Recommend me a fantasy book

[fenderstrat]

Ok, fellow escapists, i've finally have a little bit of free time in my life, so i'm very keen on reading a fantasy book (or books). Buuuuut, i pretty tired of fantasy books that involve so much of "royal court intrigue", you know, backstabbing and plotting for the throne, etc. It's not that i mind that, but i just wanna read something different, so just like adventure fantasy book, with a bunch of guys just going out for adventure, like the tolkien books or the sword of shannara trilogy, or the first dragonlance trilogy (Dragons of Autumn Twilight, etc). so dear escapists, any recommendations for me? thanks!

 

[Newtonyd]

You could try Tad Williams' Otherland series. It's more of a mix of science fiction and fantasy, set in the not-too-distant Earth's future, but it definitely has the 'adventuring band in a fantasy setting' feel to it.

Way of Kings and Tigana are better fantasy books, in my opinion, but they might have too much royal court intrigue for your taste.

 

[JaceArveduin]

If you don't mind reading things in the style of the old Norse epics, go find The Silmarillion, it's a great read.

There's also the Ranger's Apprentice series.

I'm fairly sure I know more to read, just can't think of them.

 

[fenderstrat]

I was thinking more into the "standard" fantasy style, but Otherland sounds pretty good! Also Ranger's apprentice. Thanks guys! Already read the Silmarillion.
I dont mind the court intrigue (i loved Robin Hobb's Farseer Trilogy) i just feel like something more adventury.

 

[Eleuthera]

I can recommend Patrick Rothfuss' Kingkiller Chronicle. Only 2 books have been published so far, it's "medieval" fantasy, but without dwarves, orc or elves and the like. Though the Fae do appear.

The first book's called "the Name of the Wind"

 

[Soviet Heavy]

Discworld: Night Watch. I don't care what other people say, that book works just as well as a standalone as it does in a series.

 

[Daystar Clarion]

If you want something a bit different, I would recommend The Dark Tower series by Stephen King.

Great series of books, really intelligent with some great characters.

 

[Rawne1980]

One of my favourite Fantasy writers is David Gemmell.

He's produced some fantastic books.

I'd recommend the Druss, Waylander and Skilgannon series.

 

[Soviet Heavy]

Oh yeah, The Belgariad as well. What happens when you take a self aware cast and throw them into a Lord of the Rings ripoff.

 

[Bob Thenecromancer]

Its my time to shine.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reckless_%28Funke_novel%29

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Legend_of_Drizzt

http://www.amazon.com/Floating-Island-Lost-Journals-Polypheme/dp/0765347725

 

[New Troll]

One of my favorite novels of all time is the first book in RA Salvatore's DemonWars Saga, The Demon Awakens.

Highly recommend it!

click here for more information

 

[spartan231490]

Ok, fellow escapists, i've finally have a little bit of free time in my life, so i'm very keen on reading a fantasy book (or books). Buuuuut, i pretty tired of fantasy books that involve so much of "royal court intrigue", you know, backstabbing and plotting for the throne, etc. It's not that i mind that, but i just wanna read something different, so just like adventure fantasy book, with a bunch of guys just going out for adventure, like the tolkien books or the sword of shannara trilogy, or the first dragonlance trilogy (Dragons of Autumn Twilight, etc). so dear escapists, any recommendations for me? thanks!

Sword of Truth, by Terry Goodkind. It fits what you're looking for pretty damn well. A couple of times where court intrigue-type stuff is necessary, the author takes like 10 pages on it, max.

Deltora Quest, by Jennifer Rowe is also a pretty fun series, and you could read it a lot faster, just be aware that it's aimed at pre-teens so the writing level isn't very good, and it's in desperate need of another spelling/grammar edit, but if you can get past that it's actually a pretty damn good story.

Ranger's Apprentice, by John Flanagan is also a very good story. Young Adult level writing, but a fun plot and really good characters. Adventure all the way.

If you're looking for something a little more advanced you could give the "Night Angel" Trilogy, by Brent Weeks a shot. Really great story, very well written, but it dabbles in court intrigue a little, it's not the focus, but it's a large part of the setting.

Then there's the creme of the crop, if you never read a single other book on this thread, read this series. The "Kingkiller Chronicles," by Patrick Rothfuss. It's the best series in fantasy right now. It has court intrigue, but not till the second book, and again it's not so much a part of the story as part of the setting. Amazing story, great characters, and writing so amazing it puts anything else to shame, this is a series every fantasy reader should read. The third book is set for a May release, so fair warning it is as of yet unfinished, but it's worth the read anyway. The first book is called "The Name of the Wind."

What are you waiting for, go read.

 

[spartan231490]

I can recommend Patrick Rothfuss' Kingkiller Chronicle. Only 2 books have been published so far, it's "medieval" fantasy, but without dwarves, orc or elves and the like. Though the Fae do appear.

The first book's called "the Name of the Wind"

I cannot describe how happy I am that this book was suggested this quickly.

 

[Fijiman]

Well you could read The Keys to the Kingdom series by Garth nix. There's also the Bartimeaus trilogy, but that is filled with people trying to take over the government. There are a few others that I want to mention, but it's been so long since I've read them that I don't remember the name of the books nor the authors. Would probably help if were to go to the library every once in a while.

 

[Mid Boss]

What if Death, Time, Nature, War, were all job positions with the same office politics and hum drum days as working any other job?

The Incarnations of Immortality series.

The first two books, Riding on a Pale Horse and Bearing the Hourglass, are AMAZING. Stop after those though. They do pretty well as stand alone works and the series goes down hill pretty damn quick after the second book. By the seventh book you'll be wondering what the heck you are reading and as Piers Anthony goes to GREAT length to justify how right and moral it is that a middle aged character is sleeping with a 14 prostitute because... love.

 

[Raningwind]

I recommend http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Belgariad
it's a book series with lots of pages and will entertain a long time.
Mideval and with magic and swords, but mostly story.

 

[Legion]

The Black Magician Trilogy by Trudi Canavan is very good.

There is also The Magician's Apprentice that is a prequel set years before it (but written after) which I think is enjoyable.

Plus the Traitor Spy Trilogy that is set and written after the above, but it is not as good, it gets a little too cliché for my liking.

 

[Superbeast]

Hm, most of my suggestions will have a lot of "court intrigue" so they may not be what you are looking for right now, but I'm throwing the "main" suggestions out there for some epic series' of books that will certainly take a lot of time.

A Song of Ice and Fire by George R.R. Martin (though with the T.V. show Game of Thrones most people have heard of it now, and it is very politic).

The Wheel of Time by Robert Jordan (it is quite "adventure-y" but does have a lot of intrigue also).

The Malazan Book of the Fallen by Steven Erikson (jumps from all-out battles to personal quests to religious ascendancies, so it really has a bit of everything).

Now, I know you said you wanted something a little different, so these are some slightly more out-there books that I am very fond of:

If you want something that is a bit campy/young-adult oriented but oh-so-fun to read (I still love them at 23), there's the Bartimaeus Trilogy by Jonathan Stroud. It's basically about an incredibly sarcastic genie attempting to kill the guy who summoned him (and who he is bound to serve) whilst avoiding the wrath of other genies/gods whom he owes a lot of debts.

On a very random note is Firebringer by David-Clement Davis. It is a book about the quest/flight and destiny of a young deer and his friends that is essentially a giant analogy for fascism/Nazism and the persecution of the Jews. Though my description is seriously not doing the book anywhere near enough justice - it is one of my all-time favourite books. It sounds weird and a bit childish, I know, but if you like fantasy books - check it out.

 

[thejackyl]

Since I made a thread about suggesting good books back around Christmas, I'll share my findings.

The Dresden Files by Jim Butcher:

They aren't like Tolkien or the few fantasy books(Like them) I've read. They're about a Wizard PI working in modern day Chicago. There are vampires, werewolves, rogue magicians, fairy godmothers, demons, ghosts, A fairy who's obsessed with sex who lives in a skull. I could go on, but I'm only on the third book. And there are 12 books so far... I think.

I haven't read many books since High School, so the only really fantasy books I have read are the Harry Potter series, up to book 6, I can't get past chapter 8 on the last book for some reason. and the first 3 books in the Dresden Files.