For fantasy book readers.

[crownjules]

Malzahan Book of the Fallen. I've only read the first book, which was very good, but the whole series gets lots of praise in these types of threads.

 

[Drako]

drizzt books are some of the worst books i've ever read. full of cliches, characters are predictable, plot lines are predictable.

95% of fantasy books are horrible and only sell because nerds buy them anyway. if you want something forgettable that you'll never have a conversation about except for with pimply grease-hairs down at the comic book store, get a d&d book.

LOL, I'll have to show my wife this. She really likes the Salvatore books. She'll get a kick out of the "pimply grease-hairs" comment.

 

[Soundmanred]

D&D/Drizzt stuff is good for those just getting into it that may not enjoy reading, or following multiple storylines.
I'm not sure what's worse, the comparatively simplistic storylines and characters of these types of books, or the over convoluted and overwritten books of some of the more "intellectual" series. Sometimes it's like they are testing readers to see how long they will keep reading neverending plotlines with no meaning or direction (and laughing all the way to the bank).

 

[ProfJohn]

If you don't like Clash of Kings then maybe you should find a different genre. It is one of the best fantasy books I have read, not that I read a ton of them.

I wouldstill recommend the Wheel of Time books. Even if they do slow down towards the middle the first six books are very good. Especially books 4,5 & 6.

Think of it this way...

No one would ever tell you not to watch Star Wars or Empire Strikes Back because the Phantom Menace sucks.


BTW the characters in WOT are MUCH easier to keep track of than the Martin characters. There are so many knights in that book that it is easy to lose track of who is who.

 

[GagHalfrunt]

BTW the characters in WOT are MUCH easier to keep track of than the Martin characters.

Sure, because they're all the same character. The men are weak, insecure and henpecked, the women are all lying, ego-maniacal, screeching harpies and they sit around for books at a time doing nothing. The only thing you have to keep track of is which Aes Sedai is wearing which dress.

 

[SMOGZINN]

Check out Dave Duncan's Man of His Word series, which starts with the book Magic Casement
Unlike many of the more epic fantasy novels, the Man of His Word is entertaining with out being overly complex. It is a step up from the Forgotten Realms novels, and a long step down from Songs of Fire and Ice.

 

[SMOGZINN]

Sure, because they're all the same character. The men are weak, insecure and henpecked, the women are all lying, ego-maniacal, screeching harpies and they sit around for books at a time doing nothing. The only thing you have to keep track of is which Aes Sedai is wearing which dress.

Don't be ridiculous! One has a hammer, one a knife, and the other a sword! They are nothing alike!

Really, why did he get so obsessed with clothing?

 

[shortylickens]

I aint finished any fiction book in a VERY long time. Much less fantasy.
Last book I did was The Shallows. Need to get back to my shelf. Like a third of it is unread.

 

[Zap]

If you think G RR Martin's books are slow moving, I think you'll feel the same about "wheel of time".

For the Wheel of time series (which should end next year with 15 separate books counting the prequel) you can actually read the first volume The Eye of the World as a stand alone book, or maybe the first and second. Sure, you don't get the whole story to the end (nobody has yet) but IMO those are fine without the others.

 

[videogames101]

drizzt books are some of the worst books i've ever read. full of cliches, characters are predictable, plot lines are predictable.

95% of fantasy books are horrible and only sell because nerds buy them anyway. if you want something forgettable that you'll never have a conversation about except for with pimply grease-hairs down at the comic book store, get a d&d book.

You realize that that applies to 95% of all books, not just fantasy? And it's not necessarily bad.

 

[SolMiester]

I've always liked The Belgariad and the Mallorean series by David Eddings.

Also, the Riftwar books by Raymond E. Feist are good, though the first two books (Magician) are MUCH better than the last two (Silverthorn and Darkness at Sethanon).

The Sword of Shannara (the first one) was also very enjoyable. However, the second and third books (Elfstone and Wishsong) are the same story, so they were pretty boring.

+1....Also agree Thomas Covenant the Unbeliever and the Rift wars are excellent book series' too

 

[ProfJohn]

You realize that that applies to 95% of all books, not just fantasy? And it's not necessarily bad.

My name is <insert name> you killed my <insert name> prepare to die...

 

[Bryophyte]

Ender's Game and Ender's Shadow series
Redwall series
Drangonlance series

Harry Potters make for a good quick read.

Redwall is a series of books for fairly young children. Not that there's anything wrong with that, but someone who is old enough to read Martin's ASOFAI is not likely going to go for Redwall.

Card's Ender/Bean series is fun, but is SciFi, not Fantasy.

 

[Pheran]

I've read all of these except as noted, so I can recommend them all. I've tried to classify them into different styles. In particular, not all readers will like the "heavy" category - it sounds like you probably don't. In my opinion, that's where the best fantasy is found, but to each his own. I haven't bothered reading Jordan; I've just heard too many negative things about WoT, not to mention he died before finishing.

Heavy Fantasy

Donaldson - Thomas Covenant, Mordant's Need
Martin - A Song of Ice and Fire
Bakker - Prince of Nothing
Erikson - Malazan Book of the Fallen (disclaimer: I've only read the first book)

Medium Fantasy

Feist - Riftwar
Cook - Black Company
Tolkien - Lord of the Rings
Moorcock - Elric (and other Eternal Champion characters)
Zelazny - Amber
Pullman - His Dark Materials (could be classified Juvenile but has complex themes)

Light Fantasy

Eddings - Belgariad
Brooks - Shannara (original trilogy: Sword/Elfstones/Wishsong)
Weis/Hickman - Dragonlance (original Chronicles and Legends trilogies)
McCaffrey - Pern
Pratchett - Discworld

Juvenile Fantasy

Rowling - Harry Potter
Riordan - Percy Jackson
Anthony - Xanth (I only recommend books 1-6)

 

[Pheran]

Redwall is a series of books for fairly young children. Not that there's anything wrong with that, but someone who is old enough to read Martin's ASOFAI is not likely going to go for Redwall.

Card's Ender/Bean series is fun, but is SciFi, not Fantasy.

I've never read Redwall, but I'm a huge fan of "heavy fantasy" (see my post above) and I still enjoy juvenile fantasy (Rowling, Riordan, etc.) as long as it's well done.

 

[Pheran]

The amber series is awesome.. ly bad. Stay clear.

Pfft - you have no taste. However, I will admit that the second series (starting with Trumps of Doom) is not as good as the first and gets overly convoluted.

If you want to read a great Zelazny novel, check out Lord of Light (which is somewhere between fantasy and SF). It's a little difficult to get into at first, but the effort is well worth it.

 

[Jadow]

There isn't any fantasy I can think of that's as adult and heavy as Game of Thrones, but if you want to read some great fantasy I recommend fantasy from these authors:

Terry Brooks
Raymond E. Feist
RA Salvatore
David Eddings

 

[GagHalfrunt]

Don't be ridiculous! One has a hammer, one a knife, and the other a sword! They are nothing alike!

Really, why did he get so obsessed with clothing?

When Jordan discovered that you can't fill 500 pages on hairstyles alone he branched out into haute couture.

 

[Pheran]

There isn't any fantasy I can think of that's as adult and heavy as Game of Thrones

It does exist, see my list above.

 

[Bryophyte]

I've never read Redwall, but I'm a huge fan of "heavy fantasy" (see my post above) and I still enjoy juvenile fantasy (Rowling, Riordan, etc.) as long as it's well done.

There's juvenile fantasy, and then there's fantasy about mice and squirrels. Redwall is about mice and squirrels. It's a cute series, but it's not likely to attract an adult reader like Harry Potter or Percy Jackson will (for light, fun reading.) I've got a couple kids who are avid readers, and I've always read all the books I buy for them. They're fun to intersperse in amongst the heavier adult books.

 

[ProfJohn]

Can you define what you mean by 'heavy fantasy'

I assume you mean the overall plot and not so much lots of fantasy elements?

I ask because the first 3 Martin books have hardly any fantasy in them at all.

 

[Pheran]

Can you define what you mean by 'heavy fantasy'

I assume you mean the overall plot and not so much lots of fantasy elements?

I ask because the first 3 Martin books have hardly any fantasy in them at all.

I'm not talking about the level of fantastic elements in the story - and I certainly agree with you the ASoIaF is on the low end of that scale. What I'm talking about is complex writing, shades of gray in character motivations/actions, adult elements and a certain amount of darkness in the story. Most stories that I would classify as heavy fantasy contain anti-heroes; Donaldson is particularly well known for this.

 

[tynopik]

If you liked sword of truth, try the Codex Alera series by Jim Butcher

he's more known for his Dresden Files series, but I actually preferred Alera

It's not as depressing as ASoIaF (spoiler: Tavi doesn't die) and it moves fairly quick

 

[tynopik]

There's juvenile fantasy, and then there's fantasy about mice and squirrels. Redwall is about mice and squirrels. It's a cute series

The characters might be forest critters, but the stories could just as easily be done with humans.

And there's some pretty vicious moments for a 'cute series.' (every book racks up a good-sized body count . . . on both sides)

 

[khon]

Malzahan Book of the Fallen. I've only read the first book, which was very good, but the whole series gets lots of praise in these types of threads.

The first book is excellent, and the same holds true for the next 3-4, but honestly it goes down hill from there.

By the time you get to book 9, I dare anyone to figure out what the hell is going on.

Suffice to say that if OP was having trouble with too many characters in A Song of Ice and Fire, he should not be trying his luck with Malazan Book of the Fallen.

One book I would recommend given the OP's criteria is "The Fade". It's not very well known, but it really should be. Easily the best stand alone fantasy novel I've read.