Well I’m craving something in this genre but I’m a bit overwhelmed and underwhelmed at the same time. So many titles and yet I’m not sure what to read. Maybe you can help?
I’m looking for something in a high fantasy setting. I’m not too keen on heavy politics and war driven plots (though, I can read that ). What really gets me is interesting characters, good action and magical creatures.
I’ve loved anything Discworld and I’ve also enjoyed the First Law books by Abercrombie.
I’m finding that Tolkien, Sanderson and George RR Martin appear on every fantasy list I come across, so if you do recommend something I’d appreciate it be something other than that.
count_borrell ( @count_borrell@mander.xyz ) 22•8 months agoI highly recommend the Earthsea book by Ursula Le Guin (I actually recommend all of her books) and the Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser by Frtiz Lieber. Especially if you are looking for something that is a quick read and not a 20 book, 50 billion page series.
Also the Drizzt novels by R. A. Salvatore, while not the same level of quality, are fun.
I’ve read only The left hand of Darkness by Le Guin and I totally didn’t cry, you understand? If at any point anyone tells you that, they’re disgusting liars trying to tarnish my reputation. That aside, I really enjoyed the book and Earthsea was on my list of potential reads. I’ve never heard of the other recommendations, will keep in mind. Thanks
banazir ( @banazir@lemmy.ml ) 3•8 months agoI recently reread The Dark Elf Trilogy after a long, long time and I still quite liked it. It’s funny how differently I see the themes of the first book now than I did as a teenager.
I also remember Weis and Hickman’s Draconlance Chronicles trilogy being a fun read back in the day.
Nerorero ( @Nerorero@lemmy.blahaj.zone ) 12•8 months agoOoooh
Terry Pratchett!!
devils_advocate ( @devils_advocate@lemmy.ml ) 3•8 months agoNone of the suggestions above talk about comedy fantasy. Is there anyone close to the master? GNU
ringwraithfish ( @ringwraithfish@kbin.social ) 12•8 months agoUrsula K. Le Guin’s Earthsea series is a good one. Unlike most authors in this genre who tend to be overly descriptive and feel the need to develop the lore of every squirrel in the kingdom, Le Guin writes really tight, well thought stories, where every word is important to the story.
BraveSentry ( @BraveSentry@feddit.de ) 9•8 months agoYou might want to look at Robin Hobbs’ work.
Dagwood222 ( @Dagwood222@lemm.ee ) 7•8 months ago‘Glory Road’ by Robert A. Heinlein. Takes all the common fantasy tropes and kicks them in the nads.
wombatula ( @wombatula@lemm.ee ) English6•8 months agoI love how the other races don’t trust Humans, because we are always in “mating season” and they lose their minds during theirs, so assume we are always loopy because of ours.
Dagwood222 ( @Dagwood222@lemm.ee ) 2•8 months agoI can’t remember the work, but a father is talking to his daughter on her 11th birthday. She’s a very smart and mature child. Dad says that he’s sorry but they aren’t going to be able to have great conversations any more, because she’s going to start maturing and will go completely insane. The daughter promises that she’ll always love and respect him. The next scene is her gothed out, swinging a chainsaw at the family dog.
Dagwood222 ( @Dagwood222@lemm.ee ) 1•8 months agoNice.
red_concrete ( @red_concrete@lemmy.ml ) 7•8 months agoSo many suggestions possible with that prompt.
I might suggest the Vlad Taltos series, starting with Jhereg, by Steven Brust. Reaslistic characters, snappy dialog, interesting premise of human’s status in the society, and a pretty far-out series of villains. It comes down to more or less a first person assassin- / intrigue-based plot with cleverly set-up who-dunnit elements here and there, and an overarching storyline, and a good sense of the universe.
Some good suggestions in this thread. If you want even more options - I have been tapping into this Slashdot thread for a decade now, and it’s still giving me winners - which might not work for you, mind (e.g .“Little, Big” by Crowley, it led me to “To Reign in Hell” also by Brust, “Jack of Shadows” by Zelazny,)
zedhank ( @zedhank@lemmy.ml ) 3•8 months agoYay Dragaera! More people need to read about Vlad Taltos!
Thanks for the suggestion and link!
Computerchairgeneral ( @Computerchairgeneral@kbin.social ) 7•8 months agoLots of good recommendations here. I’ll just leave some +1s for a few I’ve seen here that I’ve enjoyed.
Blacktongue Thief: A thief tries to rob the wrong warrior and gets wrapped up in a quest to a distant land besieged by giants. The first of a trilogy, but the ending gives you enough closure to be a standalone read while also setting up where the story will go. Personally, I enjoyed the first-person narration which gives you a colorful look at a somewhat non-conventional fantasy world, although it’s still fantasy. If you liked Abercrombie then you might like this. There’s a similar focus on flawed characters trying to do the best they can. There is some war and politics but they are firmly in the background and far from the main focus.
Legends and Lattes: A retired adventurer opens up a coffee shop in a land that has never heard of coffee. I’m not sure if “cozy fantasy” was a thing before this book, but it’s been held up as an archetypal example. The plot is low-stakes and focuses on the characters and the difficulties of running a small business. Makes a good palate-cleanser between denser reads. No war or politics.
Kings of the Wyld: A retired group of adventurers has to come together for one last job after their leader’s daughter ends up trapped in a city besieged by monsters. Admittedly how much you enjoy this one depends on how novel you find the idea of adventuring groups being treated as rock and roll groups. Like literally being a stand-in for rock and roll bands with groupies, managers, and all of that. I’ve seen some criticism that the book doesn’t have much going for it beyond that which is a bit unfair. Following a bunch of middle-aged heroes past their prime was refreshing and I think the author did some interesting things with the main character who only uses a shield in combat and whose main motivation is to make it back to his wife and daughter in one piece. Very little war and politics.
Also, I don’t think he’s been recommended but you might want to check out Mark Lawrence’s Broken Empire trilogy. Admittedly it’s not typical high fantasy and it is somewhat heavy on war and politics, but if you liked the grittier, grounded feel of Abercrombie then you might like it. It is arguably darker though and the main character straddles the line between dark anti-hero and outright villain protagonist for at least the first book. But it might be worth checking out if you really liked the First Law trilogy.
mayotte2048 ( @mayotte2048@lemm.ee ) 1•6 months agoI 2nd Kings of the Wyld. Sequal coming out soon.
Legends & Lattes was fun too, and the sequal ‘Bookshops and Bondust’ is similarly fun.
FATMANinnaOVERCOAT ( @FATMANinnaOVERCOAT@lemmy.ml ) 7•8 months agoThe Name of the Wind By Patrick rothfuss.
Still waiting on that third book 5o come out though. It’s only been 17 years. It’ll happen any day now. 🥲
Senex ( @Senex@reddthat.com ) English4•8 months agoMy luck it’ll come out the day after I die.
FATMANinnaOVERCOAT ( @FATMANinnaOVERCOAT@lemmy.ml ) 2•8 months agoNo worries, if you die before me ill come read it at your grave for you.
Senex ( @Senex@reddthat.com ) English1•8 months agoThat’s a good incentive to hang around as a ghost. Unfinished business.
mayotte2048 ( @mayotte2048@lemm.ee ) 1•6 months agoThen while you’re waiting, you can read Neil Gaiman’s The Graveyard Book.
runner_g ( @runner_g@lemmy.blahaj.zone ) English2•8 months agoAt least we have a novella coming out in 2 weeks…
But Rothfuss still owes us the full cast reading of the first few chapters of Doors of Stone. That he set as a fundraiser goal two years ago and promised would be available the following February!
FATMANinnaOVERCOAT ( @FATMANinnaOVERCOAT@lemmy.ml ) 1•8 months agoYeah I’ve given up hope of it ever coming out. Although the bast novella seems interesting.
learnbyexample ( @learnbyexample@programming.dev ) English6•8 months ago+1 for Cradle already mentioned. I’d add
- The Riyria Revelations by Michael J. Sullivan
- Kings of the Wyld by Nicholas Eames
mayotte2048 ( @mayotte2048@lemm.ee ) 2•6 months agoI love king’s little 80’s music references. The sequal is coming out at some point.
kyle ( @kyle@lemm.ee ) 6•8 months agoI’ll add a +1 to some mentioned:
- Cradle series - progression fantasy, basically DBZ or Naruto style progression with a magic system, intelligent beasts/dragons, demigods, etc.
- Night Angel Trilogy - street rat turned assassin with magic. I feel like it leans pretty heavily into fantasy tropes, but they’re fun reads.
- Kings of the Wyld - this book is fucking hilarious. The main characters are basically a kickass D&D group but it’s 20 years later, they’re old and fat, and have to go on one last epic adventure.
CylustheVirus ( @CylustheVirus@beehaw.org ) English2•8 months agoMight as well mention Week’s Lightbringer series too .
Sarcasmo220 ( @Sarcasmo220@lemmy.ml ) 6•8 months agoI advocate to expand people’s thinking of the fantasy genre beyond the usual Euro-centric elves, dwarves, and wizards type stuff.
As such, a fantasy book I recommend is based off of Persian magic and setting is called The Wrath and the Dawn. It is based off of the Arabian Nights legend of that region.
Well, my other recommendation is not a book because it was a web comic, BUT, it fits the fantasy genre. What makes it unique is the fantasy elements are based off of Aztec gods and magic. It is called Leyendas: https://www.webtoons.com/en/canvas/leyendas/list?title_no=63874
There is another fantasy web comic with middle eastern elements called Suihira The City of Water: https://www.webtoons.com/en/canvas/suihira-the-city-of-water/list?title_no=39385
Unebrion ( @Unebrion@lemmy.dbzer0.com ) 5•8 months agoIt isn’t so much dragons, but it it is fantasy. The Cradle series by Will Wight is phenomenal. If you’re a fan of audio books they are all available in that format also, narrated by Travis Baldree
Audiobooks, nice. Will keep in mind. Thanks!
towerful ( @towerful@programming.dev ) 1•8 months agoTravellers Gate series by Will Wight is also good.
Senex ( @Senex@reddthat.com ) English5•8 months agoTad Williams - Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn trilogy. On par with Tolkien and Martin IMHO
Aviandelight ( @Aviandelight@mander.xyz ) 5•8 months agoMemory, Sorrow, & Thorn series by Tad Williams is my all time favorite. I also noticed that I relate to different characters as I age which makes rereading it a fun experience.
hybrid havoc :1m: :rm: ( @hybridhavoc@darkfriend.social ) 3•8 months ago@Aviandelight @Mothra This is a great series. I recently did a re-read and it still holds up.
ystael ( @ystael@beehaw.org ) 4•8 months agoA few I’ve enjoyed that aren’t mentioned elsewhere so far:
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Robin McKinley, The hero and the crown. If you’ve never read this, please, just go and do so, if you read nothing else on this entire response. The Newbery Medal it got was well deserved. (And it has princesses and dragons and wizards.)
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Louise Cooper, Indigo (8 short books). Sealed ancient evil, cursed protagonist on heroic journey, talking animal companion. Just lots of fun all around.
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Lois McMaster Bujold, The curse of Chalion series. Maybe a little more politics than you are looking for, but the divinity/magic system works well and I appreciate that the viewpoint characters are generally kind of old and busted. She is of course better known for the (excellent) Miles Vorkosigan military space opera series.
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Sarah Monette and Elizabeth Bear, A companion to wolves et seq. Exactly what it says on the tin; the catch is that the viewpoint character of the first book becomes bonded to a female wolf, which radically changes how his culture sees him.
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Elizabeth Moon, The deed of Paksenarrion. Basically what you’d get if you wrote down a really good D&D campaign (but mostly for only one viewpoint character). Formulaic in spots but enjoyable and well executed.
Other replies have mentioned Steven Brust’s Vlad Taltos books, which I enjoyed a lot; and David (and Leigh) Eddings, which were my first big-kid fantasy novels (as for many other other American children of the 70s and 80s). Another long series in something of the same vein as Eddings is Raymond E. Feist’s Riftwar saga; I haven’t read the entries after 2000, but before that it was a lot of fun.
Thanks for the detailed response! Will keep in mind
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