Recommend me a fantasy book

[RandomMan01]

There's also the Ranger's Apprentice series.

Ranger's Apprentice, by John Flanagan...

Double ninja'd. I have to agree, they're good books. Problem is, every thing after book 1 is more like realistic fiction than fantasy. Still good books though.

OT: If you're looking for some really good fantasy books, try The Chronicles of the Raven Trilogy by James Barclay. Interesting characters, good story, and some intrigue, but none of that "overthrow the monarchy" type stuff. Some mature themes in book 1, but it's like, 1 chapter. I loved books 1 and 2, but I, unfortunately, lost book 3 before I could finish.

 

[Collegeboy21]

I would have to recommend the Wheel of Time series by Robert Jordan (and later Brandon Sanderson). An epic 14 book series with an immensely satisfying story and conclusion.

Also recommend the Mistborn trilogy by Brandon Sanderson.

Also The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson.

What? I've read a lot of his books lately. I can't help it if they're good!

 

[Kross]

The Prince of Nothing [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prince_of_Nothing] trilogy has a bit of political intrigue, but it's not really the focus at all.

Any of the short story collections (Dandelion Wine, Martian Chronicles, Illustrated Man, I Sing the Body Electric...) by Ray Bradbury would probably qualify as fantasy more then Sci-Fi, and are almost all worthwhile.

If you like demons and lore presented in as a recollection of epic events (think Greek/Roman mythology) with very few happy endings, check out Tales From the Flat Earth [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tales_from_the_Flat_Earth].

For more pulpy fantasy, check out Piers Anthony's Apprentice Adept [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apprentice_Adept] and Incarnations of Immortality [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Incarnations_of_Immortality] (strong start, but starts to drag a bit in latter books due to retelling the same story from different perspectives - On a Pale Horse, and For Love of Evil are my favorites of course).

Or even moreso, there's the classics like The Shadow novels [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_The_Shadow_stories#Belmont_Books_paperback_novels] (think Sherlock Holmes with a sprinkling of supernatural powers), or action like the John Carter [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barsoom] series.


A little lighter on the traditional fantasy elements, but definitely not the usual fare: Boy's Life [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boy%27s_Life_%28novel%29] and Swan Song [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swan_Song_%28novel%29] (very similar setup to The Stand) by Robert McCammon.


And uh... many more.

 

[Christopher Parker]

Seconding the Belgariad, and I'd also like to add the Elenium and the Redemption of Althalus by the same author. Very much adventure type fantasy rather than intrigue type fantasy, and while they don't really do anything new, they make up for it by being very entertaining.

 

[Superbun]

It receives a lot of criticism (and rightly so in some cases) but one of my favourite fantasy series of all time is the Inheritance Cycle by Christopher Paolini. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inheritance_cycle)

If you're looking for a classic quest-based fantasy adventure that doesn't get bogged down in the political machinations and moral dilemmas of other more "serious" titles then in my opinion you couldn't go far wrong with the Inheritance Cycle. The plot is pretty much your standard tolkein-esque western fantasy fare, you have your evil king, a small band of heroic rebels fighting against him, your tree-hugging elves, and beardy dwarves and your Orc-*cough cough* ... Wait! They're called "Urgals" here!

At the end of the day, when consuming any piece of entertainment the important question is: "Is this more enjoyable than listening to yesterday's shipping forecast on repeat?" and despite the ending of the series being a bit of a bittersweet let-down, the answer to this question is: yes.

P.S. Also, don't watch the Eragon movie, that was terrible.

 

[IrishBerserker]

The Crown of Stars series by Kate Elliot. It has some court intrigue, so you might not like them. There's also guite a bit of religious chanting/hymns, but I just skipped over that. The series starts of pretty slow but it really picks up.

There are seven books in the series if you're looking for a long read.

 

[Kuredan]

-snip-

I think it depends on what type of fantasy you like.

For high fantasy I like Tad Williams' Memory, Sorrow, Thorn series or if you have a decade you could try and tackle Robert Jordan's Wheel of time or Terry Goodkind's Sword of Truth series. Even David Eddings Belgariad series is decent.

If you like humor thrown into the mix, you cannot beat Terry Pratchett.

If you like slightly more Victorian/ high science fantasy, Tad Williams War of the Flowers and Brandon Sanderson's Elantris are pretty good.

If you like inventive magic systems, L.L. Modesitt's Saga of recluse and Brandon Sanderson's Mistborn trilogy are pretty cool.

If you like fantasy that intersects with modern life, Niel Gaiman's American Gods, Neverwhere, etc are great. Jim Butcher's Dresden series, while not the best does have its moments. I also really like Sergei Lukyanenko's Night Watch series.

I recommend them all!

 

[Sectan]

Edge Chronicles. Boy lives in a giant forest raised by troll like things (He's a Human BTW) He starts travelling running into different types of people and creatures. Best set of books I've ever read. The weird laws of physics and different types of chemistry type things along with the illustrations are amazing. Airships that are held aloft by buoyant rocks are always cool too!

 

[AuronFtw]

Shannara by Terry Brooks. First two series were pretty damned amazing, and he's been releasing trilogies set before or after those pretty frequently. Good place to start is First King and the original trilogy (Sword, Elfstones, Wishsong of Shannara), then do the Scions 4-set, then do whatever.

Lord of the Rings has a lot less political intrigue than GoT, but takes forever to get going and honestly isn't all that interesting as a story (the world it paints is massive and immersive, but the actual story elements are... lacking somewhat). Still worth a read if you haven't touched them though.

 

[Rylot]

The Paksenarrion books by Elizabeth Moon were pretty good. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Deed_of_Paksenarrion

Had more of a feel of a historic military novel than you may want but I'd recommend them to anyone who enjoys medieval mercenary tales with battles of entire armies instead of just one on one combat.

 

[IndomitableSam]

Sam's sister here.

If you love Robin Hobb's Farseer's trilogy she's written plenty others in the series. There's the Fool's Trilogy that follows right after Farseer's, and then after that with some overlapping characters is the Liveship Triology. She's now working on the forth book in The Rain Wild Chronicles. Or for something different from her there's the Forest Mage series, I forget the official title of that trilogy.

Let's see, we have a whole wall of bookcases here... Anything in the Dungeons and Dragons series is good. Not fantastic, but good. I have the whole Elminister and Drizzt series, as well as a few of their stand alone novels.

George R R Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire is of course a must, but it does like everyone says have a lot of court intrigue and backstabbing.

The Green Rider series by Kristin Britain is a good way to pass a few days. She's working on the fifth in the series right now.

We have several shelves full of books by Mercedes Lackey too, she does a whole range of stuff.

Someone mentioned Tigana, it's very good but again a fair amount of intrigue. Guy Gavriel Kay writes in a way that really keeps your attention.

Simon R Green has a few good ones, although some series are more murder mystery set in fantasy worlds.

Right now I'm rereading Jennifer Fallon's Hythrun Chronicles, it's decent too.

 

[fenderstrat]

Thank you so much to everyone! now i've got a pretty good list of things to read. Thanks again!

 

[Little Woodsman]

Thank you so much to everyone! now i've got a pretty good list of things to read. Thanks again!

Well I just had to add these to your list.....

For contemporary fantasy try the works of Charles De Lint, particularly Jack of Kinrowan and The Dreaming Place.

For comedic fantasy try the Myth Series by Robert Asprin. Fun romp.

It sounds like you might enjoy Poul Anderson's The Broken Sword. It's really old though, you might have
a hard time finding a copy.

Speaking of old....George MacDonald...he's the fantasy author that Tolkien and Lewis read when they were
young...his prose style can be kind of hard to read, and some of the fantasies he wrote for adults are
*very* surreal but his works for children (The Princess and the Goblin, The Princess and Curdie, At the
Back of the North Wind) are fun and you can definitely see where they influenced Tolkien & Lewis.

 

[iwinatlife]

Well as my avatar demands i must join in suggesting Wheel of time Epic Fantasy and one of my favorite series ever

With that taken care of I also suggest the Night angel Trilogy (now in convenient Omnibus!) and The Light bringer series by Brent weeks excellent series by a newish author

 

[Cheesepower5]

I was going to say The Warlord Chronicles trilogy by Bernard Cornwell, but only the second one (Enemy of God) is anything but war and political intrigue. But hey, I leave it on the table: Hardcore war battles, you'll love it!

In the mind that you're looking for higher fantasy or something adventurous, I'll recommend the Bartimaeus Trilogy for a more modern fantasy, there isn't much adventure but it is a really unique fantasy story. There's also His Majesty's Dragon (Temeraire in the UK) that may strike your more adventurous mood.

 

[Tucker154]

Since I made a thread about suggesting good books back around Christmas, I'll share my findings.

The Dresden Files by Jim Butcher:

They aren't like Tolkien or the few fantasy books(Like them) I've read. They're about a Wizard PI working in modern day Chicago. There are vampires, werewolves, rogue magicians, fairy godmothers, demons, ghosts, A fairy who's obsessed with sex who lives in a skull. I could go on, but I'm only on the third book. And there are 12 books so far... I think.

I haven't read many books since High School, so the only really fantasy books I have read are the Harry Potter series, up to book 6, I can't get past chapter 8 on the last book for some reason. and the first 3 books in the Dresden Files.

Definitely recommend the Dresden Files. I'm on the fourth book, and it's different from your average fantasy because it has the habit of taking a kind of ridiculous concept, and making it serious while still just being fun to read.

Spoiler: For example...

That actually happens in the ninth book.

 

[Blunderboy]

Discworld: Night Watch. I don't care what other people say, that book works just as well as a standalone as it does in a series.

Oh man I fucking love Night Watch.
Then again I love Sam Vimes.

All the little angels rise up, rise up.
All the little angels rise up high!
How do they rise up, rise up, rise up?
How do they rise up, rise up high?
They rise heads up, heads up, heads up, they rise heads up, heads up high


I'm currently reading Thud! After reading Snuff, Night Watch and Thief of Time.

 

[Mordekaien]

If you want something a bit different, I would recommend The Dark Tower series by Stephen King.

Great series of books, really intelligent with some great characters.

It should also be noted that the first book is pretty slow starting and can grow a little bit tedious in some parts, but other than that, I agree and recommend it too.

And if you haven't read it yet, Mistborn trilogy is pretty great.

 

[Blunderboy]

If you want something a bit different, I would recommend The Dark Tower series by Stephen King.

Great series of books, really intelligent with some great characters.

You say true, I say Thank ya.

One of my favourite Fantasy writers is David Gemmell.
He's produced some fantastic books.
I'd recommend the Druss, Waylander and Skilgannon series.

Yes!

Oh yeah, The Belgariad as well. What happens when you take a self aware cast and throw them into a Lord of the Rings ripoff.

Also yes!

 

[Vhite]

Because The King Killer Chronicles was already mentioned I'm gonna go with His Dark Materials.