Looking for a Certain Kind of Fantasy Novel...

[Majin]

Been looking for a certain of fantasy novel...tried Amazon.com but had no luck in searching around really...what I'm looking for is a fantasy novel where the main character is like a female warrior (but I suppose she could be something else...) (yeah, the big cliche is the warrior woman who fights in a bikini, but oddly enough, I have yet to see a novel that is like that...), and as well, that is a novel that does not shy away from sexuality nor violence or such.
Can anyone help me out here? Or point me in the right direction?
Thanks.

 

[hodor]

i have no clue but when u find out let me know

 

[Jayaprakash Satyamurthy]

Elvenbane, by Andre Norton and Mercedes Lackey has a female lead who is quite a fighter. It doesn't shy away from depicting all aspects of her life, but if you're actually looking for something salacious, like a saltier Xena, I can't help you I'm afraid. I expect other works by either Norton or Lackey might feature lead female characters who are fighters/warriors as well.

 

[dwndrgn]

Ed Greenwood has a series (and just now can't think of it, just got off a double shift and it is 3am) with some very strong female warriors. I know I've read others but again my brain has mostly shut down. I'll try and check in later if I recall any of them.

 

[Silk]

Juliet E McKenna's Tails of the Einarinn have a strong female lead (first book is "the thief's gamble") she's not really a Xena but she knows how to take care of her self and isn't afraid to use her womanly ways to stay warm at night

 

[Mark Robson]

Juliet E McKenna's Tails of the Einarinn have a strong female lead (first book is "the thief's gamble") she's not really a Xena but she knows how to take care of her self and isn't afraid to use her womanly ways to stay warm at night

I would second that recommendation.

 

[Rane Longfox]

Avoid Mercedes "ooh, feminism" Lackey if I were you... truly awful writer. And I don't say that about many people...

 

[Kraken]

Are you looking for something that has a sword and sorcery feeling to it?
I can't think of anything that matches that very closely.
Um, the Artifacts of Power series by Maggie Furey is the best I can think of. Aurian's a mage as well as a swordswoman, but as far as I remember it wasn't espaecially heavy on the violence.

But if you don't mind a more challenging read, Ash: A Secret History by Mary Gentle is very good, and certainly violent.
Somewhat less graphic is the Deed of Paksenarrion trilogy by Elizabeth Moon, starts off as gritty military and edges into magecraft later on.

If you lean towards dark fantasy/horror, have you tried the Anita Blake series by Laurell K. Hamilton? There you've got both the graphic violence and sexuality (and the further into the series you get, the more sex there is), as well as a good sense of humour.

Hope some of that helps

 

[Dalerone]

Actually you know, I think Hawk and Fisher series by Simon Green is a great series even if the Female shares the spotlight she is one of the two main characters. I think it has everything that you are looking for from your description.

Dalerone
____
Fantasybookspot
http://www.fantasybookspot.com

 

[Leto]

Avoid Mercedes "ooh, feminism" Lackey if I were you... truly awful writer. And I don't say that about many people...

Didn't she co-write some Darkover books ?

 

[dwndrgn]

I actually enjoy Lackey's writing. She has a simple style that keeps you interested, doesn't leave the characters or the world flat, but I wouldn't consider her if you are looking for violence or nudity or truly strong female leads. She is very light on violence and graphic descriptions of that and sexuality, normally she just hints at that kind of stuff. Most of her work is suitable for younger readers and she stays within that type of guideline.

 

[Majin]

Hey everybody, thanks for the recommendations. I'll have to check them out.

If anyone has any others, I'd be glad to hear them too. Oh, and yes, I do lean toward sword and sorcery sort of themes...and really, I suppose the main character can be a strong male one too...sword and sorcery that doesn't shy away from violence or sexuality/sensuality seems hard for me to find, at least so far.

Thanks again.

 

[Leto]

If anyone has any others, I'd be glad to hear them too. Oh, and yes, I do lean toward sword and sorcery sort of themes...and really, I suppose the main character can be a strong male one too.

Try Fritz Lieber works then. Two males for the price of one.

 

[Jayaprakash Satyamurthy]

Ah, Fafhrd and Grey Mouser!!! Those are pretty much my favourite s&s tales, I think they win out over even Conan because of the urbane humour, and the fact that both Fafhrd and Grey Mouser are far less of the 'superman' type than Conan was.

 

[Leto]

And they're the best example of a buddies book, a kind of "Lethal weapon" in fantasy land.

 

[Jayaprakash Satyamurthy]

a kind of "Lethal weapon" in fantasy land.

Great description.

 

[dwndrgn]

Here's something for you:

http://www.simonsays.com/content/content.cfm?sid=33&pid=501243

 

[Animaiden]

If you want short stories, try Chicks in Chain Mail. Many differn't stories by many differnt authors, all of them with strong female leads. There are a couple more books after it also (Did You Say Chicks, Chicks and Chained Males, etc).

 

[Jay]

Regarding novels with strong female chaarcters:

-Kushiel series - Jacqueline Carey

Kushiel's Dart
Kushiel's Chosen
Kushiel's Avatar


-Chalion novels - Lois Mcmaster Bujold

Curse of Chalion
Paladin of Souls
Hallowed Hunt (forthcoming May)

-Tamir Trilogy - Lynn Flewelling


Bone Doll's Twin
Hidden Warrior

-Jirel of Joiry - CL Moore

Firethorn which was recently released by Sarah Micklem was fantastic but not as traditonal as those above.

In regards to your Sword/Sorcery query besides the very good recomendation of Fritz Leiber's Lankhmar here are some others:

Solomon Kane - Robert E. Howard
Elric Saga - Michael Moorcock
Thongor - Lin Carter
Kane - Karl Edward Wagner
Conan - Robert E. Howard
Elak - Henry Kuttner

I really consider Erikson's Malazan series as a sword.sorcery series with epic elements, good fun series:

Gardens of the Moon
Deadhouse Gates
Memories of Ice
House of Chains
Midnight Tides
Bonehunters (forthcoming)
Reapers Cale (forthcoming)
Toll of Hounds (forthcoming)
Dust of Dreams (forthcoming)
The Crippled God (forthcoming)

 

[GOLLUM]

Regarding novels with strong female chaarcters:
I really consider Erikson's Malazan series as a sword.sorcery series with epic elements, good fun series:

Gardens of the Moon
Deadhouse Gates
Memories of Ice
House of Chains
Midnight Tides
Bonehunters (forthcoming)
Reapers Cale (forthcoming)
Toll of Hounds (forthcoming)
Dust of Dreams (forthcoming)
The Crippled God (forthcoming)

ERR... interesating description of Erikson's series as being a good fun series friend.

Don't get me wrong I consider Erikson and his Malazan books the best fantasy series I've ever read but I wouldn't call them good fun if you meant to imply easy going or light or happy type stories although YES they do have some nice comic elements in them.

That aside you seem to have listed some "classic" sword and sorcery stuff here so you obviously know your stuff!

BTW I agree with the part about Erikson being sword and sorcery with some EPIC elements, quite a good description.

All the best.