Read any good fantasy books lately?

Brolli411 · Post by **Brolli411** » Sat Dec 07, 2002 8:21 pm

I'm looking for a good fantasy book(s). I am looking for something with either the medieval kind of fantasy (With something like dragons, mages, or worriers) or something in the future of technology (Ex: something like bebop, space and stuff. But not like Gundam, with giant robots). But there is also something I'm looking for that I have not found in many of the more popular Fantasy books I have read. An intertwine emotion/love story. Like something about how on their journeys, the two fell in love. An anime that I could compare the kind of book I am looking for is the Escaflowne Movie. It has some good Kickin'-a-lot-of-ass story, and at the end, it shows how Hitomi and Van have come together. Also, in the book I am looking for things that are out-of-the-ordinary. Nothing like, he lived in Atlanta, George, fighting off a gang in the medieval times. Something that you wouldn't see in the newspaper.
ANY help/suggestions will be greatly appreciated. I haven't read a good book in a while, and need too. (PS: LOTR DOES NOT CUT IT!)

Flint the Dwarf · Post by **Flint the Dwarf** » Sat Dec 07, 2002 9:01 pm

brolli411 wrote:I am looking for something with either the medieval kind of fantasy (With something like dragons, mages, or worriers)

Hmm... with an intertwined love theme? Try the Dragonlance books. There's so many of them, most with dragons, mages, warriors, and a minor love-theme.

But, if I were in your place, I'd read The Belgariad by David Eddings. It's a 5 book series with about 300 pages a book. Followed by The Mallorean by him. Continuation with the same people, same length. Great books. Set in the medieval era, with lots of magic. Love theme intertwined. David Eddings writes the best characters ever.

Ah! Try the Sword of Truth series by Terry Goodkind, that fits pretty damn well.

And then the Wheel of Time books by Robert Jordan. Amazing, my favorite series so far. But I'd try those other books first.

brolli411 wrote:or something in the future of technology (Ex: something like bebop, space and stuff. But not like Gundam, with giant robots)

Well I can't really help you there. Well there's The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy books by Douglass Adams. Those are great sci-fi. But mostly comedy, not much like Cowboy Bebop. There's also the Foundation books by Isaac Asimov which are very good, but again, not too much like CB.

The Wired Knight · Post by **The Wired Knight** » Sat Dec 07, 2002 9:12 pm

Although not quite fantasy I just started reading the Dark Town Series by Stephen King. Those are really good. I also recomend teh Dragonlance series of book (nnot by king) which is an amazing fantasy series.

Brolli411 · Post by **Brolli411** » Sat Dec 07, 2002 10:02 pm

I've tried some of the dragonlace's, but can't seem to get into them. I've gone through a few of them, but never really liked them that much. Mostly read through them just to get to the end. The thing I don't like about that series is all the time they take to re-hash old events from all the other books. It seems agonizing to read about how they met for a few chapters, then finally get to the actions.. Then more old time's. Maybe if I could find the very first DragonLance book, that could be better.

The_Squall · Post by **The_Squall** » Sat Dec 07, 2002 10:45 pm

brolli411 wrote:Maybe if I could find the very first DragonLance book, that could be better.

Just recently got into the dragonlance books this past summer. The first books are The Dragonlance Chronicles Trilogy(in order): Dragons of Autumn Twilight, Dragons of Winter Night, and Dragons of a Springs Dawning. There's kinda a fourth book but there are things inbetween Dragons of a Summers Flame and the original Trilogy.

But really, the trilogy is where everyone should start since mostly everything else is a side story from it. Even the time after the Chaos war and the alternate universe.

R.A. Salvatore does good work too.

Chaos Angel · Post by **Chaos Angel** » Sat Dec 07, 2002 11:17 pm

I second Wheel of Time. The books are long, and the series is as yet unfinished, but the writing is superbly detailed and in-depth.

For a comedy-fantasy, I recommend The Enchanted Forest Chronicles by Patricia C Wrede. Damn funny, very light-hearted books. The main character is a princess who hates being a princess, so she runs away and becomes the maid for a dragon.

Vazor · Post by **Vazor** » Mon Dec 09, 2002 4:48 pm

Wheel of Time is definitely good stuff, but I think the best fantasy series I've ever read is Robin Hobb's Assassin trilogy. Great characters and storyline, and an incredibly original world. It really is all good. ^_^

Lone Wolf · Post by **Lone Wolf** » Mon Dec 09, 2002 4:56 pm

Ok people... we're missing a big name here. LORD OF THE RINGS TRILOGY! I just got done with it and I loved it. It has your action, magic, and romance all packed into one.

Another GREAT book I've read is ARTEMIS FOWL. I thought this was absolutely amazing. It has your fantasy creatures but with superior technology. I really liked this book because I like fantasy and because I'm extremely good at mechanics for only a 16 year old.

IratusAngelus · Post by **IratusAngelus** » Mon Dec 09, 2002 5:41 pm

I've read all the books of the Wheel of Time that are out so far, and I love them to death. They're a little long (massive understatment alert), so if you're looking for something shorter they may not be your style. They definitely have love stories in them...quite a few, actually. Rand is a total player (unintentionally), and pretty much every character eventually loves someone. However, as good as the Wheel of Time series is, I've found something better. A Song of Ice and Fire is a series by George R.R. Martin. It is the grittiest, most "realistic" fantasy I've ever read. That's not to say that it doesn't have magic and dragons and all that, it's just a more depressing sort of fantasy. The magic in the world has been declining, and supposedly the last dragons died years ago. He only has three books out in the series now, and each is about 900 pages long. Books 1-3 are A Game of Thrones, A Clash of Kings, and A Storm of Swords. Book 4, which has yet to be released, is going to be called A Feast for Crows. I'd really recommend these to anyone who enjoys fantasy, though I'd have to say they're not for everyone. I guess you just have to try and see

Flint the Dwarf · Post by **Flint the Dwarf** » Mon Dec 09, 2002 6:21 pm

The newest Wheel of Time book comes out Jan. 7. Woot!

brolli411 wrote:(PS: LOTR DOES NOT CUT IT!)

That's why we didn't mention it, Lone Wolf.

You might also try stuff by Raymond E. Feist and Janny Wurtz. Feist wrote some truly great books starting with Magician. That's probably the third most in-depth series I've read. And it's filled with magicky goodness.

And I failed to mention the Shannara Trilogy by Terry Brooks. Some more great ones, but it lacks a strong intertwined love theme.