"Help! Suggest me a new series to read" Topic

Over the last year I have read;

Stan Nicholls – Orks
– only the first book, just okay

The Thieves World series
– stopped somewhere in the early 90's book as they were getting bad.

The Black Company
– Finished it but kind of rushed the last books as it got stale.

A song of Fire and Ice
– Ate them up wish there was more.

Now I am looking for a new fantasy series to work on.

To make it harder.
Cannot stand the Wheel of Time – gave it 3 books
Don't like Redwall
Have read chunks of Pratchett's works RIP
Have read Toliken's books enough
Not interested in D&D series. Dragonlanced to death back in the 90's
I've read swaths of Conan stuff and it is pretty forgettable to me. I couldn't tell you the name of one of them.
Warhammer book are meh for the most part.

So is there any Low Fantasy books out there that I have missed? Any good GOT type books that are worth a look?

Thnanks
DZT

They aren't exactly fantasy, but they are really good. I've been going through the play of Euripides again lately.

They are worth a read or a viewing. It probably won't take you that long. Most of them are relatively low fantasy. The Baccae being an exception.

If you haven't read them they are worth a shot.

I have just gotten into Brandon Sanderson's works and find them quite good.

Although he is as I recall wrapping up the Wheel of Time, he came in later than book three.

The Way of Kings is rather lengthy though – 1200+ pages – and probably classes more as High Fantasy..

Alloy of Law is a little more reasonable.

I'll have to get a few together but have what I think are good reads.

JJ

Another author you might consider is Chuck Palahniuk. He rights more modern fantasy than horror really. They are enjoyable reads.

How about The Name of The Wind by Patrick Rothfuss. There are two books in the series so far. Low fantasy and fantastically written.

Joe Abercrombie.

Another vote for Joe Abercrombie. Also have a look at Scott Lynch ' s Gentlemen Bastards series beginning with the "Lies of Locke Lamora."

Thanks for the suggestions so far. I had also read through Gibson's sprawl trilogy – Neuromancer, Count Zero, and Mona Lisa Overdrive as well as the short story Johnny Mnemonic.

I am not sure if I want to swing back into the cyberpunk genre but who would be a close fit to Gibson's works?

Also for Abercrombie – what would be the better series to start with First Law or The Shattered Sea?

It's not fantasy but have you considered Bernard Cornwell's Saxon series. They're a good read

Jim Butcher's Codex Alera series is pretty good. Starts out fairly low fantasy, but the action and the magic build up quite drastically over the five books.

I'll always recommend his Dresden Files books as well – a modern-day urban fantasy that builds from vampires, warlocks and demons, through werewolves, ghosts, fallen angels, more vampires, Sidhe courts and gods over the course of (so far) about 16 books.

For a different heroic fantasy take, there's a lot of African-esque fantasy now available, the best being Charles Saunders' stuff – Imaro, Dossouye, or his new series Abengoni, which brings Celtic and African mythology together.

I also liked Paul Kearney's Monarchies of God series, which is pretty low magic.

Second vote for The Dresden Files. Fun, Funny, yet believable, extremely well and intricately conceived, and far above the norm in the quality of writing.

Also, have you read Naomi Novik's Tremaire series, set during the Napoleonics wars, with dragons (scientifically explained-- no magic)? Quite exceptional works, with shades of C. S. Forester in a thoroughly thought out alternative history.

For a very low magic fantasy (aside from very rare and controlled godly intervention), try Megan Whalen Turner's Euginedes series, staring with The Thief. Yes, they're shelved as juveniles (really more YA), but they are far from juvenile works. Each book is an intelligent progression of intrigue and deception in a fantasy setting with overtones of Ancient Greece mixed with a dash of Renaissance. But the real strength is in the intrigue and Turner's unreliable narrators. Each book features a huge twist which you won't see coming, even though all the information has been presented to you all along. Truly a great and neglected series.

Dresden Files for me as well. I haven't ever enjoyed a series so much or so consistently and I have turned any number of my friends (many non-fantasy guys, too) on to the books.

Second BRandon Sanderson. So far of what I have read (so far the Mistborn trilogy & Warbreaker), I would describe as "hard fantasy." Just like Hard SF, there are significant and well-detailed limitations on how magic works within his world, which makes it a lot more interesting…sort of like the 3rd character of the book. And I find it intellectually interesting on how he can manipulate the setting based on these rules in creative ways.

Damon.

Try Justin Gustainis.
link
He has two series that I enjoy very much.
One concerns Quincy Morris (name sound familiar, Dracula fans??), a contemporary urban occult detective and his partner the white witch Libby Chastain.
The second series concerns the Scranton Police Department Occult Crimes Unit. Although he places Clarks Summit to the east of Scranton (Yeah, I ribbed him about that ), it is steeped in local lore. Goblins on meth? Yep.

Try this Series from Jasper Kent

link

link

So far five books (I have read the first three).

Combines Russia historical events and Vampires.

The books are quite good.

Julian May – Saga of Pliocene Exile

Not for everyone but I enjoyed it.

I'll second Codex Alera by Butcher.

Also enjoyed the series by J. V. Jones Sword of Shadows series, many different series by Robin Hobb, Chronicles of Amber by Zelazny, Saberhagen's Sword series, Barb Hendee and J.C. Hendee's Dhampir (Noble Dead) series, Both the Legend and Drenai series by Gemmell, The Emperor's Blades by Staveley, and Lynch's series The Lies of Locke Lamora.

I hated the Thomas Covenant series.

Let us know what you decide you like, as well as any recommendations you might have for us!

JJ

Ben Aaronovitch "Rivers of London" series.
Benedict Jacka's Alex Verus series – starts with "Fated".
John Connolly.
Mary Gentle (mostly stand-alones, not series).
Lee Child (not fantasy).
Robert Holdstock's Mythago Wood series.
Tanya Huff's Confederation series.
C. J. Cherryh – various series, they're all different so if you don't like one, you might like another.

I'm glad that someone remembers Robert Holdstock's Mythago books. Great stuff, very dark mix of science fiction, horror, and myth.

Ron

If you can find them the Lensman series is a good read of pulp fiction. "You're a blinding flash and a deafening report,ace" E.E.'Doc' Smith is the author. Other than that I too recommend the Dresden Files series. I'm pushing 70 and am looking forward to the next book with bated breath.

Second (third ?) the Abercrombie suggestions; start with the First Law. Also try Robert V.S. Reddick's books starting with The Rats and the Ruling Sea. And if you are not averse to a bit of steampunk, might I suggest Chris Wooding's Ketty Jay trilogy? I really enjoyed it.

Raymond E. Feist's Riftwar/Midkemia series is pretty good, although my favorite subset of it is a quasi-stand-alone trilogy he wrote with Janny Wurts called "Daughter of the Empire".

Fritz Leiber's Fafhrd and Grey Mouser books.
Jack Vance's Dying Earth (only really liked the first one, myself).
C. L. Moore's Jirel of Joiry stories.

MHI( Monster Hunters International) series by Larry Corriea. Grimnoir series by the same authour.

First Law seies by Joe Abercrombie.
Saxon Chronicles by Bernard Cornwell.
Kinden series by Adrian Tchaivosky(sp)
Flashman series by George Mcdonald Fraser (just a fun read)

+1 for Monster Hunters International, just finished the 5th (waited for the paperback) and have re-started the first, this time keeping notes for my 15mm MHI project.

Correia's Dead Six/Swords of Exodus books (he's a co-author) are great gun-fu reads too, sort of Mack Bolan done right.

Jack Whyte The Camulod Chronicles.
The Iron Tower series by Dennis M.

Jasper Kent – I have read the first two books and I thought from the start it was a movie in my head. I totally could see it being that. I didn't know that they had more books in the series. Will have to get more of that series!

Mary Gentle's Grunts holds a place of honor on my shelf but I have never read any of her other works. what ones would you suggest?

I am liking the first First Law series about half done with the first book so far.

Joe Abercrombie, Peter V. Brett, and Scott Lynch are all great – I'm currently into the Steven Erikson – Malazan empire series (Only 10 books)

Lois McMaster Bujold's "The Curse of Chalion" and it's two sequels are just amazingly good. Not tons of action, but extremely thought provoking and moving and set in a very well thought-out world with strong characters you want to root for. Very highly recommended.

Bujold's "Sharing Knife" series is also very interesting. A really unusual setting with some fascinating characters and situations.

Bujold isn't to everyone's tastes, but if you like stories where the characters matter the most, there isn't anyone better.

Wow! No way was going to read through all that… lol
But if no one mentioned it;
R.A. Salvatorie's

"Dark Elf" Series (3 books)

…was a fun read at the time. He definitely picks on the Borderline Personality Disorders BPD, of his time (1980's) Love-it LOL!
But I think it is a part of one those series you mentioned you did not want to read – Sword Coast Series?

I'm surprised nobody has recommended Anthony's Xanth or Adept series. Back in the day I really enjoyed reading his books.

I always thought Jack Vance was sui generis--until I read Ernest Bramah's Kai Lung books. Still one of my favorite authors,though. Try The Dragon Masters. SF rather than fantasy,but short and good. Won the Hugo.

Also not fantasy, but modern space opera, Peter F Hamilton. Fallen Dragon is a good singleton intro to the Commonwealth Saga. Then a duo,Pandora's Star,and Judas Unchained. First appearance of that icy policewoman, Paula Myo. Meow.

I second MHoxie's other picks--if you haven't read Leiber and Moore,you should--now.