""realistic" heroic fantasy" Topic

I'm looking for heroic fantasy novels set in a "realistic" world (like Howards Conan stories) No elves, fairies, dwarves, orcs, dragons or talking trees! Some magic allowed.
Swashbuckling type hero/heroes.
Any suggestions?

I would recommend the Memory Sorrow and Thorn trilogy by Tad Williams. Of course, I'd recommend that for anyone…

It has elves, although they're viewed as almost a myth by most folks – at least, in the beginning of the trilogy.

Magic is present, although it's also rather rare. When it does appear, it's pretty powerful!

Doesn't really do the swashbuckling thing though. It's more Nordic, perhaps? Not sure how to describe it…

However, for the overall description of what you're looking for, I think it does fit. It's a heroic fantasy in a "realistic" world.

David Gemmell's stuff is great. Legend is awesome but I might go with the Rigante series, which I started rereading yesterday. Get Sword In the Storm.

He's the author I'd say is closest to the spirit and writing style of REH.

There's no elves or anything. They're mostly a bit fantastical and heroic retelling of historical events in a fantasy world.

I'd have to pitch in for Katherine Kerr's Deverry books, starts with Daggerspell. There is magic, but it's very underground and thought of as myth. The whole premise is around the rebirth of souls, but they set in a fairly realistic world, I'd probably put it early dark ages. Get the first one out from the library and give it a go.

Fritz Leiber's Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser: link

A very swashbuckling pair of thieves. Very limited magic, usually of a thoroughly nasty sort. No elves, fairies, dwarves, orcs, or talking trees. One or two dragons (or wyrms) in one or two stories, but of a decidedly non-D&D sort. Female "ghouls" with transparent flesh, but visible skeletons, and with whom the heroes have a dalliance.

Jack Vance's Dying Earth is also a good S&S read: link

Any fantasy by Glen Cook. He cornered the market on gritty and realistic.

The Black Company series is the most well known and all in print; it involves the exploits of a mercenary company in wars dominated by infighting between powerful, almost unkillable sorcerors . The first book is "The Black Company".

The Dread Empire series is older and a little spotty and mostly out of print. Its hero is a Viking mercenary soldier who rises up to become a king, for a while. Most of them are out of print but well worth looking for.

You did ask for heroic rather than military fantasy so you might be best served by these two non-series books:

The Swordbearer is about a young noble who is adopted by the malign intelligence within a powerful magic sword.

The Tower of Fear is possibly Cook's single best fantasy work; it focuses on the political infighting within a garrisoned conquered city subject to a rash of child snatchings.

hhmm, wondering if I know what "Heroic Fantasy" means now.

I always "knew" that there were three basic types of fantasy novels or campaigns.

1) Low Fantasy (weak or very rare magic influence or non Human races)

2) High Fantasy (bigger than life Heroes and magic is both common and powerful, occasional influence of the gods, fairly common non-Human races)

and 3) Heroic Fantasy (BIGGER than life Heroes, LOTS of powerful magic, direct influence and dealing with the gods, Elves and such everywhere)

ah well, that's how I learned it and thats how I sees it anyways. LOL

You might like the Hawk & Fisher novels from Simon R. Green, although magic is a bit more commonplace than in the Conan novels. They aren't great literature, but they're fun reads.

Some of Moorcock's many series might also fit your description, although most tend to be either high-magic/dimensional travel and/or feature "magical" characters. OTOH, if you like Conan, you'll probably like Elric, Corum, Erekose, Hawkmoon and the rest.

Other than that, I'd second the rec for Fafhrd & the Gray Mouser, which are pretty close in "feel" to the original Conan, albeit still a bit more lighthearted. The fact that there are two of them rather than the solo types REH preferred to write about does produce a bit of an Odd Couple effect at times, though…

Rich

What about the George RR Martin "Song of Ice and Fire" series. Very cinematic, globe-spanning and yet low-magic.

Bernard Cornwell's Warlord trilogy might fit the bill. Not fantasy perse but it's got heroes and fighting. Oh and lots more as well.

I hate to say it, but Robert Jordan's "Wheel of Time" opus fits your criteria. Be warned, though, the series is nowhere near ending and has certainly started to drag…

Later,
Markus

The Deryni Novels by Katherine Kurtz,
and George RR Martin's "Song of Ice and Fire"
are both awesome

Try Steven Erikson's "Malazan: Book of the Fallen" series.

Tim Powers: On Stranger Tides. Blackbeard and voodoo.

My idea of 'Heroic Fantasy' is where the story focuses on the exploits of a single character. With a strong helping of 'he-man' bravado and machismo tossed in.
Kind of like 'pulp fantasy'… where whatever magic there is can usually be undone by a strong arm wielding a sharp sword.
Much more Ayn Randian than the relative communism of the 'People's Collectivist Union Of The Rings'…

What sort of fantasy are things like the Circle Of Light books by Niel Hancock ?
What about The Last Unicorn and the Gormenghast Trilogy?

I'd classify the Black Company stories as Low Fantasy if it weren't for all the magicians. Still, they are some of my favorites.

Another recommendation for the Deverry series and for Martin's stuff. I also like Raymond Feist's Riftwar series.

My current favorite series is the fabulous children's/YA series by Megan Whelan Turner that begins with The Thief. Don't be fooled by the title; there's nothing D&D about it. The series is more about intrigue, deception and, well, an unconventional "thief." There is no magic, except for some wonderfully cryptic encounters/visions with Greek/Roman style gods. Otherwise, it's all human interaction with delightfully complex plots that will keep you guessing all the way to the end. Far, far superior to most of the "adult" fantasy I've seen on the market.

Not much swashbuckling, though combat comes into all three books; the series is more about intelligence and character. Don't expect Conan; do expect a great read.

Well, even Howard has races of monsters, but they admittedly relatively few in numbers, and never part of the society.

The point I'm getting at is what is actually meant by "no elves or orcs"? If there's another non-human race (e.g. ghouls in Lankhmar) that serves a similar purpose, what's the real difference?

David Gemmel's work is good like someone mentioned earlier. The Legend is a great read. The Drenai stuff and stories about Druss. His books are easy to read.
George R. Martin's A Song of Fire and Ice series. Great stuff waiting for paperback of book four.
Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series (now it is slow). Also, his Conan stories are pretty good as well.
Darius

I'd look at Harry Turtledove's Byzantine based fantasy.

Thanks to you all, I knew my fellow TMP'ers wouldn't let me down! They're all now on my list.

I recommend Bone Doll's Twin, by Lynn Flewelling. The third book of the trilogy just came out and is my current read.

Best thing since early books of G.R.R. Martin. Fraid Martin is going all Robert Jordan on us.

It has been a while since I read them, but you might like Gene Lancour's "Dirshan the Barbarian" books:
The Lerios Mecca
The War Machines of Kalinth
Sword for the Empire
The Man-Eaters of Cascalon

I think "Gene Lacnour" is a pseudonym, but I've forgotten his real name.

I think the Chronicles of Thomas Covenant, the Unbeliever series by Steohen R. Donalson might be interesting for a fantasy campaign.

here's a link:

link

umm, make that Stephen r Donaldson

Also, you may consider Julian May's Saga of Pliocene Exile series.

Link link