Now I'm on a quest to find the next books I'll read. And I thought we might have a few harcore readers in here ;)
Thanks and no, this is not off topic. It's LORE.
R. Scott Baker - The Prince of Nothing Trilogy
George R.R. Martin - A Song of Ice and Fire Series
Tad Williams - The Dragon Bone Chair (et al). Can't remember the name of the series of the top of my head.
All three are very engaging, with highly developed characters and a lot of intrigue (and swords and sorcery of course!).
im a bit of a bibliophile myself, although ive only recently delved into the world of what might be considered "fantasy" writing. some that ive enjoyed are:
Tolkien, Jordan & Martin - As previously mentioned :)
Roger Zelazny - Amber Chronicles
Naomi Novik - Temeraire series (the whole series is currently
being optioned by Peter Jackson)
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I also highly recommend these two, which don't exactly qualify as fantasy, but are still marvelous:
Susanna Clark - Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell
Elizabeth Kostova - The Historian
I've read and loved wheel of time (WoT) one of my favorts.
others that I liked are:
Terry Goodkind: sword of truth series...there is about 12 in all with 1 more to be released in about a year.
David forbes: amber wizard; this is his first book, and it's quite good...even has alot of necromancy in it.
Simon Brown: has a book series called: Keys of Power, it's got vampires and magic of all sorts in it, prophacy and other neto things...the ending was a bit odd from what I'm used to seeing so I got a bit ****** off about it(cause he killed people I liked). there is only 3 books in this one...a fairly quik read of sorts.
David eddings is good, start with the: belgariad, then the mellorian(? spelling).
A friend of mine lent me the first book of Raymond E. Feist's Riftwar Saga (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Riftwar_Saga) and I was hooked. It's a relatively old series so I don't know if it's still in print or not, but definately an engagin gread.
*G.R.R. Martin Series, ICE AND FIRE. I'm just now reading this... but it is excellent so far.
*Raymond Feist Series... RIFTWAR SAGA... And yes it is still in print. Feist has written other single books too which are excellent.
And actually after the 2nd book, it splits off into two different stories... One set in a European medeval setting (Riftwar Saga) and one in a Chinese/Japanese/Korean medeval type setting: DAUGHTER OF THE EMPIRE. The latter is focused around a woman warrior, which is very unique and interesting. Found this part of the series outstanding. Too bad he only wrote 3 books of this series. He branched out more with the Riftwar characters.
*Roger Zelazny's AMBER Series .... Loved this too.
Wheel of Time series. Wonderful start with first 3 books and last book was an improvement. Middle books were ok but I got tiring about how often he mentions how a dress makes someone boobs perk up. I like boobs but when you read about it every other page it gets tiring.
but I got tiring about how often he mentions how a dress makes someone boobs perk up. I like boobs but when you read about it every other page it gets tiring.
lol... you noticed that too?
To the OP:Elric Series. Seriously, no better books for messed up outside the box lore.
RE; Wheel of Time: Yeah, I managed to get to the 8th book of that series, but couldn't finish it. Got tired of reading too many things over and over. It was like he was just trying to fill up space. I'd scan paragraphs at a time, because they were all reapeating information over and over. But the scheme of the series is very in depth. Too bad he ruined it being verbose and belabored.
Melanie Rawn, Exiles series :) (Ruins of Ambrai, Mageborn Traitor)
I agree great series, still waiting for the third book.
As to the wheel of time, it got so bad that it was 3 pages of action, and 1000 pages of traveling, and repeating.
My favorite series
Fank Herbert: Dune
Terry Goodkind: Sword of Truth
JRR Tolkien: LOTR
David Eddings: Belgariad, Mallorian
Terry Brooks: Shannara series'
L Ron Hubbard: Mission Earth Decology (10 book seires)
If I recall correctly, Lineage itself has a series of novels in Korean... I am not sure if the game spawned the novels or the novels spawned the game. I don't believe they exist in English though.
I liked many of the series listed here. My only additions I can think of:
* Weiss and Hickman, especially The Deathgate Cycle and Rose of the Prophets.
(Caveat: If some guy tries to get you to read the Darksword Trilogy, kick him in the family jewels and run! I can't fathom how two talented authors can take an intriguing idea and botch it as badly as they did. I guess nobody bats 1000)
* Although these are not "traditional" swords and sorcery fantasy, Clive Barker has some interesting fantasy novels aimed at younger readers (but still entertaining to adults). The Thief of Always and the Abarat books are entertaining.
You can keep them coming since I'll probably get to the bottom of that list someday ;)
Also (and it's not to spark a debate on you favourite kind .. humhum) I'd be interested in books that can be found in pdf or other digital formats. I know several editors embraced the digital age and, if I truly love books, I truly love reading a good book on a good laptop screen.
No page turning, the letters in my favourite font/size, and the retro lighting is a delight in the dark or in bed.
If you have an HP nc laptop, it will also keep you warm ;-p
Melanie Rawn, Exiles series :) (Ruins of Ambrai, Mageborn Traitor)
Agreed... Though I think the Dragon Prince and Star Scroll trilogys would be more fitting. I wish Rawn would finish the last book in the Exiles trilogy already.. :(
*Warning.. Melanie Rawn writes BIG books.. I mean REALLY long epics*
Also good is Legend of Eathsea series by Ursla k. Legwin
The classic DragonRiders of Pern by Anne McCaffery
R. Scott Baker - The Prince of Nothing Trilogy
George R.R. Martin - A Song of Ice and Fire Series
Tad Williams - The Dragon Bone Chair (et al). Can't remember the name of the series of the top of my head.
All three are very engaging, with highly developed characters and a lot of intrigue (and swords and sorcery of course!).
Have fun!
Inch.
I've just been through Martin's and WOW. It's great! Excellent.
This week I've also read the first two Inheritance Trilogy from Christopher Paolini. Eragon and Eldest.
I really can't wait for Empire to come out.
I've just started Tad Williams' and the next one will be The whole sword of thruth series - only 4k pages lol.
Thanks again to all of you who provided the names and books. I've been to the bottom of the list and had some wonderful time. I also particuarly liked Thomas Covenant and the Chronicles from the black Company. I've finished Naomi Novik's Victory of Eagles last week and still feel my feet aboard "Temrer". The dragonbone chair also is very worth mentioning. If you see any name missing to this thread, fell free to add it :-)
The Tears of Artamon is a fantasy novel series that spans three books, Lord of Snow and Shadows (2003), Prisoner of the Iron Tower (2004), and Children of the Serpent Gate (2005). written by English author and Cambridge alumna Sarah Ash
I found that series excellent as well as the new series i just finished Brent Weeks - The Way of Shadows; Beyond the Shadows; Shadows Edge (not necessarily in that order ^^)
Robin Hobb - The Farseer, The Tawny Man
Katherine Kerr - Deverry
Scott Lynch - The Gentleman ******* Sequence
Steven Erikson - The Malazan Book of the Fallen
Alison Croggon - Pellinor
Sean Russel - The One Kingdom
Lynn Flewelling - The Tamir Triad
Peter V. Brett - The Demon Trilogy
J Gregory Keyes, The Kingdoms of Thorn and Bone
C.S Friedman - Coldfire Trilogy
J V Jones - Sword of Shadows
Ursula K LeGuin - Earthsea
Patrick Rothfuss - The Kingkiller Chronicle
Roger Zelazny - Amber