So, looking for a good fantasy series to read...

[ClockworkPenguin]

More horror/ urban fantasy than proper fantasy, but Sergie Lukyanenko's (hope i spelled that right)'Night Watch' series is pretty good.

I quite liked Trudi Canarvan's books as well, although i would say read either the 'Black Magician' series or the 'Priestess of White' series, but not both because they are the same story. Seriously, same mechanics for the magic, cut and paste protagonists etc. Either one is good, but i felt cheated after reading both.

I can also heartily recommend the first trilogy of Stan Nicholls 'Orcs' series.

 

[Smeatza]

I'd recommend the Warhammer books, particularly Caledor. I've never played the table top game but the books are an excellent read.

 

[ms_sunlight]

Bioshock was basically entirely about Objectivism, and I still really enjoyed it. A writer can preach all he/she wants on a subject, as long as they tell a good story I could care less.

BioShock was about objectivism. That's not the same thing as promoting objectivism - if anything BioShock is a cautionary tale, whereas Goodkind's books eventually turn into little more than thinly-veiled propaganda.

 

[KingsGambit_v1legacy]

I quite liked Trudi Canarvan's books as well, although i would say read either the 'Black Magician' series or the 'Priestess of White' series, but not both because they are the same story. Seriously, same mechanics for the magic, cut and paste protagonists etc. Either one is good, but i felt cheated after reading both.

I had thought to mention Canavan, but decided against it. Sonea and whatever her name is in Priestess of the White are interesting enough characters, but noone else in the series' is of any interest whatsoever. The magic seems like something out of a kids book, the robe/mage school thing as well is just a little naf. She's a bloody good writer, and a very good storyteller, but she's told uninsteresting stories.

The latest series follows Sonea's son's adventures with a side-plot of thieves guild shennanigans. Neither are interesting and the plot seems forced. Many decisions made simply don't make sense in context but they're made anyway. At any given time, I probably only really cared about one character and the rest was just tedious. I would go so far as to call her son a bit of a pr**k and certainly not protagonist material. Not a scratch on Hobb, Fallon or McIntosh's characters.

I would have happily read a plot summary of the entire book and skipped reading it myself. I actually cannot name any characters in the book except for Sonea and Ceri, that's how forgettable and uninteresting they are. Take Jordan's Wheel of Time characters however, and I could tell you every characters backstory with about 75% accuracy, along with Eddings, Goodkind and Hobb.

 

[KingsGambit_v1legacy]

BioShock was about objectivism. That's not the same thing as promoting objectivism - if anything BioShock is a cautionary tale, whereas Goodkind's books eventually turn into little more than thinly-veiled propaganda.

Wholeheartedly agree here. While Richard Cypher/Rahl's opposition to everything branded "destiny" (this in spite of the fact that he's observably fulfilled it at every step of the way) and constant yammering about free will, right to choose, etc got old, fast. Goodkind was browbeating us with philosophical nonsense that BioShock handly superbly. Ryan makes a point, Ryan even gives up his life to make it. And when it's made, it's a shock and sets the tone for the player's actions and that's the end of it.

SoT doesn't stop. I have actually come to detest the word "prophecy" in any form simply because of how frequently it is used in SoT (and again in Omen Machine). I have no trouble with author projection, or using his works to promote his personal philosophy to a small degree, but the constant, unceasing browbeating was hard to bear. The saving grace was that there was enough stuff of interest going on that one could forget (if not forgive) the philosophical nonsense.

I have to admit though the people and attitude of the Old World never sat right with me. It was simply hard to believe but we had to go along with it for the story to make sense.

 

[Launcelot111]

It's a comic instead of a novel, and it's not fantasy in the sense of most of the stories in this thread, but Fables is fantastic, and I recommend it to everyone. It's about how all the characters of fairy tales and fables and mythology all get driven from their mythical homelands and have to live in secrecy in New York. It's got interesting spins on a lot of established characters, like how Prince Charming gets into bed with every girl he meets and then takes advantage of them until he gets bored, or how Cinderella is a poor shopowner by day and a secret agent by night, or how the Big Bad Wolf is sheriff of Fabletown. It's got great characters and great villains, and the art is fantastic. The story starts running out of steam after the first great conflict is resolved about 80 issues in, but it's definitely worth a read.

 

[Shocksplicer]

Not really in the same vein as the fantasy mentioned here, but Terry Pratchetts Discworld novels have a lot going for them.

 

[SquidVicious]

Not really in the same vein as the fantasy mentioned here, but Terry Pratchetts Discworld novels have a lot going for them.

This. This right here. The Discworld novels are some of the funniest things I have ever read, and have done a real number on my view of the world of fantasy. Out of curiosity, which one did you start out with?

 

[Shocksplicer]

Not really in the same vein as the fantasy mentioned here, but Terry Pratchetts Discworld novels have a lot going for them.

This. This right here. The Discworld novels are some of the funniest things I have ever read, and have done a real number on my view of the world of fantasy. Out of curiosity, which one did you start out with?

Thief Of Time. I've read several of them since, but that's probably still my favourite, or maybe Night Watch.

 

[Fieldy409_v1legacy]

David Dalgish is a very prolific Fantasy Author. All his stuff is great, really well done combat and characters that you care about. It can get pretty darn dark but I like that.

The ShadowDance series is probably the best one being about badass assasins. But the Half Orcs is great too. The Paladins series really gets good when it gets into its stride.

 

[Deathmageddon]

The thing that really got the bit between my teeth (and this is a MAJOR SPOILER for anyone who plans to read it) is when whatshername leading the Varden is captured and imprisoned by Galbatorix. He decides to physically torture her, despite that by his own admission he could "rip" anything he wanted straight from her mind. This was the most ridiculous thing in the whole series, making no sense whatsoever. Nothing of the little we knew of the character would suggest he would have done that and all it served was to make him more evil to the reader. Why didn't he just cook babies for cyring out loud? Oh and of course he dressed entirely in black, because that's clearly what villains do. The most powerful man in the world and undisputed leader of the mankind, with the ability to simply pluck thoughts from peoples' minds would not resort to petty physical torture, especially not when an army is at his city's gates, especially not with his lofty plans and goals, especially not with his timetable, especially not when considering *any* of his previous motivations until that point.

Sorry, I went on a rant there. It could have been great high fantasy. The farmboy becomes dragon rider, chased out of village by nazgul...errr...insect people, whatever, is unoriginal but I can live with that. But the characters were all wooden and uninteresting, couldn't have cared less what happened to any of them. The end was pretty atrocious too and completely unsatisfying, though in fairness to Paolini he kinda painted himself into a corner with that. Tedious, infuriating, boring, unsatisfying. The nicest things I can say about Eragon.

It's established in Eldest that the elves prefer to do things (especially tedious labor) by hand rather than with magic, because that would make it too easy and the task would lose all meaning. Galbatorix dressed in black and rode a black dragon because, yes, it's what villains do. Remember Darth Vader? Villains are just doomed to rock the darker hues. Who the hell would take an antagonist seriously if he wore bright pink and rode into battle on a sparkly Twilight vampire?

Also couldn't disagree more about the ending. Wrapped up as well, if not better than any series that comes to mind at the moment. I mean, what were you hoping for? Even if it was a little predictable, it's still better than Mass Effect 3.

 

[userwhoquitthesite]

I've been a fan of fantasy literature since I was a kid, and of late I find that I really like political intrigue in my fantasy. I just finished Martin's excellent A Song of Ice and Fire books, and since I now have to wait for book six, I'm looking for a new good epic fantasy series to read.

I just picked up the first Witcher book (Blood of Elves), but I have to wait for the rest of those to be translated as well, so no go there. :-/ I'm looking for something akin to Ice and Fire- well-written, good prose, political intrigue, interesting characters, grittier setting, etc.

Go nuts if you've got a recommendation. Feel free to love all over a book you enjoy, I'll be sure to take any recommendations into account.

EDIT: Thank you all for the wonderful suggestions. I'm definetly going to check out these books, oughta keep me busy for a while. xD Thanks again!

The wheel of time. So badass it murdered its own author and kept going

 

[SenseOfTumour]

Not really in the same vein as the fantasy mentioned here, but Terry Pratchetts Discworld novels have a lot going for them.

This. This right here. The Discworld novels are some of the funniest things I have ever read, and have done a real number on my view of the world of fantasy. Out of curiosity, which one did you start out with?

Thief Of Time. I've read several of them since, but that's probably still my favourite, or maybe Night Watch.

I can only agree with this sentiment, and that if the first book doesn't do it for you, skip forward and try something, say, 'Men of Arms' or after.

Personally I think Jingo is one of the finest books about the stupidity of war I've read. (I admit I've not read any other books about the stupidity of war, but, but, oh leave me alone.)

There was a point where he moved from just parodying the stale fantasy genre to using satire to reflect our own world in the discworld. At that point I found his books far more enjoyable.

 

[mirage202]

I'll throw in Chronicles/Legends of The Raven, by James Barclay. Thoroughly enjoyed them all.

Also, if any of you happen to run across Mr G RR Martin at some event, for the love of god please ask him when there will be a follow up to Tuf Voyaging, thanks

 

[Eric Morales]

Can't recommend the Wheel of Time series enough. The cultures and societies of the world are remarkably well fleshed out. The characters are probably the major selling point, with some of the best realized female characters in fantasy.

The first couple of books are fairly down to earth though the wizz-bang-magic-wahay does start to ramp up as things go on. Certainly worth checking out.

 

[warrcry13]

I'd recommend the Warhammer books, particularly Caledor. I've never played the table top game but the books are an excellent read.

I also recommend Warhammer books. I liked The Blackhearts book. Also Malus Darkblade omnibus. And also I think it was legion of the damned or riders of the damned. I forget the name exactly, but it wasn't a bout some demilancers.

 

[Bravo 21]

Without question "The Ethos Effect" By (according to google) L. E. Modesitt, Jr. I found the book interesting, but can't quite remember why, so I am probably going to read it again this summer. Kinda more sci-fi, but it's good nonetheless. Also "Neverwhere" by Neil Gaiman is pretty good, with more Fantasy.

 

[DrWilhelm]

Let's see if there's anything on the ol' bookshelf that hasn't come up yet...

Huh, seems everyone's already mentioned most of my usual recomendations. All I've got left is Jim Butcher's Codex Alera. It's a high fantasy/intrigue hexalogy about...well...I guess I'll just rip the description from TV Tropes:

"Magical Roman Legionnaires straight out of Avatar The Last Airbender versus the Zerg, wolfmen with Blood Magic, telepathic yetis and white-haired elves. Riding ground sloths and terror birds. Sometimes, the Legionnaires fight each other, too."

It's not nearly as gritty as Ice and Fire, but it hits all your other requirements. The author's other series, The Dresden Files is also worth a look. It doesn't fit your requirements as well, but they're still very enjoyable. Plus theres, like, thirteen books in the series and the author's still pumping them out so it's not like you'll run out anytime soon. You can find sample chapters on Butcher's website [http://www.jim-butcher.com/] if you want to check either series out.

From the ones people have already mentioned, I'll give thumbs up to:

The Acts of Caine, if you can find the damned things. I read the first book, Heroes Die, a year ago but still haven't managed to get my claws on a copy of the second. Pisses me off too because I adored the book.

Everything I've read from Robin Hobb has been wonderful.

The First Law is excellent stuff for anyone who made it through A Song of Ice and Fire without wanting to slit their wrists from depression. I swear, the damned things should have suicide risk warnings on the front covers.

Anything by Brandon Sanderson. Again, not especially gritty but otherwise excellent. Notable for posting chapter annotations on his here [http://www.brandonsanderson.com/]. Just click "Get the Current Version" on that page to download the PDF. Sanderson's also the guy chosen to finish Robert Jordan's The Wheel of Time series after Jordan passed away. I can't give the Wheel of Time a proper recomendation because I'm only three books in, but I've enjoyed what I've read so far.

Terry Pratchett's books are excellent if you've anything resembling a sense of humour. My recomendation extends to his young adult fiction as well. They're just as enjoyable as his adult fiction. The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents in particular is ostensibly for kids and teens, but I'd still place it somewhere on my list of favourite reads.

Edit: Oh yeah, and Neil Gaiman too. My personal favourites are Neverwhere, a fascinating urban fantasy, and The Graveyard Book, a gothic retelling of Rudyard Kipling's The Jungle Book. He's done loads of great short stories as well. A Study in Emerald [http://www.neilgaiman.com/mediafiles/exclusive/shortstories/emerald.pdf] (links straight to the pdf) is particularly enjoyable if you like Sherlock Holmes and/or The Cthulhu Mythos.

 

[Erana]

Paulo Coelho is one of the best writers I've ever read ever. Go read The Alchemist; it will only take a few hours, but its very worthwhile.