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Originally posted by ryan2754:
Nope. I know it's OSC so I'm sure it's bound to be good.
Is that the one centered around music? Because he discusses it in a prologue in one of his Ender books, but doesn't really go in depth.

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The Dark Tower series (Stephen King)- my favorite books of all time. I actually have a leg-sleeve tattoo of images from these books. In my opinion, these are the best works of fantasy ever written, if only because the story speaks to me on so many levels. It's not the prose of Tolkien, but it's an amazing story. I don't really like King's style, but this series has changed my life in a number of ways. I've read these 7 books at least 10 times each.

Sigma Force books (James Rollins)- Map of Bones, Black Order, The Judas Strain, The Last Oracle, etc. are all wonderful works of action, adventure, and interesting historical fiction. While these books get a little too "fictiony" for me sometimes, they are a quick read and always interesting.

Rise and Fall of the Third Reich (William L. Shirer)- WWII History is about as interesting as historical record can get for me. This book is all-encompassing and extremely enlightening. It is always amazing to me what human beings are capable of and the awful things people can rationalize.

The Historian (Elizabeth Kostova)- this was written by a lady from Ann Arbor, MI, which is about a half-hour from where I live. It's probably one of the most interesting works of fiction I've had the pleasure of reading and it kept me interested throughout the entire storyline. Having never read anything about it, I picked it up and was very surprised at the real subject of the book when it was finally revealed, roughly 1/3 of the way through the book. It's a cool story and an awesome read.

Hardcore Zen: Punk Rock, Monster Movies, & The Truth About Reality (Brad Warner)- I've been on a big self-improvement kick in the last few years, and this book was one of the first that introduced me to the Buddhist style of thinking and gave me a very different way to look at the world. A quick read and a great introduction into zazen if you're interested in the subject.

The Wheel of Time series (Robert Jordan)- I started this series on the advice of a friend and I'm sort of sorry I did. By the time I realized that I HATE the way Jordan writes I was 5 books in and completely invested in the story. I have read all the way through the last book, and I can't wait for the final two to be printed so I can be done with the ridiculously long and drawn out story of Rand and the others from the Two Rivers.

I am currently reading Anger by Thich Nhat Hanh and Angelology by Danielle Trussoni, but I am looking for a new fantasy series to get into.
I'm looking for something that's no more than 3 or 4 books, preferably something that has a definite ending either already written or scheduled. Open-ended series like the Star Wars books have never really appealed to me for some reason.

If you guys have any suggestions for me, I'd love to hear them. I'd also be happy to give any suggestions that I can!

Ender's Shadow was also quite good.

I will find myself with some spare time this summer, and figure a book or 5 would be a good idea. Open to suggestions. I prefer fantasy (obviously read LotR, also Children or Hurin. Couldn't stand The Silmarillion. Enjoyed about 8 Dune books as well.) This spring, read about a dozen John Grisham books also, so any good fiction is acceptable.

Instead of picking books @ random for the terrible local library, figured I would ask Motl. I heard The Wheel of Time was good, but I would have to go out of my way to find it (local library doesn't have the first ~4, so I would possibly have to purchase them). Worth it?

It'll take a bit to comprehend it, but it's well worth it!

Also, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas was great! I only read it when I was inebriated and I felt like I could truly understand that drug-addled insanity!

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Originally posted by thror:
Basically, I am asking the same question that Swarm is.

I will find myself with some spare time this summer, and figure a book or 5 would be a good idea. Open to suggestions. I prefer fantasy (obviously read LotR, also Children or Hurin. Couldn't stand The Silmarillion. Enjoyed about 8 Dune books as well.) This spring, read about a dozen John Grisham books also, so any good fiction is acceptable.

Instead of picking books @ random for the terrible local library, figured I would ask Motl. I heard The Wheel of Time was good, but I would have to go out of my way to find it (local library doesn't have the first ~4, so I would possibly have to purchase them). Worth it?

Thanks.

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The Wheel of Time is decent, yes, and it's worth it insofar as it's THE genre's trailblazer. Tolkein is hailed as fantasy's bigwig, but the Wheel of Time arguably had a much wider influence, and has done more for the genre's contemporary articulation.

With that said, I think you'd be MUCH happier reading Steven Erikson's Malazan Book of the Fallen series. While Jordan essentially invented every trope of the genre that Tolkein didn't, Erikson debunks them all, and spins a far more realistic universe and characters. Erikson is also one of the first authors in fantasy to make extensive use of "minority" protagonists, and he writes his women infinitely better than Jordan ever could. The story is also much more interesting. One caveat: the first novel isn't, in my opinion, all that good, although it is certainly interesting (but extremely confusing). Erikson really comes into his own with the second novel, and from there on it's a pure delight to read.

If, on the other hand, you want to read the greatest work of historical fiction ever written/the best Arthur story, pick up Bernard Cornwell's The Warlord Chronicles trilogy. No exaggeration here--it's the genre's epitome. It's about as historically accurate as you're going to get with Arthur, and the writing is impeccable. Everyone should have read these three books.

Back to fantasy, R. Scott Bakker's The Prince of Nothing trilogy is very interesting, stupendously original, and manages to weave in the history of philosophy in an exciting way (he has a PhD in philosophy). His is one of the most interesting systems of magic (a chronic weak point) in fantasy.

Terry Pratchett's Discworld series is always fun and easy to read as well (and can be read in any order). The more you know about history and culture, however, the more you'll "get" the satire.

Finally, Guy Gavriel Kay is one of very few living masters of fantasy (along with Erikson and Pratchett, IMO, that's the end of the list--they're the Bernard Cornwells of fantasy. There are plenty of other good authors [Bakker, I.C. Esselmont, John Marco, and perhaps Brian Sanderson given his WOT work (I don't know his other stuff)], more decent ones, and hundreds of crap ones.). Skip The Fionavar Tapestry, though, and read the standalones (e.g. The Lions of Al-Rassan) or The Sarantine Mosaic duology (is that even a word? Duo, maybe?) instead. They are amazing.

__________________
"I have heard the mermaids singing, each to each. I do not think they will sing to me." -T.S. Eliot

RIP Ari

__________________
Stages of Death: Anger, Denial, Bargaining, Depression, Acceptance, Burial, Decay, Haunting, Revenge, Evil Laugh

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Originally posted by Battle_of_Twits:
Thank you for your suggestions Goas, as I am also looking for some good fantasy novels to get into for the summer. I had heard good things about R. A. Salvatore and picked up the Crimson Shadow trilogy and I was disappointed by its shallow characters and mindless action-driven plot. Would anyone know if this was a bad egg or is it typical of his writing style?

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From what I've heard, it's typical.

As a rule of thumb, I tend to avoid fantasy novels with the following characteristics:

1.) The title or series title involves (magical) swords (if it's just a weapon, that's OK) or dragons.
2.) The cover involves (magical) swords (if it's just a weapon, that's OK) or dragons.
3.) The title, cover, or description involves Orcs, Trolls, Dwarves, Elves, or other gaming creatures.
4.) The title or book description involves a king or prince as a main character, or involves damsels in distress.
5.) The women are helpless maidens, or other two-dimensional characters that only serve to prop up the male protagonist.
6.) It's part of a long series.

This weeds out almost all of the drek. Of course, there are exceptions to all of those rules, and not all fantastic fantasy novels would pass that muster. But that's what trusted recommendations are for. I love fantasy to death, but I am a horribly picky reader and can't abide poor writing, or kicking stereotypes to death.

Incidentally, Piers Anthony should be added to my quick list above (in the "good" category, I'd say, and perhaps even on the cusp of mastery according to many). His is a name that will doubtless crop up fairly often for his series of X'anth (sp?) novels, which are similar to Pratchett's Discworld series. It's certainly nothing epic, and won't involve crazed battles or the like, but they're a welcome refuge from the likes of Goodkind, Salvatore, and Eddings.

__________________
"I have heard the mermaids singing, each to each. I do not think they will sing to me." -T.S. Eliot

RIP Ari