To the fantasy readers and writers, recommendations needed

[Quillwitch]

Thanks, @Amber! Thanks, @lrholland!


Good title. Like it.


Thanks for link. Full disclosure: I was asking as much for the advice as to discover other fantasy fans here on Litopia.

I agree! That is a good title! Hurry up and finish it!

 

[Katie-Ellen]

Published by giant Hachette later this year, author Piers Torday, a YA fantasy series set in 1945.

More HERE

 

[Rich.]

Published by giant Hachette later this year, author Piers Torday, a YA fantasy series set in 1945.

More HERE

This sounds brilliant. What a clever idea!

 

[Rich.]

So what is it that attracts you all to the fantasy genre? For me it's the sense of wonder, the sense of something mythic, and that childlike joy of discovery. What is it for you?

 

[Carly]

I read fantasy novels but I tend to read the more commercial books. I love the creativity and imagination behind these books and the feeling that almost anything is possible.

I liked The Magician by Raymond E Feist. This remains my favourite book but I didn't like his subsequent novels. I have read all Terry Brooks' books, in particular his Shannara series. I have also read many David Eddings and James Clemens books.

Recently, I was told about Trudi Canavan and although her books were readable, I felt they weren't as good as others I have read. When saying this to a well-read friend, he gave me a series by Tad Williams, starting with The Dragonbone Chair, which I hope to read soon.

However, like you I am doing research work on the genre that I am currently writing and so my time is being spent reading novels that are semi-autobiographical or fictional but feel like they are true-to-life.

 

[Rich.]

I read fantasy novels but I tend to read the more commercial books.

Me too. I love stuff that makes me think, but I'll always be a sucker for a damn good adventure. Not that you can't have both, I reckon, and still be commercial (Dune springs to mind, and (maybe less obviously) The Name of the Wind – I love what Patrick Rothfuss is doing with the idea of a 'hero').

You've mentioned a couple of authors I don't know, and a couple that I do but haven't read. But yay to Terry Brooks. I know the Shannara series gets a lot of flak, but I'll always have a soft spot for it.

 

[Carly]

Me too. I love stuff that makes me think, but I'll always be a sucker for a damn good adventure. Not that you can't have both, I reckon, and still be commercial (Dune springs to mind, and (maybe less obviously) The Name of the Wind – I love what Patrick Rothfuss is doing with the idea of a 'hero').

You've mentioned a couple of authors I don't know, and a couple that I do but haven't read. But yay to Terry Brooks. I know the Shannara series gets a lot of flak, but I'll always have a soft spot for it.

The Shannara series has a lot going for it but unfortunately he's probably taken it further than he should have as many of the storylines are rehashed (but then I do keep buying the new books). I'll look out for Dune and The Name of the Wind. I haven't read either of those. Thank you.

 

[Rich.]

@Carly, Dune by Frank Herbert is a classic (I actually think it reads a bit clunky now – lots of head hopping to make a modern editor foam at the mouth), but the story's fantastic. It's the first of a long series (I've only read the first one) and it's more sci-fi than fantasy – science-fantasy maybe.

The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss is contemporary (2007) and the first of a trilogy (the third of which, annoyingly, still hasn't been published). It's proper high-fantasy heroes and magic stuff – but more character-led than most. It seems to divide opinion quite sharply. Some think it's slow. Some don't connect with the main character. Some think it's derivative. Other, like me, think it's up there with the best fantasy books I've ever read.

I'm telling you all this assuming from the way you phrased it ('I'll look out for...') that you don't already know. If you do, then forgive me for blathering on!

 

[Carly]

I'm telling you all this assuming from the way you phrased it ('I'll look out for...') that you don't already know. If you do, then forgive me for blathering on!

Thank you. I don't know, so it's really helpful. I'll def look out for both. Perhaps by the time I've read The Name of the Wind and the next book, the third of the trilogy will be published.

 

[Rich.]

Fingers crossed! Rothfuss has kept us waiting. It's been seven years since book two. He says he's going to write the third – says he's writing it now – but it's a long time to wait. It's a pity really; they are excellent. There is a spin-off novella – The Slow Regard of Silent Things – which is also worth a look if you enjoy the first two (and thanks to @Robinne Weiss for recommending that one to me).

 

[Sea-shore]

https://tolkienlecture.org/

What a fantastic writer! Parts of her speech sound like poetry. What makes you write fantasy, @Rich. and fellow fantasy writers?

Confession time: I have not read the complete LotR. The lame reason? It's a tome! My sister on the other hand, has read this seventeen times cover to cover and will recite large chunks (if not entire chapters) of it and can converse in Elfish.

 

[Sea-shore]

I love Terry Pratchett books and his YA Tiffany Aching books (Wee Free Men, Hat Full of Sky etc). Good excuse to read when researching children fantasy books. Also Howl's Moving Castle etc.

 

[Amber]

So what is it that attracts you all to the fantasy genre? For me it's the sense of wonder, the sense of something mythic, and that childlike joy of discovery. What is it for you?

Possibilities.

 

[Amber]

My sister on the other hand, has read this seventeen times cover to cover and will recite large chunks (if not entire chapters) of it and can converse in Elfish.

She's obviously a very intelligent person with skills I don't begin to have.

But Lord of the Rings wasn't that great... really a pretty simple good versus evil story.

But... clearly still has fans.

So baffled.

 

[Laoise30]

Has anyone here read Phillip Pullman’s - the book of dust? The original dark materials trilogy is brilliant if you haven’t read them.

 

[Rich.]

What makes you write fantasy, @Rich. and fellow fantasy writers?

Amber's already quoted me on this, but I'll go ahead and quote myself again anyway from earlier in the thread :

For me it's the sense of wonder, the sense of something mythic, and that childlike joy of discovery.

--

But Lord of the Rings wasn't that great... really a pretty simple good versus evil story.

But... clearly still has fans.

So baffled.

I'm one of the fans – Tolkien in general. For me it's exploring the world. Not so fussed about the actual story, in as much as I've never asked more of it than it is.

--

Has anyone here read Phillip Pullman’s - the book of dust? The original dark materials trilogy is brilliant if you haven’t read them.

No, I haven't (the trilogy's not finished yet, it it?), but they're high on my list. The originals I love. Have you read the new ones?

 

[Laoise30]

Amber's already quoted me on this, but I'll go ahead and quote myself again anyway from earlier in the thread :


--


I'm one of the fans – Tolkien in general. For me it's exploring the world. Not so fussed about the actual story, in as much as I've never asked more of it than it is.

--


No, I haven't (the trilogy's not finished yet, it it?), but they're high on my list. The originals I love. Have you read the new ones?

The Book of Dust is the only new one out at the minute. The dark materials was the trilogy I was talking about (the amber spyglass/the subtle knife and the golden compass). Is he planning on writing more in the series?

 

[Rich.]

Hang on, let me check Wikipedia... I think the new trilogy is called The Book of Dust – the first novel is La Belle Sauvage, the second is The Secret Commonwealth, and the third hasn't been published yet. Is that right?

 

[Laoise30]

Hang on, let me check Wikipedia... I think the new trilogy is called The Book of Dust – the first novel is La Belle Sauvage, the second is The Secret Commonwealth, and the third hasn't been published yet. Is that right?

Yes, the first one is La Belle Sauvage - sitting on my bed right here. Just had no idea there were more coming! I don’t know if the second one is out yet - I suspect not just yet. Rather pleased there are more in the way though! La Belle Sauvage is next on my list (currently reading Margaret Atwood’s - Alias Grace.) was just wondering if anyone had read it and if it lived up to the original trilogy.

 

[Laoise30]

Sorry - I’m Highjacking your thread! I only meant to recommend His Dark Materials and mention there was a sequel out this year that might also be good!

 

[Sea-shore]

Sorry - I’m Highjacking your thread! I only meant to recommend His Dark Materials and mention there was a sequel out this year that might also be good!

No need for apologies. Many threads in Litopia do not stay on track.

 

[Sea-shore]

So what is it that attracts you all to the fantasy genre? For me it's the sense of wonder, the sense of something mythic, and that childlike joy of discovery. What is it for you?

I like that fantasy books are portals to magical worlds. I read and write to travel to these strange worlds.

 

[Rich.]

Sorry - I’m Highjacking your thread!

As Anne said above, not at all! And you were talking about fantasy novels, so I didn't see it as hijacking on any level.

There was a BBC documentary about Philip Pullman recently (in their Imagine documentary thread). You might be able to see it, depending on where you are. The presenter, Alan Yentob, has Pullman up there alongside Tolkien and CS Lewis. It was a fascinating profile of Pullman's life and work.

 

[Sea-shore]

Thanks! I'm watching it now. Interesting.

 

[Rich.]

[ V.E. Schwab: 'In Search of Doors,' Pembroke Tolkien Lecture 2018 – YouTube link ] https://tolkienlecture.org/

What a fantastic writer! Parts of her speech sound like poetry.

Just finished watching this. Brilliant, thoughtful, inspiring. And I love that she's resolute in having not read Tolkien! Thanks for posting this, Anne.

 

[MrDisco88]

The Prince of Nothing trilogy by Scott Bakker is incredible, I can't proselytize enough about entering Bakker's universe, though it is a dark and twisted place. Will particularly appeal to fans of Dune, to which it owes quite a lot.

I tried Sanderson's Mistborn series recently. Powered through the first trilogy, but lost interest half way through the second book of the new series.

 

[KG Christopher]

Gormangast - mervyn peak

 

[Paul Whybrow]

I don't read a lot of fantasy fiction, but one author who's impressed me is John Crowley. His writing has great resonance, making the reader believe the fantastic worlds he creates. I recommend Little, Big, Engine Summer and Beasts.

 

[Paul Whybrow]

Gormangast - mervyn peak

About to be adapted for television by Neil Gaiman: https://www.theguardian.com/books/2...ce-gormenghast-adaptation-for-tv-mervyn-peake

 

[KateESal]

I've read La Belle Sauvage and was pretty comprehensively gripped, as was my OH when he read it.
I adore the His Dark Materials trilogy and couldn't say if LBS was quite in the same league, but I was left wanting to read the sequel, so that's definitely a good sign.