Fantasy Recommendations for the Unenlightened 2

[Warren_Paul]

I'm looking for books similar to my WIP, and was wondering if anyone can recommend recent fantasy novels that take 'Urban fantasy' elements and mix them up with other fantasy genres? Such as vampires and werewolves in a fictional fantasy world, or angels and demons, or even just a play on fairy tales?

 

[Count Zero]

Can anyone recommend me some good urban fantasy books. (Thats the stuff set in our modern world right?)

I was in the middle of trying to write a story in my own world last night/morning, and was listening to a band (Thrice, if anyone cares) and an idea for an urban fantasy popped into my head. I have written 4200 words since then (Yay), but I realise I don't no much about the genre or authors within.

I would like something that isn't about vampires, werewolves, romance and sex (i know, probably a rare thing.) and defiantly not a combination of the four.
Mine is about mythology, Germanic and Celtic right now, but more cultures (Indian, African, Asian and the like) will come into it the further along my story gets.

If you haven't already checked out the Dresden Files books by Jim Butcher that's the obvious place to start. I second the suggestion of Ben Aaronovitch who is absolutely brilliant. Moon Over Soho was even better than Rivers of London.

The Felix Castor books by Mike Carey are also pretty promising, but I've only read the first one so far.

 

[Arkose]

Just finished "Hounded, The Iron Druid Chronicles" by Kevin Hearne. I Really liked the book. I had reservations about it since it was based on druids, but it turned out to be different from what I thought. I don't like the overall power of magic, but I can still get past it. I probably also have a little bias to it since its based in Mesa Arizona, about 1.5 hours from my home town.

 

[Randy M.]

I'm looking for books similar to my WIP, and was wondering if anyone can recommend recent fantasy novels that take 'Urban fantasy' elements and mix them up with other fantasy genres? Such as vampires and werewolves in a fictional fantasy world, or angels and demons, or even just a play on fairy tales?

How about ghouls? If that works for you, try Brian MacNaughton's The Throne of Bones. It's not exactly a novel, more of a collection of stories all set in the same place.


Randy M.

 

[rand00]

I'm looking for books similar to my WIP, and was wondering if anyone can recommend recent fantasy novels that take 'Urban fantasy' elements and mix them up with other fantasy genres? Such as vampires and werewolves in a fictional fantasy world, or angels and demons, or even just a play on fairy tales?

You should try Demon Hunting Soccer Mom by Julie Kenner.

 

[Beldarius]

*scratches head* That's peculiar, nobody's mentioned Lloyd Alexander yet. His series "Chronicles of Prydain" is one of my favorites - it's a must-read for anyone interested in Celtic mythology (Susan Cooper is another one myth geeks would love, I know I do).

 

[GOLLUM]

*scratches head* That's peculiar, nobody's mentioned Lloyd Alexander yet. His series "Chronicles of Prydain" is one of my favorites - it's a must-read for anyone interested in Celtic mythology (Susan Cooper is another one myth geeks would love, I know I do).

Indeed. Last year I acquired a rather nice reprint of this five book series. For anyone who is not familiar with the Chronicles of Prydain they are quite genuinely regarded as a classic of both children's literature and the Fantasy genre. The Black Cauldron is the best known book of the series.

Good recommendation...

Susan Cooper's The Dark is Rising sequence of five books is probably not as well regarded or more accurately as well known possibly as Mr. Alexander's work but has certainly received many accolades. It is one series I do not have. I may check it out sometime...

 

[Sho Pi]

I hope that after the obvious rise in popularity of The song of Ice and Fire, that Steven Erikson's Malazan Book of the Fallen will be next. Because that story is even better.

 

[kole]

So, I am looking for novels, short stories, whatever that combines magic and technology. Some sort of a mashup of a sci-fi genre and fantasy genre, if you know what I mean. Halp?

 

[TomS]

Here's my list. I read a lot of series, so rather than list every book, I'll only mention the series. Some of the books in those series, I can't actually recommend because I haven't read them.

Get it out of the way, first
J.R.R. Tolkien
-The Hobbit
-LOTR

OK....now (in no particular order)

Piers Anthony (He often write crossover so I'll just go ahead and recommend everything I know from him. Sorry if some of it doesn't belong here.)
-Xanth series (up to Pet Peeve, I think. Most of these books follow a formula and it's hard to tell them apart)
-Apprentice Adept series
-Incarnations of Immortality series (except Under a Velvet Cloak)
- Mode series
-Bio of a Space Tyrant series (except The Iron Maiden)

Jack L Chalker
-The Dancing Gods series
-The Saga of the Well World series (up to Twilight at the Well of Souls)
-The Watchers at the Well series

Lawrence Watt-Evans
Legends of Ethshar series
-The Misenchanted Sword
-With a Single Spell
-The Unwilling Warlord
-Taking Flight
-The Spell of the Black Dagger
-Night of Madness
-Ithanalin's Restoration
-The Spriggan Mirror

The Obsidian Chronicles
-Dragon Weather
-Dragon Society
-Dragon Venom

and.....anything by Terry Brooks.

 

[Janga]

Here is part of my personal list... sorry if there are repeats, but i haven't gone through this entire thread yet. I'm sure these titles are familiar to any fantasy fan anyway

Brandon Sanderson
Mistborn Trilogy
- Mistborn (The Final Empire)
- The Well of Ascension
- The Hero of Ages

R.A. Salvatore
Dark Elf Trilogy
- Homeland
- Exile
- Sojourn

Robin Hobb
Farseer Trilogy
- Assassin's Apprentice
- Royal Assassin
- Assassin's Quest

Liveship Traders
- Ship of Magic
- The Mad Ship
- Ship of Destiny

The Tawny Man Trilogy
- Fool's Errand
- Golden Fool
- Fool's Fate

 

[Nerds_feather]

also haven't gone through the entire list, but here are some authors i recommend:

1. George R.R. Martin - A Song of Ice and Fire series

Pretty self-explanatory...this is the gold standard in fantasy these days.

2. Gene Wolfe - The Wizard/Knight and The Book of the New Sun

If GRRM is the gold standard, then Wolfe is an exquisitely cut diamond. No one--no one--in fantasy writes as well as Wolfe, though his style can be a turnoff for those who want more straightforward narration. While The Book of the New Sun is his most famous work, I think The Wizard/Knight may be the better starting point.

3. Tad Williams - Memory, Sorrow, Thorn

Apparently this was a big inspiration for GRRM. A bit old now, and a friend who read it after A Song of Ice and Fire said it felt a bit primitive in comparison, but if you can get past the really boring first 100 pages, then you're in for a treat.

4. Fritz Leiber - Lankmar books

These aren't just fun pulpy adventure stories, but witty and incisive tales based around well-crafted characters in a still-unique, still-enchanting fantasy world.

 

[Yog-Sothoth]

Sorry if I sound rude, but I really hate lists, because I get this urge to read everything, and only end up reading none. This is why I buy books one at a time, because if I have a bunch, I will start with one, and keep looking at the other (I always have to surpass the 150pg mark before I'm truly immersed).

Sad huh?

 

[Connavar]

I need a little help for once in this thread. I have heard about Kelly Link, seen her name in anthologies but im wondering if someone could recommend a fantasy or SF book by her?

In October here in my city there is actually a real SF & Fantasy convention whose international guest stars are Joe Abercrombie, Kelly Link, Peter Watts. I wanted to know what kind of author she was.

 

[kshRox]

I started Terry Brooks Wizards First Rule and lost the book about 2/3rds the way through. I'll probably pick it up sometime in the future and finish it but considered this no big loss. For all the fanfare concerning this series I was greatly disappointed. He makes some interesting points but the buildup to his points lack sophistication - heavy handed and preachy with the subtlety of a sledgehammer.

By the time he reveals his 'revelation' your like okay, I get it, I get it. Plus the juxtaposition of some alarming sexual/pedophilic and child abuse elements felt out of place within the young adult flavor of the novel.

This did allow me to move on to Jim Butcher who friends have been encouraging me to try for a while. Why don't I listen sometimes? I started with the Furies of Calderon and just finished Academ's Fury.

Butcher seems to gain in stride as he goes. The first book was good, very good and a complete story within itself, which I appreciate very much. The second story however picks up a couple years later and pulls strings from the first that while not cliff hangers, alluded to more going on than immediately apparent.

Academ's Fury was also a complete story within itself and to my great joy, Mr. Butcher is wonderful at character development. His characters grow, change and reveal depth as we come to know them better. I am hooked and so far a Butcher fan. At this point I highly recommend him and look forward to sampling other series by him once I finish with the Codex Alera

 

[Reivax26]

I can't help but notice that David Gemmell isn't in a lot of these lists. I feel insulted. The man was a great author with great characters. I suggest the Drenai novels which is:

Waylander
Waylander: In the Realm of the Wolf
Hero in the Shadows
First Chronicles of Druss the Legend
The Legend of Deathwalker
White Wolf
Legend
King Beyond the Gate
Quest for Lost Heroes
Winter Warriors
Swords of Night and Day

They are all really good. That is them in chronological order.

Also worth reading is the Stone of Power saga:

Ghost King
Last Sword of Power
Wolf in Shadow
The Last Guardian
Bloodstone

I also didn't notice a newer author named Chris Evans. He wrote a series called the Iron Elves trilogy that is very original in its concept and wonderfully written.

A Darkness Forged in Fire
The Light of Burning Shadows
Ashes of a Black Frost

That's a few of my favorites. I love Tolkien, Martin, Brooks and Salvatore just like everyone else does but the two authors I mentioned are worth reading as well.

 

[GOLLUM]

I need a little help for once in this thread. I have heard about Kelly Link, seen her name in anthologies but im wondering if someone could recommend a fantasy or SF book by her?

In October here in my city there is actually a real SF & Fantasy convention whose international guest stars are Joe Abercrombie, Kelly Link, Peter Watts. I wanted to know what kind of author she was.

Dang!.. a little late on this as I begin the long and winding task of playing catch up on Chrons but PM me if you still need to know about Kelly Link.

I think she's one of the best contemporary writers in the SFF field today dealing as she does in the short form. I have all 3 of her short story collections. Sits beside the likes of Ted Chaing, Neil Gaiman, Christopher Priest, Adam Roberts, Gene Wolfe etc..

P.S. Did you meet Kelly Link then?

 

[Christopher Lee]

A few recommendations from me.
Redwall Series - Brian Jacques
Sword Of Shannara Series - Terry Brooks
The Lord of The Rings - Tolkien
The Hobbit - Tolkien
ASOIAF Series - George R. Martin
The Way of Kings - Brandon Sanderson
Mistborn - Brandon Sanderson

I would also recommend the Wheel of Time series by Robert Jordan if you are willing to take the time.

 

[the Jester]

Holy cow, there are a ton of recommendations in this thread!!

Many of them I've read, but there are a lot I'll have to check out that I've either seen or heard of but not read, and online recommendations have a good record in regards to literature and me.

Thanks for a great thread.

 

[BetaWolf]

I started Terry Brooks Wizards First Rule and lost the book about 2/3rds the way through. I'll probably pick it up sometime in the future and finish it but considered this no big loss. For all the fanfare concerning this series I was greatly disappointed. He makes some interesting points but the buildup to his points lack sophistication - heavy handed and preachy with the subtlety of a sledgehammer.

You mean Terry Goodkind? Yeah, he's got a philosophy he's selling (Ayn Rand's), and take that away and his stories fall pretty flat IMHO.

I haven't read Butcher's other work, but I do love The Dresden Files series. Detective stories with an urban fantasy spin that does build from one book to the next. Here's the opening of the first volume, "Storm Front":

http://www.jim-butcher.com/books/dresden/storm-front/sf-chapter-1