Book Recommendation

[Raiyfe]

Hi. I'm sorry if this has been asked before, but I just wanted to get your opinions as to what books I can buy/read that are similar to the works of R.A. Salvatore, Margaret Weis and David Gemmell? I've read pretty much every book these authors wrote and I'm thirsty for more.

Any recommendations?

[Ainulindale]

Hi. I'm sorry if this has been asked before, but I just wanted to get your opinions as to what books I can buy/read that are similar to the works of R.A. Salvatore, Margaret Weis and David Gemmell? I've read pretty much every book

Hi Raiyfe

Althoguh not exactly my favorites there are some works I think fans of those authors would enjoy. If your looking ot bump up the scope a few degrees but still kepp the high magic, and high fight sequences, give Steven Erikson's Malazan series out:

Gardens of the Moon
Deadhouse Gates
Memories of Ice
House of Chains
Midnight Tides

Bonehunters (forthcoming)
Reapers Cale (forthcoming)
Toll of Hounds (forthcoming)
Dust of Dreams (forthcoming)
The Crippled God (forthcoming)


A great series, and one of the few current works that have heavy sword/sorcery elements in it that are worth reading IMHO.

Also Edward Wagner's works with Cane are great sword/sorcery works:


If you like RAS's Forgotten Realm's works, and enjoyed Realms, I recommend Paul S. Kemp's work in the line. Particaulry his Ervis Cale Trilogy, which IMHO is the best Realms series ever thus far:

Twilight Falling
Dawn of the Night

You may also want to give James Barclay a try.

[Sell Sword]

My long, boring list of Fantasy series that I liked (but, hey...I'm easily amused!!!) in no particular order:

A Song of Ice and Fire by George R. R. Martin
Book 1 - A Game of Thrones
Book 2 - A Clash of Kings
Book 3 - A Storm of Swords
Book 4 - A Feast For Crows

Runelords by David Farland
Book 1 - The Sum of All Men
Book 2 - Brotherhood of the Wolf
Book 3 - Wizardborn
Book 4 - The Lair of Bones

Dragoncrown War by Michael A. Stackpole
Book 1 - Fortress Darconis
Book 2 - When Dragons Rage
Book 3 - The Grand Crusade

The Banned and the Banished by James Clemens
Book 1 - Wit'ch Fire
Book 2 - Wit'ch Storm
Book 3 - Wit'ch War
Book 4 - Wit'ch Gate
Book 5 - Wit'ch Star

Malazan Book of the Fallen by Steven Erikson.
Book 1 - Gardens of the Moon
Book 2 - Deadhouse Gates
Book 3 - Memories of Ice

The Prince of Nothing by R. Scott Bakker
Book 1 - The Darkness That Comes Before
Book 2 - The Warrior Prophet

Winds of the Forelands by David B. Coe
Book 1 - Rules of Ascension
Book 2 - Seeds of Betrayal
Book 3 - Bonds of Vengeance

Tyrants and Kings by John Marco
Book 1 - The Jackal of Nar
Book 2 - The Grand Design
Book 3 - The Saints of the Sword

Akari Spirits by John Marco
Book 1 - The Eyes of God
Book 2 - The Devil's Armor
Book 3 - The Sword of Angels (comes out in Sep 2005)

Keys of Power by Simon Brown
Book 1 - Inheritance
Book 2 - Fire and Sword
Book 3 - Sovereign

Fifth Ring by Mitchell Graham
Book 1 - The Fifth Ring
Book 2 - The Emerald Cavern
Book 3 - The Ancient Legacy

Chronicles of Blood and Stone by Robert Newcomb
Book 1 - The Fifth Sorceress
Book 2 - The Gates of Dawn
Book 3 - The Scrolls of the Ancients

Sileria by Laura Resnick
Book 1 - In Legend Born
Book 2 - In Fire Forged
Book 3 - The Destroyer Goddess

Tears of Artamon by Sarah Ash
Book 1 - Lord of Snow and Shadows
Book 2 - Prisoner of the Iron Tower

Kingdoms of Thorn and Bone by Greg Keyes
Book 1 - The Briar King
Book 2 - The Charnel Prince

Sceptre of Mercy by Dan Chernenko
Book 1 - The Bastard King
Book 2 - The Chernagor Pirates
Book 3 - The Sceptre's Return

The King's Blades by Dave Duncan
Book 1 - The Gilded Chain
Book 2 - Lord of the Fire Lands
Book 3 - Sky of Swords
Book 4 - Paragon Lost
Book 5 - Impossible Odds
Book 6 - The Jaguar Knights

Lord of the Isles by David Drake
Book 1 - Lord of the Isles
Book 2 - Queen of Demons
Book 3 - Servant of the Dragon
Book 4 - Mistress of the Catacombs
Book 5 - Goddess of the Ice Realm
Book 6 - Master of the Cauldron

[Ainulindale]

Although I like some of the series on Sell Sword's list a lot (and admittedly some not at all), the best of the I don't think transalte real well for someone who prefers Salvatore/Gemmell/Weis & Hickman.

Although I consider George R.R. Martin's A Song Of Ice and Fire the best example of epic fantasy currently being written (and among the best epi cfanatsies ever), I find that a great many fans of works in Forgotten Realms, and Dragonlance don't take to due to its low magic world, and what they (and absolutely wrongly IMHO) percieve as useless dialogue, which actually turns out to be their first exposure to any kind of real characterization in their fantasy reading. I consider R. Scott Bakker's Prince of Nothing series to be teh second best epic fantasy going and it has similar problems. In the same sense Greg Keyes', Kingdom of Thorn and Bone falls in the same category (although IMHO not quite o nthe level as the the first 2 mentioned) These series are aimed at more of a mature audience who may be getting tired of derivative, hack/slash fantasy.

If Raiyfe is interested in getting out of the 'heroic' fanatsy, or in this case shared-world works, I have a ton of suggestions HERE.

[Raiyfe]

Thank you so much for all your suggestions thus far. I'll get to finding most (if not all) of these books right away.

Any further suggestions will still be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

[Carlos]

I definitely recommend James Barclay, he is really good at meshing magic and sword play.

His website will given you details and you can also read extracts.

[direstraits]

I recommend Guy Gavriel Kay. Like what Ainulindale said, it's also guilty of low mana count (read: less magic), but they are brilliant.

I'm, after all, Mr Kay's unsolicited advocate. All who've listened to me and read Kay did not regret it. Until Kookamoor comes back and tells me otherwise, that is.

ds

[GreenMonkey]

Although I consider George R.R. Martin's A Song Of Ice and Fire the best example of epic fantasy currently being written (and among the best epi cfanatsies ever), I find that a great many fans of works in Forgotten Realms, and Dragonlance don't take to due to its low magic world, and what they (and absolutely wrongly IMHO) percieve as useless dialogue, which actually turns out to be their first exposure to any kind of real characterization in their fantasy reading.

I agree, as a fan of Weis & Salvatore, and of George R.R. Martin. I wouldn't advise jumping from them to Martin.

I would advise Terry Brooks (Start with the Sword of Shanara), David Edding's Belgariad/Mallorean. But I wouldn't recommend much Eddings, his newest series was a really sucky/lame clone of the Belgariad IMO.

[Raiyfe]

I read Terry Brooks... but honestly (no offense) I found him a bit boring. He writes a bit like Tolkien (who I don't like much either -- sorry all Tolkien fans). I like Walker Boh though from the works of Brooks.