Curious about fantasy novels.

[SusanH]

I have never really tried to read fantasy novels and I'm wondering if I'm neglecting an entire genre of literature for no good reason. I have read a tiny bit, but mostly as a child (things like the Dark is Rising series, Narnia, David Eddings novels.) I have read Terry Pratchett, but he is really more parody and satire than straight-forward fantasy. I've also read most of The Mists of Avalon, but I'm afraid I really didn't care for it. Does that mean I'm just not a fantasy person? I know that book is very well-loved by many people.

Anyway, is anyone here a fan of fantasy novels? Do you have any recommendations for where to start if I decide to give some a try?

[acorn]

I've read a lot of fantasy over the years...but Mists of Avalon was the first thing that popped into my mind when I saw the subject and that's obviously not doing it for you. I don't read as much fantasy now as when I was younger (I used to read enornous amounts of fantasy and sci fi but now tend to get annoyed because so many of them aren't well written), but I still like Guy Gavriel Kay. His books are often inspired by history. I used to love the Pern series by Anne McCaffrey, but I haven't liked her most recent books. I'm not sure if she's writing more poorly (many are also co-authored) or I'm more picky. If you try the Pern books, I'd suggest the earliest Dragonriders of Pern series. As I think about it, Guy Gavriel Kay is really the only fantasy writer that I still look for, which is a pretty good recommendation!

[djk42]

Barbara Hambly- Dragonsbane was my first fantasy novel (besides the Hobbit, the father of all). I haven't even read the whole Narnia series, but hubby just got me into Eddings and I like it so far (on the Mallorean, series two).

David Gemmel- Knights of Dark Reknown was another good book. And Lawrence Watt-Evans- With a Single Spell and The Misenchanted Sword were both good reads. Steven Brust- Jereg and the rest of the series.

Let me know if you want more titles from my husband's bookshelf. ;) (We each have our own upstairs, in addition to the ones in the basement and family room.)

[acorn]

Pullman's The Golden Compass is also a really good series. I think it's actually meant as a young adult book, but I really enjoyed it.

[Jer]

For fantasy with a philosophical bent, I highly recommend The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant by Stephen R. Donaldson. There are two trilogies; they need to be read in order. The protagonist is a leper, and struggles with the moral and ethical dilemmas inherent in his situation. I like the first trilogy better than the second, but they're both really good. If you decide to read them, let me know-- I've never been able to discuss them with anyone! :)

Edited to include the titles, since I figured out how to use the italics ;) :

Lord Foul's Bane
The Illearth War
The Power That Preserves

The Wounded Land
The One Tree
White Gold Wielder

[eviesmom]

I have a soft spot for Terry Brooks since he grew up in my hometown of Sterling-Rock Falls, IL. He wrote the Shanara series and also the Magic Kingdom series. I am not much of a fantasy reader myself but my father loves it. I'll ask him for some ideas.

Edited to ask: Did Steven R. Donaldson also write Mirror of Her Dreams ? I read this book in highschool and liked it because the female protagonist was exactly the opposite of all the impossibly beautiful and witty heroines in all the other books I read.

[Jer]

Edited to ask: Did Steven R. Donaldson also write Mirror of Her Dreams ?

Yup. I tried and tried to read it, but I could never get through it. ;)

[Caryl]

I second acorn's recommendation of The Golden Compass. I've only read the first book in the trilogy, but I really liked it.

I'm not a big fan of fantasy novels, but I've been trying to come up with some other ideas for you. This article about YA fantasy (http://citypages.com/databank/23/1146/article10874.asp) from a local weekly magazine has been sitting on my desk for awhile, so I finally read it. Here are a few of the books the author recommends:

~ Ursula LeGuin's Earthsea series. I think the first one is A Wizard of Earthsea. I read The Beginning Place long ago and enjoyed it.

~ Patricia McKillip (The Forgotten Beasts of Eld)

~ Dianna Wynne Jones (Chrestomanci series; The Magicians of Caprone)

~ Summerland by Michael Chabon

Although, like Golden Compass, these are all labeled "young adult," I think they definitely all work for adults, too. (That's what this article is about, actually.)

Dh wants me to recommend Sirens of Titan by Kurt Vonnegut, but I told him I thought that was sci-fi.

[SusanH]

Thanks for all the recommendations! I haven't read any of them, but I recognize some of the names. DH has the Thomas Covenant books, but I think we left them at my FIL's house. Maybe I'll pick them up next time we visit. :)