If I want to start reading fantasy novels what would you recommend?

[Sidebeforeself]

First of all I have always assumed I’d hate it. Other worlds and people with bizarre names don’t interest me! Not interested in storylines about saving the world either . However, I realise I may be way too narrow minded . It’s so popular there must be some fabulous novels out there. So what would you recommend?

I'm just rereading Tim Powers books after a long gap. V well written, sometimes im the historical world. V nice and not a silly name or dragon on sight

A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula Le Guin. First read it as a teen and have re-read many times since even though it's classed as a 'classic children's book'.

@SleepingisanArt I have just read a synopsis f that and sorry thats exactly the saving the world scenario that leaves me cold!

The First Law series by Joe Abercrombie, The Riftwar Saga and The Firemane Saga by Raymond E Feist, The Kingkiller Chronicles by Patrick Rothfuss, and The Nevernight Chronicles and The Empire of the Vampire series by Jay Kristoff are some of my favourites.

Edited to add: If you listen to Audible, Stephen Pacey (best narrator there is IMHO) narrates all of Joe Abercrombie's books and they are a delightful listen.

Robin Hobb’s Fitz and the Fool series- and if you also read her interconnected dragon series, there are about 15 books to keep you occupied.

Terry Pratchett

Another vote for Robin Hobb.

I second Joe Abercrombie’s First Law books. And I hate fantasy novels.

Katherine Kerr's Deverry/Westlands series - it's about 14 books long so a bit of a commitment. I've found them gripping and fascinating and the series is my very favourite go to read - the Audible version has been brilliant too.

@AConvivialHost The Empire of the Vampire synopsis literally mentions “the end of the world!”

Terry Pratchett.

A lot of fantasy centres around biiig series- they are amazing and worth your time but for an absolute newbie I would probably recommend something standalone that you couldn’t murder someone with. Race The Sands by Sarah Beth Durst is a fun read, or The Raven Tower by Anne Leckie for a bit more intrigue

Another vote for these two. Especially Terry Pratchett.

@NormalAuntFanny OOh Tim Powers looks good! Any particular one you recommend?

Sir Terry Pratchett.
I would start with the guards or witches. not with the colour of magic.

Yes this was really good, it was my first foray into to fantasy after 20 years and I enjoyed it.

Guy Gavriel Kay, try Tigana for a standalone or the Fionavar Tapestry trilogy.

The Keltiad books by Patricia Kennealy Morrison too, Silver Branch is the first. They are old paperbacks now, but well worth a read.

Another vote for the Robin Hobb series. Everything she has written is brilliant.

It’s not fantasy but a few months ago I listened to the audiobook Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir. He wrote The Martian. It’s genuinely become my favourite book ever. I was stuck queuing for passport control for 90 minutes and couldn’t have cared less because I was enjoying it so much. I’m not normally an audiobook person but they chose an excellent narrator.

I second Guy Gavriel Kay- his books are like historical fiction with a tiny bit of magic. Try a standalone like The Lions of Al-Rassan first.

Or Terry Pratchett- if you like comic sending up of our real life through his Discworld series- warm and witty- lots of places you can start- I’d go for Small Gods.

More character driven? Robin Hobb- start with The Assassin’s Apprentice- the story of a young illegitimate son of a royal line.

Finally for grimdark- much grittier world’s- lots of swearing and deaths and backstabbings- try Joe Abercrombie’s First Law series or Peter McLean’s Priest of Bones series.

If you’re into romance and curious about romantasy, I’d ask about that specifically in your op as I reckon most romantasy readers (Fourth Wing, Sarah J Mass etc) are probably predominantly romance readers rather than fantasy readers. (Edited for autocorrect- bound to find another once I hit save…)

I love Raymond Feist and Riftwar series and related mistress of the empire. LJ Modesitt song wars (starting with soprano sorceress) and so Robin Hibb for me thr Liveship books

The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden. I don't love fantasy, but I loved that book.

Totally baffled by this. Sorry.
I don't understand why you think you want to read fantasy but you don't want other worlds, strange names or good vs evil. Isn't that a bit like saying you want to read crime but nothing involving murder or detectives...?

However, in agreement that Robin Hobb is probably a good call. Ditto Terry Pratchett, who is probably the one that most non-fantasy readers rate.

I loved The Winternight Trilogy! It's more folklore than fantasy though.

Philip Pullman

My point is does the fantasy genre go wider than that or if it doesn’t, which book is accessible enough to be a good introduction ie not too extreme

Rivers Of London series - not just fantasy but history and geography thrown in.

Terry Pratchett - Inspector Vimes, the witches, Mort, Moist von Lipwig (I have a fiction crush on MvL 😂)