ThePolo Posted June 29, 2004 Share Posted June 29, 2004 Ahh... here's my $.02. Hope I don't offend anyone... To chime in on a few things that have already been touched on: Terry Brooks' Shanarra series, Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time, and Tad Williams' Memory, Sorrow and Thorn trilogy are all great, but I would not reccomend them if you're coming off of the Dragonlance stuff.... All three of those series are very heavy reading (especially M.S.&T.)... But, if that's what you're looking for... Now, to echo some sentiments: Rayond Fiest: The Riftwar series is the one that cemented my love of Fantasy Fiction. Fiest is quite possibly the only author ever to make me shed a tear (seriously)... He writes great characters. Lots of depth. Terry Pratchett: The Discworld stuff is great, but don't expect anything 'epic' from him... It's all humor, all the time. David Eddings: I agree... the Belgariad is one of the best series ever. And now, my own reccomendations: Barbara Hambly: I don't know anyone aside from my wife and I who've read the Darwath Trilogy, and I think it's out of print. I enjoyed it quite a bit :) L.E. Modesitt: I really enjoyed the Recluce series... The thing that originally drew me to it was the cover art (same artist as Jordan's stuff)... But it's quite different. not as 'epic'. Weis & Hickman Worlds: I loved the Dragonlance stuff when it first came out, and I like the Deathgate Cycle even more. A great world... I also liked the Rose of the Prophet series quite a bit as well. Terry Goodkind: My wife is a big fan of the Sword of Truth books. I like 'em too, just not one of my favorites (but I've got to mention them here) George R.R. Martin: A Song of Ice and Fire series... In a word? Spectacular. There you go... That should keep you busy. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lars Porsenna Posted June 29, 2004 Share Posted June 29, 2004 I personally can't stand Eddings. For a long time I was masochistically buying and reading his stuff as I kept finding his HBs on sale (can't pass on a $5 HB book!). IMHO the man can't write dialouge... I'd also mention Ursula K. le Guin's Earthsea series. Although ostensibly written for the junior crowd (and each book is pretty short), the setting is interesting and they are very well written. Then, I would reccommend le Guin in general anyway... Damon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stray Bullet Posted June 29, 2004 Share Posted June 29, 2004 Pretty good suggestions so far. I'd also recommend RA Salvatore, anything by Weiss & Hickman (especially Deathgate Cycle), the Belgariad series by Eddings. I'd also recommend the Vamphyri series by Brian Lumley - although not epic fantasy, it is quite an epic series...if you like horror and the occult. My 2cp's worth... SB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unglef Posted June 29, 2004 Share Posted June 29, 2004 I recommend The Dark Tower series by Stephen King. It's fantasy, but it's a different type of fantasy than anything most folks are used to. For a quick read, try the Crimson Shadow trilogy by Bob Salvatore. There's a book by Neil Gaimon called American Gods that I really enjoyed. If you can find it, try The Chronicles of Prydain books by Lloyd Alexander, which are based on Welsh mythology. They're children's books, but still a good read. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chastity Posted June 29, 2004 Share Posted June 29, 2004 My ex really likes The Chronicles of the Shadow War series by Chris Claremont and George Lucas (they are: Shadow Moon, Shadow Dawn, and Shadow Star) He sez: "warning: The first book is fairly slow, the second two make it all worth it" I haven't read them myself (yet). And I agree with Unglef ... American Gods is a VERY good book. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kheprera Posted June 29, 2004 Share Posted June 29, 2004 Andre Norton's Forunner series (if you can find them, it's OOP) or her Witch World series. I also liked the Crystal Gryphon trilogy. Mary Stewart's Crystal Cave series. It's being re-released thanks to the new King Arthur movie. Thieve's World series. Fun fun reads. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spartan6 Posted June 29, 2004 Share Posted June 29, 2004 All the Callahans Crosstime Saloon stuff by Spider Robinson. Especially if you want to feel you're leaving old friends when you finish the book. His two other books about Lady Sally's brothel are a hoot also. The Matador Trilogy by Steve Perry, if you like sci-fi, are definitely worth finding. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sycophant Posted June 29, 2004 Share Posted June 29, 2004 Has EVERYONE forgotten Fritz Leiber? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spartan6 Posted June 29, 2004 Share Posted June 29, 2004 Yes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rpgpunk Posted June 29, 2004 Share Posted June 29, 2004 David Eddings, Terry Goodkind, R.A. Salvador, JRR Tolkien are all good reads. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TKD Posted June 29, 2004 Share Posted June 29, 2004 Glen Cook's "The Black Company" series. It isn't Tolkein - it's epic, but it is gritty - no elven songs and hobbit holes. But it is excellent. The whole series is worthwhile, including the one side story he did called The Silver Spike. All of his stuff is good, but The Black Company and the Garrett PI books are some of the best fantasy you can find. Start with The Black Company and with Sweet Silver Blues and you'll know if you want to read more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pae Posted June 29, 2004 Share Posted June 29, 2004 Has EVERYONE forgotten Fritz Leiber? only because I didn't care too much for the Fafhrd and Grey Mouser books. I read all of them, I think. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kheprera Posted June 29, 2004 Share Posted June 29, 2004 Poul Anderson has many good series. Robert Asprin has the Myth adventure series... Steven R Donaldson Thomas Covenant series (the first trilogy, the second trilogy sucked). Piers Anthony: The Magic of Xanth series. Now, mind you, the Myth adventures and the Xanth books are FULL of puns to the point that by the end you're groaning in pain. The Xanth books are particularly difficult to read one right after the other. I think I managed the first 7 of the 30 or so books in the series, although at that time there were only about 12. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glen Posted June 30, 2004 Share Posted June 30, 2004 I personally can't stand Eddings. For a long time I was masochistically buying and reading his stuff as I kept finding his HBs on sale (can't pass on a $5 HB book!). IMHO the man can't write dialouge... Amen to that! I opened one book by Eddings and the dialogue sucked so bad, I felt embarrassed for Eddings for writing that. I haven't read anything by him since. And now, my own reccomendations: Barbara Hambly: I don't know anyone aside from my wife and I who've read the Darwath Trilogy, and I think it's out of print. I enjoyed it quite a bit :) Ooh! I have! I really liked them also. Good luck finding them, or anything by her. They're mostly out of print L.E. Modesitt: I really enjoyed the Recluce series... The thing that originally drew me to it was the cover art (same artist as Jordan's stuff)... But it's quite different. not as 'epic'. Same here. George R.R. Martin: A Song of Ice and Fire series... In a word? Spectacular. Agreed! Spectacular! As an aspiring graduate student in history (just got my acceptance letter last week! ), I like Martin's series for the gritty realism, political intrigue, and realistic battle descriptions. Let me add one more author to the list. Elizabeth Moon's Deed of Paksenarrion trilogy. I rate it on par with Martin's Song of Ice and Fire, but for different reasons. I like the Paksenarrion series for the character development combined with an incredible story that drew me in. Wonderful, engaging, one of those stay-up-all-night-reading series because you just HAVE to find out what happens to the main character! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BunnyPuncher Posted June 30, 2004 Share Posted June 30, 2004 Speaking of Barbara Hambly... Anyone remember the trilogy she did about the "Dark". If I can remember it at all, it was about an ancient evil that had been locked underground and they somehow let it out, and some poor schlepp from the real world had to go to fantasy land to save the day. I know thats a pretty crappy summary but can anyone remember what that series was called and what the books were called? I read them years ago and always meant to pick em up again as they were excellent. Oh and before I forget... GUY GAVRIEL KAY Run to the fantasy section and buy everything with his name on it :) The Fionovar Tapestry is one of the greatest series ever. (And he's a Canuck!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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