Another recommendation thread

[Althax]

I found this forum a while back when I was looking for recommendations on new authors to read. I tried Robin Hobb and Steven Erickson based upon many recommendations. Now I thought I'd actually register and see what you all might recommend for me to try.

I'm a big fantasy reader and have been for years. I started with Tolkien when I was really young and have re-read it several times over the years. I also read a lot of Piers Anthony and David Eddings before I really got going on stuff like Jordan and George R R Martin.

As I stated previously I read the farseer books and am up to date on Erickson's Malazan series so now am stuck until one of these series continues.

I liked.
Martin, Jordan, Tolkien, Erickson, Williams

I don't care much for
Hobb, Eddings, Anthony

I'm seeing a lot of recomendations for Feist is there anything else that I should give a shot?

[j. d. worthington]

Well, as you've been reading the other recommendations threads, these may not be new to you, but if you've not seen this one:

Fantasy Pre-Tolkien

you might find some things of interest there....

[D_Davis]

I don't read a lot of fantasy anymore, but last night I started The Iron Dragon's Daughter, and so far it is fantastic. It's kind of got an anime meets Warhammer 40k, steam-punk, sci-fi, fantasy thing going on. It's a total mash-up of conventions. It's all really over the top with its language and violence - very gratuitous.

I also like to suggest Clive Barker's Weaveworld. I think it is a wonderfully written and memorable urban-fantasy. There are moments in this book that I will never forget.

Or how about The Talisman, by King and Straub? It, too, is a unique take on the fantasy genre.

Then again, you could go all out and read The Dark Tower series - a great genre-mash-up, made up of meta-textual layers about the very nature of fiction itself. Very good stuff. And it's done, so you can read it all back-to-back.

[DeepThought]

The Black Company, Glen Cook
Monarchies of God, Paul Kearney
The Prince of Nothing, R. Scott Bakker
Crown of Stars, Kate Elliott

The Black company and Monarchies of God (military fantasy) are what inspired Erikson to write the Malazan series in the first place. They are supposed to be very good and though I've not yet read them, I've already placed an order...

Cheers, DeepThought

[Rosemary]

I have mentioned it in another thread but I have found the writing of Russell Kirkpatrick very good.

He's what I would class as an 'epic fantasy' writer, maybe not quite on a par with Erikson but very close.

[GOLLUM]

Originally Posted by DeepThought

The Black company and Monarchies of God (military fantasy) are what inspired Erikson to write the Malazan series in the first place. They are supposed to be very good and though I've not yet read them, I've already placed an order...

Both are very good. Cook's work is closer to Eriksons and probably his main inspiration. Kearney's stuff is also enjoyable, I can recommend both. I preferred his (Kearney's) current Sea Beggars series though.

[DeepThought]

Is the the Sea Beggars series complete, GOLLUM? and any info on the supposed ombinus edition of Kearney's Monachies of God?; that would be a wonderful thing to have.

Cheers, DeepThought

[Connavar]

If you want epic like fantasy David Gemmell's Rigante series is as epic he gets.


If you want good fantasy that isnt epic fantasy i recommend Tim Powers's The Drawing of the Dark

[rambling sage]

The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss. its his debut novel and a great book, more of the classic fantasy type

[GOLLUM]

Originally Posted by DeepThought

Is the the Sea Beggars series complete, GOLLUM? and any info on the supposed ombinus edition of Kearney's Monachies of God?; that would be a wonderful thing to have.

Cheers, DeepThought

Unfortunately Werthead reported that the series had been dropped by one publisher but will possibly be taken up by another. In the meantime I understand he's embarking on another series. I don't have any information on the omnibus edition, someone will no doubt. I know it was hard for me to get the complete 5 book series in Australia. I basically ended up getting almost the last second hand copies available. Those books have been out of print for a while so you're best bet would be to wait for the omnibus edition to come out presuming it is soon.

Cheers...

[kaneda]

Originally Posted by GOLLUM

Unfortunately Werthead reported that the series had been dropped by one publisher but will possibly be taken up by another. In the meantime I understand he's embarking on another series. I don't have any information on the omnibus edition, someone will no doubt. I know it was hard for me to get the complete 5 book series in Australia. I basically ended up getting almost the last second hand copies available. Those books have been out of print for a while so you're best bet would be to wait for the omnibus edition to come out presuming it is soon.

Cheers...

It's such a shame abotu Kearney, I was really enjoying that series. Luckily though, in my opinion, the mark of ran can be read as a stand alone.

Also would like to recommend Greg Keyes The Kingdom of Thorne and Bone. 4 books, 3 are published at the moment (in order, Briar King, Charnel Prince, Blood Knight). The first two books are fantastic, in my opinion, the blood knight isn't as good as the first two but the series is definately worth reading. The final book the blood queen is due for release this year on hard back.

[Clansman]

I would recommend JV Jones' Sword of Shadows, or Guy Gavriel Kay's various books. He does not tend to series at all. His Tigana is perhaps one of the most beautiful books that I have ever read. I am a huge fan of Janny Wurts' The Wars of Light and Shadow, which is a big epic series now at eight books. I understand that Carol Berg's stuff is really good too, but I have yet to read any of it. I have heard really good things about Rothfuss' The Name of the Wind, and it is definitely on my TBR list.

[Who's Wee Dug]

Or you could try Jack Vance's Dying Earth series.

[Werthead]

Originally Posted by DeepThought

Is the the Sea Beggars series complete, GOLLUM? and any info on the supposed ombinus edition of Kearney's Monachies of God?; that would be a wonderful thing to have.

Cheers, DeepThought

As Gollum reported, the Sea Beggars was dropped by Bantam just as Kearney was finishing Book 3.

However, Solaris Books quickly picked Kearney up and are publishing his new novel, The Ten Thousand, on 1 September 2008. This is a stand-alone novel but could have sequels depending on various factors.

Solaris were supposed to be publishing The Monarchies of God on the same day, but there was a rights mix-up with Ace, who published the books in the USA. I understand that the mix-up is being sorted out, but it has delayed the release of the omnibus until the end of 2008 or possibly into early 2009. The new edition will feature a substantially re-written version of Ships from the West (which will be nearly 40,000 words longer) and several appendices, as well as a new cover and possibly a new map.

Solaris will also be picking up the rights to The Sea Beggars as soon as they lapse from Bantam, but that won't be for several years. When that happens, the series will probably be published as another omnibus. If you speak German you may have better luck, as a German publisher apparently wants all four books out individually before then, so PK could end up writing Book 4 and having it translated and released in German before it appears in English, which could be fairly weird. Cool, but weird.

I am actually just finishing off one of Kearney's early stand-alone novels, Riding the Unicorn. It is excellent. Expect a review in the review section soonish.

EDIT: I just double-checked Paul's website to see if there was any more news and there is. With the new version of Ships from the West plus the appendices, Monarchies of God has gotten too big to publish in one volume, so now it will come out in two volumes. The legal wrangles have been sorted out and the editions will come out in the UK and USA simultaneously from Solaris.

[DeepThought]

Thanks Werthead.

Cheers, DeepThought