I was just curious why there weren't more books under the mis. section of the fanasty books.

Most people know the more famous fantasy writers, but there are a few good books out there that I thought would be good for the list here at Sorcerer's Place, that not everyone might know about.

George R.R. Martin wrote the Game of Thrones and a Clash of Kings. I thought both of them were very good. I assume they might be more popular with the guys than the girls, it was a little gory and sometimes down right crude writing from time to time, but extremely intersting to read. As stated before it is has a lot to do with power, Kings, and Queens. Dark places unkown and worlds with a different view. Dragons, and knights, and people who you thought were dead come back to visit you. Definetly no love story involved.

Donna Gillespie wrote The Light Bearer. Definetly a good book. It has a female heroine as its main character, but it still kicks butt. It has a little bit of a love story within in it, but it is not done in detail and does not overshadow the main theme of the story. A young women who watchers her people die around her, stands up to fight and bring about what is right, in a land torn in war.

And Stephen R. Donaldson wrote The Mirror of Her Dreams and A Man Rides Through. Takes a little different twist than most fantasy novles. It is a world where you can creat a mirror with an image in it and travel to places unkown to you through them. It is also about finding a champion, who is the only one that can save a destitute world, and finding that champion in the oddest of places.

My descriptions do not do the books justice, but they are really very good. At least in my opinion.

Anyway, just a thought.

I really liked George R.R. Martin's books. I thought they were quite enjoyable.

I also really like Tad Williams. Memory, Thorn and Sorrow where good but the Otherworld Series is amazing. They are some of the best books I have ever read.

I've just borrowed the George RR Martin trilogy, and I agree, so far it's Fantastic. The characters are well developed and multifaceted.

He was also mentioned a few times in the Fantasy Authors poll. I'm glad someone loaned me the books! Has he written anything else, in the same genre?

Satiana - Did you read Donaldson's First or Second Chronicles of Thomas Covenant? Thomas Covenant was even more of an anti-hero that Geraden or Terisa.

I would also highly recommend Dennis McKiernan to anybody. You know the legends you hear about where the heros emerge triumphant yet have many scars to show for it? That's the kind of tale McKiernan writes. His first books (The Iron Tower trilogy and the Silver Call duology) are probably hard to find, but he is still writing excellent novels in a consistent world spanning many different ages.

Another of my favorites that I don't see mentioned much is Katherine Kurtz. Her many trilogies about the Deryni are fantastic. Her more recent Adept series is also quite good.

Well I mostly fill the Miscellanea section with suggestions people send me over e-mail. Starting a topic here is a good idea too. I will add them when I get around to it.
In the meantime, feel free to suggest more.

I forgot about McKiernan. I really like his books too. Too bad he's probably written his last book in that series. :(

On the trendy note: I really enjoyed Terry Goodkind's SWORD OF TRUTH series (although the last few have been let downs).

I recently read the first book in the SARANTINE MOSAIC called "Sailing to Sarantine". It was written by Sir Guy something or other (he helped Tolkin post-mordum finish the Simarillion). This book had a very original concept and kept me guessing.

For good sword action and plot twists, you can't beat David Duncan's The King's Blades ("The Gilded Chain" through "the Sky of Swords") Great action and easy to read.

Guy Gavriel Kay wrote the "Sarintine Mosaic". Which I thought was much better than his earlier work in the "Fionavar Tapestry."

I thought that Terry Goodkind's newest book "Faith of the Fallen" (at least I think that's the name) was much better than the two previous books in the series.

if you like terry goodkind read wizard's first rule its excellent

i'm gonna assume everyone here has read every single j.r.r. tolkein book ever written, and if you havn't go read them all! and dont show your avatar 'round here again 'lest i smash your face! ;) ;)

Blackthorne- No I haven't, the Mirror of her Dreams and a Man Rides Through are the only two by him I have read. I was about 16 or 17 at the time and I felt that it was going to be hard to find a book as good as those two were, that I stopped reading for awhile. Everything I picked up, didn't sound all that interesting.

Then about 3 yrs after that there seemed to be all kinds that I was interested in and I never got back to reading any more my him.

But, since I am looking for a new book to read, I think I will try to find the First Chronicle. I want to finish the series that George Martin wrote first, but I think it is going to be a while before he comes out with the last two.

Darien--It does not seem as the George Martin has wrote any other series. He has a couple of novels he wrote a while back called

Dead Man's Hand
Dying of the Light
Fevre Dream
Windhaven

But, I have never read these, so I am not sure if they are any like this series or not.



[This message has been edited by Satiana Fearbringer (edited April 08, 2001).]

If anyone is into Fistory? (Fictional History)

A friend of mine wrote a book about the knights of Malta...It's listed at Amazon.com
The author's name is Nicholas Prata, the book: "Angels in Iron." A good read...Although I am kind of biased.

It's been out for a couple of years...

Bel;

Shara's stories on the Civil War -- Killer Angels, Gods and Generals, etc. would fall into that category. Very cool books!

Can you post a link to your friend's books?

I also strongly recommend the Warlord Chronicals by Bernard Cornwell.

This spin on the Arthurian legends brings new life to the culture and to the characters. Great battle scenes, wonderful character development.

Cornwell presents an Arthur that even Ragusa would love!

I just looked it up, he actually has two out now...Dreams of Fire is purely fictional, I believe...I read the first couple of chapters while it was in manuscript form...But I couldn't finish it because of school.

Here's the link:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/search-handle-form/107-2674201-3239757

I'm rather surprised that no one has menioned Raymond E. Feist. Magician is such a great book.

Magician was indeed excellent.

Steven Donaldson's books are all worth reading. For those who'll venture into Sci Fi too, you must read the Gap series. Brilliant, although bear with the first one which was originally written to stand on it's own, first as a short story, then extended, and it therefore has a bit of a strange feel to it.

Speaking of Sci Fi, anyone who has not read "Ender's Game" by Orson Scott Card, please hang your heads in shame. It is probably the second best Sci Fi / Fantasy book ever.

The best is of course Lord of the Rings, but that just goes without saying.

Anyone else think Robert Jordan is either a money grabbing bastard or has lost the plot totally?

The Wheel of Time goes on and on and on and on and on and............

Really getting rather annoying now, 2 years between books and still not finished at nine!!!! I refuse to buy any more till he's finished it now. The writing isn't even that good. The storyline is or perhaps was. Now it's been dragged out far too much.

Rant, rant. Sorry.

On a brighter note, try L.E. Modesit Jnr's Recluse saga for an entertaining read. Well written, each book stands on it's own. Way to go!

Woohoo!!!! L. E. Modesitt rules!!!! It took me a little to get used to his style of writing but once I started I couldn't stop!!! I even use a name from his books.

On a different note I don't really see why everyone loves Tolkein so much. Sure he was the "father of fantasy" and blah blah blah, I just got bored after a while. The Hobbit was a nice read but The Lord of The Rings got so boring that I had to force myself to finish it, so I gave up on the rest of his books.

[This message has been edited by Cerryl (edited April 10, 2001).]

Oh dear Cerryl, oh dear.

Rather than abuse you for such herresy, perhaps a "show of hands" on the board is in order:

To all of you:

"The lord of the Rings" is the greatest book ever written! All in favour say "Aye".

Hmm, perhaps I should just drown the witch anyway? (Self professed white wizard) :D



[This message has been edited by Viking (edited April 10, 2001).]

Ack! All you people calling Science Fiction "Sci-Fi" are not true SF readers at all! ;)

And Viking, Donaldson should have stuck to Fantasy settings, many of his SF premises were almost laughable in the Gap series. The story and characters were indeed interesting though.

"Ender's Game" was better in its short story form than novel form.

[This message has been edited by Blackthorne TA (edited April 10, 2001).]

What about the DUNE books? It has to stack up with Lord of the Rings as the most innovative, genre defining book in its class.

I also agree 100% with the idea that "Robert Jordan is either a money grabbing bastard or has lost the plot totally!"

I finished the Fart of Winter, and although the plot moved one or two steps forward, it was still pretty much a waste.

Blackthorn - Are you saying that most of these books are modern "pulp-fiction"?

No, what I'm saying is that "true" Science Fiction readers abbreviate it SF not Sci-Fi... :)

I think we've been brain washed by the Sci-Fi channel on that one! The damage may be beyond repair! ;)

Witch???? Who are you calling a witch Viking!!! :mad:

And I've said it before but I'll say it again... THE LORD OF THE RINGS WAS A BORING SERIES!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[This message has been edited by Cerryl (edited April 11, 2001).]

Hey lighten up Cerryl, the reference was only to be read in conjunction with the charge of herresy, which I seem to recall they burnt witches for back in the good old days.

If you're in doubt, Cerryl, I accept your rightful place as a wizard albeit white not black. Still, a good guy in a bad world I think. :)

Cerryl, you have to keep in mind that when the Lord of the Rings was written, there was no fantasy. Tolkien didn't have Monster Manuals to draw ideas from. He was innovating! Drawing from old fireside tales of trolls and goblins, he created a genre.

Yeah, he lacks the flash and steel that modern SF excels in. But he makes up for it in depth!

Get the books on tape and go through the story again. Just like the tales he drew from, the Lord of the Rings was meant to be spoken, not read.

Maybe I love it so much because my first exposure to fantasy was having the Hobbit read to me when I was little.

I'm not so sure there wasn't fantasy. At least they had fairy tales.

But Tolkien made a new genre of it. A party of chars that walked into adventures which gave idea for RPGs!

Hail Tolkien!

I forgot to add:

The Deed of Paksenarrion by Elizabeth Moon.

This is the story of a farm girl who enlists in the army, and is slowly but surely transformed into an ideal paladin.

It is intruging to see how Moon incorporates the standard 1st Edition AD&D traits of a paladin into her story.

This is actually a trilogy contained on one volume. Good news: She can't pull a Robert Jordon, the series is done. Bad news: She can't pull a Robert Jordon, the series is done. :p

Actually Mathetais, Moon has continued her series. I haven't read them myself but there is another series set in the same world but some years after.

Also Cerryl was a GREY wizard not a white one.

And with this Tolkein thing. I LIKED The Hobbit, I just felt that The Lord of The Rings was trying to create a plot to follow on from The Hobbit where there wasn't really anything left to fill in an follow on from.

ARRRRGH...I'm a Tasloi Helper!!!!!!

[This message has been edited by Cerryl (edited April 12, 2001).]

I knew Moon did a prequel trilogy to Deeds in which she explained how a peasent became a God but I didn't know she had done anything after Deeds.

For your DON'T READ list, make sure you avoid Rhapsody. That was the biggest waste of paper that I've ever encountered.

BIG PLOT SPOILER
*


*


*

They're stuck in a magic tree the whole #*$&#@$ book!!! :mad:

about G.R.R.Martin - "Fevre Dream" is superb. If U have a chance to read it, dont miss it.Martin is phenomen in our times. U may like to visit this board:
http://pub26.ezboard.com/basoiaf
Also for the book-lovers, U may visit
http://www.baen.com
there is a free library, also webscribtion, U may buy 4-5 books for $10 few months before the books hit the market.Some of the writers visit the Bar.
Zelazny is one of my all time favorites. After Amber, "Lord Demon" is my most readed.
Anne McCafrey's Pern books are pretty good.
Ursule LeGuin's "The left Hand of the Darkness" is must in SF, as Earthsee in F.

Wait, lemme copy this all down. I only read Agatha Christie and Forgotten Realms right now. I just hit a back issue bonzana, Azure Bonds, Shadowdale, Tantras, Prophet of Moonshaes, Chaos Curse and Tangled Webs. all for $2, except Tangled webs. Lord of the rings is only the 3 books that (was it BTA or someone else...) were mentioned to me right? I came across all this other "The road" and "Creation of Middle Earth" stuff, this isn't part of it is it?

The Lord of the Rings:

1. The fellowship of the ring
2. The two towers
3. The return of the King

Each is actually split into two books, and I've seen them under separate cover, but don't think they had different names. Just part one or two of each of the above.

Of the other stuff I've only read Silmarillion, which I'll only recomend if you *really* like the middle earth setting.

I am missing the name of David Eddings in this topic because he's my all time second (to JRRT) in creating a huge world worked out from genesis to whatsoever. Mallorea stands in its diversity very close to Middle Earth.