What other fantasy books do YOU read?

[River Jordan]

Other than LotR, what other fantasy literature do the rest of you read? I like:
CS Lewis' "Chronicles of Narnia"
Madeleine L'engle's "The Time Quartet"
and Richard and Wendy Pini's "ElfQuest".

Elfquest, unlike the others which are books, started out as a comic book graphic novel, and has seen many different incarnations from comics and books to full colour graphic novels and now a movie is in the works. Any other EQ fans here? That's where I got the name "River" from, my ElfQuest fan-days back when I was in high school...


Your friendly neighbourhood elf, *River*

"You have nice manners for a thief and a liar." Smaug

[zifnab]

I personaly enjoy reading Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman.

-The Chronicles
-The Legends
-The Death Gate Cycle

And I will like to read The Darksword Series. Actually I have some books on my shelf which I will be reading in the near future.

-H.G.Wells:The Time Machine
-Dan Simmons:Hyperion
-MW & TH:Well of Darkness
-Terry Brooks:The Sword of Shannara

And I remember that I used to have a few Elfquest comics, I will have to check my collection to see if I sold them or if they're still in the boxes.

[Maltagaerion]

Well lets see here...

I'm up to book 6 of Robert Jordan's "Wheel of Time" series.

I have just about everything by Terry Brooks including his latest one of the Shanarra series "Antrax" (which is in the to-be-read pile)

I have the new Dune books including the latest one "House Corrino" (which is also in the to-be-read pile)

I have a plethora of Star Wars books but there ended up being so many of them I had to stop reading.

Although its not fantasy, I also have a ton of WW2 era books (mainly technical stuff as I do like to build models)

[Rosa Underhill]

Lessee, I read so much it's almost hard to decide what to mention and what not... smilies/smile.gif

I've read the Death Gate Cycle and the Chronicles of Narnia. I'm a huge fan of the Chronicles of Prydain. I like (gasp) Harry Potter, too. I highly recommend Frank Peretti's "The Oath" or "Piercing the Darkness". And there was a really cool book by Bill Myers called "Eli" about what it would be like if Jesus were born in our time.

Thanks to Tolkien, I've aquired a renewed interest in C.S. Lewis, so I've started reading some of his more theological works like "Mere Christianity" and "The Screwtape Letters."

*runs over to bookshelf* "Jurassic Park" and "The Lost World" by Michael Crighton as well as Joanne Bertin's "The Last Dragonlord". And the Redwall books by Brian Jaques! There's more, lots more, but that should do it for now. smilies/smile.gif

[Makayla]

I have read Chroniclas of Narnia.I am going to Read the Shanarra stuff.But on your guys opinion are they good books?I am in the middle of Avaryan Rising and I have also read the Fionavar Tapestry.All very good books.

[bryniana]

I was never much of a fantasy fan...however there have been three authors that I have been drawn to and have enjoyed. They are C.S. Lewis, Stephen Lawhead, and Tolkien. It is intersting that I tend to have such a distate for Christian allagory--but yet thoroughly enjoy Lewis and Lawhead (particulary the Pendragon series).

[River Jordan]

Yes, a couple of years ago, I started getting into the Star Wars novels (also being a big Star Wars fan, and looking forward to the new movie, Episode II, coming out this spring!). The Star Wars novels were based on the storyline after Return of the Jedi, but now they've got so many dozens of them, it's hard to keep up, with different authors, storylines, characters, etc. so I kind of stopped. There were some good ones, though!

Your friendly neighbourhood elf, *River* http://www.angelfire.com/bc/YMF

" Murderers and elf friends! Slash them! Beat them! Bite them! Gnash them! Take them away to dark holes filled with snakes, and never let them see the light again!" The Great Goblin

[Samwise]

Per River Jordan:
"The Time Quartet"

By this you mean "A Wrinkle in Time", "A Wind in the Door"...etc? Or some other books?
I've read The Chronicles of Narnia also.
"If I hear 'not allowed' much oftener I'm going to get angry."
Sam Gamgee

[Samwise]

Oh, yes, and how could I forget...Isaac Asimov's...I don't remember what the series is entitled, but it begins with "The Caves of Steel", and is about a cop named Elijah Baley and his humaniform robot partner, Daneel Olivaw.
"Oh, please, Mister Gandalf! Don't turn me into anything unnatural!"
Sam Gamgee

[River Jordan]

Yes, the "Time Quartet" is the series of books by Madeleine L'Engle including:

A Wrinkle in Time
A Wind in the Door
A Swiftly Tilting Planet
& Many Waters

I read them originally when I was a child, and re-read them this past summer!

- Your Friendly Neighbourhood Elf, *River*

[Samwise]

Ah yes...
"A Wrinkle in Time" was read to my class by my 4th grade teacher. Out of them all, I enjoyed it the most. I couldn't "get into" Many Waters...don't recall why--it seemed to drag or be to wordy or something for me. smilies/frown.gif
"I made a promise, Mister Frodo! 'Don't you leave him, Samwise Gamgee,' Gandalf said;
'Don't you leave him! "
Sam Gamgee

[zifnab]

Originally posted by River Jordan:
The Star Wars novels were based on the storyline after Return of the Jedi, but now they've got so many dozens of them, it's hard to keep up, with different authors, storylines, characters, etc. so I kind of stopped. There were some good ones, though!
[/QB]

I totally agree with about the Star Wars Novels. I read a few of them, when I was down I went to get some more and saw tons more on the shelf! So I kind of gave them a long break. I liked them, but it became too much too keep up with. To be honest the only things I really remember about them was, I believe, Princess Leia had some Jedi twins, and good ole Uncle Skywalker was training them.

[Mister Underhill]

Star Wars novels are an occasional guilty pleasure of mine also, though so far the only ones I have found bearable were the X-Wing series, especially those by Mike Stackpole. As far as fantasy literature goes, I always enjoyed Robert E. Howard’s Conan tales – he has a lively, literate, old-timey pulp style that’s irresistible, even if the stories aren’t exactly what you’d call “deep”.

There’s so much dreck on the fantasy shelves these days that it’s hard to sift through it all and find something good. For tales of adventure I prefer tried-and-true authors like Kipling, R.L. Stevenson, and Sir Richard Burton, who write about worlds that are so different from our modern day reality as to seem like fantasy.

[ January 31, 2002: Message edited by: Mister Underhill ]

[Rosa Underhill]

<<There’s so much dreck on the fantasy shelves these days that it’s hard to sift through it all and find something good>>

(I haven't a clue how to make the little 'quote' box appear, but Mister Underhill said that above!)

Yeah, no kidding! *coughAnneMcCaffreycough* That's been my biggest problem with fantasy; I love it but there really is a lot of-pardon-crap out there. You can't even go to the book store and pick up something just out of curiosity's sake; you never know what you might be reading.

That's why I like Tolkien so much and Lewis: nothing questionable by my standards.

Steven Lawhead rules! I forgot about him! I've only read one of his books but it was awesome! Hey, bryniana, you might want to give Frank Peretti a try. He's more of a Christian horro/fantasy writer, but once you get into his books, they're really good!

[River Jordan]

When I was in high school, I read about a dozen or so of Anne McCaffrey's "Pern" novels as well, but haven't read any more since. Also, I have read most of Frank Peretti's fiction stuff - This Present Darkness, Piercing the Darkness, The Oath, The Prophet, and The Visitation. Good writing - masterful story-teller, excellent at weaving different seemingly unconnected storylines together...a real page-turner!!

Your friendly neighbourhood elf, *River* http://www.angelfire.com/bc/YMF

[Samwise]

Per Rosa Underhill:
I highly recommend Frank Peretti's "The Oath" or "Piercing the Darkness".
Never read The Oath, but I really enjoyed "This Present Darkness", the prelude to "Peircing..."
BTW, to use a "quote", I copy and paste what I want to quote, then click "QUOTE" under "URL" below. (it works even if you can't see the little grey box, like I can't now.) Put what you want quoted between the two QUOTE tags.
*Frodo and Sam walking across a feild*
*Sam stops*
*Frodo turns* "Sam, what's the matter? "
*Sam* "If I take another step, I'll be farther from home than I've ever been."

[River Jordan]

The Oath is a really neat one - of all of Peretti's works, this particular one is an allegory (although not noticably or overtly so). It is the tale of a town that is plagued by a dragon, and how the different people deal with and respond to it. I haven't read it for a couple of years, but remember quite enjoying it!

Your friendly neighbourhood elf, *River* http://www.angelfire.com/bc/YMF

[Lostgaeriel]

I don't read very much fiction, let alone "fantasy fiction", but I enjoyed the Narnia series by C.S. Lewis.

I guess Douglas Adams' books would be described as Sci Fi, but they are my faves: the 5-book Hitch Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy "trilogy" - which I heard on radio first - well not the original broadcast or the rebroadcast - it must have been the recorded version! (Inside joke - see the Radio Scripts.) And his Dirk Gently sci fi mystery books.

Also enjoyed Harry Harrison's Stainless Steel Rat series, and Bill the Galactic Hero series.

My alltime favourite "serious" sci fi book is Carl Sagan's Contact - far better than the movie. (Of course I had to read it because I've read most of his other books. I'm more into classic lit and non-fiction.)

[Kuruharan]

In general agreement with most everyone else, I also really enjoyed C.S. Lewis and Stephen Lawhead. Although I have to admit that my favorite Lawhead books are not really "fantasy" per se. My all time favorite of his books is Byzantium, which is more along the lines of historical fiction, but I also really enjoyed the Empyrion books, which is science fiction. Science fiction is kind of fantasy I guess.
I read some of the Terry Brooks Shanarra series. I liked them, but alas, I got bogged down and gave up.
R.L. Stevenson's Kidnapped is also one of the best books ever written IMHO.
I also seem to have a need for a Star Trek fix in my literary life from time to time.
(cringes in embarassment)
I also have a voracious appetite for some fellow named Tolkien (oddly enough). smilies/wink.gif

[Rosa Underhill]

I also seem to have a need for a Star Trek fix in my literary life from time to time.
(cringes in embarassment)[

Aw, don't be embarassed! I'm watching "Star Trek: Voyager" right now, (I love this show). 'Tis no embarassment to be a Trekkie, or even a quasi-Trekkie.

I forgot to mention the Ratha books by Clare Bell; hard to find but very excellent to read. Also, Merideth Ann Peirces Firebringer trilogy. Also hard to find but well worth the trouble. And have I mentioned Patricia C. Wrede's "Enchanted Forest Chronicles" yet? smilies/smile.gif (No, I'm not a bookworm, not at all! What? You say there's something beyond books? Pshaw! How silly, that's just preposterous! *picks up book and reads*)

[Birdland]

Hello. I mostly lurk here, but couldn't resist this thread.

"Merlin" books, especially Mary Stewart's Crystal Cave, The Hollow Hills, and the Last Enchantment. And of course, T.H. White's The Once and Future King.

Prince Ombra - by Rodrick MacLeish -A young boy is born with the heart shared by all heroes throughout time, (Frodo included smilies/smile.gif)so he can battle the Ultimate Evil.

Little, Big - by John Crowley - Multi-generation family living in a house surrounded by the magic of Fairie.

Gormanghast Trilogy - by Mervyn Peake - A dysfunctional noble family threatened by a traitor in their midst. Very dark and weird.

Wicked - by Gregory MaGuire - A retelling of the Oz stories, told from the point of view of The Wicked Witch of the West.

Winter's Tale - by Mark Helprin - The history of New York City set in an alternative universe. Only way I can think to describe it.

Lastly, almost anything by Peter S. Beagle, especially The Last Unicorn. (Which, BTW, is being made into a live-action film, set to be released in 2003. Yippie!!!)

[River Jordan]

I must confess to watching a little Star Trek myself - I watched The Next Generation on TV when I was in high school, and the past couple of years had gotten into Voyager before it went off the air. I never liked Deep Space Nine, and I never got into the new one Enterprise, either. However, I haven't read any of the Trek books.

Hey, this is a pretty good discussion topic, isn't it? (If I do say so myself - it's the first discussion I started, being a new resident "in the Barrow-downs"...anyways, cheers!

- Your friendly neighbourhood elf, *River*

[Estelyn Telcontar]

Since several of you have mentioned sci-fi TV, I'll add this, even if it is slightly off topic:
Star Trek is better watching than most of what's around, but for Tolkien lovers try Babylon 5 - it's more epic, not as static, very fascinating and has plenty of Tolkien references.
Back to what's really important in life - books - C.S.Lewis' sci-fi trilogy has lots of deep thinking in it. There's a line in Perelandra that still sends shivers down my spine: "My name, too, is Ransom."

[Fenrir]

I'd forgotten Gormenghast! I've read that and almost enjoyed it. It's so weird though.
Gormenghast was on television a couple of years ago. It had Christopher Lee playing Flay.
A great series of fantasy novels that were inspired by the Mabinogion are Lloyd Alexander's "The Chronicles of Prydain."
Great read. My father read them to me when I was very young. I re-read them not long ago and was pleased to still find them wonderful.

[ArwenBaggins]

i like (this is just a brief list,fyi):

C.S. Lewis- "Chronicles of Narnia"
H.G. Wells- "The Time Machine"
J.K. Rowling- "Harry Potter"

Remember! That was a BRIEF list!!!


smilies/cool.gif

[Kuruharan]

I'd forgotten about Babylon 5. I watched the show and I've read some of the books. I really like the Centauri as a race and Londo Mollari as a character.
The show was good, but on the whole the books were just okay. Not that I didn't like them, but they aren't some of my all time favorites.

[Birdland]

Well, time to make a list and start hitting eBay!

[zifnab]

Originally posted by Birdland:
<STRONG>Lastly, almost anything by Peter S. Beagle, especially The Last Unicorn. (Which, BTW, is being made into a live-action film, set to be released in 2003. Yippie!!!)</STRONG>

This is off topic, but wasn't their a cartoon "The Last Unicorn", about 15 years ago. I remember watching it, I was just curious if it is the same as the book/moive you mentioned.

[Birdland]

To Zifnab: (sorry, still getting the hang of the board; haven't figured quotes out yet.)

Yes, there was an animated version in 1984. This is a new live-action film. For info got to:http://www.the-last-unicorn.net/index.htm.

Please, Mr. Moderator, don't turn me into something un-natural for going off-topic!

[Yaish]

For Tolkien fans (any here?) I would suggest Elizabeth Moon's "The Deed of Paksennarion" as well as the pre-quel books, Oath of Gold and Liars Oath. Very Tolkienesque feel, yet not a rip off. Great main charactor in all the books that you can really get behind. "Deed" (really a trilogy) is by far my favorite fantasy books, even over "Rings".
Also good is the Bazil Broketail series by Christopher Rowley. I truly endorse these books for everyone to read.
Another good fantasy series is David Drakes "Lord of the Isles". Its four books so far, and I have only read three. Excellent books though.
For Sci-fi I would suggest David Webers "Honor Harrington" books, and there are a ton of them out by now. Also anything bu Robert Heinlein, though I suspect much of this crowd wont like him. He tackles social/ethical/religious issues in his books with consumate skill and not comimg off as preachy. His view is mostly the atheist/humanist one though, so perhaps C.S. Lewis fans wont like him much.
Harry Turtledove also writes some excellent books, both in the fantasy and sci-fi realm. His "Misplaced Legion" and Videssos novels are excellent fantasy. He also wrote "Werenight" and its sequels, also excellent books. For Terry Pratchet style humor from him try "The Case of the Toxic Spelldump" All of Turtledoves alternate history is very good too, though I confess to not having read much of it.
God I love books! I could go on, but I'll stop here.
Oh, one more. Piers Anthony's "Incarnations of Immortality" series. Again, excellent.

[Samwise]

The Oath is a really neat one -It is the tale of a town that is plagued by a dragon, and how the different people deal with and respond to it.
Hm. I may pick it up one day. smilies/smile.gif
LOTR Moment (IV) (Moria)
Orcs are everywhere
Samwise whacks one with a pot
gets..."the hang of this!" smilies/smile.gif

Copyright 2002 S. Uffelman

[Samwise]

BTW, welcome to the 'Downs, Birdland !


Watching LOTR
The edge of my seat
hands tearing up a napkin
I liked that movie!

Copyright 2001 S. Uffelman

[Samwise]

Per Birdland:
Yes, there was an animated version in 1984. This is a new live-action film. For info got to:http://www.the-last-unicorn.net/index.htm.
Oh, boy. I remember that. Another one that made me cry in spots... smilies/frown.gif

Please, Mr. Moderator, don't turn me into something un-natural for going off-topic!

L-O-L! smilies/biggrin.gif

[Rosa Underhill]

A great series of fantasy novels that were inspired by the Mabinogion are Lloyd Alexander's "The Chronicles of Prydain."

Oh...my...goodness! Someone else other than me and the friends I've forced to read them hs read the Chronicles of Prydain?! *jaw drops*

Okay, I'm not an Anne McCaffrey fan much these days, she really bugs me now, but I'll say this: when she and Elizabeth Scarbourgh team up they can spin a good yarn! I highly recommend "Powers That Be", "Power Lines" and "Power Play". It's a trilogy about a sentient planet. Very spiffy.

And Jane Yolen's "Sister Light, Sister Dark" was awesome. "White Jenna" was good, too, but not as good. And the Pit Dragon trilogy just rocked! Oo! Can't forget James Gurney's "Dinotopia" (boy, I hope Hallmark doesn't kill it when they make a tv movie).

"The Last Unicorn" is going to be live action?! Wow... *faints* smilies/biggrin.gif

[Kuruharan]

I read the Chronicles of Prydain once long, long, long ago. I think that it was back in fifth or sixth grade or maybe both. My English teacher at the time had a thing for them. Don't really remember very much about them, but weren't they based on Welsh mythology to a degree or something like that?
That was about the time I developed my chronic addiction to Tolkien so forgive my if my memory is a bit hazy.
Not that I have an addiction to Tolkien or anything...no...I can quit anytime I want to...really! I'll just never want to.
(Who would?)

[NotHomeYet]

I am rather fond of the small series of books that spun off of the computer games Myst, Riven: The Sequel to Myst and Myst III: Exile. The first one, Myst: The Book of Atrus is a spectacularly written novel, enjoyable even if you haven't the foggiest idea what the games are about. The authors paint vivid pictures in your mind and come up with astoundingly original metphors and simlies, comparing silk to the underside of a leaf or seeing the reflection of stars in a pool to "swimming in the sky". You care very deeply for the characters, even the "evil" ones (such as Gehn), as they are shown to have soft spots just like everyone else.

Okay, I'm done rambling now. smilies/smile.gif

[Birdland]

Originally posted by Rosa Underhill:
<STRONG>

Oo! Can't forget James Gurney's "Dinotopia" (boy, I hope Hallmark doesn't kill it when they make a tv movie).

Ooooh! "Dinotopia"! I forgot that one. Where's my list...?

"The Last Unicorn" is going to be live action?! Wow... *faints* smilies/biggrin.gif</STRONG>
Yep. And Mia Farrow doesn't sing on this one!

[Birdland]

Originally posted by Samwise:
<STRONG>BTW, welcome to the 'Downs, Birdland!
</STRONG>
Thank you. Anyone out there know how to translate "Birdland" to Quenya?

[Maltagaerion]

NotHomeYet said...

I am rather fond of the small series of books that spun off of the computer games Myst

I have all three of those books, Book of Atrus, Book of Ti'ana, and the Book of D'ni. Very cool, and cool looking (especially the hard covers) books smilies/smile.gif

[Fenrir]

Originally posted by Kuruharan:
<STRONG> Don't really remember very much about them, but weren't they based on Welsh mythology to a degree or something like that?
</STRONG>

That's what I said. "The Mabinogion" is a book of Welsh Myths from the Middle Ages. That's a good read too.

[Kuruharan]

Kewl! smilies/smile.gif I did not know that. I learned something new today.
I'm not very familiar with Celtic/Welsh mythology so maybe I'll read it sometime.

[Elvenglass]

I have all three of those books, Book of Atrus, Book of Ti'ana, and the Book of D'ni. Very cool, and cool looking (especially the hard covers) books

I love those books! Dinotopia are great books too, and Star Wars(but there are so many of them I couldn't buy them all) Another trilogy of books I like is by Philip Pullman. They're called The Golden Compass, The Subtle Knife and The Amber Spyglass. Ahhhh so many excellent books , so little time.

[Gayalondiel]

Little time, Elvenglass? I have to confess that I bought the first two of Philip Pullman's trilogy the other day and I read both of them in 48 hours. I used to be like that with the Star Wars books as well, I've banned myself from butying anymore until i leave uni as i'd just go straight through my loan!
Also, i have to say it - really sorry those of you who look down on it smilies/wink.gif - I DO like harry potter and I read that really fast as well - book 4 took me 5 hours (nonstop) i think.

[Perethil]

I am a gigantic Terry Pratchett fan...
absolutely hooked on all Discworld stuff, and i suggest that everyone at least read one and check it out. some LOTR refrences too...

[Samwise]

NotHomeYet and Perethil, welcome to the 'Downs!

*Frodo and Sam walking across a feild*
*Sam stops*
*Frodo turns* "Sam, what's the matter? "
*Sam* "If I take another step, I'll be farther from home than I've ever been."
(Yeah, probably just another movie moment, but I liked it.) smilies/biggrin.gif

[Rosa Underhill]

Eh... I picked up "The Golden Compass" and got as far as chapter four before I got sick of it. I'm not a big Pullman fan but I figured I'd at least give these books a try before I judged them. I've gotten very particular about what I read lately.

C.S. Lewis' "Mere Christianity" kicks! I'm going to get myself a copy as soon as I can! (I'm reading one from the library right now.)

[River Jordan]

Oh, just thought of another book I really enjoyed - The Neverending Story by Michael Ende! Wonderful fantasy! There are 3 movies that have been made based on the book - the first two following the book, and then the third one taking considerable license and just using the characters, world, etc. The book is great - anyone else read it??

[Fenrir]

I like Pullman's "His Dark Materials" Trilogy but my enjoyment of them is somewhat decreased by the fact that in interviews with the author he has always seemed to be quite arrogant.

I love Discworld too, Perethil! The Tolkien reference is in Witches Abroad, isn't it? I can't think of anymore at the moment.

[ February 03, 2002: Message edited by: Fenrir ]

[ February 11, 2002: Message edited by: Fenrir ]

[Ara'rial]

'The Golden Compass' series is good. 'Everworld' is good too, but I only got up to book three. 'Night World' is the best, if you like romance and horror that is.

[Daisy Sandybanks]

Okay, probley all of these have been mentioned before, but I don't care, im gonna mention them anyway smilies/biggrin.gif
These are some of the books that I have read in the past and have absolutely loved!

By Anne Rice:
Interview with a Vampire
The Vampire Lestat
(actually it seems that as I was reading through the posts on this topic, nobody has mentioned these or anything else by Anne Rice....)

By Philip Pullman:
The Golden Compass
The Subtle Knife
The Amber Spyglass

All four Harry Potter books(yes, i know, shame on me...)

Books I actually haven't read and are sitting on my bookshelf getting dusty which I know I should read and will read in due time:

By Lloyd Alexander:
The Book of Three
(my friend suggested reading this and has been pestering me to read it for a month now, but iv been to busy with other things)

By C. S. Lewis:
The Chronicles of Narnia
(I got this during christmas and actually have seen the movie that The Lion the Witch and the Wardrob had been made into, so now I really want to read The Chronicles of Narnia)

Ummmm... iv probley read more, I just can't remember at the momment.
Also I read in one of the posts that The Last Unicorn is beingmade into a live action movie?? Wow... iv seen the 1984 cartoon version and LOVED it..
Also I am proud to say that I am a loyal Star Trek fan (I just had to put that in... sorry smilies/smile.gif )

If you think that you have a book that you want to mention and that you think I would like, go ahead and mention it.. I am always open to more book reading suggestions.

PS- sorry i wrote so much... i think i got carried away smilies/tongue.gif

[Rosa Underhill]

By Lloyd Alexander:
The Book of Three
(my friend suggested reading this and has been pestering me to read it for a month now, but iv been to busy with other things)



Well, I don't know you well enough to truely recommend anything, but you're friend's right about "The Book of Three": read it! Read it now! smilies/biggrin.gif And after you read it, get "The Black Cauldron" and read that! Then, read "The Castle of Llyr", "Taran Wanderer" and "The High King". And, if you find that that wasn't enough Prydain for ya', try "The Foundling and Other Tales of Prydain"! smilies/biggrin.gif

Hey, does anyone else think that Schmendrik from "The Last Unicorn" cartoon looks a bit like the Hobbits from the hobbit cartoons? Anyone know if the same people made the cartoons?

[ElanorG]

I think I may have metioned this on one of these threads, but The Gormenghast Trilogy by Mervyn Peake is very interesting - very surreal, lots of elaborate description. It was writen in the 40s I believe. I've only read the first one. The rise and fall of the mightly castle Gormenghast and its inhabitants and its dysfunctional royal family. Sort of odd but addictive in way. There was a recent adaptation of it on British TV that starred (I think?) Bill Boyd. They showed it on PBS in the States.

EG

[ElanorG]

Oh, and I just noticed that Birdland rec'd Gormenghast too!

[Telgaladiel]

Ooh...
I've just restarted Pawn of Prophecy by David and Leigh Eddings. Actually, Eddings is the one who turned me onto fantasy and later -due to his praise- (with the help of a certain movie also) Tolkien.

Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley. I cannot get enough of that book. Ever.

I happen to really like Pern, especially DragonsDawn, Moreta, and Dragon Flight.

Also,atm, for school, I am reading Hemingway and Cat on a Hot Tin Roof...oooh lord! what a wonderful play! Just finished Miss Julie which is also excellent.

Got to get to work... smilies/eek.gif

[Orald]

The Elegant Universe, USA Today. Although neither are fantasy and USA Today isn't a book, I find them more enjoyable than most fantasy out there.

[Mister Underhill]

It's been many years now, but I remember greatly enjoying Katherine Kurtz's Deryni books. More of a blend of historical fiction and fantasy than most.

[Rose Cotton]

'HIS DARK MATERIALS' is a must, and I've just learned that it is being made into a movie. I also like (you probably hate to hear this) 'HARRY POTTER'. I've read 'NARNIA' which is exelent. I am at this time reading 'THE CHRONINICLES OF CHRESTOMANCI' this is very good especially the story about Christoper Chant. You can also try 'ARTEMIS FOWL.

[Fenrir]

I've just started this message board for fans of Susan Cooper's "The Dark Is Rising" Sequence. http://pub69.ezboard.com/bthecircle42165

[Daegwenn]

I have some how managed to read quite a few of the books that go along with the game, Magic the Gathering.
-The Farseer books by Robin Hobb

Other than that, I prefer Historical fictions. Marion Zimmer Bradley, Pauline Gedge, and Diana Gabaldon.

[Fingolas]

I'm a bit suprised that no one has mentioned Orson Scott Card yet. His "Ender" series is wonderful.

1 Enders Game
2 Speaker for the Dead
3 Enders Shadow
4 There is another one here, but I can't remember the title smilies/rolleyes.gif

[Beren87]

I am a huge fan of Ender, that was my obsession before LotR.
The books are,
1.Ender's Game
2.Speaker for the Dead
3.Xenocide
4.Children of the Mind
5.Ender's Shadow
6.Shadow of the Hegemon
There is a sixth one coming out in April or May, and a movie in the works.

Someone above mentioned Harry Turtledove too. Though I have not read any of his Fantasy books, I've read almost all the Alternate History. I found these to be particurally enjoyable.
1.The Great War trilogy
2.The World War series
3. The Two Georges (co-written by Richard Dreyfus)

I also really liked Artur C. Clarke's Space Oddesy series, and Contact.

[goldwine]

Thanks for the great reading advice guys! Like many of you, I love the Frank Perretti books, CS Lewis (Just finished the "Screwtape letters" again, Rosa)- have read Lewis' Sci-Fi - Voyage to Venus etcand as others did fount it thought provoking Loved "Hitch-hikers guide to the galaxy". I must admit to loving Star Trek series, but can't get into the books. Although I don't call myself a Trekkie anymore after watching the movie of the same title! I found lots of comparisons with Babylon 5 and bits and pieces of Tolkien. Will try out lots of the other authors suggested. Thanks!!

[Samwise]

Fingolas, Beren, and goldwine, greetings from Bagshot Row! smilies/smile.gif
"Eavesdropping Sir? I don't follow you, begging your pardon. There ain't no eaves at Bag End, and that's a fact."
Sam Gamgee

[the_raging_jackass]

I really like Robert Asprin's "Myth" series. They always bring a smile to my face. I also am a big fan of H.P. Lovecraft, and of course, Frank Herbert. (I know, its not fantasy). His son's new trilogy prequel to "Dune" is excellent.

[Samwise]

I really like Robert Asprin's "Myth" series
LOL!!!!I remember those! Boy, those were funny.....
Sam refused to leave his master. He came and sat, curled up at Frodo's feet, where at last he nodded and closed his eyes.

[twinkle]

looks like i got a lot of new reading suggestions in here too....
however, i have to finish tolkien's books before i can switch saddles.....
the fantasy i've read so far includes marion zimmer-bradley, piers anthony, robert jordan, weis & hickman and a few others in times way back when i don't remember....
thx for the headsup on these other authors...

twinkle

[Thinhyandoiel]

Actually, my favourite fantasy book besides LOTR has always been Urshurak, though not many have heard of it, let alone have read it. Anyone out there read it? Shout out so I know I'm not alone, please!

[Tigerlily]

I read these:

1) DragonLance

2) The Death Gate Cycle

3) Melanie Rawn's series. I can't remember the title right now, but it was awesome.

[Belin]

I'm very happy to find so many other fans of Prydain!... I entirely love it, as you may well imagine. It actually spurred me to read the Mabinogion, which was difficult and in which I found that Alexander had changed many things (which is all right since I love the books), but in which I was delighted to find that there really was a Flewddur Fflam, and that he's mentioned twice in lists of princes they called down to fight for them... So from that came his obscure yet royal status and his swordfighting and Alexander actually took an interest in that.... ahem. Boy, am I off topic. Sorry.
Does anybody like any of his other books? I'm a big fan of Prince Jen, myself, and I'm trying to find the Westmark books so I can reread them.


A new movie of The Last Unicorn????? (cheers loudly). I hope its as respectful of the book as the animated version, and what the heck, better (even though the other was very good.... why make more movies unless you improve them over time?)

I also really like Ursula K. LeGuin's Earthsea and Always Coming Home, and I very much enjoyed the first two books of Lewis's Space Trilogy (I've yet to read That Hideous Strength), and The Little Prince is just an incredible book, and, let's see, there's a million other things I can't think of of course............

Oh, yes, and Coleridge of course!

[ March 23, 2002: Message edited by: Belin ]

[Maikadilwen]

Hmm, many years ago (too many) I read all the Narnia books. In the fantasy section, it's primarily been Tolkien and Dragonlance -Chronicles, -Legends and -Tales. (I have always LOVED Raistlin smilies/evil.gif ) I don't really understand what so many people have against Dragonlance. Some people have even said, that if you're into Tolkien, you can't like DL and the other way 'round. Well I'm into both. Of course there's a big difference, but it's different worlds and different "rules" so what is the fuzz?

[ March 23, 2002: Message edited by: Maikadilwen ]

[red]

I missed this thread the first few times around. I'm glad someone mentioned Orson Scott Card. I love the Ender books too! He has another series called Homecoming that I also loved. Another favorite author of mine is Stephen Lawhead, especially his Song of Albion series, Pendragon Cycle and Byzantium.

[Kalla]

ohhh, definately Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series, and also Melanie Rawn's Ruins of Ambrai and Michelle West's Sun Sword series. The rest just seems to be a hodpodge of everything else. smilies/smile.gif

[Kalla]

actually...the more I read your guys' posts, I realized I have read a lot of books in the past few years...lol. I read LotR a looooong time ago, but Terry Pratchett and the Myst books are definately on my list...guess that's why I have a webpage to keep track of all that stuff...lol

[muffin_goddess]

David Eddings-his stuff is quite brillig

David Gemmel-Eddingsish but more um... explicit in some of the ummm.... personal scenes

Redwall Bookies-Wow cutesie little mousies, squizzels, and moles saving the abbey its sooo sweet (lots of crying involved)

Phillip Pullman-all of them (not quite so much crying but at the end of ruby in the smoke and amber spyglass tears are shed)

Harry Potter-I have just recently "come out" as a fan, books quite good really after severe doubt and negotiation with brother he didn't keep his side but now I am Harry Potter fangirl *sigh*)

Deptford Mice- more mousie books very cute and lots of crying

Just recently (a couple of hours ago) started reading the Hobbit, lent to me by Fran (stubborn friend who refuses to see or read anything lotr) is v v v v good considering I'm 20 pages in, (watching hornblower on TV and have no time to read)

[Ahanarion]

I've read the Chronicles of Narnia, all four Harry Potters, most of the Redwall series, and the Lost Years of Merlin saga. I don't know if this counts but I play the Final Fantasy games alot.

[Rose Cotton]

This is not a fantacy book.
It is science-fiction.
But it is still worth a read. The book is called ENDER'S GAME.
It's for anyone who likes intence edge of your seat action.
Ender's Game is about a six year old boy in the future named Ender. He has a loving sister and a blood thirsty brother. Ender has been chosen to go to a battle school ub space to train with other children. They have to work hard because there is a war against alien insects who must be destroyed.
Can Ender overcome terrible times?
Is he as blood thirsty as his brother?
Will he ever have friends?
Find out!

[Nufaciel]

Tolkien is my addiction (go figure!), but I, too, have read the Chronicles of Narnia, as well as some of the DragonLance books, but right now I am reading R.A. Salvatore's The Crimson Shadow Trilogy (I'm on book two, almost done), then I am going into his Dark Elf Trilogy. You guys have given me some really good suggestions for my next picks. Thanks. smilies/smile.gif

[ainur]

I've been an Orson Scott Card fan since college. Not only the Ender books, but also the Alvin Maker series.
I read the Chronicles of Narnia in high school and liked them a lot though I haven't picked them up since.
One of my favorites is "The Little Prince" by Antoine de St. Exupery. It only takes about an hour or two to read.
For pure escapism, I used to read a lot of Edgar Rice Burroughs, despite the racism/sexism/every other -ism that he expounds. They're loads of fun and adventure.

[Ahanarion]

I totaly forgot about the Little Prince. I've read it about five times. I'ts very good. I love the asteroid where time is really fast.

[ElanorGamgee]

I like The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis.

[Birdland]

Don't any of you young'uns read T.H. White anymore? (sniffle...sigh) Before there was Tolkien for me, there was "The Once and Future King". And his lesser known work "Mistress Masham's Repose".

If you haven't read White, you don't know what you're missing!

[Child of the 7th Age]

T.H. White, The Once and Future King---what a great book. Not in the same class as Tolkien, but just one step below. It's interesting that T.A. Shippey, when he recently did an interview about his Tolkien biography and his Road to Middle Earth, was asked if we would see GREAT fantasy writers in the future. He replied sadly that characters like Tolkien and T.H. White are gone. The type of education we offer as well as the way the modern world tends to iron out differences between regions, individuals, etc. makes it less likely that we will get the kind of books that White and Tolkien wrote, books that come from the very soul and make one weep in joy and sadness. He said he hoped he was wrong, but he feared it was so. Don't you love the way White describes and uses animals in his work to teach the young king. Tolkien is master of green, growing things, especially trees, and White is master of all types and forms of birds and beasts. Two men, so different--boy were they different!-- and both masterful. sharon smilies/smile.gif

[Samwise]

"Mistress Masham's Repose"! Oh, that was one of my favorites!! It's been so long....but I read it several times. smilies/smile.gif
"If I hear 'not allowed' much oftener I'm going to get angry."
Sam Gamgee

[dragongirlG]

Let's see...(some of these I don't know the author of)
The Ear, the Eye, and the Arm
The Iron Ring
The Wrinkle in Time and all the Madeline L'Engle books. Excellent author.
The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis

I don't think I read fantasy that much...I mean, I read more little-kiddy books for fantasy. I'm currently absorbed in the classics.

[Dior]

The Shannara series by Terry Brooks have to be the best fantasy books besides Tolkien's ever. Madeline L'engle is good too.

1. The Sword of Shannara
2. The Elfstones of Shannara
3. The Wishsong of Shannara
The First King of Shannara(prologue, equivalent to The Hobbit).

[Nice-Smeagol]

My favourite fantasy books apart from LOTR are the Discworld books by Terry Pratchett (which take a lighthearted look at fantasy).
If I remember rightly there is a bit that he has stolen from LOTR
"Two pale glows appeared at the edge of the edge of the lamplight. Eventually they turned out to be the eyes of a small grey froglike creature paddling towards them on a log. It reached the boat, long clammy fingers reached over the side and a lubrigous face rose level with Nanny Ogg's.
'Ullo, It's my birthday', it said.
All three of them sared at it for a while. Then Granny Weatherwax picked up an oar and hit it firmly over the head. There was a splash and distant cursing.
'Horrible little bugger', said Granny.
'Yeah, its the slimy ones you've got to look out for. said Nanny."
Witches Abroad

Hehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehe heheheheheheheheheeheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheh ehe...... etc. etc. smilies/biggrin.gif smilies/biggrin.gif smilies/biggrin.gif

LONG LIVE TERRY PRATCHETT!

[silme-ranaa]

the latest fantasy fiction i've read is A Song Of Ice and Fire by George R.R. Martin.I 'd recomend it to all.

[Jessica Jade]

I read the first Narnia book in fith grade. I haven't touched the series since, but maybe i will again if i have time, because that book was really good! Well, i plan to read Dune next. A sci-fi novel, actually, but it sounds intriguing and epic. I love epics smilies/smile.gif

[Birdland]

Silme-Ranaa - I was wandering the stacks in the Sci-Fi/Fantasy section at The Book Loft (Best bookstore in the world! Hurray!) One of the sale guys walked up to me and said "Wanna read something really great?" and pointed right at Martin's "A Song of Ice and Fire" series. So I bought the the first book "A Game of Thrones" and put it in the stack of other books I'm planning on reading. Maybe I'll move it up to the top of the heap now.

I'd gotten out of even attempting to read any of the plethora of "fantasy trilogies" for many years. And if they make any comparisons to Tolkien, I run the other way!

I remember first picking up "The Sword of Shannara" series back in the 70's because it promised to be "just like Tolkien". After one chapter I practically threw it across the room. "That's not Tolkien! I want more Tolkien!" Unfortunately, he died a year later, so I didn't get my wish.

Anyway, George Martin better come through, or he's going straight into the kindling box!

[ March 29, 2002: Message edited by: Birdland ]

[Gimli Son Of Gloin]

After I read LOTR, all other books seemed total trash (cept' the Bible and suck). I did however like "The time Machine" by H.G. Wells, "Journey to the Center of the Earth" -i forget the author. I think harry potter is a totally trash, and is only useful for building a fire. smilies/evil.gif

[Gimli Son Of Gloin]

such*

[Gimli Son Of Gloin]

such*

[The Barrow-Wight]

Forum Lesson #1: EDITING POSTS

Look for the little icon that looks like a hammer over a piece of paper. Hold your mouse over it Click. Now edit your posts.

[ March 31, 2002: Message edited by: The Barrow-Wight ]

[Tarlondeion Of Gondolin]

I read a lot of Star Wars books.

Raymond E Feist (Riftwar series, amongst others) is also a great fantasy authour.

So's Robart Jordan (wheel of time series).

I like Redwall by Brian Jaques too.

[gollum*elf*pup]

ooo! my other favourite books are Squire and In the Realms if the Gods, by Tamora Pierce. V. good books! (I love griffins)

[Tigerlily Gamgee]

I am really bad when it comes to reading. I haven't really read much since High School. There I mostly read the classics (for books reports and such) - one fantasy book I enjoyed was Stephen Kings The Eyes Of The Dragon.
I also am a HUGE fan of The Last Unicorn!!!
Let's just say that reading The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, and The Silmarillion has been my great leap and bound back into the world of reading. I will move on to other fantasies as soon as I can ween myself away from Tolkien's books smilies/smile.gif

[Samwise]

gollum*elf*pup, hello there! Welcome!
~your friendly neighborhood gardener.
"Yes, sir!" said Sam. "Begging your pardon, sir! But I meant no wrong to you, Mr. Frodo, nor to Mr. Gandalf. He has some sense, and when you said go alone, he said no! take someone as you can trust. "

[ April 03, 2002: Message edited by: Samwise ]

[Weber]

ive read the chronicles of narnia (especially The Horse and His Boy smilies/wink.gif) AND hARRY POTTER(DONT KNOW If that counts)

[Weber]

also smilies/rolleyes.gif the LOrd of The Rings

[amyrlis]

I am currently re-reading The Chronicles of Narnia, read all of them once when I was younger. And, if it counts as Fantasy, I've read the first 3 Harry Potter's. Other than those and Tolkien, I haven't read any other Fantasy works. I'm a big fan of what I guess you'd call "classic liturature", also known as the pre-college reading list. I.E. All Quiet on the Western Front, Red Sky at Morning, East of Eden and Wuthering Heights. And, I've added The Last Unicorn to my reading list after recently finding out that it is in fact a book - just need to get around to obtaining a copy.

[Amanaduial the archer]

i luv Dianna Wynne Jones books, especially the Chrestomanci books, and Dogsbody.

Also i like The Wind On Fire Trilogy by William Nicholson,(The Windsinger, The Slaves Of The Mastery are the two that r out.)theyr so dramatic and reind me of lotr, sacrifice, drama, terror, seperation, destruction, tragedy.....*sigh*

Amother good lot are the Deepwoods Chronicles, Beyond the Deepwoods, Midnight Over Sanctaphrax, Stormchaser etc. Twig rules!

But i could never forget the modern master of fantasy, the heir to tolkiens legends, the one, the only, (ok,im entitled to give it a bit of atmosphere ok!?)Philip Pullman! His Dark Materials are my most read and most treasured books on my entire shelf, and they have pride of place right beside LOTR and The Hobbit. I actually had a dream about Will once...ahem!
I think theyre making a film of Northern Lights soon....if ne1 knows NETHING AT ALL ABOUT THAT PLEASE TELL ME!!!!!!EVEN JUST WOT FILM COMPANY IS MAKING IT,AUDITIONS,AFTER THAT WHOS IN IT,GOOD SITES.....ANYTHING!!!!!!!PLEASE I AM BEGGING U! mailto:smallville_kicksass@hotmail.comsmallville_k icksass@hotmail.com</A>
ure pleadingly
lol
amy

[Vinyacairwen]

I read the Narnia books when I was in elementary school...I really liked them then, especially The Horse and his Boy and Voyage of the Dawn Treader. Now, my favorite fantasy books/series are The Wayfarer Redemption by Sarah Douglass, and I've recently started reading the first DragonLance book (Dragons of Autumn Twilight ::chuckles:: funny name), which I find mildly interesting. The Rhapsody books were kinna interesting to me, but I wasn't quite into them...her work was supposedly so good people compared it to Tolkien. /I/ wasn't impressed.

[LadyArwen]

'HIS DARK MATERIALS' is a must, and I've just learned that it is being made into a movie.

A movie! A movie?A MOVIE!! I must say I'm a great fan of Philip Pullman. Northern Lights, the Subtle Knife, The Amber Spyglass ... exactly what I would call 'riveting stuff'. smilies/biggrin.gif
Also, one series which I haven't seen posted is the Abhorsen Series - 'Sabriel' is the first book, 'Lirael' the second, and the third, 'Abhorsen', is yet to come. I highly recommend this series - you get swept into this whole world of magic, mystery and ...... (fill in the dotted line with appropriate answer, as I can't think of one smilies/smile.gif)
I found Lirael the better of the two, so if you don't like Sabriel, then don't be put off - have a go at Lirael.

Now, what else have I got on my shelf ... *has a quick look* Hm ... 'The Day of the Triffids' ... 'Lord of the Rings' (of course!) ... 'Witches Abroad' ... 'The Last Dragonlord' ... 'Daghter of the Forest' ...
Well, that's about all the fantasy I have here!
Btw, I read the Prydain Chronicles and I found they just didn't pull me into the story. Then again, I was 9, so I guess I might have changed a bit smilies/smile.gif

A Philip Pullman series I highly recommend, though it isn't exactly fantasy, is his 'Ruby in the Smoke' quartet. Again, absolutely 'riveting stuff' smilies/wink.gif These include 'The Ruby in the Smoke', 'The Shadow in the North', 'The Tiger in the Well', and 'The Tin Princess'. I didn't find 'The Tin Princess' as good as the others, but that's just me.

And of course, how could I forget Harry Potter? smilies/smile.gif
Not as deep as Tolkien, of course, but a fantastic, magical adventure story all the same!

And finally, I recommend Lewis Carrol, for a wonderful, absolutely ridiculous laugh-until-you-get-a-stitch time. smilies/biggrin.gif

Oops. That post was a bit long ... got a bit carried away there ... smilies/smile.gif

Well, if you have any recommendations, please feel free to email me at glitterglossbug_smh@hotmail.com

Thank you!
-LadyArwen

[Neferchoirwen]

Gee. The Last Unicorn into a live action movie? Samwise, you cheered me up there. Thanks for sharing that! smilies/biggrin.gif smilies/biggrin.gif
I saw something about Myst in here somewhere. If I got right, I saw the sequel, Riven, in book form. I was so stupid not to buy it. (It was worth some 6 US dollars) I hope I get to see it on the stores again. (Oh please, God)
I have a copy of 'The Once and Future King,' but haven't read it yet. (I will within the year) But I was in the library a few months ago, and I saw this small book, which was supposed to be the 'true last chapter of the once and future king.' does that mean that it actually has 5 books instead of four?
just asking. smilies/smile.gif

[Amanaduial the archer]

LONG LIVE TERRY PRATCHETT

thanku!
lol
amy

[Birdland]

Neferchoirwen - Here's the link: The Last Unicorn Movie (http://www.the-last-unicorn.net/index.htm). Can't wait 'til they post a message board! (Ack! Did I just say that?!)

Not that I'd ever go THERE!

As for the 5th O&FK book: The Book of Merlin, it's been awhile since I read it, but it's kind of a "flashback" book, with references to WW II in it. The details are kind of fuzzy, since it's been years since I read it, but I don't think it's necessary to run out and get it, and I notice it has never been included in later editions of White's book.

[Nevfeniel]

I read the first Narnia book in fith grade. I haven't touched the series since
smilies/eek.gif smilies/eek.gif smilies/eek.gif smilies/eek.gif I LOVE The Chronicles of Narnia! You need to read the others! My fave one was, and still is, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader.

[Brimstone Goldenwing]

I don't ready that much (always playing video games) but some fantasy books that I enjoyed reading are Dragon's Blood, Dealing with Dragons, The Last Battle, and The Hero and the Crown smilies/smile.gif

I'm trying to kick myself into reading more books..always playing video games (BAD BRIMSTONE! BAD!)..

[ April 14, 2002: Message edited by: Brimstone Goldenwing ]

[Manelwen]

Marion Zimmer Bradely.
Ursela LeGuinn
Meredith Ann Pierce

Meredith Ann Pierce's Darkangel Trilogy is trippy. Lots of six winged vampyres and soul drinking.

[Samwise]

Manelwen, hullo and welcome to the "club"! smilies/smile.gif
~your friendly neighborhood gardener.
For some time Frodo and Sam managed to keep up with the others, but after a while they lagged behind. Sam's cut was burning like fire, and his head felt light. In spite of the shining sun the wind felt chill. He shivered.

[Lush]

Heh, I read the newspaper every day. Does that count?

[Maluriel]

I read Animorphs (even though it's ended, don't know if that counts) I read the Lost Years of Merlin and any of Bruce Coville's fantacy series. I also write my own novels about a fantacy land called Forest Everlasting that I've been working on for about five years. I'm writing a God moralled novel called Fallowing Truth right now, it's a fantacy about a quest, so look out for it when I become a famous author! My pen name is Kat DeLaney.

[Ahanarion]

Finally someone else who likes the Lost Years of Merlin.

[dragongirlG]

I've also read Animorphs. It was good.

Another good book:
A Wrinkle in Time and its sequels by Madeline L'Engle

[Nevfeniel]

A Wrinkle in Time and its sequels by Madeline L'Engle

Ooh, I love those books! At first, I thought that A Swiftly Tilting Planet was boring, but since Sep. 11, I've been able to relate to it a little better.

[Thalionyulma]

Aside from JRRT's works I like Raymond Feist tales of Midkemia. (RF must have been greatly influenced by JRRT, he even calls the elves "edhel")

also enjoyed several books from DragonLance & Forgotten Realms (sorry forgot the authors). And how about Katherine Kurtz(?), the one about Pern and dragons.... also about the stories about Gwenydd & Derynis (I can't believe I forgot the author! sheeez!)

I've controlled myself not to get the other books mentioned (like Merlin's, and the ones by Jordan) because I drive myself crazy waiting for the next books availability... smilies/tongue.gif

[grimlock]

OK, I'm new here, and I'm not english so forgive me for any wrong translation of titles please.
I've read "the wheel of times" -serie, the "Shannara" books, many books about Pern (sorry for that), Harry Potter, The "Death Gate" books and various others (which titles or authors I don't remeber anymore).
I also like reading the books that come from Magic: The Gathering.
And I've seen the animation-version of "The last Unicorn" which I thought was absolutely fantastic

[Samwise]

mîrlos, hullo! Always glad t' see another newbie! smilies/biggrin.gif Be welcomed an' post lots!
Sam looked up into the pale sky, fearing to see hawks or eagles hovering over them with bright unfriendly eyes.
"You do make me feel uncomfortable and lonesome, Strider! " he said.

[Birdland]

Welcome Mîrlos!

Just curious: did you read the books in English, or were they translated into French?

Hope you've read "The Last Unicorn", too. Not to be missed!

[KingCarlton]

Where the heck was this thread hiding for so long....man, I almost started another one.
Let's see now, ever since I could read by myself (around the first grade)I have been reading comic books and fairy tales.
Enid Blyton's books fascinated me very much in those early innocent years and I loved to read about Superman leaping tall buildings etc.
I went on to read The Chronicles of Narnia as I grew older and then got a hold of Tolkien's works at the age of 12.

These are the authors that are my all time favourites( including the ones previously mentioned), in no particular order.

Arthur C Doyle
Robert E Howard
Edgar R Burroughs
Edgar Allen Poe
H.G.Wells
G. Rider Haggard
Isaac Asimov
Arthur C Clarke
Michael Crichton
Robert E Michener
George Orwell
Jerome K Jerome
John Byrne
Richard and Wendy Pini
George Lucas


And I still read comics to this day, in fact I have a huge collection.

Cheers !

[grimlock]

Thanks for the welcome.

To answer your question, Birdland, I've actually read these books in two languages.
Most of them were Dutch (my native language), but some were available in English (like those Magic books and the Elric - sage by Micheal Moorcock).

Since so many of you seem to like these Narnia (? sorry if I didn't remeber it correctly) books, I think I'll try to locate them.

Thanks for all the good recommandations!

[Sophia the Thunder Mistress]

I also love the Myst series... the book of D'ni is particularly thought provoking. I can't believe more people haven't mentioned Lewis's Space Trilogy... Perelandra is the most hauntingly beautiful thing I've ever read. Madeline L'Engle is a great Fantasy read, and not only the time quartet... The Arm of the Starfish and a Ring of Endless Light both get me every time. Douglas Adam's Hitchhiker "trilogy" can hardly be left out, nor can Gayle Greeno's Ghatti's Tale, which is also a trilogy (Finder's Seekers, Mindspeaker's Call and Exiles Return), has anyone read that? Also I love the good old Shannara books, if you haven't yet read Antrax I highly reccommend it. Another series I get into is Terry Goodkind's Sword of Truth novels. THey get a bit repetitive at times and I wonder how many times Richard Rahl can possibly be counted on to save the world... but...

[Rohansangel]

Myst is good. I've been meaning to read the Dragonriders of Pern books. And I love the Xanth books -- they're so funny, but they really are nothing like Lord of the Rings. There's no comparing anything to LotR! smilies/smile.gif

[Samwise]

Sophia the Thunder Mistress and Rohansangel, welcome! Please make yourself at home! smilies/wink.gif
~your friendly neighborhood gardener.

LOTR (Movie) Moment (III) (Second Breakfast)
Pippin stops to cook
Aragorn says there's no time
Apple hits a head.

Copyright 2002 S. Uffelman

[Samwise]

Edgar Allen Poe
Isaac Asimov

Ooh--creepy as the ones we read in school were, I enjoyed Poe's works, too.
And Isaac Asimov--what would my senior year of High School been without the series that began with "The Caves of Steel..." smilies/wink.gif
LOTR (Movie) Moment (II) (Moria)
Nine Walkers enter
Frodo's sword glows with blue light
door barred--Orcs coming!

Copyright 2002 S. Uffelman

[Samwise]

Ever read Ray Bradbury's "Martian Chronicles"? There's a chapter in it called "Usher:2005"--about this guy who wants revenge and takes it Poe-style....very freaky. smilies/eek.gif
LOTR (Movie) Moment (IV) (Moria)
Orcs are everywhere
Samwise whacks one with a pot
gets..."the hang of this!" smilies/smile.gif

Copyright 2002 S. Uffelman

[ESTEN]

The books that I read are far to many to list all here, but i will give you some of the ones that I enjoy:
Adventures in Wonderland, and trough the looking Glass
The Foundation series
Islandia
The Dune series
Shanarra
and anything dark and twisted, Poe, Hathorine, S. King, A. Rice, want to know anything more just ask smilies/evil.gif

[The Silver-shod Muse]

The first novel I ever read (when I was five) was by C.S. Lewis: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. The other six followed shortly after and I was infatuated with every one of them. It almost makes me jealous that everybody has read them because those books have always been my own personal little world, something like an early Middle Earth smilies/wink.gif

I can't believe that more people havn't mentioned Jules Verne's books! They may be outdated now, but if you consider the age in which they were written, they're incredible! Especially 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (Captain Nemo reminds me of a demented Gandalf).

The Dinotopia picture books are great (I'm not ashamed to say that I read picture books!) That psuedo-Australian continent seemed so real to me for so long! Everything made so much sense in Dinotopia (even though the name is cheesy)...

C.S. Lewis' Malacandra and Perelandra books rock!!! They are sure to bring on an attack of Weltschmerz, though if you don't know the Bible it may be difficult to make some connections.

All in all I believe it's a pretty bleak world out there for fantasy after reading Tolkien, the father of the genre. My eye twitches uncontrollably every time I read a Tolkien spin-off, and there are plenty of those. Right now I am sloughing into the jungle of bizarre stuff that precedes Tolkien's fantasy era (i.e. Jules Verne's books)in a desperate attempt to escape those post-Tolkien writers that should be shot for plagarism.

[NyteSky]

I haven't read through all the posts so I'm sorry if any of these have already been said.

David Eddings- my favorite,
Tad Williams
and Patricia C. Wrede- she has some funny ones and some serious ones, both good

I highly recommend those to anyone who likes fantasy. Excellent authors. But of course Tolkien remains the Master.

[Tarthang]

The first book I ever read was the Hobbit in fifth grade and LOTR within two years and since (and reread around 100 times for these four books), plus many of Tolkiens other works since.
Finished Lewis' Narnia Chronicles by eigth grade.
Other authors read include: Robert Jordans (IMO best author next to Tolkien)Wheel of Time Series (nine times through in it's entirety to date). Robert Asprins Myth series among others. The first half of Piers Anthony's Xanth series. Most of David Eddings works (he wrote what I consider two nine book series but can't recall the names).
Dave Mcfarland (??) Rune-lords series to date. Many of Alan-Dean Foster's works (all of the Pip & Flinx series to date). Stephen Kings Gunslinger series to date plus some of his other works. Anne Rices Witches series. Weiss and Hickmans Dragonlance series (plus many Dragonlance by other authors)plus the another series (can't recall the name but was mentioned in an earlier post for this thread. Many of the various Forgotten Realm series. George R.R. Martins series to date (again can't recall the name but was also mentioned earlier). Melanie Rawns Ambrai and Dragonstar/scroll series. Some of Katherine Kurtz's Deverry series. Many of L.E. Modessit's works. Andre Nortons Witchworld series. Dennis L. McKiernans Mithgar series (hasn't been mentioned yet and has a strong Tolkienish feel).
Authors I've read but am having trouble recalling the series names include: Burroughs, Orson Scott Card, Maggie Fury, Stephen Donaldson, Tad Williams, Cristopher Stasheff, Jennifer Roberson, Terry Goodkind, Terry Brookes and a great many others whom I can't recall.
As you can tell, I read a lot, especially series books. Unfortunately I'm at a point where I walk into a bookstore to see if any of these authors has released a new book to a currently ongoing series, and usually leave empty handed.

[Tarthang]

Sorry, after reading through the posts, I lost the original thread and just started listing authors and associated series. To answer the original question "what else do you read besides LOTR (/Tolkien)?", I would have to answer pretty much anything sci-fi/fantasy. Especially the fantasy and in series form. I have just reread the earlier posts and refreshed my memory for other authors and their series, I have read. to keep this post briefer I will add only the authors whose names I missed from my first post. Joel Rosenberg, Elizabeth Haydon, (some) Anne McCaffrey, Douglas Adams, Gayle Greeno, "Harry Potter", Marion Zimmer Bradley, Cristopher Rowley, (some) Michael Moorecock, Raymond E Feist and I'm still missing quite a few authors names. BTW I only buy books to read, as I mentioned previously (I think), I reread books when I can't find anything new.
My apologies if my posts are overly long. I work a swing shift and am currently at work trying to stay awake (gravy-job with little to do most nights).

[Cimmerian]

Books about Heroic Dark Fantasy with a dash of horror and a lot of gore. smilies/evil.gif

[JenFramp]

Lostgaeriel- Douglas Adams is awesome..

I am suprised that no one has mentioned this particular author, however he is a bit before our time...George Macdonald..I highly recommend him and I think all of you should go out and buy a George Macdonald book..A good one would be "Lilith"...George Macdonald was one of C.S Lewis' cheif influences

[Oandanel]

Mary Brown's "Pigs Don't Fly" and "Dragonne's Eg".

Oandanel

[Samwise]

A big "HI!" to all you new folks! Do stay and be sure and post lots!
~Samwise
"Begging your pardon," said Sam, "I don't think you understand my master at all, "

[Manelwen]

I just stumbled across this wonderful series by a superb author by the name of Terry Goodkind. He writes a series called 'The Sword of Truth' It is one of the funniest and best things I have read in a while. There are a lot of things in it that would make a Tolkien fan laugh until their face turns red. I know I did. Zedd reminds me of a goofy Gandalf. He...er...makes a lot of men's 'precious' Vanish...

-Manelwen

[Lady_Báin]

I've read the chronicles of narnia and am rereading them for the second time,( my favorit is the silver chair but a close secound would be the voyage of the dawn treader Nevfeniel smilies/biggrin.gif) i've read a wrinkle in time, the last vampire series by pike, lotr, the hobbit and various other vampire books.

HEY Amyrlis where can I get the Chron. of Narnia with the cover like your picture PLEEZ tell me i've been looking for those kind for ever and can't find it anywhere smilies/eek.gif thanks in advance smilies/biggrin.gif

[Kalessin]

For obvious reasons I should say Ursula Le Guin's Earthsea Quartet. However, I would also like to cite Jose Luis Borges (author of many fantastical fictions), and The Stories of Eva Luna by Isabel Allende (loosely based on the magical tale-telling of Scheherezade) as being among my personal favourites - neither author perhaps part of the 'fantasy' section at your local bookshop, but (in a wholly original way) certainly part of the same realm of imaginative narrative, and perhaps closer in truth to Tolkien than many of the obvious imitators. Although majoring in SF, Brian Aldiss and Ray Bradbury have also written many ingenious and entertaining stories that qualify as fantasy. And for me, The Little Prince by Antione de Saint Exupery is a profound and moving work of fantasy.

I also enjoy thoughtful workings and re-working of 'true' myths and fairy tales - versions of the essentially tragic Cuchulain stories from Ireland, or Angela Carter's dark perspective on the traditional Perrault fairy tales, or Oscar Wilde's beautiful stories - highly recommended!

Ah, the list is endless ... but as you may have seen from my "rant" about fantasy elsewhere, I'm not a big fan of the standard genre-fillers. To each his/her own smilies/smile.gif But I'm sure there is plenty of good stuff that I haven't got to yet, and this thread is a useful shortcut smilies/wink.gif

Peace

[piosenniel]

one of my favorite books is 'The Magus' by John Fowles. Jam packed with all sorts of archetypal characters.

[Dain]

Well, there are lots of good books listed here, and I've read some of them. Frank Herbert's Dune is brilliant, David Edding's series about Ender is good, though "Ender's Game" stands out and you don't have to read it as a series. Robert Heinlein has some very good books (loved Starship Troopers) and some very strange ones (never finished Stranger in a Strange Land). And I'm surprised no-one has mentioned Philip K. **** , who wrote a lot of short-ish, strange, brilliant science fiction, including Do Androids Dream of Electic Sheep, which was the basis for the equally brilliant Blade Runner (though they are very different). C. S. Lewis' Narnia series is a must-read, though it's been years since I have.

I haven't found so many "fantasy" authors who really stand out. The stories are usually fun, but never quite satisfying... I keep going down to the bookstore and looking at all the pretty books and their intreguing titles, but can never figure out what to read. I'll look into some of the recommendations here, thanks!

Oh, so I can't write Philip K. **** , can I? How annoying. His name is D I C K, does that work? And even the titles of his books are just brilliant... can't beat old-school sci-fi.

[ April 16, 2003: Message edited by: Dain ]

[Ainaserkewen]

I read Harry Potter before LOTR. It's silly and funny.
But I've never liked Fantasy bofore either of them, I read mostly teen romances(I know, I know) and comic books(GO GARFIELD)
Now that I've read LOTR, I'm eager to read other Tolkien works and other Fantasy too. Can anybody recomend anything good?

[Guo Si]

Lately I've been reading more Eastern literature. I'm almost finished with The Four Great Chinese Classics (or something close to that). These are composed of Romance of the Three Kingdoms, The Water Margin. Journey to the West, and A Dream of Red Mansions.

Romance of the Three Kingdoms is a historical fantasy about the time when the Han Empire dissolved. Out of it came the three empires of Shu, Wu, and Wei. Its an excellent book, with more battle, intrigue, and treachery than you can shake a stick at.

The Water Margin is set in the time of the Northern Song Dynasty. Its about 108 bandits who fight against the corrupt government to help restore the Emporer's court to honor. Eventually they end up with an amnesty, but are killed by rival nobles anyways.

Journey to the West is about a buddhist's journey to India to obtain some holy scriptures. With him are three divine monsters. Its really good, even though I haven't finished it yet.

A Dream of Red Mansions is the only one I haven't gotten around to reading yet. Its about court life in the late 18th century, and the decline of the feudal estates.

Other books I've read include the Harry Potter series and numerous other's who's names elude me now.

[Rumil]

Aha, Guo Si, the Journey to the West must surely be the book which was adapted for TV in the 70s as the series 'Monkey'. I'm sure all UK Downers of a certain age will fondly remember Monkey, Pigsy, Sandy and the rather confusing (boy or girl?) Tripitaka. I think the series was made in China and dubbed into English - great fun. I confess to having tried to read the book once but given up, perhaps the translation wasn't up to scratch.

The Water Margin was also said to be a great TV series, but sadly not broadcast in my area at the time.

OK, on to the books. As many have said, I find it difficult to nominate good fantasy authors. The Eddings books are OK for a relaxing read, but rather shallow perhaps. I still love Terry Pratchett, for bringing the whole genre down a peg. Has anyone read any of Lord Dunsany's books, fantasy which pre-dated Tolkien? I'd be interested to hear your opinion as I haven't tried them yet.

In the Sci-Fi a long time favourite of mine was the fantastic Douglas Adams (now sadly missed) who wrote the Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy and others (though never enough). Also Philip K. **** , K.W. Jeter and William Gibson, used to be a big Asimov fan too. Iain M. Banks is currently a favourite, anyone who can write a book consisting in art of e-mails between spacecraft and make it a gripping read (Excession) has my vote. 'Consider Phlebas' is probably the best one to start with. (By the way, Banks and Jeter contain 'adult' themes, so I couldn't recommend them for some of our younger members - or at least don't get caught!).

I'll have to put a word in for the clasics of course. Odyssey and Aeneid are surely essential for the 'heroic age' and the Mabinogion is full of weird and wonderful things from my own cultural background!

[Dain]

Yeah, I clearly forgot Douglass Adams. Oops.

And I'm glad you recommend Banks, Rumil, and most importantly a book to start with. I've been wanting a push in his direction for a while, if you know what I mean.

I agree about Eddings being a bit shallow. I enjoyed them when I was a youth, but all the plots end up with the hero doing battle in gigantic form with the enemy to save the world. smilies/wink.gif But I did enjoy them...

I've heard good things about George R. R. Martin, can anybody support that?

I find the trouble with a lot of fantasy is that the characters feel "modern" and so they don't seem to fit in their setting. Or else they are hopelessly stereotyped. Tolkien's work has an authentic feel that few others have duplicated. It's strange to judge a work of "fantasy" by how "real" it seems, but that's one of the keys for me...

[ April 16, 2003: Message edited by: Dain ]

[The Saucepan Man]

I'm sure all UK Downers of a certain age will fondly remember Monkey, Pigsy, Sandy and the rather confusing (boy or girl?) Tripitaka.

Yup. smilies/rolleyes.gif

Afte reading LotR (age 10) I was desperate to read more. I tried the Silmarillion, but found it hard going and gave up (I have recently rectified that omission). So I moved on to as many other fantasy authors as I could find to quench my thirst for the genre. Unfortunately, I do not recall coming across anything to rival LotR. However I do recall greatly enjoying Robert E Howard's Conan books and Michael Moorcock's Prince Corum series. I also have fond memories of Anne McCaffrey's Pern series. On the other hand, I gave up very early on with Terry Brooks' Shannarah books, which I recall thinking of as very pale imitations of LotR. This is all some time ago now, so my memories of all of these books are pretty dim.

... a long time favourite of mine was the fantastic Douglas Adams (now sadly missed) who wrote the Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy and others

Amen to that. I would recommend the books to anyone and the TV adaptation was great too (and still frequently repeated on UK Gold type channels). An earlier post on this thread referred to Dirk Gently and his holistic detective agancy. Did Adams only write one of these books, or were there more? In any event, Dirk Gently is certainly a character that I am glad to be reminded of.

For now, however, there is certainly more than enough Tolkien to be catching up on ... smilies/smile.gif

[Cúdae]

Hmmm... I have always loved Lloyd Alexander's books (I know I'm too old for them, but I still like them) and I'm a huge fan of Ray Bradbury. I read Something Wicked This Way Comes twice in one day. smilies/smile.gif
I also love any King Arthur story- especially (sp?) TH White's The Once and Future King and Marion Zimmer Bradley's The Mists of Avalon.
I will also read anything (and I mean anything) about Cuchulain. I read Lady Gregory's Cuchulain of Muirthemne and I am now reading Morgan Llewelyn's (sp?) Red Branch, which so far I have found to be pretty good.
And finally, Garth Nix's books Sabriel, Lirael, and Abhorsen all hold the treasured, coveted space next to my copies of the Lord of the Rings.

[ April 16, 2003: Message edited by: Cúdae ]

[Rumil]

Hi Ironfoot and Sospan Fach, we all seem to be on the same wavelength tonight.

I agree with you Dain that too many fantasy writers make their characters too 'modern'. It's something you see a lot of in historical novels as well, the heroes are generally opposed to nasty practices such as slavery, racism and flogging whereas it seems that the majority of people in those benighted times were not. I think its a fine line to tread though, the reader needs someone to identify with, I can think of some Sci-Fi (written from an Aliens' point of view) which rapidly becomes unreadable. (I've mailed you about Iain M Banks)

Yes indeed Mr Saucepan, there was a second Dirk Gently Book (I think 'The Long Dark Teatime of the Soul' , though maybe that was the first one). Offhand I think there were 5 books in the Hitchhikers trilogy, 2 Dirk Gently, 'The Meaning of Liff' (which invents useful new words for modern day life), 'Last Chance to See' which is a factual book on endangered species and, my most recent purchase, 'The Salmon of Doubt', which is a bit of a Douglas Adams Unfinished Tales, published posthumously, containing the start of a new Dirk Gently and lots of other intriguing snippets.

If only he hadn't left so soon! (and suffered from such ferocious writer's block)

btw , there's a website called H2G2 hosted by the BBC, which aims to provide a 'Guide' in the Adams style.

Don't Panic !
smilies/smile.gif smilies/smile.gif

[Sophia the Thunder Mistress]

Not that Lawhead hasn't been mentioned enough, I have to say, his Taliesin is one of the best ones I've ever read. I absolutely love Charis and his description of Atlantis.

And I'm a hitchhiker fan as well... smilies/biggrin.gif I'm one of those people that likes to sprinkle character names through things, so I've used zaphod, fordprefect, and damogran for nicknames on different things at different times, and my current fish is named Zaphod smilies/smile.gif

*gulps* I've really struggled with TH White though, is it worth the effort to dig back in?

Sophia

[Orual]

RIP, Douglas Adams. He was one of the best of us.

Much of Lloyd Alexander (though his books follow a pattern and grow predictable after a while), all of Madeleine L'Engle's early works (Meet the Austins, the Time Quartet, etc), all that I could find of Susan Fletcher, some Patricia Wrede, 'Till We Have Faces' from C.S. Lewis, I'm up to book three of the Wheel of Time by Robert Jordan, 'Dune' by Frank Herbert (though I never read the sequels), a little of Anne McCaffrey, Orson Scott Card's 'Ender' quartet and the parallels (I know they're sci-fi), and though I've barely scratched the surface of her many works, I adore Jane Yolen. I never got into Shannara, but I did read part of it.

We have some well-read people among us. I'll keep an eye on this thread...I always need more books on my list.

~*~Orual~*~

[Aiwendil]

An earlier post on this thread referred to Dirk Gently and his holistic detective agancy. Did Adams only write one of these books, or were there more?

There are two - Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency and The Long Dark Tea-Time of the Soul. The first is very good, but the second is truly brilliant - one of my favorite books of all time. He had also begun a third Dirk Gently book but never finished it. Apparently, shortly before he died, he had decided to go back to it and turn it into a sixth Hitchhiker book instead of a Dirk Gently book - but alas, he never did. What is extant of it was published recently as The Salmon of Doubt, along with quite a few miscellaneous bits of writing by him (some previously published elsewhere).

[Orual]

On the topic of Douglas Adams--I wasn't going to bring this up, as it's not fantasy, or even fiction--anyone who likes him simply *must* read "Last Chance to See." It's a non-fiction about a trip he took to write about endangered species. Picture: Douglas Adams in Madagascar to see komodo dragons. Or in Mauritius to see the echo parakeets. But I digress; just read it.

~*~Orual~*~

[The Saucepan Man]

There are two - Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency and The Long Dark Tea-Time of the Soul.

Ah good, then I've read them both. But it's been a long time. Must dig them out again. Thanks Rumil, Aiwendil and Orual, I must add Salmon of Doubt and Last Chance to See to my list of things to read (which is currently Tolkien dominated). smilies/smile.gif

PS Rumil, are you from Wales by any chance? smilies/cool.gif

[ April 16, 2003: Message edited by: The Saucepan Man ]

[Morwen Tindomerel]

"I think all of you should go out and buy a George Macdonald book..A good one would be "Lilith"..."

And if you figure out what it's about please email me! Yes I own a copy but have never understood the plot, (assuming there is one). The Christian imagery is of course impossible to miss but as to what it all means...... smilies/rolleyes.gif

H. Ridder Haggard's adventure stories definitely shade into fantasy, especially with the 'She' books, (Ayesha reminds me a little of Galadriel actually - a Galadriel who took the Ring that is!)

I see I'm not the only Katherine Kurtz reader here - Chronicles of the Deryni, Histories of King Kelson, Legends of Camber of Culdi and Saint Camber's Heirs. The Eleven Kingdoms are a very detailed high medieval fantasy world with an emphasis on political intrigue, ritual magic and the Catholic religion and canon law. Featuring a magically gifted race known as the Deryni who are feared and persecuted by the normal Humans, and not without reason!

In addition to Lloyd Alexander's 'Chronicles of Prydain' there is another series based on the Mabinogion by Evangeline Walton; Prince of Annwn, Children of Llyr, Song of Rhiannon, and Isle of the Mighty. Which is far closer to the source material and mature in theme.

Has anybody read R.A. MacAvoy's 'Damiano' trilogy? featuring a young Italian wizard, a Finnish witch and the Archangel Raphael.

And then there's Tom Holt's humorous fantasies; 'Expecting Someone Taller' in which the Ring of the Nibelung, (remember that?) comes to a nice if nebbishy young Englishman who finds absolute power isn't anywhere near as much fun as one might think, especially when one has the entire Norse pantheon on ones back. In 'Who's Afraid of Beowulf' an archeologist named Hildy Frederiksen discovers a wonderful viking ship burial, unfortunately the vikings turn out not to be as dead as she thought they were. King Rolf Earthstar and his band of heroes adopt her as their guide to the modern world as they set out to destroy the evil Sorceror King, who for some reason has gone into computers.... 'Flying Dutch' features, who else? the Flying Dutchman who wants to find a cure for his immortality - which has some unpleasant side effects the legend forgets to mention.

Also in the humor category is Tim Powers 'Drawing of the Dark' where in a sixteenth century Irish soldier of fortune is recruited by an odd character calling himself 'Aurelianus' to act as a bouncer in an Viennese Inn and brewery which is definitely more than it seems - and so unfortunately for him is poor Brian Duffy!

Barbara Hambly is the author of several fantasy series. Her names show a definite Tolkien influence; a wizard named Ingold Inglorion, a dragon called Morkeleb. She is a highly descriptive author with an eye for fashion and decor. I like that, but not everybody does.

A favorite of mine that nobody has mentioned is Randal Garret's 'Lord Darcy' series. Mystery stories set in an alternate world where magic takes the place of science and Plantagenet Kings still rule most of Western Europe and the Americas through a modified feudal system. Customs and technology are Victorian and nobody seems to mind the highly stratefied social system. Lord Darcy himself is Chief Investigator to his Royal Highness Prince Richard Duke of Normandy. Assisted by that able master of forensic sorcery Master Sean O'Lochlain. Perpare to learn more than you ever wanted to know about practical sorcery and the laws of magic!

I've got lots more but I think I'll stop now. My fingers are tired smilies/smile.gif

[Taralphiel]

My reccomendation is for a book Im not sure is easy to find. Its by an Australian author called Kate Forsyth, 'The Witches Of Eileanan' Highly addictive! Based on a Scottish sort of otherworld fantasy. It is available in America though....

[drigel]

Silver shod - if you are trying to read that stuff you need to read Robert E Howard's Conan novels. If JRRT was the father of fantasy - then REH was the father of pulp fiction. Not as high brow, but the story is set "...in an age undreamed of... before the rise of the Sons of Aryas and the sinking of Atlantis.." (paraphrase)
good stuff

[Burzdol]

Lately I have read many new series that I liked, here they are:

Pendragon [D. J. MacHale]
Dragonriders of Pern [Anne McCaffrey]
Ender's Game [Orson Scott Card]
Redwall [Brian Jacques]

That's all I can think of now.

~Burzdol~

[Tinuviel Took]

This is to you people talking about the Myst books. I've read the Book or Artus, but it was more interesting for me because my international pastor (at the time) is the father of the two guys that wrote the game.

[Rumil]

Just a quick note to any UK 'Monkey' addicts, its back on Channel 4 !!! Still has great comedy value. smilies/smile.gif

[Guo Si]

Off-topic: Any way for a resident of the US to see this "Monkey" show?

On-topic: I just read an amazingly good short story today. Its the "Dream Quest of Unknown Kadath" by H.P. Lovecraft. Unlike most of his stuff, this is pretty much pure fantasy, albeit one of a macabre variety. I HIGHLY recommend it to anyone who isn't opposed to reading anything a bit on the creepy side, as its wonderful writing style and relatively long length (its almost novella-length) should keep one entertained for a while.

[Sapphire_Flame]

The other fantasy books I enjoy are:

-Harry Potter (heh...)
-Sword of Truth series

Has anyone else here read any of the Sword of Truth books? They're by Terry Goodkind. Very good books...

[vanwafeniel]

Hey people, im new to this conversation as is obvious, well any way...i love books. smilies/biggrin.gif Any kind of book will do as long as it has WORDS! I recently read The Wasp Factory by Ian Banks. That changed me, it was so well written, dark, disturbing and psychotically funny. I wouldn't recommend it if you don't like Psycho-analytical books, very philosophical. I have read most of Ann Rice's Vampire Chronicles. They were very interesting for people like me who read gothic horror type science fiction, Ooooh I do love the main Character Lestat but the attempt at movies was a bad idea for Ann Rice. Memnoch the Devil is a brill Vampire Chronicle, by far her most philosophical chronicle though Interview With The Vampire is my favourite. smilies/evil.gif
I think it was Guo Si who has read Journey to The West, please can you tell me where to find that book, i really want to read it! Thanks. I like the Darren Shan books by Darren Shan. Its tacky i know but they get gorier by the book. I seem to read lots of Vampire Fiction. I like most of my friends tried to read White Teeth by Zadie Smith but got bored by page 150, i wish they hadn't let her write, may sound harsh but the thought of boring books existing and pulling innocent readers into it scares me. smilies/frown.gif
I like funny books, not so much as decent science fiction but hey, we all need humour, stuff by Eoin Colfer, his Artemis Fowl books were hilarious.
Aswell as science fiction does anybody here read actual science books? Stuff by Hawking? I love the Elegant Universe and anything on Schroedinger's theory. I am aware that its spelt wrong but i'm tired.
Please name some excellent science fiction books, i would be glad to read them. I have also read the books on Narnia etc but it was ages ago. I'm re-reading The Hobbit and The Lord of The Rings in french! smilies/biggrin.gif

[vanwafeniel]

Sorry i just started typing and forgot to stop but i like rumil's choice of Literature. Hitchhikers gude was brilliant, my family are big fans of that book, 42 anall. I loved Consider Phlebas, since The Wasp Factory i have been a bit scared to touch Banks' books. Disturbing. i plan to read Feersum Endgin though. Is that spelt right?hmmm...Who knows? smilies/tongue.gif

[Rumil]

Cheers for the appreciation Van,

'We shall confront the ineffable and see if we may not eff it after all'

(One of my favourite Douglas Adams quotes)

I know what you mean about 'The Wasp Factory' but if you liked 'Consider Phlebas' you'll love 'The Player of Games'. On Monkey, I think the Video is available from channel 4 in the UK, I guess they have a website. (doesn't everyone?)

(Must say that I've just reserved my copy of 'Harry Potter and the Order of The Phoenix',)

smilies/wink.gif

[vanwafeniel]

S'ok rumil, i thought i was the only one awake at this time! its 2am! Yea i was going to buy the player of games today but i couldn't walk to Waterstones so i went home.(God i love that place, so many books, i know every section of the place by heart and the staff!) Sounds odd i know but i winded meself skateboarding.
I think i'll search for the video a bit later. When i first heard of Ian banks, before i read his books, i was a bit worried, you know the banning of his works and the scrutiny, themes etc. People in the sixties seemed so afraid of the truth which is what he tried to write about. I think it was the sixties. smilies/wink.gif

[vanwafeniel]

P.S. i HAVE READ THE HARRY POTTER SERIES 5 TIMES BUT I REFUSE TO READ THE NEXT BOOK! J.k. rowling is competition to j.r.r.t not to mention a thief! It probably isn't that good anyway..i hope...can't be..hmmm. My fave is The Prisoner Of Azkaban. I'm using the strongest of my will power not to order The Order of The Phoenix. smilies/frown.gif

[Rumil]

You know you WANTSSSSSS to read it my PRECIOUSSSSSSSSSS ! smilies/wink.gif

There have been extraordinarily impassioned threads about LoTR vs HP, but I say live and let live, Potter is certainly less 'deep' than Tolkien, but that's no reason not to enjoy it. (By the way, if this turns into a Rowling/Tolkien thread I'm sure it will be deleted, so this ends here OK?)

As I've said before, Banks is really for adults only, (and 80s not 60s), don't buy them if you're easily shocked!

I firmly believe that heaven is an extremely large branch of Waterstones, where you can get all of Tolkien's latest posthumous works and have a chat with the man himself on Tuesdays, but it has an infinitely greater number of comfy Chesterfield sofas.

[Morwen Tindomerel]

*Nothing* is as deep as Tolkien. I don't think any other author has ever dedicated so much time and sheer intellect to the creation of a secondary world.

This does not, of course, make other writer's work worthless. Any more than Shakespeare makes other playwrites redundant.

[Frodo Brandybuck]

Brian Jacqes 'Redwall'series are excellent books as well as his book 'Castaways of the Flying Dutchman' (its better than it sounds) They were originally written for blind children so they contain exquisite descriptions of everything. [c:\mydocuments\anasphotos\hobbitstuff\pippinbecomi ngahobbit.jpg]

[Eldawen of Lorien]

I like Anne McAffery's "Dragonrides of Pern" series and "Black Horses for the King", "The Chornicles of Narania" by C.S. Lewis, and "The Mists of Avalon" and its prequels by Marrion Zimmerman Bradley.

[Hilde Bracegirdle]

Unfortunately, the first fantasy series I read was Chronicles Of Narnia and LoTR after that. Then on to C.S. Lewis’s SciFi. After that I spent a LONG time trying to find something as good as LoTR but after many years gave up.

During that time (late ‘70’s) I read
Lloyd Alexander
Katherine Kurtz's Deryni books
T.H. White
Madeline L'Engle
Terry Brooks (The Sword of Shannara only)
Lewis Carrol
Ursula LeGuinn
Frank Hebert’s Dune series

All these guys are good and very talented writers (especially LeGuin And Herbert) but they just don’t have what Tolkien did. He is the master! Frank Herbert comes close, in depth.

Most of the stories had a dark element to them as well, and given the choice between an excellent dark tale and an excellent one that isn’t 10 times out of 10 I’ll pick the one that isn’t. I mean even Tolkien’s twisted stuff isn’t so much deeply disturbing as it is deeply tragic (Turin).

So off I went to myths & epics, Anne Dillard, Farley Mowat, Hermann Hesse (Magister Ludi is excellent!), Douglas Adams and landed in classics. Current favorite besides Tolkien is George Eliot.

There has been a lot of stuff mentioned here that is rather tempting, though.

[Belethfacwen]

w00t, A live action The Last Unicorn. I LOVED that book, it's a favorite of mine.

Philip Pullman and the His Dark Materials trilogy has also been a favorite of mine for a long while. I hear they're making live action movies of those, too.

Actually, other than Tolkien and the above mentioned ones (Or if you count Marion Zimmer Bradley), I read embarassingly little fantasy. I'm going a bit off topic, but you can't really consider Anne Rice fantasy, which is my latest kick.

Nice post.

[ April 20, 2003: Message edited by: Belethfacwen ]

[Amanaduial the archer]

I read embarassingly little fantasy Good lord, stay away, stay away!!!!!

Ermmm....*sees people looking at her oddly and stands up from crouching position, smoothing down her clothes*...yes. Well. Anyway.

[Salocin]

Most of the stuff I like has already been given a lot of time here, so I won't mention it right now.

There are 3 things that I am surprised at how little they are mentioned.

First: E.R. Eddison hasn't been mentioned at all. Has no one read The Worm Ouroboros? I guess I am going to have to give you guys a full rundown.

E.R. Eddison started his fantasy in the tweenties (way before Tolkien). He wrote a few things and published a few translations of Old English stuff before creating his own fantasy world(sound familiar?). The Worm Ouroboros was published in 1926. It is an epic novel covering the last war between two rival, man-like races: the witches and the demons; battling it out on Mercury. (The demons are the good guys smilies/eek.gif. The races don't really have anything to do with demons and witches besides the present king of the witches being a scorceror and demons having small, goat-like horns above their ears and under their hair.) The detail is amazing, the depth astounding. You'll have to disregard the Tolkien refferences on the back of the book and in any reviews because it really has nothing to do with the Proffesor at all. It is a completely different style.

After The Worm Ouroboros, Eddison wrote the Zimiamvian Trilogy. I know, most of us hard core Tolkienist cringe at other fantasy "Trilogies", but you have to keep in mind that Eddison's was written before the Tolkien's, though I am not suggesting Tolkien got the idea from Eddison. Their versions of fantasy are very different and I am very opposed to them being compared in any way exept to say they both wrote good fantasy.

The Zimiamvian Trilogy consists of Mistess of Mistresses (1935), A Fish Dinner in Memison (1941), and The Mezentian Gate (I don't have it on hand so I don't know when it was published). To put things in perspective, LoTR was published 1954-1955. The Mezentian Gate was never finnished (Eddison, like all great authors, died before he wrote enough for us smilies/frown.gif ) but he wrote with outlines in such away that it is much more readable than most fragments and one can accually get the story out of it and even the ending.

The Zimiamvian Trilogy also takes place on Mercury, but in a different part of the planet and is completely unrelated to The worm Ouroboros. It takes place in a region known as Zimiamvia (go figuer). The books are highly philosophical and are very tough reading (at least for me, but I found LoTR tough the first time through)

I need to go so I better finnish this quickly.

In short, C.S.Lewis loved Eddisons work, he raved about it and was probably his biggest fan. Tolkien read them and admitted they wear well written but said he didn't like the complete absence of christian morality. (I know this sounds weird, since Tolkien claimed LoTR was not a chritian allegory, but its true.) The Eddison books are bassed on a savage, pre-christian, almost pagan, morality.

Well got to go for now.

[Elfstone]

Wow, I'm surprised that no one has mentioned The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant the Unbeliever. Author Stephen Donaldson has an obvious Tolkien influence, but nonetheless makes an excellent story. The Unbeliever is a study in self-loathing.

Another great story is Watership Down by Richard Adams. A completely different kind of fantasy, but one with deep undertones of righteousness in the face of oppression.

[Durelin]

THE WHEEL OF TIME SERIES ROCKS!

smilies/biggrin.gif

[Luinalatawen]

There are so very many fantasy books that I read... In fact, it's basically the only genre that I like. My favorites:

P. Pullman - His Dark Materials Trilogy
C. S. Lewis - Chronicles of Narnia
J. K. Rowling - Harry Potter (I like all the others better, but I still have to put them on my list)
P. McKillip - Any of her books- she has a fresh, different style of writing

There's probably a ton more, but that's it for now.

I've heard that Jordan's Wheel of Time series is good for about the first few books, but then all the rest are just plot developers and nothing major happens at all. So I haven't even attempted reading any of them. Yet. Maybe someday I'll read the first few and then the last few and get summaries from the ones in beween.

[vanwafeniel]

I bought The Player Of Games by Iain Banks yesterday. I should finish it tonight, its brilliant. The Culture is a brilliantly large and complex structure, it makes the future seem morbid, drones and outer species aswell as always being linked to the Culture. Apart from the scenery in the book its a fantastic fiction book. I haven't heard of Eddison, maybe i'll look him up. smilies/wink.gif And personally Morwen I hate Shakespeare. smilies/tongue.gif In other Sci-fi books at the mo Iain Banks features heavily on my list, theres not much else. As gruesome as the wasp factory was i have to say it was captivating. smilies/smile.gif

[GlingleglingleglingleFairy]

I have to say that I pretty much never read fantasy because, in my opinion, it's all the same. There's always heroes and dragons and really cheap thrills and magic that's ridiculous. I know I've never read most books and perhaps I'm being prejudiced, but that's it. I have no problems with fairytales though, and if any Tolkien fan needs books to read the most basic fairytales (unabridged, or close) are always my choice. I do have a few fantasy series that I think are great; the series (I forget what its called) by Phillip Pullman that starts with Northern lights is great, as is any Terry Pratchett book. (woohoo for the Discworld)

[vanwafeniel]

Everyone has their own opinion of sci-fi and fantasy. But i like them. I tried reading Pullmans books but couldn't finish them,i know 8-10 yr olds who read them and love them,i was told they're for children which is annoying because they seemed good...before i read them. They just didn't keep me enthralled which a good book should do (at some point).

[Hilde Bracegirdle]

Tried The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant the Unbeliever but couldn’t get into it.
Watership Down was good, and Shardick was interesting but couldn’t get through Plague Dogs. Again it’s all dark stuff.

Never heard of Eddison’s though.

[ April 21, 2003: Message edited by: Hilde Bracegirdle ]

[Sapphire_Flame]

Never heard of Eddison’s though.
Me neither. smilies/confused.gif

And has anyone here heard of Terry Goodkind? I just need to know. I'm finishing the first book of the Sword of Truth series (Wizard's First Rule) and I wanted to know if anyone else has read the books.

[vanwafeniel]

Sorry sapphire, i never heard of them. smilies/frown.gif

[Salocin]

Part of the reason you may not have heard of Eddison is that he has been out of print for decades smilies/biggrin.gif. The only way to find his books is at a library, ebay, or (how I did) through Amazon.com's used book dealers. I'd have to say he is not for everyone, but if its deep you want, you want Eddison.

I also think C.S.Lewis's Space Trilogy hasn't been mentioned enough smilies/biggrin.gif. They are AMAZING, especially That Hideous Strength. Out of the Silent Planet was a little kidish, but I liked it (I read it when I was 13).

If there are any Lewis fans out there, you may want to hear this. There is a book of his short stories, some complete, some fragments, that was published posthumerously called The Dark Tower (not to be confused with the Stephen King book by the same name). The story it is titled after is a really intriging fragment Lewis wrote about a chromographer; a progector that is supposed to progect images from the same place in space but a different time. It wasn't developed enough to have a deffenite main character, but Ransom and Lewis himself have staring roles. Chronologically it was supposed to take place between Silent Planet and Perelandra, about the time when Ransom was taking Lewis into his confidence. In it Lewis takes a very unorthodox stance and investigates what it would be like with 3 dimentions of space and 2 of time. Absolutely fasinating.

[vanwafeniel]

Aah..that explains it. I am keeping check of these supposedly good books for future reads but hav no time at the present. If you don't mind i'll stick to Iain Banks, one writer at a time for me! smilies/wink.gif

[vanwafeniel]

Aah..that explains it. I am keeping check of these supposedly good books for future reads but hav no time at the present. If you don't mind i'll stick to Iain Banks, one writer at a time for me! smilies/wink.gif But i do love deep writings, i will look into eddison. If any one can recommend any other good sci-fi and fantasy i would welcome them,
cheers.
smilies/biggrin.gif

[Salocin]

Also George MacDonald is very good, even if you don't read (or understand smilies/wink.gif ) his real stuff. The Princess and the Goblin and The Princess and Curdie are really good childrens fairy tales, though I think any of us could enjoy and benefit from them.

Morwen- Lilith is very strange. The confusion with the christian allegory part of it stems from MacDonalds belief in what is known as Universalism or Origin's Herisy. He believed that everyone, from the most inocent new born who dies to the devil himself, will be saved in the end. He did not really believe in hell, instead he believed in a sort of uber-purgatory. When you die you will be subjected to "torments" and other things to slowly make you realize your sinfulness, repent, and be good. You sort of don't have a choice, though, since no matter what you will eventually have to repent. Heaven starts once everyone has repented and been purified through purgatory(including Satan) and the World is all hunky-dory. This view is unorthodox to say the least and most christians (including myself) consider it heresy (thus the title Origin's Heresy; Origin was the guy who came up with it).

C.S. Lewis, as has been said, adored Macdonald. In Lewis's book The Great Divorce (great book, highly recomended, and worderfully vivid, concise and short(this review brought to you by the department of redundency department smilies/biggrin.gif); it could be considered Fantasy since it is a fantastical view of heaven and hell), he casts Macdonald as His guide through Heaven.

MacDonald also wrote tons of Romances for a living (some how deep religious fantasy doesn't make much money smilies/confused.gif ) I am not recomending Romances by any means, I think they are a horrible vice people should avoid and that they can very easily and quite often do ruin marrages by making the reader starry-eyed and giving the reader unrealistic expactations about being swept off their feet; I am just saying if you are already enthralled to them, Goerge MacDonald's romaces are probably better than most. Just a friendly word of advice smilies/biggrin.gif .

[the real findorfin]

Wow, am I the only sad, 'modern-fantasy only' freak here for a page or so. heres my bookshelf

David Eddings - The Belgariad (5 books), the Mallorean (5 books), The Elenium (3), the Tamuli (3), The Redemption of Althalus (1).

Sean Russel - The One Kingdom (1)

David Gemmil - The Drenai Tales, Vol.1 (3)

Raymond Feist - Magician, Silverthorn, The Darkness at Sethanon, Prince of the Blood

Sara Douglass - The Axis Trilogy (3), The Wayfarer Redemption Trilogy (3)

Chris Bunch - The Seer/Demon/Warrior King (3), Corsair (1)

Maggie Furey – The Heart of Myrial, Spirit of the Stone

Terry Brooks – The Shannara Series (4), the Heritage of Shannara (4), The Isle Witch (1 so far)

Robert Jordan – The Eye of the World

Philip Pullman – The Dark Material Trilogy (3)

JK Rowling – Harry Potter (4)

Anne McAffrey – Pern (only 2)

JRR Tolkien – Lotr (3), Silmarillion (1), Unfinished tales (1)


Not much, eh

[ April 21, 2003: Message edited by: the real findorfin ]

[Annalaliath]

1)Terry Brooks- i own many of the Shannora series except the new ones, talk about finances..... i also have a few of the Magic Kingdom For Sale Sold ones too.

2)Stephen Lawhead- i own the pendragon series, the silver hand trillagy, the other one i can't remember right now and i think the iron lance or something like it. i have also read and probably own Avalon.

3)CS Lewis-there are many book sets of the chronicales in my family alone.... and so far i have only heard bits and pieces of meer christianity

4)Ray bradberry- Something Wicked this way comes

5)JK Roaling- I oen these too but they are initially banned in my parrents house

6)Forgotten relams- the dark elf ones

7)Dragon lance

8)Anne Rice- own a few but some are too sexually explicit for my tastes

9)Susan cooper- the dark is riseing series

10) Frank Peretty- never finished was too scary

there are so many more that i cannot remember that i shall stop here.......

[Arvedui III]

Herm, well, I really like the "Dune" series and anything by Orson Scott Card, especially the books about Bean, and um, the dark elf forgotton realms, and um, the books by Jeff Shaara, and most things by Leon Uris, and um, course the Narnia cronicles, and Harry Potter, and um, well I can't think of any more so I'll stop there. smilies/smile.gif

[kittiewhirl1677]

Let's see...
~Here's my list of fantasy books:
~The Chronicles of Narnia
~Star Trek:TNG books, any of them
~Anything else by Tolkien
~Merlin
~Silverwing
~Sunwing
~Redwall(I used to. I stopped a while ago cause I got bored)
~Harry Potter

There's more, but as usual, I can't think of anything right now. I can't remember the names of some of the best series!! smilies/eek.gif ARRGH! smilies/mad.gif

[ April 21, 2003: Message edited by: kittiewhirl1677 ]

[MLD-Grounds-Keeper-Willie]

Well, kudos to Dain for reviving this thread!

the essentially tragic Cuchulain stories from Ireland

Those are some great myths (or stories, whichever you prefer) Kalessin.

I'm surprised that only one person (Hilde Bracegirdle) has mentioned Richard Adam's novels. Forgive me if others have too, while reading 5 pages I might have not noticed it. Watership Down is my favorite book excluding Tolkien's works. The Plague Dogs is great also, I reccomend that you finsih it Hilde Bracegirdle. As for Shardick, I never read that. And have you read Tales from Watership Down? It's the sequel to Watership Down, but I'm not sure if it's good or not.

Other books I enjoy that aren't fantasy are Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt, Dubliners by James Joyce, The Call of the Wild and White Fang by Jack London, and Dracula by Bram Stoker. That's all I could think of off the top of my mind.

[Birdland]

G-K Willie - did you know that Jack London wrote a time travel novel, called Star Rover? It's about a condemned prisoner who escapes his cell by traveling to past lifes. Last time I read it was high school, but I remember enjoying it very much.

And while we're on the subject of Richard Adams; I'm surprised nobody has mentioned Maia. A plucky heroine saves a kingdom. At 891 pages, this is one honkin' big book, but it's a page turner.

Warning: since the plucky heroine starts life as a sex slave, there is lots of racy stuff. (Adams does like his racy stuff.)

[Amanaduial the archer]

Maia is indeed a hefty book, but its a great read. I devoured it in a few days, reading it at pretty much any time I could. Why is it there are so many fantasy heroines called maia/maya....?

Redwall(I used to. I stopped a while ago cause I got bored)
Ditto Kittie. I used to love those books, and when I read over them, Brian Jacques writing is still as captivating as ever, but they do get a little samey after a while. He makes some fantastic heroes though, like Martin, Mattius, Mariel, the hares of Salamandastron and the rest. Mariel of Redwall or Martin the Warrior are my favourites. Or The Long Patrol. Or Salamandastron...

One of the books I read more recently was 'Spartan', by valerios Massimio Manfredi (that is one heck of a name!). Its set in ancient Greece, mainly in and around, surprise surprise, Sparta. It is about a two Spartan boys, on of whom is born crippled, and by the harsh laws of Sparta, his father must abandon him to the elements and the wild beasts of the mountains. But by chance, this boy is found by a Helot shepherd, one of the race enslaved by the Spartans. Despite guessing the boy's heritage, the shepherd brings the boy home and brings him up as his grandchild, naming him Talos, after a Helot warrior of myth. But as the boys grow, seperately, each unknowing of the other, another twist of fate one day throws them together, intertwining their fates...

Another is Peter Dickensons 'The Ropemaker'. This fantasy book is incredible and is about a girl, Tilja, who lives in the Valley, a small and peaceful place, the only place isolated from the mighty power of the Empire. The reason it is so is because, long long ago, the sorceress Asarta gave help to two of the dwellers of the Valley, casting a spell on the place that would protect it for ten generations. But now the power of the spell is faltering, and Tilja and her companions must set out to find Asarta, if she isnt already dead, or to find the sorcerer Faheel, in the hope that the spells may be renewed and their Valley saved. But time is getting short as the Emporers army readies itself to once more attack the Valley, and to save it the companions must stretch the very limits of time and magic itself, changing the never ending rope of time...

[Nuinatariel]

Wow. I never thought I would find so many people who liked the same books that I do (besides Tolkien). Anyway, here's my list of favorite fantasy:

J.R.R. Tolkien-anything he wrote
Philip Pullman- His Dark Materials trilogy
Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman- Dragonlance series
Orson Scott Card- any of the Ender books
Gabriel King- The Wild Road and the Golden Cat
Brian Jacques-Redwall series
Mercedes Lackey and Larry Dixon-The Mage Wars trilogy
Alan Dean Foster-Kingdoms of Light

I think that's it. I've probably missed some, though. Michael Crichton is one of my favorites, too, but he's more sci-fi than fantasy.

I knew I had forgotten something! Diana Wynne Jones is another favorite of mine, especially her books with griffins in them.

[ April 22, 2003: Message edited by: Nuinatariel ]

[arelendil]

i really like Narnia. almost as much as Tolkien.

I love the idea that they knew each other. When you read HoME and you see that Tolkien really respected C.S Lewis' opinion. And if you look at the dedications in the front of the books, many of Lewis' are to Tolkien and the other way around.

[vanwafeniel]

Woah you guys read way more that me! But i do love most of the same books, i love the Ann Rice books, anything by Iain Banks and i love Hitch-hikers guide to the galaxy. hmm...the chronicles of Narnia were good but i don't really like Phillip Pullman. I didn't find Ann Rice's books that sexually explicit, they werre averagely gory though! smilies/biggrin.gif

[Hilde Bracegirdle]

Tales from Watership Down? No, I didn’t know about that one. Seeing as I’ve been rereading things with my daughter I will have to look for that when we get to Watership Down.

The Star Rover book sounds interesting too. I like all Jack London’s works that I’ve read.

[Lyra Greenleaf]

20 times reading this thread I was about to get annoyed and post angrily defending my favourites that people have said bad things about, but hey- everyone has different tastes! This I had to comment on though:
*Nothing* is as deep as Tolkien. I don't think any other author has ever dedicated so much time and sheer intellect to the creation of a secondary world.
Says who? There are lots of dedicated people out there, Robert Jordan, for example, has made up an impressive history for his world and bits of a language. That may not be as extensive as Tolkiens, but the sheer volume of the Wheel of Time might make up for this. Taste is one thing but you can't say no-one was ever as dedicated.

Sorry, my list of fantasy books are:
# Tolkien!
# Robert Jordan, The Wheel of Time
# Amy Stout, The Sacred Seven
# Elizabeth Moon, The Deed of Paksenarrion
# JK Rowling, Harry Potter
# CS Lewis, Narnia
# Philip Pullman, His Dark Materials
# Tamora Pierce, Everything she's ever written!
# Marianne Curley, The Named and Old Magic
# Eoin Colfer, Artemis Fowl
# Victoria Hanley, The Seer and the Sword
# Diana Wynne Jones, The Worlds of Chrestomanci, etc
# Patricia Wrede
# Kevin Crossley-Holland, Arthur and...

Thats all the ones I can remember. I loved all of them, but would especially reccommend Robert Jordan and Tamora Pierce. Tamora Pierce is more aimed at children, but I'm 18 and they don't seem to young for me. I'd try them however old you are, after all some people suggest LOTR is a childrens story!

[vanwafeniel]

hmm...i still don't like Phillip Pullman but your the only person here who has read Eoin Colfers Artemis Fowl books. I salute you on that one! smilies/wink.gif
I agree withyou on the "deep" thing, i would say that most writers dedicate themselves to their work though Tolkien did indeed go very deep. smilies/biggrin.gif

[vanwafeniel]

hmm...i still don't like Phillip Pullman but your the only person here who has read Eoin Colfers Artemis Fowl books. I salute you on that one! smilies/wink.gif
I agree withyou on the "deep" thing, i would say that most writers dedicate themselves to their work though Tolkien did indeed go very deep. smilies/biggrin.gif

[MLD-Grounds-Keeper-Willie]

Birdland:

did you know that Jack London wrote a time travel novel, called Star Rover?

Actually no, I didn't. But I'll have to check it out. It seems wierd that Jack London would write something like that. Did he write any other books like that?

I'm surprised nobody has mentioned Maia. A plucky heroine saves a kingdom. At 891 pages, this is one honkin' big book, but it's a page turner.

I will definately read that. i like lnog books because when you get in to a book and it's short, it seems like such a pity it was over so fast, but when you read a book that you get in to and it's long, I seem to enjoy it much more. Thanks Birdland! smilies/smile.gif

Amanaduial the archer:

One of the books I read more recently was 'Spartan', by valerios Massimio Manfredi

Maybe this is just me, and sorry if it is, but isn't there a myth like that where the boy is adopted by a pack of wolves? I think I heard of a story like that but it may be just a variation or I may be getting two stories confused with each other.

[ April 22, 2003: Message edited by: MLD-Grounds-Keeper-Willie ]

[Amanaduial the archer]

Eoin Colfer, Artemis Fowl
No!!! Well, the Arctic Incident was better than the first one; during the first one I thought I was going to fall asleep. Artemis is a great character, as is Holly, but in the first one, I just couldnt get into it- it was devoid of description. However, I heard a rumour that they were making a film of one or both of the books...

The Named and Old Magic though....Good grief, how havent I said them yet?! I love those books, they are seriously some of my favourites ever. Arkarian, Jarrod, Ethan, Isobel and even Rhauk are such fantastic characters!

[Lady Alasse]

I enjoyed the C. S. Lewis Chronicles of Narnia and his space trilogy - Out of the silent planet, Perelandra, & that Hideous Strength.

I also enjoy reading star wars books especially the New Jedi Order (I can't belive they killed Anakin!)

I read one of the sword of Shanara books but it just seemed to weak after Tolkein.

I also like Robin Mckinleys Rose' Daughter- a retelling of Beauty and the beast.

[vanwafeniel]

Yes!!! An Artemis Fowl movie would be excellent! I agree with amanaduial, Arctic incident was much better than the 1st, I found the plot to be better. smilies/smile.gif Has anybody read the wishlist, another Eoin Colfer book. It isn't as good as the Artemis Fowl books but is a good, short read. Very short actually, about an hour! smilies/evil.gif

[Amanaduial the archer]

Oh, its not that short! Yes I have- the ending seemed a bit too quick, like it was rushed, but it would also be quite high on my list. Its much better from Eoin Colfer.

[drigel]

I feel so old now lol
Watership Down was such standard fare in the 70's im shocked people never heard of it. Donaldson's Covenant series and the Dune series was as well. I suppose Dino DeLaurentis effectively killed the Conan image for the young pups here but if you like LeGuin, try Robert E Howard. She helped finish a few Conan tales herself.

[MLD-Grounds-Keeper-Willie]

I knew I was forgetting something!

Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH, by Robert C. O'Brien

[Hilde Bracegirdle]

I personally, knew of Watership Down but didn’t know about the sequel. Did you? (Adams does like his racy stuff.)

Hope the rabbits aren’t racy in this one! smilies/wink.gif

Saw some George MacDonald at the library yesterday. Think I'll check one out after we finish Alice in Wonderland & Through the Looking Glass.

[sigrid]

Ursula LeGuin - Earthsea Stories, really-really magnificent creation, a lot of things written by Strugatski brothers and Ray Bradbury. I guess I´m a bit old fashioned...

[Birdland]

Since we're bringing up animal-based fantasy, I might as well throw in Tad William's Tailchaser's Song, a cat-centric adventure.

I understand Tad Williams has written two fantasy trilogies as well. Has anyone read these?

Oh, And G.K.-Willie - Since Jack London is now in the public domain, the complete text of Star Rover is available online here (http://sunsite.berkeley.edu/London/Writings/). There is another novel based on past-life experience, called Before Adam. It is also available at the above link.

[ April 23, 2003: Message edited by: Birdland ]

[Mitheithel]

I like Anne McCaffrey and her dragon-realms. I`ve read "The Flight of Moreta" and "Dragonflight", wich I think is her best.

[Luinalatawen]

I just finished reading Summers at Castle Auburn by Sharon Shinn. Has anyone else read it? It has great plot development and I really got into it.

[Luinalatawen]

I have read Watership Down. I love rabbits. I currently have 5 as pets. That's why I absolutely had to read it.

I had to read Slaughterhouse Five for school. I usually don't like novels we have to read in school, but actually really enjoyed it. It's SciFi and totally different than what I usually like, so I guess it was a nice change.

[Lyra Greenleaf]

I haven't read Watership Down but I used to watch it on the BBC. It was too sad for me, I used to cry in the Animals of Farthing Wood for crying out loud!

Personally I liked both Artemis Fowl books equally, and preferred the Named to Old Magic but I agree about the characters. Well, actually Jarrod seemed too digging for popularity. OK, so he turned out good in the end but still...

[vanwafeniel]

How odd!i'm exactly like Lyra, i used to watch Watership down and it was so upsetting!We'd sit like an inch away from the tv cos we were stupid but it was still my fave program as a kid! Plus i love Artemis Fowm books! Eoin Colfers a funny writer,
I still adore Iain Banks or Iain M. Banks and Anne Rice. I know i said i would not attempt Philip Pullman because of a bad first try but i am re-readng the amber spyglass! I will let you all know! smilies/wink.gif

[Amanaduial the archer]

No, I think Jarrod was just trying to fit in, and he was after all trying to distance himself from Kate as much as possible. I mean, the girl told him he had a curse on him, he had a right to be a little freaked...

[Hilde Bracegirdle]

Yes, Watership Down is sad….. I remember having a night of semi-insomnia…. I was trying to design the prefect rabbit hutch while half asleep! Take-care of dem rabbits, you know?

[Durelin]

Read Malory's Le Morta D'Arthur. Arthurian legend is cool. And Robert Jordan's books are great! All of them! They don't get boring! Seriously, it tells a great story with great characters, it rocks! Okay?

smilies/biggrin.gif

[Keneldil the Polka-dot]

For Arthurian Legend fans I'd suggest Mary Stewart, Bernard Cornwell, Jack Whyte, and Stephen Lawhead. Susan Cooper also wrote a sort of Aurthurian spin off.

Only one other fan of Stephen R. Donaldson's Covenant books? The hero is hard to like, but I grew up reading his stuff along with Tolkien and Le Guin.

Someone asked about George R.R. Martin...I like his stuff a lot. Looking forward to the next book.

Robert Jordan....loved his early stuff...now he just needs to get it over with. Same with Eddings...he should have known when to quit.

Jack L. Chalker has some good sci-fi stuff. The Quintara Marathon. And Rings of the Master.

Tad Williams' Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn series and Robin Hobb's Farseer trilogy are both good too.

Not one single mention of Michael Moorcock. Unbelievable.

[Tinuviel of Denton]

Where do I start?
Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time, Terry Goodkind's Sword of Truth, C.S. Lewis, definately, love Frank Peretti, anyone else read The Stone and the Flute by Hans Bemman, I like Dragonlance too. Le Guin, absolutely. Most of the authors you all have mentioned I like.
Robert Jordan is going to write thirteen books, I think, because thirteen seems to be an important number in there.

[ April 27, 2003: Message edited by: Tinuviel of Denton ]

[Sophia the Thunder Mistress]

Oh yes! Whoever mentioned Mary Stewarts Arthurian things, they're great smilies/smile.gif Lawhead's are good too, Taliesin in particular.

Another vote for Perelandra, Rats of Nimh, Watership Down, and Earthsea (Tombs of Atuan is my favorite!)

Sophia

[Airerûthiel]

Philip Pullman books - I've just finished The Amber Spyglass and I'm looking for more of his work to read
William Nicholson's The Wind on Fire trilogy
Terry Prachett's Discworld books - if you haven't read these, they are absolutely hilarious
C S Lewis - Chronicles of Narnia
Ursula Le Guin's Earthsea books
Rats of Nimh - I love those books
and I don't know who it's by, but the book is called Across the Nightingale Floor

[ April 27, 2003: Message edited by: Airerûthiel ]

[Amanaduial the archer]

Talking of Arthurian legend, The Seeing Stone and the sequel, At the Crossing Places by Kevin Crossley-Holland are quite good. The second one is better, but I am waiting eagerly for the final part of the trilogy, The King of Middle Marsh.

What books are most popular here then? Ursula Le Guin seems to have some up quite alot, and Philip Pullman's acclaimed Dark Materials.

[The Saucepan Man]

Not one single mention of Michael Moorcock. Unbelievable.

I would refer the honourable member to my earlier post:

However I do recall greatly enjoying Robert E Howard's Conan books and Michael Moorcock's Prince Corum series.

I think that Moorcock's works (the Corum and Elric books) get a few other mentions on thus thread too. smilies/smile.gif

[Salocin]

In order from Best to not as good as Best, here are my favorite fantasy/SciFi authors.


************Tolkien*****************

Besides ME stuff I really liked Roverandom, Farmer Giles of Ham, Smith of Wotton Major, and Leaf by Niggle in that order. Is it just me or is Leaf by Niggle about Pergatory?


***************C.S.Lewis**************

In order:

The Space Trilogy-
Amazing. The best SciFi I have ever read. I would include the Dark Tower here.

The Screwtape Letters-
Increadable insite into the wiles of the enemy. Required reading for anyone who wants to not go to hell smilies/wink.gif .

The Great Devorce-
Increadable insite to why certain aspects of Christianity that one might question are the way they are. Again, required reading for above reason.

The Chronicals of Narnia-
Maybe its just that I take these for granted because I grew up with them and sort of "discovered" Lewis's other stuff, but I like his other stuff better. Still really good though.

Shadowlands-
Say the BBC production. Really good.
Animal Land-
I am not sure if that is the title. Stories of cute fuzzy animals Lewis wrote with his brother at a young age. Published post-humerously from notebooks that were almost burned. Anyone else ever seen this?


*************George MacDonald*************

His books are the only ones I can not put in order:

Lilith-
Besides the Universalism, a pretty good Fantasy. The presence of a plot is questionable though. It seems as if the nameless protagonist could have done any number of things different and the outcome would have been the same. Again, the Universalism.

Fantasties-
Another good Fantasy (they called them Romances back then) I never finished it though. Again, an intreging plot is lacking. Besides his letting out his shadow and falling for the evil willow lady, the nameless (see a pattern) protagonist never does anything but walk smilies/wink.gif.
Please don't be turned off by my negative reviews of those two books. They are really good, its just that their good qualities are hard to explain.

The Princess books(The Princess and the Goblin and The Princess and Curdie)-
Really nice fairy tails with good morals. Good for reading to small children though, as with all of MacDonald's stuff, there is a lot of deeper meaning, so you should probably read them again when you are older (I assume almost everyone here is "older")


************Lloyed Alexander************

Pyridain Chronicals-
Really cool. Tarran matures before you're very eyes!

Some weird books about a tom boy herroine in the 19th century-
Probably the only girlly books I ever read. The first one was sort of good, but they are all the same and the plots are completely rediculase given the time, place, and characters.

Doesn't he have a bunch of weird books about cats? I mean really weird ones like Time Cat or something? Oppinions please.


*****Stephen Lawhead (tie with Alexander)*****

Pendragon Cycle-
Taliesin and Merlin are works of art. I never got past the third part of Aurthur and never read any of the other books. The last two points of view in Aurthur were just to boring though the first one (was it Pelias?) was really good.

Dragon King Trilogy-
Pretty good. Way to protestant and it seems to artificial compared with, say the Pendragon Cycle and Pyridain Chronicles. It is quite comical seeing him try to portray a civilization of protestants that got raptured as mystirious, mystical, and ancient. smilies/rolleyes.gif

Bizantium-
I haven't actually read this *yet* (its length is very intimidating) but I have heard good things about it.

Doesn't he have a SciFi trilogy? Anyone read it who could tell me if it is any good?


*************Frank L. Baum**************

The Life and Adventures of Santa Clause-
I really nicely done, fairy tale type, "alternative" to any Santa Clause myths. Unlike the Oz books there seems to be a deffinate hyrrerarchy and Order of power in this book. I liked it a lot. Is it true they did a messed up chartoon based on this?

The REAL Oz series (not the run offs published after he died)-
Good fairy stories with nice plots, interesting magical items (I love the three magic pearls!), and interesting characters, though one or two are extremely similar. No really underlying meaning or messages (though there is an interesting theory of The Wizard of Oz being an Allegory of the first William Jennings Brian Presedential campain. The Scarecrow is the Farmers, the Tim Woodman is industrial workers, the Cowardly Lion is Brian, and they are taking the free silver standard (the silver slippers) up the gold standard of the Yellow Brick Road. There is more to it than that, but that's all I remember.), just a mindless fairy story. The main draw back I see is that, for such a developed fantasy world, there is no underlying power structure controlling the magic, or atleast we never see more than glimpses at it (the magic cult with the aprons is the only example I can think of). It just seems like everything is possible. There is not Higher Order. There is a nice detailed map in the latter ones though smilies/smile.gif.

Other Oz like Fairy Tails (Queen Zixi of Ix, Dot and Tot of Merryland, The Demon of Electricity)-
His lesser known books, surely. They are basically the same as the Oz books, though a little better developed (he was bored with Oz, so I think he put more effort into them). I own Queen Zixi of Ix. They have Dot and Tot of Merryland in some closed stacks in a library out here. I got them to let me in and read the first few chapters once (I think they thought I was doing a report because they kept asking if I wanted to take notes and if I did to please do them in pencil smilies/tongue.gif ). I have never been able to find The Demon of Electricity, though the description I read sounds very intreagueing.


Well that sure was long. I won't be posting here in a while smilies/redface.gif .

Hey, this is my 100th post! One more and I'm a wright

[ April 27, 2003: Message edited by: Salocin ]

[Amanaduial the archer]

Has Diana Wyne-Jones been mentioned yet? Both the Chrestomanci series and the Dalemark Quartet.

[vanwafeniel]

I loved Farmer Giles of ham and Roverandom Still ploughing my way through The amber spyglass aswell as other banks books. smilies/wink.gif

[Keneldil the Polka-dot]

*nods to Saucepan man*

Sorry, I missed your post Saucepanman. This thread was six pages when I got to it, lot of authors mentioned.

Someone help me out.....can't remember an author's name..he wrote "Sword of the Lictor", "Claw of the Concilator" a few more....aww nevermind I just remembered. Gene Wolfe. Has anyone read these? I tried to once a long time ago and couldn't get into them.

[ April 29, 2003: Message edited by: Keneldil the Polka-dot ]

[Helkahothion]

Not much I'm afraid.

Harry Potter and the philosophers stone
Harry Potter and the prisinor of Azkaban
Harry Potter and the the goblet of fire

Okay I admit it, I read HP. Don't kill me!

[vanwafeniel]

Im afaid i must kill you because hp is a ginormous crime!!mwhahaha...ugh, can't stand Daniel Radcliffe let alone his eyebrows. smilies/tongue.gif

[Melephelwen]

Right, so here I go.
Any fantasy I ever read is fantastic! (I should've been born as a boy - then people wouldn't glance as much when I say I love it... *sigh* smilies/frown.gif )
Anyways, everythings been mentioned before, I believe, but you'll get it anyways.

Terry Brooks, Shannara stuff
Terry Pratchett, (I especially love the books he wrote about Escape of the Gnomes, I think, even though it's for children)
David Eddings, Belgariad books.
J. K. Rowling, I don't care what anybody says about Harry Potter, I have to admire her - c'mon, the books are well-written, and in such few years, and... *rambles on for a few minutes*
Philip Pullman, His Dark Materials
And Tamora Pierce! I know they're mostly childrens books, but they're still good. I read all I could find on my local library, and looking for more.

And all mentioned in this thread is now on my to-read list, (every author mentioned, cut&paste, takes more than 3 pages A4! smilies/eek.gif )

[The Saucepan Man]

J. K. Rowling ... I have to admire her ... and in such few years ...

Yes, and in those few short years, she has (according to the Times "Rich List") become the richest woman in the UK, more wealthy than the Queen. I have to admire her too, although with a tinge of jealousy. smilies/wink.gif smilies/biggrin.gif

I cannot believe that, in my previous posts on this thread, I neglected to mention Enid Blyton's Faraway Tree books - The Enchanted Wood, The Magic Faraway Tree and The Folk of The Faraway Tree. Although they are books for young children, they are nevertheless fantasy books of a sort.

For those who haven't read them, they are about a group of children who discover the magic Faraway Tree in the Enchanted Wood, which is populated by such wondrous folk as Moonface, Silkie the Fairy and, of course, the Saucepan Man (no, my nick is not original smilies/tongue.gif ). The children and their new friends have adventures in the different lands that come to the top of the Faraway Tree.

There were my favourite books as a child, until I read the Hobbit, and I recently "rediscovered" them by reading them to my 5 year old daughter. smilies/smile.gif

[Helkahothion]

ugh, can't stand Daniel Radcliffe let alone his eyebrows.

*grab's his black list and scribbles down(with a eagle feather ofcourse) "vanwafeniel"*

*takes out a two barrled shot gun and scouts for vanwafeniel*

Mwuhahahaha, I'm evil smilies/evil.gif

[Amanaduial the archer]

Down, Helka, down!

ugh, can't stand Daniel Radcliffe let alone his eyebrows. *raises one of her own eyebrows* And if I told you I knew him in real life, then what?

[Salocin]

Real life? Whats that?

[manaratowen]

ok, ive noticed a few dragon lance readers out there, so ill chime in...lol. ive read every single dragonlance book since margret weiss and tracy hickman started out with just one trilogy...lol. i even have the leaves from the last home, and have made some of the recipies from it. oticks spiced potatos are the best.

[Helkahothion]

And if I told you I knew him in real life, then what?

OMFG! You know Daniel Radclif?

[GaladrieloftheOlden]

ugh, can't stand Daniel Radcliffe let alone his eyebrows. Right... "live and let live" mutters Menelien to herself smilies/wink.gif
OMFG! How did that 'f' find it's way into that? *looks innocent* smilies/tongue.gif

~Menelien

[Helkahothion]

I guess it slipped in. I hate it when that happens. smilies/wink.gif

[Amanaduial the archer]

Yes. I met him at Gloucester Cathedral, and have met him a few times since then, not at big fan meetings things. Nice guy.

[Helkahothion]

I... Am.....so....jelous....right.....now!

[Lyra Greenleaf]

Helka you are very odd. It just has to be said, I'm sorry.

Amanaduial I definitely salute your taste in books (except for the "Artemis Fowl is boring" thing). Diana Wynne Jones is brilliant, and so is Arthur and the Seeing Stone/at the Crossing Places.

Oh and I used to love the Faraway Tree, well all Enid Blyton really. What can I say- I wanted to be middle class!

[ May 03, 2003: Message edited by: Lyra Greenleaf ]

[Helkahothion]

Helka you are very odd. It just has to be said, I'm sorry.

You're lying you meanie. My mommy says that I am not weird. I'm special, that's all.

I have just remembered did anybody read Alone on the world? It was the first book that made me cry. Wonderfull. Really wonderfull. Beautifull story. I can't remember the writer. Terrebly sorry.

[GaladrieloftheOlden]

I think I've heard of a book with a title somewhat like that, but never read it. I think. smilies/wink.gif

~Menelien

[Helkahothion]

I don't know if it was called that way. I read it in Dutch. It was called:

"Alleen op de wereld." Which literaly translates to "Alone on the world."

So maybe that helps a little.

[Amanaduial the archer]

I think I've heard of Alone In The World. Who is it by?

[Helkahothion]

I just found out. It is written by Hector Malot. Don't know if that rings a bell with anyone. The main character is Remi. Although that was the name in the Dutch version.

[al'Thingolfin]

Hmm, I started reading other fantasy books than Tolkien a couple a months ago, so I haven't read so much yet:

Robert Jordan - The Wheel of Time 1-10
Terry Goodkind - The Sword of Truth 1-4
Raymond E. Feist - Magician
Author unknown - Romance of three kingdoms

[GaladrieloftheOlden]

Helka- could you tell me where it is possible to find the book you mentioned? I always read things recommended by other BDers, if I can, so I've decided to try it, but I couldn't find it on amazon. As for fantasy... hmm... I've read some Tamora Pierce lately, and she's not bad. (She's also my math teacher's friend smilies/tongue.gif) I really love all books by Phillip Pullman, and there is a new drop dead funny book which is half its own story and half Harry Potter parody. I don't know if it's out in English yet, but anyhow, it's called Porry Gatter smilies/rolleyes.gif

~Menelien

[Donlammenion]

hey has any one here head any of the David Eddings books The Diamond Throne from the Elenium trilogy then the follow on trilogy the Tamuli.

Two other good series from eddings are the Belgariad and the Malloreon.

Eddings like Tolkein puts alot of emotion into his characters. These books border on war/fiction as there are alot of well versed battles but they are still very pleasant reads without to much blood and gore.

I would suggest these books as first fiction reads as they are books you don't want to put down.

An other good writer is Sara douglas the author of the Axis trilogy another great read and once again a series you don't like to put down.

Those are my faves hope some of you know of hes books and agree

Don

smilies/biggrin.gif