[cgw]

Series are great but what do you think the best stand alone books are? The Hobbit for example.

I could list a bunch of Zelazny books here but I don't know if they are fantasy or Sci Fi (but that another topic).

[Rob B]

I thought American Gods, Perdido Street Station and Talion: Revenant are all superb stand-alone fantasy novels. Check out this older thread for some other members thoughts:
Stand alone books?? (http://www.sffworld.org/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=146&highlight=Stand+ALone)

[ezchaos]

Ha! This IS hard because so many fantasy books are part of series :p .

The Hobbit
Perdido Street Station (if you can consider it fantasy)
American Gods
The Simarillion
Tigana
Lions of Al-Rassan

I'm sure there are many others. I'd like to see what other books people list that I haven't read because I for one am kind of sick of reading long series.

[Ladijen]

The best would be a toss-up for me--either The Hobbit or Watership Down.
I also liked Lions of al-Rassan, and another book about magic that is accomplished through painting, but I can't remember the title or the author right now, for some reason.

[Alle]

Someone already included Lions of Al-Rassan and Tigana. I'll add a copy of excellent Patricia McKillip books o the list:

The Tower at Stoney Wood
Sog for the Basilisk
Ombria in Shadow

I don't hear much about PM here (or anywhere!) but she is a wonderful author, and her latest, Ombria in Shadow was superb.

There are lots of others to add to this list, but I wanted to make a statement for Patricia! *s*

Alle

[Alle]

Bah...that is Song for the Basilisk. I hate typos. Sorry!

[Matrim]

Lions of Al-Rassan

[Nevyn]

Magician - Feist
The Hobbit - Tolkien
The Silmarillion - Tolkien
The Barbbed Coil - J V Jones

[e-Morgana]

another book about magic that is accomplished through painting

Could this be The Golden Key by Melanie Rawn, Kate Elliott and Jennifer Roberson? I don't remember the specifics, but there was a painting involved and someone captured within it.

As to my favourites - I'd have to say the Barbed Coil by J V Jones and Lions of Al-Rassan and Tigana by GGK.

[Ladijen]

Yes! I have no idea why I could not remember the name of the book...I was going to look for it when I went home tonight. Thanks!