Fantasy Book suggestions

[Bedrockgames]

I am trying to find some good fantasy books to read this month and interested in what others might suggest. I do have few criteria however. Interested in a book that is well written, isn't boring and uses a great setting with interesting characters. Prefer books that are either on the short side (300-500 pages) or at least don't overwhelm you with subplots, too many characters, meandering, etc.

 

[Umbran]

Most of your stated criteria are extremely subjective. "Not boring"? I don't know what bores or interests you, so I can't tell what you'll find boring. Nor do I know what you consider to be "too many characters", and so on.

We might have a better shot if we knew what kinds of fantasy you've liked in the past. Do you have genre preferences, or books you've really enjoyed that we could use as a guideline?

 

[Gronin]

As Umbran stated not too sure what might qualify as boring but I'm willing to give it a shot.

If you like the sort of traditional heroic fantasy I would suggest anything by David Gemmell. He wrote a fair number of books and while he doesn't usually write series as such, many of his books assume you have read some of his earier works. Personally two of my favourites (and they are both stand alones) are Morningstar and Dark Moon.

If you are looking for something with a sense of humour (also fantasy setting)I would suggest Villians by Necessity by Eve Forward.

Anything by Mike Resnick -- Santiago (definitely looking forward to the upcoming ENWord Adventure Path), Ivory, Paradise and Stalking the Unicorn are some of my favourites. His stories tend to be very character/plot driven and although they are SciFi the science is not a huge part of the story.

When I get home I will wander past my bookshelves and see if anything else jumps out at me.

 

[Mark CMG]

I've mentioned it before but if you haven't read it, read [ame=http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0060892994/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_1?pf_rd_p=486539851&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=0553379267&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=1AX1V35QRMNG2KQPNRYB]Amazon.com: A Canticle for Leibowitz (9780060892999): Walter M. Miller Jr.: Books[/ame]. It's a classic all gamers should know and even non-gamers will love.


Perhaps you have read Poul Anderson's [ame=http://www.amazon.com/Broken-Sword-Poul-Anderson/dp/0575074256/ref=sr_1_21?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1315340687&sr=1-21]Broken Sword[/ame] and/or [ame=http://www.amazon.com/Three-Hearts-Lions-Fantasy-Masterworks/dp/0575074981/ref=sr_1_15?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1315340758&sr=1-15]Three Hearts and Three Lions[/ame] (if you haven't, you should), but maybe you haven't checked out his take on [ame=http://www.amazon.com/Hrolf-Krakis-Saga-Poul-Anderson/dp/0671654268/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1315340807&sr=1-2]Hrolf Kraki's Saga[/ame] (check out the reviews).

 

[Mark CMG]

If you enjoy the Saga it might dovetail nicely into three other Anderson books, his Last Viking series -

[ame=http://www.amazon.com/Golden-Horn-Last-Viking/dp/0890835977/ref=sr_1_6?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1315341119&sr=1-6]The Golden Horn (Last Viking Book #1) by Poul Anderson[/ame]


[ame=http://www.amazon.com/Road-Sea-Horse-Last-Viking/dp/0890836108/ref=pd_sim_b_1]Road of the Sea Horse (Last Viking Book #2) by Poul Anderson[/ame]


[ame=http://www.amazon.com/Last-Viking-Book-Sign-Raven/dp/B000OOIW34/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1315341119&sr=1-3]The Sign of the Raven (Last Viking Book #3) by Poul Anderson[/ame]

 

[IronWolf]

Might be worth checking out the Pathfinder Tales series of books, Paizo's entry to the fiction novel market.

Dave Gross writes some good stuff with Prince of Wolves and Master of Devils.

Or Howard Jones has Plague of Shadows which was a good read as well.

And Winter Witch by Elaine Cunningham.

 

[Bedrockgames]

Most of your stated criteria are extremely subjective. "Not boring"? I don't know what bores or interests you, so I can't tell what you'll find boring. Nor do I know what you consider to be "too many characters", and so on.

Sorry about that. I am much more interested in dialogue than description. So books that spend pages and page with little to no character interaction I sometimes find dull. It has less to do with the subject mater than how the author handles it. Wasn't a fan of First Man in Rome and Game of Thrones (yet I loved Dune so go figure).

In terms of writing. I want good solid prose and dialogue that sounds natural. Want a writer who shows, doesn't tell. Don't like writers who use too many adverbs in their dialogue (first man in Rome springs to mind again). Hated The Golden Compass storyline but I loved the author's prose...by the same token love Jim Butcher's stories but not a big fan of his prose.

 

[Ebon Shar]

Two words: Joe and Abercrombie.

 

[AdmundfortGeographer]

Glen Cook's standalone Tower of Fear, 375 pages total. Glen himself has more than once said this is his favorite of his books. I very much agree.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Terry Pratchett's Discworld novels are, after the first two or so, are actually great fantasy novels, and not parodies, although they do comment on various issues.

I'd also say that Fritz Lieber's Fafhrd and the Grey Mouser books fit your criteria and, frankly, are kind of must reading for any D&D fan. Much moreso than Lord of the Rings, THESE are what D&D is largely based on.