What is the single best fantasy novel of all time?

[Dioltach]

Is it just my imagination/fake news, but wasn't Raymond Feist, Tracy Hickman, and George RR Martin all in the same RPG group?

That would make for some... interesting party dynamics.

 

[HalfOrc HalfBiscuit]

Mervyn Peake’s Titus Groan.

That's the one I'd have to pick as well (although I'd want to cheat and add Gormenghast as well since they're really one story).

Honourable mention to The Warrior who Carried Life by Geoff Ryman.

 

[Ralif Redhammer]

Barbara Hambly's "The Ladies of Mandrigyn." Hambly never gets enough credit.

I haven't read The Ladies of Mandrigyn yet, but she is a great, underrated writer.

I really liked a few of WJW's books. Hardwired was pretty influential on Cyberpunk and Shadowrun, and Voice of the Whirlwind and Angel Station are just some great sci-fi.

Hardwired is a razor-sharp piece of cyberpunk fiction. Granted, if the discussion was "what is the single best cyberpunk novel," the answer would likely always be Neuromancer. But heck, Hardwired is a book that moves.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Hey! Science fiction thread is next!

 

[Irlo]

That's the one I'd have to pick as well (although I'd want to cheat and add Gormenghast as well since they're really one story).

And we’ll just pretend that Titus Alone never existed.

 

[AnotherGuy]

Well this is a great thread to source some decent fantasy reading material.

 

[Eyes of Nine]

I hadn't heard that, but I know GRRM and Walter Jon Williams were in the same gaming group. Most frequently playing GURPS.

Maybe it was James SA Corey (Ty Franck specifically)

 

[HalfOrc HalfBiscuit]

And we’ll just pretend that Titus Alone never existed.

we are of one mind

 

[Larnievc]

Is it just my imagination/fake news, but wasn't Raymond Feist, Tracy Hickman, and George RR Martin all in the same RPG group?

They might have been the Thursday Nighters?

 

[Von Corellon]

Stormbringer - Michael Moorcock
I grew up on Tolkien and Alexander but this caught my attention in Sixth Grade. Never been the same …