What is the best fantasy series not including Tolkien, Goodkind or Jordan?

Question

I enjoy reading and writing fantasy and have already read the above authors. I feel I am ready for another challenge but don't want to waste my time reading something rubbish. What are the other "classics" I haven't heard about that you would reccomend?

Answer 1

If it's a fantasy series you want, George RR Martin's 'A Song of Ice & Fire' is about the best thing out there. He has created a world rich in characters and history (it's almost like 'Lord of the Rings' meets the War of the Roses). What I think sets this series apart is that it's less... lofty than Tolkien. There's a lot more humor, and instead of clear-cut "good vs. evil," many of the characters are morally ambiguous, with multiple layers to their personalities.



Other series I recommend include Roger Zelazny's 'Amber' books, CS Lewis's 'Chronicles of Narnia', Lloyd Alexander's 'Chronicles of Prydain', Stephen King's 'Dark Tower', Raymond E Feist's 'Magician' series, Terry Brooks' 'Shannara' and 'Magic Kingdom', Terry Pratchett's 'Discworld' (hilarious!), and Phillip Pullman's 'His Dark Materials'.



If you're looking for something newer, try Patrick Rothfuss' debut, 'The Name of the Wind'. The second book in the series is scheduled to be released this spring.



If you aren't opposed to graphic novels, I *highly* recommend Neil Gaiman's 'Sandman' and 'Books of Magic.' Actually, I highly recommend anything by Gaiman--'American Gods' & 'Anansi Boys', 'Stardust', 'Neverwhere', and 'Coraline' all fall under the realm of fantasy.

Answer 2

If you're looking for a good series to start reading, I'd recommend the Dark Tower series by Stephen King. The first book, The Gunslinger, is fantastic. It's full of detail and action that at most parts you can barely make yourself put the book down! But beware, the series is 7 books long. So if you read the first one, you'll end up reading the next 6 as well.



I'm on book five, and I've loved them all.

Answer 3

I heartily enjoy George R.R. Martin's writing. I have read the Ice & Fire books out so far and am dying to continue the series! He also has a collection of short stories and some graphic novellas available.



I have also enjoyed Neil Gaiman's Neverwhere, classed as fantasy, and Stardust (sort of a fairy tale).



I could recommend reading What Dreams May Come by Richard Matheson, a scietific and fantastic approach to life after death.



Anything by Terry Prachett is good too ;)



Good luck, and happy reading!

Answer 4

I heartily enjoy George R.R. Martin's writing. I have read the Ice & Fire books out so far and am dying to continue the series! He also has a collection of short stories and some graphic novellas available.



I have also enjoyed Neil Gaiman's Neverwhere, classed as fantasy, and Stardust (sort of a fairy tale).



I could recommend reading What Dreams May Come by Richard Matheson, a scietific and fantastic approach to life after death.



Anything by Terry Prachett is good too ;)



Good luck, and happy reading!

Answer 5

OK, first some comments on others mentioned previously, then my recommendations.



McCaffrey - this is scifi, pure and simple, including the Pern books. Likewise (as far as I know) all the Bradley and Robinson books.



Harry Potter- I was surprised at how good this series actually was (I read it recently, and I am 46). I found two of the books "excellent", and all of the others "very good". However, it does *not* quite measure up to any of the great books in my list below.



Shannara - is such a *blatant* plagiarism of Tolkien that I cannot find it in my heart to give this an "excellent" rating, *particularly* the first book. Nevertheless, these first three books *are* pretty well-written, with great attention to illustrative writing that is one of the hallmarks of most (but not all) great fantasy. So, Shannara would definitely not be in my list of "best", but it would be close behind. I am currently re-reading the first 3 books for a review.



His Dark Materials aka Golden Compass - definitely does *not* enter into the list of great fantasy books. I recently read this and have only to polish my reviews before publishing.



EarthSea - you can read my reviews at the link below, like "Materials", does not measure up to the greats.



Dune - not only is this soundly scifi, it is not very *good* scifi.



http://www.life-after-harry-potter.com



Included is a list of only the best sorcery fantasy books, grade reading level, a short review of each book along with a brief summary of adult content. There is also a "Readers' Choice" list of favorite books, and a list of heroine sorcery fantasy books, plus a brand-new original fan fiction.



From what you have said, you definitely need to read the following, in order of greatness and respect as classics. Most are in my list in the link above, but some (labeled NM) have No Magic and so are not included in this list.



"The Sword in the Stone"



"The Once and Future King"



author Steinbeck (replaces Mallory, which can be quite difficult to read, but Steinbeck is only nearly complete)



author Burton



"The Mabinogion" - early Welsh myths, including what is probably the earliest Arthur tales, predating French influence (no Lancelot or Galahad)



"The Jungle Books" - (NM) these are deservedly known as true classics of fantasy



"Dracula" - (NM?) free online, truly excellent and truly a classic. Warning - starts out *very* slowly.



"King Solomon's Mines" - (NM?) think, "Indiana Jones" about 80 years before Indiana Jones was ever imagined. Only "very good", but *nearly* excellent and *definitely* a classic of adventure fantasy (I would say "the* classic).



"Tarzan of the Apes" - (NM) this first book of the enormous series is free online, and unlike any of the movies. Only "very good", but without doubt a classic.



"Tales of the Dying Earth" - despite the amazing excellence of 3 of the 4 books in this omnibus, it rates this far down on the list because it is *not* widely recognized as a classic (too recent). These stories were the foundation for the magic system used by Dungeons and Dragons.



author Donaldson - fantastic story, amazing writing style, in which the hero is *not* on the "side of the angels".



I hope this helps.



Jim

Answer 6

The first three Earthsea books by Ursula K LeGuin (First three are good, after that, they're terrible): A Wizard of Earthsea, The Tombs of Atuan, The Farthest Shore. Sorta short, but very good.



Can't honestly say that I would recommend Eragon. Was way too predictable, and not very well written. I quit about halfway through, because I had already figured out the rest of the storyline. Basically Star Wars with the names and setting changed. Same plot, though.

Answer 7

David Eddings is in all likelihood my well-liked cutting-edge fantasy author He wrote the Belgariad sequence (which i ought to point you commence with) as well as Mallareon (follows Belgariad) and Elenium which my brother in simple terms bought me the field set in demanding lower back i'm very excited to envision that again. The persist with up the the Elenium sequence is termed the Tamuli which i actually loved more beneficial effective than Elenium yet Elenium became extremely darn reliable as well. truly it has a number of of magic and sword combating. My well-liked personality is Silk he's a sly devious thoroughly dedicated chum to the major personality. i like it. nicely i desire that you want it... I also am studying in the present day so i am going to't supply an entire endorsement as i have not finished it yet the Obsidian trilogy by utilising Mercedes Lackey and James Mallory. so some distance it has swords, magic, elves, and dragons. i'm on e book 2 at the same time as Darkness Falls... desire this facilitates

Answer 8

Well, it is only my opinion but I have found several series very enjoyable. Certainly CS Lewis's "The Narnia Chronicles" can be classified as fantasy and, as such, is indeed a classic and one that I have enjoyed many times over the years. Another author not yet mentioned but worthy of it, in my opinion is David Eddings and his two series "The Belgariad" and "The Malorean" which are each composed of 5 books.

Answer 9

I really like the Elemental Masters series by Mercedes Lackey.



The Deryni books by Katherine Kurtze (actually, anything by Kurz and I include a vampire series written by Scott McMillan based on an idea by Kurtz).



Also, I just read a book called "Valient" by Holly Clark that my teenage son got for Christmas. Although this was in the Young Adult section of the bookstore, it is a gripping fantasy more than suitable for adults - there are three of them (I think) in this world.

Answer 10

Raymond E Feist's Magician series of books is very good, as are Tad Williams' Memory Sorrow and Thorn. Even Williams' stand alone books are excellent.



If you like modern fantasy, try Jim Butcher's Dresden Files series - a wizard living in modern day Chicago, battling demons, vampires (three different kinds), faeries and other wizards. Bought one, and then went out and bought the other eight!

Answer 11

Anything by Laurrell K Hamilton (Anita Blake series and Merry Gentry series) or Anne Rice (Interview with a vampire, The Vampire Lestat, Queen of the Damned, The Vampire Armand, etc.)

Answer 12

The His Dark Materials series by Phillip Pullman!!



*Northern Lights



*The Subtle Dagger



*The Amber Spyglass

Answer 13

I would exclude Goodkind and Jordan anyway as they go on for far too long and are very derivative; I like Katharine Kerr, though not unreservedly, also Sharon Shinn's Samaria series. Like another respondent I think the Eragon books are poor and boring, too derivative again. Guy Gavriel Kay's arthurian trilogy is fantastic as are some of his other books such as Tigana. I could go on and on but will spare you

Answer 14

Tad Williams' Sword, Memory and Thorn trilogy. And George R R Martin

Answer 15

The His Dark Materials series by Philip Pullman. Ignore the religious controversy over it, I don't think those idiots even read the books, as they are fabulous. I mean, what's not to like about a little girl fighting the forces of evil with her animal companion? Exactly. They are superb!

Answer 16

Tad Williams' Memory, Sorrow and Thorn series and Stephen Donaldson's Chronicles of Thomas Covenant.



If you read too many fantasy books, it starts to get a bit repetitive and dull - it did for me anyway. I don't think I've read any fantasy books in years, but the two series I've mentioned above stand out in my memory, whilst many others have faded away.

Answer 17

The Dark is Rising sequence by Susan Cooper. The books are about a young boy who has special powers, and contains elements of English and Celtic mythology, Arthurian romance, and the battle between good and evil.

Answer 18

Lois Lowry wrote a great fantasy/sci fi trilogy. The books are: The Giver, Gathering Blue and Messenger. They are all wonderful books that can be enjoyed by readers of any age.

Answer 19

Philip Pullman wrote the trilogy that The golden compass film is based on, books are much better than film. Also Eragon is a trilogy By Christopher Paolini, third book due out soon!

Answer 20

CS Lewis - very good! Also it's not really fantasy (OK it's not fantasy at all) but swallows and Amazons. Artemis Fowl - not a classic or very challenging but amusing, well written and VERY interesting. And a fantasy!



Good luck! =D

Answer 21

Anything by Anne McCaffrey.. she tends to write more on the scifi side, but her Pern series is amazing.

I'd also recommend Marion Zimmer Bradley or Kim Stanley Robinson.

Answer 22

The Dune Trilogy by Frank Herbert is considered one of the classics. The characterisation is strong; and fantastical, otherworldly creations are done so well that they just become matter-of-fact and you stop reading it like it's sci-fi.

Answer 23

The otherland series by tad Williams or any of the Elizabeth Haydon books.

Answer 24

All the Shanara series (by Terry Brooks) are a good read.



Start with the Sword of Shanara , and do the original series first, then all the rest.

Answer 25

Try R.J. Salvatore's series involving a Drow named Drizzt.

Answer 26

I found His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman awesome, and I'm not usually into that kind of fiction.

Answer 27

The Anita Blake series!!!!

Answer 28

The Mists of AValon and The Lady of Avalon.

Answer 29

inheritence series - eragon

his dark materials - golden compass

sword of shannara





George R.R. Martin

Answer 30

the New Labour party manifesto (though it stretches way beyond fantasy)

Answer 31

Okay, I'm just going to throw this out here.

Have you read Harry Potter?

Answer 32

CS Lewis comes to mind.