Good light-hearted fantasy book or series

kdgarris · 08-15-2011, 01:23 PM

Just like the title suggests, I'm looking for a good light-hearted fantasy book or series to delve into. It doesn't have to be traditional fantasy; modern or mixed with elements of sci-fi is fun, too.

In the past, I have enjoyed much of Piers Anthony: the Incarnations of Immortality and the Apprentice Adept series, as well as the first dozen or so of the Xanth books. I also enjoyed the "Magic Kingdom for Sale" series by Terry Brooks.

I'm sure there are others, but I'm not thinking of them at the moment. Anyway, if anyone has any suggestions, I'd love to hear them!

Phogg · 08-15-2011, 01:39 PM

Robert Asprin's Myth series?

MMHaven · 08-15-2011, 01:59 PM

Gordon R. Dickson's Dragon Knight series, starting with The Dragon and the George, pretty much all of Christopher Moore's books, A. Lee Martinez's Gil's All Fright Diner or A Nameless Witch (I'm sure his others are great also, but those are the two I've read).

Edit: Rick Cook's Wizard series; the first two books are available from the Baen free library.

Penforhire · 08-15-2011, 02:22 PM

Maybe Kim Harrison's Hollows series (starts with Dead Witch Walking)? Mostly humorous and light urban fantasy. Even when it gets heavy I sense a Disney edge to it.

ficbot · 08-15-2011, 02:31 PM

Discworld.

silverraven · 08-15-2011, 07:57 PM

Yes! Terry Pratchett's Discworld series is fabulous!
S

GreenMonkey · 08-15-2011, 11:20 PM

Grunts by Mary Gentle. Orcs get into a stash of modern weaponry...the kind of cursed (or blessed) weapons that change people's personalities...leading the Orcs to become Orcish marines of a sort. Funny.

Brooks has a few more of the Magic Kingdom books you might read...they're all of the same light-hearted sort of fantasy.

David Edding's Belgariad (and Mallorean) can be downright funny.

JeremyR · 08-16-2011, 12:23 AM

L. Sprague de Camp sort of pioneered this, IMHO. The Reluctant King trilogy is probably the best, but also the Harold Shea Enchanters series. And his Krishna series (which is more planetary romance, which is basically fantasy without the magic).

None of which seems to be available in e-book form.

Actually, speaking of planetary romance, you might like Gordon Dickson's "The Right to Arm Bears", which is nothing like the title, but deals with somewhat comic adventures on a world full of talking bears

William F · 08-16-2011, 01:54 AM

Blue Moon Rising and Beyond the Blue Moon, By Simon R Green. Also the rest of Hawk and Fisher's adventures in various volumes.
If I may offer a small teaser.
"In those days, there were heroes and villains, and darkness walked the earth. There were dragons to be slain, captured princesses to be saved and mighty deeds to be accomplished by knights in shining armor.
"Many tales are told of that time, tales of steadfast bravery and derring do...
This isn't one of them."

kdgarris · 08-16-2011, 09:51 AM

Thanks for all of the suggestions! I have read the Myth series, and I loved it - the perfect example of the kind of thing I was looking for.

I'll likely start with Rick Cook's Wizard series, since it's nice to get the first 2 free to see how well I like the series!

cearbhallain · 08-16-2011, 11:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GreenMonkey

Grunts David Edding's Belgariad (and Mallorean) can be downright funny.

Second Belgariad. If you can find it, you may also enjoy Silverlock by John Meyers Meyers. It's a fen favorite.

sparrowlight · 08-16-2011, 01:59 PM

Nthing Discworld -- very, very fun series. I'm on the seventh book right now and it's delightful.

Kiwimick · 08-16-2011, 06:11 PM

Also agree the Belgariad series by Davis Eddings
you also might like to try the Spellsinger series by Alan Dean Foster

Mike

FatDog · 08-17-2011, 11:39 AM

Sir Terry Pratchett, the author of the Diskworld novels, also has some parallel book in the same universe but for younger audiences. Look for "The Wee Free Men", "Hat full of Sky", "Wintersmith".

Favorite quote from the book: "Give a man fire and he is warm for a day. Light a man on fire and he is warm for the rest of his life."

NOTE: I just found that they made a movie out of "Going Postal". Disk can be pre-ordered from Amazon.

If you like books with some snark - check out "Sweet Silver Blues" by Glenn Cook. Mix sam-spade with tolken, beer and chesty broads - you get the idea. About 8-10 books in the series.

You might also like the Dresden novels by Jim Butcher. Start with "Storm Front" to see if you like it. If you like Audiobooks - the novels are narrated by James Marsters ('Spike' from the Buffy series).

You really might like the "Thursday Next" series by Jasper Fford about a young Literary Detective who discovers it is possible to enter the Book World and interact with the characters. Start with the "The Eyre Affair" to see if you like it. WARNING: It may cause you to read classic literature to learn the back-story of some of the characters.

Note: I just saw that Amazon has all 5 Thursday Next novels in a digital collection for the Kindle for about $60. ... must resist the boxed set.... (In the novels a "Boxed Set" is the highest honor that can be given in the Book World.)

basschick · 08-18-2011, 12:22 AM

another fan of the belgariad. another eddings i recommend is the redemption of althalus. only one book, but it's long enough to count for 2. and if you haven't checked out spider robinson's callahan's crosstime saloon series. light hearted fun, more scifi than fantasy, but fantasy is in there, too - plus lots of puns. to give you an idea, one of the books - and don't skip ahead to it first - is called lady slings the booze. oh, another one i really liked was patricia c. wrede's enchanted forest chronicles. and i assume that you either don't care for light hearted scifi or have already read the hitchhiker's trilogy?

while i love the dresden files, i wouldn't call it light hearted, even there is a lot of witty repartee thrown about.

08-15-2011, 01:23 PM	#1
kdgarris Connoisseur Posts: 59 Karma: 14744 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Indianapolis, IN USA Device: Kindle 3 wifi	Good light-hearted fantasy book or series Just like the title suggests, I'm looking for a good light-hearted fantasy book or series to delve into. It doesn't have to be traditional fantasy; modern or mixed with elements of sci-fi is fun, too. In the past, I have enjoyed much of Piers Anthony: the Incarnations of Immortality and the Apprentice Adept series, as well as the first dozen or so of the Xanth books. I also enjoyed the "Magic Kingdom for Sale" series by Terry Brooks. I'm sure there are others, but I'm not thinking of them at the moment. Anyway, if anyone has any suggestions, I'd love to hear them!

08-15-2011, 01:59 PM	#3
MMHaven Member Posts: 20 Karma: 143468 Join Date: Jul 2011 Device: Kindle Touch	Gordon R. Dickson's Dragon Knight series, starting with The Dragon and the George, pretty much all of Christopher Moore's books, A. Lee Martinez's Gil's All Fright Diner or A Nameless Witch (I'm sure his others are great also, but those are the two I've read). Edit: Rick Cook's Wizard series; the first two books are available from the Baen free library. Last edited by MMHaven; 08-15-2011 at 02:03 PM.

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08-15-2011, 01:39 PM	#2
Phogg PHD in Horribleness Posts: 2,320 Karma: 23599604 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: In the ironbound section, near avenue L Device: Just a whole bunch. I guess I am a collector now.	Robert Asprin's Myth series?

08-15-2011, 02:22 PM	#4
Penforhire Wizard Posts: 2,230 Karma: 7145404 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Southern California Device: Kindle Voyage & iPhone 7+	Maybe Kim Harrison's Hollows series (starts with Dead Witch Walking)? Mostly humorous and light urban fantasy. Even when it gets heavy I sense a Disney edge to it.

08-15-2011, 02:31 PM	#5
ficbot Wizard Posts: 2,409 Karma: 4132096 Join Date: Sep 2008 Device: Kindle Paperwhite/iOS Kindle App	Discworld.

08-15-2011, 07:57 PM	#6
silverraven Guru Posts: 974 Karma: 3438612 Join Date: Oct 2009 Device: Kindle Voyage, Kindle 4NTB x 4	Yes! Terry Pratchett's Discworld series is fabulous! S

08-15-2011, 11:20 PM	#7
GreenMonkey DRM hater Posts: 945 Karma: 2066176 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Michigan Device: Nook ST glow, Kindle Voyage	Grunts by Mary Gentle. Orcs get into a stash of modern weaponry...the kind of cursed (or blessed) weapons that change people's personalities...leading the Orcs to become Orcish marines of a sort. Funny. Brooks has a few more of the Magic Kingdom books you might read...they're all of the same light-hearted sort of fantasy. David Edding's Belgariad (and Mallorean) can be downright funny.

08-16-2011, 12:23 AM	#8
JeremyR Guru Posts: 973 Karma: 2458402 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: St. Louis Device: Kindle Keyboard, Nook HD+	L. Sprague de Camp sort of pioneered this, IMHO. The Reluctant King trilogy is probably the best, but also the Harold Shea Enchanters series. And his Krishna series (which is more planetary romance, which is basically fantasy without the magic). None of which seems to be available in e-book form. Actually, speaking of planetary romance, you might like Gordon Dickson's "The Right to Arm Bears", which is nothing like the title, but deals with somewhat comic adventures on a world full of talking bears

08-16-2011, 01:54 AM	#9
William F Pirosopher Posts: 55 Karma: 166972 Join Date: Jul 2011 Device: kindle, pc	Blue Moon Rising and Beyond the Blue Moon, By Simon R Green. Also the rest of Hawk and Fisher's adventures in various volumes. If I may offer a small teaser. "In those days, there were heroes and villains, and darkness walked the earth. There were dragons to be slain, captured princesses to be saved and mighty deeds to be accomplished by knights in shining armor. "Many tales are told of that time, tales of steadfast bravery and derring do... This isn't one of them."

08-16-2011, 09:51 AM	#10
kdgarris Connoisseur Posts: 59 Karma: 14744 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Indianapolis, IN USA Device: Kindle 3 wifi	Thanks for all of the suggestions! I have read the Myth series, and I loved it - the perfect example of the kind of thing I was looking for. I'll likely start with Rick Cook's Wizard series, since it's nice to get the first 2 free to see how well I like the series!

08-16-2011, 01:59 PM	#12
sparrowlight Zealot Posts: 100 Karma: 6058 Join Date: Aug 2009 Device: Kindle Paperwhite, Kindle Touch as backup	Nthing Discworld -- very, very fun series. I'm on the seventh book right now and it's delightful.

08-16-2011, 06:11 PM	#13
Kiwimick Addict Posts: 211 Karma: 37308 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: London UK Device: Sony PRS650	Also agree the Belgariad series by Davis Eddings you also might like to try the Spellsinger series by Alan Dean Foster Mike

08-17-2011, 11:39 AM	#14
FatDog Witless protection Agent Posts: 290 Karma: 1002898 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Los Angeles Device: Kindle	Sir Terry Pratchett, the author of the Diskworld novels, also has some parallel book in the same universe but for younger audiences. Look for "The Wee Free Men", "Hat full of Sky", "Wintersmith". Favorite quote from the book: "Give a man fire and he is warm for a day. Light a man on fire and he is warm for the rest of his life." NOTE: I just found that they made a movie out of "Going Postal". Disk can be pre-ordered from Amazon. If you like books with some snark - check out "Sweet Silver Blues" by Glenn Cook. Mix sam-spade with tolken, beer and chesty broads - you get the idea. About 8-10 books in the series. You might also like the Dresden novels by Jim Butcher. Start with "Storm Front" to see if you like it. If you like Audiobooks - the novels are narrated by James Marsters ('Spike' from the Buffy series). You really might like the "Thursday Next" series by Jasper Fford about a young Literary Detective who discovers it is possible to enter the Book World and interact with the characters. Start with the "The Eyre Affair" to see if you like it. WARNING: It may cause you to read classic literature to learn the back-story of some of the characters. Note: I just saw that Amazon has all 5 Thursday Next novels in a digital collection for the Kindle for about $60. ... must resist the boxed set.... (In the novels a "Boxed Set" is the highest honor that can be given in the Book World.)

08-18-2011, 12:22 AM	#15
basschick Wizard Posts: 1,096 Karma: 4695691 Join Date: May 2008 Device: Kindle Paperwhite	another fan of the belgariad. another eddings i recommend is the redemption of althalus. only one book, but it's long enough to count for 2. and if you haven't checked out spider robinson's callahan's crosstime saloon series. light hearted fun, more scifi than fantasy, but fantasy is in there, too - plus lots of puns. to give you an idea, one of the books - and don't skip ahead to it first - is called lady slings the booze. oh, another one i really liked was patricia c. wrede's enchanted forest chronicles. and i assume that you either don't care for light hearted scifi or have already read the hitchhiker's trilogy? while i love the dresden files, i wouldn't call it light hearted, even there is a lot of witty repartee thrown about.