What do you think are the best Fantasy book series you've read or still reading?
It could be any type of fantasy: Epic, urban, etc.
Here are a few of my faves:
Song of Ice and Fire by George R.R. Martin
Dresden Files by Jim Butcher
Wheel of Time by Robert Jordan/Brandon Sanderson
Night Angel Trilogy by Brent Weeks
Wheel of Time, Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson
The Belgariad and The Mallorean (Should count as one series really) , David Eddings
Dune, Frank Hebert (Yes this is Fantasy, -NOT- Science Fiction)
A few that, while having some merits, dont make the cut for various reasons:
The Dark Tower, Stephen King
Because:
The ending was a horrific cop out and invalidated everything up to that point. I really enjoyed the entire series, even the last book, up until I read that horrible piece of crap ending. The Stephen King as the lazy god storyline was a bit contrived but the gunslingers were so deep and believable you just wanted to stay with them. God I hate King for what he did to what could have been an incredible masterpiece with that piece of crap ending.
Sword of Shanarra, Terry Brooks
This was good for the first few books. But then he kept going back to it after the story was already told. Each time there was a NEW, BIGGER, BADDER world crushing threat than the time before. And there is a lot of inconsistency within the various stories. Last of all, I hate how he tried to bridge his 'Knight of the Word' series, set in modern times into Shanarra.
I think most of what people will say here is covered in this list (and it is a handy guide for getting into the genre).
Some favorites:
The Black Company
Mistborn (probably my favorite series)
Way of Kings (even though only one book is out, Sanderson is so good at pumping out quality material)
Wheel of Time (deserves to be on here even if I couldn't get past book 6. This is a series I desperately want to finish, but just got so boring that I don't think I'll waste my time. Plus I've forgotten most of the story now.)
Gentleman Bastards
Song of Ice and Fire
Honorable mention: The Kingkiller Chronicle
I just started reading Dresden Files, Codex Alera and the Night Angel trilogy so I'll let you know how those turn out.
Profound/mind-expanding/"literary": Susanna Clarke, Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell
Anything by Neil Gaiman, but especially the Sandman series
Anything by J. R. R. Tolkien - don't neglect The Hobbit!
Roger Zelazny, the Amber series
Fun/entertaining/"commercial":
Jim Butcher, the Dresden Files series
Fritz Leiber, the Fafhrd and the Grey Mouser series
George R. R. Martin, the Song of Ice and Fire series
Somewhere in between:
Robert E. Howard, the Conan series
Beyond description:
Jasper Fforde, the Thursday Next series
The Wheel of Time by Robert Jordan (and Brandon Sanderson)
The Mistborn Series by Brandon Sanderson
The Stormlight Archive by Brandon Sanderson
A Song of Ice and Fire by GRRM
The Night Angel series (don't forget to read the ebook prequel) by Brent Weeks
The Lightbringer Series by Brent Weeks
The Kingkiller Chronicle by Patrick Rothfuss
Here is my addition:
Tales of the Otori by Lian Hearn (Pen Name)
It's about a feudal Japanese island where a Ninja clan known only as 'The Tribe' has actual supernatural abilities. It surrounds a Sengoku-eque (That is, warring states period of Japan) conflict for control of the three nations of the country.
I've read most of the books on the chart. Some of them suck. If anyone wants a specific opinion, feel free to ask.
I think I'm at the point where I have read most of the good ones, and have deliberately avoided the lesser known/sucky books on the list.
I have an off topic question for you. I remember you mentioning to stop reading the Hyperion Cantos series after the second book. I just finished the second book. It concluded very nicely and I have no desire to go on. Can you tell me (possibly without major spoilers) what about the next books ruin the series? I can't even fathom what the plot would be after finishing Fall.
I have an off topic question for you. I remember you mentioning to stop reading the Hyperion Cantos series after the second book. I just finished the second book. It concluded very nicely and I have no desire to go on. Can you tell me (possibly without major spoilers) what about the next books ruin the series? I can't even fathom what the plot would be after finishing Fall.
And all this comes about in roughly the first third of Endymion. It's just the tip of the iceberg. The actual plot is far worse.
I liked the Shrike as a completely mysterious being. A good guy??? Wow. I even though the Shrike changed from the first book and the first half of the second book to the last half of the second book when you start to learn more about it. It is no longer an uncaring, unstoppable force devoted to pain (I can remember the injustice I felt when it dragged Silenus away from his poem to impale him on the tree), it is just a pawn of a greater power. I like the way the story turned out, just not particularly with the Shrike. Everything in the books centers around the Shrike... until it starts to center on the core and the Shrike becomes less important. The Shrike that impaled Silenus or appeared to Dure in the first book does not feel like the same Shrike which Kassad battles the second time, or who Brawne defeats.
I haven't read it myself, but I have heard a lot of bad things about this series.
Question: How many here have actually finished all the published WoT books? Every now and then I look over at the 6 I have on my shelf and get a little sad that I haven't finished 7-the current book.
But today, I find them literally unreadable. Goodkind's prose is just so bad.
And I feel bad about saying that, because he had to overcome severe dyslexia to be able to write at all, and also because he's from my hometown. But it's true.
I haven't read it myself, but I have heard a lot of bad things about this series.
I enjoyed it the first time, after watching the Hercules-esque TV Show. The first couple books are the best in the series, but the books eventually get to the point where it seems like Goodkind's politics get in the way of story. If you are really interested, read the first one, but my biggest problem comes later in the series. Spoilers:
Essentially, you have an entire army of socialists that don't function well but have somehow conquered the world and are a huge threat even though everything says their society should have already collapsed.
Sort of like the portrayal of Earth in Freehold, there are some hardcore conservative politics at work here disparaging social systems, and basically promoting libertarianism as a much better system. Also, VERY anti-union, with all the common Union stereotypes coming in to play here.
I'll never go back to them, but it was a fun read the first time (mostly because I read them before reading better fantasy).
I do recommend the TV Show though as a fun diversion, it's a more serious (but not completely serious) version of Hercules/Xena by the same people.
Question: How many here have actually finished all the published WoT books? Every now and then I look over at the 6 I have on my shelf and get a little sad that I haven't finished 7-the current book.
Book 7 is where things start to slow down. It's one of the biggest complaints of the series, because Jordan has so many characters and places to track. Honestly, the later books would be a lot better if they only focused on the Two Rivers characters, rather than giving the extended cast chapters of their own. And like Martin did, all the characters get sent out in different directions which slows things down considerably.
I'm currently on the first Brandon Sanderson book (11 or 12, I can't remember which), but the previous three books all dragged the same plot points on for way too long. The Sanderson book has really picked things up, though. I'll definitely be finished with all the published books by next month (I only have time to read at most a chapter a day).
Personally, I really enjoyed The Sword of Truth series by Terry Goodkind. Some of the latter books feel like filler but Faith of the Fallen is my favorite book of all time. There is some truth to the complaints of him being preachy, but overall for me, it didn't detract enough to ruin the series.
The Kingkiller chronicle is simply amazing and The Gentlemen Bastards is great as well.
Personally, I really enjoyed The Sword of Truth series by Terry Goodkind. Some of the latter books feel like filler but Faith of the Fallen is my favorite book of all time. There is some truth to the complaints of him being preachy, but overall for me, it didn't detract enough to ruin the series.
I really enjoyed them as well, it's just that looking back on them after reading some of the best fantasy series of the last 20 years, they start falling short in hindsight.
Though more a collection than a series I fully enjoy Conan novels and stories. I prefer the original Robert E. Howard stories to the other authors who chronicled the events of Conan.
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I just started reading Dresden Files, Codex Alera and the Night Angel trilogy so I'll let you know how those turn out.
I recommend you to skip the Night Angel Trilogy. It felt like the story was written by a 13 year old. It's terrible, Weeks drops the f word left and right, which is weird, since this is fantasy. And the mutilation of private body parts? Ugh.
Wow no love for
Gail Z martin's summoner series or
Terry Goodkind's sword of truth series?
I didn't read Goodkind, but I heard from a friend that the story is full of rape, rape, rape and torture. Oh, and some more rape. How can anyone read this and enjoy it? I seriously don't get it. When I read fantasy I want to relax and be entertained. Reading about rape just makes me feel sick.
Question: How many here have actually finished all the published WoT books? Every now and then I look over at the 6 I have on my shelf and get a little sad that I haven't finished 7-the current book.
I enjoyed the first three. During the fourth though, I was already getting a little bit tired of Jordan's prose. However, I made a mistake and I continued on. The fifth book was atrocious. Book 6 was even worse. And just as I was about to finish with this drivel once and for all, I get book 7 for my birthday. Oh, cruel fate.
I just don't know how much more sniffing, frowning, muttering, glaring, blushing, skirt smoothing, ageless faces, arms folding beneath breasts and braid tugging I can take before I lose my sanity. And that's a damn shame, because Jordan really had something going on with WoT.
WoT is a prime example how quantity =/= quality.
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Watch your thoughts, for they become words.
Watch your words, for they become actions.
Watch your actions, for they become habits.
Watch your habits, for they become character.
Watch your character, for it becomes your destiny.
I recommend you to skip the Night Angel Trilogy. It felt like the story was written by a 13 year old. It's terrible, Weeks drops the f word left and right, which is weird, since this is fantasy. And the mutilation of private body parts? Ugh.
I didn't read Goodkind, but I heard from a friend that the story is full of rape, rape, rape and torture. Oh, and some more rape. How can anyone read this and enjoy it? I seriously don't get it. When I read fantasy I want to relax and be entertained. Reading about rape just makes me feel sick.
I enjoyed the first three. During the fourth though, I was already getting a little bit tired of Jordan's prose. However, I made a mistake and I continued on. The fifth book was atrocious. Book 6 was even worse. And just as I was about to finish with this drivel once and for all, I get book 7 for my birthday. Oh, cruel fate.
I just don't know how much more sniffing, frowning, muttering, glaring, blushing, skirt smoothing, ageless faces, arms folding beneath breasts and braid tugging I can take before I lose my sanity. And that's a damn shame, because Jordan really had something going on with WoT.
WoT is a prime example how quantity =/= quality.
Okay, so you've managed to criticize three fairly popular series. What do you like?
Okay, so you've managed to criticize three fairly popular series. What do you like?
You see, that's the point. I still haven't found that "perfect fantasy", that holy grail, that series that I will gladly display on my shelf and recommend to others with confidence and smile.
I like James Clavell's Shogun for example, but that's not fantasy.
I also tend to avoid recommendations from others as I almost always end up disappointed.
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Watch your thoughts, for they become words.
Watch your words, for they become actions.
Watch your actions, for they become habits.
Watch your habits, for they become character.
Watch your character, for it becomes your destiny.
You see, that's the point. I still haven't found that "perfect fantasy", that holy grail, that series that I will gladly display on my shelf and recommend to others with confidence and smile.
I like James Clavell's Shogun for example, but that's not fantasy.
I also tend to avoid recommendations from others as I almost always end up disappointed.
If you liked the Japanese setting, try Across the Nightengale Floor, the first of the Tales of the Otori books I mentioned earlier.
So you are looking for non-gruesome fantasy. Here are some suggestions, if you've read them already let us know and we'll narrow it down more.
Try Rothfuss for one, as he avoids a lot of that stuff, and he's one of the hot new writers out there.
If you could be more clear about what you like and don't like, we may be able to narrow it down.
Robin Hobb's Realm of the Elderlings saga (Farseer Trilogy, Liveship Traders Trilogy, Tawny Man Trilogy and the Rainwild Chronicles) is one of my favorite series. Very well written characters, both lovable and hate-able and believable, somewhat original stories.
I read Assassin's Apprentice, and could not get over how emotionally sterile it was. When the six-year-old kid's dog had to die (not a major spoiler), and I felt nothing, I was like, "Okay, this is seriously a bad sign."
Also, I had a hard time figuring out the gender roles. It seems like in a lot of modern fantasy they want to have it both ways with women: both lovely ladies embroidering in their towers and hardass amazons fighting right alongside the boys. Many writers accomplish this by having two different cultures with different traditions, but Hobb put both in the same society, and it does not make any sense. Why is the lovely lady whinging about how confining her life is when there is a female armsmaster drilling recruits just outside the window?
Terry Pratchett's massive Discworld series can be a bit hit and miss (especially his earlier books are less enjoyable in my opinion), but most of the 30 something books are very entertaining. Clever, humorous writing, set in an amazingly lively world that evolves as the series progresses.
These are really good, though.
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It could be any type of fantasy: Epic, urban, etc.
Here are a few of my faves:
Song of Ice and Fire by George R.R. Martin
Dresden Files by Jim Butcher
Wheel of Time by Robert Jordan/Brandon Sanderson
Night Angel Trilogy by Brent Weeks
Share your list.
Both the major Dragonlance trilogies, Chronicles and Legends are must haves for some one who like Fantasy.
- H.L Mencken
I Became insane with long Intervals of horrible Sanity
All Religion, my friend is simply evolved out of fraud, fear, greed, imagination and poetry.
- Edgar Allan Poe
The Crafters' Rules Guru
A Song of Fire and Ice, George R.R. Martin (he better darn well finish this in my lifetime!)
The Dark tower, Stephen King (this one took forever to complete too, a pattern perhaps?)
The Chronicles of Amber; Roger Zelazny (simply amazing series)
The chronicles of Thomas Covenant the Unbeliever, Stephen R. Donaldson (who doesn't like EMO fire resistant giants?)
The Shannara series, Terry Brooks (Sword of, elfstones, wishsong, etc)
Wheel of Time, Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson
The Belgariad and The Mallorean (Should count as one series really) , David Eddings
Dune, Frank Hebert (Yes this is Fantasy, -NOT- Science Fiction)
A few that, while having some merits, dont make the cut for various reasons:
The Dark Tower, Stephen King
Because:
Sword of Shanarra, Terry Brooks
This was good for the first few books. But then he kept going back to it after the story was already told. Each time there was a NEW, BIGGER, BADDER world crushing threat than the time before. And there is a lot of inconsistency within the various stories. Last of all, I hate how he tried to bridge his 'Knight of the Word' series, set in modern times into Shanarra.
I think most of what people will say here is covered in this list (and it is a handy guide for getting into the genre).
Some favorites:
The Black Company
Mistborn (probably my favorite series)
Way of Kings (even though only one book is out, Sanderson is so good at pumping out quality material)
Wheel of Time (deserves to be on here even if I couldn't get past book 6. This is a series I desperately want to finish, but just got so boring that I don't think I'll waste my time. Plus I've forgotten most of the story now.)
Gentleman Bastards
Song of Ice and Fire
Honorable mention: The Kingkiller Chronicle
I just started reading Dresden Files, Codex Alera and the Night Angel trilogy so I'll let you know how those turn out.
Once in a while I revist LotR, but honestly the lot of them are Mary Sues.
"Sometimes, the situation is outracing a threat, sometimes it's ignoring it, and sometimes it involves sideboarding in 4x Hope//Pray." --Doug Linn
Susanna Clarke, Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell
Anything by Neil Gaiman, but especially the Sandman series
Anything by J. R. R. Tolkien - don't neglect The Hobbit!
Roger Zelazny, the Amber series
Fun/entertaining/"commercial":
Jim Butcher, the Dresden Files series
Fritz Leiber, the Fafhrd and the Grey Mouser series
George R. R. Martin, the Song of Ice and Fire series
Somewhere in between:
Robert E. Howard, the Conan series
Beyond description:
Jasper Fforde, the Thursday Next series
I've read most of the books on the chart. Some of them suck. If anyone wants a specific opinion, feel free to ask.
What.
candidus inperti; si nil, his utere mecum.
Nitpick: The Hobbit is not a part of The Lord of the Rings.
Serious: Clearly your inner child is dead, you may want to get that looked at.
candidus inperti; si nil, his utere mecum.
The Wheel of Time by Robert Jordan (and Brandon Sanderson)
The Mistborn Series by Brandon Sanderson
The Stormlight Archive by Brandon Sanderson
A Song of Ice and Fire by GRRM
The Night Angel series (don't forget to read the ebook prequel) by Brent Weeks
The Lightbringer Series by Brent Weeks
The Kingkiller Chronicle by Patrick Rothfuss
Here is my addition:
Tales of the Otori by Lian Hearn (Pen Name)
It's about a feudal Japanese island where a Ninja clan known only as 'The Tribe' has actual supernatural abilities. It surrounds a Sengoku-eque (That is, warring states period of Japan) conflict for control of the three nations of the country.
TerribleBad at Magic since 1998.A Vorthos Guide to Magic Story | Twitter | Tumblr
[Primer] Krenko | Azor | Kess | Zacama | Kumena | Sram | The Ur-Dragon | Edgar Markov | Daretti | Marath
I think I'm at the point where I have read most of the good ones, and have deliberately avoided the lesser known/sucky books on the list.
I have an off topic question for you. I remember you mentioning to stop reading the Hyperion Cantos series after the second book. I just finished the second book. It concluded very nicely and I have no desire to go on. Can you tell me (possibly without major spoilers) what about the next books ruin the series? I can't even fathom what the plot would be after finishing Fall.
Been meaning to pick this one up too.
And all this comes about in roughly the first third of Endymion. It's just the tip of the iceberg. The actual plot is far worse.
candidus inperti; si nil, his utere mecum.
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Gail Z martin's summoner series or
Terry Goodkind's sword of truth series?
BEtched Champion/InfectB
WSoilders/knightsW
WUVenser SplicerWU
RRDWR
GFeed the Pack comboG
WUPool of ExhaustionWU
EDH
GEzuri, Elf OverrunG
BGeth, GraverobberB
UThada Adel, ThiefU
RUrabrask, Big RedR
WElesh Norn, CrusadeW
WUGAngus Makenzie, Bant ControlWUG
Extended
WGElvesWG
Legacy
RGoblinsR
UBGFariesUBG
UBGRaffinityUBG
I haven't read it myself, but I have heard a lot of bad things about this series.
Question: How many here have actually finished all the published WoT books? Every now and then I look over at the 6 I have on my shelf and get a little sad that I haven't finished 7-the current book.
I read them when I was in high school.
But today, I find them literally unreadable. Goodkind's prose is just so bad.
And I feel bad about saying that, because he had to overcome severe dyslexia to be able to write at all, and also because he's from my hometown. But it's true.
Not me. Gave up on Jordan about the same time as Goodkind.
candidus inperti; si nil, his utere mecum.
I enjoyed it the first time, after watching the Hercules-esque TV Show. The first couple books are the best in the series, but the books eventually get to the point where it seems like Goodkind's politics get in the way of story. If you are really interested, read the first one, but my biggest problem comes later in the series. Spoilers:
Sort of like the portrayal of Earth in Freehold, there are some hardcore conservative politics at work here disparaging social systems, and basically promoting libertarianism as a much better system. Also, VERY anti-union, with all the common Union stereotypes coming in to play here.
I'll never go back to them, but it was a fun read the first time (mostly because I read them before reading better fantasy).
I do recommend the TV Show though as a fun diversion, it's a more serious (but not completely serious) version of Hercules/Xena by the same people.
Book 7 is where things start to slow down. It's one of the biggest complaints of the series, because Jordan has so many characters and places to track. Honestly, the later books would be a lot better if they only focused on the Two Rivers characters, rather than giving the extended cast chapters of their own. And like Martin did, all the characters get sent out in different directions which slows things down considerably.
I'm currently on the first Brandon Sanderson book (11 or 12, I can't remember which), but the previous three books all dragged the same plot points on for way too long. The Sanderson book has really picked things up, though. I'll definitely be finished with all the published books by next month (I only have time to read at most a chapter a day).
TerribleBad at Magic since 1998.A Vorthos Guide to Magic Story | Twitter | Tumblr
[Primer] Krenko | Azor | Kess | Zacama | Kumena | Sram | The Ur-Dragon | Edgar Markov | Daretti | Marath
The Kingkiller chronicle is simply amazing and The Gentlemen Bastards is great as well.
I really enjoyed them as well, it's just that looking back on them after reading some of the best fantasy series of the last 20 years, they start falling short in hindsight.
I agree. I really like Patrick Rothfuss' writing, and the framing device of the Inn and the Chronicler is great.
TerribleBad at Magic since 1998.A Vorthos Guide to Magic Story | Twitter | Tumblr
[Primer] Krenko | Azor | Kess | Zacama | Kumena | Sram | The Ur-Dragon | Edgar Markov | Daretti | Marath
For Lists, Click Here
EDH:
GW: Selvala, Let us help YOU.
UB: Mirko Vosk, when outmatched cheat
BW: Vish Kal, The Arbiter of Reanimation
UG: Prime Speaker Zegana, the science of sorcery
RB: Malfegor, Traitor's Haven
UW: Daxos, Control-Fort-Tron
BG: Pharika, Goddess of Stax
RW: Gisela, Boros Control
RG: Ruric Thar, a Primal Surge deck
RU: Niv-Mizzet the Firemind, Spellslinger?!?!
B:(Pauper) Mikaeus the Unhallowed
R: Kurkesh, Onakke Ancient: The Power of Engineering
I recommend you to skip the Night Angel Trilogy. It felt like the story was written by a 13 year old. It's terrible, Weeks drops the f word left and right, which is weird, since this is fantasy. And the mutilation of private body parts? Ugh.
I didn't read Goodkind, but I heard from a friend that the story is full of rape, rape, rape and torture. Oh, and some more rape. How can anyone read this and enjoy it? I seriously don't get it. When I read fantasy I want to relax and be entertained. Reading about rape just makes me feel sick.
I enjoyed the first three. During the fourth though, I was already getting a little bit tired of Jordan's prose. However, I made a mistake and I continued on. The fifth book was atrocious. Book 6 was even worse. And just as I was about to finish with this drivel once and for all, I get book 7 for my birthday. Oh, cruel fate.
I just don't know how much more sniffing, frowning, muttering, glaring, blushing, skirt smoothing, ageless faces, arms folding beneath breasts and braid tugging I can take before I lose my sanity. And that's a damn shame, because Jordan really had something going on with WoT.
WoT is a prime example how quantity =/= quality.
Watch your words, for they become actions.
Watch your actions, for they become habits.
Watch your habits, for they become character.
Watch your character, for it becomes your destiny.
Okay, so you've managed to criticize three fairly popular series. What do you like?
TerribleBad at Magic since 1998.A Vorthos Guide to Magic Story | Twitter | Tumblr
[Primer] Krenko | Azor | Kess | Zacama | Kumena | Sram | The Ur-Dragon | Edgar Markov | Daretti | Marath
You see, that's the point. I still haven't found that "perfect fantasy", that holy grail, that series that I will gladly display on my shelf and recommend to others with confidence and smile.
I like James Clavell's Shogun for example, but that's not fantasy.
I also tend to avoid recommendations from others as I almost always end up disappointed.
Watch your words, for they become actions.
Watch your actions, for they become habits.
Watch your habits, for they become character.
Watch your character, for it becomes your destiny.
If you liked the Japanese setting, try Across the Nightengale Floor, the first of the Tales of the Otori books I mentioned earlier.
So you are looking for non-gruesome fantasy. Here are some suggestions, if you've read them already let us know and we'll narrow it down more.
Try Rothfuss for one, as he avoids a lot of that stuff, and he's one of the hot new writers out there.
If you could be more clear about what you like and don't like, we may be able to narrow it down.
Sanderson is another big up-and-comer.
TerribleBad at Magic since 1998.A Vorthos Guide to Magic Story | Twitter | Tumblr
[Primer] Krenko | Azor | Kess | Zacama | Kumena | Sram | The Ur-Dragon | Edgar Markov | Daretti | Marath
I read Assassin's Apprentice, and could not get over how emotionally sterile it was. When the six-year-old kid's dog had to die (not a major spoiler), and I felt nothing, I was like, "Okay, this is seriously a bad sign."
Also, I had a hard time figuring out the gender roles. It seems like in a lot of modern fantasy they want to have it both ways with women: both lovely ladies embroidering in their towers and hardass amazons fighting right alongside the boys. Many writers accomplish this by having two different cultures with different traditions, but Hobb put both in the same society, and it does not make any sense. Why is the lovely lady whinging about how confining her life is when there is a female armsmaster drilling recruits just outside the window?
These are really good, though.
candidus inperti; si nil, his utere mecum.