Good fantasy reads?

Guest 6801328 · May 17, 2020

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.)

Nytmare · May 17, 2020

I just read the first Black Company book by Glen Cook, and though it wasn't spectacular, I'm hearing that it gets better with the second. Gritty military/fantasy. Following a mercenary unit of cutthroats and brigands and written from the perspective of the somewhat fish out of water company medic.

I also read The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch last year, and though I enjoyed it, I personally would suggest that you stop after the first book.

ragr · May 17, 2020

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

Guest 6801328 · May 17, 2020

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

Ooh...just looked him up. Looks really good. Thanks!

Dioltach · May 17, 2020

Do you like it grim and gritty? Then try Joe Abercrombie's First Law trilogy (or perhaps Best Served Cold, which is one of his stand-alone novels in the same world), or Prince of Thorns by Mark Lawrence, or the Night Angel trilogy by Brent Weeks.

If you enjoyed your Tolkien and Martin, give The Name of the Wind a try, by Patrick Rothfuss, and Memory, Sorrow and Thorn by Tad Williams. Ursula LeGuin's Earthsea books are wonderful, and still feel fresh.

And if you fancy something fairly lighthearted but very D&D, there's Goblin Quest and its sequels by Jim C. Hines.

Doug McCrae · May 17, 2020

The Anubis Gates (1983) Tim Powers
The Book of the New Sun (1980-83) Gene Wolfe
Eternal Champion series - Corum, Erekose, Hawkmoon, Elric (1960s->) Michael Moorcock
The Warrior Who Carried Life (1985) Geoff Ryman
The Earthsea Trilogy (1968-72) Ursula K Le Guin

doctorbadwolf · May 18, 2020

Elfcrusher said:
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.)

Le Guin, Mercedes Lackey, Saladin Ahmed (especially short stories), Roshani Chokshi, VE Schwab.

wide range of styles, there, but all of its excellent.

Fenris-77 · May 18, 2020

Steven Erickson's Malazan Book of the Fallen series.
Mervyn Peake's Gormenghast books.
Jim Butcher generally, both the Dresden Files and Codex Alara are great.
Matthew Stover's Cain Black Knife series.
Scott Lynch's Gentlemen Bastards, I didn't stop after the first book and wasn't disappointed (YMMV).
Stephen King's Dark Tower. I'll second the motion for Joe Abercrombie as well.