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Lily Bracegirdle · 03-19-2003, 07:00 PM

Watership Down by Richard Adams
It seems odd that a story about RABBITS could be so engrossing, moving, and well, epic, but there you have it. I think I've read it over 40 times.

The Lions of Al-Rassan by Guy Gavriel Kay
This is the best of Kay's books, IMHO. It's a fantasy retelling of the legend of El Cid, and it's fabulous. Good plot, good characters, great writing, tears and laughter.

To Say Nothing of the Dog by Connie Willis
A time travel romantic comedy good for people who like PG Wodehouse's Jeeves & Bertie.

War For the Oaks by Emma Bull
A bit dated now, as an 80's rock n' roll girl takes on the Sidhe in Minneapolis with the help of her phouka boyfriend. Great fun.

Bridge of Birds by Barry Hughart
"A novel of ancient China that never was." I laughed until I cried reading this book.

The Phoenix Guards and Five Hundred Years After by Steven Brust
A great fantasy adventure/comedy/drama along the lines of The Three Musketeers. It may help to have read Brust's Vlad Taltos series first to familiarize yourself with how the world works, but these books are better.

The Chronicles of Prydain by Lloyd Alexander
They're childrens' books, and much simpler than Tolkien, but still charming and moving. (A Fflam is valiant!) The books in order: The Book of Three, The Black Cauldron, The Castle of Llyr, Taran Wanderer, The High King.

I'll also second nominations for:

Terry Pratchett's Discworld books. I'm partial to the ones about the City Watch: Guards, Guards, Men at Arms, and Feet of Clay, especially. Who can resist a six foot six dwarf named Carrot?

Madeline L'Engle
C.S. Lewis
Orson Scott Card, especially Ender's Game and Speaker for the Dead. They're sci-fi, not fantasy, but they're just devastatingly powerful.
Ursula Le Guin -- I wasn't crazy about the Earthsea Trilogy, but you need to read it to understand Tehanu, which is just a mind blowing book.
TH White's The Book of Merlyn is beautiful and tragic.

If you don't mind Sci-fi, David Brin's Uplift series is good. Start with Startide Rising rather than Sundiver.

Also not fantasy, but really good:
Arcadia by Tom Stoppard
It's a play by the person who wrote Shakespeare in Love and it's smart, funny and ultimately moving.

Good reading!

-Lily

[ March 19, 2003: Message edited by: Lily Bracegirdle ]

03-19-2003, 07:00 PM	#30
Lily Bracegirdle Wight Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Bree Posts: 210	Watership Down by Richard Adams It seems odd that a story about RABBITS could be so engrossing, moving, and well, epic, but there you have it. I think I've read it over 40 times. The Lions of Al-Rassan by Guy Gavriel Kay This is the best of Kay's books, IMHO. It's a fantasy retelling of the legend of El Cid, and it's fabulous. Good plot, good characters, great writing, tears and laughter. To Say Nothing of the Dog by Connie Willis A time travel romantic comedy good for people who like PG Wodehouse's Jeeves & Bertie. War For the Oaks by Emma Bull A bit dated now, as an 80's rock n' roll girl takes on the Sidhe in Minneapolis with the help of her phouka boyfriend. Great fun. Bridge of Birds by Barry Hughart "A novel of ancient China that never was." I laughed until I cried reading this book. The Phoenix Guards and Five Hundred Years After by Steven Brust A great fantasy adventure/comedy/drama along the lines of The Three Musketeers. It may help to have read Brust's Vlad Taltos series first to familiarize yourself with how the world works, but these books are better. The Chronicles of Prydain by Lloyd Alexander They're childrens' books, and much simpler than Tolkien, but still charming and moving. (A Fflam is valiant!) The books in order: The Book of Three, The Black Cauldron, The Castle of Llyr, Taran Wanderer, The High King. I'll also second nominations for: Terry Pratchett's Discworld books. I'm partial to the ones about the City Watch: Guards, Guards, Men at Arms, and Feet of Clay, especially. Who can resist a six foot six dwarf named Carrot? Madeline L'Engle C.S. Lewis Orson Scott Card, especially Ender's Game and Speaker for the Dead. They're sci-fi, not fantasy, but they're just devastatingly powerful. Ursula Le Guin -- I wasn't crazy about the Earthsea Trilogy, but you need to read it to understand Tehanu, which is just a mind blowing book. TH White's The Book of Merlyn is beautiful and tragic. If you don't mind Sci-fi, David Brin's Uplift series is good. Start with Startide Rising rather than Sundiver. Also not fantasy, but really good: Arcadia by Tom Stoppard It's a play by the person who wrote Shakespeare in Love and it's smart, funny and ultimately moving. Good reading! -Lily [ March 19, 2003: Message edited by: Lily Bracegirdle ] __________________ "But nay: the praise of the praiseworthy is above all rewards." - Faramir