[Haplo]

I got interested in the Death Gate Series and am currently reading the fourth, Serpent Mage. I enjoy them very much and now am making a list of books that I may like and that are popular. There are so many on there now it will probably take me forever and a day to read them all. But any suggestions on books to add would be greatly appreciated. Already on there are such series as the Wheel of Time, DragonLance, Belgariad, Malloreon, Memory Sorrow and Thorn, Otherland, Elenium Tamouli, Star of the Guardian, Darksword, Rose of the Prophet, Sword of Truth, Running with the Demon, heritage and Magic of Shannara, and Landover. Are any of these not worth even bothering to read, any of these I should start on right after I am done with Death Gate, or any other ones you may suggest? Thanks for your help!
Chris

[Bilbo]

I would actually advice you to stay away from Eddings and Brooks, at least to begin with. In my opinion their series somehow becomes boring after a while, it's the same over and over again.

Tad Williams Memory Sorrow and Thorn is a great series, and best of all it's complete, so you will not have to wait years for the next book to come out.

The Farseer Trilogy by Robin Hobb is also another great series that is complete.

Wheel of Time by Robert Jordan, A Song of Ice and Fire by George R.R. Martin and Sword of Truth by Terry Goodkind are also great series (the best in my opinion). The only problem is that they are not completed yet, so you'll eventually end up waiting for the next book to be released.

To be honest with you, I've never read a truly bad fantasy series yet.

[Cellandros]

I would second the advisement to stay away from David Eddings. To me, his series of books were rather shallow. His books really struck me as the proverbial 'paint by numbers' fantasy formula.

Tad Williams (Memory, Sorrow and Thorn), Robert Jordan (Wheel of Time), Terry Goodkind are good, but they are 'fat' fantasy series - rather large books, so plan to devote some time to them.

If you liked what you're reading in the Deathgate cycle, I would suggest you next move onto Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman's other series: Dragonlance- Chronicles. Be sure to check that you're getting the original series by Weis & Hickman.

Probably anything you go with off of the reccomendations on this board you'll be fine with. Much like Bilbo, I haven't read too many fantasy series that I thought were horrible.

[Zeddicus]

If you haven't read them already, then I would suggest you start at the very beginning and read The Hobbit and then The Lord of the Rings trilogy by J.R.R. Tolkien.

After that you really can't go wrong by reading down the list of big name authors such as:

Feist
Eddings
Brooks
Goodkind
Martin
Jordan

Those should keep you buisy for a good long while.


True, The Sword of Truth series isn't yet finished, but each book does have it's own plot and a resolution of the story. Each book really just picks up where the previous one left off with a new adventure.

[Cellandros]

Zeddicus makes a very good point about the Sword of Truth and how most of the novels have their own resolutions. Its nice to get a little closure at the end of teh book.

[Zeddicus]

I read an interview with Terry Goodkind where he pretty much summed it up by saying...


My goal is for each book to captivate in its own right as a complete story and at the same time be a part of the larger picture of the series.

[Nytric]

If you're new to fantasy, you may want to try Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman's Dragonlance series, Piers Anthony's Xanth series, RA Salvatore, David Eddings, or George RR Martin. I'd definitely stay away from Terry Brooks, though. While these authors will not win any literary awards, they're quite enjoyable and provides some decent escape if you're new to the genre. I've read many other authors including Robert Jordan, Terry Goodkind, Mercedes Lackey etc. but I've never actually finished reading any of their books so it's unfair for me to comment on them.

If you want to try something with more depth, I would recommend you try Jack Vance's Lyonesse trilogy which includes the following books:

Suldrun's Garden
The Green Pearl
Madouc

The third book, "Madouc", won the World Fantasy Award for best novel (and deservedly so). It is filled with witty dialogue, humorous situations, richly-textured sentences, and a complex plot.

I'd also highly recommend his classic "The Dying Earth". This book was the inspiration for Gary Gygax (and his colleagues) to create the Dungeons and Dragons games. If anybody has ever finished the RPG "Baldur's Gate", you'll see name of Jack Vance in the ending credits. This book was also the inspiration for Gene Wolfe's "The Shadow of the Torturer".

In addition, I'd also highly recommend Guy Gavriel Kay's "The Summer Tree" which is the first book in the Fionavar Tapestry trilogy. It is a very original work with an unpredictable plot.

[Amles2]

I really enjoyed Terry Goodkind's books. I am just now reading the fifth one, and I am always on the look out for a new good book. anysuggestions would be greatly appreciated
Love Always
Amy

[Amles2]

I really enjoyed Terry Goodkind's books. I am just now reading the fifth one, and I am always on the look out for a new good book. anysuggestions would be greatly appreciated
Love Always
Amy

[Elena, Daughter of Lena]

There is one trilogy that will change you -- change your perspective on things -- will make you think about the characters for years to come you'll be AWARE of them somewhere deep and private within you (and yes, I was stunned when I experienced this from a mere fantasy trilogy. Really -- I'm not some sort of flower child of philosophy or anything!) The trilogy is "The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant" by Stephen R. Donaldson. I obviously strongly recommend it. (And stay in there for the first 100 pages or so -- the book changes dramatically thereafter!)