Fantasy Aficionados discussion

Im new to the genre so making a list of books to read. Some I found searching around here others just by searching on the internet.Looking for more so hoping for suggestions and if you think I should remove some book from the list etc.

For comparison my favorite books are:
Night Angel Trilogy
The Hunger Games
Game of Thrones


List so far:

The Warded Man
The Black Prism
The Name of the wind
The Desert Spear
Assassin's Apprentice -The Farseer Trilogy
A Dance of Cloaks - Shadowdance Trilogy
The Blade Itself
The Hobbit

P.S: Those include the sequels to them.

Gardens of the Moon
The Immortal Prince
The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms
Poison Study
Mistborn: The Final Empire
Warbreaker

His Dark Materials

Also The Many-Coloured Land
The Lies of Locke Lamora

Robin Hobb
Guy Gavriel Kay
Patrick Rothfuss
Joe Abercrombie
Scott Lynch (great recommendation Majkia!)

I also veto all things Pullman and sadly I kinda veto Hundred Thousand Kingdoms as well. Some Reeeeeally bad writing in that one. Sorry Traci! Totally approve of your other recs! ;)

I would recommend to add to the list:
Terry Pratchett
Neil Gaiman
Daniel Abraham
Robert Jordan
L.E. Modesitt Jr.
Jim Butcher
China Miéville
Margaret Weis
Tracy Hickman
R. Scott Bakker
Stephen R. Donaldson
Dennis L. McKiernan
Roger Zelazny
Mercedes Lackey
Piers Anthony
Michael Moorcock
Ursula K. Le Guin
Peter S. Beagle
Ray Bradbury
Glen Cook
Fritz Leiber
Robert E. Howard
Elizabeth Moon
Simon R. Green
Jo Walton
Kate Elliott
Melanie Rawn
Steven Brust

Just to name a few

I am going to have to add the Shadowdance Trilogy to my reading list, I have never heard of them, but I'll bet they are good if its on her list.

What kind of fantasy are you looking for? Judging from your list and shelf, I'll second the Mistborn and Discworld recs. Since you're not averse to YA, have you considered Percy Jackson & the Olympians?

His Dark Materials isn't epic fantasy? Sure it is.

Raymond E. Feist is one of my personal favorites!
A few others that I didn't see mentioned yet:
Terry Brooks
R.A. Salvatore
Terry Goodkind
David Eddings

I think most people think His Dark Material more of YA rather than epic fantasy.

I funning thing about Barbara Hambly is that I see her wirtten more other genere fictions now a days.

Kevin wrote: "I think most people think His Dark Material more of YA rather than epic fantasy."

It has to be one or the other?

Tracey wrote: "@ Scott - absolutely it is; I was only saying (and I think Grant too) that I didn't like the books"

That's kind of rude then. The original poster is asking for suggestions. A lot of people love these books.

Scott you make a great point. Also I guess it can be both, but I never think of it that way.

It is just an opinion Scott, just as in your opinion you would recommend them.

Some of us don't read certain authors because of their politics, or personal views, etc. Orson Scott Card and Phillip Pullman are big on this list.

I won't complain if someone wants to nominate C.S. Lewis...

His Dark Materials is one of my favorite series and I think it functions great as beginner's fantasy, but thought from his list that he might've wanted something a bit more action-packed.

Not just trees, Tracey. Lots and lots of trees. Endless descriptions of trees. *ducks and covers*


Gabriel - I suggest The Chronicles of the Necromancer, starting with The Summoner, by Gail Z. Martin.

trees are nice. i like trees.

Trees are the greatest.

It is not so much for its beauty that the forest makes a claim upon men's hearts, as for that subtle something, that quality of air that emanation from old trees, that so wonderfully changes and renews a weary spirit. ~Robert Louis Stevenson

I love trees. We bought the house that we bought in large part because there were trees outside instead of someone elses backyard.

I don't need to read pages of descriptions of trees, however, being well aquainted with them already. ;)

I love trees, too.

*puff, puff, pass*

Ala wrote: "I love trees, too.

*puff, puff, pass*"

*snicker* Hands Ala a shot glass.

Pfft. Scott, I don't care if it's deemed rude to veto someone elses recommendation. I'm not saying you don't have the right to make your rec or to criticize mine or anyone elses, I'm just saying that I think your recommendation sucks big nasty hairy diseased donkey balls. Not all of em. Just the one. Only my opinion though :)

Pullman is walking, talking trash. He's an evil, bigoted (a word I take ridiculously seriously), detestable human being whose entire world is built on hate and vile and venom and I feel no remorse at telling someone to flee his works with all haste. If you choose to take offense at my rather vanilla "I also veto all things Pullman", let me tell ya how I Really feel with this post.

:D

Grant, what has Pullman done to you? :)

I have to agree with Scott on this one, Pullman writes good books, it's not one of my favorites but i would much rather read his books then any of CS Lewis's. I don't get why people judge books because of the author's political or religious beliefs. If the story is good what does it matter what the author beliefs.

Puff puff passing back to Ala, ohuxu cough, damn those trees are killing my lungs:)

He attacked the entire foundation of my life. He declared athiest jihad (yes I know that's a bit of an oxymoron) on everything I hold dear. And worst of all he uses the thing I love most (outside of my kids) to spread his vile, poisionous drivel and people buy into it and pass it on as a freaking recommendation. It's the equivalent of my recommending Mein Kampf in front of a Jew. That's what's freaking rude. Whether someone see's his work in that light or not doesn't matter because that's how he Intends his works to be viewed. I don't mind if someone doesn't share my religious views. I don't mind if someone has my exact opposite views. I do mind when someone says I'm an idiot for having my views and makes it his life goal to attack, insult and condemn my faith.

To squeeze in another recommendation :)
Lamentation

*and no, I don't think disagreeing with a choice is rude, or maybe it is but I don't mind.

Odd complaints to hear from a bible thumper.

Wow. We're getting really deep here...


*takes glass back from Ala and pours a chilled vodka*

It's Friday night. Can't we just all get drunk?

Never had a taste for alcohol, myself.

Scott wrote: "Odd complaints to hear from a bible thumper."

That's where I get offended and find comments rude. Why is it when there's an argument from the perspective of someone who has faith that they suddenly become a bible thumper? Grant stated, very clearly, why he felt the way he did about Pullman. He simply disagreed with your opinion about Pullman's writing. I didn't see him call you a name?
Why is it necessary to resort to that?

No one is criticizing Lewis for writing Christian propaganda, but if an atheist writes a book without religion then a full frontal attack begins.

The Archbishop of Canterbury recommended that His Dark Materials be taught as part of religious education in schools and several christian authors like the books. So not all christian's are against Pullman.

It's just ironic.

That's the deal, Scott. I'm not a "thumper". I don't preach or force my views on the world, both at large or immediate. They're personal and how someone else believe bothers me not at all. I think the world is plenty big for all faiths. What does bother me is a douchebag who Does preach, specifically to children and young adults, in a surreptitious manner through his novels.

By the way Scott, there is no need for name calling.

Machavelli wrote, "I don't get why people judge books because of the author's political or religious beliefs"

Mach, many of my fav authors don't share my faith or political inclination and I don't mind in the least. Pullman however wrote his novels Specifically to spread his religious agenda. That's where the difference lies and why it bothers me

I call them as I see them.

Yet another difference then. I call them how they are :)

Ahem.

Gentlemen, no one is going to agree about faith tonight. What you are going to agree with is a lack of name calling or insulting people before I beat you all down. :-) And that's only because I love you.

So, Tracey - did you know that Larry Correia released his ARC to Baen for sale? We could all read Monster Hunter Alpha tonight...

Your hat is giving you partial blindness.

Orson Scott Card is a mormon and i like his books, Pullman is an atheist and i like his books aswell, and i will defend both of them if people are against them because of their beliefs. The only thing i care about is the content of the book not the author, but i understand if not everyone can be as objective.

Grant, i understand if you don't like him, you are a christian and don't want to read book's that are against your beliefs, but it does not mean that the books themselves are bad.

You really should. The Monster Hunter series is, to quote a friend "Pure awesomeness from beginning to end."

I can't believe it but I'm giving serious thought to buying a $15 ARC. *steams*

Correia better get a decent cut of that.

Simon Green is good too....I recently got The Man With the Golden Torc

Ok people...move along...nothing to see here

We need to clear the room for the abortion debate coming up shortly!

*dons Stetson*

Lol, Machavelli the books are bad because they were written Specifically as an attack against Christians. They're literally Based on bigotry and hatred and he freely admits it and takes pride in every person who he drives away from faith. That does indeed make them bad in my opinion. If you like them though, hey, that's your business. My whole original point is that opinions are just that, opinions. Scott had a right to voice his just like I had a right to voice my disagreement.

Oh and I know I'm an asshole and know I was being rude. You give rudeness, you get it, Scotty boy. Don't mind butting heads in the least. In real life, I'm the guy that would invite you out back, beat your ass and then take you for a beer. Sadly, we can't do that here so a war of words it is :) MrsJ I'll quit calling Pullman a worthless, stinkin, evil, vile boil of unlanced puss. I'm very sowwy and won't do it again.

Tonight :)

Looooooooove youuuuuuuuuu :D

Maggie wrote: "Simon Green is good too....I recently got The Man With the Golden Torc

Ok people...move along...nothing to see here

We need to clear the room for the abortion debate coming up s..."

Loved The Man with the Golden Torc! Not quite as keen on Daemons Are Forever

Mach, I recommend you look up Pullman and his reasons for writing. He freely admits to why he writes and what his hopes are. I totally respect your being willing to read authors regardless of their backgrounds. I feel the same way. With this one big fat exception :)