Recommend some GOOD fantasy books?

Val1 · Apr 4, 2008

Hey guys,

Could people recommend what they believe to be well-written fantasy books? (not necessarily popular)

I just need to improve my writing style, and a good way to do this is to read good writing.

Suggestions would be very much appreciated

Val

Lccorp2 · Apr 4, 2008

Hm.

-ASOIAF series by George R. R. Martin.

-Anything by Steven Brust. Especially instructive in how he varies this Authorial Voice to fit the mood of different works. (Eg. Compare Taltos series to Khaavren Romances)

-Anything by Simon R. Green.

-Dresden Files series by Jim Butcher.

-Anything by China Mieville.

That's off the top of my head at the moment.

yappo · Apr 4, 2008

Also depends on wanted effect.

Mieville's Iron Council (correct me if I got the title wrong) has riot scenes very similar to ones in Pratchett's Discworld novels. The resulting impact on me as a reader, however, varies a lot as the authors use different ways of telling similar scenes. Drama and comedy are kind of different.

Sten

SPMiller · Apr 4, 2008

In addition to Lccorp2's suggestions, you should notice the sticky at the top of the forum listing containing a great number of recommendations.

That said, I'd like to throw Zelazny's name into the mix. Seems to me most people have forgotten he ever lived, which is kind of strange for a guy who won nine Hugos and Nebulas.

Try his fantasy works such as the Amber series, and his short stories such as "The Engine at Heartspring's Center".

Calla Lily · Apr 4, 2008

Patricia McKillip's Riddle-Master series.

JBI · Apr 4, 2008

The Voyage to Arcturus by David Lindsay

ChaosTitan · Apr 4, 2008

There's also a list stickied to the top of this forum.

http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=56136

Black-Tooth · Apr 4, 2008

There's a book called Savage Tales of Solomon Kane which is absolutely brilliant. Published by Del Rey. It's by Robert. E.Howard. This character is extremely well written and great fun to read!

Melisande · Apr 4, 2008

One of my favourite fantasy authors is Stephen R Donaldson.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_R._Donaldson

Varthikes · Apr 4, 2008

I thought Dragonworld by Byron Priess and Michael Reeves was excellently written.

Don Callander's Dragon Companion trilogy is pretty good, too.

badducky · Apr 4, 2008

1) Go to the Absolute Write Library and investigate.

2) Search the forums for this very line of questioning, for this subject doth appear much much.

Hollan · Apr 4, 2008

The Secret Country Trilogy by Pamela Dean (YA). They're perfect.

sanctuary6284 · Apr 4, 2008

Terry Pratchett. Though it may not be the kind of writing you had in mind. Diana Wynne Jones, one of my favorites.

blacbird · Apr 4, 2008

Whatever genre you wish to write in, it's wise to know the classics, the originators, the founders.

For Fantasy:

George MacDonald (Phantastes, Lilith, or for younger readers, At the Back of the North Wind, The Princess and the Goblin)

William Morris (The Wood Beyond the World, The Well at the World's End)

Lord Dunsany (The King of Elfland's Daughter, The Charwoman's Shadow, and a bazillion wonderful short stories)

E. R. Eddison (The Worm Ouroboros. A Fish Dinner in Memison and other sequels)

Mervyn Peake (Titus Groan, Gormenghast, Titus Alone)

W. H. Hodgson (The Night Land)

And, of course, anything by Tolkien and C.S. Lewis.

More recently, Ursula LeGuin's Earthsea Trilogy (now five books, I believe).

caw

sanctuary6284 · Apr 4, 2008

blacbird said:
More recently, Ursula LeGuin's Earthsea Trilogy (now five books, I believe).

That first book was ridiculously short. I read it in like an hour and a half. It was REALLY GOOD. I didn't even get every detail of the world but the book was great. Definately a master storyteller.

Jordi · Apr 5, 2008

Sherrilyn Kenyon's Dark Hunter series and Christine Feehan's Dark series are good books.

Conall · Apr 5, 2008

I reccomend Karen Miller's Innocent Mage and the second book Awakened Mage.

Smiling Ted · Apr 5, 2008

SPMiller said:
That said, I'd like to throw Zelazny's name into the mix. Seems to me most people have forgotten he ever lived, which is kind of strange for a guy who won nine Hugos and Nebulas.

Hell, I've recommend Roger at least three times on AW - although I'd put forward Lord of Light, Jack of Shadows, and Creatures of Light and Darkness before the Amber series.

He also wrote a short story, The Misfit, back in 1963 that foreshadowed The Matrix by four decades and said more with a thousand words than they did with $50 million.

Straka · Apr 7, 2008

I just read "The Black Company" by Glen Cook. Very different voice from fantasy work I've read before. I found it very refreshing. If you ever play the PC game Myth: The Fallen Lords and liked it, you'll love "The Black Company"

Recommend some GOOD fantasy books?

Val1

Lccorp2

How are you gentlemen?

yappo

SPMiller

Prodigiously Hanged

Calla Lily

On hiatus

JBI

ChaosTitan

Around

Black-Tooth

Melisande

Varthikes

Dragon Writer

badducky

No Time For Chitchat, Kemosabe.

Hollan

Stage name = Chainsaw Sally

sanctuary6284

Mental Supernova

blacbird

sanctuary6284

Mental Supernova

Jordi

Conall

Smiling Ted

Ah-HA!

Straka

Bored Fanatic