17 réponses à ce sujet

[telephasic]

Despite having played RPGs for half of my life (with the majority of those having fantasy settings obviously), I have probably read less than twenty fantasy books since my childhood ended.  I have no problem with a fantasy setting for a game, but I've alwasy felt in terms of literature it's kind of cheap to have a world which so closely hews to Tolkien (who I hate). 

Instead, I've generally read science fiction, particularly hard science fiction and space opera.  My favorite authors along those lines are Stephan Baxter, Peter Hamilton, David Brin, Greg Bear (although not much he's done lately), Sherri S Tepper, Kim Stanley Robinson, Octavia Butler, Dan Simmons, Ken MacLeod, Greg Egan, Robert Charles Wilson, and John C Wright.  

As for fantasy, I've dabbled a bit.  I've read the novels of Neil Gaiman, and I found them alright, although besides American Gods they seemed pretty light fare honestly.  I absolutely love China Meiville.  And because I really liked Tad Williams Otherland series, I picked up one of his standalone fantasies (The War of the Flowers) and it was a fairly entertaining reading. 

I'd be most interested in suggestions which break free of the reactionary, anti-democratic, black-and-white world which fantasy seems to hew close to.  Something which uses demihumans to look at racism in depth.  Where villians aren't doing what they do for the sake of evil, but for their own misguided sense of goodness and the end justifying the means.  Where people don't bow down to nobles just because they happened to be born into a socially superior position (and a "good" noble doesn't end up winning in the end).  As an example, I'd love to read a book where orcs and humans overcome their differences, band together, kill the nobility, and set up a republic.

I will not read any media tie ins.  This includes D&D books.  

Modifié par telephasic, 23 novembre 2009 - 08:53 .

[Quixal]

Look at Steven Brust's Jhereg series. It covers all of your specific points, particularly the ones on nobility and racism.

Modifié par Quixal, 23 novembre 2009 - 08:48 .

[Rattleface]

Pilocene Exile Saga!
I've seen it suggested maybe once, but after that, I picked it up and read every book. It covers sci-fi and fantasy, and it has your preferences in fantasy - though not letter to letter. It's not typical fantasy - it's like... fantasy born of technology? Eh. If you plan on looking it up, be warned: it sounds really lame. But it's not. At all.

Uhm. I'm reading the Malazan Book of the Fallen. Gardens of the Moon is the first of the series. It's a bit.. idk, and the first book doesn't let you know everything you need to until you're done with it. If you can slog through it [though every bit of it is good], then it's a great series. And gets better, from what I experienced so far.
That too fits most of what you're looking for. My only complaint about it is two characters that seem utterly pointless.
Anyways, only two I can recommend right now, lols. Can't think of any others off the top of my head.

Modifié par Rattleface, 23 novembre 2009 - 09:03 .

[Tallin Harperson]

Stephen R. Donaldson's Chronicles of Thomas Covenant. You can also read his Gap series, since you mentioned liking Sci Fi...

[telephasic]

Rattleface wrote...

Pilocene Exile Saga!
I've seen it suggested maybe once, but after that, I picked it up and read every book. It covers sci-fi and fantasy, and it has your preferences in fantasy - though not letter to letter. It's not typical fantasy - it's like... fantasy born of technology? Eh. If you plan on looking it up, be warned: it sounds really lame. But it's not. At all.

I read this series many, many times growing up actually - IMHO, it's superior to anything else Julian May wrote (although the Galactic Milieu Series, which is related, was almost as interesting, albeit more of a character study of the Remillard family).  I didn't mention it because I consider it a science fiction series - albeit one which doesn't keep very close to science, but since psionics are possible within the laws of physics of the world, and understandable, they aren't really "magic."  Plus it provides a semi-believable explanation for elves and the like. 

[Benfea]

 Have you ever played pen & paper RPGs?

If so, you might get a kick out of the Deed of Paksenarrion. It's heavily based on D&D which is heavily based on Tolkien, which you specifically don't like, but what amazed me about the trilogy is that it really reads like a transcript of someone's D&D campaign... provided all the players were novelists (which of course means it bears little resemblance to the actual D&D campaigns I played... it's more an idealized version of same).

[Ravenshrike]

http://baencd.thefif...words/index.htm



http://baencd.thefif...s Own/index.htm



http://baencd.thefif... Oath/index.htm



Weber's Bahzell Bahnakson's series.

[Lord Grimnar_AzurieL]

try the feist series of books
the rift war saga is the start and well i read them through (the entire series 20 something books) three times and still love them. give them ago.

failing that and seeing as you like sci-fi you could try any ok the "warhammer 40k" books. i recommend starting with the horus heresy series.

[Emryc]

I was gonna say 'American Gods'.

But you already mentioned that.

And for that, I salute you for your great taste.



You could try some Katherine Kerr. Her Deverry-saga is quite interesting.

[syllogi]

I don't know if it falls into your general interests, but at least try George R. R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire. There are no orcs, or elves, or dwarves, and it's almost more of a medieval political drama than a fantasy series, but the books are like crack. Epic fantasy crack.



Steven Erikson's Malazan Book of the Fallen series is also a must read if you're looking for addictive, engrossing modern fantasy. Fair warning, though: these books are really deep, and they plunge you headfirst into the world. There are completely new races, rules to magic, and gods that are NOT explained in depth immediately. It can be frustrating to a new reader, but it is so worth it, once the story gets rolling and you begin to understand the world.



Robin Hobb's books, starting with the Farseer Trilogy are awesome also, and sadly underrated, in the beginning the setting seems to be kind of generic, but as the adventure gets rolling the setting becomes a lot more unique and deep.



I could go on (and on, and on), but those are a good start. There are also loads of sci-fi authors who write great fantasy also (or use a mix of sci-fi and fantasy in their work), like Marion Zimmer Bradley, C.J. Cheryh, and Joan D. Vinge. You should check them out, they'd be authors you'd enjoy.

[Tyrax Lightning]

I'm not sure if this book series fits your quota or not, but i've read the 1st book of the series & liked it:



The Sword of Truth.



(Hope that the right name, been awhile since the read. It's the right book if it's main character is named Richard Cypher.) The 1st book in the series (The one i've read) is called Wizard's First Rule, or somewhere in the ballpark. (I hate my crudtacular memory.)



Research it & see if ya like it. If not, no sweat.



Hope I helped.

[Xiphias]

Roger Zelany's The Chronicles of Amber. Not social angst here, just good old fashioned magical powers, strong characters and lots of shafting. Despite my rubbish description it is a serious book and as I like all the same authors as you I think you'd enjoy it.



Lois McMaster Bujold has written some excellent fantasy (as well as science fiction), but I can't recommend specific books as I'm currently reading it myself.



Tim Powers may be an option. He definitely writes fantasy and makes a decent job of it but the two novels I've read of his have both had lousy endings.



And on a lighter note there's Robert Rankin's Brentford Trilogy. As you're fond of British authors you might enjoy it, although I suspect you probably need to be British too. It's not exactly fantasy but plenty of strange things happen.

[Critical Miss]

Not a fantasy reader myself, but Susanna Clarke's Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell has sucked me in. Great characters, lots of indepth research into the subject matter. The author has gone to pains to make fantasy more interesting than just your average sword and scorcery saga. Try also Perfume by Patrick Suskind for something totally different. Richard Brautigan is another to consider for his strange little tales.

[Andarthiel_Demigod]

Well it might not tie in to your criteria directly but I do recommend you check out The Old Kingdom Series by Garth Nix starting with Sabriel. It's a strange belnd of steampunk as well as some dark fantasy(no elves or dwarves or anything like that). The whole series focuses on a line of Abhorsen who can be described as Anti-Necromancers who use bells to lay the dead(or undead) back to rest.

[Panderfringe]

Tyrax Lightning wrote...


The Sword of Truth.

No. No. No no no no no no no no no.

Also, you could try Gene Wolfe's Book of the New Sun or Glen Cook's Black Company.

[Jebu78]

James Maxey: Bitterwood
It's the first book of a trilogy, the other two books being Dragonforge and Dragonseed. I've always liked both sci-fi and fantasy, but I've been leaning more towards sci-fi with time, as I have trouble finding new fantasy books that feel fresh. This was definately one. I can't really say much about the plot without spoiling it, but halfway through the first book I was totally sold.

[Amberyl Ravenclaw]

Xiphias wrote...

Roger Zelany's The Chronicles of Amber. Not social angst here, just good old fashioned magical powers, strong characters and lots of shafting. Despite my rubbish description it is a serious book and as I like all the same authors as you I think you'd enjoy it.

Zelazny also writes awesome sci-fi; got to love Lord of Light and his treatment of themes regarding deity, mythology, religion, philosophy, class and caste, and personal transformation amidst a backdrop of a Hindu-Buddhist inspired semi-fantasy yet tech-heavy universe. It's remained one of my favorite books of all-time. A real pity that Zelazny is dead, though; the demise of a great writer is a loss to all.  

Modifié par Amberyl Ravenclaw, 28 novembre 2009 - 06:57 .

[Sinfulvannila]

Well you've already read the holy trinity of fantasy. The only other author I would reccomend is J.V. Jones. Her storylines are pretty standard fare, but her characters are excellent. Also the magic in her books are pretty awesome, insanely powerful, but highly original.