Fantasy Aficionados discussion

89 views
Discussions about books > Middle Eastern Fantasy?

Comments Showing 1-16 of 16 (16 new)    post a comment »
dateUp arrow    newest »

message 1: by Patti (new)

Patti | 17 comments I'm looking for books that take place in a Middle Eastern type of setting. Suggestions? I can't really find any..


message 2: by Annie (new)

Annie Leonard (annieleonard) | 4 comments Several great new ones:
Alif the Unseen by G Willow Wilson
The Golem and the Jinni by Helene Wecker
Desert of Souls by Howard Jones


message 3: by carol. , Senor Crabbypants (last edited May 17, 2013 07:52AM) (new)

carol.  | 2616 comments Haroun And The Sea Of Stories and Luka and the Fire of Life. Young adult but enchanting. I suppose technically, not that setting because there is also a fantasy land.

Also The Desert of Souls.


message 4: by Regina (new)

Regina (reginar) I loved The Killing Moon (Dreamblood, #1) by N.K. Jemisin and Alif the Unseen by G. Willow Wilson


message 5: by H. (new)

H. (hanthe) I have not read Throne of the Crescent Moon so I can't vouch for it, but it looks interesting (and appropriate to topic).


message 6: by Sandra (new)

Sandra  (sleo) H. wrote: "I have not read Throne of the Crescent Moon so I can't vouch for it, but it looks interesting (and appropriate to topic)."

I thought it was very good.


message 7: by Jalilah (new)

Jalilah The Golem and the Jinni is on my to read list, but I had not heard of the others, so that's great!
Because Middle Eastern legends and tales are so fantasy rich, I have often wondered if there were any fantasy books set there.
Of course with its tales of Jinn, shape shifters, flying carpets,people teleporting and more, the original Arabian Nights or Tales of 1001 Nights could definitely be considered an example of early Fantasy or even Science Fiction.


message 8: by Bryn (new)

Bryn Hammond (brynhammond) Jalilah wrote: "Of course with its tales of Jinn, shape shifters, flying carpets,people teleporting and more, the original Arabian Nights or Tales of 1001 Nights could definitely be considered an example of early Fantasy or even Science Fiction. "

True, and I like to explore that old stuff, the original fantasy. I'm into one at the moment, fantasy-adventure: The Adventures of Sayf Ben Dhi Yazan: An Arab Folk Epic.

The Adventures of Sayf Ben Dhi Yazan An Arab Folk Epic by Lena Jayyusi


message 9: by Christopher (new)

Christopher Preiman | 50 comments While not actually middle eastern, all of Brent Weeks's books have strong middle eastern influences.


message 10: by J.D. (new)

J.D. Hallowell | 84 comments H. wrote: "I have not read Throne of the Crescent Moon so I can't vouch for it, but it looks interesting (and appropriate to topic)."

I came to the thread to recommend it.


message 11: by Carolyn (new)

Carolyn (seeford) | 33 comments A good fantasy series that feels like a Middle Eastern setting, with djinni, is the trilogy that starts with Freedom's Gate.


message 12: by Mina (new)

Mina Khan (spicebites) | 141 comments I'm reading The Bones of the Old Ones by Howard Andrew Jones which is the book after The Desert of Souls by Howard Andrew Jones . I'm liking Dabir & Asim's new adventure.


message 13: by Moira (new)

Moira Katson (moirakatson) | 30 comments Well, okay, I feel a little weird about this, but I actually wrote a fantasy book that takes place in a Middle Eastern setting. It's YA, and there is a sequel coming out in a few months.

Mahalia by Moira Katson

Also, I am reading Pale Queen's Courtyard right now, and I'm generally enjoying it pretty well - a very well-thought-out and engrossing world!

Hmmm, what else. I heartily enjoyed Castle in the Air (Howl's Moving Castle, #2) by Diana Wynne Jones , but would recommend reading Howl's Moving Castle (Howl's Moving Castle, #1) by Diana Wynne Jones first, and the latter is not set in a middle eastern setting.


message 14: by Marianne (new)

Marianne (nelsonseye) | 132 comments Glen Cook's The Tower of Fearhas what I would call a Middle Eastern vibe.


message 15: by H. (new)

H. (hanthe) I came back just to second The Killing Moon. Pretty awesome.


message 16: by Thaddeus (new)

Thaddeus White | 50 comments The Master of Izindi by Dave Wallace seems a perfect fit. It's in a fictional setting, but the Middle Eastern style is quite clear (caliphs, emirs, viziers etc), and it's rather good.


back to top