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Artemas Entreri
Great Reader
USA
3131 Posts |
 Posted - 21 Mar 2012 : 19:20:12
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*This thread is similar to the recently resurrected 1001 Books thread
If you were asked to recommend 5 fantasy books to someone who had never read the genre before, but was interested in getting started in it, what would you recommend? Recommendations could include ANY type of fantasy: Series like the Realms, Epic, Urban, Dark, etc.
I guess you could also reword this to say: What are your top 5 favorite fantasy books. 
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Some people have a way with words, and other people...oh, uh, not have way. -Steve Martin
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Edited by - Artemas Entreri on 21 Mar 2012 20:48:28
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Artemas Entreri
Great Reader
USA
3131 Posts |
Posted - 21 Mar 2012 : 19:21:03
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| *please refrain from "bashing" the selections of others |
Some people have a way with words, and other people...oh, uh, not have way. -Steve Martin
Amazon "KindleUnlimited" Free Trial: http://amzn.to/2AJ4yD2
Try Audible and Get 2 Free Audio Books! https://amzn.to/2IgBede |
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Artemas Entreri
Great Reader
USA
3131 Posts |
Posted - 21 Mar 2012 : 19:23:13
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My personal choices would be: (in no particular order)
Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin
The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch
The Wishsong of Shannara by Terry Brooks
The Jackal of Nar by John Marco
Way of Shadows by Brent Weeks
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Some people have a way with words, and other people...oh, uh, not have way. -Steve Martin
Amazon "KindleUnlimited" Free Trial: http://amzn.to/2AJ4yD2
Try Audible and Get 2 Free Audio Books! https://amzn.to/2IgBede |
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Fellfire
Master of Realmslore
1965 Posts |
Posted - 21 Mar 2012 : 19:57:04
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| One of my personal favorites of all time is the Coldfire trilogy by C.S. Friedman. |
Misanthorpe
Love is a lie. Only hate endures. Light is blinding. Only in darkness do we see clearly.
"Oh, you think darkness is your ally? You merely adopted the dark. I was born in it, molded by it. I didn't see the light until I was already a man, by then it was nothing to me but.. blinding. The shadows betray you because they belong to me." - Bane The Dark Knight Rises
Green Dragonscale Dice Bag by Crystalsidyll - check it out
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Nicolai Withander
Master of Realmslore
Denmark
1093 Posts |
Posted - 21 Mar 2012 : 20:07:31
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| Lord of the Rings... Hands down! |
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Artemas Entreri
Great Reader
USA
3131 Posts |
Posted - 21 Mar 2012 : 20:14:33
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quote:
Originally posted by Fellfire
One of my personal favorites of all time is the Coldfire trilogy by C.S. Friedman.
on my "To Read" list  |
Some people have a way with words, and other people...oh, uh, not have way. -Steve Martin
Amazon "KindleUnlimited" Free Trial: http://amzn.to/2AJ4yD2
Try Audible and Get 2 Free Audio Books! https://amzn.to/2IgBede |
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Seravin
Master of Realmslore
Canada
1266 Posts |
Posted - 21 Mar 2012 : 20:31:40
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My top 5 Fantasy Books?? or ones I would recommend to an initiate who had no previous interest in fantasy?
My top 5 fantasy books would be realms or dragonlance books. But I wouldn't push any of them execpt maybe the Chronicles onto a newbie. For a newbie I'd go with Harry Potter or something.
1. Finder's stone trilogy
2. Icewind Dale Trilogy
3. Servant of the Shard (I didn't like books 2 and 3 of the Sell Swords).
4. Dragonlance Chronicles (and Lost Chronicles)
5. Dragonlance Legends
I know, I included trilogies as books but oh well!
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Fellfire
Master of Realmslore
1965 Posts |
Posted - 21 Mar 2012 : 20:54:53
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quote:
Originally posted by entreri3478
quote:
Originally posted by Fellfire
One of my personal favorites of all time is the Coldfire trilogy by C.S. Friedman.
on my "To Read" list
I encourage anyone with an interest in the genre to read them. So strongly, in fact, that I've probably given away a half dozen copies each and no longer have them of my own. I would kill to have a leatherbound set. |
Misanthorpe
Love is a lie. Only hate endures. Light is blinding. Only in darkness do we see clearly.
"Oh, you think darkness is your ally? You merely adopted the dark. I was born in it, molded by it. I didn't see the light until I was already a man, by then it was nothing to me but.. blinding. The shadows betray you because they belong to me." - Bane The Dark Knight Rises
Green Dragonscale Dice Bag by Crystalsidyll - check it out
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Edited by - Fellfire on 22 Mar 2012 00:13:51 |
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Light
Learned Scribe
Australia
231 Posts |
Posted - 21 Mar 2012 : 20:56:43
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1. The Night Angel Trilogy by Brent Weeks
2....And I can't really decide from here on out. Though there are a few I am looking forward to reading that may take the cake. |
"A true warrior needs no sword" - Thors (Vinland Saga) |
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Artemas Entreri
Great Reader
USA
3131 Posts |
Posted - 21 Mar 2012 : 20:59:31
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quote:
Originally posted by Light
1. The Night Angel Trilogy by Brent Weeks
2....And I can't really decide from here on out. Though there are a few I am looking forward to reading that may take the cake.
Have you read The Black Prism yet? |
Some people have a way with words, and other people...oh, uh, not have way. -Steve Martin
Amazon "KindleUnlimited" Free Trial: http://amzn.to/2AJ4yD2
Try Audible and Get 2 Free Audio Books! https://amzn.to/2IgBede |
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Artemas Entreri
Great Reader
USA
3131 Posts |
Posted - 21 Mar 2012 : 21:00:36
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quote:
Originally posted by Fellfire
quote:
Originally posted by entreri3478
quote:
Originally posted by Fellfire
One of my personal favorites of all time is the Coldfire trilogy by C.S. Friedman.
on my "To Read" list
I encourage anyone with an interest in the genre to read them. So strongly, in fact, that I've probably give away a half dozen copies each and no longer have them of my own. I would kill to have a leatherbound set.
Does the fantasy of this series mix with science fiction? |
Some people have a way with words, and other people...oh, uh, not have way. -Steve Martin
Amazon "KindleUnlimited" Free Trial: http://amzn.to/2AJ4yD2
Try Audible and Get 2 Free Audio Books! https://amzn.to/2IgBede |
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Nicholas_Trandahl
Acolyte
USA
2 Posts |
Posted - 21 Mar 2012 : 21:43:43
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1/ The Hobbit
2/ Lord of the Rings
3/ Name of the Wind
4/ Dragons of Autumn Twilight
5/ Evermeet
Also, my book!!! Just kidding ;) |
amazon.com/author/nicholastrandahl |
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Entromancer
Senior Scribe
USA
388 Posts |
Posted - 21 Mar 2012 : 21:44:38
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The Twilight Reign series by Tom Lloyd--Sword-N-Sorcery that grows into a blend of Dark/Epic fantasy
The Elric novels/stories of Michael Moorcock--Dark Sword-N-Sorcery
The Death Gate Cycle by Weis and Hickman--High Fantasy with light sci-fi
The Dark Tower by Stephen King--Equal parts Western/Horror/Fantasy/Sci-fi
The Kamigawa Cycle by Scott McGough
Runner-up: The Ravnica Cycle by Cory Herndon
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"...the will is everything. The will to act."--Ra's Al Ghul
"Suffering builds character."--Talia Al Ghul |
Edited by - Entromancer on 21 Mar 2012 21:47:26 |
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Fellfire
Master of Realmslore
1965 Posts |
Posted - 21 Mar 2012 : 22:44:37
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quote:
Originally posted by entreri3478
quote:
Originally posted by Fellfire
quote:
Originally posted by entreri3478
quote:
Originally posted by Fellfire
One of my personal favorites of all time is the Coldfire trilogy by C.S. Friedman.
on my "To Read" list
I encourage anyone with an interest in the genre to read them. So strongly, in fact, that I've probably give away a half dozen copies each and no longer have them of my own. I would kill to have a leatherbound set.
Does the fantasy of this series mix with science fiction?
Only in a tangential way. The basic premise is that mankind has left a dying Earth on generational ships and eventually settled on the planet Erna. Through a series of events, they are left back in the equivalent of the middle-ages, where technology is lost and they struggle to overcome the Fae, one of the planet's natural forces. |
Misanthorpe
Love is a lie. Only hate endures. Light is blinding. Only in darkness do we see clearly.
"Oh, you think darkness is your ally? You merely adopted the dark. I was born in it, molded by it. I didn't see the light until I was already a man, by then it was nothing to me but.. blinding. The shadows betray you because they belong to me." - Bane The Dark Knight Rises
Green Dragonscale Dice Bag by Crystalsidyll - check it out
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Edited by - Fellfire on 22 Mar 2012 00:09:32 |
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Kajehase
Great Reader
Sweden
2104 Posts |
Posted - 21 Mar 2012 : 23:25:47
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Privilege of the Sword and Swordpoint by Ellen Kushner
The Deverry Saga (or whatever one should call the whole shebang) by Katherine Kerr
Lord of the Rings - there's a reason it's a classic, and it's not just the dearth of other fantasy at the time of publication.
Kushiel's Legacy series by Jacqueline Carey.
The Iron Council by China Miéville.
So... that's 30 books in one Top-5 list.  |
There is a rumour going around that I have found god. I think is unlikely because I have enough difficulty finding my keys, and there is empirical evidence that they exist.
Terry Pratchett |
Edited by - Kajehase on 22 Mar 2012 00:20:47 |
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Fellfire
Master of Realmslore
1965 Posts |
Posted - 22 Mar 2012 : 00:10:48
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quote:
Originally posted by Entromancer
The Twilight Reign series by Tom Lloyd--Sword-N-Sorcery that grows into a blend of Dark/Epic fantasy
The Elric novels/stories of Michael Moorcock--Dark Sword-N-Sorcery
The Death Gate Cycle by Weis and Hickman--High Fantasy with light sci-fi
The Dark Tower by Stephen King--Equal parts Western/Horror/Fantasy/Sci-fi
The Kamigawa Cycle by Scott McGough
Runner-up: The Ravnica Cycle by Cory Herndon
Is this the same Kamigawa from MtG? |
Misanthorpe
Love is a lie. Only hate endures. Light is blinding. Only in darkness do we see clearly.
"Oh, you think darkness is your ally? You merely adopted the dark. I was born in it, molded by it. I didn't see the light until I was already a man, by then it was nothing to me but.. blinding. The shadows betray you because they belong to me." - Bane The Dark Knight Rises
Green Dragonscale Dice Bag by Crystalsidyll - check it out
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Entromancer
Senior Scribe
USA
388 Posts |
Posted - 22 Mar 2012 : 00:17:43
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quote:
Originally posted by Fellfire
quote:
Originally posted by Entromancer
The Twilight Reign series by Tom Lloyd--Sword-N-Sorcery that grows into a blend of Dark/Epic fantasy
The Elric novels/stories of Michael Moorcock--Dark Sword-N-Sorcery
The Death Gate Cycle by Weis and Hickman--High Fantasy with light sci-fi
The Dark Tower by Stephen King--Equal parts Western/Horror/Fantasy/Sci-fi
The Kamigawa Cycle by Scott McGough
Runner-up: The Ravnica Cycle by Cory Herndon
Is this the same Kamigawa from MtG?
The very same. Hidetsugu was an awesome character. |
"...the will is everything. The will to act."--Ra's Al Ghul
"Suffering builds character."--Talia Al Ghul |
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Fellfire
Master of Realmslore
1965 Posts |
Posted - 22 Mar 2012 : 00:20:18
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"the Heartless" if I remember correctly. One of my favorite expansions after the Urza block. I never did read many of the novels. I'll give it look. Thanks.
If you like your fantasy with an oriental flavor, I would also recommend Tales of the Otori by Lian Hearn. I liked it better than the Night Angel trilogy. It's been a long while since I read either one, but for some reason I found them similar. |
Misanthorpe
Love is a lie. Only hate endures. Light is blinding. Only in darkness do we see clearly.
"Oh, you think darkness is your ally? You merely adopted the dark. I was born in it, molded by it. I didn't see the light until I was already a man, by then it was nothing to me but.. blinding. The shadows betray you because they belong to me." - Bane The Dark Knight Rises
Green Dragonscale Dice Bag by Crystalsidyll - check it out
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Edited by - Fellfire on 22 Mar 2012 00:27:47 |
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scererar
Master of Realmslore
USA
1618 Posts |
Posted - 22 Mar 2012 : 02:03:12
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| Song of Ice and Fire series is up there for me. I recently read the Codex Alera series by Jim Butcher, which was excellent and places Butcher in my top 10 favorite authors. |
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skychrome
Senior Scribe
713 Posts |
Posted - 22 Mar 2012 : 03:00:20
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1) The Hobbit
2) Lord of the Rings
3) Erevis Cale Trilogy
4) Conan series
5) Fighting Fantasy book series / Steve Jackson, Ian Livingston, especially City of Thieves and Citadel of Chaos |
"You make an intriguing offer, one that is very tempting. It would seem that I have little alternative than to answer thusly: DISINTEGRATE!" Vaarsuvius, Order of the Stick 625 |
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31701 Posts |
Posted - 22 Mar 2012 : 03:54:23
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In no particular order:-
Viriconium -- M. John Harrison
Perdido Street Station -- China Miéville
Doom of the Darksword -- Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman
Invisible Cities -- Italo Calvino
Stardust -- Neil Gaiman |
Candlekeep Forums Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
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Scribe for the Candlekeep Compendium -- Volume IX now available (Oct 2007)
"So Saith Ed" -- the collected Candlekeep replies of Ed Greenwood
Zhoth'ilam Folio -- The Electronic Misadventures of a Rambling Sage |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36779 Posts |
Posted - 22 Mar 2012 : 04:26:17
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quote:
Originally posted by The Sage
In no particular order:-
Viriconium -- M. John Harrison
Perdido Street Station -- China Miéville
Doom of the Darksword -- Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman
Invisible Cities -- Italo Calvino
Stardust -- Neil Gaiman
I've only read two of those books, and two I've not even heard of...
I'm looking forward to reading Stardust to my son when he's old enough. It is very much a fairy tale.  |
Candlekeep Forums Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
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I am the Giant Space Hamster of Ill Omen! |
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31701 Posts |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36779 Posts |
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Jorkens
Great Reader
Norway
2950 Posts |
Posted - 22 Mar 2012 : 09:56:18
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This is a cruel and impossible question. I will therefore cheat and choose anthologies and series here. And make it ten just to make it a bit easier on myself.
In no particular order.
Jack Vance - Dying Earth.
Lin Carter - Worlds end series.
Tim Powers - The Anubis Gates.
Robert E Howard- Conan stories.
Lord Dunsanys fantasy tales
Tolkien - The Hobbit.
Michael Moorcock - Hawkmoon books.
C.L Moore Jirel of Joiry/ Northwest Smith
M. John Harrison - Viriconium
Philip Jose Farmer - World of Tiers.
And Now I don't have room for Alan Garner, E.R. Eddison, Brackett, Sprague DeCamp or Gordon R. Dickson. And I frgot Crowleys Little Big and Leibers Newhon books. I give up.
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No Canon, more stories, more Realms. |
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LastStand
Learned Scribe
130 Posts |
Posted - 22 Mar 2012 : 10:30:27
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1. The Lord of the Rings - Tolkien
2. Pawn of Prophecy - Eddings (Actually the whole Belgariad series)
3. Magician - Feist
4. Elfstones of Shannara - Brooks
5. Shadowrealm - Kemp |
"Don't. The battlegrounds that you and I have returned from alive are too different."
~ Claymore ch106 |
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Dennis
Great Reader
9933 Posts |
Posted - 22 Mar 2012 : 11:26:29
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1. The Riftwar Trilogy by Raymond E. Feist
In no particular order:
-The Return of the Archwizards Trilogy by Troy Denning
-The Black Magician Trilogy by Trudi Canavan
-The Haunted Lands Trilogy by Richard Lee Byers
-The Demonwar Saga by Raymond E. Feist
-Test of Metal by Matthew Stover
-Agents of Artifice by Ari Marmell
-The Twilight War Trilogy by Paul S. Kemp
-The Nightrunner Series by Lynn Flewelling (new book coming this May)
-Counterpoint by Rachel Haimowitz
-The Darkwar Saga by Raymond E. Feist
-Dangerous Games by Clayton Emery
-The Summoner by Gail Z. Martin
-Stardust by Neil Gaiman
-Blight of Mages by Karen Miller
-The Way of Shadows by Brent Weeks |
Every beginning has an end. |
Edited by - Dennis on 23 Mar 2012 03:33:59 |
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Artemas Entreri
Great Reader
USA
3131 Posts |
Posted - 22 Mar 2012 : 13:13:08
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quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
quote:
Originally posted by The Sage
I'm assuming the two you haven't heard of are Viriconium and Invisible Cities?
That would be correct.
Haven't heard of those two either, but i have heard great things about China's book |
Some people have a way with words, and other people...oh, uh, not have way. -Steve Martin
Amazon "KindleUnlimited" Free Trial: http://amzn.to/2AJ4yD2
Try Audible and Get 2 Free Audio Books! https://amzn.to/2IgBede |
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Artemas Entreri
Great Reader
USA
3131 Posts |
Posted - 22 Mar 2012 : 13:14:43
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quote:
Originally posted by LastStand
1. The Lord of the Rings - Tolkien
2. Pawn of Prophecy - Eddings (Actually the whole Belgariad series)
3. Magician - Feist
4. Elfstones of Shannara - Brooks
5. Shadowrealm - Kemp
It's great to see another Terry Brooks fan out there! Sometimes i feel all alone |
Some people have a way with words, and other people...oh, uh, not have way. -Steve Martin
Amazon "KindleUnlimited" Free Trial: http://amzn.to/2AJ4yD2
Try Audible and Get 2 Free Audio Books! https://amzn.to/2IgBede |
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31701 Posts |
Posted - 22 Mar 2012 : 14:07:17
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quote:
Originally posted by entreri3478
quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
quote:
Originally posted by The Sage
I'm assuming the two you haven't heard of are Viriconium and Invisible Cities?
That would be correct.
Haven't heard of those two either, but i have heard great things about China's book
I'll admit that Viriconium isn't an "easy" book to read. And by that, I mean that Harrison's narrative is just so engrossing. The reader is so thoroughly drawn into these tales of civilisation at the end of all time, that it actually took me two complete readings before I could convincingly say that I understood just half of what Viriconium was about.
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Candlekeep Forums Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
http://www.candlekeep.com -- Candlekeep Forum Code of Conduct
Scribe for the Candlekeep Compendium -- Volume IX now available (Oct 2007)
"So Saith Ed" -- the collected Candlekeep replies of Ed Greenwood
Zhoth'ilam Folio -- The Electronic Misadventures of a Rambling Sage |
Edited by - The Sage on 22 Mar 2012 14:08:05 |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36779 Posts |
Posted - 22 Mar 2012 : 18:21:54
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quote:
Originally posted by entreri3478
quote:
Originally posted by LastStand
1. The Lord of the Rings - Tolkien
2. Pawn of Prophecy - Eddings (Actually the whole Belgariad series)
3. Magician - Feist
4. Elfstones of Shannara - Brooks
5. Shadowrealm - Kemp
It's great to see another Terry Brooks fan out there! Sometimes i feel all alone
I've enjoyed some of his books, though Sword of Shannara was just a retold Lord of the Rings... And there's an assumption made by the characters in there that just bugs the crap out of me, because their assumption and what the shade of Bremen actually said aren't even close to each other. |
Candlekeep Forums Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
http://www.candlekeep.com -- Candlekeep Forum Code of Conduct
I am the Giant Space Hamster of Ill Omen! |
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Top 5 Fantasy Books
