Fantasy novel recommendation

[Quirinus]

Hi .Org, I was hoping to get some recommendations for a good fantasy novel. Specifically, I prefer it to be heavy on politics and rather less on the "good vs. evil", "save the universe from destruction" or "prophesied messiah" business.

Any recommendations on which book/series/author to start?

[TinCow]

The Song of Ice and Fire series by George R. R. Martin

[Lord Winter]

The Song of Ice and Fire series by George R. R. Martin

Seconded, best fantasty series out there.

[Lemur]

The Curse of Chalion is most excellent. Won a big pile of awards, so you know it can't suck all that much.

If you're up for something a little more steampunk, why not read Iron Council, another award-winner? Another rocking steampunk fantasy novel is The Physiognomy, although I must warn you that the other two books in that series are bad, bad, bad. Doesn't stop The Physiognomy from being great, though.

[pevergreen]

As always I must reccomend Raymond E. Feist, starting with Magician. Set in the same time frame is the Empire Trilogy, co-authored with Janny Wurts which focuses heavily on politics and "The game of the council"

Also, The Kingdom of Thorn and Bone is a favourite of mine.

[Quirinus]

As always I must reccomend Raymond E. Feist, starting with Magician. Set in the same time frame is the Empire Trilogy, co-authored with Janny Wurts which focuses heavily on politics and "The game of the council"

Also, The Kingdom of Thorn and Bone is a favourite of mine.

Actually, interesting you should mention The Magician -- I am reading it now, a friend recommended it to me. Seventy pages into the book, I'm quite disappointed by the super-Sue Pug and the general lack of depth, which was what originally prompted me to make this thread.

His "Empire" series does sound very promising though, as does the Thorn and Bone series.


"The Curse of Chalion" looks fascinating as well, but the one that really got me really excited was the "Song of Fire and Ice" summary on Wikipedia. Gonna look for it as soon as I get the opportunity.

[Ja'chyra]

Stephen Ericksons books, I think the series is the Malazan Book of the Fallen.

The Empire series is all about politics and in no way can be called shallow, also a good series.

[TinCow]

the one that really got me really excited was the "Song of Fire and Ice" summary on Wikipedia. Gonna look for it as soon as I get the opportunity.

You won't regret it. It is far and away the best book series I have ever read, period, let alone the best fantasy book series. It has consistently fabulous writing, very realistic characters, and has so many plot twists you'll be crawling up the walls when you read them. This is a book series that has constantly surprised me in ways I have never experienced by any other literary work. Tolkien easily plays second fiddle to Martin.

[Lemur]

It is far and away the best book series I have ever read, period, let alone the best fantasy book series.

Have you ever read the Aubrey/Maturin series? If not, as they say in the Shaft theme song, "Shut yo mouth!"

[TinCow]

I absolutely love the Aubrey/Maturin series, though I'm only up to book 4 so far. They are extremely good and easily the best works of historical fiction I have ever read. However, they do have some serious slow spots on occassion which can drag. That is more than made up for by the jaw-dropping naval battles, but it's enough for me to put it one notch below Song of Ice and Fire.

[Veho Nex]

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

Any Drizzt Do' Urden series books are a perfect almost blatantly in front of you g v e, but then underneath it all is a twisted complex world of one (dark elf's) look for a place in the world all with a bunch of action!

[Ja'chyra]

The Do'Urden books don't have any way near the amount of depth in the empire series and I would say Salvatore isn't as goos a writer as Erikson or Feist, although they are good entertainment in their own way and I still buy them.

For a quick read Gemmel is quite good although he only really has has two main themes for his books and they are all good vs evil scenarios, but for all that they keep the interest for the 3-4 hours they take to read.

Martin is a good author but not quite the god of literature some people make him out as, but at least his books are well thought out with interesting twists you will not see coming

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

I mean who kills off his main characters that early?

His books are a decent size too, I really grudge paying £7-8 for a 300 page book, it just doesn't seem worth it to me.

Other fantasy authors worth a mention are Scott Lynch, Ian Castle Esslemont, Weiss and Hickman, Janny Wurts.... the list goes on and on. My favourites are Erikson, Feist and Martin.

For historcal fiction you could try Simon Scarrow's Legion series or Conn Igguldon.

A good fun childrens author is Eoin Colfer and the Artemis Cole series.

[Alexanderofmacedon]

Best series I've ever read. It's also long so it'll keep you busy and into the story for a long time. Politics are an intricate part....as it was in World War II...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_T...#39;s_Darkness

Darkness series

[Quirinus]

I love Turtledove as well, but I liked his Timeline-191 series a lot better.