[quote]nikolo wrote:
I highly recommend Thieves World by Lynn Abbey. Not your typical fantasy fare but well worth the read. I think there are eleven or twelve books in the series and would be worth the time tracking them down. Enjoy.[/quote]
The cool thing about Thieves’ World is that they were a collaborative effort. A group of fantasy authors created the characters and the backdrop and then ran from there, with different people doing different stories — even with someone else’s character. I’m out of town so I can’t check everyone involved but Andre Norton, Robert Aspirin, Poul Anderson (?) come to mind…
This sort of set-up actually became a fad in the 70s and early 80s, but TW was the first.
Another cool pseudo-SF/fantasy series are the Wild Cards books edited by George R.R. Martin (himself a fantasy giant). These were a very new wave, cyberpunky take on “modern” superheros.
If by “medieval” you mean you really want a good take on what the European Middle Ages was about, with a fantasy twist, then there’s only one place to go:
Deryni trilogies by Katharine Kurtz
And if you like Arthurian stuff: Mary Stewart’s Merlin trilogy. She’s got a good grasp of post-Roman/early Middle Ages Britain, with a taste of magic/fantasy in Merlin’s character.
Can’t believe no one has said David Gemmell, the Rigante Series. The first 3 books in that are totally awesome, particularly the Sword in the Storm. I second the Howard - Conan books, they are cool.
Personally I thought the first book in Jordan’s series was long and boring so never read the rest. Martin’s series is sweet, sucks to be in the middle of it waiting for the rest to come.
[quote]Northcott wrote:
Turn to the classics, brother. T.H. White’s “The Once and Future King” is a brilliant piece of work. Reworking of the Arthurian legend. [/quote]
I clicked on this thread with the intention of recommending this exact title. A thoroughly enjoyable read.
Zap is again correct. Mr Cornwell has also begun writing books based on the Viking invasion of England, one about Stonehenge and some about the Middle / Dark ages. Oh hell, anything he writes.
Must also add Terry Pratchett - my guilty pleasure.
[quote]jbodzin wrote:
Terry Brooks is great! I’ve read the entire Shannara series 3 or 4 times. Actually just started The Sword of Shannara Again.[/quote]
I have found a couple of people who dislike him, but he is my favorite author.
He has a new series coming out on August 29. Armageddon’s children. The story of the Great Wars, or really the aftermath. In fact it is connecting another series of his, Word/Void series, which some thought might be a precursor to the Shannara series.
if I may, I’d like to shamelessly plug Valerius The King by T. R. Rankin. You can purchase it here
I say shamelessly plug because it’s my father’s book, his first published novel actually. All nepotism aside, I have to say I thought it was extremely good. Plus there’s a first volume and a third volume in the process of being published right now (don’t ask why the second volume came out first, I still don’t get that part).
Ok, shameless family plug over, I have to second whoever said Ursula Leguin’s wizard of Earthsea. Not only a great story, but her writing style is absolutely beautiful, almost poetic.
I have to second david gemmell…any of his drenai series…Fast paced reading that makes you feel like a man and makes you want to lift.
Feist is fairly faced paced as well, i have never been bored reading any of his stuff.
Jordan’s series gets better, especially if you skip chapters…mostly the Aes Sedai ones. Having read this series through like 8 times now this is a must.
To summarize…David Gemmell, David Gemmell, David Gemmell…may he rest in peace
Avoid the Jordan series. The first 5 or so are good. Then his editors lost control of him, and almost nothing happens in the remaining novels. It’s a shame.
Dragonlance (the original three trilogies) is fine.
However, the Wheel of Time was, along with everything from Robin Hobb, the worst phantastic stuff I’ve read so far .
Stay away from women’s work. They just have a distinctive approach to sword & sorcery that is totally non-testish. If some one mentions my recommendation of Dragonlance, I can add that Margeret Weis didn’t write them on her own (Co Writer was Tracy Hickman, a guy).
[quote]Schwarzfahrer wrote:
Dragonlance (the original three trilogies) is fine.
However, the Wheel of Time was, along with everything from Robin Hobb, the worst phantastic stuff I’ve read so far .
Stay away from women’s work. They just have a distinctive approach to sword & sorcery that is totally non-testish. If some one mentions my recommendation of Dragonlance, I can add that Margeret Weis didn’t write them on her own (Co Writer was Tracy Hickman, a guy).
[/quote]
I have to disagree, Ursula K. Leguin was one of the finest fantasy writers ever, so was Mary Stewart. And Mercedes Lackey has done some excellent work too (although the whole gay wizard thing was a little strange).
Another fantastic writer to check out is Steven Brust. The Vlad Taltos novels are brilliant.
[quote]m0dd3r wrote:
I have to disagree, Ursula K. Leguin was one of the finest fantasy writers ever, so was Mary Stewart. And Mercedes Lackey has done some excellent work too (although the whole gay wizard thing was a little strange).
Another fantastic writer to check out is Steven Brust. The Vlad Taltos novels are brilliant.[/quote]
Mary Stewart’s take on the Arthurian legends is pretty much the poster child for what he was talking about.
