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

Kitanna · 02-14-2005, 05:45 PM

I'm reading The Sight right now by David Clemens-Davies (or some name close to that, my spelling may be off) and it's a good book, though rather sad.
I recently finished Tamora Pierce's Wolf Speaker which was an excellent book.

Gurthang · 02-14-2005, 07:27 PM

I know its probably already been mentioned, but I really like the Wheel of Time. They're pretty long, but I would definitely recommend them. I've also been looking at the Bartimaeus Trilogy, but they won't bring the last WoT book back to the library. Guh!

Shelob · 02-14-2005, 08:41 PM

Encaitare, Mists of Avalon is well worth the read. And I know how you feel about being unable to find a bookmark...

Elsewise I would suggest Brave New World (Aldous Huxley), anything by H.G. Wells (including When the Sleeper Wakes...even though that has the worst ending ever.) and any short stories by Ray Bradbury (though especially The Exiles and The Long Rain.)

While those are top on my list I've also enjoyed:
David Eddings (suggested to me by my very tolkien-geeky friend)
Katharine Kerr (suggested to me by a friend...or 'borrowed' *coughstolencough*...whichever...)
The increasingly inaccurately named Hitchhiker's Trilogy by Douglas Adams
The Princess Bride by William Goldman
Blindness by Jose Saramago (Warning on this one though...read with caution)

as well as a ton more I can't write out in full but will gladly name if requested to.

Soronumë · 02-15-2005, 07:47 AM

Oh yes, Mists of Avalon is something wonderful!!! (that's still in progress but i'm alreafy on page 626...)
AND Eddings... *nods* In my top three.

Katharine Kerr's books are also good. ^^

.. Now, I might add to my list there somewhere also I have read books from Douglas Adams... And Philip Pullmans Golden compass and the two others and theNarnia series.

02-22-2005, 07:13 PM

i love Narnia! and Terry Brooks, (i've only read his Shannara books, but i want to read his others). i also like T.A. Baron, and Stephen Lawhead. And of course, LotR, Silmarillion, Hobbit, etc... i wanted to read the Mists of Avalon, but i can't find it at my library

and Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials is v.v. good too. oh, and some of the Star Wars books are ok, too....

alatar · 02-23-2005, 03:25 PM

I would recommend anything written by Frank Herbert, who is best known for his 'Dune' books. In all of his works FH tries to make a point, using the story as a vehicle (unlike some authors who put the story first then decorate it with some 'big' idea). He runs a *little* deep, and so you will need to use your noggin a little. Also, his stories don't end up with everything back in place and happy (i.e. Asimov), as like in the real world things change and there are always consequences (mostly unforeseen and unintended).

Note that the books written by his son, Brian Herbert, are garbage and demonstrate that talent isn't always inherited.

Jules Verne and H.G. Wells are long time favorites.

Not really big on Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time and I cringe

anytime someone compares WoT to LOTR. Please!

Robert E. Howard's "The Coming of Conan the Cimmerian" was a good light read.

Neil Gaiman's Sandman grapic novels are different but thought provoking.

D'Aulaires "Book of Greek Myths" is great, and can't wait to start sharing it with my kids as I remember reading it as a child.

Shelob · 02-23-2005, 03:44 PM

D'Aulaires "Book of Greek Myths"!

Forgot about that...I've been reading for longer than I can remember...and still read it regularly, so much so that it can only be handled carefully...Thanks for reminding me of it...except now I can't do anything else until I go read it again...*meanders off to find the book and whittle away the hours in wonderful, colourful Greek Myth*

Encaitare · 02-23-2005, 03:46 PM

Oh, yes, Dune was amazing. It's not only a great story, but it's beautifully written, very quotable. When I read it I had a pencil in hand most of the time, bracketing off passages I liked. Hopefully I'll get around to reading the next two in the series soon -- I've heard that the first three are the best.

02-14-2005, 05:45 PM	#1
Kitanna Child of the West Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Watching President Fillmore ride a unicorn Posts: 2,132	I'm reading The Sight right now by David Clemens-Davies (or some name close to that, my spelling may be off) and it's a good book, though rather sad. I recently finished Tamora Pierce's Wolf Speaker which was an excellent book. __________________ "Let us live so that when we come to die even the undertaker will be sorry." - Mark Twain

02-14-2005, 07:27 PM	#2
Gurthang Sword of Spirit Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Oh, I'm around. Posts: 1,401	I know its probably already been mentioned, but I really like the Wheel of Time. They're pretty long, but I would definitely recommend them. I've also been looking at the Bartimaeus Trilogy, but they won't bring the last WoT book back to the library. Guh! __________________ I'm on a Mission from God.

02-14-2005, 08:41 PM	#3
Shelob Shade of Carn Dûm Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: At the abysmal Abyss Mall. Posts: 276	Encaitare, Mists of Avalon is well worth the read. And I know how you feel about being unable to find a bookmark... Elsewise I would suggest Brave New World (Aldous Huxley), anything by H.G. Wells (including When the Sleeper Wakes...even though that has the worst ending ever.) and any short stories by Ray Bradbury (though especially The Exiles and The Long Rain.) While those are top on my list I've also enjoyed: David Eddings (suggested to me by my very tolkien-geeky friend) Katharine Kerr (suggested to me by a friend...or 'borrowed' coughstolencough...whichever...) The increasingly inaccurately named Hitchhiker's Trilogy by Douglas Adams The Princess Bride by William Goldman Blindness by Jose Saramago (Warning on this one though...read with caution) as well as a ton more I can't write out in full but will gladly name if requested to. __________________ A signature always reveals a man's character - and sometimes even his name ~Evan Esar. Pan for Everyone!

02-15-2005, 07:47 AM	#4
Soronumë Pile O'Bones Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Finland Posts: 25	Oh yes, Mists of Avalon is something wonderful!!! (that's still in progress but i'm alreafy on page 626...) AND Eddings... nods In my top three. Katharine Kerr's books are also good. ^^ .. Now, I might add to my list there somewhere also I have read books from Douglas Adams... And Philip Pullmans Golden compass and the two others and theNarnia series. __________________ And she was the child of stars, bearing their light on her forehead. Wisdom lies in her eyes and love in her heart.

02-23-2005, 03:44 PM	#7
Shelob Shade of Carn Dûm Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: At the abysmal Abyss Mall. Posts: 276	D'Aulaires "Book of Greek Myths"! Forgot about that...I've been reading for longer than I can remember...and still read it regularly, so much so that it can only be handled carefully...Thanks for reminding me of it...except now I can't do anything else until I go read it again...meanders off to find the book and whittle away the hours in wonderful, colourful Greek Myth __________________ A signature always reveals a man's character - and sometimes even his name ~Evan Esar. Pan for Everyone!

02-22-2005, 07:13 PM	#5
bookworm Guest Posts: n/a	i love Narnia! and Terry Brooks, (i've only read his Shannara books, but i want to read his others). i also like T.A. Baron, and Stephen Lawhead. And of course, LotR, Silmarillion, Hobbit, etc... i wanted to read the Mists of Avalon, but i can't find it at my library and Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials is v.v. good too. oh, and some of the Star Wars books are ok, too....

02-23-2005, 03:25 PM	#6
alatar Doubting Dwimmerlaik Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Heaven's basement Posts: 2,466	I would recommend anything written by Frank Herbert, who is best known for his 'Dune' books. In all of his works FH tries to make a point, using the story as a vehicle (unlike some authors who put the story first then decorate it with some 'big' idea). He runs a little deep, and so you will need to use your noggin a little. Also, his stories don't end up with everything back in place and happy (i.e. Asimov), as like in the real world things change and there are always consequences (mostly unforeseen and unintended). Note that the books written by his son, Brian Herbert, are garbage and demonstrate that talent isn't always inherited. Jules Verne and H.G. Wells are long time favorites. Not really big on Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time and I cringe anytime someone compares WoT to LOTR. Please! Robert E. Howard's "The Coming of Conan the Cimmerian" was a good light read. Neil Gaiman's Sandman grapic novels are different but thought provoking. D'Aulaires "Book of Greek Myths" is great, and can't wait to start sharing it with my kids as I remember reading it as a child.

02-23-2005, 03:46 PM	#8
Encaitare Bittersweet Symphony Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: On the jolly starship Enterprise Posts: 1,814	Oh, yes, Dune was amazing. It's not only a great story, but it's beautifully written, very quotable. When I read it I had a pencil in hand most of the time, bracketing off passages I liked. Hopefully I'll get around to reading the next two in the series soon -- I've heard that the first three are the best.