Recommendations for a good read?

[BadMojo]

My recommendation: Steven Brust's "Vlad Taltos" series. There are nine books: Jhereg, Yendi, Teckla, Taltos, Phoenix, Athyra, Orca, Dragon, Issola.

High fantasy setting with an interesting take on the whole Raise Dead issue. You can pick up the "Book of Jhereg", a collection of the first three books, for around $10-11 at various online booksellers. If you like that, the "Book of Taltos" covers the fourth and fifth books.

 

[darkbard]

two new authors who currently occupy spaces high on my list of quality fantasy authors are j. gregory keyes and thomas harlan.

keyes blends elements of native american and asian mythology and culture (he's an anthropology prof who grew up on a navajo reservation); imaginary language systems; strong, colorful writing; and an ability to tell a story in such a dramatic way you're unlikely to want to put the books down. his world in unlike anything in our own but has familiar elements that make it as believable and alive. check out "the waterborn" and "the black god". [and if you want a "test-run", some of his stories set in the same world (but with a different lead character) can be found in dragon magazine.]

harlan is in the process of completing the fourth (and final, due out this july) book in the "oath of empires" series. it's an alternate earth setting where rome didn't fall, magic (divine and arcane) works and is plausible (in context), lycanthropes come from the fog-shrouded lands of eastern europe, evil sorcerers and holy prophets from the lands of the middle east, and a powerful divine sorcerer is brother to the emperor of rome. once again, really solid writing, and by drawing upon real-world traditions (with regard to mythology, folklore, history, etc) produces an entirely believable world.

as for ye olde standby's: howard's conan books (if you can find some), any of kurtz's deryni books (for a medieval european feel).

 

[hong]

I'm looking for some help. I am in desperate need of a Good series of Fantasy Books to read. I just can't reread my old favorites anymore.

It sounds like you're burnt out on fantasy.

I recommend Counterstrike.

 

[olethros]

Terry Pratchett and more Terry Pratchett.

His later work is the best, but his earlier work is essentially satire on modern fantasy. Needless to say, he's the Douglas Adams of Fantasy...and he writes more books.

 

[olethros]

Also check out the Earthsea series by Ursula K. LeGuin if you haven't already.

 

[XCorvis]

Originally posted by olethros Also check out the Earthsea series by Ursula K. LeGuin if you haven't already.

Ah, you just beat me to it.

Earthsea ROCKS!


Guy Gavriel Kay has different styles in different books. If you like some, you might not like others. I happen to like all of them, so far.

I also like Lawrence Watt-Evans, but his early work is much better than his recent stuff. The Misenchanted Sword and With a Single Spell are great light reading.

If you're willing to read Sci-Fi, Sean McMullen is an excellent up and coming author. His trilogy that starts with Souls In the Great Machine is set in a minimum technology post-apocalypic earth, which isn't that far from fantasy.

 

[LostSoul]

D U N E.

 

[Heroditis]

Try Steven Brust's "Jhereg" series for a very interesting twist on classic fantasy, as well as tips on how to run a non-evil assasin!

 

[7thlvlDM]

Harry Potter

 

[mmadsen]

First, my current favorite author is also Neil Gaiman. I'm reading his book of short stories now, have read everything else he has written (incluing the comics), the man is fantastic.

I enjoyed Gaiman's writing on Sandman, but his Neverwhere read like Dunsany Lite. If you enjoyed Neverwhere, I heartily recommend Lord Dunsany's The King of Elfland's Daughter. In fact, even if you didn't enjoy Neverwhere, I heartily recommend Lord Dunsany's The King of Elfland's Daughter. It has a very dreamy, mythic quality, and it reads nothing like Tolkien (or modern Tolkien-derived fantasy).