[cgw]

Has anyone read any fantasy books that either very obscure or off the beaten path (non-english books would probably count?)?

For example, I feel like I'm the only one on the planet to have read Dave Smeds' The Sorcery within and The Schemes of Dragons and liked them.

[Cadfael]

I am always amazed Richard Ford is never mentioned... he wrote the Faradawn books... a long long time ago now:(

Book One: Quest For The Faradawn
Book Two: Melvaig's Vision
Book Three: The Children Of Ashgoroth

Book one I admit is 'fluffy' fantasy... and seem more suited to children... but the following books are a lot darker, and deal with some very serious issues.

I have never yet seem this series mentioned on the forum except for the one time... and that was me!!! :D

I supsect they may be out of print now though :(

[Rob B]

cgw:

Here are some topics from the last couple of months that include discussions about books that aren't typical fantasy.

Searching for new material... (http://www.sffworld.org/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=2943)
Alternative Fantasy (http://www.sffworld.org/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=2866)
Jonathan Carroll (http://www.sffworld.org/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=2765)
Is this supposed to be original????? (http://www.sffworld.org/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=2553)

[ezchaos]

Cadfael, did the Faradawn books include talking animals, like otters? I'm pretty sure I read one or two of those books, but the memory's foggy. Also, I think Ford wrote three other Faradawn books afterward. I've seen these books from time to time in used book stores.

[Shanoncia]

I can't remember the name of the author, and I don't know if this would be fantasy, sci-fi or horror but i once read a very 'obscure' book called "Something Wicked this way comes" and it was about some carnival that came into town and i don't know.. it's so hard to explain, this merry-goround would increase or decrease time and before the eyes of two boys one young man grew into a decaying corpse and i couldn't make any sense of the rest...:rolleyes:

[Rob B]

Originally posted by Shanoncia
I can't remember the name of the author, and I don't know if this would be fantasy, sci-fi or horror but i once read a very 'obscure' book called "Something Wicked this way comes" and it was about some carnival that came into town and i don't know.. it's so hard to explain, this merry-goround would increase or decrease time and before the eyes of two boys one young man grew into a decaying corpse and i couldn't make any sense of the rest...:rolleyes:

That would be Ray Bradbury, and not too obscure either. He won the National Book Award last year for contribution to American Letters. But yeah, he often blends elements of the fantastic from different genres.

[Pirate Jenn]

Melissa Michaels:
Cold Iron and the (sort of) sequel
Sister to the Rain

These are so strange. They're about a private detective in Southern California and various elven communities. Very non-traditional and interesting. Decent characters, for the most part. Fairly witty, if you like the old detective stories (the well-written ones).

Patricia McKillip's lesser-known *The Changeling Sea* is her best (and least-obfuscating) work.

[ezchaos]

Actually, I mixed up the Faradawn series with the books by Neil Hancock-The Circle of Light, The Wilderness of Four, etc.

Have any of you guys read these books, and if so, what do you think of them (if you even remember them)?
:confused:

[Shanoncia]

That would be Ray Bradbury, and not too obscure either. He won the National Book Award last year for contribution to American Letters. But yeah, he often blends elements of the fantastic from different genres.

OH YAH, THAT'S IT! :D Thanks Love. Whew... what a relief to remember, that was driving me crazy. So you don't think it was too obscure? Maybe you're right and I'm just remembering the key weird parts tat stuck out to me... afterall it was many many MANY years ago that I read it. Thanks again. ;)

[Cadfael]

Originally posted by ezchaos
Actually, I mixed up the Faradawn series with the books by Neil Hancock-The Circle of Light, The Wilderness of Four, etc.

Have any of you guys read these books, and if so, what do you think of them (if you even remember them)?
:confused:

Having said that.. book one of the Faradawn series does have talking animals... so maybe you do know them from somewhere?? It is badgers in this case.