i need some recomendations for fantasy type stuff to read...

[queenrollo]

I'm currently re-reading The Hobbit, but i'm pregnant and I know my pregnancy brain will have a fit at me trying to follow on with Lord Of The Rings.

I recently read Stardust by Neil Gaiman which I loved.

I've read most of Clive Barker's stuff and Weaveworld and Imajica are two of my favourite books ever.
I recently read and enjoyed very much the whole Narnia series and Harry Potter too.
I'm quite happy for recommendations for books aimed at children as well as adults.

So - old classics, modern fantasy - I'm open to all sugstions please.

I haven't read Stardust (but I love the film), but I like Neil Gaiman's Neverwhere. If you don't mind books aimed at children, Diana Wynne Jones is good (my favourites are Howl's Moving Castle, and Charmed Life).

Oh i'd forgotten about Diana Wynne Jones, Howl's Moving Castle was a book I read over and over again as a child.
I saw Neverhwere when it was on the telly but haven't read the book so I'll get that.

Robin Hobb is always a good bet. Start with the "Assassin" trilogy - plenty to get your teeth into and always well written. But steer clear of the Soldier Son trilogy, which I found to be pretty poor compared to her other works.

I also love Cassandra Clare's books, aimed at young adults but very readable and well written.

You absolutely have to read the Game of Thrones series by George RR Martin. They are fab!

Piers Anthony's Incarnations of Immortality, or his Magic Kingdom series, or the Phaze novels.
Lisa Shearin's Raine Benares series.
Kitty Norville series - Kitty is a reluctant werewolf who runs a radio late night phone in show and is a sort of agony aunt to the supernatural they are great fun.
The Rachel Morgan series by Kim Harrison.
Neil Gaiman's American Gods and Anansi Boys are great.

Terry Pratchett. Suggested reading order for the discworld here;
www.lspace.org/books/reading-order-guides/the-discworld-reading-order-guide-20.jpg

Also second Robin Hobb and George RR Martin and I'll throw in Tad Williams and Guy Gavriel Kay as well :)

Oh yes I've just remembered "The Name of the Wind" by Patrick Rothfuss - really enjoyed this one and I'm looking forward to the second (though as with GRRM series not finished yet!)

Contra to Mothership and Tigger, I cannot recommend A Game of Thrones while pregnant or with a new little baby I'm afraid - suspect you will find it hard work with the grimdarkness rapeyness going on.

Ursula Le Guin, especially the Earthsea trilogy

I remember reading and enjoying a book called "A Blackbird in Silver" - no idea who wrote it but it was part of a series

Oh and Frank Herbert's Dune series and Asimov's Foundation series (though that is more science fiction than fantasy really)

Game of Thrones is too much like hard work trying to remember who everyone is and what they're supposed to be doing GRRM's other stuff is actually much better.
The Riftwar Saga is good - the original three of Magician, Silverthorn, and Darkness at Sethanon are anyway, and the Daughter of.. Mistress of.. Servant of the Empire trilogy - all those are by Raymond E Feist.
His Faerie Tale is good, but is a bit atmospheric I wouldn't read it late at night!

The Hunger Games - By Suzanne Collins
the Tunnels series - By Roderick Gordan and Brian Williams
Percy Jackson books - By Rick Riordan

Oh and Twilight Saga.

Kelley Armstrong's 'Women of the Otherworld' series, that's urban fantasy.

Anything by Jasper Fforde, particularly Shades of Grey (NOT to be confused...)

Abhorsen series by Garth Nix.

David Eddings is fab especially his interlinking series the Malloreon and the Belgariad

Another vote for Neil Gaiman's American Gods and Anansi Boys.

if you don't mind teenage stuff, I really enjoyed the following:

The 'Across The Nightingale Floor' series by Lian Hearne
The 'Knife Of Never Letting Go' series by Patrick Ness (although the third is nowehere near as good as the other two; I suspect he spewed it out quickly to meet demand)
William Nicholson's 'Windsinger' trilogy
Philip Reeves' Mortal Engines series.

Lots of good suggestions here, thank you all. I have a birthday coming up so DH will be furnished with a list!

Yes, yes, yes to Terry Pratchett and the other books by Neil Gaiman!

I have read and loved with a passion (some of these are similar in theme and lyricism to Stardust):
Sharon Shinn's The Shape Changer's Wife
Ellen Kushner's Thomas The Rhymer
Patricia McKillip's Winter Rose and The Changeling Sea
Kij Johnson's The Fox Wife
Robin McKinley's Sunshine
Marion Bradley's The Mists of Avalon
Elizabeth Moon's Remnant Population
Louise Cooper's The Summer Witch
Jane Yolen's Briar Rose.

Enjoy reading whatever you choose while you have the chance. I had my baby 7 weeks ago and the only books I've read since then are Each Peach Pear Plum and the like .

Also try Guy Gavriel Kay - Tigana is amazing, Fionavar Tapestry (Summer Tree, Wandering Fire, Darkest Road) has been re-read til disintregration point and still make me cry.
Mercedes Lackey - particularly Valdemar
Anne McCaffreys Dragons, and Tower and Hive series
Old stuff - the Lensmans by EE Doc Smith - very dated but immense in scope.
David Eddings Belgariad set
These are all non technical, are books which do not need your brain to recall loads of data/relationships/random facts - just settle in, get comfy and enjoy.
And I would be nagging the hubby for a kindle and amazon vouchers lol - the trouble is with a lot of these books, they are big - and heavy.
Enjoy..

How about A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness? Reasonably intelligent witch/vampire/demon book. 2nd one is now out too.

Also, Prince of Thorns by Mark Lawrence is excellent.

I also liked Graceling and Fire by Kristin Cashore a lot; the third book of hers, Bitterblue, is just out and very readable too.