[OT] Which do you think are the best fantasy novels/authors?

[Tsyr]

You're free to like the Drizzt books or not (I like some of them), but let's be honest... they are not, and never will be, "great literature".

I'll nominate Katherine Kurtz (I think that's the name)'s books... The Deryni series... Excelent books.

 

[blackshirt5]

Michael moorcocks, Elric books (some not all)

Yeah, I just picked up his new one the other day. What a rivetting story idea. ELRIC VS. THE NAZIS!!!!!!!!!!!!

I haven't read it yet, it's either gonna be godly, or complete and utter worthless garbage.

 

[Michael Dean]

I highly recommend Glen Cook, either the "Black Company" series or the "Garret Files" series. I've always had a problem with the trend in fantasy novels of characters having names that are 26 letters long and seem to try to use every letter in the alphabet. Very refreshing to see all the main characters in the Black Company have nicknames; Goblin, One-Eye, Silent, etc...
Plus the Taken are the coolest bad guys ever!!!

 

[Richards]

And let's not forget Gene Wolfe's "Torturer" series:

The Shadow of the Torturer
The Claw of the Conciliator
The Sword of the Lictor
The Citadel of the Autarch
The Urth of the New Sun

Johnathan

 

[Mr Fidgit]

Your friend is right, you DO have bad taste.

i'm afraid i have to disagree Wulf. the original question was...

Originally posted by blackshirt5
What do you consider the great books of fantasy?

are Rowlings books great works of literature? nah, but i think they're a great read. i also think Pratchett's Discworld books are great stories too, simply because they make me laugh

 

[Buttercup]

Umbran's definitions are right on the mark, I think. Keep in mind that most of this is merely IMO. The only one about which there is no credible argument is Tolkein.

Great Literature: Tolkein, Moorcock, Lord Dunsany, Silverberg, LeGuin, Elizabeth A. Lynn.

I like, but are in no way 'Great Literature: Eddings, Martin, McCaffrey, Lackey (some of her stuff is horrid, some wonderful), Ru Emerson, Glen Cook.

Authors I think are shameless hacks: R. A. Salvatore, Terry Brooks, Robert Jordan, Terry Goodkind, and a whole host of others.

Edit: Added a few I forgot. Edit again: Got an author's name wrong!

 

[Claude Raines]

Robin Hobb's Liveship Traders series and her Assassin series are both excellent.

 

[Enforcer]

I like George R. R. Martin, Robert Jordan, David Eddings, R. A. Salvatore, and J. K. Rowling; in roughly that order from favorite to least favorite (least favorite still being damn good). I also liked the Dragonlance Chronicles and the other trilogy where Tasslehoff and Raistlin time travel.

Just a thought for all you Drizzt-haters out there, give The Demon Awakens a try...it's not Forgotten Realms, and the youngest son of house Do'Urden is nowhere to be found. And I loved the whole Demon War trilogy--it's much better than all the Drizzt books, except for maybe Homeland. Don't buy it, just see if your library has a copy. Though be warned, I've not been fond of the last couple books after the trilogy.

All in my opinion of course.

 

[JeffB]

I have not read the Harry Potter books, but I did finally see the first movie, and honestly I don't know what the big deal is. It was an entertaining story for kids, but I'm not sure I see why so many adults love/d it...even fantasy buffs...but that's just me I guess..

Tolkien is my absolute fave by far...

I also like Michael Moorcock (I like the Corum books just as much as Elric, really). I've only read the 1st WOT novel, but I do like Jordan's work there. And I've got about 1/3 the way through a T. Goodkind novel, and think it's fairly good.

I also really like the original DragonLance trilogy...good read without being too cheesy like the majority of FR books.


I really don't have much time to read these days..when my 3 year old gets a little older and has an inkling of an attention span, I'll start reading him the good classic fantasy stuff...Hobbit, Narnia, etc...

 

[Tsyr]

I have not read the Harry Potter books, but I did finally see the first movie, and honestly I don't know what the big deal is. It was an entertaining story for kids, but I'm not sure I see why so many adults love/d it...even fantasy buffs...but that's just me I guess..

As always, don't judge the book by the movie... I love the books, but was unimpressed with the movie.