The best debut fantasy novel of the last fewyears?

[ratsy]

I am just wondering what everyones opinions are on the next gen fantasy authors that are coming out of late. There seem to be a lot of new authors and fantasy seems to have started fresh with these new minds. Who's work has been original, entertaining and just plain amazing?

 

[Werthead]

Probably the stand-out is R. Scott Bakker's The Darkness That Comes Before (if 2003 is recent enough). His Prince of Nothing Trilogy is really a fresh and original take on a sometimes staid genre.

The three big debuts of the last few years (all in 2006-07) were Joe Abercrombie's The Blade Itself, Scott Lynch's The Lies of Locke Lamora and Patrick Rothfuss' The Name of the Wind, all of which are readable, enjoyable novels. Abercrombie has the edge over the other two in that the First Law trilogy that The Blade Itself kicked off is already complete.

They're not on the same level of quality as the above, but Brandon Sanderson's Elantris was also decent and Brian Ruckley's Winterbirth was also entertaining.

 

[ratsy]

Yeah, I have read The Name of the Wind and did enjoy it. I have Elantris at home ready too go after I finish the new Feist (why I still read him I couldnt tell you)

 

[Lucien21]

I would go with Scott Lynch or Joe Abercrombie.

Not a fan of R.Scott Bakker I thought his books were seriously overrated.

 

[Perpetual Man]

I agree with the top two replies here. Much as I wish I ahd the time to read a lot more than I do, so there is probably plenty out there I might have chosen; Patrick Rothfuss' The Name of the Wind is one of the few new author's I've picked up and read. It blew me away. I cannot recommend it enough!

 

[Tansy]

Abercrombie for me, Lynch's first one I really enjoyed, not read the second yet and I am still part way through Rothfusd

 

[Adasunshine]

Abercrombie for me too and Rothfuss deserves at least a mention!

xx

 

[Rosemary]

I've been enjoying the trilogies of Russell Kirkpatrick - His first was Fire of Heaven and then Husk.

I've become another great fan of Joe Abercrombie's books and after reading his First Law trilogy am waiting patiently for his next publication.

Patrick Rothfuss' The Name of the Wind was certainly another choice.

 

[JDP]

I thought Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch was a brilliantly crafted novel - by far my favourite debut in recent years (not perfect, mind, but what is?). Red Seas Under Red Skies, however, paled by comparison (probably due to little more than massively hooooge expectations). Joe Abercrombie's First Law trilogy was also really good fun. I've not read Rothfuss yet.

So if it's best debut fantasy novel of last few years you're after, my money's on Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch.

 

[HoopyFrood]

Going to have to throw in another vote for The Lies of Locke Lamora. A fantastic first novel, I re-he-he-heally enjoyed it. I particularly liked the world in which it was set; not a typical fantasy setting but a very elegant Italian-esque world. And I'm not big on world-building, so it was nice to concentrate on the immediate story rather than giving lots of historical back story. Although the settings are still described very well.

 

[Wybren]

If we can go back as far as 2001 I submit that "The Ill Made Mute" by Cecilia Dart Thornton is brilliant. It is the first in her Bitterbynde trilogy and her ability to weave a story is amazing.

 

[Hilarious Joke]

She gets my vote as well Wyb, if we can go back that far!

 

[nj1]

I'll put another vote for Abercrombie's FIRST LAW trilogy but would add an honary mention to Tom Lloyd's The Storm Caller and Twilight Herald both good fantasy books with the next installment The Grave thief out some time in the nearish future

 

[elvet]

Though I liked the Prince of Nothing series, it's complexities made it a hard read, so I'll add a vote for The First Law trilogy. The characters were human with flaws to match, and even if I didn't like the ending, it was suitable to the story.

 

[Wybren]

You have read her HJ? Brilliant isn't she, and Australian too!!

 

[Hilarious Joke]

Yep, I love her writing style. The Iron Tree is one of my favourite books ever. Although I like the Bitterbynde trilogy better than the Crowthistle Chronicles. You read them?

 

[Wybren]

Yeah, I read them. I loved The Iron Tree I thought that was brilliant. My favourite of that series though is Fallowblade, but I think she could have done so much more with that series. Morrigan is my absolute favourite of all her characters though.

 

[D_Davis]

Like a broken record....

JM McDermott's Last Dragon

I've jotted down a few titles in this thread to check out.

I'll especially look for any that aren't part of a series.

 

[Lioness]

If we can go back as far as 2001 I submit that "The Ill Made Mute" by Cecilia Dart Thornton is brilliant. It is the first in her Bitterbynde trilogy and her ability to weave a story is amazing.

Yes, that book/series is one of the best books/serieses that I've ever read. (and please bear with my tendency to make up words...my brain died, and my grammar and vocabulary with it)

 

[Nesacat]

Mine would have to be Kij Johnson's Fudoki. She's only got two books out so far, the other being Fox Woman, which is also wonderful.

I also liked Lies of Locke Lamora and The Blade Itself but if I had to choose, as in here, I would have to go with Fudoki (the protagonist being a sometimes cat has nothing to do with it .... well, not really)