A Fantasy Novel YOU would recommend

[zerospinboson]

I'd like to recommend "A Shadow on the Glass (The View from the Mirror, Book 1)" (and the rest if you like it) from Ian Irvine. (Fictionwise spells his name wrongly) While the last book of the second series had a terrible ending (a fairly shamelessly bad "buy my next book" ending that turned quite a bit of the storyline upside down), I still sort of liked the story that lead up to it.

Oddly, this series has parts 2 and 4 available on amazon and fictionwise, with parts 1 & 3 missing, but considering that 2&4 were very recent additions, the rest might be coming soon.

[KevisHendrickson]

Besides "Elfhunter", one of the most engaging fantasy stories I've read in recent years has to be "Mighty Hammer Down" by David J Guyton. It's a terrific read and thought-provoking. What more can a reader ask for?

[poohbear_nc]

Originally Posted by KevisHendrickson

Besides "Elfhunter", one of the most engaging fantasy stories I've read in recent years has to be "Mighty Hammer Down" by David J Guyton. It's a terrific read and thought-provoking. What more can a reader ask for?

Yikes! I just went to Amazon, read the blurb, then saw the price (0.99) - and clicked that "Buy Now" button - will read it this weekend - Thanks!

[queentess]

I'll recommend Avempartha by Michael J. Sullivan. (Book 2 in a series of 6 -- only the first 2 books are published so far.)

It's not "high" fantasy, it's more of a fantasy-adventure book. It's a quick read, well-paced, and I loved the interaction of the two main characters.

From the author's website:

When a destitute young woman hires Royce and Hadrian to help save her remote village plagued by nocturnal attacks, they find themselves once more drawn into the schemes of the wizard Esrahaddon. Each night brings death and each day finds Royce attempting to breech the secrets of an ancient elven tower while Hadrian teaches the villagers how to defend themselves against the unseen killer. Once more an assignment to steal a sword is anything but simple and places the duo in the center of a firestorm whose outcome could change the future of the world of Elan.

Avempartha is book two of the multi-book saga: The Riyria Revelations. Instead of a string of sequels this six-book fantasy series was conceived as a single epic tale divided into individual episodes. All were written before the first was released so that plot elements are intertwined, yet each is self-contained and can be read independently from each other. Avempartha can be enjoyed by those who have not read the first episode: The Crown Conspiracy.

[KevisHendrickson]

Originally Posted by poohbear_nc

Yikes! I just went to Amazon, read the blurb, then saw the price (0.99) - and clicked that "Buy Now" button - will read it this weekend - Thanks!

Poohbear,

I'm not sure if you purchased Elfhunter or Mighty Hammer Down (both great reads by the way). But according to the author, Elfhunter's 99 cent book sale ends on Sunday. I'm not sure how long Mighty Hammer Down will remain at 99 cents. Either way, I'm sure you'll become a fan of whichever book you purchased!

[mklynds]

I hope this isn't a repeat but one of the best fantasy series I have read in a long long time is the First Law Trilogy by a brit called Joe Abercrombie. Just a quick WARNING these books are not for delicate souls. They are however for someone who wants to have there love of fantasy rekindled.

[Dr. Drib]

Originally Posted by mklynds

I hope this isn't a repeat but one of the best fantasy series I have read in a long long time is the First Law Trilogy by a brit called Joe Abercrombie. Just a quick WARNING these books are not for delicate souls. They are however for someone who wants to have there love of fantasy rekindled.

That sounds like my kind of book: A story that ruptures one's spleen, kicks ass, and steps on a feline or two; or else give me a sweet romance novel, preferably a Harlequin Romance.

Seriously: I'll have to check out that series. Why did you like it, may I ask.


Don

[mklynds]

Dr. Drib,

I found the entire trilogy to be extremely well composed. The story flows well from page one to the final page of book 3. It is also one of the mosts "real" fantasy books I have read in a long time. I use the word real quite out of place. The characters are more recognizable by their flaws then there qualities. Joe Abercrombie also seemed to take how to write fantasy 101 and flip it on it's head. I really strongly recommend this book to anyone who's interest in fantasy has waned or has gotten off on the wrong foot. I recommend this to anyone actually. I will however renew my WARNING this book is "real" characters think what you would think. It is not for the delicate soul.

hope that helps.
Mike

[queentess]

Originally Posted by mklynds

I hope this isn't a repeat but one of the best fantasy series I have read in a long long time is the First Law Trilogy by a brit called Joe Abercrombie. Just a quick WARNING these books are not for delicate souls. They are however for someone who wants to have there love of fantasy rekindled.

Thanks for the reminder about this one! My brother recommended it to me a couple months back, but it wasn't available in ebook. Looks like the ebook will be released in about 3 weeks!

Unless someone else can point me to the ebook version I'm not aware of? I checked all my normal sites and nothing showed up. Google search turned this up.

[mklynds]

Yeah I am not sure about ebook I have the trilogy in paper back. But I will definitely be looking to grab the ebook when it comes out. Oh and Joe Abercrombie's blog is well worth a check out if you like the books. He posts regularly and interacts with his fans a lot. And I think that's enough from me about those books unless he is going to give me some royalties.

[Cassy]

Wow no one has mentioned Sara Douglass (unless I missed it)!
'Starman' trilogy is amazing, so is 'Troy's Game' and her new 'dark glass mountain' trilogy.

Her standalone book 'Beyond the hanging wall' was fantastic as well

[Dr. Drib]

Originally Posted by mklynds

Dr. Drib,

I found the entire trilogy to be extremely well composed. The story flows well from page one to the final page of book 3. It is also one of the mosts "real" fantasy books I have read in a long time. I use the word real quite out of place. The characters are more recognizable by their flaws then there qualities. Joe Abercrombie also seemed to take how to write fantasy 101 and flip it on it's head. I really strongly recommend this book to anyone who's interest in fantasy has waned or has gotten off on the wrong foot. I recommend this to anyone actually. I will however renew my WARNING this book is "real" characters think what you would think. It is not for the delicate soul.

hope that helps.
Mike

Thank you for the information, Mike. It does, indeed, sound interesting to me, so I'll check now to see who has it and if it's available in a format that Sony can read.


Don

[Dr. Drib]

Well, how could I forget "Titus Groan," Part One of the Gormenghast Trilogy, by Mervyn S. Peake. This book (and the series) stirs my imagination with its Dickensian characters. The writing style is like one incredible immersion in language. A beautiful book in its strange, mesmerizing way.

I love this book.


Don

[Percy]

Anything by Jack Vance, recently deceased so there will be no more, to my eternal regret. I think I have almost everything he ever wrote -- and he was prolific. I read him again and again (sort of like not being able to stop listening to Bach). There are couple of relative duds in there, but you'd have to have very bad luck to hit them. If new to you, start with the Star Kings series. It only gets better after that.

Incredible, gloriously talented wordsmith. Very, very humorous, memorable dialogues. Amazing characters, situations, and civilizations. Sympathetic protagonists. Largely far future (but some very wonderful far past, too -- or maybe its all one), we've populated a large part of the universe and this and that strange aspect of our own already rather odd civilizations have grown strange and extreme. Of course, we co-exist and interact with others. Some wizardry in a number of his novels (especially the most humorous ones), but how far off is that from imaginable technological prowess? Always bitingly funny, riviting, often scary, selects ingenuity, determination, grit and romantic virtues (heroism, say) as key features of his invariably male protagonists. Spectacular, flamboyant, incredible villains, male, female, or other -- or all three. Deceptive, beautiful, wilful, mysterious women.

Irresistable tales bound in fascinating environments.

I have others, but let me begin with this unbelievably wonderful, irreplaceable author.

[Dr. Drib]

Originally Posted by Percy

Anything by Jack Vance, recently deceased so there will be no more, to my eternal regret. I think I have almost everything he ever wrote -- and he was prolific. I read him again and again (sort of like not being able to stop listening to Bach). There are couple of relative duds in there, but you'd have to have very bad luck to hit them. If new to you, start with the Star Kings series. It only gets better after that.

Incredible, gloriously talented wordsmith. Very, very humorous, memorable dialogues. Amazing characters, situations, and civilizations. Sympathetic protagonists. Largely far future (but some very wonderful far past, too -- or maybe its all one), we've populated a large part of the universe and this and that strange aspect of our own already rather odd civilizations have grown strange and extreme. Of course, we co-exist and interact with others. Some wizardry in a number of his novels (especially the most humorous ones), but how far off is that from imaginable technological prowess? Always bitingly funny, riviting, often scary, selects ingenuity, determination, grit and romantic virtues (heroism, say) as key features of his invariably male protagonists. Spectacular, flamboyant, incredible villains, male, female, or other -- or all three. Deceptive, beautiful, wilful, mysterious women.

Irresistable tales bound in fascinating environments.

I have others, but let me begin with this unbelievably wonderful, irreplaceable author.

You said this absolutely beautifully. I love almost ALL of Jack Vance's work, which is why I want everyone to see your words again.

I'm hopeful that "soon" ALL of Jack Vance's incredible work will be available in all the major ebook formats.

Thank you for mentioning him and writing about him in such a wonderful way.


Don