What other fantasy books do YOU read?

[Estelyn Telcontar]

Hmmm, doesn't look like I mentioned my most recently discovered book series and author here: Jasper Fforde's 'Thursday Next' books (and his 'Nursery Crime' books as well) are the best stories I've read in a long time (present company excepted, of course)! It's been interesting to look for them in bookstores, as they are sometimes multiply displayed; I would definitely count them as fantasy literature, as they take place in a parallel world - a basic premise similar to that of Pullman's 'Dark Materials' books.

The interaction between real and fictional worlds is what makes the books most fascinating, and the humour is wonderful, with many plays on literature and words. A review I heard called them "hypermetafiction"! Though each book is complete in itself, it's wise to read them in order, so that the ideas that continue from book to book can be understood. "The Eyre Affair" is the first book which presents the heroine Thursday Next, a literary detective who investigates crimes like abductions of original manuscripts which are held for ransom.

When the boundaries between 'real' and fictional worlds become porous, the stories are at their very best. Tolkien references are included very occasionally (don't know if copyright issues prevent more).

Highly recommended!!

[BGreg]

The best fantasy I read lately was George R.R. Martin's "A Song of Ice and Fire". It's a really good series and I enjoyed reading it (can't wait for the rest of his series). Characters are realistic, they're not just black&white, and you can relate even to the bad guys.

I also read Tad Williams, his "The Dragonbone Chair", but sadly I never got to read the rest of the trilogy.

Now, I've wanted to read all of Guy Gavriel Kay's work recently. I actually met the guy in person, and he signed a book for my friend. He's younger than I expected for such a famous writer. Anyway, he got me intrigued in his work, so I'll probably get on those books as soon as I can.

[Thinlómien]

Welcome to the Downs, BGreg! I can warmly recommend Guy Gavriel Kay, he's one of my favourite authors. He's just fascinatingly skilled with words and has a breathtaking sense of drama.

I quite like George R.R. Martin too and I'm anxiously waiting for the next novel to the series. Sadly, he seems to be a rather slow writer...

[Andsigil]

Not exactly fantasy, but historical fiction are two of my favorites:

The Richard Sharpe series by Bernard Cornwell

The Flashman series by George MacDonald Fraser.

I can't recommend them both highly enough!

[Beregond]

Count another fan of A Song of Ice and Fire. Wish they weren't so crude at times, but they are realistic, I guess. And I'm not always a great fan of books that blur the line between good and evil, but George Martin's books have an amazing allure. One of the hardest series of books to put down once you start reading. Many sleepless nights are attributed to ASoIaF. They got me more interested in medieval study/way of speech a few years back when I read them.

I met G.R.R. at a book expo in New York in '05, he signed a preview of the fourth book. That was kind of neat! He looks the same in person as he does in pictures.

Following his blog is really frustrating though. All he talks about is American football - when me and thousands of fans are screaming for him to get on and finish Dance of Dragons (book 5, which was scheduled for release last year). I almost hate to say things like this, but after the death of Robert Jordan, I can't help worrying about whether we'll see the end of this series. G.R.R. seems to have lost interest, for the moment. I know if I were a writer I'd have the same problem finishing books, but...I'm not, and he is, and it's not fair that we have to wait!

[Lariren Shadow]

I've heard good and bad things about the Fionavar books. I've had friends swear by them and friends who thought they were cliche. I do know that Guy Gavriel Kay did write them after working on something Tolkien related(right now it escapes me as to what it was).

I pretty much love anything by Neil Gaiman, especially Stardust. I highly recommend any of his books.

Currently I am reading The Time Traveler's Wife. It's very good and I would consider it sort of fantasy/sci-fi/a whole new breed of fiction all together. It's very good and highly recommend it.

Other than that I do tend to read the books in the teen/young adult section mostly because I'm(at least possibly) going to be teaching high school students soon(ah, real world!) and should know what they are reading. The answer: vampires. A lot of vampires. Some faery too, but mostly vampires.

[Thinlómien]

Originally Posted by Lariren Shadow

I've heard good and bad things about the Fionavar books. I've had friends swear by them and friends who thought they were cliche. I do know that Guy Gavriel Kay did write them after working on something Tolkien related(right now it escapes me as to what it was).

He helped Christopher Tolkien to edit the Silmarillion. But anyway, I can offer yet another opinion on Fionavar. They are downright cliché. Probably one of the most clichéish fantasy books I've read. But they are still simply brilliant, because Kay can pull it off. It doesn't matter if you've got all kinds of seers, dark lords, King Arthurs, semi-Beren&Lúthiens, elves sailing to west, werewolf liutenants trees of life and prophecies in the same book if the author knows how to use the elements exactly correctly. At times it's breathtaking.

I must say, though, that even though Fionavar is very good, I like many other books of Kay's better. Perhaps you could try them too if you're afraid of clichés? Tigana is a lovely, tragic fantasy epic. And if you're into sort of alternative history, you must read The Lions of Al-Rassan (I'm convinced that book is just perfect) and A Song of Arbonne. They are set in worlds very much like Spain under the Arab rule and medieval France, respectively, and they are among my favourite books, both of them.

Originally Posted by Lari

Currently I am reading The Time Traveler's Wife. It's very good and I would consider it sort of fantasy/sci-fi/a whole new breed of fiction all together. It's very good and highly recommend it.

I read it after three downers had praised it, but it was a kind of disappointment. Yes, it was nice, but that's it. I didn't find it especially moving or exciting or well-written or original. For me, it was too much like the sort of icky romantic women's literature...

[Lariren Shadow]

Originally Posted by Thinlómien

I must say, though, that even though Fionavar is very good, I like many other books of Kay's better. Perhaps you could try them too if you're afraid of clichés? Tigana is a lovely, tragic fantasy epic. And if you're into sort of alternative history, you must read The Lions of Al-Rassan (I'm convinced that book is just perfect) and A Song of Arbonne. They are set in worlds very much like Spain under the Arab rule and medieval France, respectively, and they are among my favourite books, both of them.

I read it after three downers had praised it, but it was a kind of disappointment. Yes, it was nice, but that's it. I didn't find it especially moving or exciting or well-written or original. For me, it was too much like the sort of icky romantic women's literature...

I think my other thing that would stop me reading Fionavar is that my name is Jennifer and, well, I never liked Guinevere.

I do have another Kay book in my room at home, Ysabel. I started in a bookstore and then decided not to buy it(poor college student and it being in hardcover). Then I found it for five dollars at a book sale so it's now sitting in my room at home(because it's still hardcover and really heavy to bring places). I have looked at Tigana and been recommended it before so I think I need to go buy it.

As for The Time Traveler's Wife, I can see what you mean, but I still love it.

[Thinlómien]

Sorry to double post, but I've been considering reading Dune and Mists of Avalon, and I was thinking - could anyone give me opinions on them? What are they like? Are they worth the read? Are they something a busy student could read, or do they require more time and devotion?

edit: xed with Lari so I didn't double post, yay!