Looking for something 'magical'.

[Syrio]

When I say magical, I do not mean in the fantasy sense of literal magic; I'm talking about the feeling it envokes.

Firstly, I understand that literature is subjective and that many will experience different books in different ways, so let me try to elaborate. I have read a fair amount of fantasy, from GGK, GRRM, Donaldson, Hobb, Jordan, Bakker and so on and so forth, and whilst I have loved a lot of these books in their own way (Guy Gavriel Kay and Martin especially) I have yet to read something that has provided me with a similar sense of awe and sheer excitement as The Lord of The Rings. Now, this may be because I read it at a young age, but I get the impression that even if I were to read it for the first time now I'd feel the same - or at least similar. I am not asking for recommendations for books similar to LOTR but I'm asking if anyone who felt the 'magic' of those books managed to find it anywhere else? It's a craving that I've been holding for a little while now and which, as yet, has not been satisfied.

[Andols]

If you find it somehow let me know. I think Ilium was the last really magical moment I had. or GotM.

[Seak]

I agree, Gardens of the Moon really blew me away, maybe not quite magical though.

I loved Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell. I know what you're talking about when you say a magical feel after reading Lord of the Rings. I had it too. There's not really any unique world, but it turns England into a different, magical place.

[mg420]

this is probabaly of little helpt to you since you listed the author as one you havbe read butthe only books that i would consider fitting your description would be the first 2 Thomas Covenant trilogies by Donaldson. by far the best series i've ever read. i only wish the final chronicals that he is writing now was half as good as the 1st two. i am extremely un-impressed with the 1st 2 books of the last series. i've read LOTR several times and when i was young it used to give me a similar feeling but after the TC series, i find LOTR kind of boring.

[kcf]

Have you read any Charles de Lint? His Newford books in particular have a real sense of magic about them that few authors can equal. I started with Forests of the Heart, but I think you can start pretty much anywhere with them.

[Rob B]

We do have TONS and TONS of tagged Recommendation Threads:
Recommendation

[PeterWilliam]

When I say magical, I do not mean in the fantasy sense of literal magic; I'm talking about the feeling it envokes.

Yes!!! I know what you mean and continue searching as well. I've seen many well read folks here mention Charles de Lint (most recently kcf and Katg). Having seen such recommendations, I will find some de Lint to read through in the immediate future.

[Paul Lamontagne]

When I say magical, I do not mean in the fantasy sense of literal magic; I'm talking about the feeling it envokes.

Firstly, I understand that literature is subjective and that many will experience different books in different ways, so let me try to elaborate. I have read a fair amount of fantasy, from GGK, GRRM, Donaldson, Hobb, Jordan, Bakker and so on and so forth, and whilst I have loved a lot of these books in their own way (Guy Gavriel Kay and Martin especially) I have yet to read something that has provided me with a similar sense of awe and sheer excitement as The Lord of The Rings. Now, this may be because I read it at a young age, but I get the impression that even if I were to read it for the first time now I'd feel the same - or at least similar. I am not asking for recommendations for books similar to LOTR but I'm asking if anyone who felt the 'magic' of those books managed to find it anywhere else? It's a craving that I've been holding for a little while now and which, as yet, has not been satisfied.

wow. i know exactly what you mean. have you read Hyperion by Dan Simmons?

[Paul Lamontagne]

We do have TONS and TONS of tagged Recommendation Threads:
Recommendation

not to butt in, but (butt!) i think he's (or she's) asking for something fairly specific here. i recently spoke to this subject in the other thread about Zufon, and about that feeling of wonderment you only get from certain, very few novels

[Rob B]

Don't worry about it Paul, I admit to being a bit brusque in my post. I have a quick trigger finger when it comes to new Recommendation threads popping up, which has relaxed in recent times.

Here's the thing, we have a lot of general recommendation threads. In those many, many threads, I'm pretty sure members are going to recommend their favorites or the books in (perhaps) their personal top 10. After all, why would somebody recommend a book that was so-so or didn't move them and give him or her excitement? We've also got a few threads like "Top 10 Fantasy" and "Top 5 Authors" where, again, people are likely going to list the books that worked best for them, books that were maybe a "sense of awe and sheer excitement".

Which is why I re-directed the request to all the other threads people started with the goal of finding their next great read.

[Paul Lamontagne]

that's a good point. recommendation threads do pop up pretty much daily here.

[Toma]

I'd really recommend Peter S Beagle's The Last Unicorn

I think it's one of the few books I've ever read that really evokes that magical feeling.

[phil_geo]

I'm going to chime in with The Black Jewels trilogy by Anne Bishop. It may be easy to criticize in some respects, but the characters, world and plot all join together to make a pretty lighthearted-but-gripping, magical experience. I couldn't put it down.

[ThornofCamorr]

Id second Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell, and suggest maybe Neverwhere and The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman.

[kcf]

Yes, on days like this around here where the most active threads are recommendation threads I feel like starting a new thread "someone please recommend me a good recommendation thread"