SciFi and Fantasy Book Club discussion

Please share your favorites. I am looking to find great authors new and old. Thank you :-)

Are you looking for more in the vein of what you've already got on your shelf, or do you want to branch out more? It looks like you've got the best of mainstream fantasy pretty well-represented already.

My own favorite fantasy series is A Song of Ice and Fire (A Game of Thrones). Not a super original pick, I know, but what can I say? I love them.

My first recommendation that's not on your shelf already is The Curse of Chalion by Lois McMaster Bujold and its sequel Paladin of Souls. The Curse of Chalion is one of the nominations for our March group read, so you might want to wait and see if it wins.

If you want something different, try The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisin. Some people insist it's sci-fi, but I call it fantasy and I think it's the best and most original fantasy I've read in years.

Some other thoughts:
The Black Company by Glen Cook - this was sort of a precursor to the dark, gritty fantasy we started to see over the past 15 years.
A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K. Le Guin - a classic that I enjoyed when I was young.
The Belgariad starting with Pawn of Prophecy by David Eddings - this was our group read for November. It's a bit dated and a bit cliche by today's standards, but the whole series was solidly entertaining.

And of course this group reads a fantasy book every month.

Thank you for the advice David! I had taken a long break from reading fantasy until Sanderson and Rothfuss stoked the fires again. Now, I would like to branch out with the addition of very well written books in the fantasy vein. I will check them out!

Anything by Brent Weeks would be my recommendation. Especially the Lightbringer series.

Other books on my fantasy recommend list would be the Demon Cycle by Peter V Brett and The Chronicles of the Unhewn Throne by Brian Staveley.

I quite liked the Ryiria books by Michael J. Sullivan. Theft of Swords collects the first two.

I was going to second Brent Weeks, but then I checked your bookshelf and realised you'd already read the Lightbringer series :-)

Have you read Terry Pratchett or Elizabeth Moon's The Deed of Paksenarrion?

Finish up Sandersons stuff, especially the 2nd set of Mistborn books.

I second Theft of Swords
Obligatory plug for Heroes Die

For a bit more Indie stuff try:
A Warrior's Path
NPCs

Mad Professah :)

I have read weeks, and love his work. I will check out the other two. Thanks!

Leonie :-) Pratchett is always good! Although I am pretty sure I only read a few, and it was ages ago. I will definitely check out Elizabeth Moon. Thanks!

Aaron I don't believe that I have read theft of swords, so I will definitely check it out. I always love Sanderson's content, but the context of some I am not quite as fond of. I am sure that I will eventually read everything he has done! He is one of my top two authors.

Thanks Trike :-)

Theft of Swords sounds good. I will go read the synopsis!

Try City of Stairs and its sequels by Robert Jackson Bennett.

Thank you faith!

Faith, I also have a hard time finishing books that do not grab me. Usually I will give it three chapters, unless someone I know really pushes me to go farther :-)

David Eddings Pawn of Prophecy is fun and was a read we did in the group recently. Classic 80's epic fantasy.

The Pern books are also really good for some classics I don't see on your shelves.

I think the really good "new" stuff I've read and liked has already been mentioned, but the group bookshelf is a pretty solid collection of things that people seem to find compelling! I'm trying to knock a few of them off my list this year myself. :-)

Thanks Allison, I have been meaning to get to Eddings, he has been recommended several times, and life was so busy for a while, it must have drifted off into my subconscious somewhere. :-)

I am usually not really a sci fi guy unless it is really good. I have been hearing alot about Senlin lately though, and it has piqued my curiosity.

Some great rec's already - Glen Cook, Elizabeth Moon, David Eddinigs, all series that I relish and re-read repeatedly.

A few others to rec - an assortment of flavors, if you will!
Among Thieves, by Douglas Hulick
Deryni Rising by Katherine Kurtz (and all the subsequent books/series!)
Sabriel by Garth Nix
The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch
Sorcery & Cecelia: or The Enchanted Chocolate Pot, by Patricia Wrede & Vanessa Stevermer
Kushiel's Dart by Jacqueline Carey
Another Fine Myth by Robert Asprin

ladymurmur wrote: "Some great rec's already - Glen Cook, Elizabeth Moon, David Eddinigs, all series that I relish and re-read repeatedly.

A few others to rec - an assortment of flavors, if you will!
[book:Among Thi..."

Sabriel is great! The original Abhorsen trilogy is one of my top most re-read books. I only hesitated in offering it because the latest two books in the series were disappointing to me.

I have read Sabriel, and thought it was very well done. Also, The Lies of Locke Lamora is in my top ten faves. I will check out the others. Thank you for your input :-)

The co-author of Sorcery and Cecelia is Caroline Stevermer, not Vanessa. Just sayin', to make searches easier. :) Check out Caroline Stevermer's solo fantasies, too: A College of Magics, A Scholar of Magics, and When The King Comes Home.

ladymurmur wrote: "Another Fine Myth by Robert Asprin"

That's a good recommendation right there, one that often gets overlooked. The later books in the series fall off terribly, but the first 3-4 are a lot of fun. If you enjoy graphic novels, track down Myth Adventures! illustrated by the one and only Phil Foglio.

Thank you both for the suggestions!

Thank you both for your input! As the thread continues I am going to make a list of all recommendations. ;-)

Here are some of my favorites series with the first book and author:

The Crystal Shard by R.A. Salvatore

Wizard's First Rule by Terry Goodkind

Storm Front by Jim Butcher

Green Rider by Kristen Britain

The Eye of the World by Robert Jordan

Something from the Nightside by Simon R. Green

Thank you so much John! Green Rider, and Something from the Nightside are the only two I haven't read. The others I have both read and enjoyed!

Thank you sir!

Margaret wrote: "The co-author of Sorcery and Cecelia is Caroline Stevermer, not Vanessa. Just sayin', to make searches easier. :) Check out Caroline Stevermer's solo fantasies, too: [book:A College of Magics|38287..."

Thank you for the correction! That's what happens when I'm listening to one conversation and typing another at the same time. {facepalm}

Both S&C authors have fantastic solo-authored titles!

Christopher wrote: "Well first, gonna plug my books..."

Self promotion is not allowed outside of the Goodreads Author's Discussion folder.

Lots of good suggestions here already but I wished to add a few more.
"The left Hand of God" by Paul Hoffman.
"Travel Light" by Niomi Mitchieson.
"Weaveworld" by Clive Barker.
"The Darwath Trilogy" by Barbra Hambly
"The Many Coloured Land" By Julien May (this is a slow starter but worth persevering)
"The Dark Blood" by AJ Smith.
"Black House" by King/Strubb
"American Gods" by Neil Gaiman
"Harpist In the Wind" by Patricia McKillop (a marmite choice- you either love it or hate it)
and lastly (you will be glad to know) a very odd but very good choice.
"Beowulf" By Seamus Heaney.
I hope that you enjoy some of these as much as I have.

Randy wrote: "ladymurmur wrote: "Another Fine Myth by Robert Asprin"

That's a good recommendation right there, one that often gets overlooked. The later books in the series fall off terribly, but the first 3-4 ..."

Yes! I love the first few books but it does fall off. But the first few? At least up through the book where the human takes an apprentice- fabulous. And hilarious.

Self promotion is not allowed outside of the Goodreads Author's Discussion folder.

Um, ok. Just seemed like an obvious request for books and since I write fantasy... never mind.

We have many authors in this group. If everyone discusses their own books then it will turn this into a writer's group instead of reader's, which is the reason for the rule.

I understand the principle, this just seemed like kind of an obvious exception given the request. I'm sorry. Just wish you had deleted that part instead of the whole post, I don't feel like digging through and repeating all of the ideas.

We can't edit users posts, and we don't tolerate authors promoting their works outside of the author folder.

You might want to take a look at Robin Hobb. I particularly enjoyed her Farseer series and its subsequent series. This series begins with Assassin's Apprentice.

Another traditional fantasy author that you might like would be Carol Berg. Of all her series, I liked her Rai-kirah series, which begins with Transformation and her Valen series, which begins with Flesh and Spirit best.

Wow! I've got nothing to add but this thread has added several titles to my TBR list! :-D

These are all fantastic recommendations.

FangFan wrote: "You might want to take a look at Robin Hobb. I particularly enjoyed her Farseer series and its subsequent series. This series begins with Assassin's Apprentice.

Another..."
Hi FangFan, I just wished to second you on your recommendation of Robin Hobb, I particularly liked the "River Wild Traders" series but also enjoyed the "Farseer" series. I always think that she is a safe bet for a good tale. LOl- but always from a feminine perspective.

FangFan wrote: "You might want to take a look at Robin Hobb."

FangFan wrote: "Another traditional fantasy author that you might like would be Carol Berg."

Robin Hobb and Carol Berg are two of my favorite authors. Carol Berg doesn’t get nearly enough attention, in my opinion. I loved both of the series FangFan mentioned.

I have never even heard of Carol Berg but on your recommendation I have just bought, "Transformation" I do hope that you are right.

Raymond wrote: "I have never even heard of Carol Berg but on your recommendation I have just bought, "Transformation" I do hope that you are right."

Uhoh, me too. :) Either way, I look forward to learning what you think after you try it.

I support and second the earlier suggestion of A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K. Le Guin, and its two sequels The Tombs of Atuan and The Farthest Shore. This is the original Earthsea trilogy, and although the subsequent books are good too, IMO this original trilogy has not been bettered. The world created has influenced the work of many other fantasy writers including Garth Nix and a number of others.

I first read these books years ago as a teen, but reread them a year or so ago as an adult, and was awed at the poetic writing and the powerful storyline. Prince Arren of The Farthest Shore is surely one of the most wonderful fantasy heroes ever written. This classic trilogy is a must read for any fantasy fan.

You could try [God Slayer Vol.1](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XKW8FST)
my latest read.

YouKneeK wrote: "Raymond wrote: "I have never even heard of Carol Berg but on your recommendation I have just bought, "Transformation" I do hope that you are right."

Uhoh, me too. :) Either way, I look forward to ..."

I will let you know. Thanks for the recommendation.

Jan130 wrote: "I support and second the earlier suggestion of A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K. Le Guin, and its two sequels The Tombs of Atuan and [book:The Farthest Sho..."

The Wizard of Earthsea and the two following books are fantastic but they are very much children's books. I also read them when young and later read them to my children. I hope to read them to my Grandchildren someday as they are as good as you say. Yet they are children's books and so possibly not suited for this forum. The Earthsea tales, based upon the Icelandic ghost stories and tales of Semund the white are well told and easily read but perhaps not meant as adult fodder.

I don't think anyone has yet mentioned Jim Butcher's Codex Alera series. The series begins with Furies of Calderon.

Also, Jim Butcher has just started another series which happens to be steampunk. So far there's only one book, but I really enjoyed The Aeronaut's Windlass and am looking forward to the next book in this series.

Raymond wrote: "Jan130 wrote: "I support and second the earlier suggestion of A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K. Le Guin, and its two sequels The Tombs of Atuan and [book:T..."

Interesting comments, Raymond, but I disagree. The Earthsea books can be read by children/ young adults, but I don't consider them as 'children's books'. For me they are excellent 'adult' books as well. There are depths and complexity that many children would miss whilst still enjoying the narrative and adventure. More depth than many fantasy novels that might be considered more 'adult' fare IMO. Therefore they have a place on this forum - those readers here who haven't discovered them before might like to try them out and decide for themselves

if someone mentioned Joe Abercrombie "before they are hanged" last argument of kings, series.

Raymond Feist series is great, it is written in sets but all link together.