Fantasy Book Club discussion

While I enjoy the sprawling, brawling series that fans out, and continuously adds something new and surprising, it can be exhausting to follow ones where the characters run into the cast of (literally) thousands, and the in progress state can go on (literally) half a lifetime, with no assurance that patience will be rewarded by a finish that delivers a solid convergency. Though I do have faith that (most) authors know what they are doing, I thought it might be fun to list, or discuss, those series in progress that people are reading, that involute as the evolve. Ones that deepen and peel layers and surprise, before adding another new startlement that opens the scope so widely, it seems that the reader is always swimming.

If you list a series, help us readers out (who are searching) and say why you entered the title.

Here's my short list:

Fortress in the Eye of Time - this book kicks off with a character new-made by a sorcerer, who is utterly innocent, and becomes the wildcard thrown into a sticky political/religious powerplay of intrigue. Carolyn Cherryh has now written multiple books in this series, and all of them have opened and peeled many veils connecting to the world's history, and its current struggle. But the central issues have stayed the prominent focus - and the character's evolution and prominence have held the center, still engaging my interest.

The Isavolta series, by Sarah Zettel. These books each take place in a different kingdom - or focus around a different generation, with loose links between. Although they can be read out of order there are ties to the other stories. Each one either develops another aspect of the world and it's cultural differences and linkages, or presents another aspect of a conflict that overwrites a past impression and lends increased depth an insight. We are not shown new, so much as revising our opinions of what we presumed, based on the limited character insights of previous volumes.

In a lighter, quicker vein, but delightfully tight with the plotting, and with the same overarching sense of revising the presumed opinions of the prior volume, Micheal Sullivan's two books, of a new series, rework the angles in the first volume in a deft handling that promises more of the same, as the series develops.

I would place Carol Berg in this list, as well, both for her first trilogy and her later duology.

Although cynical books are not my personal cuppa, in fairness, Joe Abercrombie's trilogy fits the criteria, too.

I'll surely think of more to add soon.

And yes, I have a motive! I am always looking for more series like these, that display intricate forethought, deeper meaning, and counter the (sometimes) current trend of some series to fan out and attenuate, until we can't see there's an overaching purpose to them. I am looking for more such reads, you betcha!

Suggestions please?

L.E. Modesitt Jr.'s Recluse series does this some. While the books are pretty much formulas with the same characters (names may change, but the main characters don't), the world itself & the reader's sympathies certainly do. In the simple, fantasy world way, we know who the good/bad guys are, at first. Then a later book tells us the story from the 'bad' guys POV & suddenly they're not so bad, just the same people in a different set of circumstances. It's interesting & fun.

I think I'd have to include Brandon Sanderson's Mistborn series in this category. I haven't read the third book yet, but I understand that it is an actual conclusion to the trilogy. I'm amazed by true trilogies in this age of neverending series. I also liked that I could keep track of the characters.

Years ago, I loved C.S. Friedman's Coldfire Trilogy. Like the Mistborn trilogy, it had a definite ending and characters I could keep track of. Friedman is a wonderfully complex writer who actually knows how to write a story with a beginning, a middle and an ending. Now, if she would only write faster.

Sandi wrote: "Friedman is a wonderfully complex writer who actually knows how to write a story with a beginning, a middle and an ending. Now, if she would only write faster."

Agreed. I'm trying to patiently await the 3rd in her Magister trilogy. Its a painful wait. She is one of my favorite authors.

Sandi - I am well familiar with Sanderson's Mistborn series. Likewise, Friedman, and I agree, her Coldfire trilogy is startling and well done.

I'd ask Random whether the Magister trilogy is very dark - it looked to be from the description. What's your take?

Jim - I'd read a few Modesitt titles - Magic of Recluse stuck with me as a decent read. I should probably dig into that author's work again. Thanks.

Janny, I'm refusing to read the Magister trilogy until it is done. As much as I love Friedman's work, I don't want to wait two or more years for the last installment. When that third book comes out, I will be buying all three and reading them together.

My own books are like this. To be honest, I'm not comfortable with 'literally hundreds of characters'. I prefer to have the characters I need and work with them as deeply as I can, even in situation where there must be more people around than that. Many of the characters who were secondary in The Flame in the Bowl Unbinding the Stone become much more important in A Warrior Made. The whole style changes, as the majority of the book is three separate storylines running in parallel. My current WIP, the sequel to A Warrior Made, is in large part a collection of stories about Tarkas, told by his nephew, to a variety of people in the city he lives in, specifically for the purpose of showcasing these other characters, as well as telling some of the adventures Tarkas has had in the 20+ years of his service to the gods.

Janny, I totally agree with the Michael J Sullivan plug. The plot tends to wind upon itself. The Mistborn Trilogy is another that has a tidy little ending. Sure, there could be a spinoff from Mistborn, but there likely won't be. Sanderson seems to like the tidy endings that leave the reader wanting more.

I will get back to you all about Warbreaker, which is next on my to-read list. I hope that his writing style endures in this stand alone novel.

Janny wrote: "I'd ask Random whether the Magister trilogy is very dark - it looked to be from the description. What's your take?"

Doh! I seem to have missed this. :)

Yes, it is a bit dark, but I wouldn't say any more than her Coldfire Trilogy or Brandon Sanderson's Mistborn.

I just finished the last book in Mistborn (Hero of Ages) yesterday and absolutely adored its conclusion. Very well done IMO.

Rothfuss' The Name of the Wind has the potential to do the same. It is early days, of course, but the initial volume did show great promise - and now book two is finally with the publisher undergoing editing.

Random wrote: "Janny wrote: "I'd ask Random whether the Magister trilogy is very dark - it looked to be from the description. What's your take?"

Doh! I seem to have missed this. :)

Yes, it is a bit dark, but ..."

The Coldfire trilogy was dark in its premise, but the ending was not cynical or ugly. This put a balance to it that some dark books don't have. What gave that book its specialty was the exceptional characters, how the humans co-existing with something truly alien evolved to a new point of reference. The 'dark' was not gratuitous or there for the shock value - I felt the ugly bits were most subtly handled. Still, it took me three tries to get past that brutal opener.

I didn't consider Mistborn in the same catagory, or league - they are very different stories with different goals and thrust.

I l loved all 5 of Martha Wells "Ile Rien" novels. The first two can be treated as stand-alones although there are some connections, and then there is the Wizard Hunters trilogy. Her plots are very tight and don't have a lot of sprawl -- there tends to be a smaller number of more developed characters and narratives that take place in a shorter time rather than a long quest. I also like that she usually keeps the reader and characters on the same page, so to speak; that is, you figure out what is going on along with the protagonists rather than watching them work it out.

Janny wrote: "I didn't consider Mistborn in the same catagory, or league - they are very different stories with different goals and thrust."

I wasn't really comparing them in catagory or league, just stating that they had a similar level of bleakness in environment. :)

Perhaps I could humbly mention my own series Shaihen Heritage, which certainly strives to go deep. While each book does focus on a number of characters and the inter-weaving of their stories, over all is the one story of Shehaios, the Fair Land.

I will have to leave readers to advise how successful the aspiration is. So far just books 1 and 2 ( Cloak of Magic and Staff of Power) are available (and unfortunately as they are self-published in the UK, both are quite expensive in the US. pdf copies are available from http://www.shehaios.co.uk and I am hoping to get them out on Kindle before too long.)

I am currently writing the third in the trilogy, and my aim is to bring all the strands running through the first two books together so that the three together tell a coherent story.

S.A. wrote: "Perhaps I could humbly mention my own series Shaihen Heritage, which certainly strives to go deep. "
Authors have no business being humble. Trumpet it from the rooftops.
I do find myself wondering about the concept of depth, though. Are we talking about depth of history, or depth of character? My own books concentrate on a depth of character.

Marc wrote: "S.A. wrote: "Perhaps I could humbly mention my own series Shaihen Heritage, which certainly strives to go deep. "
Authors have no business being humble. Trumpet it from the rooftops.
I do find m..."

Some people get offended by authors trumpeting. So I just give a little tootle now and again!!

Interesting point about depth of history/depth of character. I'd say I'm trying to do both: if my characters did not behave like "real people", with credible motivation and all the fragility of human nature, their influence on the "historical" events they are involved with would have no meaning: and for me, therefore, the story would have no point.

This is why I started writing stories in the first place - to explore what happens when certain characters are put into certain situations. Fantasy simply allows free rein to the imagination to create the situations, and the characters. What difference does it make for a creature to have a different physical make-up and a different evolutionary history to a human being? What difference does it make to an ordinary human to have extraordinary powers or knowledge? etc.

S.A. wrote: "Marc wrote: "S.A. wrote: "Perhaps I could humbly mention my own series Shaihen Heritage, which certainly strives to go deep. "
Authors have no business being humble. Trumpet it from the rooftops.
..."
Go ahead and tootle a bit. Having read both of the first two books, I would really like to read the third.

Tracy wrote: "Having read both of the first two books, I would really like to read the third."

Thank you Tracy. I would really like to finish the third! I keep getting side-tracked, but I hope to have it out next year.

Read Joe Abercrombie; yes he can be dark, he can be bleak and crass...but the character development, the characters themselves, and plot...not to mention the artistry of his words - amazing!

The Incarnations of Immortality series first book On A Pale Horse by Piers Anthony meets these criteria and was a very memorable read. Each book focuses on an "incarnation" of ephemera - death, time, war, nature, fate - how they came into "office", and their epic struggle to foil satan's plot to take over the world.

Each book completes a story while building to an amazing crescendo. At the end there are books for god and satan as well. The series is very well done and was my first exposure to the ideas of Milton and Dante.

I would say Erikson/Esslemont duo do both - sprawl and deepen, depending on which part of a book in that universe you are reading - they are both archaeologists, after all, and it shows in numerous parts that resemble archaeological digs both literally and metaphorically... and me loving it, personally

and I like surprises too, the feeling that you dont know how it might end or if it ends, the element of unpredictability... the deepening element of some characters or areas is often present

just to add to my previous comment and kinda indirectly referring to my malazan article as well, since one may regard Malazan books as a kind of codex, or complex chronicle, it is like revealing history, and, as you guys may know, history is often revealed in layers that go deep and deeper :)

I would also add in the books by Sherwood Smith that are set in Sartorias-deles, primarily the Inda books and the Crown Duel books (YA). She has been writing in this world for most of her life and it shows in the complexity and depth of the books. I do feel that they sprawl and deepen as you learn more about the history of this world.