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Ok, so, I saw a post on another site discussing the Wheel of Time series by Robert Jordan, and it got me thinking. I'm a big reader, as most gamers are, and am always looking for good books as well as thinking about what it is that I like in fantasy fiction. Now, I read all kinds of things. And am not even against reading fine literature periodically; even enjoying it sometimes. But I read fantasy because I'm looking for certain things. Because I'm in a certain mood. But, I must be honest - I don't always get into the same books that everyone raves about.
There are a lot of great writers in the fantasy genre. Some writing new and exciting things, and others treading over old ground. I'll give my thoughts about a few, but I'm sure I'll get flamed for some of this:
George R. R. Martin... Great writer. Built an incredible word with awesome characters. Complicated but believable political factions and intrigue. But I petered out after three books. You see, I got excited about Jon Snow and what was going on beyond the wall. The mysterious creatures, etc. But that was such a small part of the books. I found myself wishing for more monsters and magic. You know the cliched stuff.
Stephen Erikson... The Malazan Book of the Fallen Series. Read two of them. A lot going on. A great writer. Another very creative guy. But too convoluted for me.
Robert Jordan... Actually, the Wheel of Time stuff had more of what I was looking for, but it was quite voluminous. I think I got through 3 of them. But I may get back and try it again...
So, what I really wanted to get to was a few general thoughts about fantasy fiction. I think a lot of the writers spend a lot of time trying to write themselves out of the cliches and reputation of the fantasy genre.
But I really like that stuff. I don't need high literature. I want heroes and evil. Demons and dungeons. Cool magic spells and cooler magic items. Things that make me think about my games. I like the other stuff too, and will be reading all of the above, I'm sure. But what are the best dungeon delve books? The ones that have a linear plot. A book about killing a lich? A book about exploring an old keep. You know, the fictionalized books about things that the modules are all about.
So I'm starting to re-read the Icewind Dale trilogy and thinking of some others.
Any thoughts anyone...? Please.
Contributor
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Ok, so, I saw a post on another site discussing the Wheel of Time series by Robert Jordan, and it got me thinking. I'm a big reader, as most gamers are, and am always looking for good books as well as thinking about what it is that I like in fantasy fiction. Now, I read all kinds of things. And am not even against reading fine literature periodically; even enjoying it sometimes. But I read fantasy because I'm looking for certain things. Because I'm in a certain mood. But, I must be honest - I don't always get into the same books that everyone raves about.
There are a lot of great writers in the fantasy genre. Some writing new and exciting things, and others treading over old ground. I'll give my thoughts about a few, but I'm sure I'll get flamed for some of this:
George R. R. Martin... Great writer. Built an incredible word with awesome characters. Complicated but believable political factions and intrigue. But I petered out after three books. You see, I got excited about Jon Snow and what was going on beyond the wall. The mysterious creatures, etc. But that was such a small part of the books. I found myself wishing for more monsters and magic. You know the cliched stuff.
Stephen Erikson... The Malazan Book of the Fallen Series. Read two of them. A lot going on. A great writer. Another very creative guy. But too convoluted for me.
Robert Jordan... Actually, the Wheel of Time stuff had more of what I was looking for, but it was quite voluminous. I think I got through 3 of them. But I may get back and try it again...
So, what I really wanted to get to was a few general thoughts about fantasy fiction. I think a lot of the writers spend a lot of time trying to write themselves out of the cliches and reputation of the fantasy genre.
But I really like that stuff. I don't need high literature. I want heroes and evil. Demons and dungeons. Cool magic spells and cooler magic items. Things that make me think about my games. I like the other stuff too, and will be...
Well, we read for many reasons, of course. Like most readers of modern speculative fiction, I prefer character stories. I also like them laden with idea and plot drivers. For example, I adore Martin. I petered out on Jordan a few books in. I'm still making up my mind about Erikson. Give me a Dresden novel for my fun any day of the week.
I also believe the dictates of story arise from the grounding of our cognition and therefore remain, for our lifetimes at least, largely immutable. I also believe its higher art to deliver a deep message AND fun at the same time, that its not an either or proposition. I guess I mean I don't feel you need to worry about the stuff you love vanishing from the scene (if you are worried).
Are you looking for suggestions?
Scott Lynch is a good one. His books are derived from a roleplaying campaign and revolve around criminal capers with magic thrown in. Two books so far: THE LIES OF LOCKE LAMORA and RED SEAS UNDER RED SKIES. Good fun and stand-alone works.
Joe Abercrombie is also worth a look. He's on the more epic side of things (and cites GRRM as a direct influence) but he's also more contained. His FIRST LAW series is a contained, completed trilogy. He has a new stand-alone book in the same world, BEST SERVED COLD, which is about revenge. You could construct a good campaign based around a similar idea.
As for GRRM himself, the next book in the series, A DANCE WITH DRAGONS, focuses big-time on Jon and events beyond the Wall.
For short, sharp dungeon crawls, ruin-exploration and so forth, you're probably better off going old-school. Robert E. Howard's CONAN THE BARBARIAN stories are worth a look and a superb mine for roleplaying ideas.
Scott Bakker's PRINCE OF NOTHING series might be worth a look. Complete (but with a sequel trilogy currently underway) and also based on an RPG campaign, although it was a philosophy and religion-heavy one. Closer to DUNE in style and scope than anything else in fantasy.
For something different, and a good idea of how wild and crazy fantasy can be, try China Mieville's PERDIDO STREET STATION, which is actually being developed as a roleplaying game. It's a secondary world fantasy, but is more industrial steampunk than medieval in nature with lots of original races. It's also a stand-alone, with two more books set in the same world (THE SCAR and IRON COUNCIL).
I'd recommend taking a break from the high-fantasy big world-building series for a while and try Planet Stories. I'm pretty free with opinions, so I can get more specific if you want.
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I'd recommend taking a break from the high-fantasy big world-building series for a while and try Planet Stories. I'm pretty free with opinions, so I can get more specific if you want.
Well... I'm intrigued... And always open for some advice. Sure, be more specific.
Start with Black God's Kiss (by C.L. Moore) to get the first fantasy woman warrior (Jirel of Joiry) created by a female author, then go on to her husband Kuttner's Dark World. Having dipped into "shifting between worlds" fiction, head straight for The Sword of Rhiannon as an intro to Leigh Bracket, then top it off with her superior Skaith trilogy. (I haven't read Secret of Sinharat yet, but I guess I would have wanted to have read it before the Skaith books to, saving them for last. Likewise, I haven't gotten to Kuttner's Elak or Howard's Almuric, but you cold read the Kuttners together and read the Howard before or after Moore's BGK.) Finally you could check out the Gygax books and the anthology.
If you wanted it even more reduced down, to the absolute cream, I'd go with BGK and then the Skaith books.
(I haven't read the others, but Kline looks like he deserves a chance. I'm predicting that I'm going to be a little nutty over Merrit and Wellman, having read a short story of each in the past. Not real excited about Moorcock, but willing to give him an other chance, I guess.) When you want a little more sci-fi in your fantasy, go back and catch Moore's NW Smith.
My pleasure, and welcome to Paizoland, Bibliomane!
Also, I do have some reviews posted of the PS books, and I try to keep them relatively spoiler free.
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Katherine Kerr, the Devery Cycle..... A little bit complex as each book traces the same characters through two incarnations spread a few hundered years apart. Currently at around 14 books, but in three interjoined sections, i.e. you can read the first book as a satnad alone novel, or the first 4 as a single group and not be missing much, or you can read the whole set, and see some really deep character development....
Can't reccomend them highly enough.
But I really like that stuff. I don't need high literature. I want heroes and evil. Demons and dungeons. Cool magic spells and cooler magic items. Things that make me think about my games.
I strongly recommend the Codex Alera by Jim Butcher. The series is already finished with six books, has some great fight scenes, an interesting magic sistem and a couple of pretty detailed and very cool monster races. It only lacks on the magic items department.
And if you don't mind fantasy set, more or less, in the modern world, I recomend the Dresden Files by Jim Butcher, the Nightside series by Simon R. Green, and the Bureau 13 series by Nick Pollotta. All really fun to read.|
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For what has worked for me and what I have been reading lately, I have picked up "The Ship of Ishtar" by A. Merritt, it is also in the Paizo Planet Stories line. I have been reading ALOT of Lovecraft, almost read all of his works lately, only a few more to go. I picked up the Lankmhar books recently, but have yet to dig into any other ones than "Swords and Devilry".
Other than those, I read Howard's "Conan" books, and the typical Tolkien books.
For my games, I prefer the sword and sorcery feel, and a little bit of horror tossed in.
Hope that helps.
There's actually an older book by Richard Baker in the Forgotten Realm City series called City of Ravens. It's about a happy go lucky thief who gets mixed up in a deadly plot. Nothing deep, nothing revolutionary, just good old fashioned fun reading, almost comic book. I go back and read that occasionally.
Michael Stackpole's Fortress Draconis is another good fantasy yarn that sticks close to the fantasy formula, but is good fun as well. I really enjoyed that one.
Always good to revisit Conan but I think I have all those stories memorized by now. And nothing gives you ideas better than the back issues of old Dungeon Magazines...