Recommend me a fantasy book

[Soviet Heavy]

For the love of god, please do not read video game inspired novels or Eragon (per the suggestions of others) until you have read "Heroes Die" by Matthew Woodring Stover. It will change your life. Trust me.

Stover is an amazing writer. Have you read the novelization of Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith?

It's better than the movie, and is one of the best EU works ever.


OT. Discworld. Get it now, and enjoy losing the rest of your summer. I recommend you start with the book "Guards! Guards!" Hilarious.

Also, read the Belgariad. It shows that if you are aware of how generic and cookie cutter your story is, you might as well have fun with it.

 

[Gesepp]

Read the Kingkiller books by Patrick Rothfuss. They're the closest things to perfection I have read in the entirety of my life.

While they are still fantastic reads and well worth recommending, I would not go that far. The first is almost an anthology; neither the romantic nor the main motivational plotlines are any closer to consummation by the end of tNOtW. It's worth reading just for the writing and the University, but if you're more of a plot person than a character one, it's far from perfection.
The Wise Man's Fear, on the other hand, lets Kvothe actually have a relationship, a purpose, and an awesome sword.

 

[ChadSexington]

The Death Gate Cycle. There's seven in the series, it's pretty great. Oh and it's by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman.

 

[[Gavo]]

I was going to recommend Wheel of Time

The Sabriel series is pretty good.

 

[some1stolemyusername]

The Icewind Dale Trilogy

and all subsequent novels with that famous dark elf!

 

[coldfrog]

Most of what I'd suggest has been recommended already, so I'm going to just reiterate some of my favorites.

First, I'd recommend Perdido Street Station (and the rest of China Mieville's books if you enjoy it) as a bit harder fantasy with some outrageous ideas, crazy characters and some intense moments. It's extremely literate and it's one of the few books I've had to find myself looking words up in lately.

Similar props go to the Malazan Tales series by Erickson, with the addition that this series, to me, is the definition of epic fantasy. There are a lot of characters and it can be a little tough to get a grip on it all at first, but if the idea of a unique magic system and a lot of well-designed characters whose personalities are constantly clashing with each other sounds interesting, definitely get through that first one. It focuses a lot on huge events and strong personalities, and it also has a pretty interesting (to me) concentration on military life and battles that gives a realistic, gritty (I hate using that word, but I think it fits in a good way here) portrayal of battlefields that also involve violent, destructive magic. It's hard to explain, you just have to give it a shot.

For lighter reading that still has some pretty good worlds, try the Death Gate series. It's less exciting and new now that I found a lot of other fantasy stuff, but I still find it definitely worth a read, and it'll go quick.

Another thing, I've seen a lot of people trash it heavily, but I gotta be honest, I enjoyed at least the first two or three books in the Sword of Truth series. There are a few cliched things, but there are some really outrageous concepts that he throws in there that just throw me for a loop. And then it starts getting just utterly ridiculous and, well, just plain bad. If you like unusual ideas and crazy stuff, it's worth a go, but if you don't get enough enjoyment out of the first one, I'd say not to go any further.

Also, read the Belgariad. It shows that if you are aware of how generic and cookie cutter your story is, you might as well have fun with it.

You know, I read part of the first book and my first thought was, "dear god, this is as standard as standard fantasy can get." Is it really worth pushing through to get to later stuff? I really felt like it was blanding it up pretty bad.

 

[Linsenman]

You can NOT go wrong with Brent Week's Night Angel Trilogy. They are amazing in every aspect of storytelling. The characters are easily identified with, the plot is great and does not seem strained or rushed, and the difficulty level of the books isn't unmanageable so you could read this along with another book if you'd like.

The Malazan Book Of The Fallen series is much different, ten books long, and much more difficult to read. However, there are also really really great as well. I would not recommend reading them though if you're a "light reader" because the rate at which Erickson adds characters is alarming and they all have plot arches through the story that tie together. Much attention is required in these books but in the end, it is most definitely worth it.

I also like the select Dragonlance books. I would say the Dragonlance Legends Trilogy is really great. Weis and Hickman have an uncanny ability to absorb you into their writings with ease. Their characters jump of the page as well, but the most likable feature for me, is the character Raistlin. You'll love to hate him.

 

[DirgeNovak]

Mogworld (by Yahtzee) is hilarious. That's pretty much the only fantasy novel I've read if it can count as fantasy.

 

[Soviet Heavy]

Snip/quote]

It is as generic as they get, but I stayed for the characters. They're aware that they're doing shit that's been done a million times before, and they lampshade all the major tropes.

 

[SamBargeron]

Ed Greenwood Presents Waterdeep: Downshadow by Erik Scott DaBie

Yes... that is a single book title. Very good book.

 

[SL33TBL1ND]

Ok, let's do this:

The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss.
The Wise Man's Fear by Patrick Rothfuss.
The Night Angel Trilogy by Brent Weeks.
And anything by Terry Pratchett.

The Wise Man's Fear, on the other hand, lets Kvothe actually have a relationship, a purpose, and an awesome sword.

Plus sex.

 

[Fr33Lanc3r.007]

Along with the 'Night Angel trilogy', I'd recommend one of the other books Brent Weeks has written: 'The Black Prism'

It's the first book of a new series (the others are still forthcoming, but that's half the fun), and I really enjoyed reading it. It's not as dark as Night Angel, but still good.

Also, have a look at the books written by JV Jones - particularly 'The Book of Words' trilogy.

 

[Araksardet]

Malazan Book of the Fallen has a somewhat different storytelling than most other books I've read, but I'm still growing to like it (I'm sorta in the middle of the second book).

I'll add my support to this. I've just finished the tenth and last book in the series, and though there are a lot of characters and lots going on, this is a great series! Definitely check it out.

 

[jakkuss]

Glen Cook's 'the Black Company.'

 

[Vhite]

Read the Kingkiller books by Patrick Rothfuss. They're the closest things to perfection I have read in the entirety of my life.

So true.

 

[Johnny Impact]

Patrick Rothfuss, the Kingkiller Chronicles. Not finished yet, unfortunately.

Terry Pratchett's Discworld books tackle real-world problems (sexism, the consequences of technological advance, etc) in a humorous fantasy world where the gods are real and atheists tend to get struck by lightning. I see about six people already mentioned him, but it bears repeating. To call Pratchett brilliantly entertaining is to insult him. There is none higher.

Roger Zelazny's Amber Chronicles. Another good one. You can stop after the Corwin books if you think they went well. The Merlin volumes are merely okay.

Imajica is Clive Barker's best, but you can read anything he wrote and be satisfied.

Also try Jim Butcher's Dresden Files series. Imagine the only openly practicing wizard in Chicago working as a private detective -- Philip Marlowe with a blasting rod. Ten books long and still growing.

For science fiction, read Lois Bujold's Vorkosigan series, the Heirs to the Empire series by David Weber, and anything -- everything! -- by William Gibson.

 

[legendp]

I would recommend Eragon trilogy of books, don't be turned off by that awful movie they are really good books