Fantasy Recommendations for the Unenlightened 2
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Alecc0
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I'm on the third Otherland book, Mountain of Black Glass - well I started it a couple years ago and for some reason or other kind of stopped in the first half of it - I still intend to return to it though as it's a great series and I really want to see it to the end!
SilentRoamer
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Started reading the Recommendations for the unenlightened and saw Terry Goodkind on the first page... ugh. If ever there was an author to make me feel physically sick Goodkind can manage it.
Anyone new to this genre should avoid Goodkind like the plague - far better authors and works to be read than Goodkind.
Anyone new to this genre should avoid Goodkind like the plague - far better authors and works to be read than Goodkind.
Christopher Lee
Formerly BluePhoenix711
The Dark Tower series is awesome. I'm about to begin The Malazan books. Wish me luck! 
Caledfwlch
I am not a Geek, I am a Level 22 Warrior!
The Dwarves series of books by Markus Heitz is absolutely worth reading, it is a wonderful series!
Mr Heitz is German, so the books were originally published in German, thankfully the Publishers made a fantastic effort for the English translation, so all the humour, both normal and dark was captured beautifully.
Also for a change, as the name might suggest, Dwarves are the main Heroes - when you start reading about the adventures of Tungdil Goldhand and his Companions, the twins Boindil and Boendal, you just wont be able to put the book down.
The land of Girdlegard is split between several Kingdoms/lands - a couple of the Human Realms where magic is strong are ruled by Mage's, the rest of the human lands are ruled by Kings and Queens, and to the North iirc is the Elven Kingdom.
The continent that Girdlegard sits in is riddled with evil, with Orcs and their masters the Alfar (dark elves) luckilly for Girdlegard though, it is completely encased by unpassable mountain ranges - but at every compass point is a heavily fortified Dwarven Kingdom - the Dwarven Cities are underground, and they guard the only entrances/passes into Girdlegard.
Each Dwarven Kingdom has a tribal name based on a number, Firstlings, Secondlings, Thirdlings, Fourthlings and Fithlings. The 5 tribes protect the passes, and visit on each each other, except for the Thirdlings, I wont spoiler anything as to why that is.
Tungdil was found abandoned by a human Mage as a baby, now as an adult, he works for the Mage who adopted him and (of course, being a Dwarf!) is an acomplished Blacksmith, so runs the Mage's smithy and Tungdil is well loved by his Human friends, co-workers and tenants of the land. When the book starts Tungdil has never even met a Dwarf, is clean shaven as he has never grown a beard, and having grown up exclusively amongst Humans he knows little about how a Dwarf would behave, though the kindly Mage who took him in has shown Tungdil lots of books about dwarven manners and customs.
The series just feels so fresh and original!
Mr Heitz is German, so the books were originally published in German, thankfully the Publishers made a fantastic effort for the English translation, so all the humour, both normal and dark was captured beautifully.
Also for a change, as the name might suggest, Dwarves are the main Heroes - when you start reading about the adventures of Tungdil Goldhand and his Companions, the twins Boindil and Boendal, you just wont be able to put the book down.
The land of Girdlegard is split between several Kingdoms/lands - a couple of the Human Realms where magic is strong are ruled by Mage's, the rest of the human lands are ruled by Kings and Queens, and to the North iirc is the Elven Kingdom.
The continent that Girdlegard sits in is riddled with evil, with Orcs and their masters the Alfar (dark elves) luckilly for Girdlegard though, it is completely encased by unpassable mountain ranges - but at every compass point is a heavily fortified Dwarven Kingdom - the Dwarven Cities are underground, and they guard the only entrances/passes into Girdlegard.
Each Dwarven Kingdom has a tribal name based on a number, Firstlings, Secondlings, Thirdlings, Fourthlings and Fithlings. The 5 tribes protect the passes, and visit on each each other, except for the Thirdlings, I wont spoiler anything as to why that is.
Tungdil was found abandoned by a human Mage as a baby, now as an adult, he works for the Mage who adopted him and (of course, being a Dwarf!) is an acomplished Blacksmith, so runs the Mage's smithy and Tungdil is well loved by his Human friends, co-workers and tenants of the land. When the book starts Tungdil has never even met a Dwarf, is clean shaven as he has never grown a beard, and having grown up exclusively amongst Humans he knows little about how a Dwarf would behave, though the kindly Mage who took him in has shown Tungdil lots of books about dwarven manners and customs.
The series just feels so fresh and original!
Caledfwlch
I am not a Geek, I am a Level 22 Warrior!
A couple more recomendations:
King Blood and Bloody Crazy by Simon Clark. despite the names they are not related to each other, though both are apocalyptic stories. One is kind of a take on the zombie genre, without zombies, in the way 28 Days Later does it - in fact I am half surprised Clarke didnt sue Danny Boyle!
King Blood and Bloody Crazy by Simon Clark. despite the names they are not related to each other, though both are apocalyptic stories. One is kind of a take on the zombie genre, without zombies, in the way 28 Days Later does it - in fact I am half surprised Clarke didnt sue Danny Boyle!
Mark Ragland
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I'll have to respectfully disagree with you about Goodkind. I've enjoyed his books.
hardsciencefanagain
Well-Known Member
Jack Vance The Eyes of the Overworld,The Dying Earth
De Camp & Pratt: Compleat Enchanter
Anderson:Hrolf Kraki's Saga
LeGuin: Earthsea Trilogy
C L Moore Jirel of Joiry
De Camp & Pratt: Compleat Enchanter
Anderson:Hrolf Kraki's Saga
LeGuin: Earthsea Trilogy
C L Moore Jirel of Joiry
SilentRoamer
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I think the first book is OK - just OK. The volumes get progressively worse however. Richard Rahls internal monologues become ridiculous and one in the 4th/5th book (the one with the evil pacifists) is about 30 pages long. Richard Rahl is probably the worst character ever made - his magical powers are literally Mary Sue powers (War Wizard powers just works when he needs them) Richard is never wrong however - I mean Richard Rahl actually justifies kicking a 6 year olds jaw in!
Lets not get started on Chickens who aren't Chickens and the nobility of goats....
The overall theme is a barely glossed over objectivism that would even make Any Rand turn in her sleep.
Two Terry Goodkind quotes that really solidify TG as a complete douche:
"First of all, I don't write fantasy. I write stories that have important human themes. They have elements of romance, history, adventure, mystery and philosophy. Most fantasy is one-dimensional. It's either about magic or a world-building. I don't do either."
"What I have done with my work has irrevocably changed the face of fantasy. In so doing I've raised the standards. I have not only injected thought into a tired empty genre, but, more importantly, I've transcended it showing what more it can be-and is so doing spread my readership to completely new groups who don't like and wont ready typical fantasy. Agents and editors are screaming for more books like mine"
Anyway you are welcome to like him, but this author has no place on a list of recommended works, there are literally thousands of better works and more deserving authors. TG belongs on no "best of" lists, unless it is "best of human themes".
Caledfwlch
I am not a Geek, I am a Level 22 Warrior!
I have just read the first of the Burton and Swinburne series by Mark Hodder, and have fallen in love with it!
It is 1861, London, the heart of the British Empire. His Majesty King Albert, the Sovereign of the largest Empire ever to have straddled the earth. A new era of science involving clockworks, massive advances in steampower, and genetic manipulation mean the Empire is advancing like nowhere else on Earth. The Rotorships, steam powered VTOL type transports are able to transport troops and goods in hours or a couple of days, to places that before required weeks by sea ship. Sir Richard Burton, Explorer is asked by the Prime Minister and King Albert to act as an Agent for the Crown, to discover the truth about a group of bipedal "wolfs" who are terrorising the East End, committing murder and disapearences.
Fantastic opener of a novel. One thing I loved is that while the "victorian" stiff upper lip etc is still very much in evidence, the Albertian Society seems much better in other ways, several Metropolitan Police Constables that Burton meets for example are of Hindu/Indian origin, but theres no racism, like in the real era.
It is 1861, London, the heart of the British Empire. His Majesty King Albert, the Sovereign of the largest Empire ever to have straddled the earth. A new era of science involving clockworks, massive advances in steampower, and genetic manipulation mean the Empire is advancing like nowhere else on Earth. The Rotorships, steam powered VTOL type transports are able to transport troops and goods in hours or a couple of days, to places that before required weeks by sea ship. Sir Richard Burton, Explorer is asked by the Prime Minister and King Albert to act as an Agent for the Crown, to discover the truth about a group of bipedal "wolfs" who are terrorising the East End, committing murder and disapearences.
Fantastic opener of a novel. One thing I loved is that while the "victorian" stiff upper lip etc is still very much in evidence, the Albertian Society seems much better in other ways, several Metropolitan Police Constables that Burton meets for example are of Hindu/Indian origin, but theres no racism, like in the real era.
Roamer, I started Wizard's First Rule, but had to stop. The descriptions, from memory, were very well-written but the story was conveniencetastic, to the point I couldn't take it seriously.
That does raise an interesting question about how much a writer's personality might or should affect how readers and potential readers respond.
That does raise an interesting question about how much a writer's personality might or should affect how readers and potential readers respond.
I read the book along time ago and thought it quite good, but thats as far as I got.
He is one of the best-selling names in fantasy, so whatever anyone thinks of the writer himself - or even the development of the series - I would certainly recommend others consider reading Wizard's First Rule as part of a general foray into the cornerstones of the genre.
He is one of the best-selling names in fantasy, so whatever anyone thinks of the writer himself - or even the development of the series - I would certainly recommend others consider reading Wizard's First Rule as part of a general foray into the cornerstones of the genre.
Kane The Mystic Swordsman by Karl Edward Wagner one the best dark fantasy series of all time . New editions of theses books are coming out on August of this year. The 5 books Kane is a immortal heroic villain/antihero
1. Bloodstone
2.Darkness Weaves
3. Dark Crusade
4. Death Angels Shadow
5. NightWinds
Also by Conan Road of Kings and Bran Mak Morn Legion of the Shadows
j d worthington
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Question, Baylor... there were a few (very few) pieces featuring Kane written since the original publication of those volumes. Have they been incorporated into the new edition, or do you still have to go to the astronomically priced Night Shade edition of the short stories for them?Kane The Mystic Swordsman by Karl Edward Wagner one the best dark fantasy series of all time . New editions of theses books are coming out on August of this year. The 5 books Kane is a immortal heroic villain/antihero
1. Bloodstone
2.Darkness Weaves
3. Dark Crusade
4. Death Angels Shadow
5. NightWinds
Also by Conan Road of Kings and Bran Mak Morn Legion of the Shadows
SilentRoamer
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- 1,462
I have no qualms about reading TG because he is a douche, I don't really care for an authors personal opinions. I mean as an example (and something I discussed in another thread) I love Enders Game and Speaker for the Dead, despite being diametrically opposed to Cards views on homosexuality. I just felt that the comments from TG, rather than shed light on his personality, shed more light on his writing process and idea creation methods.
He is one of the best-selling names in fantasy, so whatever anyone thinks of the writer himself - or even the development of the series - I would certainly recommend others consider reading Wizard's First Rule as part of a general foray into the cornerstones of the genre.
All this tells me is that the masses will read anything they are spoon fed!!
Seriously though Terry Goodkind is objectively bad, I could literally cherry pick quotes from any of his novels that is just bad writing. The only reason I am so vehement is I would not want anyone to waste large amounts of their reading time on TGs work - as I did in my teens.
I will grant that WFR as a single novel is probably worth a read but the series as a whole is just rinse/repeat:
1. New and previously undiscovered but hinted at "bad" land behind some mystical barrier - check
2. Kahlan nearly raped but not - check
3. Richard Rahl imposes his morality on the new "bad" people who realise he is oh so much awesomeness - check
4. Rahl pulls a new power out of his War Wizards crevice and saves the day - check
Haha anyway sorry for my sarcasm but I feel if I discourage one reader from taking the plunge then my work is done!
On amazon It looks like a new edition hardcover about $40.00 and change . I don't recognize the cover art .
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