Fantasy & SF from the UK

[Cthulhu's Librarian]

My sister is in London for a few more weeks (she's been there all semester), and wants to know what I want her to bring back for me. So, what are some really good SF and Fantasy titles/authors that are available over there, but not in the US?

I've given her a short list of a few Discworld tie-in books that aren't available here (the Discworld maps and such), but don't really know what else off the top of my head.

How different is the UK edition of Neil gaiman's Neverwhere from the edition published here? I know there are some differences, but is it worth reading both?

Any RPG books worth getting over there that I can't get here?

thanks!

 

[Morrus]

Dunno! I know what's available here, but wouldn't have a clue whether it's available in the US or not, or if there were any differences. Unfortunately, most people here are going to have about as much knowledge of US bookstores as you have of UK bookstores, so comparisons are kinda hard to do!

Hopefully, someone has spent time recently in both countries.

 

[Ankh-Morpork Guard]

Hopefully, someone has spent time recently in both countries.

*appears*

As I spent a good two months in Britain a few months back, I think I qualify. And honestly, there wasn't all that much that I saw was different. Maybe I didn't look in that much detail(I did grab those Discworld things they don't have here in the States...mmmmm), but I saw pretty much the same books I see here in the States.

As for Neverwhere...don't know. Haven't read it in the first place.

[/useless post]

 

[The Other Librarian]

How different is the UK edition of Neil gaiman's Neverwhere from the edition published here? I know there are some differences, but is it worth reading both?

I don't think there was that much difference. The US was just americanized a bit, and I think the UK version stayed closer to the beginning of the TV series. It's been a while though, so I could be wrong. That said, you may want the Uk edition for collecting's sake. I always buy the UK editions of Pratchett just because I like the cover art better.

If you like Pratchett style humor with a much more brit-centric POV, you might try some of Robert Rankin's novels. Try the Brentford trilogy, startung with The Antipope. Or you might look for some Dennis Wheatley horror. Out of print but easier to find there than here. Try "The Devil Rides Out".

 

[CCamfield]

- the omnibus paperback edition of Ash: a Secret History, by Mary Gentle. Available in the States, but as FOUR paperbacks. It's an excellent series, book, whatever you want to call it.

- all of Steven Erikson's Malazan Empire books are available in the UK. Only one has been released in the States so far. However, you can probably get them more cheaply by ordering online from Canada.

- similarly with K. J. Parker's books, entitled Shadow, Pattern, and Memory.

Now that I think about it, all of these are in a gritty fantasy vein.

One more,

- Dan Simmons' Ilium is already out in paperback in the UK. I know only because I saw a copy in a used bookstore in Japan(!). This is a great book if you like ancient Greek mythology (or Shakespeare...!), not out yet as a paperback anywhere else, to my knowledge. Classy cover, too. NB it's actually science fiction, not fantasy.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos...349/ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i1_xgl/202-2426188-8106234

NB I' should stress that these are ALL excellent books.

 

[mmadsen]

Fantasy Masterworks

I would recommend the entire Fantasy Masterworks series, published by Gollancz. (A few years ago, this was the only way to get Robert E. Howard's original Conan stories. It's still the only way to get a lot of out-of-print classics -- at least without hitting the used-book stores.)

 

[WayneLigon]

The SF Site often has reviews or recommendations of UK-only publications. Skimmthrough their past issues and see if anything looks cool.

 

[Wombat]

I only have the Fencer trilogy by K.J. Parker. I would love to read the others.

By the by, is Parker a man or a woman? One of the people in my group who has read the books is convinced Parker is a "she", while another is convinced Parker is a "he". I can't find a website to confirm either way. Not really an issue, in that we love his/her works, but just sheer fascination.

 

[Hand of Evil]

Maybe some little known author but I don't think too much differance any more. Now don't be surprised about title diffenances.

 

[Jeremy Ackerman-Yost]

I would recommend the entire Fantasy Masterworks series, published by Gollancz. (A few years ago, this was the only way to get Robert E. Howard's original Conan stories. It's still the only way to get a lot of out-of-print classics -- at least without hitting the used-book stores.)

Bingo.

Haven't been to the UK myself, but I understand it's easier to find relatively recent printings of Dunsany as well. My gf imported a couple for me a couple years ago.