Looking for a Good Fantasy Book!

[Knightfall]

Ok, I just got a $25 gift card for Christmas and I'm looking to use it on a good fantasy book that won't lead to a long book series. The first book in a nice compact trilogy or, better yet, a one shot story.

I do have an abundance of Dragonlance novels, so I'm looking for something different. (That doesn't mean the Forgotten Realms.)

Any and all advice would be helpful.

Cheers!

KF72

 

[JoeGKushner]

More modern or more classic?

Elric, Hawkmoon, Corum, etc... from MIchael Moorcock are usually on the shelves of some Borders. Done by White Wolf last time along with Fritz Lieber's old Rogues.

Conan has two tradepaperbacks out now along with Solomon Kane.

kane has two hardcovers out by Karl Edgar Wagners... great stuff!

I'm not too hip on modern stuff but do enjoy the Black Company series of novels (which is really influencing my review of the RPG...) and I've enjoyed some others, but most of them are still contuining series (Black Company, afaik, are done.)

 

[FCWesel]

Here's a link to the info on the first book of a series I am 2/3rds of the way through. I have found it a nice change of pace, yet a very, very decent read.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/A...80/sr=2-2/ref=pd_ka_b_2_2/002-3039829-5677654

The third book just came out last summer, so it should be over. Enjoy.

 

[ssampier]

Do you like "mature" fantasy? If so, George R.R. Martin's The Game of Thrones is excellent. If not, there's Robert Jordan's books, although you may be waiting around for him to finish them (the first 4 are better than the rest).

 

[Richards]

How about Gene Wolfe's Soldier in the Mist and Soldier of Arete? (I think I even saw a two-in-one collection with both novels recently, although I don't recall what it was called - Latro in the Mists, perhaps?) It deals with an ancient Greek fighter who suffered a head injury in battle, and as a result wakes up each morning with no memory of what has happened to him up to that point. As a side result, he can see the various gods and goddesses that most people cannot see. It's a very good story, and as far as I know it's complete with just the two volumes.

Gene Wolfe also came out with another two-volume fantasy series just recently, The Knight and The Wizard. I haven't read either of them (I was waiting for them both to be in print, so I wouldn't have to wait between books), but I've already heard good things about them.

If Gene Wolfe isn't your cup of tea, I also highly recommend Jack Vance. Try picking up his "Dying Earth" series (Tales of the Dying Earth, Eyes of the Overworld, Cugel's Saga, and Rhialto the Marvellous), or his "Lyonesse" series (Suldrun's Garden, The Green Pearl, and Madouc). The former is the basis for D&D's "fire-and-forget" magic system (and shows the basis for ioun stones), while the latter is more Arthurian.

Johnathan

 

[Knightfall]

Do you like "mature" fantasy? If so, George R.R. Martin's The Game of Thrones is excellent. If not, there's Robert Jordan's books, although you may be waiting around for him to finish them (the first 4 are better than the rest).

I've never read The Game of Thrones series and I don't really want to get into another looong fantasy book series. I've read Jordan's books up to and including halfway through book five. I just can't seem to find the will to finish that book. The first 4 are, as you said, excellent. The fact that so many people have said that the rest of the series isn't that great is why I'm looking o start reading something else, that won't turn into another 10+ book series.

KF72

 

[Knightfall]

If Gene Wolfe isn't your cup of tea, I also highly recommend Jack Vance. Try picking up his "Dying Earth" series (Tales of the Dying Earth, Eyes of the Overworld, Cugel's Saga, and Rhialto the Marvellous), or his "Lyonesse" series (Suldrun's Garden, The Green Pearl, and Madouc). The former is the basis for D&D's "fire-and-forget" magic system (and shows the basis for ioun stones), while the latter is more Arthurian.

Funny you should mention Jack Vance. I just bought (several months ago) Tales of the Dying Earth. I've read some of it, but haven't gotten very deep into the book yet. I tend to read slowly and read several books at once. Besides Tales of the Dying Earth, I'm currently reading Ship of Magic by Robin Hobb (almost done), Swords Against Death by Fritz Leiber, a book called A History of the Vikings, and 4 or 5 RPG books.

I'm planning on getting the next book in the Liveship Traders series which will eat up about half the gift card, but would like another fantasy novel that would be good read on its own. Also, the book I do buy probably won't get read right away. I'm eager to start reading Foundation's Fear by Gregory Benford.

FYI... other fantasy/sci-fi (and historic fiction) books I own but HAVE NOT read yet.

-- Domes of Fire (hc) and The Sapphire Rose (hc) by David Eddings*
-- The Riven Codex (hc) by David & Leigh Eddings
-- King's Dragon (hc) by Kate Elliot
-- Star Wars Specter of the Past (hc) by Timothy Zahn
-- The Waterborn (hc) by J. Gregory Keyes
-- The Dark Elf Trilogy Collector's Edition (hc) by R. A. Salvatore: I've read a little of this but got away from it. It didn't grab me as much as I had hoped it would.
-- Four Past Midnight by Stephen King*: Not my style. I couldn't even sell this book.
-- Shadowsinger (hc) by L.E. Modesitt Jr: Last year's Christmas gift from my sister. I haven't read any of this authors other books so it's not on my "must read" list.
-- Treasures of Fantasy by multiple authors
-- Caesar (hc) by Colleen McCullough: A book I bough for my father for Christmas one year. He read it, loved it, and let me borrow it back. Still haven't read it.
-- The Demon Awakens (hc) by R.A. Salvatore
-- The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien: I bought this before the movies came out, tried to read it, and failed miserably. Now that I've watched the movies, I want to take another crack at this one, eventually.
-- Chimera by John Barth**
-- The Rise and Fall of a Dragon King by Lynn Abbey
-- Nightfall by Isaac Asimov & Robert Silverberg
-- Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury**
-- Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card**
-- The Faded Sun Trilogy by C.J. Cherryh: Not sure where this book even came from.
-- Neuromancer by William Gibson**
-- The Kingless Land by Ed Greenwood
-- Legacy of Steel by Mary H. Herbert: I started this once but got distracted by another series of Dragonlance books. (The War of Souls, I believe.)
-- Brave New World by Aldous Huxley**
-- Swords in the Mist, Swords Against Wizardry, The Swords of Lankhmar, Swords & Ice Magic, and The Kinght and Knave of Swords by Fritz Leiber: I got lucky in finding all these books. My goal - read 'em all.
-- Spectre of the Black Rose by by James Lowder & Voronica Whitney-Robinson: I attempted this one a while back but switched to reading I, Strahd.
-- The Crystal Shard by R.A. Salvatore
-- MacBeth the King by Nigel Tranter: Another borrowed book from my dad.
-- Dragons of Autumn Twilight, Dragons of Winter Night, and Dragons of Spring Dawning by Weis & Hickman: I've read nearly half of the first book (forgot that) but haven't gone back to it for some reason. Oh well, it won't be hard for me to pick up again, as I already know the story fairly well.
-- The Fires of Heaven, Lord of Chaos, and A Crown of Swords by Robert Jordan: Sigh, I don't know if I have the energy to try these again.
-- Wizard's First Rule and Stone of Tears by Terry Goodkind: I'm hesitant now, wasn't when I first bought them.

* A book that belonged to a friend who moved north and left it behind. It eventually came to me.
** A book my sister simply gave to me.

 

[Lady Shatterstone]

Even though you aren't looking for anything too long I have a short list of good series.

Memory, Sorrow, and Thron - Tad Williams
The Belgaraid -David Eddings
The Malloreon -David Eddings (these two use the same charcters)
The Liveship Tradres -Robin Hobb
The Farseer-Trilogy -Robin Hobb (There is another trilogy with the same characters, but I haven't had a chance to read it. The Tawny Man I finally get read it now that it is all in paperback. YAY!!!!)
Dragon Prince-Melanie Rawn
Dragon Star-Melanie Rawn (these two also use the same Characters. I found that I had to read the next series I got so wrapped up in the first one.)

Hope that helps. These are really good book!! Then again I am a huge fantasy fan. I am probably one of the who liked Shadow Moon, Shadow Dawn, and Shadow Star by Chris Claremont and George Lucas. It is a Triolgy that takes place after the moive Willow. Like I said I hope that gives you some good ideas. Take care.

~Lady Shatterstone

 

[Yig]

I strongly suggest Heroes Die (review: http://www.curledup.com/hero_die.htm) and it's sequel Blade of Tyshalle (review: http://www.curledup.com/blade.htm).

A different kind of fantasy. Hope you like explicit violence and a lot of colorful language

 

[Zaukrie]

Any book by Guy Kay Gavriel (I may have just spelled his last name wrong). Any book.