Recommend me some fantasy novels!

[CrazyGirl17]

Fantasy novels, eh? Well here are some of my favorites. Read through 'em and see what you think:

Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkein
The Phantom Toolbooth by Norton Juster
Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling
Faerie Wars by Herbie Brennan
Artemis Fowl series by Eoin Colfer
The Chronicals of Narnia by C.S. Lewis
So You Want to be a Wizard by Diane Duane

 

[bleh002]

I'm surprised no one has mentioned The Book of Lost Things by John Connolly; it's the best book I've read in the last two years. He also has a short story collection called Nocturne and a newer novel called The Gates. I'm still really amused that he's actually a thriller/crime drama writer (note: the titles I've listed are straight up fantasy).

I think I'll bookmark this thread so I have something to reference when I'm looking for something new to read after I hit up Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett.

If you like those two authors, you might want to check out Jasper Fforde. I felt that the humour in his books was a little reminiscent of Good Omens. I quite like his Nursery Crimes series. One involved Humptey Dumptey and the other was the Three Bears. He also has another series, Thursday Next, but that has a lot of references to classic literature and I know that not everyone enjoys that sort of thing.

 

[Burningsok]

Fahrenheit 451. It's a sci-fi novel from the 1950's by Ray Bradbury

 

[Burningsok]

hmm all i can think of is LOTR or harry potter.

 

[Ultress]

I have to say defiantly anything by Neil Gaiman, StarDust and Anasi Boys are a blast to read, NeverWhere is great as well and if you don't mind a children's book The Graveyard Book is enjoyable.

Also C.S Lewis' Voyage of the Dawn Treader is just great,from the awesome creatures to the different interesting islands everything is amazing.

 

[NickCaligo42]

Snip

"Villains by Necessity."

It's a book about a rag-tag group of villains who need to save the world from exploding in a burst of goodness.

I'm dead serious.

 

[oppp7]

Redwall.
Haha no.

I heard those DnD books about Dr'zzt(or whatever-the-hell his name is) were good.

 

[gorfias]

The Blue Adept series. Check it: Sci-fi mixed with fantasy better than any other you have ever experienced.

 

[lightbound]

I personally just picked up "The Last Wish" by Andrzej Sapkowski. This is the enlgish translation of the book that inspired The Witcher video game. It's a great read, and a little different than the normal fantasy read in that it is a collection of (slightly linked) short stories dealing with Geralt of Rivia. Great action scenes and an interesting undertone of "fairy tales", albeit with a darker atmosphere.

 

[flying_whimsy]

If you like those two authors, you might want to check out Jasper Fforde. I felt that the humour in his books was a little reminiscent of Good Omens. I quite like his Nursery Crimes series. One involved Humptey Dumptey and the other was the Three Bears. He also has another series, Thursday Next, but that has a lot of references to classic literature and I know that not everyone enjoys that sort of thing.

Thanks; I've always had a thing for new takes on the stories I heard as a kid. References are always a double edged sword for a writer to use; on one hand they can make for a richer experience for a reader familiar with them, but on the other they can just as easily alienate a reader that isn't.

Loosely related to the topic: why are most of these recommendations series instead of single novels? Is it just that fantasy comes in series-form rather than one-shot? Maybe it has something to do with that playing around with different stories in the same world. *shrugs*

 

[Cairo]

I likes me some Diana Wynne Jones. Also, while it's not the "swords and sorcery" type, you should read "American Gods."

 

[EboMan7x]

Harry Potter, The Hobbit, Lord of The Rings, The Bartimaeus Trilogy, Derfstromaeus, Artemis Fowl

 

[sailor_960]

The Edge Chronicles by Paul Stewart (and another one's whose name escapes me). Its essentially a combination of Dr. Seuess, pirates and fantasy. Trust me, its awesome (and the later books are really bloody.)

 

[Sporky111]

Night Angel Trilogy by Brent Weeks. (Be aware it is a bit harsh at the start).

I second this. My favorite fantasy trilogy, just because it's so different in tone and delivery.

Also, I hate to fuel the encroaching cliche, but it's kind of like Kick-Ass. It's got young kids being apprenticed to assassins, and becoming cold efficient killers. Along with that, it's also got war, legend, usurpation, conspiracy, magic, sex, drugs, massive amounts of gore; you know, everything good in the world of fantasy.

 

[xXAsherahXx]

Personally my favorite fantasy and book for that matter is 1984 by George Orwell. It is not a typical fantasy with magic etc. but it is incredibly detailed and well thought out. I recommend it to anybody to can understand it.

 

[Ze_Sapper]

R. A. Salvatore's Legend of Drizzt series, Brent Weeks' Night Angel Triogy, Scott Lynch's Gentlemen Bastards Sequence, Tom Lloyd's Twilight Hearld series, Pat Rothfuss' Name of the Wind, Markus Heitz's The Dwarves. Whew, I'm all done now =)

Edit: The Better Mousetrap by Tom Holt is an interesting (yet kind of confusing) read.

 

[dariuskyne]

Piers anthony he did the incarnations of immortality series (awesome series) and is famous for his pun riddled xanth series , i advise xanth, if you need a break from the over serious epics.

 

[bleh002]

The Gomenghast Trilogy by Mervin Peake (Titus Groan, Gormenghast and Titus alone). Yes, it's about as far removed from 'conventional fantasy' as you can get; yes, Peake's writing style can be a little heavy-going, but still I would definitely put this on a must-read list. There's not any high adventure or world-saving involved, but it's an involving drama with some extremely well-realised characters and a fair dash of dark humour.
It may not have had the level of influence as it's contemporary, Lord of the Rings, but still it's definitely a work that anyone interested in the genre should read.

It's pretty much the only fantasy series I've liked. Are there any other like it?

You might want to check this thread out, it lists a number of authors and books that have a similar feel as the Gormenghast Trilogy. http://ask.metafilter.com/89219/Books-similar-to-PeakeGormenghast

I'm not sure if you're aware, but there is a 4th book coming out. It's based on some of the writings that Peake had left behind that his widow had found and added to and that have recently been found in a box in the attic by a grandchild. Check this article out http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2010/jan/15/gormenghast-sequel-mervyn-peake-widow