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

[Fishpond]

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 . I'm pregnant and want to take the time to enjoy leisure reading as long as I possibly can!

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.

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).

"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

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

What's the first Darkover book?

List of Darkover books

The books were more about a world than a series IYSWIM

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!

Amazon + laptop = Not Good

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

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!

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.

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

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!

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

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

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

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 :)

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

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

Give the wheel of time another go if you already have it. The first 5 books or so are really good. At least as good as Game of Thrones. I think I put the first book aside a couple if times at first as the opening chapeters are a bit boring as you can't see where it's all going.

Also second the Mary Stewart Merlin ones and the first 3 or 4 Gabaldon ones ( if you're not averse to a bit of cheesy romance!)

I couldn't find gabaldon in the bookshop, is she listed as fantasy?

Might be under romance or historical fiction. It's sort of cross genre. It's about a woman in the 1950 who goes back and forward in time to the 1700s, falls in love and the whole saga of their lives. here. I loved the first few but got bored after about book 4. I have that problem with most long running series though. Trying to summon the energy to tackle book four of a song of ice and fire. Loved the first three but everyone says book four is really dull with none of the good characters in it!

Also if you like sci fi books like Enders Game you might like flashforward. There was a tv series based on it recently but the book is quite different. Short, and an easy read. But interesting nonetheless.

If you fancy having a go at some SciFi, try Neal Asher "The Skinner" or Player of Games by Iain M Banks - they're not fantasy, but very good SciFi.

Patricia McKillip - the Cygnet books. There are only two (unfortunately!) They are lyrical and beautifully written. I read them years ago and still think about them. My Mumsnet name is from one of the characters too...!