Fantasy recommendations

[Apache]

The Khaavren Romances by Steven Brust.
Apache

[tilia]

Have you read Guy Gavriel Kay? I really liked Tigana.

[DrNefario]

Originally Posted by HarryT

I like the "farmboy turning into legendary hero" type of book. That's why I so much enjoy David Eddings (all of whose books are basically the same story, endlessly recycled, but it's a good story!) and also Elizabeth Moon's "Paksenarrion" series.

I enjoy them too, I just can't think of any particularly good ones I've read lately.

When I was trying to answer this question earlier, I turned around to see what was on my bookshelves. Then realised that's not going to work any more. Most of my books are now invisible.

[alansplace]

Originally Posted by HarryT

I like the "farmboy turning into legendary hero" type of book. That's why I so much enjoy David Eddings (all of whose books are basically the same story, endlessly recycled, but it's a good story!) and also Elizabeth Moon's "Paksenarrion" series.

Perchance might this float your boat? I suppose that odds are you've already read it but I thought it worth mentioning in case you haven't.

E. C. "Scar" Gordon was on the French Riviera recovering from a tour of combat in Southeast Asia , but he hadn't given up his habit of scanning the Personals in the newspaper. One ad in particular leapt out at him:

"ARE YOU A COWARD? This is not for you. We badly need a brave man. He must be 23 to 25 years old, in perfect health, at least six feet tall, weigh about 190 pounds, fluent English, with some French, proficient in all weapons, some knowledge of engineering and mathematics essential, willing to travel, no family or emotional ties, indomitably courageous and handsome of face and figure. Permanent employment, very high pay, glorious adventure, great danger. You must apply in person, rue Dante, Nice, 2me étage, apt. D."

How could you not answer an ad like that, especially when it seemed to describe you perfectly? Well, except maybe for the "handsome" part, but that was in the eye of the beholder anyway. So he went to that apartment and was greeted by the most beautiful woman he'd ever met. She seemed to have many names, but agreed he could call her "Star." A pretty appropriate name, as it turned out, for the empress of twenty universes.

Robert A. Heinlein's one true fantasy novel, Glory Road is as much fun today as when he wrote it after Stranger in a Strange Land. Heinlein proves himself as adept with sword and sorcery as with rockets and slide rules and the result is exciting, satirical, fast-paced, funny and tremendously readable -- a favorite of all who have read it. Glory Road is a masterpiece of escapist entertainment with a typically Heinleinian sting in its tail.

[HarryT]

Thanks, Alan. I've read it many years ago, but it's certainly time for a re-read .

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by tilia

Have you read Guy Gavriel Kay? I really liked Tigana.

I've bought them all, but haven't yet read any. Is "Tigana" a good one to start with, do you think?

[pwalker8]

Originally Posted by Dr. Drib

A couple of fantasies by Fletcher Pratt.

I read these years ago, when Ballantine Adult Fantasy re-published them as part of their Ballantine Adult Fantasy Series.

I don't know if they're available as ebooks; if not, they're worth searching for in paperback.


Don

I really liked Well of the Unicorn, by Pratt. As far as I know, there are no legitimate ebook copies available.

The Worm Ouroboros, by ER Eddison is another classic. This one is widely available since it was first published in 1922.

[Gazella]

The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis and His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman.

[twobits]

Originally Posted by HarryT

I like the "farmboy turning into legendary hero" type of book. That's why I so much enjoy David Eddings (all of whose books are basically the same story, endlessly recycled, but it's a good story!) and also Elizabeth Moon's "Paksenarrion" series.

Hmm... I don't know any of the authors works you mention at the start except for Tolkien (I tend to remember books by title and not author).

I recently stumbled across The Parsina Saga by Stephen Goldin--an epic Arabian Nights-style fantasy poking around the author self-promotions sub-forum a couple of weeks back. It definitely has spent the first book introducing the characters and setting them up for an epic quest. It does not take itself as seriously as Lord of the Rings though, it is a different style. One that I am finding enjoyable so far though.

It also has also definitely set up a common lower status person, an oral storyteller to become legendary as well. I am scrapping up my pennies to get the next book soon, as the first books leaves you off just as the quest is about to start.

[bar49]

Originally Posted by HarryT

Can anyone recommend some good fantasy that I might not have read? My favourite type of fantasy is the "epic quest" type of book. I enjoy Tolkien (obviously!), Brandon Sanderson, David Eddings. Any recommendations to books in a similar style would be appreciated.

Eddings, Sanderson, Tolkien, Feist, Moon, and Hobb are also favourites of mine. One series that I particularly enjoyed that also fit in quite well with these was the Codex Alera series by Jim Butcher. It contains a mixture of some of the story elements found in each of the above mentioned authors.

"In the realm of Alera, where people bond with the furies-elementals of earth, air, fire, water, and metal-fifteen-year-old Tavi struggles with his lack of furycrafting. But when his homeland erupts in chaos-when rebels war with loyalists and furies clash with furies-Tavi's simple courage will turn the tides of war."

[tilia]

Originally Posted by HarryT

I've bought them all, but haven't yet read any. Is "Tigana" a good one to start with, do you think?

I've only read The Last Light of the Sun and Tigana so far. Of those two, I'd start with Tigana. I liked Last Light too, but felt that Tigana was better. Plus it's more epic fantasy than Last Light, which is more historical fantasy.

[magicmonster]

Roger Zalazney's Nine Princes in Amber series,
Anne McCaffrey's Dragonriders of Pern, Stephen Donaldson Mordant's Need two books.

[magicmonster]

Mercedes Lackey Valdemar series, Kristen Britian - Green Rider books

[alansplace]

Originally Posted by HarryT

Thanks, Alan. I've read it many years ago, but it's certainly time for a re-read .

You're Welcome. I've read it at least three times that I can recall.

Originally Posted by bar49

...the Codex Alera series by Jim Butcher. It contains a mixture of some of the story elements found in each of the above mentioned authors.

"In the realm of Alera, where people bond with the furies-elementals of earth, air, fire, water, and metal-fifteen-year-old Tavi struggles with his lack of furycrafting. But when his homeland erupts in chaos-when rebels war with loyalists and furies clash with furies-Tavi's simple courage will turn the tides of war."

Oops! This didn't even come to mind when you originally said "epic quest" and after your "farmboy turning into legendary hero" statement I was thrown completely off by my thought of Glory Road!!

DUH! I agree with bar49, Codex Alera by Jim Butcher!!

[Apache]

Glory Road is a favorite of mine. I have read it numerous times over the years.
Apache