What other fantasy books do YOU read? - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Enorëiel · 01-25-2009, 04:44 PM

I've recently fallen in love with the Green Rider series. Well, I suppose you could say I re-fell in love with them. I read the first two in high school and then kind of forgot about them. I was in a bookstore recently and came accross them and bought them without a second thought. I'd really forgotten how much I loved the characters and story line. If you haven't read them I would definitely pick them up!

Isabellkya · 03-01-2009, 05:07 AM

Other Fantasy authors/books I've read....

Terry Goodkind
Terry Brooks (only the Shannara ones)
Robert Jordan
Stephen King (mainly The Dark Tower series)
Ursula Le Guin (though I've never technically read any of her fantasy, just the SciFi)
Tad Williams
Jack Yeovil (only the Genevieve books)
Neil Gaiman

There are some others, whom I would consider to be under the Horror section (since that is where you find them in bookstores); though some people have told me they are Fantasy as well.

After awhile, the stories seem to just be repeats of the same basic storyline.
So, definitely in need of a new read. xD

TheOrcWithNoName · 05-17-2009, 11:41 AM

The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant, the Unbeliever, is always a firm favourite of mine.

I do find Donaldson's works a joy anyway, but his Covenant series is on a par with LOTR, and I sometimes wish Pete Jackson would bring some of the more accessible of these books to film.

Pitchwife · 05-17-2009, 04:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheOrcWithNoName

I sometimes wish Pete Jackson would bring some of the more accessible of these books to film.

Sorry, but trying to imagine what PJ would make of Covenant gives me the nosebleeds...

I've recently discovered Lukianenko's (I always forget his Christian name) Night Watch series and found it rather addictive - kind of an adult version of Harry Potter, complete with a secret community of wizards, vampires, werewolves etc., but very scary, very grey-in-grey and with a great setting (present-day Moscow).
Otherwise, my favourites are Ursula K. LeGuin, Tad Williams, Orson Scott Card (Alvin Maker series)... and Donaldson, of course. I've also read all of Jordan's The Wheel of Time and intend to find out how it ends, but I'm not particularly proud of the fact.

Tigerlily Gamgee · 05-29-2009, 04:21 PM

So, it's not REALLY "Fantasy," I suppose... but I just got done reading through all of the Sookie Stackhouse series books by Charlaine Harris. TRUE BLOOD got me hooked. If you are looking for some "mind candy," as I call it, check them out... it's not like they are super intelligent, but they are quick reads and quite enjoyable.

Thinlómien · 05-31-2009, 02:03 PM

Not like very many people could enjoy this recommendation, but Finnish fantasy is actually surprisingly good sometimes.

Unrelatedly, have people been reading Lian Hearn's semi-Japan fantasy series? I just found the third part of the trilogy from a library after having completely forgotten it exists... and I don't remember if it was good enough to really be worth a read.

*off to devour favourite authors Le Guin, Kay and Martin*

Estelyn Telcontar · 05-31-2009, 02:35 PM

I'm currently rereading Jasper Fforde's 'Thursday Next' series; I know I've already recommended them, but there aren't many books I like so much that I can reread them several times with intense enjoyment, so I'll mention them again. So witty, intelligent, literary, wacky, and absolutely hilarious!!

skip spence · 05-31-2009, 02:48 PM

Guess I'm not really a fantasy fan. I've got the impression Tolkien killed the genre off by perfecting it and when I tried to get into other fantasy works in my teens I did not get very far. To me they (I don't remember titles) were just pale copies or inferior variations, with the author obviously writing in the shadow of Tolkien. Then again, the books I did try might simply have been bad apples that put me off an otherwise decent harvest. Maybe I should give it another go. Any suggestions?

Guinevere · 05-31-2009, 03:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thinlómien

Not like very many people could enjoy this recommendation, but Finnish fantasy is actually surprisingly good sometimes.

Unrelatedly, have people been reading Lian Hearn's semi-Japan fantasy series? I just found the third part of the trilogy from a library after having completely forgotten it exists... and I don't remember if it was good enough to really be worth a read.

I have read Lian Hearn's "Tales of the Otori" and found them very compelling and convincing, if a bit brutal. Certainly worth reading. (Btw, I just found out there is a sequel and a prequel to the trilogy!)

And I'm fond of Neil Gaiman's "Stardust" too! (the illustrated copy, by all means!) though I even prefer the movie!

Obviously I don't know any Finnish fantasybooks, but I love Mika Waltari's historical novel "Sinuhe the Egyptian" (I wish I could find translations of his other books)

Nerwen · 06-13-2009, 08:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thinlómien

Unrelatedly, have people been reading Lian Hearn's semi-Japan fantasy series? I just found the third part of the trilogy from a library after having completely forgotten it exists... and I don't remember if it was good enough to really be worth a read.

I read the first one, Across The Nightingale Floor. I had rather mixed reactions to it– it was very well written, but a bit by-the-numbers when it came to characters and plotting.

I'd say it's worth a read, though.

01-25-2009, 04:44 PM	#1
Enorëiel Wight Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Hobbiton, U.S.A. Posts: 165	I've recently fallen in love with the Green Rider series. Well, I suppose you could say I re-fell in love with them. I read the first two in high school and then kind of forgot about them. I was in a bookstore recently and came accross them and bought them without a second thought. I'd really forgotten how much I loved the characters and story line. If you haven't read them I would definitely pick them up! __________________ You can take a hobbit out of the Shire but you can't take the Shire out of a hobbit. Whoever said "Nothing is impossible" never tried to slam a revolving door.

03-01-2009, 05:07 AM	#2
Isabellkya Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Amongst trees. Posts: 919	Other Fantasy authors/books I've read.... Terry Goodkind Terry Brooks (only the Shannara ones) Robert Jordan Stephen King (mainly The Dark Tower series) Ursula Le Guin (though I've never technically read any of her fantasy, just the SciFi) Tad Williams Jack Yeovil (only the Genevieve books) Neil Gaiman There are some others, whom I would consider to be under the Horror section (since that is where you find them in bookstores); though some people have told me they are Fantasy as well. After awhile, the stories seem to just be repeats of the same basic storyline. So, definitely in need of a new read. xD __________________ But I was clinging to her like a homicidal monkey.

05-17-2009, 11:41 AM	#3
TheOrcWithNoName Animated Skeleton Join Date: May 2009 Location: Birmingham, central England Posts: 48	The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant, the Unbeliever, is always a firm favourite of mine. I do find Donaldson's works a joy anyway, but his Covenant series is on a par with LOTR, and I sometimes wish Pete Jackson would bring some of the more accessible of these books to film. __________________ "No that's fame. Fame has a fifteen minute half-life, infamy lasts a little longer."

05-29-2009, 04:21 PM	#5
Tigerlily Gamgee Hostess of Spirits Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Meduseld Posts: 1,055	So, it's not REALLY "Fantasy," I suppose... but I just got done reading through all of the Sookie Stackhouse series books by Charlaine Harris. TRUE BLOOD got me hooked. If you are looking for some "mind candy," as I call it, check them out... it's not like they are super intelligent, but they are quick reads and quite enjoyable. __________________ ~ ExerciseJunky.com (Hobbits fitness of choice!)~ ~Lady of Rohan: An Eowyn Fansite ~ ~The NEW/OLD Barrow Downs Photo Page~

05-31-2009, 02:03 PM	#6
Thinlómien Shady She-Penguin Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: In a far land beyond the Sea Posts: 8,093	Not like very many people could enjoy this recommendation, but Finnish fantasy is actually surprisingly good sometimes. Unrelatedly, have people been reading Lian Hearn's semi-Japan fantasy series? I just found the third part of the trilogy from a library after having completely forgotten it exists... and I don't remember if it was good enough to really be worth a read. off to devour favourite authors Le Guin, Kay and Martin __________________ Like the stars chase the sun, over the glowing hill I will conquer Blood is running deep, some things never sleep Double Fenris

05-31-2009, 02:35 PM	#7
Estelyn Telcontar Princess of Skwerlz Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: where the Sea is eastwards (WtR: 6060 miles) Posts: 7,500	I'm currently rereading Jasper Fforde's 'Thursday Next' series; I know I've already recommended them, but there aren't many books I like so much that I can reread them several times with intense enjoyment, so I'll mention them again. So witty, intelligent, literary, wacky, and absolutely hilarious!! __________________ 'Mercy!' cried Gandalf. 'If the giving of information is to be the cure of your inquisitiveness, I shall spend all the rest of my days in answering you. What more do you want to know?' 'The whole history of Middle-earth...'

05-31-2009, 02:48 PM	#8
skip spence shadow of a doubt Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Back on the streets Posts: 1,125	Guess I'm not really a fantasy fan. I've got the impression Tolkien killed the genre off by perfecting it and when I tried to get into other fantasy works in my teens I did not get very far. To me they (I don't remember titles) were just pale copies or inferior variations, with the author obviously writing in the shadow of Tolkien. Then again, the books I did try might simply have been bad apples that put me off an otherwise decent harvest. Maybe I should give it another go. Any suggestions? __________________ "You can always come back, but you can't come back all the way" ~ Bob Dylan

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