What's your all-time favorite fantasy series?

[Velenne]

And why?

Mine is the Dark Tower series by Stephen King. The guy is just a brilliant storyteller. The way it jumps around from fantasy, to western, to modern, and all over his other books is phenomenal. Huge scope, awesome characters, chilling scenes.

Melanie Rawn is also up there among my list of favorites. Her Exiles series has been delayed for nearly 6 years now, but the first two books (Ruins of Ambrai and Mageborn Traitor) are filled with the best political intrigues of any series I've ever read.

Finally, George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire series is on par with Rawn's work. Go pick up A Game of Thrones and you won't be disappointed. It's very low magic, though.

 

[Crothian]

Mine's the Valdemar series by Mercedes Lackey. More then any other fantasy author she goes into the personalities and relationships of her characters. Most fantasy are event driven books, but hers are character driven most of the time.

 

[Mr Fidgit]

the Discworld series by Terry Pratchett. way too funny!

(i'm not too sure about the Darktower series, Velenne. haven't you ever been reading one of those stories and said, "what the hell is going on here?" i've read most of King's works, and these books leave me frazzled.)

 

[Velenne]

I kinda dig the weirdness factor of it. Midworld is the center of all the timelines in existance, so ya it's a little off-kilter. But that's King for you. He considers Dark Tower to be his life's work -something he'll be working on until the day he dies, most likely. Being a strange guy, it's bound to be a strange series.

 

[Jeremy]

Heh. You mean you haven't heard?

King reports he's done writing books five and six. The tentative publication schedule slots five for fall 2003, six for spring 2004 and seven in fall 2004.

Currently wrapping the seventh and final volume of THE DARK TOWER series, King was quoted as saying "Once these books are done there is nothing else to say."

In an exclusive cover story, ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY magazine reports that Stephen King has "written his last book."

Source Link

 

[Jarval]

Robin Hobb's Farseer trilogy is far and away my favourite. Well written, with interesting characters and a strong political plotline.

 

[Eternalknight]

the Discworld series by Terry Pratchett. way too funny!

I concur. The guy is a genius!

 

[Velenne]

What are the Discworld and Farseer series' about?

 

[Andrew D. Gable]

Can't say about Farseer, but Discworld is a very loose series (from what I've read of it). It's really a number of lesser series, which in turn are composed of independent stories with recurring characters. Although I think some of them are series proper... any rate, it's gotta be up around 20 books by now. Probly more.

But it is undeniably cool. Kinda a fantasy version of Hitchhiker.

 

[Jarval]

What are the Discworld and Farseer series' about?

The Farseer books are about Fitz, the illegitimate son of a prince, raised by the master of the king's stables. While exploring the castle, he comes across an advisor to the king, who also acts as his assassin. He becomes apprenticed to him, following into his master's trade.

There's a lot more to the trilogy than that, but basically it follows Fitz's life during his service to the king and his family.