Gritty Fantasy

[Hiro Protagonist]

I'm looking for a fantasy novel or epic fantasy with a sort of gritty realism. I have read such books as A Clockwork Orange, and American Psycho, and have only really read a few fantasy novels in which there is some grittiness. Obviously I don't want a story geared around blood and gore, and I don't want blood in gore to take from the story, but rather, I am looking for a story with some realism in description. I think this might be one of the reasons I love cyberpunk and science fiction, because often authors like Gibson and Neal Stephenson give great descriptions, even of the grittiest moments. In terms of a movie, it annoys me when something bad is going to happen and the camera turns to the shadow and you only hear the noises. It annoys me because the character that fell victim to whatever experienced something that I really didn't, because I got shafted in the description.

I have read and loved A Game of Thrones, and especially Elantris. Any recommendations are appreciated

 

[K. Riehl]

I find that most epic Fantasy tries to avoid the gritty reality and deal more with the powerful and gifted. For books about the common man confronted with the magical and having a dose of reality perhaps The Book of Kells by R.A. MacAvoy, Elizabeth Moon's Paksenarrion series, The first Thomas Covenant trilogy by Stephan Donaldson. You will dislike Covenant but Donaldson does write some of the best evil creatures as well as some of the best Giants that I have encountered

If you really want gritty reality in Science Fiction you might try some of the CJ Cherryh books from the Union/Alliance space series such as Downbelow Station, Merchanters Luck, Cyteen, Rimrunners etc.

 

[Connavar]

I find Steven Erikson's Malazan series pretty gritty for a Epic fantasy.

 

[Culhwch]

Not strictly fantasy but you might try Bernard Cornwell's Arthur cycle, The Warlord Chronicles, comprising The Winter King, Enemy of God, and Excalibur.

 

[Anthony G Williams]

Another take on the Arthurian legends which I remember as very gritty - as well as being a compelling read - is Richard Monaco's 'Grail War' series. There were four of them, published 1977-80, and I thought they were terrific. Which reminds me, I must dig them out and re-read them sometime.

 

[murphy]

What comes to mind is:

Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch (starts a series with only the second book out. It's been said that there will be 7 books in the series.)
The Blade Itself by Joe Abercrombie, (A trilogy, of which the last book will be out in March 2008)
The Prince of Nothing trilogy by R. Scott Bakker starting with The Darkness that Comes Before
Melusine by Sarah Monette

 

[GOLLUM]

Melusine by Sarah Monette

Never heard of it, please explain!

 

[murphy]

Not so sure about the explanation part, but here are a couple of reviews from her website. Funny thing, I picked up her name and the book's name on this site. Can't remember exactly who, though. Good book and good writer.

 

[Thadlerian]

The Prince of Nothing trilogy by R. Scott Bakker starting with The Darkness that Comes Before

I second this. Bakker has a combination of grittiness with an unique form of character realism which I have yet to see in another author.

 

[iansales]

Richard Morgan's new novel, The Steel Remains, is said to be a gritty fantasy.

 

[Reading_fanatic]

You could also try the Jon Shannow series by David Gemmell.

 

[Connavar]

You could also try the Jon Shannow series by David Gemmell.

Yeah! how could i a huge DG and Shannow fan forget to mention that

 

[Snarf]

The Silence of the Lambs has that kind of feel to it. I read it a year or so ago and I liked it more than the movie, it may be the kind of thing you're looking for.

 

[Jason_Taverner]

Erikson or try Dune which is gritty if you compare it to today political and relgious climate,

 

[elvet]

I've just finished The Light Ages by Ian MacCleod. It's different from what I usually like. It is very gritty and dark, sort of an alternate history of England with magic thrown in. I liked it enough to continue with another of his books, House of Storms, that takes place about 100 years after The Light Ages.

From Amazon, a review of Light Ages:

Aether rules the world. Aether drives the engines, the telegraphs, the very lights of London.

Through the power of aether, and through the secrets and mysteries of the guilds that wield it, England has created a mighty Industrial Age. It is a place of enchanted gardens and grimy terraces, smokestack factories and fantastic beasts. Yet in this great age of the world, Robert Borrows, the insignificant son of a Lesser Toolmaker, holds the key to the world’s future.
Raised in the Yorkshire town of Bracebridge, a place dominated by the pounding of mighty subterranean engines, Robert witnesses the dark side of aether when his mother is transformed into a changeling; less than human, terrible to see. Fleeing to London, he re-encounters the beautiful, mercurial and mysterious Anna Winters, who he first met on a trip to a strange white palace in happier times. Roaming the vast, Brobdignagian city, all colours, smells and danger, exploring its myriad social layers, from petty criminals and revolutionaries to salon mistresses and opium dreamers, he discovers secrets that will lead him back towards the clouded hills of Bracebridge and the deepest mysteries of aether. For all is not well in England’s green and pleasant land. This Age is ending, in fire and death… A dazzling melange of Charles Dickens, Mervyn Peake and Edward Rutherfurd, The Light Ages is the story of a time of wonders and delights, mysteries and nightmares. Events both great and small are mirrored in the life of Robert Borrows, an ordinary man born into extraordinary times. Richly detailed, joyous, visionary - World Fantasy Award-winner, Ian R MacLeod, has produced a tour-de-force of imaginative fiction. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

 

[Thadlerian]

This is another thread in which China Miéville's Bas-Lag novels should be mentioned. Not merely gory, the books seem to love everything that's dirty, all those sides of a fantasy society that we don't want to read about.

 

[Reading_fanatic]

Anouther that comes to mind for me is the Black Jewels trilogy by Anne Bishop

 

[Culhwch]

Richard Morgan's new novel, The Steel Remains, is said to be a gritty fantasy.

This is the Altered Carbon Richard Morgan? I can't find any such title by him...

 

[Connavar]

This is the Altered Carbon Richard Morgan? I can't find any such title by him...

It isnt realesed yet. Check out his upcoming work.

 

[Riselka]

I'm wondering if Sean McMullen's "Greatwinter Trilogy" would fit this category, since I've seen it described as having a "Steam Punk" quality to it.

I haven't read it yet, but I do have a copy of the second novel in the trilogy, "The Miocene Arrow", found in a thrift store bargain bin for $0.10. It looked interesting, but I didn't realize it was the second book in a trilogy until I got it home.

Just wondering if it's any good, before going to the effort of special ordering the first in the series.