bsjkki Posted January 28, 2017 Posted January 28, 2017 I love reading epic fantasy novels...I know...not very scholarly. Any suggestions?
Robert F. Smith Posted January 28, 2017 Posted January 28, 2017 I don't know whether you include science fiction in your fantasy category, but you should. If so, I would recommend reading Isaac Asimov's Foundation Trilogy, and then rounding that out with his subsequent novels which add to the Trilogy. A good deal more substantial that George Lucas' Star Wars. 1
Calm Posted January 28, 2017 Posted January 28, 2017 Off the top of my head...need to go downstairs to check my library to see what I have missed Brandon Sanderson's Mistborn trilogy (beautifully complicated world created by him, can be rather depressing though) Riddle of Stars by Patricia McKiilip (almost anything by her, she has a beautiful poetic style with unique stories) Earthsea Cycle by Ursula LeGuin Hero and the Crown and the Blue Sword by Robin McKinley (another read anything by author for me) Lloyd Alexander Prydain books (youth) Chronicles of Amber by Roger Zelazny Meredith Ann Pierce Darkangel Trilogy Dark is Rising by Susan Cooper Queen's Thief series by Megan Whalen Turner Chrestomanci series and Castle series (not really epic, youth and quite fun) by Diane Whynne Jones 2
bsjkki Posted January 28, 2017 Author Posted January 28, 2017 6 hours ago, Calm said: Off the top of my head...need to go downstairs to check my library to see what I have missed Brandon Sanderson's Mistborn trilogy (beautifully complicated world created by him, can be rather depressing though) Riddle of Stars by Patricia McKiilip (almost anything by her, she has a beautiful poetic style with unique stories) Earthsea Cycle by Ursula LeGuin Hero and the Crown and the Blue Sword by Robin McKinley (another read anything by author for me) Lloyd Alexander Prydain books (youth) Chronicles of Amber by Roger Zelazny Meredith Ann Pierce Darkangel Trilogy Dark is Rising by Susan Cooper Queen's Thief series by Megan Whalen Turner Chrestomanci series and Castle series (not really epic, youth and quite fun) by Diane Whynne Jones We have similar book shelves but you have two I haven't read yet. Thanks! (Book 5 of Queens Thief comes out this year. It took her 7 years this time.)
The Nehor Posted January 28, 2017 Posted January 28, 2017 If you like longer series there is Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson's Wheel of Time series. I love Raymond E. Feist's series. Kevin J. Anderson's Saga of the Seven Suns (space opera) I also love Irene Radford's Merlin's Descendants series if you like semi-historical fiction with druidic magic mixed in.
bsjkki Posted January 28, 2017 Author Posted January 28, 2017 (edited) I've read Jordan, Sanderson, and Feist so thank you for the other suggestions! Edited January 28, 2017 by bsjkki
bluebell Posted January 28, 2017 Posted January 28, 2017 I like Fantasy books in theory but i have a really difficult time finding any that i like in practice. I've never read Sanderson and need to check him out. The last book i read that was fantasy turned out to be a YA book and i didn't realize it, but it was still o.k. It's called The Red Queen. I'm still on the fence on whether or not i'm going to read the next one in the trilogy though so it's not like it was that awesome.
bsjkki Posted January 28, 2017 Author Posted January 28, 2017 41 minutes ago, bluebell said: I like Fantasy books in theory but i have a really difficult time finding any that i like in practice. I've never read Sanderson and need to check him out. The last book i read that was fantasy turned out to be a YA book and i didn't realize it, but it was still o.k. It's called The Red Queen. I'm still on the fence on whether or not i'm going to read the next one in the trilogy though so it's not like it was that awesome. The Red Queen was not my favorite. Sanderson is much better. (My teen didn't like the Red Queen either) 1
bluebell Posted January 28, 2017 Posted January 28, 2017 3 minutes ago, bsjkki said: The Red Queen was not my favorite. Sanderson is much better. (My teen didn't like the Red Queen either) I thought the premise of the story was interesting, but the author just wasn't talented enough to pull it off well. I guess they are making a movie about it, which could be better than the book, if they put any effort into the script and the actors they get. So it'll probably be terrible. 1
bsjkki Posted January 28, 2017 Author Posted January 28, 2017 5 minutes ago, bluebell said: I thought the premise of the story was interesting, but the author just wasn't talented enough to pull it off well. I guess they are making a movie about it, which could be better than the book, if they put any effort into the script and the actors they get. So it'll probably be terrible. Yes...probably like Divergent. Not my favorite series and the movie was worse. 1
JLHPROF Posted January 29, 2017 Posted January 29, 2017 On 1/28/2017 at 0:52 AM, Calm said: Lloyd Alexander Prydain books (youth) Rep point for recommending these often overlooked classics. Narnia and Lord of the Rings have always kept Prydain in their shadow, and they deserve recognition. 1
JLHPROF Posted January 29, 2017 Posted January 29, 2017 I enjoyed Terry Brooks original Shannara triology (although the first book is a Lord of the Rings ripoff but it gets much better after that) and the follow up quartet Heritage of Shannara. The follow up series weren't as compelling. For something a lot quirkier that literally make me laugh out loud while reading there is the genius Peter David's "Sir Apropos of Nothing" trilogy (although be warned - some adult content) and his Modern Arthur trilogy. Not exactly high fantasy but a ton of fun.
bsjkki Posted January 31, 2017 Author Posted January 31, 2017 On 1/29/2017 at 10:25 AM, JLHPROF said: I enjoyed Terry Brooks original Shannara triology (although the first book is a Lord of the Rings ripoff but it gets much better after that) and the follow up quartet Heritage of Shannara. The follow up series weren't as compelling. For something a lot quirkier that literally make me laugh out loud while reading there is the genius Peter David's "Sir Apropos of Nothing" trilogy (although be warned - some adult content) and his Modern Arthur trilogy. Not exactly high fantasy but a ton of fun. Thanks. Loved the original Shannarra series but have never heard of the others.😀
Rivers Posted February 11, 2017 Posted February 11, 2017 (edited) Brandon Sanderson's Storm Light Archive series. So far there are two books in the series: The Way of Kings and Words of Radiance. He is currently working on the third. I've never been a huge fantasy fan but these books have won me over with some fascinating main characters. There's also some wacky mind-boggling mythology if you like that sort of thing. Edited February 11, 2017 by Rivers
hagoth7 Posted February 19, 2017 Posted February 19, 2017 Tolkien of course. And Frank Herbert's Dune series. Wheel of Time was decent, but after about book 5, I lost interest Beyond that, I have rarely read fiction. What did you decide upon?
The Nehor Posted February 20, 2017 Posted February 20, 2017 On 1/29/2017 at 10:52 AM, JLHPROF said: Rep point for recommending these often overlooked classics. Narnia and Lord of the Rings have always kept Prydain in their shadow, and they deserve recognition. I read these when I was young and liked them. Found copies a few years ago and reread. Still good. The kind of thing I would read to my kids if I had kids. 1
Stargazer Posted February 20, 2017 Posted February 20, 2017 Just wait a few years, and there will be my own sci fi series. Assuming I ever finish the first volume.
notHagoth7 Posted February 20, 2017 Posted February 20, 2017 To help accelerate that 1st volume, consider grabbing a copy of Robert Ray's Weekend Novelist. (A 52-week plan/guide to completing your first book.) He's a great teacher. And, since you might have more writing time available than just weekends, your fuse could be *much* shorter than 52 weeks. 1
notHagoth7 Posted February 20, 2017 Posted February 20, 2017 (edited) 9 hours ago, Stargazer said: Just wait a few years, and there will be my own sci fi series. Assuming I ever *finish the first volume.* Star, my previous post was intended for you. Edited February 20, 2017 by notHagoth7
notHagoth7 Posted February 20, 2017 Posted February 20, 2017 (edited) If you want someone to review your 1st draft, I'd love to take a gander. And after that, if you decide you'd like an agent/publisher/advocate, feel free to give me a holler. Edited February 20, 2017 by notHagoth7
Stargazer Posted February 22, 2017 Posted February 22, 2017 On 2/20/2017 at 9:03 AM, notHagoth7 said: To help accelerate that 1st volume, consider grabbing a copy of Robert Ray's Weekend Novelist. (A 52-week plan/guide to completing your first book.) He's a great teacher. And, since you might have more writing time available than just weekends, your fuse could be *much* shorter than 52 weeks. Thanks for the tip! I'll have a look! 1
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