Fantasy Novels in non-medevial settings? - Page 2

stonetools · 05-26-2012, 01:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tecweston

I think Guillermo del Toro and Justin Cronin would disagree.

These are the exceptions that proves (tests) the rule, I think. Ill check into del Toro's offering. Cronin is on my TBR list.

stonetools · 05-26-2012, 02:02 PM

Quote:

Okay, no vampires (sounds like you're against the category of "urban fantasy").

Not the whole category-just the "paranormal romance" part that's 90 per cent of it. If that's your cup of tea, that's fine. It's just not mine.

bfisher · 05-26-2012, 09:40 PM

You might like :

Mercedes Lackey / Ellen Guon / Rosemary Edghill "Bedlam's Bard" series - some of these are available at the Fifth Imperium website
http://baencd.thefifthimperium.com/2...CD/InvasionCD/

Jack L. Chalker's "Dancing Gods" series

BenG · 05-29-2012, 11:42 AM

Barry Hughart's Bridge of Birds which has a Chinese setting.

His Dark Materials trilogy by Philip Pullman
Among Others by Jo Walton
The Half-Made World by Felix Gilman
The Magicians by Lev Grossman
Johannes Cabal The Necromancer by Jonathan L. Howard
Tea with the Black Dragon by R.A. MacAvoy
Silverlock by John Myers Myers
Unicorn Mountain by Michael Bishop
The High House by James Stoddard
The Lion of Boaz-Jachin and Jachin-Boaz by Russell Hoban
The Land of Laughs by Jonathan Carroll
Summerland by Michael Chabon
Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke
Seventh Son by Orson Scott Card
The Dirty Parts of the Bible by Sam Torode
Wizard Of The Pigeons by Megan Lindholm (aka Robin Hobb)
The Book of the Dun Cow by Walter Wangerin Jr.
A Night in the Lonesome October by Roger Zelazny
The Dream Quest Of Unknown Kadath by H.P. Lovecraft

artifact · 05-30-2012, 12:42 PM

Jim Butcher's Codex Alera series has heavy Roman influences for the military scenes.

Brandon Sanderson's Mistborn is kinda medieval-esque, but the whole world is a nice twist on the usual theme. (not sure if its a spoiler to say what that twist is.) His latest in the world, Alloy of Law, starts Wild West before going away from that specific genre and moving to an urban setting.

Although they are branded Paranormal Romance (but I consider Bujold's Sharing Knife those as well), the St. Helens/Harmony series by Jayne Castle are set on a modern era colonized planet with some 'magic'.

Freeshadow · 06-02-2012, 09:05 PM

Artemis Fowl series by Eoin Colfer

Merlyn_MacLeod · 06-02-2012, 09:55 PM

You might try Judith Tarr's A Wind in Cairo. It's not current, but it's not medieval, and it's on Kindle. It's set in the world of the Arabian Nights. Part of it's told from a beautiful Arabian stallion's point of view.

GreenMonkey · 06-05-2012, 12:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by artifact

Brandon Sanderson's Mistborn is kinda medieval-esque, but the whole world is a nice twist on the usual theme. (not sure if its a spoiler to say what that twist is.) His latest in the world, Alloy of Law, starts Wild West before going away from that specific genre and moving to an urban setting.

I just read these myself. There's lords and ladies, but it's pretty drastically different beyond that. The priesthood controls bureaucracy and a lot of the policing. It's more of a twisted theocracy. There's nobility, but there's no princesses/knights/etc. And there's ash falling from the sky all of the time. Very different sort of setting.

AnemicOak · 06-05-2012, 01:13 PM

War for the Oaks by Emma Bull

artifact · 06-05-2012, 07:24 PM

I just started in on The Native Star by M.K. Hobson and so far so good. Its set in late 1800s California with Witches and Warlocks and things like Patent Charms via mail order and zombie controlling machines from Chicago.

Also just finished re-reading Sanderson's The Way of Kings which has some heavy-duty world learning with its flora and fauna. Still low tech, if that is the OP's issue, but its absolutely not Earth. Plus its 1000+ pages!

GreenMonkey · 06-06-2012, 02:27 PM

Raymond Feist/Janny Wurt's Empire trilogy comes to mind. A splinter of Feist's Midkemia books, they are focused around a society that is more like feuding Chinese or Japanese warlords. Definitely non-European.

jgaiser · 06-06-2012, 03:17 PM

Another series that I haven't seen mentioned is Lian Hearn's series Tales of the Otori. Stories are based on feudal Japan.

Across The Nightingale Floor
Grass On His Pillow
Brilliance of the Moon
The Harsh Cry of the Heron
Heaven's Net is Wide

applesauce · 06-07-2012, 08:30 AM

I adore love can not rave enough about Harry Harrisions Eden Trilogy.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_of_Eden

"advanced society primarily based on a mastery of the biological sciences, especially genetic engineering"

It is the only books I have ever jumped up and down over. Not a castle in sight. I have never been a fantasy reader tho I am now into Game Of Thrones. But these books are just amazing. I have told everybody I know into sci fi and fantasy and they all loved them. I have no idea why they are not more popular.

applesauce

Rich_D · 06-07-2012, 12:27 PM

The Iron Druid Series by Kevin Hearne is a good urban fantasy series.

mbovenka · 06-08-2012, 04:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rich_D

The Iron Druid Series by Kevin Hearne is a good urban fantasy series.

Seconded. And he likes these, he will probably like Jim Butcher's 'Dresden Files' series as well.

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05-26-2012, 09:40 PM	#18
bfisher Wizard Posts: 1,638 Karma: 28483498 Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Ottawa Canada Device: Sony PRS-T3, Galaxy (Aldiko, Kobo app)	You might like : Mercedes Lackey / Ellen Guon / Rosemary Edghill "Bedlam's Bard" series - some of these are available at the Fifth Imperium website http://baencd.thefifthimperium.com/2...CD/InvasionCD/ Jack L. Chalker's "Dancing Gods" series

05-29-2012, 11:42 AM	#19
BenG Home Guard Posts: 4,730 Karma: 86721650 Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Alpha Ralpha Boulevard Device: Kindle Oasis 3G, iPhone 6	Barry Hughart's Bridge of Birds which has a Chinese setting. His Dark Materials trilogy by Philip Pullman Among Others by Jo Walton The Half-Made World by Felix Gilman The Magicians by Lev Grossman Johannes Cabal The Necromancer by Jonathan L. Howard Tea with the Black Dragon by R.A. MacAvoy Silverlock by John Myers Myers Unicorn Mountain by Michael Bishop The High House by James Stoddard The Lion of Boaz-Jachin and Jachin-Boaz by Russell Hoban The Land of Laughs by Jonathan Carroll Summerland by Michael Chabon Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke Seventh Son by Orson Scott Card The Dirty Parts of the Bible by Sam Torode Wizard Of The Pigeons by Megan Lindholm (aka Robin Hobb) The Book of the Dun Cow by Walter Wangerin Jr. A Night in the Lonesome October by Roger Zelazny The Dream Quest Of Unknown Kadath by H.P. Lovecraft

05-30-2012, 12:42 PM	#20
artifact Addict Posts: 276 Karma: 3569616 Join Date: Feb 2009 Device: jetBook (RIP), Kobo Touch	Jim Butcher's Codex Alera series has heavy Roman influences for the military scenes. Brandon Sanderson's Mistborn is kinda medieval-esque, but the whole world is a nice twist on the usual theme. (not sure if its a spoiler to say what that twist is.) His latest in the world, Alloy of Law, starts Wild West before going away from that specific genre and moving to an urban setting. Although they are branded Paranormal Romance (but I consider Bujold's Sharing Knife those as well), the St. Helens/Harmony series by Jayne Castle are set on a modern era colonized planet with some 'magic'.

06-02-2012, 09:05 PM	#21
Freeshadow temp. out of service Posts: 2,818 Karma: 24285242 Join Date: May 2010 Location: Duisburg (DE) Device: PB 623	Artemis Fowl series by Eoin Colfer

06-02-2012, 09:55 PM	#22
Merlyn_MacLeod Junior Member Posts: 6 Karma: 80 Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Western United States Device: Kindle	You might try Judith Tarr's A Wind in Cairo. It's not current, but it's not medieval, and it's on Kindle. It's set in the world of the Arabian Nights. Part of it's told from a beautiful Arabian stallion's point of view.

06-05-2012, 01:13 PM	#24
AnemicOak Bookaholic Posts: 14,391 Karma: 54969924 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Minnesota Device: iPad Mini 4, AuraHD, iPhone XR +	War for the Oaks by Emma Bull

06-05-2012, 07:24 PM	#25
artifact Addict Posts: 276 Karma: 3569616 Join Date: Feb 2009 Device: jetBook (RIP), Kobo Touch	I just started in on The Native Star by M.K. Hobson and so far so good. Its set in late 1800s California with Witches and Warlocks and things like Patent Charms via mail order and zombie controlling machines from Chicago. Also just finished re-reading Sanderson's The Way of Kings which has some heavy-duty world learning with its flora and fauna. Still low tech, if that is the OP's issue, but its absolutely not Earth. Plus its 1000+ pages!

06-06-2012, 02:27 PM	#26
GreenMonkey DRM hater Posts: 945 Karma: 2066176 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Michigan Device: Nook ST glow, Kindle Voyage	Raymond Feist/Janny Wurt's Empire trilogy comes to mind. A splinter of Feist's Midkemia books, they are focused around a society that is more like feuding Chinese or Japanese warlords. Definitely non-European.

06-06-2012, 03:17 PM	#27
jgaiser Omnivorous Posts: 3,283 Karma: 27978909 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Rural NW Oregon Device: Kindle Voyage, Kindle Fire HD, Kindle 3, KPW1	Another series that I haven't seen mentioned is Lian Hearn's series Tales of the Otori. Stories are based on feudal Japan. Across The Nightingale Floor Grass On His Pillow Brilliance of the Moon The Harsh Cry of the Heron Heaven's Net is Wide

06-07-2012, 08:30 AM	#28
applesauce Addict Posts: 387 Karma: 3553492 Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Perth Western Australia Device: kindle oasis	I adore love can not rave enough about Harry Harrisions Eden Trilogy. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_of_Eden "advanced society primarily based on a mastery of the biological sciences, especially genetic engineering" It is the only books I have ever jumped up and down over. Not a castle in sight. I have never been a fantasy reader tho I am now into Game Of Thrones. But these books are just amazing. I have told everybody I know into sci fi and fantasy and they all loved them. I have no idea why they are not more popular. applesauce

06-07-2012, 12:27 PM	#29
Rich_D Fanatic Posts: 581 Karma: 1314896 Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Pittsburgh, PA USA Device: Android phone, Kobo Glo HD, nook ST with Glo (backup)	The Iron Druid Series by Kevin Hearne is a good urban fantasy series.