Poll: Help Deciding Which Series to Read Next

[BloatedGuppy]

My fellow Escapists, I'm feeling a little restless, which is odd, considering that reading is often thought of as a relaxing hobby. I just finished book two of The Kingkiller Chronicle today, and am now left in a rather unpleasant and unfamiliar situation. Up until now, the fantasy series I've read have already been finished before I started them (with the exception of The Dresden Files). I'm not really used to waiting for a book to come out, and now I'm looking for another fantasy series to read so I can fill this gaping void in my heart (Okay, maybe I'm being too dramatic, but only by a little bit). Anyway, I need something else to read so I don't go crazy while waiting. Feel free to leave suggestions besides the ones listed in the poll.

For reference, I've enjoyed The Malazan Book of the Fallen, The Wheel of Time, The Dark Tower, the first three Discworld novels, The Dresden Files, and, obviously, The Kingkiller Chronicle. That's what I remember off the top of my head at the moment, but I'll add a few more if I think of them. Thanks to all for your votes and / or recommendations.

Kingkiller Chronicles are fantastically written books. They'll be hard to replace.

Amongst your listed choices, the First Law trilogy and its three stand alone follow ups is the most entertaining and well written of the lot. Rothfuss and Abercrombie are friends, too. I read their series back to back, and although Rothfuss is probably the better technical writer and his prose more lyrical, Abecrombie's books have a rough and tumble, blackly comedic vigor to them that I found impossible to put down. Don't be fooled by what appear to be stock character types in the initial chapters. Abercrombie spends his series aggressively subverting almost every common fantasy trope.

Codex Alera is more Butcher, but without the pulpy charm of the Dresden Files.

I've read Mistborn, but I can't recommend it. Aside from his penchant for creating intricate magic systems, Sanderson doesn't have much to recommend him as an author. He has the flat, one dimensional characters and plonky dialogue common to young adult fiction, without the effortless readability that usually makes them bearable.

If you enjoy the low fantasy environments of writers like Rothfuss and Martin, you might also like Scott Lynch. His Gentleman Bastards series is uneven and has a lot of pacing issues, but the highs are very high. It's like a fantasy Ocean's Eleven.

 

[Gizmo1990]

My fellow Escapists, I'm feeling a little restless, which is odd, considering that reading is often thought of as a relaxing hobby. I just finished book two of The Kingkiller Chronicle today, and am now left in a rather unpleasant and unfamiliar situation. Up until now, the fantasy series I've read have already been finished before I started them (with the exception of The Dresden Files). I'm not really used to waiting for a book to come out, and now I'm looking for another fantasy series to read so I can fill this gaping void in my heart (Okay, maybe I'm being too dramatic, but only by a little bit). Anyway, I need something else to read so I don't go crazy while waiting. Feel free to leave suggestions besides the ones listed in the poll.

For reference, I've enjoyed The Malazan Book of the Fallen, The Wheel of Time, The Dark Tower, the first three Discworld novels, The Dresden Files, and, obviously, The Kingkiller Chronicle. That's what I remember off the top of my head at the moment, but I'll add a few more if I think of them. Thanks to all for your votes and / or recommendations.

I was going to say the Night angel trillogy, which you should read as well , but then I saw that the Codex Alera was on your list and I never miss an opitunity to recommend them. As much as I love Dresden (and I really love Dresden even if the end of Cold days did make me a bit conserned for where the series is going) I feel that it has overshadowed Jim Butchers other work wish is a shame as Codex has plenty of action (battles that make the LotR small in comparison), great chracters and plenty of twists and turns. Plus unlike Dresden it is finished.

Also as you liked The Dresden Files I recommend the Nightside series by Simon R Green. The main character is Harry Dresden with some John Constantine thrown in.

 

[Yopaz]

Mistborn, it's really wonderful. Brandon Sanderson is a great author and he has really nailed the first trilogy. I can't wait for the continuation to Alloy of Law and Way of Kings.

Also The Wheel of Time is worth checking out if you can get past the rough parts.

 

[Raikas]

I voted for The Farseer Trilogy (although I think Hobb's best series is the same-world Liveship Traders one) because I like the way the series comes *this close* to be a totally cliched high fantasy story but avoids it by the narrowest of margins - I find that more interesting than the standard dark fantasy that's become more popular now. That said, I could easily have voted for The Black Company, because I thought those books were wildly entertaining as well.


On the First Law trilogy (and this is totally 100% my personal subjective opinion here), I loved a lot of the plot bits, but I find Joe Abercrombie's writing style to be really tedious in that a lot of the character descriptions get repeated every single time the character in question shows up. I swear the series could have been half the length if we didn't have to constantly have descriptions that amounted to "This guy's in constant pain!", "This guy's an idiot!", "This guy has nine fingers!" every 5 pages. I know plenty of people love that series without reservation, but they must be made of stronger stuff than I, because that repetition drove me crazy.

 

[LongAndShort]

Of the ones I've read of that list, the First Law Trilogy is far and away my favourite. It's brutal and clever, the characters usually figure out plot-points and conspiracies at the same time as the reader (or obviously lack the information and perspective to figure it out).

What I really love is the characters and their development. Some become harder, some become softer. When the author is following a different character he changes his prose and language to suit their individual voice. And the characters he doesn't develop (because there are a few) are instead revealed to the audience across the three books so that a hero in the first book is a villain in the third.

 

[Jolly Co-operator]

My fellow Escapists, I'm feeling a little restless, which is odd, considering that reading is often thought of as a relaxing hobby. I just finished book two of The Kingkiller Chronicle today, and am now left in a rather unpleasant and unfamiliar situation. Up until now, the fantasy series I've read have already been finished before I started them (with the exception of The Dresden Files). I'm not really used to waiting for a book to come out, and now I'm looking for another fantasy series to read so I can fill this gaping void in my heart (Okay, maybe I'm being too dramatic, but only by a little bit). Anyway, I need something else to read so I don't go crazy while waiting. Feel free to leave suggestions besides the ones listed in the poll.

For reference, I've enjoyed The Malazan Book of the Fallen, The Wheel of Time, The Dark Tower, the first three Discworld novels, The Dresden Files, and, obviously, The Kingkiller Chronicle. That's what I remember off the top of my head at the moment, but I'll add a few more if I think of them. Thanks to all for your votes and / or recommendations.

Kingkiller Chronicles are fantastically written books. They'll be hard to replace.

Amongst your listed choices, the First Law trilogy and its three stand alone follow ups is the most entertaining and well written of the lot. Rothfuss and Abercrombie are friends, too. I read their series back to back, and although Rothfuss is probably the better technical writer and his prose more lyrical, Abecrombie's books have a rough and tumble, blackly comedic vigor to them that I found impossible to put down. Don't be fooled by what appear to be stock character types in the initial chapters. Abercrombie spends his series aggressively subverting almost every common fantasy trope.

Codex Alera is more Butcher, but without the pulpy charm of the Dresden Files.

I've read Mistborn, but I can't recommend it. Aside from his penchant for creating intricate magic systems, Sanderson doesn't have much to recommend him as an author. He has the flat, one dimensional characters and plonky dialogue common to young adult fiction, without the effortless readability that usually makes them bearable.

If you enjoy the low fantasy environments of writers like Rothfuss and Martin, you might also like Scott Lynch. His Gentleman Bastards series is uneven and has a lot of pacing issues, but the highs are very high. It's like a fantasy Ocean's Eleven.

Your description of The First Law has me interested. Something a bit more low-fantasy might be good, since the last two series I read before Kingkiller Chronicle were The Wheel of Time and The Malazan Book of the Fallen. Rothfuss and Abercrombie is kind of cool actually, and it's got me intrigued enough to at least give The First Law a look.

Thanks also for your description of Mistborn. I've heard people talk about the magic system a lot, but I hadn't really heard anything about the characters. Thanks for the info.

 

[Jolly Co-operator]

My fellow Escapists, I'm feeling a little restless, which is odd, considering that reading is often thought of as a relaxing hobby. I just finished book two of The Kingkiller Chronicle today, and am now left in a rather unpleasant and unfamiliar situation. Up until now, the fantasy series I've read have already been finished before I started them (with the exception of The Dresden Files). I'm not really used to waiting for a book to come out, and now I'm looking for another fantasy series to read so I can fill this gaping void in my heart (Okay, maybe I'm being too dramatic, but only by a little bit). Anyway, I need something else to read so I don't go crazy while waiting. Feel free to leave suggestions besides the ones listed in the poll.

For reference, I've enjoyed The Malazan Book of the Fallen, The Wheel of Time, The Dark Tower, the first three Discworld novels, The Dresden Files, and, obviously, The Kingkiller Chronicle. That's what I remember off the top of my head at the moment, but I'll add a few more if I think of them. Thanks to all for your votes and / or recommendations.

I was going to say the Night angel trillogy, which you should read as well , but then I saw that the Codex Alera was on your list and I never miss an opitunity to recommend them. As much as I love Dresden (and I really love Dresden even if the end of Cold days did make me a bit conserned for where the series is going) I feel that it has overshadowed Jim Butchers other work wish is a shame as Codex has plenty of action (battles that make the LotR small in comparison), great chracters and plenty of twists and turns. Plus unlike Dresden it is finished.

Also as you liked The Dresden Files I recommend the Nightside series by Simon R Green. The main character is Harry Dresden with some John Constantine thrown in.

I agree with you on the ending of Cold Days. I'm not sure I really like the attempt at inserting an overarching plot to connect the events of all the books. One of the things I liked about the series was that, despite having plenty of character history, the stories could, in many ways, stand alone.

I've already read the Nightside as well, actually. While I enjoyed it, I've got to say, it really seems like the main character has a major confidence problem. He always talks up how dangerous the situation he's going into is, and yet resolves things with ease.

As for the Codex Alera, I have a question. From what I've heard about the series, the protagonist, Tavi, has no Fury of his own. I'm hoping that this results in him using his wit to get out of most situations, as that's one of the things I've been liking about the Kingkiller Chronicle. Is this the case?

 

[BloatedGuppy]

Your description of The First Law has me interested. Something a bit more low-fantasy might be good, since the last two series I read before Kingkiller Chronicle were The Wheel of Time and The Malazan Book of the Fallen. Rothfuss and Abercrombie is kind of cool actually, and it's got me intrigued enough to at least give The First Law a look.

It's not no-magic, but magic is slowly dying in Abercrombie's Circle of the World. In the third of his stand alone novels (The Unforgiven inspired "fantasy western") he's actually showing the beginnings of an industrial revolution.

One thing to keep in mind with Abercrombie is that he's a very young (and prolific!) author. You'll see some growing pains, particularly in the first two books of First Law, as he is establishing his voice. His later stand alone volumes are much more confidently written, and his prose seems to improve by leaps and bounds with every outing. This is basically a six book series (nine, really, as he plans to revisit the world with a final trilogy), but as the central three volumes are stand alone you're not held hostage as you are with, say, A Song of Ice and Fire. You get contained narratives. They just all involve familiar characters and a persistent setting and timeline.

On a side note, as this is a gaming forum, Abercrombie is also a pretty rabid gamer: http://www.joeabercrombie.com/category/games/

Thanks also for your description of Mistborn. I've heard people talk about the magic system a lot, but I hadn't really heard anything about the characters. Thanks for the info.

I'm a bit hard on Sanderson because he's turning into something like the McDonalds of fantasy literature and his fans are consequentially legion, but his prose is...really...not that great. I don't want to dump on the guy, he's a competent writer and his books are not without a certain charm, but it would be a very difficult transition from Kingkiller into Mistborn. For all that Kvothe gets knocked sometimes as a Mary Sue, he is infinitely more textured than the cardboard cutouts populating Mistborn. It's a condemnation that has dogged Sanderson throughout his career, and it shows in his most recent novels as well. I just don't think it's anything he'll ever be particularly good at.

Also, some people have complained about his Mormon sensibilities leaking into his fiction, but I can't say I really noticed it.

 

[Gizmo1990]

Snip

In reguards to Codex Tavi indeed does not have any Furys of his own and it does force him to be quicker and smarter than everyone else which is why I love the character so much. He is very much proof that power means very little when you don't have the intelligence to back it up and while he lives in a world full of people far more powerfull than him in terms of furycraft, where many people can fly, have super strengeth, shoot fire (or in the case of some all of the above) he is far more dangerous than them.

In reguards to Dresden while I can see the problem with Cold days mine was more the direction some of the chracters seem to be heading in but I have not disliked any of Jim Butchers works yet so he gets the benifit of the doubt for now.

Also as you enjoyed the Nightside, with a perfectly valid problem with it (tho I still love John Taylor) can I suggest the Secret Histories by the same writer. It is in the same univers but set outside the Nightside and follows Eddie Drood, a member of the secret Drood family, they are the secret agents of the supernatural who protect the world from the big, bad evil. It is James Bond with super science and magic and it also has apperances from Nightside characters such as Walker and Dead Boy.

 

[dyre]

Hobb's Farseer Trilogy (and the sequel trilogy whose name I forgot) has excellent characters but horrible pacing and often irrational (imo) explanations for certain directions the plot takes. I would however recommend her Liveship Traders trilogy, which has much better pacing, an infinitely more satisfactory ending and in general won't make you want to tear your hair off in frustration.

I've read Mistborn, but I can't recommend it. Aside from his penchant for creating intricate magic systems, Sanderson doesn't have much to recommend him as an author. He has the flat, one dimensional characters and plonky dialogue common to young adult fiction, without the effortless readability that usually makes them bearable.

If you enjoy the low fantasy environments of writers like Rothfuss and Martin, you might also like Scott Lynch. His Gentleman Bastards series is uneven and has a lot of pacing issues, but the highs are very high. It's like a fantasy Ocean's Eleven.

+1 with the hatchet job on Sanderson (though I think he does qualify as "bearable," even "half decent"), and +1 on the recommendation of Scott Lynch. Though I'd say the Gentleman Bastards series has been losing a bit of steam ever since the first book.

 

[JaceArveduin]

Read the Bartimaeus Trilogy next!

 

[BlackJimmy]

Mistborn. Then read Elantris and Warbreaker by the same author. Thery're all part of the same universe(The Cosmere).
After that, ready The Way of Kings. Book 1 of The Stormlight Archive, a ten book epic set in said universe.

Nightangel Trilogy is awesome too and was the series that got me back in to reading after a long break.

After that, The First Law Trilogy.

And A Song of Ice and Fire, even though it's not on the list, assuming you've not read it already.

 

[SirDerpy]

I saw that this was a poll, and then I became crestfallen immediately. They probably didn't have the series that I wanted to sugg-

I saw the Black Company. Literally made my day, I love you.

On a more serious note, I haven't read any of the other series, but the Black Company is a fascinating read. One tip though, it might help to search up a map of the world as you're reading. The locations are rather confusing at times.

 

[Jolly Co-operator]

I saw that this was a poll, and then I became crestfallen immediately. They probably didn't have the series that I wanted to sugg-

I saw the Black Company. Literally made my day, I love you.

On a more serious note, I haven't read any of the other series, but the Black Company is a fascinating read. One tip though, it might help to search up a map of the world as you're reading. The locations are rather confusing at times.

It doesn't seem like many people in this thread have heard of the Black Company, actually. If you could give me a more detailed recommendation, I'd appreciate it. Right now, contrary to the poll, I'm leaning towards the First Law Trilogy, but regardless of what I choose next, I intend to check out the Black Company some time. The Malazan series has really sold me on the whole fantasy military / mercenary thing.

 

[GeneralBigG]

Hey there, don't know if you've chosen yet, but here's my recommendation:

If you like the Harry Dresden books, I can heartily recommend the P.C. Peter Grant books, the Alex Verus books and the Man from U.N.D.E.A.D. books. All are urban fantasy that are a mixture of humorous and serious, and have different levels of magical exposure to the real world.

The P.C. Peter Grant books have magic as pretty much hidden from the real world, with the magic division coppers only talked about as those who deal with the "dodgy stuff". The first book is Rivers of London if you're interested.

The Alex Verus novels are similar to Harry Dresden in that the protagonist runs a magic shop in Camden. Magic users are also a lot more common than Harry Dresden, but still secret. The first book is Fated if you're interested. These books also carry an endorsement from Jim Butcher on the cover, just fyi...

The Man from U.N.D.E.A.D. books are a lot less serious. They're also more alternate-history-urban-fantasy. The United Nations Department for the Enforcement and Apprehension of Demons is an enormous, very public organisation. They are a very fun read if you're not looking for super-seriousness. The first book is The Man from U.N.D.E.A.D. and the Curious Case of the Kidnapped Chemist if you're interested, though be warned, I've only found them in E-book form.

Hope that helps. Let me know if you decide to read any of them.


P.S. I forgot to say that none of these series are finished yet, in case that puts you off. The P.C. Peter Grant books currently number 4, as do the Alex Verus novels, but the Man from U.N.D.E.A.D. books currently number 10 including side-stories.

 

[Raikas]

It doesn't seem like many people in this thread have heard of the Black Company, actually. If you could give me a more detailed recommendation, I'd appreciate it. Right now, contrary to the poll, I'm leaning towards the First Law Trilogy, but regardless of what I choose next, I intend to check out the Black Company some time.

The comment that got me reading it was "It's like an epic fantasy Sharpe!", and that's not far off, honestly (although unlike the Sharpe series, this series changes POV mid-way through - the first trilogy is all the same POV though).