One series I love is the Pearl Saga by Eric Van Lustbader. However he has put the series on hold for his Bourne novels, so its unfinished. What is there however I think is great.

Another Series is the Kingmaker Kingbreaker series by Karen Miller (I think or maybe K.E. Mills which is a pen name she also writes under.)

Do graphic novels/comics count? I finished Gaiman's The Sandman series (dark fantasy) last year, and it was definitely one of my favorite reading experiences.

Some of the best fantasy writing I have ever read (and it's great for an older crowd too) is Guy Gavriel Kay's books, I like specifically his stand alone novel Tigana, and his trilogy called the Fionavar Tapestry, odd names, excellent books.

David Gemmell's book Legend is an absolute classic you won't regret reading.

Jim Butchers books are some of my favorite, he knows how to write and make you read till morning comes again, look for his Dresden Files and Codex Alera books (Dresden if you like modern age fantasy, the Codex if you like things Roman!).

If you want to read about Paladins, and like a female hero for a nice change then read Elizabeth Moon's: The Deed of Paksenarrion saga, a classic.

If you want brainless, but, entertaining and action packed fantasy and love D&D read R.A. Salvatore's books, any will do, the D&D ones start with the Icewind Dale trilogy and go from there. If you like funny dwarfs and priestly doings read The Cleric Quintet. I also enjoyed his Demon Wars saga though that's not D&D.

What's that? Still you need more?! Okay, for a different experience read Elantris by Brandon Sanderson. Or you can always read the Earthsea Trilogy by Ursula K. Le Guin, they are short to the point and good reads. There are more (David Eddings for instance), but, I think this list will do for now. Good luck. ;p

At the risk of sounding narcissistic, I recommend the novel I wrote. Lots of folks have enjoyed it.

I'll make it free for tomorrow so you can read it at no cost tomorrow (Friday). It's only available on Kindle right now.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006FA813C/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B006FA813C&linkCode=as2&tag=legeofleef-20

I hate to say what it's about b/c it's more fun just to read it and enjoy the ride. But you can read Hamster's review (a fellow GOGer who loved the book) or the synopsis on the title page.


I read the first of The Kingdom of Thorn and Bone. I heard that the series goes worse toward the end, but the first book was spectacular. Lots of fun characters and their lives get all interwiny. Good fun. I think that's the last fantasy I've read. I've stayed away for a little while.

The first four novels in The Dark Tower series by Stephen King are fantastic. Also, The Sandman by Neil Gaiman is not just the best comic I ever read, it's easily one of the top three best stories I've ever read.

I really enjoyed the "Prince of Nothing" trilogy by R. Scott Bakker. It's dark as hell, but with superbly compelling characters. I haven't started in on the second trilogy yet, however.

If you want a bit of a project, I'd highly recommend Steven Erickson's "Malazan Book of the Fallen" series. It's a 10-parter with pretty sizable novels, but all-in-all an excellent read. Epic, indeed.

Finally, I just finished the first book in the Mistborn series by Brian Sanderson. I've heard good things about the rest of the series--I'll be launching into that soon.

Joseph Lallo has become a favorite of mine in the last year. The first book of his "The Book of Deacon" trilogy is free.

http://www.bookofdeacon.com/books/

Anything by Gene Wolfe or Jack Vance

It's pretty hard to find a good fantasy story these days. Most of the authors are graphomaniacs, GRR Martin included. I remember how much I enjoyed Forgotten Realms books written by R. A. Salvatore and other crooks. Now, when I open them, I usually am mortified after first page.

Fantasy is a very broad term.

Do you like High Fantasy? These are the Tolkiens and all that. Some of the popular ones from the 80s and 90s are Riftwar, Wheel of time, Shannara, Death gate etc... but these may seem cliched by today's standards.

How about Heroic Fantasy? Mistborn, Malazan and Kingkiller are some good recent ones.

Do you prefer Low Fantasy? These are the Conans etc. Black Company is a good contemporary example. The classic example is Farseer.

There's also urban/contemporary fantasy (Gaiman etc), science fantasy / space opera...

If a little science fiction in your fantasy novel is OK for you I recommend everything from Sheri S. Tepper (well, the books she published as Sheri S. Tepper).
The books sometimes have a touch of horror as well but for me that only underlines the strangeness and uniqueness of the worlds she creates.

I also found the Windrose series by Barbara Hambly deeply entertaining.

The Assassin's Apprentice trilogy by Robin Hobb is one of my all-time favorites. I keep re-reading them once in a while.

Good books: One For the Morning Glory, The Princess Bride, assorted books by Tom Holt, Edward Plunkett.

Decent books: Malazan, Small Gods, books by China Mieville, Clark Ashton Smith.

Enjoyable waste of paper: Death Gate, Finder's Stone, M:tG/Weatherlight, Neverwhere.

Dying Earth if you're interested in context/history/literary criticism/metafiction, mostly for its historical value.

Everything else I have tried reading is either irredeemably awful or a forgettable waste of time.

Only If you're young or relatively new to Fantasy:
Dragonlance series
Raymond E. Feist

Other series I recommend:
Corum series by Michael Moorcock.
The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant

Cool! I'll definitely check it out.