[whitebelly]

Everyone told me there is no better fantasy series than GRRM's Song of Ice & Fire ...

... so I read the books. Correction: I chainread them ...

and am now on the look-out for something which is not going to disappoint me - quite a feat, given the height to which my fantasy standards have been raised.

I've been surfing on a number of fav. sites -esp. the brilliant Dislocated Fictions & Fantastic Metropolis minisites on sfsite.com - and have come up with a list of names which I think will be able to live up to my absurdly high expectations. Has anyone anything to say about these books/authors or any others to recommend:

- Steven Erikson (Mazalan Empire series - already bought books 1 & 2)
- John Marco (Tyrants & Kings trilogy)
- Paul Kearney (series beginning with Hawkwood's Voyage)
- Mary Gentle (Ash series, am about to embark upon "Ash: A Secret History")
- China Miéville (can't believe I still haven't read "Perdido Street Station", but there you go, there are only 24 hours in a day)
- Daniel Z. Danielewski "House of Leaves" > particularly looking forward to this one!
- (Has anyone read Cecilia Dart-Thornton's The Ill-Made Mute?)

whitebelly thanks you ...

(btw, yes, I'm a newbie on this board, I'm also Flemish, 30 yrs old, and a compulsive reader)

[Llama]

HOUSE OF LEAVES is quite good. Some people grouse at the po-mo antics, and he does go overboard a bit, but I strongly believe the book would not have been as good or as scary if he'd followed a more conventional narrative structure. It's really a very intelligently constructed novel.

[Rob B]

John Marco is great, T&K is one of the best series of the past few years. Series gets better with each book.

Mary Gentle's ASH is superb, one of the best books I've ever read.

Perdido is another top caliber book.

Recieved THE ILL-MADE MUTE for Christmas....It may be a while before I get to it though.

[whitebelly]

txs llama, I have a bit of a soft spot for "po-mo antics" so that'll be no problem whatsoever.

FitzFlagg, looks like I'm on the right track! I took some care in drawing up that list, and recommendations from the dislocated fictions column and Michael Moorcock are always greatly appreciated & not to be sniffed at.

Have you read the other Ash books as well? I've noticed the second one (Carthage Rising) is out of print on amazon.co.uk. Please keep us informed on the Ill-Made Mute?

txs, wb

[Rhaegar]

Ah, Whitebelly, I feel your pain. I am myself on a neverending quest to find "quality" fantasy in the same class as GRRM's series.

Of all the authors I have come across lately, Steven Erikson's Malazan Empire books are the most likely to satisfy until ASoIaF Book 4 "A Feast for Crows" comes out later this year. Erikson's series is every bit as complex as Martin's, perhaps even more so... but he doesn't write his characters as well as GRRM - but then who does? Book 1 is a bit muddled at times, but by Book 2 Erikson's story REALLY starts to grab you.

I had heard great things about John Marco (From FitzFlagg and from Fantastic Metropolis) but I just couldn't get into the first book. This is a bit perplexing since FitzFlagg's recommedations usually become favorites of mine. Oh well.

Definitely give Perdido Street Station a try. Amazing, albeit disturbing stuff.

[Rob B]

whitebelly, check amazon.com (US) for the ASH books. Like I said, THE ILL-MADE MUTE was a christmas present (along with about 10 other books). The to-read pile is big, but when I finish it, I'll check back...

To follow-up what Rhaegar said, a couple of people did find the first T&K book difficult.

...wishing Erikson was available in the US (without the abstract wait from amazon.com and the exorbitant shipping/conversion prices from amazon.co.uk http://www.sffworld.com/ubb/frown.gif)

[jbcohen]

First, I read on one of the Robert Jordan fan sites that people tend to get a bit on the punchy side siffering from withdrawl as you are when they are waiting for more from the author. Thus what you are talking of is in no way out of the oridinary.

Being a big fan of Dragon Lance, my recommendations are always for that saga. Try Dragons of a Autumn Twilight and you will be hooked for life.

[whitebelly]

Hi Rhaegar, you're not by any chance the guy posting under the same name on the White Council MB at tolkienonline? If so, well met! If not, well met nevertheless, and you've got a döppelganger there who's very keen on GRRM too.

I already bought the first two volumes of the Maz. series by Erikson, so I'll definitely give those a try, just don't know when ... also see "reading anxiety" thread http://www.sffworld.com/ubb/smile.gif)

FitzFlagg, shipping prices from amazon.com are as exorbitant for us Europeans as the co.uk prices are for US citizens. I've considered ordering via .com but an extra charge of 3.95 USD per book is a bit too much for me at the moment. Only for emergencies, I'm afraid http://www.sffworld.com/ubb/smile.gif

Txs anyone for posting, keep those recommendations coming!

[This message has been edited by whitebelly (edited December 27, 2001).]

[Rhaegar]

Yes Whitebelly, I'm the very same Rhaegar who frequents Tolkien Online! Good to see that you have found your way to this great site.

I remember reading some of your posts on Tolkien online a while back - you were just embarking upon your ASoIaF adventure! Glad to see that you share the passion of many of us here concerning GRRM's series. Fantasy does not get much better than this.

[Sammie]

I too am suffering from ASoIaF withdrawal - and one thing which definitly seems to be helping is reading his other books (gasp!).

I've just read Windhaven, which I definitly would recommend, and from what I've read so far 'Dying of the Light' is also promising. There are plenty of others,but I can't yet pass comment on those (give me time though, http://www.sffworld.com/ubb/smile.gif)