Building a SciFi/Fantasy Library discussion

Hi everyone! I'm new to this site, and I'm wondering if anyone has some recommendations for good fantasy books I can try. I basically like good writing and good character development, and of course an intersting story.

Some of the series I've read and enjoyed are:

George R. R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire - up until his latest book, which was a huge disappointment. I've re-read the series multiple times, but I'm no longer anticipating additional books in the series.

C.S. Friedman - Coldfire Trilogy.

Sara Douglas - The Wayfarer Redemption

Kristen Britain - Green Rider

Michelle West - The Sun Sword

Elizabeth Haydon - Rhapsody - Prophesy - Destiny. I have the rest of series, and I'm currently re-reading the first three books before I get to the rest of them.

Kate Elliott's Crown of Stars, although it went on a bit too long to suit me, and wasn't something I would read again, probably.

Stephen R. Donaldson - Mordant's Need.

I like books dealing with the Arthurian Legend, but I don't like first person writing, which most of them seem to be for some reason.

Series I've tried to read and didn't care for - Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time & Terry Brooks Sword of Shannara.

Thanks for your recommendations!

I asked a similar question in the thread "Sci-Fi / Fantasy Series" a couple of weeks ago. Given that your interests are a bit different than mine, you might get different responses, but it still might be worth the time of checking that thread out.

Hi Tom. I did add a few suggestions from your thread that sounded interesting. Hoping I'll get a few more here. Since I buy my books at a used book store and never know what I might find there, I like to go in with a long list.

Linda, I'm sure someone's mentioned it in the previous thread but I don't mind repeating this recommendation: Try the Codex Alera series by Jim Butcher? (First one's Furies of Calderon.) It's one of my favourite series, has extremely likeable characters, believable world building with minimal infodump, and intriguing plots. The only problem is that the next installment doesn't come out until November!

And then there's Joe Abercrombie's First Law trilogy - the first of which takes a little getting used to but BOY does it pay off.

Also Scott Lynch's Gentlemen Bastards. AWESOME. (Although some people have said they've read too many stories about thieves etc... I certainly hadn't.)

If you haven't read the above and our tastes are similar, I envy you for having all this great stuff yet to come! :)

If you like the dungeon crawler, good vs evil, action adventure fantasy try Tad Williams Dragon Bone Chair Series. It's fantastic. Also, anything by Raymond Feist

Susanne, I'm definitely putting all those suggestions on my to read list - thanks for the tips. And, no, I haven't read any of the series you mentioned. I'm getting really excited to find some new stuff.

Sherri, I've read both Tad Williams and Raymond Feist. I honestly don't remember what at the moment, or if I liked it or not. I'll have to look at them again. I did look Dragon Bone Chair up on Amazon.com, and it sounds interesting. Thanks for the suggestions

L.E. Modessit's Recluse series is excellent. He keeps adding books & suggests you read them in the order published. I agree - for the first read. After that, I liked rereading them in chronological order. It's one of the few series that started out well & gets better.

Feist's Riftwar series, but I liked the first one, the 'Other Side' (with Wurts) & then the 'Serpent War' wasn't bad. I didn't care much for the few 'Legacy' & 'Legend' ones I read, so I'll say his earlier stuff. He's beat a good thing into the ground.

David Eddings Belgariad series (the first 5) & the Elenium trilogy. The Mallorean series & add-ons to the Belgariad are skippable. The Tamuli, a second trilogy to the Elenium is also skippable. I don't like the Dreamer series he does with his wife.

Stephen Brust's 'Vlad Taltos' series is excellent. A different mythology & he wrote some great stand alone books.

Simon R. Green's "Hawk & Fisher" books are good, too.

An excellent place to get quick info on the authors & their books at a glance is FantasticFiction
http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/
There are links to related sites, if you want to follow them further.

Personally I didn't like Tad William's books very much. I felt that they were rather dull and unimaginative. But that is just me.

On a different note, the books of Brandon Sanderson bring a new meaning to the old cliches and tropes of fantasy with great style. His books are more of a political/theological fantasy, but are still very much in the fantasy genre.

I can't believe no one mentioned this, is it too obvious? A key fantasy series for me is R.A. Salvatore's "The Legend of Drizzt." This is a masterpiece work of fantasy. I love R.A. Salvatore's writing style, character development, fast-paced action/fighting, and instillation of a strong moral code/seeking right by following one's heart and not specifically what society says is right (because society is often wrong). Amazing stuff.

Also Raymond E Feist's "Magician: Apprentice"

and Ed Greenwood's Elminster series is also a great read. All the other ones I have read are already mentioned.

The Boudica series by Manda Scott:
Dreaming the Eagle
Dreaming the Bull
Dreaming the Hound
Dreaming the Serpent Spear

Boudica was a historic figure but not much is known about her life, in this fantastic series we see what her life may have been like.
Rife with Celtic mysticism and way of life, I found it to be one of the best series I've ever read. Ms. Scott's writing was such that I was completely immersed, feeling as if I were witnessing the events firsthand, a rare experience.

From the author's website:
Synopsis:
In AD 60, the woman known as the Boudica, 'Bringer of Victory', war leader of the Eceni, led her people in a final bloody revolt against the occupying armies of Rome. It was the culmination of nearly twenty years of resistance against an invading imperial force that sought to crush forever a vibrant, complex civilisation and replace it with the taxes, slavery and laws of the Roman Empire. DREAMING THE EAGLE takes us back to the last flowering of tribal life in the years before the legions landed and extends through to the hours immediately after Rome's victory at the end of the two-day invasion battle. Through the eyes of the girl Breaca who will be named as the Boudica on that last battlefield, and her half-brother, the dreamer Bán, we see the world as it was and as it could have continued to be if the tribes had won the final battle against the legions of Suetonius Paulinus; a world of druids and dreamers and the magic of the gods, where horses and hounds and the land itself become characters in their own right, where warriors fight for honour as much as victory and where the gods hold the balance in any human conflict. Above all, it is a world of passion and courage and spectacular, heart-felt heroism pitched against overwhelming odds.

I'll add to the list a favorite of mine: Roger Zelazny's Chronicles of Amber. It's not a classic arthurian series, but it has elements of that ('royal' family)--with a very unique twist. I find them to be very forward thinking even thought they were published in the 70's

Me? I'm kind of partial to "2001: A Space Odyssey", "Childhood's End", "Rendezvous With Rama", (can you tell I'm a major Clarke freak?), "Demon With the Glass Hand" (by Ellison, another favorite author,) "Canticle For Liebovitz" by Walter Miller, and "The Last Question" by Asimov, perhaps the heaviest short story ever written!

Try Rowan of the Wood. It's a new award-winning YA crossover fantasy that's getting great reviews. It's the first in a series of five books.

The authors have a lot of contests going on right now as well with over $600 in prizes, including a digital camcorder (basically just for watching the trailer)!
http://www.rowanofthewood.com
Visit the authors on their Geekalicious Yuletide Blog Book Tour - Dec. 2-16

Well, as long as we're shamelessly promoting our own work here, let me alert you folk to MY series of novels, the "Cassiopeia" series. This is a series of four books, (so far,) that involve the fortunes of two old school chums in a future society that always has the best interests of its populace at heart. These two work for the same organization, the space exploring and colonizing arm of their government. The story centers around the first and last mission and the aftermath of same of a huge colonizing ship meant to establish outposts on Titan and Iapetus in the Saturn moon system. After these colonies are set up, what looks like the iminent destruction of all existemce takes place, but this proves to be a false alarm. However, this doesn't keep two sets of people from escaping the solar system for a long while, thinking that Earth's solar system was going to be toast!

Along the way, one of the chums sees Creation for all it might be, and the other is led by fate on a roller coaster ride that spans two solar systems, a thousand years of changed situations on Earth, and a war to preserve the sovereignty of Mars. The latter is joined in his exploits by 12 comical French theatrical clones, 6 male and 6 female, and a host of other characters that flesh out the books.

Trust me, you will LOVE these novels, as the characters establish firm encampments in your imagination! Find them at Amazon.com and at my web site: http://www.lastvoyageofthecassiopeia.com. Enjoy!

Stephen H. Turner
The Last Voyage of the Cassiopeia
Almagest: The Adventures of MarsShield
3700
The Avedon Question

What a great thread to stumble into. I'm rather new to the fantasy genre but am falling in love with it. I started off with the Thief series by Megan Turner, wow. They were great. I thought they got better as they went and the third was my favorite.
I just finished the second book in the Mistborn series by Brandon Sanderson. I really liked the first one but am a bit disheartened after the second. Has anyone read these? Should I go for the third?

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I must recommend the series by Jack Whyte for your interest to aurthurian legend. I was thoroughly engaged by his approach to it and found the books to be very enjoyable.

Carl,
Thanks for reminding me, I have the Skystone on my shelves and forgot about it. I'll have to get to it soon.

Raymond Feist!!!!!!!!! Start with Magician: Apprentice and read then in the order they were published. Enjoy the ride, also Robin Hobb is also very good.

Also I want to get in to RA Salvatore if someone could tell me where to start, thanks.

Robin wrote: "Raymond Feist!!!!!!!!! Start with Magician: Apprentice and read then in the order they were published. Enjoy the ride, also Robin Hobb is also very good.

Also I want to get in to RA Salvatore if ..."

Vampires are on there 15th minute.

Try short stories by TOLKIEN.

Shameless self-promotion, yes!! I recommend my own books, of course, The Flame in the Bowl: Unbinding the Stone and A Warrior Made, but I will gladly recommend others of quality, and have, many times over.

The Curse of Chalion
The Thread That Binds the Bones
The Name of the Wind
The Misenchanted Sword
and just hundreds of others. My profile lists some of them.

Marc wrote: "Shameless self-promotion, yes!! I recommend my own books, of course, [b:The Flame in the Bowl: Unbinding the Stone|384632|The Flame in the Bowl: Unbinding the Stone|Marc Vun Kannon|http://photo.go..."

Has anyone read THE RUNELORDS by David Farland?

I heard it's very good.

I think I read it; the synopsis sounds very familiar to me. I especially enjoy fantasy so if I did read it, I would have liked it. I read so many fantasy novels that I forget most of them.

It appears it's going to be a movie:
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Those Fantasy writers really like Trilogy's.

I am sure someone will eventually film Tolkiens

Shorter works.He has an enormous Fan Base.

Tons of Vampire(PR)soft core pornos on the

SCIENCE-FICTION & Fantasy book store section.

I've also heard that HP LOVECRAFT's THE MOUNTOUNS

OF MADNESS is currently being Filmed.

A new comprehensive collection of JRR Tolkiens'

shorter works has recently been published;

THE PERILOUS REALMS ,enjoy.

Linda, you wrote that you basically like "....good writing and good character development, and of course an intersting story."

So a bit more shameless self-promotion - but Cloak of Magic (Shaihen Heritage Book 1) by SA Rule ticks all those boxes (as vouched for by other GoodReaders, see reviews.)

If you want to get a flavour of it you can download the opening chapters from my website http://www.shehaios.co.uk

I'm not familiar with much of your list (except Stephen Donaldson), but if youre looking for historically-informed fiction on the Arthurian theme - Bernard Cornwell's The Winter King is a good take on the Arthurian legend; also recommend anything by Mary Stewart (I think the book title is The Crystal Cave but Jackie will correct me if I'm wrong!!!) You might even try the original Arthurian Romances by Chretien de Troyes, but you may find that hard going!!

Sue

Sue

Uh...talking about shameless self-promotion...I have four videos that you all should see. Go to this URL, right here, to view them: http://www.goodreads.com/videos/list_...

Enjoy!

Stephen Turner
The Last Voyage of the Cassiopeia
Almagest: The Adventures of MarsShield
3700
The Avedon Question

I’ve read the Runelords and liked it a lot. It has a unique magic system...hard to come up with these days, in the epic fantasy style. I’d say the same thing about Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson. Very creative.

Linda,
I noticed Sara Douglas on your list. I started The Troy Games series and I especially enjoyed it. Still have to get the rest of the series but thought you'd enjoy it.
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23...
Sue's right, Mary Stewart's Arthurian series is spectacular, vivid imagery.





I lent my nephew without reading it first. I know, I know, but he was so into Arthur, and I like to encourage kids to read, so I did it against my better judgement. You know it...I never saw the book again. I plan on reading it one of these days when I find it real cheap.

And there's always Dragonlance fantasy novels by Hickman and Weis with lots to choose from; something should catch your fancy.

And last but not least, was one of the better books I've read this year.

Someone asked where to start with R.A. Salvatore... start w/ "Homeland'.

For Arthurian legend fans, there is also the Down the Long Wind series by Gillian Bradshaw: Hawk of May, KIngdom of Summer, and In Winter's Shadow.
There's also the classic The Mists of Avalon and all it's prequels.
The Dark is Rising Sequence by Susan Cooper is supposedly Arthurian in nature, I remember that it's celtic, but read them so long ago I don't remember the specifics.

For other fantasy books, I highly recommend:
the Kushiel series by Jacqueline Carey (6 and the next one due out in March 09),
the Assassin and Fool trilogies by Robin Hobb (6 books total), as well as her Liveship series,
the Quarters series by Tanya Huff (four books),
Marion Zimmer Bradley is one of my favorite authors - and several of her stand-alone novels are very good as well: The Firebrand is about the Greek prophet Cassandra, while The Fall of Atlantis was originally a pair of books titled Web of Light and Web of Darkness (you might find them in that form at the used book shops.)
Dave Duncan's series about the King's Blades are very enjoyable, there are 6 of them and a spinoff series about the King's Daggers.
Andre Norton's Witchworld series is classic.
Trudi Canavan's Black Magician trilogy,
The Dragon Quartet books by Marjorie B. Kellogg,
The Blending books by Sharon Green
are also some fun reads.
Last, but not least, pretty much anything by Mercedes Lackey

Happy Reading!

I like books dealing with the Arthurian Legend, but I don't like first person writing, which most of them seem to be for some reason.

Mary Stewart's Merlin saga has been mentioned and it is brilliant. Another, just as good IMO, is Stephen Lawhead's Pendragon series. I categorize it as historical fantasy.

Bill

One of the best series I've ever read is the Keltiad by Patricia Kennealy-Morrison. Start with The Copper Crown, then read them in publishing order. She has an excellent Arthurian trilogy in there. I reread them from time to time which I don't do with very many books.

It's not full-fledged "fantasy", I suppose (no dragons or sorcery) but one of my very favorite retellings of the King Arthur story is "Road to Avalon" by Joan Wolf. I read it at least once a year and recommend it--even though I usually like magic with my Camelot!

The The Fionavar Tapestry by Guy Gavriel Kay is my all time favorite. It has a wonderful twist on the Arthurian legend. I don't want to spoil it for you, but I assure you, it adds a wonderful layer to the book. Excellent characters, great references to our own culture/history with a nod to classic fantasy. Enjoy!

Thanks for suggesting the thread, I've found some great ideas on here myself!

Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time is by far my favorite series. I can reread the series from start to finish any time. (although it takes a while with 11 books all 900+ pages)

A lot of Wheel of Time fans seem to love the first 4 books and then get burned out by the next few. By book 9 with "Winters Heart" he starts to find an end game but he has been spinning his story for so many books it takes him another 2 books just to begin to wrap up the story. Books 10 and 11 are back to par with the first 3 books. Possibly my favorites of the series.

As sad as it is to see Robert Jordan die with his Wheel of Time incomplete, im really excited to see what Brandon Sanderson does to put an ending on a great series.

Stephen King's (dont be scared by his name) The Dark Towers ranks right next to Jordan's, Wheel of Time, on my book shelves. And with this series there is an actual ending, a great ending that i never saw coming, but after many, many rereads its fun to see that Stephen King was waving the ending in my face the whole way.

The Belgariad by David Eddings is excellent. I don't agree that you should skip the Mallorean though, it is much better than the Belgariad. I think it's what he would have wrote the first time round had he the same skills he had then. I agree that you should skip the Dreamers series though - every book is basically the same - Eddings really went downhill on this one.

I also really loved the first two of the Wheel of Time. I was totally p'd off with Nenaeve by the fifth book, and by the eighth I couldn't read any more. That was a shame as the story was excellent and had great promise.


The first six Salvatore Drizzt novels are fantastic. Towards the end they get repetative. What is it with fantastic series basically dwindling down to telling the same story over and over again? If you like them I would take a look at Canticle and the four follow-ons.

As my parting shot I would also take a look at the Corum novels or Elric novels by Michael Moorcock. I find that the six Corum novels have a better overall even quality to them than the Elric ones, but Elric is such a fantastic character that I have to givce him a mention.

If you like C.S. Friedman's Coldfire series you might consider her Magister series. The third book isn't out yet, but so far I'm enjoying it more than I did Coldfire.

Matt wrote: "Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time is by far my favorite series."

I am currently enjoying Robert Jordan's WoT series. Right now I'm near the end of book six. I can see why people would get ticked off after book three, but in my opinion, that's where the series becomes so much more interesting.

For anyone who loves Jordan's work or George R. R. Martin's series ASoIaF, I'd like to suggest Joe Abercrombie. His series, The First Law, is also one of my favorites. It has some of the best characterizations and battle scenes and is very comparable to Martin. It's just fun reading.

Linda wrote: "Hi everyone! I'm new to this site, and I'm wondering if anyone has some recommendations for good fantasy books I can try. I basically like good writing and good character development, and of cour..."

Try Mrcedes Lackey I started with Arrow's of the Queen,Arrow's Flight and Arrow's Fall. Then any other books in the Valdemar Series. I think these three books are a great intro to the series.

I'm reinforcing the recommendations of some books.

David Eddings: Belgariad, Mallorean, Elenium, Tamuli. (LOVE David Eddings's earlier stuff.) Would NOT recommend the Dreamers series.

Raymond Feist's Riftwar Saga books.

RA Salvatore's Drizzt books. I think Homeland is first..

Katherine Kurtz - The Chronicles of Deryni.

Deborah Chester - The Sword, The Ring, and The Chalice

Linda wrote: "Hi everyone! I'm new to this site, and I'm wondering if anyone has some recommendations for good fantasy books I can try. I basically like good writing and good character development, and of cour..."

I recommend Andre Norton books. All of them. I started reading them as a young man still read them. She died last year or the year before but her books will live forever.

Janny Wurts has several series. I'm starting to read one right now. I've read a couple of her stand alone books & the trilogy she did with Raymond Feist. All excellent, so I expect the same from this. It's the beginning of her Wars of Light and Shadow : Ships of Merior series. 9 books total. They're being reissued, I think & the last one is due out this year.

Linda wrote: "Hi everyone! I'm new to this site, and I'm wondering if anyone has some recommendations for good fantasy books I can try. I basically like good writing and good character development, and of cour..."

If you enjoyed Andre Norton, you'll like Jennifer Roberson and Janny Wurts and the series, can't think of the name, that Margaret Weis wrote on her own, very nice. Also try anything by A. Lee Martinez, funny stuff.

Alley
www.alleypat.com

Robin wrote: "Raymond Feist!!!!!!!!! Start with Magician: Apprentice and read then in the order they were published. Enjoy the ride, also Robin Hobb is also very good.

Also I want to get in to RA Salvatore if ..."

I wouldn't recommend reading the Drizzt books by Salvatore. I just reviewed The Pirate King for a site and I had a really hard time keeping interested in the story. If you like the games, then the books might hit home, but for character development and just a good story, those don't. But anything else by Salvatore is very good.

Also, try Holly Lisle, an excellent writer of fantasy.

Alley
www.alleypat.com

Re Holly Lisle, I can recommend her stand-alone novel, Minerva Wakes. It's in the Goodreads database, so (if you want to) you can search for it by title and read the description and several reviews, including mine.

I hope you'll give some unknowns a go and try mine, The Flame in the Bowl Unbinding the Stone, followed by
A Warrior Made.