an insane reader's mostly fantasy thread

[high_jinx]

why am i an insane? besides being born that way, i've been gifted w/ way above average reading speed (about a page a min.) and i've constantly used and developed this ability to the tune of hundreds/thousands of books.

i've browsed around the entertainment forum, and have deduced that 1) theres a lot of intelligent readers on here and 2) that there's not enough threads or posts on books in the entertainment section.

so i've started this thread to help anyone who wants recomendations for good books and also discuss those books with those other intelligent readers. and if i'm lucky i'll hear about a few titles that will rock my world. i've read lots of different authors and genres, but my main love seems to be fantasy, supernatural/ghost, and scifi in that order. so i'd like to focus on those here.

ok, heres a couple titles/series you should go read right away...

Tad Williams: "Otherland" series
this is a trilogy of huge books that have a great blend of characters, settings, and plot twists that kept me hooked all the way through. Williams fantasy series starting with "the dragonbone chair" is also a gem of a series, but to me this one stands out as truly epic.

Robert McGammon: Swan Song (1 book)
McGammons not very well known from what i've seen, and the people that do know of him see him as a second string Stephen King, but i think he's got his own knack in writing. Swan Song has a lot in common with Kings "the Stand" but the world ends with nukes instead of disease, which makes a whole different set of problems and social fallout occur in the aftermath. the way he takes you through his character's experiences made me more involved in this book than many others i've read.

ok, that'll do it for now, but i'll be back with more soon.... thank you so much for checking this long post out!!

p.s. i'm very open to answering any ?'s i'm able to via this thread or pm's.....

[Bacchanal]

As far as fantasy goes, I'm not terribly interested in it. However, a friend turned me on to a series by Stephan R. Donaldson titled The Chronicles Of Thomas Covenant The Unbeliever. Wonderful series! Six books in total, though you could be content reading the first three. They take place both in the modern world, and an alternate world. They're about a man who suffers from leprosy who suddenly finds himself in some strange new world, and to top that off, he's supposedly the man who saves that world, though he's generally uninterested in doing so.

He called himself Thomas Covenant the Unbeliever because he dared not believe in the strange alternate world in which he suddenly found himself. Yet he was tempted to believe, to fight for the Land, to be the reincarnation of its greatest hero....

^^From Amazon.com

Another fantasy series that I've heard nothing but wonderful things about is The Wheel of Time series. I haven't read any of the books, but the same friend said I absolutely HAD to read them, and I've heard the same from numerous others.

[Slavakion]

Well, no fantasy thread would be complete without Piers Anthony's Xanth series. Only for those who like a light-hearted, pun-filled read.

There's always the classic Watership Down by Richard Adams.

Fallen Dragon by Peter F. Hamilton.

Any of Terry Brooks' novels are good, but you have to be in the mood. they tend to be a little dense.

And although their books aren't fantasy in the usual sense, try Stephen King, Dean Koontz, and John Saul. All are sort of a horror/fantasy type of thing.

[Kostya]

If I may, I think I shall bring my trademark brand of poorly disguised wankerdom to this thread and suggest a few old safe ones...

If you are indeed insane, then I highly reccomend that you go and find Fanz Kafka's 'Metamorphosis' which totally freaked me out and I don't know why.

In other news, Joseph Conrad rocks the kasbah and everyone should read at least Heart of Darkness, and from there Lord Jim and Chance too.

Those crazy Russians have kept me entertained, especially Fyodor with his nightmarish existential tales, Brothers Karamazov haunts me still. Tolstoy of course.

Well for now I'm going to bow out before people start hurling rocks at me.

[high_jinx]

thanks for the posts so far.... i've read the entire unbeliever series and thouroughly enjoyed it. i've also read most of terry brooks, and all the king, koontz and saul books (told ya i'm insane!) fallen dragon is new to me though, and i'll check it out...

if you liked watership down you might want to check out "tailchaser's song". it's along the same lines but with cats instead of rabbits. it's actually by the guy i reccomended earlier from otherland, Tad Williams.

if you enjoyed the unbeliever series check out terry goodkind's Seeker of truth series. it's very involvingly written, and especially good through the first 5 volumes.

wheel of time i'd probably hit up last out of all those, because it ends up getting kind of stretched thin as it's volumes keep coming out. right now jordan's on the eighth or ninth one i started to lose interest at about vol. 6.

since fantasy's not everybody's thing i'll close this post with a scifi recomendation. neal stephenson's gotten a lot of hype the last couple of years for "cryptonomicon", but my favorite book of his is "snow crash". it's writing style is very slick; it reads kind of like a matrix movie, the action never stops, and the main guy's name is Hiro Protagonist....... how cool is that?!

[Homey_V]

wheel of time i'd probably hit up last out of all those, because it ends up getting kind of stretched thin as it's volumes keep coming out. right now jordan's on the eighth or ninth one i started to lose interest at about vol. 6.

I find that Jordan's series actually improves alot in the last few. The sevent book was by far the worst, but 8, 9 and 10 have been picking things up (He's working on the eleventh) and personally, I thought the sixth was the best, but thats just me.

Also, I suggest Terry Goodkind, Guy Gavriel Kay (The Fionovar Tapestry is an AMAZING trilogy) Terry Pratchett for a quick but satisfying laugh, George R.R. Martin's A Song of Fire and Ice is very interesting too. Thats all I can think of for now.

[Locke7]

Well, you said you like Sci Fi third so here goes. There is a series by Orson Scott Card that starts with the book Ender's Game. The first book is very good, but the series really is amazing. I read the first book when I was in 8th grade and over the past few years re-read the first book and then all the rest in the series. I've realized it was way over my head back in the school days, and was very impressed by the whole series.

You know I'm serious because my login name here came from those books. Locke was used as a pen name by one of the characters in the book.

[drewg]

Originally Posted by Bacchanal

As far as fantasy goes, I'm not terribly interested in it. However, a friend turned me on to a series by Stephan R. Donaldson titled The Chronicles Of Thomas Covenant The Unbeliever. Wonderful series! Six books in total, though you could be content reading the first three.

I liked the second trilogy the most. Stephen R. Donaldson said in an interview that he also had ideas for a third trilogy, but I don´t know if he´ll ever write it.

The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant is really the only fantasy serie I can reccomend (besides Lord of the Rings). The other fantasy series I´ve read are only average at best. I feel way too many fantasy novels are plagued by extremly pointless protagonists who are unnaturally good and strong. So good and strong that you never really feel that the bad guys have a chance. For example the last fantasy serie I read, "The wayfarers redemption" by Sarah Douglas... 3 thousand pages and I more or less could guess the whole story after p500. Stay away from that

[Charlatan]

I read the Thomas Covenant series and I really didn't like it... It was some time ago when I read them so I can't really say what it was that bothered me about them but I just remember forcing myself to plod through *all* of the books and being completely unsatisfied... This is noteworthy only in that I've read and continue to read a lot of sci-fi/fantasy novels and this is the one stand out in all that I've read, that I really disliked.

As for recommendations, try anything by Neal Stephenson... I just finished bood two of his Baroque Cycle, which is a sort of prequel to his amazing Crytonomicon... If you haven't read Snow Crash or The Diamond Age you really should.

I'd also recommend, Fiest's Riftwar Saga... the first four books are the best. Magician: Apprentice, Magician: Master, Silverthorn and Darkness at Sethanon. The other books in this series range from Good to middling.

[Kadath]

A good scifi series is Dan Simmons' Hyperion saga. In fact, almost all of his books are excellent, though about half are supernatural/horror. The Robot City books (by several different authors but with Asimov's name on them) are solid. I find Thomas Covenent to be dull, but Donaldson's Gap series is good.

[MPower]

Hyperion is good.
Otherworld is kinda sloggy. I would go with the Memory, Thorn and Sorrow books by Williams over that.
Song of Fire and Ice by Martin is great but brutal.
Covenant series left me kinda depressed.
The Briar King series by Keyes and the Ice series by Jones have both started off good.

[alansmithee]

Originally Posted by Kostya

If I may, I think I shall bring my trademark brand of poorly disguised wankerdom to this thread and suggest a few old safe ones...

If you are indeed insane, then I highly reccomend that you go and find Fanz Kafka's 'Metamorphosis' which totally freaked me out and I don't know why.

In other news, Joseph Conrad rocks the kasbah and everyone should read at least Heart of Darkness, and from there Lord Jim and Chance too.

Those crazy Russians have kept me entertained, especially Fyodor with his nightmarish existential tales, Brothers Karamazov haunts me still. Tolstoy of course.

Well for now I'm going to bow out before people start hurling rocks at me.

I'd second Metamorphosis, it's a pretty grim story. Joseph Conrad seems a little dated to me (although anyone who liked Apocalypse Now should read Heart of Darkness). I've not read Tolstoy, but Dosteyefsky (sp?) never fails to impress.

More on the fantasy subject, I personally didn't like the Thomas Covenent series that much (and the second trilogy I found really horrible). I would recommend Michael Moorcock, Theodore Sturgeon, and Harlan Ellison. The last two did alot of short stories, but their novels are also top-notch. All tend more to sf than pure fantasy, but both the Elric and Corum series by Moorcock are more fantasy-styled.

[indigochild111]

I don't tend to read a lot of fantasy books, but I do read a lot!
My favorite fantasy trilogy that I've read is by Marion Zimmer Bradley. I've actually only read two out of the three, because she died during writing the final installment and it isn't as good as the first two. These two books are The Mists of Avalon and The Forest House.

As for Sci-fi I really love the way Michael Crichton writes. I like the way he can make something seem so realistic, such as bringing dinosaurs back from extinction.

This next book is not technically Sci-fi, but it's actually true. If you ever really want to freak yourself out then read THE HOT ZONE by Richard Preston because it was really good.

Now, since no one else has brought up classics...who else reads classics besides me? Personally I loved "A Streetcar Named Desire" even though it is a play and not a book.



And my alltime favorite book ever is The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky just because it is beautiful in its simplicity, and I could really relate to it

[high_jinx]

right on... i got a mix going now of some stuff to check out along a good bunch of my favorite authors..... card, simmons, pratchett... all these guys i've read a good portion of their series(all discworld)...card's ender series brings back great memories, and i've dug several simmons , chrichtons, and stephenson's.

orson card has a neato supernatural book called "the lost boys".... seperate from the vampire movie clasic, but great in it's own way.

off the top of my head the best two terry pratchett discworld novels are "small gods" and "moving pictures"... although they're all damn good reads on their own.

[Mephisto2]

I don't really read fantasy. Indeed, 90% of what I read is non-fiction; primarily history, genetics, paleoanthopology, evolutionary science, art and more history.

I was a bit of a Lord of the Rings freak when I was a kid, but haven't really read any fanstasy since then. It's mostly tripe if truth be told. Very formulaic.

I do like the science fiction of Iain M Banks and William Gibson. I guess I most be the only person in the world who lost interest in Cyptonomicon. It was just kinda boring.

I've heard good things about Perdido Street Station by China Mielvile [sp?].

And, as has been mentioned, Dan Simmmons's Hyperion series is absolutely superlative.

Mr Mephisto

[Slavakion]

Originally Posted by Mr Mephisto

I was a bit of a Lord of the Rings freak when I was a kid...It's mostly tripe if truth be told. Very formulaic.

Ahhh! Blasphemy!

I guess it is, but it set the stage for 90% of the standard fantasy novels that followed it. Not to say that there weren't fantasy novels before LOTR, but most are a derivative, in some way, of it.

[Mephisto2]

Originally Posted by Slavakion

Ahhh! Blasphemy!

I guess it is, but it set the stage for 90% of the standard fantasy novels that followed it. Not to say that there weren't fantasy novels before LOTR, but most are a derivative, in some way, of it.

No no, you misunderstand me. Lord of the Rings is great. It's mostly the rest of fantasy that is tripe. Both formulaic and derivative.

I've yet to read a fantasy book that comes anywhere NEAR Lord of the Rings in depth, plot and general all round entertainment.


Mr Mephisto

[RogueHunter65]

The best Sci-fi/Fantasy book I have ever read (other than Tolkien) is:

Canticle for Leibowitz by: Walter Miller
This book is about a post apoctoypic world. Truely amazing once it gets going.

[pocon1]

I put in a vote for Tim Powers. Everything I have read I enjoyed (except for a copy of his first book, Free Live Free, think he wrote it in high school). He writes excellent magic books and to me his best was Last Call, which was followed by Expiration Date and Earthquake Weather. To me, his storytelling and his use of magic is fantastic. Then check out his earlier Anubis Gate and The Drawing of the Dark. Common themes of his books are the Fisher King and the use of the Tarot.

[alarment13]

Originally Posted by roguehunter65

The best Sci-fi/Fantasy book I have ever read (other than Tolkien) is:

Canticle for Leibowitz by: Walter Miller
This book is about a post apoctoypic world. Truely amazing once it gets going.

I enjoyed this book as well, have yet to read any of his other works, but have heard good things about them

other then LOTR, my favorite sci-fi series has to be the Dune series
sure the last 2 of the six are not as strong, but the first one is really good and they seem to hit their stride around number 2 (Dune Messiah), 3 (Children of Dune) and 4 (God emperor of dune)

[Stare At The Sun]

Although this book isn't exactly LOTR, Drizzt Do'Urden is probably one of the best known, and most well liked fantasy characters. RA Savlatore writes a great novel, the Icewind dale trilogy, and all of his other books draw you in, and won't let you stop turning the pages. Think of these books as the Tom Clany's of Fantasy. Not horribly complex, but real entertaining page turners.

And ofcourse

Dune to most doesn't even need to be explained. It is an amazing book, and is on the top of my list.

[indigochild111]

Ugh, I must say that I personally do not like the way Salvatore writes. I read his version of Episode II of Star Wars and it was, well, mediocre at best. Terry Brooks did a much better job of Episode I. Anyways, I think I have a personal vendetta against Salvatore when I heard he killed off Chewie in one of his Star Wars books. As you can tell, I am a HUGE Star Wars fan, have been since I was a wee child, but I don't read any of the Star Wars series. And Salvatore just makes me angry!! *GRRRR*

[high_jinx]

i've read just about every forgotten realms book and then followed it up with all the ravenloft books and a smattering of dragonlance. it's not the greatest writing, but it's kind of a home base for my fantasy reading because i've played so much d & d.
i think of all salvatore's books like movies or grisham novels... i kind of read them like i'm watching a movie.
i enjoyed several elminster books out of the one's that have been written... it was especially fun following his youthful adventures in "making of a mage."

for today i'll go ahead and recommend the writings of neil gaiman. a lot of you might not know about the novels he's written outside his famous sandman comic book work. i really enjoyed all i've read... in particular start with "Good Omens" if you like Pratchett... they wrote it together. there's also "Neverwhere", a very cool Al in wonderland kind of thing.

[Val_1]

Second for Dans Simmons' Hyperion books. Excellent books. Funny, it took me forever to get started on the first book. I couldn't get into it at first and put it down and restarted several times. But, after about the fourth time starting it, I really got into it and couldn't put it down and immediatly bought the second book in the series.

I also love Lord of the Rings and read it every couple of years. I love the Dune books. I don't re-read all of those, but the origianl Dune, and God Emporor of Dune are the best IMO. I've been going through Arthur C Clarkes books lately (The Ramas, Childhood's end, halfway through the Odessy books). Been getting into alot of the older sci fi books, lately: Bradbury, Phillip Jose Farmer's Riverworld series. Love Robert J Sawyer. I would recomend his Calculating God to anyone. I just finished his Neanderthal Parallax series; Very good.

The Mars books by Kim Stanley Robinson are good; there's a few agravating parts, but great sci fi. I read Red Mars and just picked up the second book, Green Mars. Once I'm done with my Arthur C Clarke kick, I'll start reading that.

[Architeuthis]

George R. R. Martin has already gotten a few remarks. His "Song of Ice and Fire" is incredible. It is a huge story that is supposed to last 6 books or so. I think 3 is out and another is in the making( has been a long wait though )

Robin Hobb's books has the same depth and atmosphere as Martins books but they are not quite so brutal...well ..then again
They should be read in this sequence:
The Farseer Trilogy
The Liveship Traders
The Tawny Man

Robert Holdstock, a british fantasy writer, wrote a series of books that really broke the fantasy mold. "Mythago Wood" and "Lavondyss" may demand quite a bit of the reader, but they are both extremely rewarding. "Lavondyss" has one of the most memorable female characters imo.

Lynn Flewelling's Tamir Series deals with gender in a very original way..and talking about memorable characters; Brother is a wonder..

Sci Fi:

Never liked the Thomas Covenant books...The Gap Series i loved. There is one helluva rollercoaster ride in those books.

Ian Watson, The Embedding, The Jonah Kit, and almost any other book by him will blow your mind.


oh BTW..i think China Mieville is severely overrated. Not Dan Brown overrated though

[Homey_V]

The best Sci-fi/Fantasy book I have ever read (other than Tolkien) is:

Canticle for Leibowitz by: Walter Miller
This book is about a post apoctoypic world. Truely amazing once it gets going.

God! I cant believe someone actually liked that waste of ink and paper. I read that book in highschool and simply picking it up made my skin crawl. I thought it was possibly the most poorly written and devised science fiction novels I have ever read....

The Dune books are alright, Im currently on God Emperor of Dune, and it seems like Herbert is really stretching for ideas. Dune itself was a good book, but I wouldnt praise it too highly, but thats just my personal opinion. There was something about his writing style that bothered me...

I hate R.A. Salvatore myself. I've read a couple of his books (I honestly cant remember which ones, I so thouroughly hated his writing I was glad when I finished the books) and was either bored or aggravated. I just didnt like his writing at all...

I totally agree with high_jinx, read Neil Gaiman and Good Omens was one of my favourite books. Excellent author. Terry Pratchett is also fantastic.

[BuddyHawks]

For the Covenant fans here, Donaldson has begun his third trilogy and the first book is out. I'm asking for it for Christmas.
The Runes of the Earth (The Last Chronicles of Thomas Covenant, Book 1)

From amazon...

At the opening of The Runes of Earth, ten years have passed. Linden Avery comes home one day to find her child building images of the Land with blocks, and senses a terrible foreboding. She had thought that she would never again be summoned to the Land-nor ever again see her beloved Thomas Covenant. But in the Land, evil is unmaking the very laws of nature. . . .

[-Ever-]

I started a "Rate the last book you read" thread a while back for the same reasons you mentioned, but I can't find it at all. Seeing that the Entertainment forum is only 4 pages long, I'm thinking that some maintenence was done and the topic might be gone. It's too bad if so because there were some pretty good recommendations in it.

[high_jinx]

this is working out even better than i had hoped. keep those rec's coming and if you're curious about picking up something, post it here to gauge pop. opinion.

i agree with a lot of people here's take on salvatore. i probably wouldn't be very into them if not for their d&d backround. i certainly haven't ventured outside of his forgotten realms writing. his action/fight scenes are decent but his imagery and character development are kinda jr. high school level.... which perfectly lends itself to d&d i guess...

on that note i'm going to recommend to you all 2 of my favorite books of all time... they have the whole package. the author is an accomplished martial artist so his fight scenes couldn't be more fluid and exhilarating. his hero is a mixed bag but all hardass and you'll identify with him immediately. the world(s) he's created is the most perfect blend of fantasy and scifi i've seen, and as a bonus, the social reflections and warnings of where our world is heading are more apparent than any other book i've seen in this context.

without giving too much away, i'll tell you that this story takes place in the future when our technology has enabled us to teleport to alternate worlds/universes. one particular world we've found has become a favorite destination... it's chock full of elves, dwarves, magic, and everything else a dungeon crawler could dream about. anyway, we've taken to sending "actors" there, equipped with VR implants in their brains to record their experiences a la ahnold in total recall... there's a huge market for reliving them in vr cubes and if you're really wealthy you can share their adventures in real time.

the main character is the most badass asassin in the outworld... along with being the most famous "actor".his name's cain. and you'll never see as cool a frontman.

the titles?
Heroe's Die
Blade of Tyshalle

the author? Matthew Woodring Stover.

go check these books out right now and you'll jump right into his bronze age trilogy... which is almost as good.

[Pellaz]

Originally Posted by -Ever-

I started a "Rate the last book you read" thread a while back for the same reasons you mentioned, but I can't find it at all. Seeing that the Entertainment forum is only 4 pages long, I'm thinking that some maintenence was done and the topic might be gone. It's too bad if so because there were some pretty good recommendations in it.

And a good thread it was. The 4 pages in entertainment is just a setting, probably "only show posts from the last 60 days" or so.

http://www.tfproject.org/tfp/showthread.php?t=65012

[MPower]

Seeing how it is a 'mostly fantasy thread' how about a pure SF Book...

Armour by Steakley.

[Stick]

I read The Lord Of The Rings when I was a kid and have reread it many times since.
Terry Pratchett and his Discworld series of books is hilarious. I have 13 of them. I like the mix of comedy and fantasy. They're a fuckin' good laugh.
Michael Moorcock - Been reading his books since the mid 70's. I Identify with his tortured, twisted, Evil/Good Elric character.
The sword and sorcery books tend to follow a formula and I've gone off them in the last couple of years as they are so predictable. E.g. The world is in danger from a nameless evil - A party of heroes is gathered together - Said heroes run around stabbing people with their swords - The evil is vanquished, only to return in the next banal trilogy of tripe. Ho hum. Same old shit.
Kim Stanley Robinson - The Mars books. I liked them.
Just for a complete change of pace I've cracked open Dead Souls by Nikolai Gogol again.

[Tophat665]

Originally Posted by drewg

I liked the second trilogy the most. Stephen R. Donaldson said in an interview that he also had ideas for a third trilogy, but I don´t know if he´ll ever write it.

The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant is really the only fantasy serie I can reccomend (besides Lord of the Rings). The other fantasy series I´ve read are only average at best. I feel way too many fantasy novels are plagued by extremly pointless protagonists who are unnaturally good and strong. So good and strong that you never really feel that the bad guys have a chance. For example the last fantasy serie I read, "The wayfarers redemption" by Sarah Douglas... 3 thousand pages and I more or less could guess the whole story after p500. Stay away from that

The first book is out. It's called "The Runes of the Earth". Now, I like Donaldson's books. His settings are brilliant, and his concepts of magic are as nearly unique as any I have ever read (and I've read about a book a week for the last 24 years), but, and don't let this piss you of too much, he is one of the worst writers ever. It's like his thesaurus stickes open, and he'll use the same obscure word over and over and over and over and over. Inchoate, Ineffable, Laval, Coruscating. In Runes of the Earth, he uses the word "Formication" (meaning the sensation of ants crawling on one's skin) three times on a frickin' page. And what, precisely, are "Silently screaming shadows"? There's no help from context. All that said, I really do enjoy his books, but, damn, if he were half the writer, say, Roger Zelazney was, people would study him in highschool 150 years from now.

All trashing Donaldson aside, some other recommendations:
Glen Cook's "The Black Company", particularly the first three, but all 10 or so of them positively rock. It's written from the point of view of the physician and hisotrian of a long storied and none to pleasant mercenary company. It presents itself as his histories. It's dark without being utterly grim, and it's as realistic as any world with high powered mages could be.

Tad Williams "Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn" has already been mentioned, as has George R. R. Martin's, "Song of Ice and Fire" (damnit, man, finish "Feast of Crows" already!!!!!). Both of these are every bit as good as Tolkien, but not groundbreaking like his was (though Martin has some vicious politics in his that I have seen nowhere else.)

Stephen Brust, the Vlad Taltos series (starting "Jhereg", "Yendi", and "Teckla"). Main character is a professional assassin and all around neat guy. The writing is at times reminiscent of Roger Zelazney, and at other times, more like Raymond Chandler. (Wish Roger had lived long enough to collaborate with Brust. What a team they would have made!)

And so to Roger Zelazney. He is frequently right on the edge where Science Fiction meets Fantasy. "Lord of Light" in particular, but I can tell you very little more beyond it's my second favorite book ever, and you would benefit with some grounding in Hindu Myth and Indian history if you decide to read it (not that you need it, but it intensifies the book.) "Dilvish the Damned" and "The Changing Land" are pure fantasy in the heroic fairy tale mould, but with some sardonic self conciousness keeping it from becoming maudlin or sappy. In "Changeling" and "Madwand" and Evil Wizard's infant son is spared the wizard's destruction, but exchanged for an engineer's son from anther world. Events go from there. "Creatures of Light and Darkness" turns on Egyptian myth, in such a high technology future that Clarke's law applies, and it kicks back over into fantasy. "Jack of Shadows" is another one that explores the interface between magic and technology, with great results. Finally, no discussion of Zelazney is complete without mentioning Amber. Heroic Fantasy in the Hero's voice. IT doesn't get much better.

Another old school author I should mention: Michael Moorcock. His is the resposibility for the birth of the anti hero in fantasy. "Elric of Melniboné" is the first of the Elric series, about the Albino Sorceror King, last of his race, first to discover morality. Then there are the Corum books, the Hawkmoon books, Oswald Bastable, Von Beck, Ulric Skarsol, Ereköse, and several more, all aspects of the "Champion Eternal" as he calls it. Sure, he recycles his plots a bit, but they are good plots, and short books that read fast, and they are quite entertaining.

Finally, Neal Gaiman.

You all must go out and read, "The Sandman". Yes, I know. It's a comic book. This does not matter a bit. It is some of the best written literature in any genre in the entire 20th century. No Shit.

Edit: Write a post this long and someone will mention one of your points before you finish it. I see I am not the only Moorcock reader here. (Incidentally, a Moor Cock is a male Moor Hen, or Coot. Get your mind out of the gutter.)

[almostaugust]

* geek sheepishly emerges from woodwork

Hi all,
Yeah, i read alot of fantasy too. Most of my favourites have been mentioned so far. Though i was very dissapointed with most of The Wheel of Time stuff and the later stuff Goodkind, the first books were amazing though. I have recently started on an Anne Rice book, and im really loving it.
I actually made a documentary about people who are into fantasy called FantasyMen(which won a whole heep of awards over here in australia). You can read more about

[Kadath]

Originally Posted by Tophat665

Glen Cook's "The Black Company", particularly the first three, but all 10 or so of them positively rock. It's written from the point of view of the physician and hisotrian of a long storied and none to pleasant mercenary company. It presents itself as his histories. It's dark without being utterly grim, and it's as realistic as any world with high powered mages could be.

I've read the first three, as I have them in a collection, and they're excellent. I was wary of the rest, because I worry they may be assembly line. Another good series of his is the Garret books. I have the first three of those in a collection as well. Garret is similar to Croaker in voice, but the setting and plot are totally different. Very good as well.

[Stick]

Since finding this thread this morning I've started to read The Hollow Man by Dan Simmons. I put Dead Souls back on the shelf.

[Tophat665]

Originally Posted by Kadath

I've read the first three, as I have them in a collection, and they're excellent. I was wary of the rest, because I worry they may be assembly line. Another good series of his is the Garret books. I have the first three of those in a collection as well. Garret is similar to Croaker in voice, but the setting and plot are totally different. Very good as well.

Kadath, They are most definitely not assembly line stuff. If you read them all the way through, you actually get to find out what Khatovar was and why the black company has been kicking around in the north of the world. And I don't see any way he can proceed after the last one without it becoming an, assembly line, but it had not up through that point.

[Fire]

Glen cook kicks ass- and I second the "no assembly line " statement- they travel around the world, and span more that 20 years- and by the end? of the serries you only want more.... Brust rocks too- and I have said it before, but I will say it again, I hate thomas covenent, I was never able to get behind a hero who was a rapist- and he is- as well as spending the whole time refusing to belive his own eyes and bitching about having to be a hero- I just finished gregory frost's Tain- its a retelling of the irish myth of the cattle raid of cooley, and is by far the best way I have ever found to intro someone into irish myth- it is a great read, and worth anyone who wants to "get into" fantasy's time.....

[rickscales]

Like Kostya and Indigochild111, I'm more of a fan of classics than fantasy or supernatural.

However, if I had to reccomend a fantasy story, I'd have to agree with Slavakion and reccomend the 'Xanth' series. I don't think I've enjoyed any fantasy books as much as those (I only read the first three), but they were absolutely astounding.

If you'd like my educated opinion on what books everone should read before they die, please listen to me when I tell you to read 'A Prayer for Owen Meany' by John Irving. It's not fantasy, but it is heartwarming and lifechanging. Fifty years from now, I have no doubt in my mind that it will be taught in high schools because it will by then be considered a masterpiece.

Also, if you like the Discworld series, you should check out a book Terry Pratchet and Neil Gaiman worked on together called 'Good Omens.' It is written in a style undistinguishable from Douglas Adams (of 'Hitchiker's Guide' fame); the dry wit and irrational storyline will make you die. It's not exactly a fantasy story, but it definitely has its surreal elements.

[Mephisto2]

Originally Posted by rickscales

If you'd like my educated opinion on what books everone should read before they die, please listen to me when I tell you to read 'A Prayer for Owen Meany' by John Irving. It's not fantasy, but it is heartwarming and lifechanging. Fifty years from now, I have no doubt in my mind that it will be taught in high schools because it will by then be considered a masterpiece.

Actually, it already is.

Good book, but I wouldn't call it a masterpiece. I actually preferred The World According to Garp. I like Irving, but he has a lot of recurring themes; misogyny, mutilation (often of children), death, quirkiness.

He's no Joyce, Flaubert, Chekov, Dostevsky, Shakespeare or Steinbeck.