Sir Brennen
Legend
China Mieville's Perdido Street Station and its sequels are very, very non-JRRT, and I believe Mieville shares some of Moorcock's disdain for Tolkein.
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Alternative Fantasy?
- Thread starter The Grumpy Celt
- Start date
GlassEye
Adventurer
I would add:
The Chronicles of Master Li and Number Ten Ox by Barry Hughart (draws from Chinese myth and history)
The Mask of the Sorcerer by Darrell Schweitzer (faintly Egyptian/perhaps Mesopotamian in flavor)
Sky Knife and Serpent and Storm by Marella Sands (Mayan-based fantasy, I think)
possibly other modern-ish/western fantasy like:
Lord Darcy by Randall Garrett
The Bartimeus trilogy by Jonathan Stroud
The Chronicles of Master Li and Number Ten Ox by Barry Hughart (draws from Chinese myth and history)
The Mask of the Sorcerer by Darrell Schweitzer (faintly Egyptian/perhaps Mesopotamian in flavor)
Sky Knife and Serpent and Storm by Marella Sands (Mayan-based fantasy, I think)
possibly other modern-ish/western fantasy like:
Lord Darcy by Randall Garrett
The Bartimeus trilogy by Jonathan Stroud
Knightfall
World of Kulan DM
Tales of the Dying Earth by Jack Vance.
There might be two much science in this fantasy for you, but I highly recommend it anyway.
There might be two much science in this fantasy for you, but I highly recommend it anyway.
Roger Zelazney's Lord of Light is nominally SciFi, but is essentially Hindu mythology with some scifi trapings.
Also Zelazaney's Amber books are completely unlike anything Tolkien wrote.
The Books of the South in Glen Cook's the Black Company series take place in an India analogue. With Hindu mythology featuring prominently in the story.
Also Zelazaney's Amber books are completely unlike anything Tolkien wrote.
The Books of the South in Glen Cook's the Black Company series take place in an India analogue. With Hindu mythology featuring prominently in the story.
heirodule
First Post
Pre-Tolkien there was Lord Dunsany, who influenced Lovecraft's works like Dream Quest of Unknown Kadath.
In terms of 'non-white' fantasy, there's magical realism, or as Gene Wolfe calls it "fantasy by people with hispanic names". Check out Borges for a fun example that influenced D&D (Book of imaginary beings). Like Water for Chocolate is a better known example.
In terms of 'non-white' fantasy, there's magical realism, or as Gene Wolfe calls it "fantasy by people with hispanic names". Check out Borges for a fun example that influenced D&D (Book of imaginary beings). Like Water for Chocolate is a better known example.
Pretty much the only ones I've heard of are Rice and Salt and Journey to the West the others are all new to me. Whata re your favorites and why?
Scribe Ineti
Explorer
Katherine Kurtz's Deryni universe of short stories and novels is historical fantasy not at all in the Tolkien mode.
Tonguez
A suffusion of yellow
On Stranger Tides - Tim Powers. A wonderful Pirate Fantasy set in Bucaneer Caribean
Frank Peretti is also interesting in as much as he writes 'Christian Fantasy' novels that look at the spiritual war between Satan and the Angels of God and how mortals are caught in between. The Present Darkness and other novels are a good read even if you are not a 'beleiver'
Frank Peretti is also interesting in as much as he writes 'Christian Fantasy' novels that look at the spiritual war between Satan and the Angels of God and how mortals are caught in between. The Present Darkness and other novels are a good read even if you are not a 'beleiver'
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Michael Tree
First Post
All of Neil Gaiman's fantasies are not at all Tolkienesque. Stardust is a modern old fashioned faerie tale. Neverwhere is a weird fantasy under modern London.
Guy Gavriel Kay's books also are not Tolkienesque (except for the Fionavar Tapestry), being essentially historical fiction set in fictionalized settings based on world history, with a little bit of magic thrown in for atmosphere and story.
Steven Brust's books also don't draw much from Tolkien, except perhaps for the most basic premise of having different races around. (Dragaera sortof has elves, dwarves, and humans, but only in the most literalistic sense).
Brandon Sanderson's Elantris is the most unique fantasy I've read in a while.
Guy Gavriel Kay's books also are not Tolkienesque (except for the Fionavar Tapestry), being essentially historical fiction set in fictionalized settings based on world history, with a little bit of magic thrown in for atmosphere and story.
Steven Brust's books also don't draw much from Tolkien, except perhaps for the most basic premise of having different races around. (Dragaera sortof has elves, dwarves, and humans, but only in the most literalistic sense).
Brandon Sanderson's Elantris is the most unique fantasy I've read in a while.
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