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Black Staff Admin
Joined:
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Total Posts:
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Book Recommendations
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Posted:
8/22/2008 4:52:56 AM
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Hi All,
As we've seen with numerous "suggestion" threads over the last few months, it has become apparent that a pinned thread devoted to helping people find something new to read based on what they like is needed -- and needed badly.
So here we go. Add titles and authors and sub-genre categories I've missed below and I'll edit this initial post to reflect your suggestions. After a while we'll have a good strong list of suggestions to point people to when they need something new to read!
Now, to the list to end all lists:
FANTASY
Comedic Fantasy
- The Color of Magic by Terry Pratchett
- The Stupidest Angel by Christopher Moore
- A Dirty Job by Christopher Moore
- Open Sesame by Tom Holt
Epic Fantasy
- Lord of the Rings by JRR Tolkien
- The Gunslinger by Stephen King
- A Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin
- Gardens of the Moon by Steven Erikson
- The Dragonbone Chair by Tad Williams
- Eye of the World by Robert Jordan
- Wizard's First Rule by Terry Goodkind
- Dragon Prince by Melanie Rawn
- Hawkwood's Voyage by Paul Kerney
- Tower of the King's Daughter by Chaz Brenchley
- The Lions of Al-Rassan or Tigana by Guy Gavriel Kay
- Acacia by David Anthony Durham
- Daggerspell by Katharine Kerr
Fairy Tale Fantasy
- Stardust by Neil Gaiman
- The Princess Bride by William Goldman
High Fantasy
- The Sword of Shannara by Terry Brooks
- Lord Foul's Bane by Stephen R. Donaldson
- Magician by Raymond E. Feist
- Pawn of Prophecy by David Eddings
- Assassin's Apprentice by Robin Hobb
- The Briar King by Greg Keyes
- His Majesty's Dragon by Naomi Novik
- The Wayfarer Redemption by Sara Douglass
- The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
- Dragon Wing by Margaret Weiss and Tracy Hickman
- In Legend Born by Laura Resnick
- Medalon by Jennifer Fallon
- The Demon Awakens by RA Salvatore
- Children of Amarid by David B. Coe
- Winterbirth by Brian Ruckley
- Legend by David Gemmell
- The Blade Itself by Joe Abercrombie
- The Warded Man by Peter V. Brett
Urban/Contemporary Fantasy
- Running with the Demon by Terry Brooks
- American Gods by Neil Gaiman
- Storm Front by Jim Butcher
- Perdido Street Station by China Mieville
- The Anubis Gates by Tim Powers
- The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch
- Faerie Tale by Raymond E. Feist
- Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke
Young Adult Fantasy
- The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman
- Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by JK Rowling
- Sea of Trolls by Nancy Farmer
- The Blue Sword by Robin McKinley
- The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by CS Lewis
SCIENCE FICTION
Adventure/Military Sci-Fi
- Old Man's War by John Scalzi
- Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card
Hard Science Sci-Fi
- Dune by Frank Herbert
- Darwin's Radio by Greg Bear
- Eon by Greg Bear
- Night's Dawn by Peter F. Hamilton
Space Opera Sci-Fi
- On Basilisk Station by David Weber
- Hyperion by Dan Simmons
Dark Sci-fi
- Altered Carbon by Richard Morgan
- Eisenhorn by Dan Abnett
- The Real Story by Stephen R. Donaldson
Virtual Sci-Fi
- Otherland: City of Golden Shadow by Tad Williams
This is in no way meant to pigeon-hole writers into a genre. This is merely done as a useful guideline for people wanting to read something new.
"I'm not for hire, and I don't get to choose my path." -- Sider Ament
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Black Staff Admin
Joined:
1/20/2003
Total Posts:
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5
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RE: Book Recommendations
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Posted:
8/22/2008 4:54:20 AM
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The list will only be as good as we make it. So don't be shy! 
"I'm not for hire, and I don't get to choose my path." -- Sider Ament
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Militant Conservative Bad@ss
Joined:
7/20/2005
Total Posts:
2,898
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RE: Book Recommendations
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Posted:
8/22/2008 5:20:41 AM
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Under science fiction I think we could add Otherland by Tad Williams. I myself am not a huge sci-fi fan but I thought it was amazing. There should be plenty of people here that could second that.
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Gunslinger
Joined:
8/7/2003
Total Posts:
4,350
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RE: Book Recommendations
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Posted:
8/22/2008 6:07:48 AM
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I would add Paul Kearney's Hawkwood's Voyage and Chaz Brenchley's Tower of the King's Daughter to epic fantasy. Also either The Lions of Al-Rassan or Tigana by Guy Gavriel Kay.
Somewhere, I suppose urban fantasy, although I prefer to call them magical realism myself, you've got to include one of Tim Powers' novels. The Anubis Gates, Expiration Date, On Stranger Tides are my three favorites.
Additional space opera - Hyperion by Dan Simmons, and Night's Dawn by Peter F. Hamilton
Dark noir sf - Richard Morgan's Altered Carbon and Dan Abnett's Eisenhorn.
"Roland Deschain was the last of Gilead's last great band of warriors, for good reason; with his queerly romantic nature, his lack of imagination, and his deadly hands, he had ever been the best of them." - Song of Susannah
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Bush League Critic
Joined:
3/15/2007
Total Posts:
4,169
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RE: Book Recommendations
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Posted:
8/22/2008 7:12:10 AM
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I second Roland's suggestions of Kearney's Hawkwood's Voyage and Simmons' Hyperion.
Certainly Scott Lynch's Lies of Locke Lamora would be a welcome addition (wherever it would be categorized).
- Doug
"Philosophy does not promise to secure anything external for man, otherwise it would be admitting something that lies beyond its proper subject-matter. For as the material of the carpenter is wood, and that of statuary bronze, so the subject-matter of the art of living is each person's own life."
The Bush League Critic - Speculative Fiction News and Reviews
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Gunslinger
Joined:
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Total Posts:
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RE: Book Recommendations
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Posted:
8/22/2008 7:46:03 AM
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Certainly Scott Lynch's Lies of Locke Lamora would be a welcome addition
Absolutely!! I can't believe I overlooked that one. 
"Roland Deschain was the last of Gilead's last great band of warriors, for good reason; with his queerly romantic nature, his lack of imagination, and his deadly hands, he had ever been the best of them." - Song of Susannah
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Black Staff Admin
Joined:
1/20/2003
Total Posts:
13,966
5
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RE: Book Recommendations
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Posted:
8/22/2008 9:36:56 AM
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You guys need to tell me where these things go. Okay? I haven't read some of them and don't know myself. Thanks!
"I'm not for hire, and I don't get to choose my path." -- Sider Ament
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Black Staff Admin
Joined:
1/20/2003
Total Posts:
13,966
5
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RE: Book Recommendations
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Posted:
8/22/2008 9:49:20 AM
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Where would Rothfuss go?
"I'm not for hire, and I don't get to choose my path." -- Sider Ament
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Shaping Kurald Thyrllan
Joined:
1/23/2003
Total Posts:
2,443
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RE: Book Recommendations
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Posted:
8/22/2008 11:47:50 AM
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Rothfuss would be in High Fantasy, I suppose.
Greg Keyes (The Kingdom of Thorn and Bone), David Anthony Durham (Acacia) and R.A. Salvtore (The DemonWars Saga) needs to be added to Epic Fantasy.
John Scalzi (Old Man's War, The Ghost Brigades, and The Last Colony) needs to be added, though his books fall more into the 'Adventure/military SF' category than any of the one's listed.
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Black Staff Admin
Joined:
1/20/2003
Total Posts:
13,966
5
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RE: Book Recommendations
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Posted:
8/22/2008 12:01:38 PM
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Aidan, you add them. I'm lazy.
Shawn
"I'm not for hire, and I don't get to choose my path." -- Sider Ament
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Joined:
10/11/2006
Total Posts:
261
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RE: Book Recommendations
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Posted:
8/23/2008 8:40:06 AM
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I'd almost add a "Beginner's Fantasy" title where Eddings would fit in and add Margaret Weis & Tracy Hickman to it as well.
Beginners - DragonLance Chronicles/Legends
High Fantasy - Death Gate Cycle starting with Dragon Wing
Also hear a lot of good things about Abercrombie on this site, so I'm sure he'd fit in there somewhere.
Laura Resnick - In Legend Born (High Fantasy)
Jennifer Fallon - Hythrun Chronicles (High Fantasy) starting with Medalon
Sara Douglass - The Wayfarer Redemption (High Fantasy).
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wolf woman
Joined:
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Total Posts:
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RE: Book Recommendations
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Posted:
8/24/2008 2:07:18 AM
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Orson Scott Card's Ender series should go in Sci-fi, somewhere.
Gaiman's Stardust is an excellent "fairy tale" fantasy, I think.
And perhaps we could use a category like "Young Adult Fantasy" for stuff like Harry Potter, His Dark Materials, etc.?
"The world and the universe is an extremely beautiful place, and the more we understand about it the more beautiful does it appear."
-Richard Dawkins
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Joined:
8/20/2008
Total Posts:
24
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RE: Book Recommendations
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Posted:
8/24/2008 10:42:30 AM
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David B. Coe's Children of Amarid should be under high fantasy. They are good reads, though I haven't read anything else he has written yet, but I'm getting to it.
Also, Douglas Niles' The Watershed trilogy(also High Fantasy)
and dispite the fact i hate his books, Eragon and Eldest by paloini(sp), though not sure where they would go.
Also, the new book from Acacia come sout in summer of 2009! perks of working at a bookstore, though this is probably also on his site .
bTW, you all have really good taste and have given me some suggestions for stuff I haven't read yet. can't wait to read some of the stuff on this list I haven't read yet.
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Herald of the Afterlife
Joined:
4/8/2008
Total Posts:
195
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RE: Book Recommendations
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Posted:
8/25/2008 6:09:03 AM
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i'd say u kud add eragon and eldest to high fantasy!
And from me, well The Chronicles of the Necromancer: Book 1, the Summoner: Book 2, Blood King! Though i'm not sure where you'd put them, probably epic!
Also, the Abhorsen Trilogy: Sabriel, Lirael and Abhorsen by Garth Nix. (Epic fantasy)
And the Shadowmarch trilogy: Shadowmarch, Shadowplay, (the 3rd is yet to be released)by Tad Williams!  (High Fantasy)
Oh and almost forgot, Spirit Gate by Kate Elliott! in the middle of reading it but good so far! not sure what catagory for it tho
In this world there is no God...
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My arms are getting tired.
Joined:
10/29/2003
Total Posts:
6,804
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RE: Book Recommendations
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Posted:
8/27/2008 5:36:09 AM
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Epic Fantasy:
Winterbirth by Brian Ruckley
Fairy Tale Fantasy:
Faerie Tale by Raymond Feist
Young Adult Fantasy:
Sea of Trolls by Nancy Farmer
Life is not waiting out the storm, but learning how to dance in the rain.
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Joined:
11/11/2007
Total Posts:
385
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RE: Book Recommendations
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Posted:
8/28/2008 4:30:17 AM
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Anything by David Gemmell actually, but maybe the Drenai series in the first place since it's his most known work. Start with Legend.
Life is so simple...Press the button and watch the robot jump. But I'm not a robot. I'm a freak of the universe...a thinking animal. - The Stars my Destination by Alfred Bester.
Bow down: I am the emperor of dreams;
I crown me with the million-colored sun
Of secret worlds incredible, and take
Their trailing skies for vestment when I soar,
Throned on the mounting zenith, and illume
The spaceward-flown horizons infinite.
- From The Hashish Eater by Clark Ashton Smith
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When Cameron was in Egypt land, let my Cameron go
Joined:
5/1/2003
Total Posts:
3,891
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RE: Book Recommendations
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Posted:
8/28/2008 10:52:16 AM
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What definitions are you using for High Fantasy and Epic Fantasy?
Joe Abercrombie's The Blade Itself would probably be Epic. /guess.
You can check out any time you like, but you can never leave.
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Megalomaniac
Joined:
9/2/2006
Total Posts:
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RE: Book Recommendations
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Posted:
8/28/2008 12:07:51 PM
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A comedy fantasy topic is deffinetly needed. Terry Pratchett's Discworld books should be there.
Also, I'm only a few pages in, but The Stupidest Angel: A Heartwarming Tale of Christmas Terror by Christopher Moore should certainly be there.
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Lady of the Light
Joined:
4/14/2004
Total Posts:
245
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RE: Book Recommendations
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Posted:
8/29/2008 7:10:18 AM
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I think the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series by Rick Riordan would be a good one to add to YA
"Where there is no light darkness prevails"
Mayfair
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Joined:
8/29/2008
Total Posts:
19
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RE: Book Recommendations
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Posted:
8/29/2008 6:33:21 PM
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Heres a few that I love Not 100% sure what category they would come under but will have a guess  And sorry if I repeat any
Daggerspell (The Deverry Series) - Katharin Kerr (Possibly epic fantasy)
A Sorceror's Treason (The Isvalta Trilogy)- Sarah Zettel (High fantasy)
Homeland (Dark Elf Trilogy) - RA Salvatore (High Fantasy)
Daughter of the Empire - Janny Wurts/Raymond E Feist (High Fantasy)
Lots more but most of them are already up there
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Joined:
2/1/2003
Total Posts:
271
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RE: Book Recommendations
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Posted:
8/31/2008 2:13:04 PM
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Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke
Excellent book, and truly unique.
Possibly under Faerie Tale Fantasy. Not really Faerie Tale, but in the same tradition.
http://www.jonathanstrange.com/
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Gnome Pawn
Joined:
5/22/2007
Total Posts:
134
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RE: Book Recommendations
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Posted:
9/1/2008 6:36:40 AM
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Can I recommend both Star Wars novels Darth Bane: Path of Destruction and Rule of Two by Drew Karpyshyn? I would classify as Dark Sci-Fi if you are opposed to a Star Wars section.
These two really stand out in the EU of SW. Truly the darkest we have seen since Anakin/Vader when he visits the Jedi Temple and Sand people scenes. Drew paints a very vivid picture of the dark side and just how cold blooded it is.
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Daltin Valdwel Bydeed: Commander of the Nehaslin, The Stormfire
Joined:
4/16/2007
Total Posts:
646
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RE: Book Recommendations
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Posted:
9/1/2008 1:29:14 PM
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Any idea where 'The Stand' would go? I guess it's fantasy
Life is cyclical. We need someone there to remind us of the things we've forgotten. Why? This memory, this knowledge of past mistakes and how to correct them will not stop the cyclical process. No, rebirth is a natural part of life, but if we wish to maintain goodness for as long as we can we need someone there to remind us of our virtues, pains, failings and masterpieces. Through this remembrance we may slow our descent into chaos and destruction and hasten our ascent back into the light that makes us whole.
My Journal and Library
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http://baryl333.deviantart.com/
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I Think, There I Am...
Joined:
5/11/2006
Total Posts:
378
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RE: Book Recommendations
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Posted:
9/1/2008 5:18:43 PM
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I highly recommend the following by Clive Barker: The Great and Secret Show and Everville, Imajica, and Weaveworld. They are fantasy novels, but they do have some horror and maybe even some sci-fi mixed in. Either way, if they don't fit the lists above, I recommend everyone give them a chance. Amazing works.
I'd also recommend Ken Follet's Pillars of the Earth if you like period pieces. There's a slight reference of magic, but they're not fantasy. I'm basically just recommending it because it's in my top three of best books ever read. Amazing stuff.
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Potato Prince
Joined:
8/7/2005
Total Posts:
919
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RE: Book Recommendations
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Posted:
9/2/2008 11:16:41 AM
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I'd also like to know definition for high and epic fantasy.
I would add comedy fantasy and under it add first and foremost Tom Holt's Open Sesame. Brilliant book. All writers should read it.
And also, guys, come on. Put Chronicles of Narnia under epic fantasy. We can't forget about that.
SPOILERYou're fat. Did that spoil the surprise?
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