Looking for a contemporary high or epic fantasy recommendation - Page 2

Dr. Drib · 06-03-2009, 08:22 AM

1) Gloriana - Michael Moorcock

2) The Dying Earth - Jack Vance

3) The Gormenghast Trilogy - Mervyn S. Peake

Old standbys, old friends.

Don

poohbear_nc · 06-03-2009, 12:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr. Drib

3) The Gormenghast Trilogy - Mervyn S. Peake

Don

If only this thing was in ebook - it's HUGE! My paperback copy weighs more than my cat!

tompe · 06-03-2009, 01:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by montsnmags

Would Guy Gavriel Kay's The Fionavar Tapestry count?

It is stand-alone at least. Some suggestions like Earthsea and Dying Earth I do not think is high or epic fantasy at all.

sirbruce · 06-03-2009, 03:33 PM

Fionavar has that "real world kids get transported into a magical world" element which I usually dislike. I guess I'm looking for something more like Eragon. (Or rather, the books Eragon copies from.) But thanks to all for the suggestions so far. I'm also considering Lyndon Hardy's Magics series.

sirbruce · 06-03-2009, 04:01 PM

In honor of the passing of David Eddings it seems like The Belgariad series should be where I begin...

wayspooled · 06-03-2009, 04:04 PM

Hah, Master of the Five Magics! I had to look Lyndon Hardy up because the name was familiar. Think I remember that being excellent.

Dave Berk · 06-03-2009, 07:30 PM

Sean Russell The Swan's War trilogy. Available for the Kindle.

khalleron · 06-03-2009, 08:18 PM

I want to second Patricia McKillip's Riddlemaster books: Riddlemaster of Hed, Heir of Sea and Fire, and Harpist in the Wind. I've read these several times and they never get old. Three volumes, but not long drawn out things like Thomas Covenant or other 'epics'.

Also second Lois McMaster Bujold's Chalion series: The Curse of Chalion, Paladin of Souls, and The Hallowed Hunt. Lois is a great writer, one of the best (arguably THE best living SF/Fantasy author still writing).

Dr. Drib · 06-03-2009, 08:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tompe

It is stand-alone at least. Some suggestions like Earthsea and Dying Earth I do not think is high or epic fantasy at all.

I agree with you on that; I wasn't reading the title of his thread carefully enough.

I do, then, recommend this series by Jack Vance:

* Lyonesse Trilogy

Epic, grand, and with delicious language. It's not, however, for lazy readers who want to be tickled and cuddled to death. (One should find something large or already deceased for that task!)

Don

tompe · 06-03-2009, 09:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr. Drib

I do, then, recommend this series by Jack Vance:

* Lyonesse Trilogy

Epic, grand, and with delicious language. It's not, however, for lazy readers who want to be tickled and cuddled to death. (One should find something large or already deceased for that task!)

I really like that one. Jack Vance is a favorite author and I have the VIE at home and is planning to reread everything in this version.

montsnmags · 06-03-2009, 11:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sirbruce

In honor of the passing of David Eddings it seems like The Belgariad series should be where I begin...

It seems like a good choice.

Eddings copped a little bit of flack for plagiarising himself after the follow-on series, The Malloreon. Regardless of any validity there might be in the criticism, I remember thoroughly enjoying The Belgariad. I hope you do too.

(An aside: I too was a little put off at first by the "real world kids get transported into a magical world" element of Fionavar, but memory serves me with the opinion that I quickly got past that and into a story I enjoyed. Of course, with all the options suggested by others that you might prefer, I wouldn't give too much value to this opinion o' mine.

)

Cheers,
Marc

montsnmags · 06-04-2009, 12:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tompe

I really like that one. Jack Vance is a favorite author and I have the VIE at home and is planning to reread everything in this version.

(highlighting is mine)

"VIE"? Sorry, I'm not familiar with this. Can you expand?

Cheers,
Marc

wayspooled · 06-04-2009, 12:22 AM

Funny how your brain works, the combo of you mentioning Lyndon Hardy plus Eddings death made me think of other book series I enjoyed back around the same time and I thought of one I don't think I've ever seen mentioned. And it was really good too. By Susan Dexter and it was made up of The Ring of Allaire, The Mountains of Channadran and The Sword of Calandra. Now those were excellent but I'm sure not ebook'd. But I did notice a standalone novel she did that sounds similar to what you wanted, the name is Moonlight and I see it at Fictionwise.

Dr. Drib · 06-04-2009, 08:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tompe

I really like that one. Jack Vance is a favorite author and I have the VIE at home and is planning to reread everything in this version.

I wish I could have afforded the VIE when it came out. Lucky you!!

Don

Dr. Drib · 06-04-2009, 08:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by montsnmags

(highlighting is mine)

"VIE"? Sorry, I'm not familiar with this. Can you expand?

Cheers,
Marc

This is the "Jack Vance Integral Edition" (VIE). This is comprised of Vance's work with textual accuracy the way he wanted it, and with his full cooperation. This was assembled by volunteers who love Jack Vance and his work, and for what he stands for in his writings, in addition to his contribution to creative Literature.

Here's a link for some information:

http://www.vanceintegral.com/

Don

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06-03-2009, 08:22 AM	#16
Dr. Drib Grand Sorcerer Posts: 45,613 Karma: 60184181 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Peru Device: KINDLE: Oasis 3, Scribe (1st), Matcha; KOBO: Libra 2, Libra Colour	1) Gloriana - Michael Moorcock 2) The Dying Earth - Jack Vance 3) The Gormenghast Trilogy - Mervyn S. Peake Old standbys, old friends. Don

06-03-2009, 03:33 PM	#19
sirbruce Provocateur Posts: 1,859 Karma: 505847 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Columbus, OH Device: Kindle Touch, Kindle 2, Kindle DX, iPhone 3GS	Fionavar has that "real world kids get transported into a magical world" element which I usually dislike. I guess I'm looking for something more like Eragon. (Or rather, the books Eragon copies from.) But thanks to all for the suggestions so far. I'm also considering Lyndon Hardy's Magics series.

06-03-2009, 04:01 PM	#20
sirbruce Provocateur Posts: 1,859 Karma: 505847 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Columbus, OH Device: Kindle Touch, Kindle 2, Kindle DX, iPhone 3GS	In honor of the passing of David Eddings it seems like The Belgariad series should be where I begin...

06-03-2009, 04:04 PM	#21
wayspooled Crab In The Dark Posts: 486 Karma: 2328180 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Virginia Device: Tablet PC until a 10" comes out that I like	Hah, Master of the Five Magics! I had to look Lyndon Hardy up because the name was familiar. Think I remember that being excellent.

06-03-2009, 07:30 PM	#22
Dave Berk Fanatic Posts: 574 Karma: 138556 Join Date: May 2006 Device: PRS505	Sean Russell The Swan's War trilogy. Available for the Kindle.

06-03-2009, 08:18 PM	#23
khalleron Kate Posts: 1,700 Karma: 3605799 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Oregon, United States Device: MeeBook, Kobo Libra Colour	I want to second Patricia McKillip's Riddlemaster books: Riddlemaster of Hed, Heir of Sea and Fire, and Harpist in the Wind. I've read these several times and they never get old. Three volumes, but not long drawn out things like Thomas Covenant or other 'epics'. Also second Lois McMaster Bujold's Chalion series: The Curse of Chalion, Paladin of Souls, and The Hallowed Hunt. Lois is a great writer, one of the best (arguably THE best living SF/Fantasy author still writing).

06-04-2009, 12:22 AM	#28
wayspooled Crab In The Dark Posts: 486 Karma: 2328180 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Virginia Device: Tablet PC until a 10" comes out that I like	Funny how your brain works, the combo of you mentioning Lyndon Hardy plus Eddings death made me think of other book series I enjoyed back around the same time and I thought of one I don't think I've ever seen mentioned. And it was really good too. By Susan Dexter and it was made up of The Ring of Allaire, The Mountains of Channadran and The Sword of Calandra. Now those were excellent but I'm sure not ebook'd. But I did notice a standalone novel she did that sounds similar to what you wanted, the name is Moonlight and I see it at Fictionwise.