I seem to have developed a taste for <<<shhhh>>>fantasy (no, not rude stuff)

[DrMarthaMcMoo]

I've always been partial to a bit of Stephen King (and loved the Gunslinger books - which I guess are fantasy - though they got very silly towards the end, as is SK's wont) and on the recommendation of a friend I started reading Robin Hobb. I loved them - especially the Farseer Trilogy and The Tawny Man Trilogy (which had the same characters) though I didn't like the Madship series so much. And now...I've read them all (her earlier books, as Megan Lindholm, don't appeal so much) and I'm twiddling my thumbs.

So - as a novice to the genre - any recommendations? Trudi Canavan? Feist? Gemmell? I've been browsing amazon and The Book depository but can't make my mind up. I don't think I fancy Pratchett (reminds me of geeky ernest blokes at University...sorry).

Don't tempt me! I am forcing myself to read all my unread books at the moment. No new ones for at least two months I estimate.

Tad Williams-Memory Sorrow and Thorn trilogy.
Starts with The Dragonbone Chair.
Have read it every year since 1990. Love it.

Hi Tigana, the name is definitely a give away

I also enjoyed The Shattered Earth, but can't remember who wrote it.

LittleSarah, do not get me started on Rand's bloody lovelife. As much as I love the WoT series it drives me bananas. And everybody has their own little habits which they perform once per chapter, have you noticed? ie Nynaeve tugs her braids, Rand laughs somewhat madly, Perrin lowers his eyes to the floor lest somebody see the wolf in him, Thom tugs on his 'tache etc. Yes, yes, we get it Robert!

Oh yes surely RJ projecting his own desires onto his protagonist! I prefer Aviendha I think, Elayne is so precious at times and I find Min too one dimensional. Nynaeve's the best female character in it imho but then I do adore Lan so am probably projecting myself.

Lol! Glad tis not just me hugely irritated by Rand's lovelife! It really is ludicrous, and they all accept it and are friendly and happy and all 'oh well, he loves us, what can we do?'

Sure thing.

Don't know who he'll end up with, I like Avi-whatever best I think, although I have a soft spot for Elayne as the first one IYKWIM...

Still haven't read any in ages, they seem to be never-ending.

Apart from that of course, do the love the books!

'Nynaeve's the best female character in it imho but then I do adore Lan so am probably projecting myself'

See, I can't even remember who these people are!

ooh what a great thread. I also can't do Pratchett - have been recommended him so many times based on other stuff I read but I just cannot get into it AT ALL. Same goes for Harry Potter type stuff.

You may find yourself being drawn to some of the more fantasy like sci-fi books (like Frank Herbert's Dune trilogy which I must re read at some point) - I started with those then went into fantasy stuff (but haven't read either for many years).

DRAGONLANCE
DRAGONLANCE
DRAGONLANCE (Margaret Weis & Tracy Hickman)

For something more lighthearted, Robin Hobbs is good fun.

Little Lapin and show of hands, you both have SUPERB taste!!!!

conelia funke
his dark materials
lord of the rings
the magic cottage by james herbert
the hogfather by terry pratchet

I missed this thread earlier. I love Robin Hobb, and adore Fitz.
Terry Pratchett is really fun.
Tad Williams, I've even read all the Otherworld stuff.
My favourite of all is Sheri Tepper, I would advise anyone to read her books, There's a new one in June, I can't wait.
Sheri Tepper Gibbons Decline and Fall

What about Neil Gaiman? I adored American Gods and Neverwhere. I also started Pratchett against my better judgement - those covers! - and am absolutely smitten....they are about sooo much more than the story (IYKWIM).

hijack

never mind. have now seen you are from crosskeys.

I'm surprised that no one has mentioned Charles De Lint, who is one of my favorites. His stuff is sort of surreal, slightly dark urban fantasy, much of it set in a fictional city in Canada. It's a bit more literary than some fantasy, but in a good way.

In sci-fi (time travel) I'd recomment Connie Willis -- I've read The Doomsday Book (very depressing) and To Say Nothing of The Dog, which is definitely a bit lighter.

I second everyone on GG Kay (especially Lions of Al Rassan), Ursula LeGuin, and Terry Prachett (esp. Going Postal). I also enjoyed the Thursday Next books by Jasper Fforde.

And don't forget to buy mine once I can find a publisher for it (and finish the bugger, of course!).

Tamir Triad by Lynn Flewelling (all three books are out) -

The Braided Path - Chris Wooding (trilogy with all parts now published.

Another vote for Lois McMaster Bujold here, outstanding books. The Curse of Chalion is the one to start with, though if you prefer a female lead character with interesting mother-issues, Paladin of Souls is even better.

The Lies of Locke Lamora is a newly published book that's great fun to read.

Trudy Canavan is AWESOME, so is David Eddings, although you might want to start with the Belgariad rather than the Tamuli, his books are simple and fun to read.

Fantasy is my genre, i write it as well as read it so here's a few other authors to look at.

Katherine Kerr
Mercedes Lackey
Anne McCaffrey - specifically the Pern books.
Terry Pratchett - if you like a laugh
Celia Dart-Thorne - very celtic/fairy myth based.
Feist - Awesome author, read Magician if nothing else of his. only read Fairie Tale if you like horror/scary stuff - its creepy
Jenny Wurts - The Daughter,Servant,Mistress of the Empire trilogy is a MUST READ!!

RJ died, fairly revently. His last book is going to be written by Brandon Sanderson, who I quite like.

recently* sorry, baby on lap

Aikigypsy

I'd forgotten about Charles De Lint. I read a couple of his and they were very dark...quite deep too. Very enjoyable!

Just off to Amazon now to check on the guy again..