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

[ColonelHardisson]

Re: Re

I haven't read much else besides these two books. I will immediately discard any book that uses a language style equivalent to modern day English. As soon as it seems like I am reading two modern day people speaking, I feel like I am watching an episode of Hercules: The Legendary Journies. The book immediately is cast aside.

You're free to read what you want, of course, but I've read T.H. White's "Once and Future King" several times (one of my favorite books), and he definitely uses rather modern-sounding dialog, especially when you consider when he wrote it.

CCamfield's suggestion of Eddison's "The Worm Ourobouros" is accurate - the language is pretty ornate, especially for a writer from the 20th century. Another that is along those lines, but maybe not quite as baroque, is William Morris' "Well at the World's End."

 

[Zaukrie]

Steven Brust - the Taltos books are pure entertainment, and well written.

Tad Williams, especially the first two books in his fantasy trilogy.

GG Kay - if you haven't read the Mosaicist Duology (?) and you like political, role-playing and some of the best prose written, you are missing something.

Moon's books set in the Deed of Parksinon world are what D&D and paladins are all about.

 

[CCamfield]

GG Kay - if you haven't read the Mosaicist Duology (?) and you like political, role-playing and some of the best prose written, you are missing something.

Sarantine Mosaic, I believe.

Moon's books set in the Deed of Parksinon world are what D&D and paladins are all about.

Paksenarrion? (Stupid, too hard to spell...) Anyhow, I agree. It's very much a D&Dish world without being official, and is a great portrayal of a paladin.

The old movie "El Cid" is pretty good for that as well, I think. But I digress...

 

[buzz]

Eddings

4) Eddings. Again, we've got an author who studied Chaucer and other medeival romantic literature, and deliberately set out to see if he could follow a 500 year old formula that was tremendously popular once, hasn't been done in 400 years, and see if it resonated with people. And it does, absolutely. Though, again, people who judge it by modern novel-writing standards find it lacking. Which, of course, it is in that regard.

It was my understanding (told to me by the ex who made me read the Belgariad) that Eddings' first book, High Hunt I think, which was not epic fantasy, sold really poorly. Eddings then said, "I bet if I wrote one of those multi-volume fantasy series people would buy it." The rest is history.

I have no idea if this is true. I am certainly willing to believe it, as reading the Belgariad was one of the most painful experiences of my life. I don't think it could be considered anything better than competent, by any novel-writing standard, and any reasons for it's continued popularity elude me.

What connection to Chaucer is there? I studied Chaucer, and I didn't notice any.

 

[drothgery]

I heartily recommend tracking down Gardens of the Moon, the first Malazan Empire book by Steven Erikson (who drothgery mentioned) The series is mostly military fantasy, and Erikson weaves a more complex world than Cook. The "Chain of Dogs" plot in the second book is just great. (Barbarian clans working for the Empire has to try to get thousands of refugees fleeing a rebellion to safety, while being attacked by rebel armies. Not a pretty story.)

Erikson really needs a US publisher. I've been ordering the paperbacks from Amazon.ca (so I won't get book three until next year), but it would be nice to have normal US quoting style and spelling.

 

[Maldur]

I have read and liked most books mentioned by others in this thread. I liked them for various reasons, but my current favorite writer (and I recommended his books so much its almost harassment) is Steven Erikson. His Malazan Empire is very good fantasy.

but it would be nice to have normal US quoting style and spelling.

I suggest you to try and get into the mood of the book. US quoting style and spelling might take some away, as the words are chosen by the writer not the publisher. That why I try to read books in their "native" language. Books loose something in translation, same goes for rewriting in another spelling. This goes double for fantasy as "archaic" words are used to give atmosphere in the telling. (And I bet you know what he means when he calls armor: armour )

Steven Erikson tells a great story, please let him use his own words.

PS does anyone know when the next book in the history of the Malazan Empire is scheduled?

 

[Celtavian]

Re

Umbran,

I highly disagree that modern day fantasy readers don't enjoy Tolkien. I might be able to see your point for young fantasy readers, but modern day.

Tolkien is an adult book requiring a higher level of comprehension than most fantasy books to grasp the story. Certain dialogue in the books is beyond most young peoples ability to comprehend.

Even I had a difficult time enjoying Tolkien when I was a youth. I was much too active and didn't want to sit around reading three big books.

When I reached adulthood, I finally picked them up and gave them a good read. I was amazed at what I did not appreciate when I was younger about Tolkien's amazing story.


Colonel Hardisson,

Hmmm...The Once and Future King seemed to use an older dialect of English. When I say modern, I pretty much mean last 20 years. I don't like to read modern day curse words and read dialogue attributable to a modern day twentie something.

I have not even heard of the other two books you mention. I will have to look up some background on the books, see if they are stories I might enjoy.

 

[Terraism]

I swear I posted this once. Betcha it got lost in a flurry of posts.

Carl Sagan. Either his stuff's terribly depressing - and, thus, wonderful, since I thrive on melodrama - or it's just sheer genius. Usually both.

 

[the Jester]

Tolkien may be the only author whose work will be remembered down the ages as "great literature." But there's a lot of fantastic stuff out there. I'll give you a list of books I especially like...

Roger Zelazny's Chronicles of Amber, especially the first series (there are two). Fantastic, thoughtful, epic... far more than our universe is at stake. You don't really know who's on who's side for sure. Excellent stuff.

Steven Brust's Jhereg series. This is the story of a group of high-level evil characters. Vlad, Morollan, Aliera and the rest are a great example of how an evil campaign can actually work.

Anything by Tad Williams. I do believe I've read it all and it all rocks. His 'Memory, Sorrow, Thorn' trilogy (of four books) is really really excellent.

Martin's Game of Thrones series (as long as you can take it when the main protagonists get slaughtered).

Beyone those, I'll add a vote for Thomas Harlan's Oath of Empires book; for the Chronicles of Thomas Covenent the Unbeliever, by Stephen R. Donaldson; for Stephen King's Gunslinger series; and for Moorcock. Hmm, there's a lot of Steves in there.

 

[drothgery]

I suggest you to try and get into the mood of the book. US quoting style and spelling might take some away, as the words are chosen by the writer not the publisher. That why I try to read books in their "native" language. Books loose something in translation, same goes for rewriting in another spelling. This goes double for fantasy as "archaic" words are used to give atmosphere in the telling. (And I bet you know what he means when he calls armor: armour )

Steven Erikson tells a great story, please let him use his own words.

PS does anyone know when the next book in the history of the Malazan Empire is scheduled?

That's ludicrous. You can't seriously think that the content or feel of a book is any different if dialogue is quoted like "this" instead of like 'this'. However it's a lot easier to read what you're used to. And "armour" doesn't look archaic, it looks British.