The best installments in fantasy series

[Zsinj]

Though I may see most fantasy series as one big book when I'm through with them, there are certain installments in series that I like better than the others. Some of us like the first novel because it's the beginning of a new adventure, others like the middle installment(s) better, and others like the final book better. So what books really stand out from the others to you in your favorite fantasy series? Here's my list:

"The LOTR Trilogy": "The Two Towers" by J.R.R. Tolkien
"The Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn Trilogy": "The Dragonbone Chair" by Tad Williams
"The Otherland Series": "A Mountain of Black Glass" by Tad Williams (technically a hybrid of sf/fantasy, to be exact)
"The Elric Saga": "Stormbringer" by Michael Moorcock
"The Dragonlance Chronicles Trilogy": "Dragons of Spring Dawning" by Weis & Hickman
"The Dragonlance Legends Trilogy": "Time of the Twins" by Weis & Hickman
"The Tyrants and Kings Trilogy": "The Grand Design" by John Marco (I've heard a some people whine, moan, and howl over this book because they say its too long and has absolutely no magic in it whatsoever, but I loved it. I loved all the Flynnesque heroic swashbuckling in it, and yet Marco did a great job of managing to keep it gritty and dark.
"Conan": "The Tower of the Elephant": by Robert E. Howard

[Kanin]

ASOIF: A Storm of Swords

Farseer Trilogy: Assassin's Quest

Dragonlance Chronicles: Dragons of Winter Night

Dragonlance Legends: War of the Twins

The Belgariad: Castle of Wizardry

The Mallorean: Guardians of the West

The Elenium: The Ruby Knight

The Tamuli: Domes of Fire

Book of Words: Master and Fool

Sword of Truth: Stone of Tears

The Icewind Dale Trilogy: Streams of Silver

[Mithfânion]

Ok, let's see:

Lord of the Rings (really one book of course but for the thread's sake)-Fellowship.

Farseer-Assasin's apprentice

Tawny Man-Fool's Fate

ASOIAF-Storm of Swords

Malazan book of the Fallen-Memories of Ice

Fionavar Tapestry-The Summer Tree

Riftwar-Magician (apprentice & master)

[Richardb]

Lord of the Rings (yeah, hop on that bandwagon...)
Thomas Covenant (series 1&2)
A Song of Ice and Fire
Memory Sorrow & Thorn
The Elenium
Tawny Man
The Empire Trilogy (Fiest & Wurtz)
Riftwar series (1&2)

[magze]

Assissans Quest
Magican
Faith of The Fallen
The Hidden City
Shadowheart
Morgawr
The Mists of Avalon
Son of Shadows

[allanon]

The Treasured One
The Hidden City
A Darkness at Sethanon
The Amber Spyglass
Abhorsen

[Spears&Buckler]

LotR - The Two Towers
Farseer - Royal Assassin (the relationship between Fitz and Nighteyes really blossoms into something special)
Tawny Man - Fool's Fate
Wheel of Time - I don't know 'cause there are too freakin' many of them!
Covenant I - The Illearth War
Covenant II - White Gold Wielder
Mordant's Need (anyone read this?) - A Man Rides Through

[Richardb]

LotR - The Two Towers

Mordant's Need (anyone read this?) - A Man Rides Through

Not only have I read it, but I think it a hugely overlooked work by the best in the industry...
I think that Donaldson did some of his best writing in these two books, with some of the most 'real' and complex characters of any of his works. Very surprised I don't hear more about the Mordant's need books. Great original magic idea too!

[Kanin]

Lord of the Rings (yeah, hop on that bandwagon...)
Thomas Covenant (series 1&2)
A Song of Ice and Fire
Memory Sorrow & Thorn
The Elenium
Tawny Man
The Empire Trilogy (Fiest & Wurtz)
Riftwar series (1&2)

Yeah, but which individual books are your favorites in the series?

[Spears&Buckler]

Not only have I read it, but I think it a hugely overlooked work by the best in the industry...
I think that Donaldson did some of his best writing in these two books, with some of the most 'real' and complex characters of any of his works. Very surprised I don't hear more about the Mordant's need books. Great original magic idea too!

No doubt. When I first started reading it, I was skeptical because the Covenant books also took someone from our world and put them into another, but it turned out to be my favorite of his works. You're spot-on about the magic concept, too. The use of mirrors was very original.

Sorry about the off-topic-ness....

[Richardb]

Yeah, but which individual books are your favorites in the series?

In the Thomas Covanant, I've always been partial to the Power that Preserves.
Song of Ice and Fire, Clash of Kings
Memory Sorrow and Thorn, To Green Angel Tower (some of the best emotion ever put into print)
The Elenium, (the second book, whever the heck the name was)
The Empire trilogy, Mistress of the Empire
Tawny Man, Fool's Fate.

[Kanin]

In the Thomas Covanant, I've always been partial to the Power that Preserves.
Song of Ice and Fire, Clash of Kings
Memory Sorrow and Thorn, To Green Angel Tower (some of the best emotion ever put into print)
The Elenium, (the second book, whever the heck the name was)
The Empire trilogy, Mistress of the Empire
Tawny Man, Fool's Fate.

Book Two in the Elenium is The Ruby Knight, which is my favorite as well.

I've bought MS&T, but haven't read it yet. Sounds interesting.

[Grimnir]

I've generally found that one book stands apart in a series.

Running With The Demon - Terry Brooks
Into the Labyrinth - Margaret Weiss & Tracy Hickman
Sorcerss Of Darshiva - David Eddings
Shadow Of A Dark Queen - Raymond E. Feist
A Time Of War - Katharine Kerr
Creature Of Havoc - Steve Jackson & Ian Livingstone (Bit of a silly one to finish with, but it was the best.)

[allanon]

Why, Fighting Fantasy was very cool!

[Grimnir]

I meant silly in the sense that it's not a novel and they were all self contained volumes. They were extremely cool though, you're right. (Except for the one or two science fiction ones, they were a bit suspect.)