[Babs]

ok, i've not really read that many fantsay books so i know i have lots and lots to get through. Therefore, i need a little help.

i've read Philip Pullman, His Dark Materials and i love that stuff. it's so believable and brilliant in the sense that it takes you out of "our world" and puts you in other places that you can really believe you're in. i want more books like this. i know the desciption is a bit vague considering we're in Fantasy chat, but anyone who's read His Dark Materials will know what i mean.

i'd really like to read more books like this but don't know where to find them, so figured it'd be best to ask you.

thanks and sorry it's a bit, well, badly written, i've just got out of bed!

Thanks, Barbara XX

[ChrisW]

i know the desciption is a bit vague considering we're in Fantasy chat, but anyone who's read His Dark Materials will know what i mean.

Yeah really bad writing. So you want reccomendations for bad authors, hrm http://www.sffworld.com/ubb/wink.gif.
Bardos would probably say Eddings but he might be to good for you http://www.sffworld.com/ubb/smile.gif. Martin would be my choice http://www.sffworld.com/ubb/wink.gif.

::runs away giggling::

[Mithfânion]

Pay no heed to the squeeking farm boy, a.k.a the Drivel Reborn. http://www.sffworld.com/ubb/smile.gif

You might like Martin's Song of Ice and Fire, simply because it's excellent. Hobb's Farseer and Liveship trilogies are also very, very good. The Wheel of Time gets a lot of attention in Fantasyland, you may want to give that a try. Tad Williams's Memory, sorrow & Thorn might be comparable to Pullman's stuff, or Guy Gavriel's Kay's Fionavar Tapestry.

Kate Elliot's Crown of Stars series (four volumes sofar) is quite popular on this board. JV Jones (Cavern of Black Ice), Sean Russell( The One kingdom) and David Zindell ( The Lightstone) are great new authors.

I'm assuming you've read the Lord of the Rings. If not, that's a must. If you like it don't hesitate trying the Silmarillion, the true history of Tolkien's world.

Mc Killip's Riddle-Master might also be worth a try, as well as Jennifer Roberson's Cheysuli chronicles (first omnibus; Shapechanger's song). Certainly some of these series will give you that sense of awe that you're looking for http://www.sffworld.com/ubb/smile.gif

Babs, I've left out Donaldson's Covenant chronicles and Erikson's superb Malazan book of the Fallen because they're much grittier than His Dark Materials, which is also quite lighter in my opinion. However these are highly acclaimed books and you should certainly check them out. They certainly give that overwhelming feeling and place you in that other "land".

Cheers



[This message has been edited by Mithfânion (edited March 10, 2002).]

[robbiez666]

I agree with the Hobbs books (fantastic) I suggest you try the Belgariad and Malorian books by Eddings...

[elpa]

Tad Williams - Memory, Sorrow and Thorn
Robert Jordan - Wheel of Time(not incredibly great, but very addicting http://www.sffworld.com/ubb/smile.gif
GRRM - A Song of Ice and Fire
Robin Hobb - Farseer
Guy Gavriel Kay - Tigana(I still hate the epilogue)

[Qin]

For the sake of not talking about the same five writers endlessly, as many on this forum do, I suggest you try the books of the following writers:

Matthew Woodring Stover, particularly Heroes Die, City of Saints and Madmen by John Vandermeer, and Viriconium by M John Harrison.

[Alucard]

I loved Pullman's trilogy, so I'll offer you what I can.

It's not the most advanced book, but the "Neverending Story" by Micheal Ende had a similar pacing and, like his dark materials, is very creative. I liked it a lot.

I'd also reccomend Niel Gaiman. "Neverwhere" would be a good place to start, then you could move on to "Stardust" and "American Gods". I thought all of them were very good, and like Pullman's work, read very easily and maintain a very distinct style. Some really cool books.

And, if you haven't tried them yet, I'd definitely reccomend giving the Harry Potter series a whirl. Despite their label as silly kids books, like His dark materials, they are the kind of books that suck you in, regardless of your age.

Hope that helps.

[Rob B]

I'll post some links after I throw out a couple recommendations:

J. Gregory Keyes The Age of Unreason series. Alternate history and an intersting look at God and demons.

Stover's Blade of Tyshalle is actually better than Heroes Die but since its a sequel...

CS Friedman's Coldfire Trilogy Excellent series. There is a topic on it floating around, check it out, but beware for spoilers as you read further in that particular topic.

If you like ^^^^^ then you might like ##### (http://www.sffworld.com/ubb/Forum1/HTML/001286.html)

Detailed Reccomendation (http://www.sffworld.com/ubb/Forum1/HTML/000687.html)

and probably our longest running topic:
Whatca ya all reading? (http://www.sffworld.com/ubb/Forum1/HTML/000094.html)

Welcome!

[jbcohen]

I know what you mean about books that take you too worlds that are so real it seems like you want to get out there and walk around on the planet. For me, the books that do this for me are the Dragon Lance and Magic: The Gathering novels. Dragon Lance takes place on a world called Krynn, and has many species that will make you feel as though you are staning right next to them.

In the Magic: The Gathering books you will sympathize with the Dorminian cause against the hiddious Phyxerians who seem to embody all that is evil. They are a little like the Star Treck Borg.

[Babs]

Thanks a lot! i'm gunna check these out on Amazon. Thanks Again XX Barbara XX