Recommend a fantasy book

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Okay, so first things first -- I don't read fantasy. This is partly because Tolkein bored me and Salvatore disappointed me, and also because I feel stupid carry around fantasy when the guy next to me at the university is reading Vonnegut or Steinbeck. But I've decided to pick up a fantasy book -- the kind that can be fully read within a week or two. So give me something.

But one or two guidelines, more or less:
-No seminal works -- e.g. Lord of the Rings
-Recent work -- published in the last couple of years.
-Nothing targeted to "young adults".

'preciate it.

 

As I have said to everyone, George RR Martin, Robin Hobb and Steven Erikson are great reads which entertains and challenges the reader and in my opionion up to par with any "real" literature when it comes to quality.

 

Robin Hobb's Farseer Trilogy first, then her Liveship Traders, then the Tawny Man trilogy.

That'll keep you busy for a bit.

 

I agree with everything already mentioned except Erikson, haven't been able to read his stuff yet. Also try Neil Gaiman's stuff if you don't want to commit to a series. Neverwhere, American Gods and Anansi Boys were awesome. Although Coraline and Stardust were targeting a younger audience, they're very good too.

 

What Joacquin said. Steven Erikson, George R R Martin, and Robin Hobb are writing the best quality fantasy fiction around at the moment. Definitely not targetted at young adults, but I'm not sure what you mean by seminal.

 

Probably means boring like Tolkien's Silmarillion

 

*Slaps the people who think that Tolkien is boring*

But anyway - I'd recommend Stardust by Neil Gaiman first off, then probably The Farseer Trilogy by Robin Hobb.

Robin Hobb has a very page-turning writing style, so you probably don't need to worry about being bored with her.

Stardust ... well, it depends on how you read it as to whether it fits your criteria. It's basically a fairy tale for adults - whether that sounds too 'young adult' or not for you I couldn't say. I wouldn't say that it's aimed at a younger audience than his other books though... (while Coraline definately is)

 

Point taken

Yeah, Stardust isn't really aimed at a "young" audience. It is, as you said, a kind of fairy tale for adults. Classical fantasy and fairy tale elements showed in a different way to appeal to adults. I loved it, but some people may find it to "kiddy" for them before getting into it.

 

Wow you people are so mainstream in recommendations, I would go for

Jack L Chalker - Well World series, Flux and Anchor Series
Louise Cooper - Master of Time trilogy
Glen Cook - Black Company series
Eliazabeth Moon - Deed of Paksenarrion
Barbara Hambly - Silicon Mage series
Michael Scott Rohan - Winter of Ice series
David Gemmell - The Drenai series, The Sipstrassi Series

That should give you a few alternatives to the mainstream

 

That's why they call it mainstream, because lots of people like it.

 

good one HB

@DS

They're good that's why they're recommended The only author you listed that I've read is David Gemmel and while his stuff is pretty entertaining it's nowhere near the caliber of the authors that we listed.

 

@Enag I'm not saying they're not good, I would have recommended Robin Hobb's books. But I wouldn't recommend Erikson as I haven't read him yet, and I certainly wouldn't recommend Martin's books as I don't like his writing style. To say that any author's work is not of the same calibre as another's is a judgment that is relative.

 

Very true. But Gemmel has written, imo, the crappiest ending I've ever read in Dark Moon

The book was great then BAM! the end and you're thinking.. wtf?

 

A large portion of Erikson has not been published in the US as of yet, so he can't be all that mainstream.

But I would definitely recommend Erickson, but not so much Martin. I would also recommend Gerg Keyes' Kingdom of Thorn and Bone.

 

Agreed. That book convinced me to never read a second Gemmel novel.

Anywho. I'll add a "ditto" to the recomendations for Erikson, Martin, and Hobb. Those three'll keep you busy for a good, long while.

 

Dark moon did have a crap ending, but Gemmill has a habit of killing off main characters. Which is a pretty gutsy move. Most of his stuff is really good IMHO. Pllus some deaths are great. Like Druss in Legend.

 

@Oaz: Martin pwns all!! Seriously...read it.

His work is completely different and his stories work with the plot, and not any fantasy stereotypes...I'm not putting this across very well, but trust me. You will never know what to expect with his books. And its always for the good...

PS: Its a bit hardcore though, so if you don't have the inclination to read some pretty full on violence and othersuch stuff then you might want to skip it...

 

Salvatore's books are for 10 year old boys. Tolkien's books are for the educated. Vonnegut is overated.

 

heh. i wouldn't put it like that. salvatore's stuff can be enjoyable. and (yeah, yeah i'm ready for y'all ) aside from LotR Tolkien is just okay. The Silmarillion sucked major ass, it was like reading the bible (apologies to whoever feels he needs one re: bible, no need to take me up on this because I just don't care). but to reiterate, if you're looking for consistency, then martin, hobb, gaiman and pratchett.

 

Roger Zelazny - The Chronicles of Amber.

The first five books of the series are better IMO than the second five.

And I'll probably get sharp things and rotten produce thrown at me, but the early volumes (1-3) of Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time are decent reading.