Non Western High Fantasy Recommendations?

[Apache]

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

I was wondering when the pedantic subgenre distinction cops would show up.

Apache

[Geralt]

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

I was wondering when the pedantic subgenre distinction cops would show up.

If only the request wasn't as pedantic, no police would have to show up.
But the request wasn't just fantasy. There's that High in there, and you have to do something with it, pay attention to it....otherwise these things come back to bite you in the....form of subgenre police.

[DiapDealer]

You'll never take me alive, copper!

But seriously, to find someone guilty of first-degree subgenre misrepresentation, you must prove there was a wanton intent to decieve. I see no evidence of that here. Besides... I've never found the term 'high' fantasy to be a very useful classification, myself. It tends to dissolve/blur upon close scrutiny.

[caleb72]

Actually - I was wondering myself whether the "high" was important in the request. I had to look it up the sub-genre (I'm such an ignoramus).

I was going to offer up Pale Queen's Courtyard that I just reviewed, but by the definition I read, I don't believe it's epic/high fantasy. But if you like a fantasy based on Mesopotamia that isn't epic - have at it.

[DrNefario]

I have a vague memory that CJ Cherryh's The Paladin was based on a far eastern type of setting. I don't normally like her fantasy as much as her SF, but I seem to recall liking this one.

It's been a while, though, and I could be totally misremembering.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

I was wondering when the pedantic subgenre distinction cops would show up.

Well, in fairness, it's reasonable to assume that the OP cares, or else they wouldn't have specified "high fantasy" as opposed to mere "fantasy". Not - I should add - that I actually know what "high fantasy" is myself .

[DiapDealer]

Originally Posted by HarryT

Well, in fairness, it's reasonable to assume that the OP cares, or else they wouldn't have specified "high fantasy" as opposed to mere "fantasy". Not - I should add - that I actually know what "high fantasy" is myself .

Of course it's reasonable. It's also reasonable to assume they (the OP) can use their own judgment as to which recommendations "qualify"--without external curation.

What's unreasonable is to think that any one definition of "High Fantasy" (if there even WERE one definition) encompasses/excludes works absolutely. That there's no room for interpretation.

It's perfectly acceptable for anyone to have their own ideas about what constitutes "high" fantasy, it's just not wise (or very helpful) to assume those ideas represent some sort of canon that can then be applied like a "loving mallet of correction" to the recommendations of others deemed "wrong."

tl;dr version: two out of three (non-western, fantasy) ain't bad!

[Penforhire]

I'll suggest Eric Van Lustbader's Sunset Warrior series.

Some of his thrillers touch on fantasy, such as his Ninja series, but not as much in the "high" fantasy tradition.

[BenG]

Daniel Abraham's Long Price Quartet is excellent. It's influenced by medieval Asian culture in the same way most fantasy is influenced by medieval European culture.

The books are A Shadow in Summer, A Betrayal in Winter, An Autumn War and The Price of Spring. They stand alone but the later books have spoilers for the earlier ones.

[Tachikoma]

Wow, didn't think my request would creat such a discussion lol!

To be honest, the "high" part isn't a strict requirement, I am mostly interested in non-European cultural fantasy. I really want to read something fantastical that involves different folkelore, something set in ancient times, but doesn't have knights in castles and a wizard with a pointy hat. This is why I like GRR Martin and Joe Abercrombie, they have some of the classical elements but add (albeit fictional) foreign culture and history, so I am looking for something more "authentic"

Thanks for all the recommendations, I shall investigate them all thoroughly on the weekend, and please carry on the conversation or add any other recommendations!

[jgaiser]

A few additional recs.

Aliette de Bodard's Obsidian and Blood omnibus - Set in an Aztec world

Lian Hearn's Tales of the Otori series - Set in feudal Japan

Almost any of Nalo Hopkinson's book - most set in the Caribbean

Howard Andrew Jones' The Desert of Souls and The Waters of Eternity - set in ancient Arabia

Karen Lord's Redemption in Indigo set in Africa

[Istvan diVega]

You might want to have a look at the Malazan Book of the Fallen too then. Many different cultures are represented and while there are knights and castles of sorts, they're certainly not the usual fare. And though the series has wizards too, there are no pointy hats in sight. There's bucketfuls of gritty realism however.

[jmilica]

Originally Posted by Geralt

If only the request wasn't as pedantic, no police would have to show up.
But the request wasn't just fantasy. There's that High in there, and you have to do something with it, pay attention to it....otherwise these things come back to bite you in the....form of subgenre police.

I have not even noticed high
I take back all posted recommendations! Do not read ever no matter what

[Lemurion]

I would suggest N.K. Jemisin, then, as well as the oft-mentioned Saladin Ahmed.

[owly]

The Empire trilogy starting with "Daughter of the Empire" by Janny Wurtz. The world is a mix of Japanese/Aztecish.