Fantasy Recommendations for the Unenlightened 2

[liana]

i like Storm Constantine, Ian Irvine,Melanie Rawn and Tanith Lee .Ill read anything theres too many to recommend! Also Juliet Marillier and Stephan Lawhead . Nothing too deep.

[Talysia]

Reading through this list just proves to me how many authors I've still got to read! I swear, my reading list has increased tenfold since I joined here, but the thing is, I don't regret it for a minute!

[The Wanderer]

Jack Vance
Ursula Le Guin
Gene Wolfe
Fritz Leiber
Roger Zelazny

[Steve S]

Apologies if it has been mentioned elsewhere but I really enjoyed 'The Navigator Kings' series by Garry Kilworth - novels inspired by Polynesian mythology.

[The Fool]

A set of books that is not for everyone but is still fairly interesting is "Well of Echoes" quadrilogy by Ian Irvine.

1.Geomancer
2.Tetrarch
3.Alchymist
4.Chimaera

[knitteratheart]

I can't believe no one mentioned The Princess Bride by William Goldman for a funny read!
I also have to suggest the Deeds of Paksenarrion by Elizabeth Moon.
I know she's mainly known for her scifi books, but this is a great fantasy trilogy.
Thanks for all the suggestions. It makes me feel like I'll never run out of good books to read. A very nice feeling...

[Crazihors]

i saw the film adaptation of The Princess Bride, and ever since, I've been trying to get a copy of the book.
Am i the only one here who has read the Green Rider books by Kristen Britain? They are fantastic, and a welcome relief from all those long novels about elves and magic and long, treacherous quests - Green Rider Series check it out, i absolutely love them and can't wait for The High King's Tomb which comes out in November.
I also like Dragon Champion by E. E. Knight, and The Sight by ____ Davies (can't remember his first name)

[Crazihors]

I just went on Amazon - it's David Clement-Davies, in case anyone was interested

[Nesacat]

I just finished Never The Bride by Paul Magrs. I've never read anything by his before. Indeed I do not know if he has written anything else. I'll have to ask Google. I picked up this book because of the title and the cover. Usually when a cover says 'Never The Bride' it's got an almost pornographic cover and is found in the romance section.

This one had a creepy black and off white cover and was in the horror section. I certainly don't regret having brought the book home.

The tale is set in Whitby, where all those years ago Dracula first set foot in the UK. I've never been to Whitby but am now very, very curious. To Whitby then comes Brenda. She's bald, wears wigs, there's heavy make-up covering a network of scars. Her two feet don't match at all and she wears bright patterned blouses. She comes to roost in Whitby at the end of a very long life and takes over the running of a B&B, which she is onssesive over.

As her neighbour we have Effie who lives in a rambling pile that has belonged to her family for generations. Effie runs an antique store downstairs and lives upstairs. The store is filled with everything and anything including piles of books, which just might provide all the answers. You see, Efie is descended from a line of witches only she has no time for all this foolishness.

Then there's the Christmas Hotel run by the very sinister Mrs Claus, where it is Christmas all the year around whether you like it or not and elves go missing and pies may contain more than just the usual order of meat.

There's the Deadly Boutique which offers the women of the town makeovers that leave them looking 20, 30 years younger. There's 'mother' who needs to be kept alive. Dracula as you have never see him before is now working for the government.

And of course there is the Gate to Hell, which may or may not end up being shut permanently thereby barring any soul from escaping and returning to this world.

There's a myriad references to the horror classics and a slew of colourful characters and places. Read it for fun or read it to see how much of the Victorian horror you can spot and pin down. Either way, it's a fun read. It's probably not going to win any literary awards but it's fun nevertheless.

[Mary Hoffman]

I don't know if it's bad form to recommend one's own books! But I'd really like to know if Chronicles Networkers know about them/have read them/like them.

The series is called "Stravaganza" and is published by Bloombury (UK and US) and neraly 30 other publishers worldwide. Titles so far are;
City of Masks
City of Stars
City of Flowers

City of Secrets will be out in the UK next spring and July in the US. (I have a contract for City of Ships, to write after my next historical novel).

Stravaganza is set in a parallel world version of Italy in the 16th century.

(And by the way, folks, it's LiaN Hearn, not LiaM - she's a woman!)

Thanks for all the recommendations

Mary

[j. d. worthington]

Under the circumstances, Mary... no, I don't think it's bad form..... And by the way... glad to have you on the boards....

[Mary Hoffman]

Thanks, J.D. - that's a relief!

Mary

[Eidurson]

Does anyone have any recommended authors that combine the more traditional Fantasy stories with a liberal sprinkling of erotica?
I've read Anne Rice but thinking more along the lines of GRRM setting with a tad more erotica?

[Fralin]

I didn't see this book mentioned, so please forgive me if it was mentioned.
The Name of The Wind By Patrick Rothfuss
the first of the trilogy(the other 2 aren't out yet) that is simply Fantastic. It is possibly my favorite book. I put Rothfuss right up there with Gemmell and, from a diehard Gemmell fan like me thats saying alot.

[murphy]

Originally Posted by Eidurson

Does anyone have any recommended authors that combine the more traditional Fantasy stories with a liberal sprinkling of erotica?
I've read Anne Rice but thinking more along the lines of GRRM setting with a tad more erotica?

Jacqueline Carey's Kushiel Trilogy:

Kushiel's Dart
Kushiel's Chosen
Kushiel's Avatar

Here's a link to her website: