Okay, so you've read Harry Potter. All well and good. It's time to move on to other things. You've read Lord of the Rings (the movies don't count). You've tried to read Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time but found yourself contemplating suicide. Never fear, here is a list of some good Fantasy Series.
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THE ADVERSARY CYCLE (6 books) & THE REPAIRMAN JACK SERIES (15+ books) by F. Paul Wilson ADVERSARY CYCLE: The Keep; The Tomb; The Touch; Reborn; Reprisal; Nightworld. REPAIRMAN JACK: The Tomb; Legacies; Conspiracies; All the Rage; Hosts; The Haunted Air; Gateways; Crisscross; Infernal; Harbingers; Bloodline; By The Sword; Ground Zero.
These two inter-connected series are usually classified as horror. Not matter, they represent a phenomenal accomplishment. The Keep is a traditional horror novel in which a group of Nazis solders in awaken an ancient evil in the mountains of Transylvania. The evil had been imprisoned by an immortal warrior who once again must try and defeat the Evil. The Tomb jumps forward to modern day New York and a lone, secretive vigilante named Repairman Jack is faced with an evil of supernatural origin which threatens his adopted family. The rest of the books in these series (which can all be read as stand alone novels) feature recurring characters and gradually pulls back layer-by-layer of an ancient other-worldly mystery. HIGH RECOMMENDED.
THE BOOK OF WORDS by J.V. Jones (3 books) The Baker's Boy; A Man Betrayed; Master and Fool.
Rebelling against her forced betrothal to the sinister Prince Kylock, young noblewoman Melliandra enlists the help of Jack, a kitchen apprentice, who is overwhelmed by his unexpected magical powers. Jones manages something that is rare in high fantasy - real humor. The series is delightful in the way that the story branches away and doubles back. The secondary characters are as well developed than the main three characters, in particular the two medieval guards Bodger and Grift, who may very well be the Laurel and Hardy of High Fantasy fiction.
THE CHRONICLES OF THOMAS COVENANT - THE UNBELIEVER by Stephen R. Donaldson (3 books) Lord Foul's Bane; The Illearth War; The Power That Preserves.
Thomas Covenant is a bitter and cynical writer afflicted with leprosy who is shunned and despised by society, but destined to become the heroic savior of an alternate world - or, perhaps, only of his own sanity. In the "other world" Covenant struggles against the evil Lord Foul, "The Despiser" who intends to break the physical universe to escape its bondage and wreak revenge upon his arch-enemy, "The Creator." Donaldson's works are infused with a profoundly serious psychological tone involving an unabashed exploration of dark and repugnant aspects of the protagonist Thomas Covenant without reducing him to a caricature or an antihero. Good, deep, serious stuff, and Donald writes with a realism not often found in fantasy literature.
THE FAR
SEER TRILOGY by Robin Hobbs (3 books) Assassin's Apprentice; Royal Assassin; Assassin's Quest.
The Farseer Trilogy follows the life of FitzChivalry Farseer (Fitz), a royal bastard and trained assassin, in a kingdom called The Six Duchies while his uncle, Prince Verity, attempts to wage war on the Red-Ship Raiders from The OutIslands who are attacking the shores of the kingdom by turning the populace (primarily the coastal people) into Forged ones; a form of zombification which makes them emotionless. Very exciting and face-paced, filled with magic, palace intrigue as young Fitz learns to become a master spy and assassin.
INCARNATIONS OF IMMORTALITY by Piers Anthony (8 books) On A Pale Horse; Bearing An Hourglass; With A Tangled Skein; Wielding a Red Sword; Being A Green Mother; For Love of Evil; ... And Eternity; Under A Velvet Cloak.The first seven books each focus on one of seven supernatural "offices" (Death, Time, Fate, War, Nature, Evil and Good) in a fictional reality and history parallel to ours, with the exception that society has advanced both magic and modern technology. The series covers the adventures and struggles of a group of humans, called "Incarnations" who hold these supernatural positions for a certain time.
MEMORY, SORROW AND THORN by Tad Williams (3 books) The Dragonbone Chair; Stone of Farewell; To Green Angel Tower.
This is an answer series to Lord of the Rings, and almost as good. The books are set on the continent of Osten Ard, whose inhabitants include Sithi (elf-like immortals), Qanuc (troll-like mountain-dwellers), and other races, as well as several distinct human nations. The youthful conquests of King John the Presbyter (also called Prester John) united most of the human world into a single realm, but by the beginning of the first book, the former conqueror is too old and feeble to stop his sons from quarrelling. As the conflict widens throughout their world and beyond, a young orphan struggles to understand enough of it to survive. Passionate and exciting, Williams is very entertaining.
MISTBORN by Brian Sanderson (3 books) The Final Empire; The Well of Ascension; The Hero of Ages.This could be the best fantasy series of the last 20 years. Sanderson has invented unique kind of magic that is ingenious and logical. Even though these are in the tradition of epic fantasy, there are no elves, no wizards, and NO BORING SECTIONS. These books read like a thriller, fast-paced with superb characters.
REDWALL by Brian Jacques (21 books) Redwall; Mossflower; Mattimeo; Mariel of Redwall; Salamandastrom; Martin the Warrior; The Bellmaker;' Outcast of Redwa
ll; The Pearls of Lutra; Lord Brocktree; The Taggerung; Triss; Loamhedge; Rakkity Tam; High Rhulain; Eulaila!; Doomwyte; The Sable Quean.
This a delightful and richly diverse series of books about the mice who run Redwall Abbey. Despite the fact that this is a fantasy series, there is no magic, but lots of adventure and supernatural elements blend with religious themes. The books are simply written, face-paced and quite charming.
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THE ADVERSARY CYCLE (6 books) & THE REPAIRMAN JACK SERIES (15+ books) by F. Paul Wilson ADVERSARY CYCLE: The Keep; The Tomb; The Touch; Reborn; Reprisal; Nightworld. REPAIRMAN JACK: The Tomb; Legacies; Conspiracies; All the Rage; Hosts; The Haunted Air; Gateways; Crisscross; Infernal; Harbingers; Bloodline; By The Sword; Ground Zero.
These two inter-connected series are usually classified as horror. Not matter, they represent a phenomenal accomplishment. The Keep is a traditional horror novel in which a group of Nazis solders in awaken an ancient evil in the mountains of Transylvania. The evil had been imprisoned by an immortal warrior who once again must try and defeat the Evil. The Tomb jumps forward to modern day New York and a lone, secretive vigilante named Repairman Jack is faced with an evil of supernatural origin which threatens his adopted family. The rest of the books in these series (which can all be read as stand alone novels) feature recurring characters and gradually pulls back layer-by-layer of an ancient other-worldly mystery. HIGH RECOMMENDED.THE BOOK OF WORDS by J.V. Jones (3 books) The Baker's Boy; A Man Betrayed; Master and Fool.
Rebelling against her forced betrothal to the sinister Prince Kylock, young noblewoman Melliandra enlists the help of Jack, a kitchen apprentice, who is overwhelmed by his unexpected magical powers. Jones manages something that is rare in high fantasy - real humor. The series is delightful in the way that the story branches away and doubles back. The secondary characters are as well developed than the main three characters, in particular the two medieval guards Bodger and Grift, who may very well be the Laurel and Hardy of High Fantasy fiction.
THE CHRONICLES OF THOMAS COVENANT - THE UNBELIEVER by Stephen R. Donaldson (3 books) Lord Foul's Bane; The Illearth War; The Power That Preserves.Thomas Covenant is a bitter and cynical writer afflicted with leprosy who is shunned and despised by society, but destined to become the heroic savior of an alternate world - or, perhaps, only of his own sanity. In the "other world" Covenant struggles against the evil Lord Foul, "The Despiser" who intends to break the physical universe to escape its bondage and wreak revenge upon his arch-enemy, "The Creator." Donaldson's works are infused with a profoundly serious psychological tone involving an unabashed exploration of dark and repugnant aspects of the protagonist Thomas Covenant without reducing him to a caricature or an antihero. Good, deep, serious stuff, and Donald writes with a realism not often found in fantasy literature.
THE FAR
SEER TRILOGY by Robin Hobbs (3 books) Assassin's Apprentice; Royal Assassin; Assassin's Quest.The Farseer Trilogy follows the life of FitzChivalry Farseer (Fitz), a royal bastard and trained assassin, in a kingdom called The Six Duchies while his uncle, Prince Verity, attempts to wage war on the Red-Ship Raiders from The OutIslands who are attacking the shores of the kingdom by turning the populace (primarily the coastal people) into Forged ones; a form of zombification which makes them emotionless. Very exciting and face-paced, filled with magic, palace intrigue as young Fitz learns to become a master spy and assassin.
INCARNATIONS OF IMMORTALITY by Piers Anthony (8 books) On A Pale Horse; Bearing An Hourglass; With A Tangled Skein; Wielding a Red Sword; Being A Green Mother; For Love of Evil; ... And Eternity; Under A Velvet Cloak.The first seven books each focus on one of seven supernatural "offices" (Death, Time, Fate, War, Nature, Evil and Good) in a fictional reality and history parallel to ours, with the exception that society has advanced both magic and modern technology. The series covers the adventures and struggles of a group of humans, called "Incarnations" who hold these supernatural positions for a certain time.
MEMORY, SORROW AND THORN by Tad Williams (3 books) The Dragonbone Chair; Stone of Farewell; To Green Angel Tower.
This is an answer series to Lord of the Rings, and almost as good. The books are set on the continent of Osten Ard, whose inhabitants include Sithi (elf-like immortals), Qanuc (troll-like mountain-dwellers), and other races, as well as several distinct human nations. The youthful conquests of King John the Presbyter (also called Prester John) united most of the human world into a single realm, but by the beginning of the first book, the former conqueror is too old and feeble to stop his sons from quarrelling. As the conflict widens throughout their world and beyond, a young orphan struggles to understand enough of it to survive. Passionate and exciting, Williams is very entertaining.
MISTBORN by Brian Sanderson (3 books) The Final Empire; The Well of Ascension; The Hero of Ages.This could be the best fantasy series of the last 20 years. Sanderson has invented unique kind of magic that is ingenious and logical. Even though these are in the tradition of epic fantasy, there are no elves, no wizards, and NO BORING SECTIONS. These books read like a thriller, fast-paced with superb characters.REDWALL by Brian Jacques (21 books) Redwall; Mossflower; Mattimeo; Mariel of Redwall; Salamandastrom; Martin the Warrior; The Bellmaker;' Outcast of Redwa
ll; The Pearls of Lutra; Lord Brocktree; The Taggerung; Triss; Loamhedge; Rakkity Tam; High Rhulain; Eulaila!; Doomwyte; The Sable Quean.This a delightful and richly diverse series of books about the mice who run Redwall Abbey. Despite the fact that this is a fantasy series, there is no magic, but lots of adventure and supernatural elements blend with religious themes. The books are simply written, face-paced and quite charming.
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