Really GREAT/EPIC Fantasy Books?

Question

Really GREAT/EPIC Fantasy Books?

Answer 1

You thought LOTR was bad? Well then, my friend, you can forget about reading great books if you can't appreaciate the greatness of Lord of the Rings. It is probably the most epic trillogy in this world. Also, the Inheritance Cycle is a really bad rip off of LOTR.

Answer 2

In FANTASY here are some I (Fittings Doc) would recommend:

All of these books have an "adventure epic" quality,



"Legend” (1984) by David Gemmell (The MASTER of Heroic fantasy)

(first book of the “Drenai Saga”)

Hell EVERYTHING by David Gemmell is worth reading!!!

He is a master at character development and readability.

If you like HEROIC FANTASY, You’ll find you cannot put his books down.



"Pawn of Prophecy" (1982) by David Eddings

(first book of the "Belgariad" series)



“Guardians of the West” (1987 / 448 pages) by David Eddings

(first book of “The Malloreon” series)



"The Dark Tide" (1984) by Dennis L. McKiernan

(first book of the "Mithgar" series)

"The Iron Tower" (an omnibus edition)

Originally published as a trilogy (The Dark Tide, Shadows of Doom, and The Darkest Day).



“The Crystal Shard" (1988) by R.A. Salvatore.

(the first book of "The Icewind Dale Trilogy")



"The Misplaced Legion" (1987) by Harry Turtledove

(first book of the "Videssos" series)

One of Julius Caesar's legions is transported to a world with magic.



"Magician:Apprentice" (1982 / 496 pages) by Raymond E. Feist

(first book in "The Riftwar Saga")



“The Seer King” (1997) By Chris Bunch

(first book of “The Seer King Trilogy”)



"The Sword of Shannara" (1977) by Terry Brooks

(first book in the Original "Shannara Trilogy")



“The Curse of Chalion” (2001) by Lois McMaster Bujold

(first book of “Chalion” series)

(Won the Mythopoeic Fantasy Award for Adult Literature and nominated for the Hugo, World Fantasy, and Locus Awards)



“Seventh Son” (1987 / 256 pages) by Orson Scott Card

(first book of the “The Tales of Alvin Maker” series)

(Locus Fantasy Winner, nominated for the Hugo and World Fantasy Awards)



In SCIENCE FICTION, here are some I (Fittings Doc) would recommend:



"Foundation" (1951 / 255 pages) by Issac Asimov

(the first book of the "Foundation Series")

Postulates the societal change, which would accompany the expansion into the stars.

The seiries won the one-time Hugo Award for "Best All-Time Series" in 1966.

(One of the other books in the series also won a Hugo Award.)



“Dune” (1965 / 412 pages) by Frank Herbert

(the first book of the “Dune Series)

(Won the Hugo and Nebula Awards.)



"Dorsai" (1959 / 159 pages) by Gordon R. Dickson

(the first book of “The Childe Cycle”)

Deals with genetic drift and specialization, and there effects on humanity as a whole.

(Nominated for the Hugo Award.)



"The Forge" (1991) by S.M. Stirling.

(the first book of "The General" series)

A military officer discovers "Battle Central", an ancient 1000 year old computer, that shows him what will happen to the planet without intervention.



"An Oblique Approach" (1998) by Eric Flint & David Drake

(first book of the "Belisarius" series)

Read FREE online http://www.webscription.net/10.1125/Baen…

Source(s):

almost 40 years a sci-fi & fantasy fan

Answer 3

The Knife Of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness. It's a 3 triology and the series is called Chaos Walking. I've just finished them and they are absoutely brilliant! main character is a dude aswell lol. The secound book of series is Ask and the Answer and the third is Monsters Of Men. Its definetly a fantasy book i would like to think.

Answer 4

David Eddings the Belgariad and Malloreon books. The Next books the Elenium followed by the Tamuli and Last the Dreamers. You might try the Conan books. I recommend the ones Written by Howard he started the series and his are the best. Micheal Moorcock's Elric of Melnibone and the rest of the books in the Eternal Champions.

Answer 5

Hmm... really epic... Percy Jackson?

Answer 6

Wow it must be male. that's kind of sexist... but i was going to recommend The Hunger Games, the most epic book ever. I have slapped people for not reading it :)

Answer 7

Pardon me if I mention some books that you may have already read, but here goes:



Since you've read Dresden, have you read Jim Butcher's Codex Alera series? Descendants of a Roman Legion in an an alternate world where elemental magic is a major part of their power and required for promotion/citizenship.



David Eddings has some amazingly humorous epic fantasy series. And you should be whipped with iron chains if you don't give these a read!



The Belgariad-Garion is raised in hiding by his Aunt and Grandfather, who he thinks are just a Cook and Traveling Storyteller and ends up on a quest which ends with him on a Throne.

The Mallorean-Continuing story where Garion must track dow his son's kidnapper and place a new God in power.



The Elenium- Church Knights must find a magical stone to save a poisoned Queen frozen in crystal to slow the poison, and end up contending against an evil elder god.



The Tamuli-Sparhawk, jis Queen and The Church Knights must travel to the Tamul empire to contend against supernatural occurences that threaten the whole world.



Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series has been praised and then reviled for losing steam in the middle of the series. With such a large and growing cast of characters it's easy to see where people could lose patience in this amazing epic.



Another epic fantasy with a huge cast of characters is Steven Erikson's Malazan: Book of the Fallen Series. A dark and gritty tale of war amongst men and gods from one empire thru many on the march to a final conflict with a fallen god.....



Katherine Kerr's Deverry series-Celtic fantasy spanning the prior and future incarnations of a cast of characters stemming from a wrongful choice of a spoiled prince. 15 book series.



And finally a series you just have to read is the Drenai series by the late David Gemmell. An excellent author!



Legend first and possibly the best in the series- an ancient warrior comes out of retirement to hold a fortress with untrained recruits until reinforcements can gather to fight off the overwhelming horse warriors.



Another really good one in this series is Waylander- an assassin with a moral core that struggles free in an attempt to reclaim his humanity. The essential anti-hero.



Try his other books as well.