I need a fantasy novel recommendation!

[Novocaine]

I wonder if anyone would be able to give me a fantasy novel recommendation? I'm interested in such books that are quite lengthy and are Tolkienish and sometimes include maps, which make the book much more enjoyable, e.g. Eragon, The Sea of Trolls, and Sabriel. These books are a joy for me to read and I love fantasy rich novels including mythical creatures and such. So if anybody could help me out with finding another great fantasy novel it would be most appreciated.

[Alia]

Are you looking for a Children's Fastasyto read or Young Adult or Adult. Here's a few I would recommend for each...
Children: Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine (It's a little different than the movie, a good short easy read)
Young Adult: A Wrinkle in Time Series by Madeleine L'Engle
Adult: Kate Elliott's Crown of Stars Series starting with The King's Dragon
Also, another good read is Marion Zimmer Bradley's The Mists of Avalon

Hope this helps...

[marv335]

for fantasy, i would go with Robin Hobb or L E Modesit jr.
not all that tolkeinesque but well constructed and engaging reading.

[nixie]

Try Gary Wassner's Gem Quest books.

[GOLLUM]

HMM.. that's a tough one.

I've read a fair few fantasy books but not that many that are Tolkien-like with dwarvers, elves, orcs etc..

Of the ones I've read I'd suggest the following:

Sword Of Shannara - Terry Brooks. Something of a tolkien clone I guess which has been a major criticism of this author BUT it certainly has elves, druids, rock trolls, Hobbit-like central characters in a quest-like setting and maps. There's a whole heap of Shannara books Terry has since written, so you may like this series?

Tad Williams Memory, Sorrow and Thorn - A quest-like story that is fairly involved (trilogy) that has an ancient elf-like race, troll-like characters and humans in a medieval type setting and plenty of maps. This is one of my favourite series, probably still in my top 10 list of fantasy books..

Russell Kirkpatick's Fire Of Heaven trilogy. This guy is from New Zealand where you're probably aware they shot the LOTR movies. He's actually a map maker by profession so there's quite a number of detailed maps in the books!! His story is a little Tolkien-like in that it is a quest story again and he does have a number of different races the heroes meet along the way in different lands. If you're into maps and travellers passing through different landscapes and civilizations you'ld probaly like this one very much. It's his debut effort as a writer and not too bad.

Now for straight well written EPIC fantasy/saga on a large scale like Tolkien that is not so much the traditional elves, dwarves etc..but still has magic with different groups and maps but more Adult than the YA ones I've so far suggested I'd inlcude:

Robert Jordan's Wheel Of Time series. Book 11 of a reported 12 is due out by October. Critcised for dragging on at times, especially in the later books I still enjoy this work, certainly EPIC. Maps included.

Kate Elliott's Crown Of Stars series. Book 6 of 7 due within the next month or so with Book 7 due by Feb 2006, this is a well written series I think you'ld enjoy!! Certainly an elaborate EPIC plot with a number of groups involved including an ancient race, humans, reptilian-like race and a group of conspirators into dark magic. Certainly has maps.

George RR Martin's Song Of Ice and Fire. My No. 2 fantasy series of all time this is quite a gritty read and I'd suggest a more adult fantasy series. Book 4 may be out this year, Book 3 came out a few years back. Involved storyline and the obligatory maps.

Steven Erikson's Malazan Series. My No .1 fantasy series of all time. This is a fairly gritty read being a military fantasy style of book and not something I'd recommend to anyone who's never read a fanatasy novel before to begin with. Probably the most complex plot I've come across yet, plenty of world building second only to Tolkien IMHO and amazing magic systems and civilizations populate this world. A number of maps as the main story takes place on 2-3 diffrent continents. Violence can be fairly graphic and a hard world in general is described here, one of the reasons it would be an adult fantasy novel in my mind.

Hope this helps mate!!

[Novocaine]

Wow, thanks Gollum, quote the sizeable list, and thanks to all as well. Just to let you know, by Tolkienish, I mean more of a journey across the whole damn map for something and thick with magic.

[GOLLUM]

Originally Posted by Novocaine

Wow, thanks Gollum, quote the sizeable list, and thanks to all as well. Just to let you know, by Tolkienish, I mean more of a journey across the whole damn map for something and thick with magic.

UM.. actually that's one of my shorter posts just ask Alia HE HE..

Yes, so you're basically talking about novels with a Quest element with plenty of magic where the adventurers traverse the entire continent getting in and out of trouble but ultimately win the day type books I would humbly suggest....

I forgot to mention you may also enjoy Australian Ian Irvine's View From The Mirror Quartet. His books start with this series of 4 books and continues with others in the same world, a bit like Terry Brooks in that respect. It starts off a little slow but soon gathers momentum with plenty of maps and country hopping along the way with a number of plots and characters and several civlizations involved. The magic is more tehcnology based actually with lots of engineering gadgets but not SCI Fi per se. I really enjoyed this fantasy series, he's my favorite fantasy author above Garth Nix actually.

BTW I've replied to your other message so till next time over and out..

[NSMike]

You want Tolkien-esque? You've got to read Raymond E. Feist's Riftwar series. (Magician: Apprentice, Magician: Master, Silverthorn and A Darkness at Sethanon). No orcs, but there are good and evil Elves, Dragons, big eagles, etc.

Another fun read is His Dark Materials by Phillip Pullman. Nothing like Tolkien, but great fantasy. Google it or check it out on Amazon. It's quite popular in England, there's even a stageplay, and a movie in the works.

Also, read The Chronicles of Narnia. Again, Google or Amazon for more info.

[Neon]

I would second the recommendation about Terry Brooks and Robert Jordan. Jordan is definitely an epic and will span across a wide landscape. I'll also throw in Terry Goodkind's The Sword of Truth series, although of late it's been getting deservedly hard criticism.

[Neon]

Oh, that green font hurts my eyes, lol

[Alia]

UM.. actually that's one of my shorter posts just ask Alia HE HE..

I concur, that was a short post when it comes to listing books.

[Amber]

Tolkienesque hey? With quests and things?

David Eddings possibly- sounds your type of thing. Check out the Belgariad.
Robin Hobb who happens to be one of my favourite authors might also fit the bill, even though it's short on magical creatures, it has magic and a thoroughly engrossing plot line

[Rane Longfox]

Gollum is wise in the ways of recommendations.

I haven't read Kirkpatric, and didn't like Brooks, but he's right, you'd probably enjoy them both. The rest I heartily agree with

[Novocaine]

Thank you everybody, I have wrote down all your suggestions and I will check them out when I go to the bookstore tommorow, which happens about once every 2 years. ;_;
And now as you can see, I have changed my font to a darker green, although screwing with your eyes with my bright colors is fun, I'd rather recieve your feedback.

Thanks again!
And please keep the suggestions coming especially if you have discovered a new book that fits this category.

[GOLLUM]

I'd just like to second NSMikes' good suggestion with Raymond E Feist's books. I've basically read everything by Mr Feist and whilst he's probably not near the level of authors like GRRM, Erikson, Donaldson etc.. he's an OK read still and someone I read as a teenager.

I've also recently read Pullman's His Dark Materials from a work colleague who loaned me the book and it's quite a lot of fun. Something of a page turner that has gathered a cult following.

Over and out..