Looking for fantasy stories

[Darkwing Duck]

I'm looking for fantasy literature which includes the idea that spiritual power derives from the community's shared beliefs - a sort of "community psionics" if you will.

Can anyone recommend anything?

[meatrace]

Other than it being the basis of my homebrew campaign world?
Not that I can think of.

[Facet of a Shard]

My most favorite example of this is the Coldfire Trilogy by C.S. Friedman.

A lot of it has to do with the consequences of humankind's subconscious thougts and fears being made manifest in the world, But it really hones in on the "Beliefs create reality" theme.

[Sleet Storm]

The Warhammer Universe is based on that very idea,maybe you should look into that.

[Darkwing Duck]

I don't want other RPG settings, thanks. I'm looking specifically for fantasy literature.

[Darkwing Duck]

Facet of a Shard wrote:

My most favorite example of this is the Coldfire Trilogy by C.S. Friedman.

A lot of it has to do with the consequences of humankind's subconscious thougts and fears being made manifest in the world, But it really hones in on the "Beliefs create reality" theme.

Thanks!

Any other suggestions?

[Shizvestus]

Neil Gaimans "American Gods" novel is a good one :) and the follow up "Anansi Boys" :)

[pobbes]

Shizvestus wrote:

Neil Gaimans "American Gods" novel is a good one :) and the follow up "Anansi Boys" :)

Neil Gaiman's American Gods is fantastic, but modern. The concept of which I think Darkwing was referring was that of the Oversoul ideas of Emerson. A wikipedia search brought up the Malloreon saga by David Eddings and a race therein called the Dals. I can't speak for the quality as I never read it, but you can always check it out.

[Richard Leonhart]

reading diablo: birthright (read first book of 3) and (till now) it leans in that direction.
If you got nothing better, great read, you don't need to be a fan of the game, but it helps.

[HerosBackpack]

Have you looked at any of the Discworld books? Some of those touch on that theme, if I remember right - both belief shaping the gods and belief shaping reality.

[Richard Leonhart]

Discworld also has narrative causality, things happen because they would make a good story.
It's a great series, it's exactly that theme that people make gods (altough not magic, and the auditors are above or besides the gods). However the books actually make a mockery of all fantasy stories, it shows them up by being ridiculous and better than a lot of mainstream fantasy.

[peterrco]

Try Adrian Tchaikovsky's "Shadows of the Apt" series.

Starts with "Empire of Black and Gold"

Really great series well worth a read under any circumstances. Pure Fantasy, with spying and war the main narrative themes.

The races are all human, but have evolved into races that each have a totem insect, which define the culture and magic and technical capacity of the different peoples.

It sounds a bit weird, but this is one of the best reads I have had in ages, tense plotting with great charactarisation. Even if you don't use it for a game you'll be hooked.

(Sorry if this sounds a bit gushy but I'm a real fan!)

[Shizvestus]

The Shannara series is magic that is the way society thinks it is, after a fashion. And it's not modern.

[Darkwing Duck]

Shizvestus wrote:

The Shannara series is magic that is the way society thinks it is, after a fashion. And it's not modern.

I'm not aware of religious miracles ever being described in the Shanara books as powered by faith. I did stop reading them after Wishsong, though.

[jupistar]

My first thought was Coldfire, too. But then I saw someone beat me to it. So this is just a +1 to that post.