Need a recommendation on good fantasy books

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Looney

Lifer
Jun 13, 2000
21,938
5
0
Originally posted by: DanTMWTMP
Enchantment By Orson Scott Card. Probably one of the coolest takes on the fantasy genre. It's an "what-if fantasy takes place or happens w/ real-world modern people?" very interesting, and i loved it. I'm just sad that there's only one book for the whole story.

I hated Enchantment, i thought it was juvenile. Comeon, kids making malatov cocktails and defeating knights, making a glider for the first time and flying over into a castle, etc etc.

If you want fantasy that takes place in the real world, read stuff like LK Hamilton Anita Blake series (at least until book 10 or so when she turns into softcore porn instead).
 

pontifex

Lifer
Dec 5, 2000
43,804
46
91
You can't get much more action than Conan. Robert E. Howard also has several other characters that have lots of action. Solomon Kane, Kull, Cormac Mac Art, Bran Mak Morn (these are more historical fiction, except for Kull, but still have lots of action and fantasy aspects).

Another vote for Fafhrd and the Grey Mouser


The Discworld books re great too. Not usually a whole lot of action but a great read and full of comedy.

The Complete Irish Mythology by Lady Gregory

 

Shadowknight

Diamond Member
May 4, 2001
3,959
3
81
I forgot,: Dave Duncan, the gilded chain, the man of his word series (5 books)
I think it's out of print, but the gandalara cycle
Gamearth
Dreampark - SORTOF fantasty, albeit in a holodeck
the guardians of the flame (and some of it's sequals)
doomfarers of comendrade (and it's sequal) - might be out of print
The Dark is Rising series
Magic Time
Darwath trilogy - Barbara Hambly - she writes a bunch of good ones, actually
A cup of clay
Robert Asprin's "Myth" series
Discworld - Terry Pratchett
In the Net of Dreams
The last legionary (well, sci fi, but I liked it)
There was one about a guy from Earth who got sucked into another world, and he got a silver armlet - but I can't remember the rest. It's in storage, somewhere
Book of Swords series by Fred Saberhagen
The Wiz Biz - Rick Cook
With a Single Spell
Master of the Five Magics
Narnia series
If you can track down a copy of the old-school Grimm's Fairtales, with all of the blood and gore intact, it's pretty entertaining
Mythologies of verious religions are pretty good too

I got a lot of these books from my brother, and in the early 80's there were TONS of books about people from earth going into a fantasy land. So that's what most of them are like.

Sci-fi, but the Wildcards series is good, but except for a couple of hardbacks put out in the last few years, they are VERY hard to come by and while good, are very very VERY dark.

Some misspellings may apply to the above
 

d4mo

Senior member
Jun 24, 2005
588
0
0
Well as of right now I'm leaning towards either Song Of Ice and Fire...or....The Malazan Book of the Fallen Series. Maybe more towards Song because I don't know if I want to keep track of so many characters. Although if one of these 2 has awesome sex scenes with hot ladies I may be able to swing my vote haha :p
 

StevenYoo

Diamond Member
Jul 4, 2001
8,628
0
0
Originally posted by: d4mo
Well as of right now I'm leaning towards either Song Of Ice and Fire...or....The Malazan Book of the Fallen Series. Maybe more towards Song because I don't know if I want to keep track of so many characters. Although if one of these 2 has awesome sex scenes with hot ladies I may be able to swing my vote haha :p

ice & fire is full of sex and whatnot.

malazan... not as graphic as ice & fire
 

Sentrosi2121

Platinum Member
Aug 8, 2004
2,567
2
81
Moorcock's Hawkmoon books are great! First set of books I always recommend. Along with the Elric saga and Corum books.

Glad to see someone else likes Goodkind, though I haven't gotten Chainfire yet.

Started to read "His Dark Materials" trilogy. Pretty good so far. The Golden Compass is being made into a movie due out at the end of this year. Steampunkish.

Mallorean and Belgaraid are both very good books. Always love the bantering between dad and daughter. Classics, to be sure. (Silk is awesome)

 

StevenYoo

Diamond Member
Jul 4, 2001
8,628
0
0
Originally posted by: Sentrosi2121

Mallorean and Belgaraid are both very good books. Always love the bantering between dad and daughter. Classics, to be sure. (Silk is awesome)

Belgariad kicks major ass.

Malloreon was not nearly as good. The dialogue becomes tired and predictable after a while
 

trOver

Golden Member
Aug 18, 2006
1,417
0
0
The Bartimaeus Trilogy -BY FAR the best fantasy action series IMO. Main character has a VERY amuzing scarcastic/smart ass additude to him, and I crack up every time I read them.

Book 1: The Amulet of Samarkand
Book 2: The Golem's Eye
Book 3: Ptolemy's Gate

I can believe no one else has commented on this triology yet!
 

StevenYoo

Diamond Member
Jul 4, 2001
8,628
0
0
Originally posted by: trOver
The Bartimaeus Trilogy -BY FAR the best fantasy action series IMO. Main character has a VERY amuzing scarcastic/smart ass additude to him, and I crack up every time I read them.

Book 1: The Amulet of Samarkand
Book 2: The Golem's Eye
Book 3: Ptolemy's Gate

I can believe no one else has commented on this triology yet!

never heard of this, I'll definitely check it out.
 
Nov 3, 2004
10,491
22
81
Originally posted by: trOver
The Bartimaeus Trilogy -BY FAR the best fantasy action series IMO. Main character has a VERY amuzing scarcastic/smart ass additude to him, and I crack up every time I read them.

Book 1: The Amulet of Samarkand
Book 2: The Golem's Eye
Book 3: Ptolemy's Gate

I can believe no one else has commented on this triology yet!

it's not THAT good...
 

BlueWeasel

Lifer
Jun 2, 2000
15,944
475
126
What's a good recommendation for someone who really enjoys Martin's Song of Fire and Ice, but generally not other, typical fantasy? I love Martin's series, but can't really seem to enjoy other fantasy works that I've tried. Granted, I've only tried a few, though.
 

Fineghal

Member
Apr 6, 2006
170
0
0
Terry Goodkind. He get's a little preachy sometimes.

A modern-esque fantasy (thought op might not like) The Dresden Files (series).
 

StevenYoo

Diamond Member
Jul 4, 2001
8,628
0
0
for a more modern "Alice in Wonderland" kind of book, read Neil Gaiman's "Neverwhere"

"American Gods" is another awesome book of his
 

TheAdvocate

Platinum Member
Mar 7, 2005
2,561
7
81
1. A Song of Fire & Ice - George RR Martin

2. Wheel of Time - Robert Jordan

3. Belgariad - David Eddings

4. Magician, Silverthorn & Darkness at Sethanon - Raymond Feist

5. Dragon Prince Trilogy - Melanie Rawn

My favorite 5 outside of LotR. As others have said though, Martin write's on a much more adult level than the others. Don't overlook Melanie Rawn. In a genre full of geeky, testosterone driven fare for 15 year old boys, her perspective from the opposite sex is a breath of fresh air, rather than ponderously feministic. In fact, it's surprisingly action packed and pretty well written.

I'd put the Death Gate Cycle in there, but it was extremely derivative/repetitive of the Dragonlance Chronicles. Zifnab/Fizban included (though he was good comic relief). The other stuff above is better.
 

meltdown75

Lifer
Nov 17, 2004
37,548
7
81
I liked David Gemmell, pretty easy reading though - you can finish his books in a day or so.
 

Dogo

Member
Mar 14, 2007
119
0
0
Kinda serious/older audience fantasy:
-Lord of the Rings trilogy, J.R.R. Tolkien
-A song of Fire and Ice series, George RR Martin
Fantasy for younger teens- but still enjoyable
-Inheritance series (eragon), Christopher Paolini
-Harry Potter series, JK Rowling
 

Howard

Lifer
Oct 14, 1999
47,982
11
81
Originally posted by: StevenYoo
Originally posted by: Sentrosi2121

Mallorean and Belgaraid are both very good books. Always love the bantering between dad and daughter. Classics, to be sure. (Silk is awesome)

Belgariad kicks major ass.

Malloreon was not nearly as good. The dialogue becomes tired and predictable after a while
That's because he was finished being original after the Belgariad. :p