore by Murakami, and anything by Angela carter.

And yes, Stephen King has written some fab epic fantasy, but not recently.

It's a shame Game of Thrones is meant to be badly written - I've been looking forward to reading it.

[deesigner]

I like Pullman too, I've read all of his. I've just completed the last Game of Thrones book and patiently waiting the next! I found the first book hard going, but the ones after that absolutely brilliant.

I'm just about running out of reading material myself, I tend to get through a book in 2 or 3 days.

I'm about to start the Hunger games as although I found the film sadly lacking I've been assured the books are excellent.

[kurotoshiro]

Apologies for bumping an old thread, but I feel guiltily compelled to retract my earlier statement that "Game of Thrones" is badly written. I regret saying that. I think I was too hasty. I'm currently having another crack at reading it and - for what it is (ie, genre fiction as opposed to literary fiction) - it actually strikes me as quite well written.

[Bluefish]

No apolagee's reqd kuro, anyhow seeing as this is back up what would anyone reccomend in the sci fi genre, not read but have listened to the halo series, footfall, and a couple of others, had a load of pratchet stuff but meh. Also have read the Hobbit, easy peasy lemon squeazy, have the LOTR, but not read it, could not get through the squilogy, suquilary, start, and having now seen all the films is there any point?

[kurotoshiro]

I'd say there's only a point to reading LOTR after seeing the films if you want the same story again but with more details and a bigger sense of scale.

Sci-fi is hard to recommend without getting into specifics about which sub-genre you might prefer. But as a general recommendation, I'd maybe suggest "Dune". (Ignore the David Lynch film version - it's still worth reading the book, even if you thought that was cr*p). Other people may be able to suggest more recent stuff. I'm not really up to date with current sci fi, I have to admit.

[Bluefish]

Agree mate, i thought the film was carp, and i remember my dad had the book's Dune when i was in my prime, a couple or so years, decades ago lmao

[giles]

I used to read a lot of sci-fi, but not much around these days. Apparently it doesn't pay very well. Ian M Banks is about the only one I'd recommend.

And kurotoshiro, if you are happy to accept that following some of the conventions of genre fiction isn't the same as bad writing, check out Stephen King's Dark Tower series.

[stu1873]

I thought the Game of thrones books were pretty good.

[kurotoshiro]

May 18, 2013 1:25:15 GMT giles said:

And kurotoshiro, if you are happy to accept that following some of the conventions of genre fiction isn't the same as bad writing, check out Stephen King's Dark Tower series.

I read loads of Stephen King in my teens. But I don't think I got into the Dark Tower stuff. Can't remember why. (Probably because I was more keen on the horror.)

Just to clarify, the reason I initially thought GoT was badly written wasn't because it follows genre conventions. I accept that fantasy must necessarily follow certain conventions, otherwise it's not fantasy but some other genre. I think I just got an initial impression of the writing being terribly clunky. But on further reading, I think it's actually pretty good writing, especially the dialogue (although I'm about halfway through the 1st book and there have been one or two Americanisms that made me shudder, and I'm pretty sure GRR Martin is occasionally guilty of breaking the rule on not "Calling a Rabbit a Smeerp" --- see here if you're unfamiliar: tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/TurkeyCityLexicon).

[Moggy]

If you're looking for something different to the usual cliches, I would recommend Stephen Donaldson's "Mordants Need". It's only 2 books, but quite often sold as a larger combo.

Big fan of Feist too, The Servant of the Empire series was particularly good.

Somthing else slightly more traditional, the earlier R.A.Salvatore books about Drizzt Dourden. Dungeons and Dragons based, but I don't mind that one bit

[Pezz]

Until I discovered vaping in January I was reading two books a week, almost all of it fantasy.

Some good recommendations in the other comments.

GoT does seem to be one of those saga's that polarizes opinion people either love it or hate it.
I do believe Pratchett is the king of comic fantasy.

I'll add a couple of other names to the list

China Mieville - Weird fiction from an author I've found to have really grown since King Rat.

K J Parker is another guy I've really liked.

Joe Abercrombie has some great characters.


I should really stop watching shiney reviews and pick up a book for my commute!

[pixiguru]

kurotoshiro have you got started on the wheel of time yet? I've had to take a break from it! Got to book 4 and had to stop for a while. Will be reading it again next week though!

[Jezarel]

In I come, make way peeps,

Prattchett is a genius and I am rereading for the god knows how many times just after seeing the documentary on the ourangs he did and looking after people with his condition every day I did weep to see him deteriorating. The man puts comic narrative on nearly every event in British history and politics in the modern era. AMAZING!!!

I have to say I enjoyed the Narnia series more than I thought I would. The highly Christian influences intrigued me and it was brilliant to see a Christian author drop so many hints without catholic guilt strewn through it. Its not preachy but its a classic fight of good vs evil, forgiveness and love for all beings. Oh and the last book had me crying like a child watching the snowman. Such a good series and well written and finished with such love. Nice easy read too.

Gormanghast was quite good, takes a while to get through the language but its quite clever and balances comedy and pure madness.

Im a LOTR mad man but LOTR trilogy was awfully written, so much detail, a geeks heaven but not for the faint of heart. One of those where you read the chapter again because you forgot what happened. Book two is near enough just a man, dwarf and elf running through a huge field for the first half

Cant stand Pullman after watching an interview with the preachy self righteous douch. His head is so far up his own arse he wears himself as a hat.

Ender series AWESOME!

Oh and deesigner hunger games books were f-in brilliant. I was so addicted after the first book I ran to waterstones after a lecture where some snotty nosed little teenager (like the squeaky voice teen from simpsons) told me in a trying to be coy voice "you need to check TEEN FICTION sir" I wanted to hit him with a copy of Orwells books and scream EDUCATE YOURSELF CHILD!!! If they would have made the film a 18 it would have been another battle royale, even 15 would have allowed some blood.

Ok Im all out of angst and I need to go to sleep. Hope you find what your looking for dude.

Regards
Jez

[Phoenix .]

Jan 11, 2013 20:37:02 GMT pauline said:

Sorry Kurotoshiro cannot help you I read about 3 books per week but Fantasy is just not my genre.

What is your genre then Pauline,I too am an avid reader?