Innovative Fantasy?

[jineapple]

Fantasy is, in theory, my favourite genre. My favourite books are all fantasy. However, I'm getting very tired of reading the same story slightly altered for the 20th time. So I'm looking for innovative, unique books that you can tell apart from all the fantasy junk out there.

Some books I've enjoyed in this regard:

Most of all, "Song of Ice and Fire" for getting rid of the cliché hero story and for creating deep, human characters that aren't out of carpboard.

Books by Brandon Sanderson, while he is only a good, not a great, writer in my opinion, each book is different, with a unique magic system that shapes the world around it.

I've read "The Graveyard Book" by Neil Gaiman and liked it, just started with "American Gods" too

"Tooth and Claw" by Jo Walton

That's all I can think of at the moment (sad, isn't it? )

So, any suggestions for something new, something fresh?

[jgaiser]

Joe Abercrombie's The First Law series. Then any of the other standalone Abercrombie books

[tompe]

K J Parker and the Fencer books. Scott Lynch both books (eagerly awaiting the third book). Steven Brust.

[jineapple]

Originally Posted by jgaiser

Joe Abercrombie's The First Law series. Then any of the other standalone Abercrombie books

I've read the first book, was not particularly fond of it (Though to be honest I couldn't tell you why...it's been some time since I read it as well...)

[Alexander Turcic]

Tad Williams wrote some great fantasy novels. If you like "high" fantasy, check out the "Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn" saga. The "Demon Cycle" by Peter V. Brett is also a fantastic read.

[Geralt]

I second what jgaiser said. First book is a bit slower (slower pace and doesn't explain much), but if you continue with second its a blast.
Also Painted Man, first book of Demon Cycle is pretty good. ( what Alexander Turcic said)
However second and third book of the series aren't so good and are bit of a disappointment. Still between 3&4 stars.
We'll see what Brett does with his 4th book (fingers crossed).

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Now for my recommendations
(images are clickable links to goodreads)

Try some Russian fantasy. That will shake things up for you. I recommend one of my favorite series. Night watch. All 5 books are out and the series is finished. Russian fantasy might be a breath of fresh air, and just what you need to take a break from Anglo-Saxon tradition.



And second suggestion is part of British tradition, but it might as well not be because its very unique. You will either love or hate this book. There's no middle ground.




Good luck in finding your next read~

[Istvan diVega]

China Miéville is an absolute must I think, if different is primarily what you want. His books are pretty much all love or hate, as has been mentioned, and I'm very much in the former camp.

I'd like to second Steven Brust too, as he's long been a favourite of mine. The setting is certainly different, as are the characters, and the books are great fun and easy reads.

Another author of different fantasy is Sheri S. Tepper. The True Game, whether the trilogy or full series (three trilogies), are still among the most innovative fantasy series I've encountered. Then there's the Marianne Trilogy, which remains one of the best and most innovative contemporary fantasy series I've read.

Tepper's later work is often severely compromised (in my opinion) by a too heavy-handed gender agenda, but her output until around -95 or so is among the best, most original and innovative fantasy (also, of course, in my opinion) ever written.

[ametzler]

Originally Posted by jineapple

Fantasy is, in theory, my favourite genre. My favourite books are all fantasy. However, I'm getting very tired of reading the same story slightly altered for the 20th time. So I'm looking for innovative, unique books that you can tell apart from all the fantasy junk out there.
[...]

Have you read Daniel Abraham's Long Price Quartet?

Going back to the origins can also be helpful, Fritz Leiber's Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser is quite a bit different to "modern" fantasy, but these are still great stories.

cu Andreas

[speakingtohe]

Some books that are a combination of fantasy and mystery. I love both and when combined I am in heaven

Alex Bledsoe - Eddie Lacrosse
Set in a sword and sorcery world with some strangely (to me) modern names.
Glen Cook - Garrett PI
Different and amusing
Simon R. Green - Nightside
Urban fantasy writing style different than most.
Daniel Polansky - Low Town
Anti hero takes on evil despite not wanting to

These are all series which you may not like and generally light reading IMO which again you might not like. I think they are all super along with hundreds more.

Helen

[jehane]

My recommendations:

Guy Gavriel Kay - mostly historical-based fantasy with a much more nuanced approach than the typical good vs evil approach.

Terry Pratchett - early Discworld novels for a parody of standard high fantasy tropes; later novels for a more serious satirical approach to life, the universe and everything.

Sergei Lukyanenko - as mentioned above, modern urban fantasy.

Richard Morgan - high fantasy with a grimmer, darker tone.

[AndrewH]

Originally Posted by jehane

Guy Gavriel Kay - mostly historical-based fantasy with a much more nuanced approach than the typical good vs evil approach.

I second the suggestion for Guy Gavriel Kay. Excellent writing, and none of his books feel derivative or recycled.

I'd add Charles de Lint, one of the originators of urban fantasy (before "urban fantasy" came to mean vampires, werewolves, and teenage angst oh my). My favourite is The Little Country.

I've enjoyed everything I've read by Morgan Llywellyn, her books are typically Celtic historical with some fantasy thrown in. Red Branch was particularly good.

Jim Butcher's The Dresden Files is a fun mix of urban fantasy with detective noir.

[Penforhire]

I'll second the Mieville, Lukyanenko, and Abercrombie (and you already know of Gaiman).

Some of Michael Moorcock's latest works feel fresh to me (The Dreamthief's Daughter trilogy). And there is always Gene Wolfe, who is amazing but often writes over my head.

[caleb72]

I'll also throw my hat in for:

Guy Gavriel Kay
China Mieville
Sergei Lukyanenko

Although Steam/Clockpunk is now getting pretty saturated, I was quite happy with Jay Lake's Mainspring. If you've been hitting that sub-genre a bit hard though, perhaps leave it for now.

[usuallee]

Thanks Geralt and others, for the Sergei Lukyanenko recommendation. Those books look very interesting. Also thanks Istvan for the Tepper rec. Those look good too.

Would humbly recommend the Bartimaeus books by Jonathan Stroud. Start with Amulet of Samarkand. The books are marketed as YA, but don't let that fool ya. I found the books to be quite sophisticated, dark, with a very adult, almost cynical outlook. The demon character Bartimaeus is very funny and the books are very well written.

[jineapple]

Thanks a lot for all the suggestions! It'll take quite some time to get through all those :P