Fantasy Recommendations

[Kireihana]

I'm looking for some good fantasy books to read. I'm into anthing fantasy or sci-fi. Some of my favorite books are Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter, so anything along those lines would be good, but I'm game for trying something new as well. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated! ^_^

[madphilb]

The Redwall series is good.... talking animals and whatnot, I've been meaning to read the other books in the series myself but never got around to get them, and I never saw the book display that I picked the first one up in Walmart ever again.

The Wheel of Time series is pretty good too, though a few books in and you start hitting some "adult situations" and whatnot, however it lacks the normal cussing that a lot of modern titles have, mostly because the author has built his own "bad words" into the series, things like "blood and ashes" and "burn me" or "the light burn me" tend to be the flavor of such things. The theology in the books are a bit of a mix of things, though there does tend to have a bit of an eastern feel to it, nothing worse than what you might find in Anime and the world in the stories isn't our own.

Oh, almost forgot one of my favoriate Fantasy series.... the Earth Sea series by Ursula K LeGuin, very good series, nothing bad that I can think of in them either (short of "magic," but no worse than Harry Potter, so I figure that'll sit fine with you).

[Lynx]

my personal favorite is the sword of truth series by terry goodkind... very, very well done, especially the first 4 books. make sure you're OK with the content of these books tho, read this thread to see what i mean http://www.christiananime.net/showthread.php?t=5850

this isn't really fantasy, but frank peretti's "the oath" is also a great book. it's a christian novel. it's about a dragon that terrorizes this town and murders people... the dragon is symbolic of satan. there's a lot of symbolism in that book. anyways, hope that helps!

[Lehn]

Sabriel by Garth Nix is good; although it is somewhat gothic in style. And there’s a good deal of witchcraft mentioned, but it’s used in the fight between good/evil. I first read it when I was about your age and I loved it. The second one in the series isn't much good though, I'm sad to say.

The Blue Sword by Robin McKinely is another one of my favs. It starts out a little slow; but it picks up quickly after the first chapter or two. Loads of sword fighting, horses, epic battles, and just a hint of romance.

[bigsleepj]

If you are in for a freaky read, you can try "The High House" by James Stoddard, a new author. It's about a house which looks large from the outside, but is so immense from the inside that it never ends when you enter. Entire countries and nations exist in the house, which is presided over by stewards. There are cliches and the occasional predictable outcome (and an inability to write satisfying epilogues) but on the whole the world is fun and believable. The story (the less you know the better) is quite simple: Carter Anderson returns to the High House of Evenmere after 14 years of exile. His father has gone missing and he must try to find his father, who is the steward of the House. To make things worse a group of Anarchists, who are rebelling against the universe itself, are about to lay siege to the House because it figures importantly in their plans. Soon Carter realizes this is no ordinary house.

Inspired by "Gormengast" novels and "The Man who was Thursday" with several references to JRR Tolkien, CS Lewis and GK Chesterton, this is one of the best books I've read. Followed by a slightly darker sequel "The False House". Although secular readers like this novel as well Stoddard is a Christian so there are Christian themes in the book, but they are not always too obvious.

[Kireihana]

Thanks for your suggestions everyone. I'll be sure to head down to the library and check some of these out. ^_^

[Heart of Sword]

"Sword of the Demon" by Richard A. Lupoff is pretty good. I'm only halfway through it though...it's making me kind of crazy.

[EireWolf]

One of my favorite fantasy series is The Firebringer Trilogy by Meredith Ann Pierce. If you like unicorns, gryphons, etc. as well as an entirely new world with different cultures, religious beliefs and practices, etc., then you will like this series. The only thing I can think to warn you about would be that the theology is a bit New Age.

I also like the author David Eddings. His characterization is probably the best I've seen, and there's some humor as well. The theology here is a little weird, too, as it deals with several different gods, but it shouldn't be a problem if you're a strong believer in Christ.

One series I've loved since childhood, and still reread now and then, is the Wrinkle in Time series by Madeline L'Engle. She is a Christian, although her fantasy books are not in-your-face Christian books.

Stephen Lawhead is another excellent Christian author, although I'd recommend his books to older readers, because of the graphic depictions of battle as well as some other themes.

[Technomancer]

Guy Gavriel Kay's Sarantine Mosaic duology ("Sailing to Sarantium" and "Lord of Emperors") is an excellent read. Essentially it's a fantasy world that parallels some aspects of Earth. The story takes occurs in a place similar to Byzantium, and is set against the backdrop of that world's equivlents of the wars of Justinian and the iconoclastic heresy.

Caitlin Sweet's "A Telling of Stars" is another book well worth reading. While it is ultimately the story of one orphan girl's quest to avenge her murdered family, the story is really much deeper than that. The writing is also very poetic.

[Lengai]

Garth Nix, definate yes. He's a suberb writer. Check out--

The Abhorsen Trilogy
Sabriel
Lirael
Abhorsen

Keys to the Kingdom
Mister Monday
Grim Tuesday
etc..

The Seventh Tower (In my opinion, his best)
Comes in 2 volumes or seven books..

He has some others, but those are the best in my opinion.

[Spiritsword]

I'm glad I discovered this thread, as I've been searching for a new fantasy series to get into. Thanks for posting it, Kireihana!

I agree with madphilb, the Wheel of Time series by Robert Jordan is good. You might be interested in the Dark Tower series by Stephen King. It's not exactly fantasy per se, but it has fantasy elements in it. It does have some non-Christian themes in it, like many other fantasy/sci-fi series you'll run into, but nothing horrible in my opinion, at least up through book 6 (which is the second-to-last volume and the last one released). If you're interested, I'd be happy to fill you in in more detail via PM or you can always check it out from the library to see if you like it.

[martinloyola]

Terry Brooks Shannara series is an awesome read The sword of Shannara and the elfstones, (though the first two of teh series) are my favorites, archytipical fantasy setting, characters, and story but written so well and with a good moral too, the books that got me hooked on sci fi and fantasy
definitely the "Blue Sword" (rock on Lehn), my bro suggested it to me, there is also a sequel, but the name escapes me at he moment
Tad Williams' "the Dragonbone Chair" awesome four book story with a lot of Christian symbolism, hes just changed the names up abit (much in the form of similarities in naming conventions to Catholicism) Jesus Christ = Usires Aedon, the savior who died upside down on a tree by order of the "evil emporer", i even wrote an english paper on it its soooo thick in here, very reminiscent of medieval times
Brian Jaques is a good read, as well as David Eddings( i like his because they read really fast) but there are some more adult elements in later books so be warned but always done tastefully and in what should be considered an appropriate setting, (i.e. inside of wedlock) by the second set of five about Belgariad (theres over ten for the whole story)
whew!! i still have more but i think everyone has given you a reading list to last you for a quite a while XD

[Yeito]

I totally agree on Garth Nix. The Old Kingdom Trilogy is soooo awesome. It has been one of the few series that kept me guessing till the end. Not many series can do that I tell yah. ^^;;

Another great author is Tamora Pierce. I've only read her Tortall books, but they are really great. It's different series set in one world. These books contain alot of old world fiction. Including magic, and different 'gods'. I for one enjoy reading these books because I find the tales captivating. I know fact from fiction, and I know these are completely fiction.

Yah.. just gonna warn you though... In her first Tortall series 'The Song of the Lioness' there was some unneeded.. eh... r_r how to put this. Unneeded sexual activity. >_< I don't remember any in her other series, so I don't know what the deal was with it in that one. Just warnin ya...

Well.. Ted Dekker is also an awesome author. You might wanna check out his most recent trilogy. First book is 'Black', and the second is 'Red'. 'White' hasn't come out yet. He's a Christian fiction author, so his books are doubly great!

Yeito

[greyscale42]

I would agree with Lynx on this one but just to give ya a few more options have u read the Chronicles of Narnia? One of the best fantasy series Ive ever read. Everyone should read it in my opinion.

[Kireihana]

Yes, I have read the Chronicles of Narnia and several Redwall series books, and they're all very good, though the Redwall books often seem to have the same sort of plot.

I'd also like to know what you guys think of the His Dark Materials series by Phillip Pullman. I picked up the boxed set last week because my younger cousin told me it was good, and I thoroughly enjoyed the first book, but the theology of the second and third is kind of iffy. I'm just partway into the third book, and I can't put it down, but it better end up good or I'll be disappointed. >.<

[Mangafanatic]

Yeah, Dekker rocks. He's not really fantasy, but he rocks none the less.

[Jester]

I've been fond of The Lost Years of Merlin by T.A. Barron, as well as The Iron Ring by Lloyd Alexander.

I think my favourite series would be the Prydain Series by Lloyd Alexander. (The book of Three, The Black Cauldron (there was a cartoon based on that one as well, haven't seen it), The Castle of Llyr, The High King) in order.

My English teacher recommended the Shannara series to me (that one is really dense reading though, so I haven't had time)

[DaughterOfZion]

pendragon is good.

[yukinon]

I haven't read fiction in soooo long it makes me weep, and I'm more of a sci-fi person anyway, but my boyfriend loves anything by R.A. Salvatore and he is the biggest fantasy geek I know.

[Arnobius]

I haven't read fiction in soooo long it makes me weep, and I'm more of a sci-fi person anyway, but my boyfriend loves anything by R.A. Salvatore and he is the biggest fantasy geek I know.

I liked some of his earliest Drizzt DoUrden books (Icewind Dale Trilogy, and the first two books of his Dark Elf Trilogy, but then the books seemed to have lost their charm.

It has been too long since I last sat down to read good Science Fiction/Fantasy. The original Nine Princes in Amber series (with Corwin) by Roger Zelazny was excellent. (The second series, with Merlin was rather disappointing). Christopher Stasheff's Warlock in Spite of Himself was a good Sci Fi meets Fantasy book. I liked the Robert Howard Conan stories (Unfortunately out of print I believe)

[Maledicte]

The Darkangel Trilogy by Meredith Ann Pierce. Easily one of my favorites, it's a sad story but with beautiful imagery and world-building ideas.

The two main Dragonlance trilogies: Chronicles and Legends, written by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman. You don't need to be a D&D player to enjoy these.

Any book by Jeffery Barlough. I can't find his latest one, but the first two, The Dark Sleeper and House in the High Wood, are excellent. They take place in the same world, but you don't have to read them in order.

Neil Gaiman books. Chyeah.

The Gift by Patrick O'Leary. Quite a lovely book, neat characters, if I do say so.

The two animal novels by David Clement-Davies: The Sight (wolves) and Fire Bringer (deer) (what is up with the title Fire Bringer? eh.). Kind of like Bambi with some kick to it.

[mitsuki lover]

Can't remember the authors but:
*Villians By Necessity,a nice little novel about what happens when Goodness triumphs and villians are out of a job.A group of said villains goes on a quest.Turns the basic idea of the quest fantasy upside down.Very fun and funny as well.Moral of the story is not everything is as it seems.
*The Princess Bride,need I really say more?
*Fire Lord,one of the best retellings of the Arthur story.
*Witch Of The North,the story of King Arthur told from the perspective of his older half sister Morgaine Le Fay.
*The Dragon And The Fair Maid,one of the Dragon Knight series set in an alternate reality where dragons and other magical creatures live in a mediveal realm.
*Anything written by Mary Renault,especially her retelling of the Greek Myths.
*The Dancer From Atlantis,an accidental time traveller winds up in ancient Greece.
*The Barbed Coil,a young woman finds herself transported to a parallel reality after she puts on a ring with barbed sides.

[Maledicte]

Can't remember the authors but:
*Villians By Necessity,a nice little novel about what happens when Goodness triumphs and villians are out of a job.A group of said villains goes on a quest.Turns the basic idea of the quest fantasy upside down.Very fun and funny as well.Moral of the story is not everything is as it seems.

Villains by Necessity by Eve Forward. Gotta love it. Particularly because it has an assassin named "Sam."

[mitsuki lover]

Also it's a first novel and it parodies all of the elements of the heroic quest genre.