Just because I haven't seen him mentioned but most of Guy Gavriel Kay's books are very good. He doesn't seem to write much anymore though. The Fionavar Tapestry was a fun trilogy. Sort of a combination between The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe and LOTR. Was written in mid-80s which is probably why many don't know it.

Also, don't forget Clive Barker. While he started out in Horror much of his mid career and later stuff was more Fantasy/Sci-Fi/Horror. I would include Weaveworld and Imajica here although they aren't traditional Fantasy. Another author who has unfortunately retired from writing for the most part.

No Terry Brooks?

Can we talk **** about popular series on here too?

Really good series I rarely see mentioned is Phedre's Trilogy by Jacqueline Carey. Book 1 is Kushiel's Dart.

Protagonist is a female courtesan so it's an interesting and somewhat unique protagonist.

Description of book 1. The Dune comparison is a bit much but it's good:

Quote:

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The land of Terre d'Ange is a place of unsurpassing beauty and grace. It is said that angels found the land and saw it was good... and the ensuing race that rose from the seed of angels and men live by one simple rule: Love as thou wilt.

Phdre n Delaunay is a young woman who was born with a scarlet mote in her left eye. Sold into indentured servitude as a child, her bond is purchased by Anafiel Delaunay, a nobleman with very a special mission... and the first one to recognize who and what she is: one *****ed by Kushiel's Dart, chosen to forever experience pain and pleasure as one.

Phdre is trained equally in the courtly arts and the talents of the bedchamber, but, above all, the ability to observe, remember, and analyze. Almost as talented a spy as she is courtesan, Phdre stumbles upon a plot that threatens the very foundations of her homeland. Treachery sets her on her path; love and honor goad her further. And in the doing, it will take her to the edge of despair... and beyond. Hateful friend, loving enemy, beloved assassin; they can all wear the same glittering mask in this world, and Phdre will get but one chance to save all that she holds dear.

Set in a world of cunning poets, deadly courtiers, heroic traitors, and a truly Machiavellian villainess, this is a novel of grandeur, luxuriance, sacrifice, betrayal, and deeply laid conspiracies. Not since Dune has there been an epic on the scale of Kushiel's Dart-a massive tale about the violent death of an old age, and the birth of a new.

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Another couple of suggestions:

Lloyd Alexander's Prydain Chronicles - YA series inspired in part by Welsh mythology
David Eddings - multiple series (Belgariad, Mallorean, Elenium, Tamuli); kind of basic in a lot of ways, but a long-time favorite
Roger Zelazny - has a ton of stuff, probably most famously the Chronicles of Amber (Amber being a place, not a person, for the record)
Sean Russell - I really like his Moontide & Magic Rise duology, which is set in a fantasy world somewhat akin to the start of the Industrial Era, and his Initiate Brother duology, which is very much an Asian-inspired fantasy

Aggie_Journalist said:

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Is Star Wars sci fi or fantasy?

Either way, I'd also recommend Timothy Zahn's "Heir to the Empire" trilogy. It's set shortly after the original trilogy, long, long ago in a galaxy far, far away.

This was all retconned into non-existence by the sequel movie trilogy, but I'd recommend pretending that didn't happen and enjoying this trilogy of books instead.

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It's Sci-Fi and then further categorized into the Space Opera sub-genre of Sci-Fi.

Reading the Blade Itself now, also eyeballing one of John Gwynn's series.

Anyone read malice or shadow of the gods?

Since sci fi still has low hanging fruit:
David Brin (Uplift Series);
Ian M. Banks (The culture novels);
C.S.Friedman;
Dan Simmons (Hyperion series [mentioned]/and the Ilium books);
Richard Morgan (goes both ways with Takeshi Kovacs sci fi novels and steel remains fantasy series); and
Ian McDonald.

YouBet said:

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AgLiving06 said:

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Michael Sullivan - Riyria Revelations

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Really fun. Reading the last book right now on Audible.

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These are thoroughly entertaining reads. His Legends of the First Empire series was good as well, but Royce and Hadrian are really fantastic characters so I wouldn't put it on par with Riyria.

Licanius Trilogy by James Islington - Wheel of time inspired but wrapped up in only 3 books.

The Burning by Evan Winter - African based fantasy with dragons and some shades of Ender's Game.

Ravens Mark by Ed McDonald - Post apocalyptic eldritch steam punk.

Really obscure but Sangrook Saga by Steve Thomas - A small collection of short stories centered around the legacy of some former necromantic rulers. Creepy and different from some of the more traditional fantasy that I've read.

Edit:

Faithful and the Fallen by John Gwynne - Tropey coming of age fantasy with political scheming and backstabbing.

Evan Winter was one of the newer ones I've read. Liked the first book better than second but still pretty good. Not sure if 3rd is out or coming

I hate to say it since this is one the more highly regarded books on this board but I'm about 65% through The Blade Itself and I have fallen asleep during it countless times. This might be the most boring book I've ever read thus far. Really lacking any sort of drive or since of purpose with any of the characters. It hasn't even really dived into the war or any meaningful conflict yet it feels like.

Not going to quit on it but goodness

HummingbirdSaltalamacchia said:

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A Memory Called Empire and A Desolation Called Peace by Arkady Martine (HIGHLY recommend)

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Just when I thought you couldn't get any more awesome! Incredible books. I'm still reading the second one, but Arkady Martine is a masterful force of nature in SciFi.

Aggie_Outlaw said:

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Definitely Not A Cop said:

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Stephen King - The Dark Tower

Got one book left to read in the series.

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Sorry in advance.

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That's about where I am right now.

Finished Abercrombie First Law trilogy. I am inclined to say it's pretty meh and like a B-. Little confused why it is so highly regarded. I could barely read through the first book.

He writes interesting characters but his story is kind of bland and he is really bad at writing an exciting climax, especially with his really annoying POV switching and pacing. The strange part is there is a ton of action but it just didn't land with me in an epic way (other than Logen vs the feared, one of the best parts).

I started Sanderson's the Way of Kings, and am about 1/4 the way through so far. I find it a bit difficult to read.

I like the stories. But there are a lot of new names and characters, and he switches between 4 stories at once. I'm having a hard time connecting everything and remembering where I was in the story when we left off.

He also introduces a lot of new ideas/terms/characteristics about the world, but I have no idea what he's referring to. I assume a lot of those things get explained at some point?

Way of Kings is a slow burn, there are a lot of details and worldbuilding and foreshadowing that will take multiple books to pay off.

Its ok to not remember everyone and connect all the dots, especially on your first read. The main narrative is still worth it even if the interludes feel very disconnected.

Yes. The first part of the book is confusing, specifically for the reasons you mentioned. It basically has three prologues before the main book even starts.

Everything will eventually be explained, and some of it won't be explained until the last book, so don't fear if you feel like you are drowning at first. The flashbacks and especially the interludes are mainly used for world building, so even though I thought they were dryer than the main story at first, you start to realize how much they help you understand the world as you continue reading.

The Coppermind is Sanderson's wiki, and I'm almost positive there is a way to read it with only book 1 references, for example, so you wont get spoiled looking up a term. I would suggest doing a whole read through before you start doing this though. The most fun part to realize for me is how big i thought the world was, then start looking at the coppermind and realizing all the little connections I had missed in the first read through of the SA.

Gotcha. I'll get finish the first book regardless to see where it goes...but I find myself wanting to hurry through a storyline, to get back to the one we just left.

Definitely constructed differently than Im used to

Shallan's story will get better in later books, you kind of have to suffer through her to get to Kaladin and Dalinar.

The ending won't disappoint.

Madmarttigan said:

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Shallan's story will get better in later books, you kind of have to suffer through her to get to Kaladin and Dalinar.

The ending won't disappoint.

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ha! That's exactly how I feel at the moment. Just want to get back to the bridge crew....don't care about Shallan yet.

Daemon and Freedom by Daniel Suarez. They are amazing books and hit very close to home today with AI and cryptocurrency. Amazing sci-fi books.

I loved Blood Song so much I decided to give Anythony Ryan another chance after his first series floundered. I read The Pariah which is 99% a midieval tale with little magic, mostly some religious prophecy type stuff. I like his writing style and thought it was entertaining. Story is better than Abercrombie but lacks some of the good characters you see in The First Law. I give the book a B+ and will keep reading the 2nd with the 3rd coming out sometime this year.

I really enjoyed the Murderbot Diaries by Martha Wells. There are six books in the series but they are all pretty short.

Fantasy:
Larry Correia: Saga of the Forgotten Warrior
Will Wight: Traveller's Gate Trilogy
Nicholas Eames: Kings of the Wyld
Scott Lynch: Gentleman ******* series (The lies of Locke Lamora)
Shirtaloon: He Who Fights with Monsters
R. A. Salvatore: any
Justin Travis Call: The Silent Gods series

SciFi:
Andy Weir: The Martian; Project Hail Mary
Richard Fox: The Exiled Fleet

Not Sure if SciFi or Fantasy:
Larry Correia: Monster Hunter International series; Grimnoir Chronicles
David Gemmell: Troy trilogy

Madmarttigan said:

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Definitely Not A Cop said:

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Is that the series that Butcher started writing as a bet that no premise is ridiculous, as long as the writing is good? I had heard he got into an argument with a friend over that, his friend said ok, write a book combining Pokmon and the Roman Empire, so Butcher did it to prove him wrong.

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Yup and it's actually pretty damn good. The end of the series went too big for my tastes though. Like the ending of a comic book movie just big and stupid

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Just listened to all of these, and I agree with you. I thought Captain's Fury was the best, that was the only one I couldn't go to sleep because I couldn't wait to finish.

I thought all of them were pretty good though, and would recommend.

I've got Brandon Sanderson's newest Secret Project rolling now, and I think it's great so far.

Madmarttigan said:

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Shallan's story will get better in later books, you kind of have to suffer through her to get to Kaladin and Dalinar.

The ending won't disappoint.

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So I stuck it out, and finished it today. Great Book.

I went from thoroughly confused, to very anxious to see what happens next. So much of the story came together at the very end.

Appreciate the recommendation from the board.

Does book two pick up where the first left off?

Madmarttigan said:

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I loved Blood Song so much I decided to give Anythony Ryan another chance after his first series floundered. I read The Pariah which is 99% a midieval tale with little magic, mostly some religious prophecy type stuff. I like his writing style and thought it was entertaining. Story is better than Abercrombie but lacks some of the good characters you see in The First Law. I give the book a B+ and will keep reading the 2nd with the 3rd coming out sometime this year.

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Interesting, I didnt realize he had a new series out. I feel the same as you do about his first series, that first book was so good.