Good fantasy reads?

[Eilathen]

If you're like me, and prefer fantasy reads with well developed worlds (deep dives in worldbuilding) than you have to treat yourself to:

Steven Erikson's Malazan Book of the Fallen (and all other works in that world).
Michelle West's Sun Sword books and the other works in the same setting.
R. Scott Bakker's The Prince of Nothing and The Aspect Emperor series.

All three have very well developed settings and all of them, imo, have very complex plot (so not your standard "popcorn" fantasy). All are above average in writting good characters but of the three, I think Michelle is strongest in that regard. She and Kay are the authors that can draw me in through characters like no other authors can.

Be warned though, Erikson can be pretty dark. And Bakker is even darker and sometimes truly bleak. If that's not your cup of tea, then you might want to skip Bakker for sure.

And i second that Guy Gavriel Kay writes really good fantasy as well. Also a big second for Tad Williams and his work in the world of Osten Ard (aka Memory, Sorrow and Thorn series and the new The Last King of Osten Ard series).

 

[atanakar]

Reading The Black Company's first three books is a must read. Glen Cook's writing style is unadorned and centred on action and dialogue, which some find too telegraphic, but it is loaded with atypical fantasy ideas that blew my mind. A lot of stuff happens in these three books. A major inspiration for my D&D campaigns. Steven Erikson's Malazan Books are directly inspired by Cook. Green Ronin published a Black Company setting book compatible with the d20 system.

The Dying Earth by Jack Vance is a classic. Which inspired Gene Wolfe to write The Book of the New Sun series as an homage. Which in turn lead to the creation of the Numenera rpg by Monte Cook.

Sword & Deviltry, featuring Fafhrd (barbarian) and the Gray Mouser (thief-mage), by Fritz Leiber. A collection of short stories about the adventures of a duo brought together by misfortune. Dark Fantasy in the famous city of Lankmar in the world of Nehwon. A major inspiration for Gygax. The original printing of Deities & Demi-Gods included the stats of the characters (and creatures) but without permission so they were removed in the second printing. TSR did publish a setting later, with permission.

 

[Guest 6801328]

Pretty much anything by Guy Gavriel Kay. I'd start with Tigana.

So I'm a few chapters into Tigana. GREAT recommendation. Thanks.

 

[jasper]

Elisabeth Moon Legend of Paksenarrion
Chris Nuttall schooled in magic/zero books.
Sharon Kay Penman historical fiction of Richard and his family
Fred Sberhagen book of swords trilogy. Avoid the lost sword ones.
Wen Spence Elfhome books
Lawrence Watt-evans Ethshar (maybe a little young for you)
OZ books
Cobweb Bride Trilogy by Vera Nazarian a little dark Russian
Grunts by Mary Gentle a little dark

 

[Ralif Redhammer]

If you're into G.R.R. Martin, I'll concur with the Malazan Book of the Fallen series by Erikson recommendations. I think it could've benefited from tighter editing and less of a hurry, but it is truly awe-inspiring in scope, is an inclusive world with diverse main characters, and actually finished.

If you're into Tolkien, LeGuin's Earthsea Cycle gets my vote. It's powerful and deeply thoughtful.

For Neil Gaiman, I'd pair that with N.K. Jemisin - the Dreamblood duology, Broken Earth trilogy, or Inheritance trilogy. You pretty much can't go wrong with anything by her. If I had to pick one of those three, I think I'd go with the Inheritance trilogy.

For historical fantasy, it's a phonebook, but Clarke's Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell is tops. So is Novik's Temeraire series.

For R.E. Howard's Conan, something brawling and raucous, Johnathan French's The Grey Bastards. I can't think of another book that stars a band of half-orcs.

 

[Lanefan]

Katherine Kurtz' various Deryni books (there's about 12 or so) from the 70s and 80s are a good read, particularly if you're looking for ways of re-doing psionics.

 

[Levistus's_Leviathan]

Dragonlance by Tracy Hickman and Margaret Weis
A Dying Earth by Jack Vance
Percy Jackson and the Olympians Series by Rick Riordan (and all subsequent and connecting series)
Any book by Brandon Mull (I'd recommend the Beyonders and 5 Kingdoms)
Harry Potter by J. K. Rowling

 

[Argyle King]

So, I got a hankering to get a D&D fix by reading something. Over the years I've read some Forgotten Realms novels, but...to be perfectly, brutally honest...they're trash. The writing is so bad it's painful. I just re-openend one of them, one that seems to be highly regarded, and I just wince at the sophomoric writing.

Authors/books I have liked:

• Tolkien. Duh.
• Bernard Cornwell
• The "other R.R." (Martin)
• Nicola Griffith, "Hild" (Historical fiction; I recommend it if you haven't read it.)
• Ishiguro, "The Buried Giant"
• The original REH Conan stories. Much less so de Camp and others.
• Neil Gaiman

Any other recommendations? It doesn't have to be full-on literature (as evidenced by my love for Howard) but neither do I want...Salvatore, for example. (I really don't mean to offend either Salvatore or his fans, but if that would be your recommendation, I'm not sure your advice is exactly what I'm looking for here.)

Have you read the original Dragonlance books? On occasion (now that I'm older) some parts of them aren't as good, but, overall, I think they're a good story. Though, tbh, the first book can be a bit rough, as it takes a while to introduce the characters and explain who they are.

It's been a while, but I have fond memories of The Black Cauldron by Lloyd Alexander.

You've mentioned the REH Conan stories. Have you read the Kull stories?

 

[Levistus's_Leviathan]

It's been a while, but I have fond memories of The Black Cauldron by Lloyd Alexander.

This book is amazing! It is the sequel to "The Book of Three", though, so it should be read first.

 

[Mookus]

Take a book, leave a book!

I was recommended "The Name of the Wind" years ago but just started reading it while homebound and so far (half), it is a super fun read. Quite apart from the story and characters, I kind of love Rothfuss' writing style. So, I'll leave that.

Yoinking "The Black Company"! That was also recommended years ago at around the same time, the recs here havegiven me the push to finally crack 'em (though I'll likely finish the Rothfuss sequels first).