Thread: Any Good Fantasy?

3I think my personal favorite would have to be the Wheel of Time series byr Robert Jordan. I am a series junkie. Theese are pretty solid books with GREAT charecterization and history development, no messy details about physical relationships either, which i like. Also, theres something like 10,000 pages so they will keep you ocupied for a while.

Whoever suggested Terry Brooks and R.A. Salvatore, I have this to say:

I checked those books out of the library a couple days ago and tried earnestly to read them. I struggled and pondered and concentrated and objected and finally capitulated. I put them down, and IMO they were pure literary poison. I couldn't read those books because I feared that I might get the ridiculous idea that they were good. They were not. So cliche! There was no immediacy, no reality. The fantasy presented to me in both books stuttered and spat surreal bits of narrative that I couldn't wrap my mind around to save my life.

And it bothered me; I actually read another Terry Brooks book, but my tastes must have changed. Fitzgerald once said that the human mind has a good filter of good quality and drivel. I'm starting to believe him.

FollowingShadow, which Terry Brooks book? The first Shannara (Sword of Shannara) is a terrible rip-off of LotR, but there's a couple good ones and the Landover books are rather fun. I agree with you on R.A. Salvatore though.

I'd recommend Landover, and a series I read rather recently which I liked (to my surprise) was the Seven Sons Trilogy by Jennifer Fallon; some interesting political machinations, although it doesn't really have the sorcery half of sword and sorcery.

Originally Posted by Lucifiel

Wheel of the times? More like Filth of the times. I never made it past the first page! >>;; I've been reading the 2nd book of the Dresden files and I've been utterly bored. I'm going to check out some of the authors in this page instead and also read some Jack Vance(if I can find his books).

If you didnt make it past the first page then you shouldnt be making any comments. However thats just my opinion.

Sincerely - J.C

I think it's funny how this keeps working out: First, someone suggests an author and some books, then someone comes along and says "The Wheel of Time". Then they get yelled at b/c the books suck. I've only read the first one and I thought that (as well as Shannara like Titania said) was a terrible LotR ripoff. Whoa, this dagger is like the Ring...Whoa, these Halfmen are like Wraiths...Whoa, this Tree God is like Tree Beard...I could go on forever. The only thing I did like was the Wolf Brother thing...cuz I'm partial to wolves.

But as far as R.A.Salvatore goes, I started out reading fantasy through him, and yes I read prolly like 20 something of his books. I think they're good for younger readers (I can't stomach his writing anymore either, got The Highwayman and somehow drudged through it). But once you sample something like George RR Martin and you've matured as a reader, then you've got to get away from that stuff, i.e., The Forgotten Realms/Dragon Lance/Countless Other Crap Novels Based off 'worlds'.

One of my favorite writers is Mel Odom. He's not going to blow you away by any means (especially this tough crowd), but I like his style. He's got a trilogy that starts with The Rover, then The Destruction of the Books, then The Lord of the Libraries. They follow a Hobbit-esque character named Wick who just wants to be a librarian, but gets caught up in a world-altering plot. But Odom hits gold in my opinion with this novel:

Also, not fantasy, but it's fantastic: Shogun by James Clavell

Originally Posted by The Hooded One

If you didnt make it past the first page then you shouldnt be making any comments. However thats just my opinion.

Sincerely - J.C

Very well then, I shall take upon your challenge and read it till the end!!!!!

Read Lord Dunsany before all else.

Apparently people are quite split about Robert Jordan. He's personally one of my favorite authors but I could understand that some people may not like his work.

I also recommend George R. R. Martin's books as have a few others. I'm also fond of Jacqueline Carey's work, but her Kushiel series may be a bit too sexualy oriented for some.

I've heard great things about Robin Hobb's 'Assassin' series.

The Wheel of Time series by Robert Jordan is emmacualte, and the Corean Chronicles by... damn can't remember. He wrote Echo and Flash as well he is really good.

Originally Posted by imrhati

The Wheel of Time series by Robert Jordan is emmacualte

Lol, see. Can't wait to see what happens....(Immaculate, btw)

Originally Posted by J. Bryan Shoup

Read Lord Dunsany before all else.

Ahh yessss!!!! My father has some of his books, Jack Vance's and god knows what else. The only thing I have to do is beg him, so I can dig them out.

A Song of Ice and Fire series by George R.R. Martin. No doubt many others have recommended the same.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/055...Fencoding=UTF8
That will definitely convince you.
Go read it.

looking at my book shelf right now, i see three series worth mentioning.Phillip Pulman's His Dark Materials, Robin Hobb's Farseer Trilogy, and tawny man trilogy (i haven't read the liveship traders trilogy yet but i plan on doing it after i finish the Tawny man series, i just wanted to see what happened to fitz, haha), and my favorite series of all time, George rr martin's A Song of Ice and Fire series., Pure genious, the man knows how towrite a god damn story.

I'm reading Gifts by Ursula Le' Gynn now, I think. It's really good.