Fantasy Novels and D&D

[killermulch]

i suggest Elantris by brandon sanderson- a stand alone

and the keyes briar king series is good the 4th book is a bit jarring though.

 

[eyebeams]

The last fantasy authors I read were Roger Zelazny and Gene Wolfe (who you should all read, but be warned -- Wolfe is difficult). These were rereads of favorites. Haven't read licensed fantasy RPG fiction in ages, but I don't regret doing it. One of my friends speaks quite highly of Robin Hobb.

 

[Desdichado]

i suggest Elantris by brandon sanderson- a stand alone

and the keyes briar king series is good the 4th book is a bit jarring though.

I've heard really good things about Brandon Sanderson. Plus, he seems like a nice guy, and there's a chance he's like a third or fourth cousin of mine.

I really should check him out.

 

[The Human Target]

I think the new school of authors are probably...

China Mieville- Bas-Lag series

Steve Erikson- The Malazan Book of the Fallen

Scott Lynch- The Gentleman Bastard Sequence

Jeff VanderMeer- Ambergriss

Brandon Sanderson- Elantris, Mistborn

R. Scott Bakker- The Prince of Nothing

Paul Kearney- The Monarchies of God, The Sea-Beggars

Guy Gavriel Kay- The Sarantine Mosaic, The Fionovar Tapestry

Or at least those are the modern guys that are inspiring my fantasy games now.

I think the main difference is that a lot of the new school guys have gotten away from the Tolkien setting and story structure.

In fact, many of them are breaking away from general fantasy adventure tropes altogether.

 

[Nellisir]

Brandon Sanderson's "Elantris" didn't do much for me.
Gene Wolfe's "The Wizard" and "The Knight" ought to be required reading, though.

Edit: Also Roger Zelazny (required, that is). And Terry Pratchett is good fun. Humorous books taken seriously, or maybe vice versa.

 

[Rackhir]

Rackhir: I was aware of that, but I thought it was so good that a movie was in the works.

IMDB doesn't show anything in production or being planned from what I can find poking around on it. So I wouldn't get my hopes up.

 

[jmucchiello]

I don't generally read Fantasy novels that easily translate into gaming. I'm surprised by a few missed authors in this thread:

L.E. Modesitt Jr's Recluse and Spellsong novels are wonderful. The Corean chronicles are probably considered SciFi even if the world is very medieval seeming

Sara Douglass' Wayfarer series

Michael Stackpole's Age of Discovery Trilogy (A Secret Atlas, etc) is just screaming for an RPG treatment, but only if Stackpole comes out of RPG writing retirement to write it.

Terry Pratchett's diskworld - Granted not in the style of Conan but still great at ripping up fantasy tropes.

Elizabeth Haydon's Symphony of Ages

 

[Kishin]

I'm pretty convinced Full Metal Alchemists was the genesis behind the Eberron world, at least the 3.5 edition.

I thought there is a Dresden Files movie in production? Can anyone confirm this? (And if there is, should I read the series now or after I've seen the movie version?)

I think you'd be wrong to be so convinced of that, given the timelines. Full Metal Alchemist was well under the radar in the West when the WoTC setting search rolled around, and the Eberron campaign book wasin 2004, before most of its animated adaptation ran (which began late 2003, and triggered its real exposure). They're both steampunkish, but there's very little the two have in common apart from setting aesthetics and probable comparisons of the Alchemists to Cannith Heirs. Things don'y sync up, given the timeframe. (Honestly, I don't peg Keith for someone who reads Manga).

Regrettably, I think a Dresden Files movie is a pipe dream. :/ Its unfortunate that good television never really gets a chance to stick around these days.

 

[dragonlordofpoondari]

recommendations off the top of my head (since I'm on vacation and a thousand miles away from my books...) Gregory Keyes; Glen Cook; China Mieville; Barbara Hambly (not really current, but neither is Glen Cook); Guy Gavriel Kay (older stuff first; ie Tigana & Fionavar trilogy); Bridge of Birds by Barry Hughart; Robert Holdstock (Lavondyss etc; awesome stuff); Little Big by John Crowley; Cherie Priest (modern fantasy/horroresque; has a very frequently updated website & livejournal); Catherine Valente's "The Orphan Tales" is AMAZING; Robin Hobb; Susanna Clarke "Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell" & "The Ladies of Grace Adieu and Other Stories"

That should get you started.

You, sir, have impeccable taste. Do me a favor. When you get back to your books, please provide a more thorough suggested reading list. I've already read much of this, and our tastes overlap almost perfectly.

 

[Olli]

i can´t believe nobody yet mentioned "the first Law"trilogy by joe abercrombie. a very nice story and quite a D&D feel to it.

oh, and scott Lynch is great, as mentioned before

"The prince of nothing" is quite a heavy read, but very rewarding, and you could steal the world wholecloth to base a campaign in it (or a dozen...)