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Any good medieval fantasys?

I read a ton of these type books, and Im always looking for new authors... WHo are your favorites?

I have read, and still read, Weis and Hickman, Feist, Slavatore, Tolkien, Jordan, and Goodkind.

Im probably missing a few... But thats most of my collection.

Any suggestions?

George R.R. Martin's "A Song of Ice and Fire." It's still going, there's only been like 3 books, but it's quite good.

David Eddings: the Belgariad (5 books), the Mallorean (5 more books), and three more assoicated books after that. One of the most immersive worlds ever created.

Sara Douglas: The Wayfarer Redemption

The Fool on the Hill by Matt Ruff
not exactly medival fantasy but it works... get this book, seriously.

A friend of mine got me onto a trilogy by JV Jones that I really enjoy. It's called the "Book of Words".

I am not a huge fantasy reader, but I'm on the third book, and it's been a great trip through and through.

If you're at all interested, here is the prologue to the first book.
http://jvj.com/bakerpro.html

I'll be looking up some of the provided suggestions here, as I have a difficult time sorting through the massive amount of books at the store ;)

Thanks !

I take it you've read all of the Dragonlance books? Hence the Weis and Hickman reference? Or at least some of them? I just finished the last book in the main storyline. Good stuff, sad though (plotwise).

I like all of Stephen Lawhead's books, his Taliesin - Merlin - Arthur trilogy is my favorite. I would recommend those to anyone. :)

T.H. White-The Once and Future King
Sir Gawain the Green Knight (author unknown)
Beowulf is good too.
yeah, I'm a dork.

The george martin fire and ice series
greg keyes briar king books
jv jones ice books
terry brooks shanara series
d eddings had a good run on the first series
ray fiest riftwar series
tad williams thorn series

Quote:

Originally posted by Redjake
I take it you've read all of the Dragonlance books? Hence the Weis and Hickman reference? Or at least some of them? I just finished the last book in the main storyline. Good stuff, sad though (plotwise).

All of the ones (I think) they wrote... Chronicles, Legends, Soulforge, and a few of the preludes.

Ill have to check these out, thanks for the recomendations.

I love Beowulf!

And should any of you get the chance, check out the authors I mentioned... PM me for specific books, I can tell ya which books comes first... etc.

The Deathgate Cycle by Tracey Hickman and Margaret Wise is very good.

Robin Hobb - Assassin series, Mad Ship series
C.S. Freidman - Coldfire trilogy

both these series have very realistic character development, something often missing in modern fantasy. it's for that same reason that i dis-recommend the dragonlance/D&D derivative novels (not to piss off those who recommended them ;)) i feel that it's much more involving to read about a world and characters who seem like they were generated by rolls of dice and a book of fantasy standards.

Bone Dolls Twin
Kushiels Dart
Dragon Prince
The Magic of Recluse

Those and their sequels are all excellent offerings in the fantasy genre, but I'm not sure what medieval fantasy is, so may or may not be up your alley.

Anything with swords, magic, dragons, castles and the like is medieval fantasy. Anything that seems like it could have taken place in the "Dark Ages" or "Medieval Age" on some other world, or even this one. Hell Arthurian legend is medieval fantasy.

"A Song of Ice and Fire" is totally awesome, not everyone likes it, but those who do are complete rabid fanboi's. It's basically all about Martin emotionally skull fucking you.

The Legend of Huma is good too, that's a Dragon Lance book.

Quote:

Originally posted by Jesus Pimp
The Deathgate Cycle by Tracey Hickman and Margaret Wise is very good.

I've heard really, really good things about the Deathgate Cycle as well. I've never read it, but a friend of mine said it was simply amazing.

I guess all I can add is more Dragonlance books (I'm another huge fan). Make sure you've read at least the main storyline! After the Legends, there's The Second Generation, and then Dragons of a Summer Flame. If ya wanna go past that, I'd read the War of the Souls trilogy as well (Dragons of a Fallen Sun, Dragons of a Lost Star, Dragons of a Vanished Moon).

-Lasereth

I got the chronicals (main story) legends, summer flame, second generation, preludes, soul forge, brothers in arms, but yet to read war of the souls

After I saw LOTR I had a few "medieval fantasies" about Liv Tyler. :p

Fionavar Tapestry, by Guy Gavriel Kay

Steven Erikson's Malazan Book of the Fallen series. Best I've read in a long, long, long, long, long time. Maybe ever. Massive scope, superlative writing style, great characterization and an amazingly complex world history.
It's not available in the US yet, but order it (first four books out in the UK/Canada) online, you won't be disappointed. Each book runs about a thousand pages, and you will not be able to stop reading until it's done!
God I can't wait for book five........:(

EDIT: The day I post this I get an e-mail from Amazon to tell me they've shipped it. Yay!

Man, i'm just getting into "the once and future king" by T.H. White. It's a comical, hitchhiker's guide-esque take on the arthurian legend. It's the schnizzle.

Quote:

Originally posted by mercury-hg
C.S. Freidman - Coldfire trilogy

Another two thumbs up for this series. Very entertaining books - something for both the sci fi and fantasy fan in me. Loved 'em.

I know they're kid's books, but when I was young I read Lloyd Alexander's books about the Black Cauldron, Gwydion, and Taran, the assistant pig-keeper. My wife teaches 5th grade reading, and a few months ago, I found them in her classroom and reread them. It was pretty cool.

Found a description of them on Google here

Quote:

The Book of Three (1964)

The Book of Three (1964)
'Taran dreams of adventure, but nothing exciting eve happens to an Assistant Pig-Keeper - until his pig runs away. A chase through the woods leads Taran far from home and into great danger, for evil prowls the land of Prydain. With a collection of strange and wonderful friends whom he meets on his journey, Taran finds himself fighting so that good may triumph over evil - and so that his beloved home will not fall to a diabolical fiend.' From the books back cover.

This is the first book in the five part "Chronicles of Prydain". It is here we first meet Taran - Assistant Pig Keeper - and all his friends. The landscape of Prydain is lavious and the action gripping. It is a pitty that the Prydain Chronicles are classified as childrens books. While children enjoy the books on one level, the books also have things to say for young adults and above.

The Black Cauldron (1965)
'Peace reigns in Caer Dallben, where Taran works as Assistant Pig-Keeper, but evil threatens the rest of Prydain. The diabolical Arawn's army grows every day, and his terrible warriors never die. They are born in the Black Cauldron from stolen bodies of slain soldiers. If evil is to be defeated, the cauldron must be destroyed, Taran volunteers to travel to Arawn's stronghold and assist in the destruction of the dreaded cauldron. With his faithful friends reassembled, Taran marches off to face great danger with a courageous heart.' From the books back cover.

The pace of the action never lets up, you want to keep reading to find out what happens next. Interwoven with the action is Taran's journey into manhood. Taran learns that the choices you make can lead to both joy and sadness. This story is deeper and darker than the proceeding.

The Castle of Llyr (1966)
'Princess Eilonwy has accompanied Taran, Assistant Pig-Keeper, on all his adventures. But a princess needs special skills that can only be learned in a royal household, so she travels to the Island of Mona to begin her proper education. As it turns out, court life isn't as boring as it weems to the unwilling princess - friends and enemies appear in many guises, and danger hides in every corner. When Eilonwy disappears and disturbing rumors about the evil enchantress Achren surface, Taran and his companions undertake an exciting and terrifying mission to rescue their princess. But will Taran battle to save Eilonwy's life only to lose her in the end?' From the books back cover.

As Taran leaves his home, Dallben warns him: "For each of us comes a time when we must be more than what we are". Taran journey to manhood is a difficult path. Taran becomes aware of how deep his feelings for Eilonwy run. But it is the destiny of a princesses to be with a prince, not an Assistant Pig-Keeper.

Taran Wanderer (1967)
'Taran has been both Assistant Pig-Keeper and warrior, but his heart is troubles. Who are his parents? Where does he come from? In a quest to learn who he truly is, Taran travels Prydain seeking secrets long buried by time and silence.

Accompanied by his loyal friends, Taran begins he search. Maybe, if his parents are as noble as he hopes, Princess Eilonwy with the red-gold hair will think as often and as fondly of Taran as he finds himself thinking of her.' From the books back cover.

This is a coming of age story. Taran sets out on a quest hoping to find he is of noble birth, but his journey may do more to help him find himself. While there is still action in this quest the pace is a little different from the rest of the series. Many things happen that become quite significant in the final book.

The High King (1968)
'The sword of Dyrnwyn, the most powerful weapon in the kingdom of Prydain, has fallen into the hands of Arawn-Death-Lord. Now Taran, Assistant Pig-Keeper, and Prince Gwydion lead an army against the powerful lord. After a winter expedition filled with danger, Taran's forces arrive at Mount Dragon, evil's stronghold. There Taran is forced to make the most crucial decision of his life as he confronts the evil enchantress Achren and the diabolical Arawn.' From the books back cover.

This is a nail biting adventure. Our faithful compainions are constantly in the thick of action. All of the questions left by the previous stories are answered. I miss the compainons now that the chronicles are over. This is one series I'll definately read again and again.

The Foundling and Other Tales of Prydain (1968)
This is a collection of stories from Prydain. They all occur before the time of Taran. We learn a little of the history of Dallben and of the sword of Dyrnwyn. While they could be read at any time they are probably best read after reading the complete "Chronicles of Prydain".

I know, they was alot of LOTR imitation, (can't tell you how without spoiling it, ) but it was still pretty neat, and the inspiration was from Welsh legends, which kind of form a backdrop to the story, and predate Tolkien.

Im not a big reader, but the Redwall series by Brian Jacques
is pretty good. Suprised it hasnt been reccommended here yet.
Then again it is about mice and rats and squirrels with swords (basically)

Gotta love Wheel of Time.

When I started gettting hooked on Wheel of Time, I was worried that Robert Jordan wouldn't live long enough to finish it.
Now I'm worried that I won't!

You could also do some old classics:

the Fritz Leiber Fafhrd & Grey Mouser series

Howard/Carter Conan books