Good Fantasy or Scifi Series

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A View from the Mirror does take it's time to pick up pace, yes. But once it's moving, oh boy I've found the last book to be extremely fascinating. 'Interesting plotchanges' would be an understatement.

 

Personally, I thought "Shanara" was nothing but LOTR with the descriptions/songs pared down and the names changed - a huge rip-off. "Magic Kingdom for Sale" was cute but that's about it.

How about the classic - Thieves' World? Lynn Abbey's new book was a good addition and I'm hoping that she continues, even if she goes solo instead of reviving Sanctuary as a shared playground.

 

The Earthsea trilogy by Ursula K. Le Guin

Rallymama, I agree with your observation of the Shannarra books. One of the more blatant ripoffs of Tolkien. I still read it twice though.

 

Try Elizabeth Haydon's Rhaphsody, Prophocey (sp?), Destiny and Requrim (sp?) of the Sun. Very good and a little different from the usual AD&D stuff.

Mercedes Lackey and Norton (not sure on the first name) made at least two books called Elvenbane and Elvenblood (think that thas the second book). These are cool in the sense that the Elves take on an evil persona and enslave Humans. Also redefines how Dragons are looked at.

 

I think that Brooks' Shannara was part paen to Tolkien and part resurrection of fantasy as a mainstream genre. He does have some semi-original good ideas and explores them pretty well. At least his stuff isn't as derivative as the TSR books -- there's enough character development to make the read worthwhile.

What's this new Lynn Abbey book you mentioned? I LOVED Thieves' World, although I didn't like Morris' and Cherryh's hijacking of the primary storyline.

 

Lynn Abbey wrote a novel called Sanctuary that came out in June. Here's one of the reviews posted on amazon.com

I enjoyed it very much and am looking forward to more. I have no idea if she plans to continue on her own or open it back up to other writers. I agree, the Roxane-Ischade takeover was the low point of the original 12 books.

ps - ...and we all know the only way to get to amazon.com, don't we?

[ February 06, 2003, 02:28: Message edited by: Rallymama ]

 

Hmm, most of the authors I really enjoy have already been mentioned but here are a few others who I like.

Elizabeth Moon - I like both her fantasy and science fiction. In particular I really enjoyed her Paksenarion novels (but not the Gird novels that take place in the same setting) and her Heris Serrano/Esmay Suiza novels (although the last two have not been nearly as good as the first five).

Kate Elliot's Crown of Stars novels (fantasy) have been pretty good.

Timothy Zahn for science fiction.

Dave Wolverton's Golden Queen series (also science fiction).

 

I'm surprised no-one has mentioned this classic series, it's even an easter egg in BGI. Fritz Leiber's Fafhrd and the Grey Mouser.

 

No one read the 'artefacts of power' written by maggie furey??

Really good series IMO

 

I'll toss in a mention of Robin Hobb's Farseer trilogy. Very well written, but also quite dark.

 

Two words: David Gemmell.

Everything this man's ever written is great, but the Drenai series is absolutely marvellous. These books have it all: a vibrant, well-developed world with a rich history, great heroes, dark villains and three-dimensional characters. The latter is especially Gemmell's strong suit; nobody, not even Tolkien (and I don't say this lightly) writes characters better than Gemmell. They have their good sides and their bad sides, and nobody is just one thing. Very highly recommended.

 

Though I've read a few reviews that blasted it, I really liked R.A. Salvatore's Crimson Shadow series. His halfling sidekick, Oliver DeBurrows, makes the whole thing worth reading. I really enjoyed those.

 

Cross has got it. David gemmel is brilliant. Having said that, his characters are generally the same, but if you look past that its an enjoyable read...

 

I must cast another vote for Gemmell. His books are very enjoyable - especially liked the Rigante series.

 

How about the Dinotopia books by James Gerny (Gerney?) they are kind of kidish but they are a good read and his illustrations are AWSOME! Alan Dean Forester wrote a follow-up called Dinotopia Lost (which is a novel, not like Gerny's "picture book") that was really cool.

i also agree that Terry Brook's Shannara books both Hertage and Sword of Shannara series are excellent reads. Weis and Hickman's The Death Gate cycle doesn't get really good until the second and third books and at the end there's a big suprise!

 

I can't believe no one posted Melanie Rawn's Dragon Prince, and Dragon Star series. They areawesome!

 

I personally enjoyed Anne McCaffrey's series "The Dragon Riders of Pern," but the books are kind of slow, and I wouldn't blame any one who didn't like them. I enjoyed it, though.