Which Fantasy series should I read first?

[eschwartz]

Those were quite good, but I would definitely recommend the Empire Trilogy. Upsettingly, there seems to be no ebook version available anywhere (except pirate sites, as usual ).

[DHNightshadow]

Are you sure ? Is the first one "Daughter of the Empire" ?
Ebook is on Amazon
http://www.amazon.com/Daughter-Empir...=UTF8&sr=&qid=

[dickloraine]

C.S. Friedman is a women, as far as I know
I've read the Magister Trilogy and am in the second book of the Coldfire Trilogy right now. I can recommend her The Coldfire Trilogy up to this point is more interesting, but it is one of this sci fi/fantasy things, if that concerns you.

Nonetheless I think both, ASOIF and Malazan are even better but also much much bigger. So if the question is still "What to read first?" I would recommend them. If the Question is "What series should I absolutly read?" Friedman would belong to that list (with a lot more series of course, Lynch, Lawrence, Abercrombie come to my mind for example). There are so many good series out there today

[Dr. Drib]

Originally Posted by eschwartz

Those were quite good, but I would definitely recommend the Empire Trilogy. Upsettingly, there seems to be no ebook version available anywhere (except pirate sites, as usual ).

I just found it on Amazon UK.

[GlennD]

I have to second the Friedman recommendation. Her Coldfire trilogy is like nothing else I've ever read, and is fantastic. I hesitate to describe it much, I think that knowing too much might spoil some of the fun of reading it.

As a follow-up on my earlier post:
Tad Williams - he's best known for the Memory, Sorrow and Thorn trilogy, which he is following up with another series. It's fairly standard (but very well done) young-man-on-epic-quest fantasy. I didn't enjoy his Otherland series as much but that's science fiction anyway.

Melanie Rawn - The Dragon Prince trilogy, and it's follow-up Dragon Star trilogy. Lots of small-scale politics rather than the epic scale of some of the current series. Stay away from her Exiles "trilogy" - due to some health issues she has not written the last book in the past 15 years.

I'll add one more with a little hesitation. I don't see Katherine Kurtz discussed much in fantasy conversations, but her Deryni series is one of the longest running series around (started in 1970, she just published book #16). She's got a degree in medieval history, and her world is so close to ours that it may as well be an alternate history "if there were a psychically/magically gifted race". That can be either good or bad. My hesitation in recommending is that I find the first trilogy a little tedious, but it needs to be read to understand the other books, which are among my favorites.

[Dngrsone]

I got through the first Deryni trilogy, but stalled shortly thereafter. But this was almost thirty years ago...

[Dr. Drib]

Originally Posted by Dngrsone

I got through the first Deryni trilogy, but stalled shortly thereafter. But this was almost thirty years ago...

I've read those, too, when the first 3 (?) came out in the Ballantine Adult Fantasy series, edited by Lin Carter.

This must have been about 40 years ago!

[Rizla]

Originally Posted by pwalker8

I've only read two of the three series. I really, really like the Chronicles of the Black Company.
why - Glen Cook is an excellent author and the Black Company is one of his best series. It's a very gritty, dark series with lots of twists and turns. I liked the early books a lot, the later books not quite as much.
Pro - like I said, it's a heck of a series.
Con - It's dark and don't get too attached to anyone.

Jack Vance's Dying Earth series is in a similar style, but is a classic. In addition, its not as dark. I think Vance was a bit of a genius.

[pwalker8]

Originally Posted by Dr. Drib

I've read those, too, when the first 3 (?) came out in the Ballantine Adult Fantasy series, edited by Lin Carter.

This must have been about 40 years ago!

I've read most of her Derini books. She just finished off a new trilogy with Morgan set as the immediate prequel to that first the series you are talking about. It was really quite good. I still have hopes that the rest of the books will eventually make it to ebook.

The Chronicles of the Deryni are the first three, they are in ebook
The Legends of Camber of Culdi are the next three, they are not in ebook. (more than a bit dark)
The Histories of King Kelson are the next three, not in ebook
The Heirs of Saint Camber, not in ebook (really dark)
The Childe Morgan series, in ebook

There are some stand alone books and short stories as well.

[pwalker8]

Originally Posted by Rizla

Jack Vance's Dying Earth series is in a similar style, but is a classic. In addition, its not as dark. I think Vance was a bit of a genius.

I've read at least some of those, but it's been a while.

[eschwartz]

Originally Posted by DHNightshadow

Are you sure ? Is the first one "Daughter of the Empire" ?
Ebook is on Amazon
http://www.amazon.com/Daughter-Empir...=UTF8&sr=&qid=

Originally Posted by Dr. Drib

I just found it on Amazon UK.

Well, I haven't checked in a while and I am practically positive it didn't used to be there.

In any event, it certainly isn't available in the U.S.



Awesome, that means you can buy it.

[Indio777]

Originally Posted by GreenMonkey

Out of the initial list I'd say GRRM as he's my runner-up favorite but there's a long wait for the rest of it.

Well that's the problem. GRRM is the main reason I've basically decided not to start on a series until it is complete. Which can be painful: Steven Erikson is writing a trilogy featuring one of my favorite characters in the Malazan series and it is going to take awhile: volume 1 was published in 2012 and volume two is scheduled to come out this fall. As for volume three, who knows. I hope he speeds things up! He wrote the Malazan series rather quickly.

Originally Posted by GreenMonkey

I've read the first Malazan book once, and then waited and read it again (because I felt like I didn't *get it* completely, and then book 2, but I wasn't a huge fan of the "what the *** is going on, I have no idea, I have no idea even how this magic works" feeling of being thrown in the river with no setup. I still plan to read more / revisit down the road, but to me these made GRRM's complex line up of characters seem simple.

I think Book 2 in the series is one of the stronger entries, But I too had difficulties with Book 1.

I agree that in comparison GRRM's books are "simple." But it's a great series and I really wish the series would be completed.

Originally Posted by GreenMonkey

I liked Glen Cook's Black Company books but they are very dark but a bit whimsical at the same time. I feel like Joe Abercrombie does this same sort of thing better now.

Joel Abercrombie is one reason I'm revisiting this thread (besides seeing what series other readers recommend that I don't know about). Kept on thinking that I should have mentioned him.

Originally Posted by GreenMonkey

If you're just looking for recommendations...have you read Feist/Wurts's Empire Trilogy? Those are some of my favorite character-driven fantasy, although I guess you would want to start with Magician. Or if you're feeling like a bit darker, C.S. Friedman's Coldfire or Magister trilogies?

Don't know why I've neglected the Feist/Wurts book. I've always read good things about them. Friedman sounds intriguing.

Other possible series to consider:
1) L. E. Modesitt's "Recluce" series. Lots of entries but most can be read as standalones. A lot of people might argue there's too much description and talking and not enough action and that if you have read one (he is very profilic--lots of series) you've read them all. Which to a certain extent I would agree with. But I think some of the ideas he writes about are interesting. I enjoy his methodical (for others: slow) approach.

2) Barbara Hambly. Probably primarily known for her Benjamin January mystery series, but before that she wrote a lot of fantasy. Many involve people from our world being transferred to another world (okay with me). I particularly like the Darwath Trilogy, the Sun Wolf books and the Windrose Chronicles. These read rather quickly and are entertaining.

3) The Long Price Quartet series by Daniel Abraham. Another darker, more complex series but there are only four books and they aren't huge.

4) David Eddings' Belgariad series. Nothing too heavy here, but engaging characters and lots of humor. Highly entertaining. Perhaps too "light" for some, but sometimes that works perfectly. For me at least.

5) Jeffrey Barlough's Western Lights series. Combination of fantasy/mystery/horror. Ongoing but can be read as stand alones. Unique and kind of weird. Sometimes I'm not sure what I think of the series. But are any available as ebooks? I don't think so.

I could go on (and on and on and on ..... ) but will stop.

[Dr. Drib]

I just picked up a novella, "Dominion," by C.S. Friedman and really liked it.

So much so, that I purchased the first volume of the Coldfire Trilogy, "Black Sun Rising."

I'll believe I'll start reading this VERY soon.

[Dngrsone]

I recommend anything by Friedman... she is one of my favorite authors.

[Dr. Drib]

Jack Vance's Dying Earth series is something I love.

I read the Cugel stories when they appeared in F&SF, and then later when they appeared as an Ace paperback. A wonderful book, along with The Dying Earth.

I love just about all of Jack Vance's work, but I never could afford that Integrated (?) set that came out a few years back.