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Original poster

Intelligent, well-written, gripping fantasy (possibly sci-fi) novels please

69 replies

Fishpond · 18/12/2011 01:30

I am more of a fan of the 'high fantasy' - i.e. medieval style, royalty/high court/fairly realistic but with elements of magic, etc. Rich characters are the most important thing to me in a novel, and excellent writing rather than Dan Brown type stuff.

A Song of Ice and Fire is my favorite fantasy series by far, I also love LOTR and HP. I have recently read and loved Doomsday Book, and when younger I enjoyed the Ender's Game series and 1984, but that's about as far as my sci-fi forays have gone.

I tried Wheel of Time twice and couldn't get into the first book, is it worth perservering?

Any others welcome, preferably long and with lots of sequels Smile. I'm pregnant and want to take the time to enjoy leisure reading as long as I possibly can!

OP posts:
Kayano · 27/12/2011 18:09

Argh whoever recommended Julian May. Don't waste your money, honestly fantasy by numbers pants. Wink

LadyBeagleBaublesAndBells · 27/12/2011 13:20

I love the Once and Future King.
Beautifully written, knowledgeable and very moving.

TamIAm · 27/12/2011 11:53

I was coming in to suggest Diana Gabaldon, too. Very rich characterisation, and not really a genre that you can pinpoint.

Robin Hobb is another recommendation. She wrote under the pen name Megan Lindholm early on, just for reference :)

Sam100 · 26/12/2011 19:23

I quite liked the outlander series by Diana gabaldon. A bit of romance, bit fantasy, bit historical. Lots of detail.

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 26/12/2011 19:09

Yes to Neil Gaiman, especially 'American Gods' and 'Anansi Boys.'

kiery · 26/12/2011 19:04

Another one here for Ursula k. LeGuin; I preferred A wizard of Earthsea quartet ( The tombs of Atuan was gripping) over Left hand of Darkness though.

How about Doris Lessing; I think she is superb.

Anything by Philip k Dick

Enjoyed David Eddings (found the Belgariad in the Children's section of my local Library the other week)

My DH enjoys Trudi Canavan, but I have never got round to reading them.

Neil Gaiman; Good Omens, Neverwhere, Stardust, American Gods...

Anything by Terry Pratchett

Original poster
Fishpond · 24/12/2011 14:48

I bought the first Mercedes lackey obsidian trilogy book and a robin hobb book last night - will let you know how I get on! Thanks again for all suggestions!

OP posts:
DoesntChristmasDragOn · 23/12/2011 08:12

Julian May - Something else I'll have to dig out from the loft !

BoreOfWhabylon · 22/12/2011 23:34

I loved Doomsday Book too!

I'd recommend Mary Stewart's Arthurian trilogy: The Crystal Cave, The Hollow Hills, The Last Enchantment (there's a fourth too, The Wicked Day).

Romano-Celtic Britain, told from Merlin's perspective, well researched, lots of magical stuff (but somehow believable) and v well-written.

Might have to dig mine out and read again over Christmas.

Oldyellow · 22/12/2011 23:24

What about the Galactic Mileau series by Julian May? I think it starts with The Many-Coloured Land.

Though I agree about Iain M Banks and the Culture novels and do have a soft spot for the Deverry novels by Katherine Kerr - though there's an awful lot of them!

MadAsASnakeNana · 21/12/2011 23:52

Si-Fi - Iain M Banks, Culture Novels, best ever.

DoesntChristmasDragOn · 21/12/2011 16:39

Amazon + laptop = Not Good

Jacksmania · 21/12/2011 16:37

Oh oh oh - The Obsidian Trilogy by Mercedes Lackey. Just - wow.
It's
The Outstretched Shadow
To Light A Candle and
When Darkness Falls

Loved them!

bruffin · 21/12/2011 16:34

List of Darkover books

The books were more about a world than a series IYSWIM

DoesntChristmasDragOn · 21/12/2011 16:27

What's the first Darkover book?

DoesntChristmasDragOn · 21/12/2011 16:20

Oh yes - Amber. That's also up in my loft somewhere. I had the omnibus on my Amazon Wishlist for years.

bruffin · 21/12/2011 16:15

"I love the Deryni books by Katharine Kurtz.Must reread them"

I was in Forbidden Planet yesterday and looking at those. I read them many years ago when I went through a fantasy phase. Also found the Darckover series which were my other favorites by Marion Zimmer Bradley.

There was also the Amber Series by Roger Zelazny

Original poster
Fishpond · 21/12/2011 15:58

Hooray thank you so much for all the replies! I hadn't expected so many fantasy readers. Remus I honestly think you're the first fantasy fan to have told me you didn't like Song of Ice and Fire. I just love the subplots and dichotomies of the characters so much! I have been recommended the Dark Tower series by another friend, just forgot about it!

I have amassed a lovely list and now have a list to plonk headlong into the library with, and hopefully our bookstore carries the ones our library doesn't.

Although javo I hate Margaret Atwood (I feel like hiding while I whisper that from a corner the way some people here go on and on about her, but it's true).

OP posts:
AlwaysTimeForWine · 21/12/2011 14:26

Don't bother with Robert Jordan. I gave up after book 6 as they just go on and on and on and nothing ever happens.

Loving the George RR Martin stuff at the moment though!

Trudi Canavan is one I enjoyed. The Magicians Guild trilogy is good.

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 21/12/2011 14:13

I've read the first two of, 'Song Of ice And Fire' and been really disappointed. I don't think they are very well written and sadly, much modern fantasy is woefully badly written.

Stephen King's 'Dark Tower' series is v good and has echoes of the high court, medieval stuff interspersed with modern characters too.

I also second the, 'Across the Nightingale Floor' series which is excellent - sort of ancient Japanese warrior stuff. It's a teen series but very well conceived and executed.

I didn't like, 'Oryx And Crake' but did like, 'After The Flood.

You might also like Trudi somebodyorother - they are hideously badly written but the characters are quite interesting.

Eggrules · 21/12/2011 14:08

I recommend Iain M Banks Culture novels. I think you could read them out of order but I wouldn't. Start with Consider Phlebas

SandStorm · 21/12/2011 14:04

Lian Hearn

SandStorm · 21/12/2011 14:03

How about the Otori trilogy by Leanne Hearn? Ancient oriental setting, tribal feuds, supernatural powers, love - it's all there and a fabulous read too. It starts with Across the Nightingale Floor. I couldn't put it down and had to read all three in quick succession.

SinicalSanta · 21/12/2011 13:59

Thanks Indith that the sort of thing that does annoy me too.

javo · 21/12/2011 13:20

sorry - Ursula Le Guin

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