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Original poster

Fantasy recommendations?

58 replies

AndHeaVanAnnNatureSing · 17/12/2008 10:58

I love reading all sorts of books, but my favourites are GOOD fantasy. The problem is that a lot of fantasy is just tripe. Like the authors thought 'I know - Dragons, unicorns, elves and a long journey - hey presto! I'm the next Tolkien' So what would people recommend?
And while I'm here I'll take some time to pimp my favourite fantasy series - Steven Erikson's 'Malazan Book of the Fallen' is absolutely the most amazing fantasy I've ever read, what is everyone else into?

OP posts:
Takver · 17/12/2008 19:19

Depends what sort of fantasy you like - if you like kind of 'soft' fantasy I would recommend Mercedes Lackey's earlier books (particularly the Arrows of the Queen and Magic's Pawn series').
One of my particular favourites (though very un pc in places) is the Amber series by Roger Zelazney. I also like Ursula le Guin's adult books, though not sure whether you'd class her as sci-fi or fantasy?

NotQuiteCockney · 17/12/2008 19:00

Hmm, I'm a bit fuzzy on the SF/Fantasy borders. Are you looking for something with mythical creatures? Or just something a bit strange?

I can recommend a few that are not hard-SF, anyway.

  • Rachel Pollack's Unquencheable Fire. Very odd.
  • Julian May can be good fun
  • James Tiptree Jr? If you can find anything by her
  • Theodore Sturgeon?
  • Geoff Ryman, particularly the Unconquered Country
  • Somtow Sucharitkul - really stunning stuff, particularly Utopia Hunters, and other Inquestor books.
SnowOfHands · 17/12/2008 18:49

Although sadly not by Robert Jordan.

TinselianAstra · 17/12/2008 18:19

Epic = long, by the way. And (be warned) not finished.

I'm getting DP to read wheel of time at the moment, I think maybe by the time he's finished the final one will have been written.

SnowOfHands · 17/12/2008 18:18

Have you read Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series? It is epic.

TinselianAstra · 17/12/2008 18:17

The latest Robin Hobb (starting with SOlider Son) are not up to scratch at all.

I had a list of recommendations last week here

lucasnorth · 17/12/2008 18:14

Robin Hobb - Assassin trilogy and Liveship trilogy in particular. The latest series (Something-Mage?) not so good though.

Oh, and Neal Stephenson's Baroque Cycle, although if I was a bookshop I'd put it in historical fiction rather than the fantasy section.

klover · 17/12/2008 18:06

i absolutely love philip pullman (think thats how you spell it!) Northern Lights is an amazing book in fact Subtle knife also great book.