Fantasy-sorcery recommendations

[brightnshiney]

Originally Posted by DixieGal

Now, for sword and sorcery fantasy, Roger Zelazny wrote the best. His "Amber" series of 10 books has never been matched.

Have to go along with that, it's still my favorite after many years of reading. The SF he wrote was also very cool.

Faith of the Fallen was probably the best SOT book by goodkind, imho.

Liked Jordan... but talk about a cast of thousands and picking up on a character who hasn't been mentioned in two books just-by-his-name... well, desipite the flaws (few) it's hard to crit' the work.

Always a fan of MM's Eternal Champion series's.

Lately picked up The Last King's Amulet off smashwords... naff cover but as good or better than anything I've read in deadtree publishing.

Must mention Glen Cook's The Black Company etc. which are well worth the read... and the Malazan Book of the Fallen (series) that is breathtaking in scope but even I (and I like epic!) am flagging by the end of a book... "please just wrap it up please..." (huff-pant-gasp) marthon stuff but goodgoodgood

Enough already, there is much good out there.

[jgaiser]

Originally Posted by neilmarr

I've for a wee cracker newly released by BeWrite Books called *The Tor* by Liza Granville.

Fantasy ain't my bag, but this one caught me by the short and curlies because it plants its feet so firmly on the ground with its oh-too-real apocalyptic setting and solid characters and storylines. Disbelief is well suspended way before the fantastic creeps in.)

I took Neil up on his offer a couple weeks ago and have finally gotten around to reading "The Tor". I am not much on writing reviews, but I'm enjoying this one immensely. Jude, the main character, is not your typical hero. Underage, overweight, and babied, he discovers more in himself than he thought possible. Not finished with it yet (maybe tonight), but I'll be looking for more from this author.

[BVLarson]

Besides my own series, I would suggest David Dalglish's half-orc series.

[Roger Parkinson]

Under Heaven, Guy Gavriel Kay
The Crystal Cave (and sequels) Mary Stewart
The King Must Die (and sequel) Mary Renault
Bridge of Birds, Barry Hughart

These are all a little different to the others mentioned in this thread in that they seem more like historical novels, and invite you to accept that magic sometimes turns up in this otherwise regular history. I think they still count as fantasy because, well, there's magic....

[Latinandgreek]

Originally Posted by Roger Parkinson

Under Heaven, Guy Gavriel Kay
The Crystal Cave (and sequels) Mary Stewart
The King Must Die (and sequel) Mary Renault
Bridge of Birds, Barry Hughart

These are all a little different to the others mentioned in this thread in that they seem more like historical novels, and invite you to accept that magic sometimes turns up in this otherwise regular history. I think they still count as fantasy because, well, there's magic....

I've got Under Heaven on my (ever growing) TBR list. I'm glad to see that you enjoyed it.

[Roger Parkinson]

Originally Posted by Latinandgreek

I've got Under Heaven on my (ever growing) TBR list. I'm glad to see that you enjoyed it.

One of the best things I've read. It is a little bit like Bridge of Birds in that it is set in Tang Dynasty China, but BoB is a happy riot and UH is much more serious. The fantasy element is of the 'light touch' kind so it seems more like an historical novel... actually depending on what you believe in I guess it could be understood as simply historical. That's about my favourite kind of story.

[Bart Page]

If you enjoy Eddings / Belgariad, I would strongly recommend the Riftwar Saga by Raymond Feist, beginning with Magician: Apprentice

This is classic Coming-of-Age, Sword and Sorcery Fantasy!

[HarryT]

I very much doubt that the original poster is still interested, five years after asking the question. There's rarely anything to be gained from resurrecting long dead and buried threads.

[pwalker8]

I don't know, it's kind of interesting that many of the books that are mentioned as not being available in ebook format, either are now available or are in the process of coming out.

I also find it interesting that not much S&S has come out in the past 5 years. A new book by Weber, a fantasy novel by Correa, Michael Sullivan's books. After that, I can't think of much that has caught my fancy.

[Nothingness]

I love magic and witches and sorcerers in fantasy so I took a few notices of some of the books here so I'm grateful you bumbed it.

[JwkOKC]

Originally Posted by HarryT

I very much doubt that the original poster is still interested, five years after asking the question. There's rarely anything to be gained from resurrecting long dead and buried threads.

I'm not sure I agree with you that there's rarely anything to be gained. Those of us who hadn't yet discovered this site when the thread began still benefit from the lists!

I would add Mercedes Lackey's four "Bardic Voices" volumes as wonderful fantasy filled with magic and strong characters, and the David Drake-Eric Flint 6-volume effort about Justinian, Belisarius, and Aide (set in the closing years of the Roman Empire) is something almost unique in the genre.

Both series are among those few works that can survive multiple re-reading.