[PJ]

Just found the site.....very cool!

I am reading several ongoing series right now (Martin, Jordan, Feist, Goodkind). The problem is that I hate waiting for new books. It seems to take me a quarter of the new book to remember the details of the adventure and the characters. In the case of Feist, I quit the series because I couldn't remember what I have and have not read (furthering the problem is that as a poor student, I have to wait for the paperback and I always give my old books away so I can't just check the pub date). I think I'm going to start a spreadsheet after this post so that I can keep track of the ongoing adventures.

Anyway, I am looking for completed fantasy series (so I can get lost in the world for several books). Something along the lines of the above authors or Tad Williams, Tolkein...(not a big fan of Brooks, the series I began to read was a little too close to Tolkien's work). Any suggestions would be a great help.

By the way, dragons and elves are a plus but not a necessity.

Thanks, PJ

[Kierk Soren]

Welcome, How about either of Robin Hobbs trilogies. The first being "The Farseer trilogy" The second being the recently completed " The Liveship Traders" . I'm reading the first book in the former series, it being Ship of Magic. I did not take to it at first, but it becomes very gripping once you dig in. ( an unusual approach to the depiction of serpents and ship lore) I know alot of people on these posts like these trilogies. Good Luck

[e-Morgana]

Hi PJ,
You might also like to try some Margaret Weis/Tracey Hickman stuff. They've done a few - There's the 4 DragonLance books, and 7 Deathgate cycle books.
Then there's Sara Douglass who has written 2 trilogies which follow on from each other - The Axis Trilogy (BattleAxe, Enchanter, and Star Man) and the Wayfarer Redemption (Sinner, Pilgrim, and Crusader). All are excellent reads in my opinion.
I'd also go along with the Robin Hobbs suggestion - 2 other great series.

[Arty]

Well, Melanie Rawn wrote a 6 book series (broken into 2 trilogies) The first called The Dragon Prince. I liked them quite alot. The first came out in 1985, so I have started re reading them. There is alot of political intrigue and sort of boring political details, but I idnt really mind.
I have heard her refered to as Melanie Yawn on this board, but no other real discussion of her.
Anyway, I liked them. The dragons were awesome.

ps I liked the Robin Hobb books too.

[Barbarossa]

I can only second (or is it fourth http://www.sffworld.com/ubb/smile.gif ) the Robin Hobb reccomendation, i also would suggest G.G. Kay.
I didn't read his Fionvar trilogy but all his other books i can reccomend very much.
Even better he writes usually stand-alones, no waiting there.
May favorite is Tigana.

[Belgarion]

Stephen Donaldson's First & Second Chronicles of Thomas Covenant and Roger Zelanzy Amber Series (beat you to it - FitzChivalry!) are two classic series that cannot be ignored.

Obviously I need to mention another GREAT series which Fitzflagg would give out a great groan...that is....David Eddings excellent Belgariad & Mallorean series (10 books).

Sorry Fitzflagg I guess I cant seem to write a post without mentioning Eddings. Chuckle!

[Kierk Soren]

I dont plan on ignoring the first two much longer Belgarion, good call. I have just recently come back to the fantasy genre, having grown up on some Jack Vance and discovering H. Beam Pipers "Fuzzy" series when I was a kid. Of course I read my dads copies of The Hobbit and LOTR's a few times. He is also a huge TH White fan. So I am familiar with that as well. Its good to be back after reading mostly contemperary fiction and philosophy, I'll read almost anything actually. I would just like to say for anyone who loves fantasy, I think owning a copy of 1. Bulfinch's Mythology 2.the Golden Bough3. the Hero w/ a Thousand Faces and 4. the Varities of Religous Experiance can't hurt and might give new insight to all these wonderful alternitive realms. Truth being stranger than fiction and all that you know...

[Lady Fox]

Check out Raymond Feist's books. He currently has a trilogy in the works, but the rest of his series are completely. All his sereis tie together in some form or fashion as well, so even though the story *finishes* you get to find out the *what comes after* stuff. His original Riftwar series and the companion Empire series, both trilogies, are masterpieces, IMHO.
I think the Riftwar trilogy may be four books in paperback with the first book - Magician - broken down into Magician: Apprentice and Magician: Master.

Anne Bishop has written a series titled The Black Jewels trilogy that I really enjoyed. It also has a prequel, The Invisible Ring, that was pretty good. I know this sounds funny, but I would recommend reading the trilogy before the prequel. It just fits together better that way.

I add my recommedation to the GGK suggestion. His work is awesome. The Fionavar Tapestry is one of my fav fantasy series, and I also really enjoyed his Sarantine Mosaic duology.

Mercedes Lackey has several series that are completed, and like Feist much of her work ties together. The series span lots of years giving kind of a history of the world type scenario. The Valdemar books are very well written and have lots of different magical creatures in them, so if you like fantasy creatures and people interacting with mass world upheaval, you'll like this series.

[Pathir]

Kierk Soren, I too have grown up with Jack Vance, and still think he's one of the best.
His books are mostly blends of SF and Fantasy. His Tschai-saga, the Demonprinces books(five in all), the Durdane trilogy and his fantasy trilogy Lyoness are true classics.
But he has written many more,short stories(for example the acclaimed Emphyrio,and he received Hugo Awards for The Dragonmasters and The Last Castle...) as well as longer tales. Don't hear much about him on this board, but everyone who hasn't read Vance or never heard of him should really give it a try sometime.

I read everything from GGKay( finished his Sarantine Mosaic duology a few months ago), and can only agree with those above;He's one hell of a writer. Much recommended.

[Rob B]

Hmm... here are some that haven't been mentioned.

The Coldfire Trilogy C.S. Friedman. Human colonists arrive on a world inhabited by a spirit like presence called the Fey which takes peoples nightmares and makes them real, i.e. vampires, demons, etc. Also features one of the coolest characters in Fantasy, Gerrald Tarrant.

The Tales of the Kings Blades by Dave Duncan. The blades are super-knights bonded to thier King, supreme fighters. Excellent swords sorcery adventure, with superb charaterization.

Tyrants and Kings by John Marco. Fairly new fantasy author, series just finished up this year. Somewhat militaristic, with some magic thrown in. Rivals Jordan and Martin in terms of the amazing battles, superb characterization and the feel that you are RIGHT THERE in the story. John Marco won the BN maiden voyage award for best first novel for Jackal of Nar book 1 of T&K.

I did an an interview with John Marco about a month ago here[/blatant plug] [b]John Marco Interview April 2001 (http://www.sffworld.com/authors/m/marco_john/interviews/200104.html)

If you have only read one of Tad Williams series, read the other. I think he is THE best speculative fiction writer today. Period.

Don't pay any attention to Belgarions Eddings propoganda. http://www.sffworld.com/ubb/wink.gif J/k.

[This message has been edited by FitzFlagg (edited May 15, 2001).]