SciFi and Fantasy Book Club discussion

I like the entire scheming and plotting mixed with personal backstabbing, and almost no magic.

It's kind of has a more realistic feel to it.

Can anyone recommend me books with the same characteristics.

Sherjav wrote: "I like the entire scheming and plotting mixed with personal backstabbing, and almost no magic.

It's kind of has a more realistic feel to it.

Can anyone recommend me books with the same charac..."

Maybe try Daughter of the Empire which is the first book in a series of three written by Janny Wurts and Raymond E. Feist. There is much plotting and political intrigue. There is magic, but it's minimal. I really liked these books - both Feist and Wurts have very different styles, but together they produced a wonderful series.

I just finished the trilogy that starts with, Lion of Senet, and it's exactly that. No magic at all and completely political. It has less fighting/death and more emphasis on relationships (both romantic and otherwise) than GoT though.

the crystal cave and the hollow hills?

Mervyn Peake's Gormenghast books might be right up your alley! Lots of scheming and backstabbing, strange characters and obscure rituals.

The Last Light of the Sun. I wasn't completely crazy about it, but it does fit the criteria you described.

I'd recommend the Gentlemen Bastards series by Scott Lynch, starting with The Lies of Locke Lamora

I second Daughter of the Empire. It sounds like what you're looking for.

I second Daughter of the Empire as well

Interesting. I read the Rift War books well over 20 years ago, and since they seemed to kind of pile on the magic I never felt any great need to read anything else by Feist. Will have to look these up.

I second Daughter of the Empire as well. Tons of politics, complete with betrayals, backstabbing and tons of deaths. Definitely fits your criteria.

Lies of Locke Lamora is more of a story of an underworld with scheming and plotting to steal. Not so much of politics, in my opinion, but a good read too if you can get used to Scott Lynch's writing style (I found it really nice, but that's me). Again, minimal magic.

Have you read Kushiel's Dart and other books by Jacqueline Carey? I only ask because I thought the first 2 of 3 trilogies were very good. Lots of politics, little magic until the 3rd trilogy. Though I have to admit they are a bit risque, and if you aren't into books that are you might not enjoy it as much.

Crown of Stars and The Deed of Paksenarrion

Ellen Kushner's novels.

I second Swordspoint, which later books include The Fall of the Kings, The Privilege of the Sword, which for some reason, few people seem to know about.

I also recommend Ellen Kushner's Thomas the Rhymer, which even fewer people seem to have heard about.

PThe Darkness That Comes Before the prince of nothing trilogy is full of political intrigue. There are numerous factions united in a mass invasion. Everyone has alliances, grudges, and hidden agendas. Though militaristic the story is intelligently written, and explores the "human condition" which had me pondering regularly.

The Folding Knife by K.J. Parker, about a politician who is the head of a city-state similar to Venice. There's a lot of politics and economics, but no magic at all.

Some good suggestions here. I'm going to have to check a few of them out.

I think The Goblin Emperor would qualify.

Most of the isaac asimov novels and short stories could fit in this category, especially the foundation's trilogy.

I'd put 'Dune' in this category... lots of intrigue amongst feuding 'houses' plus dangerous and mysterious 'natives' (Fremen), monsters (sandworms), and a touch of mysticism (drug induced visions). Plenty of action in a coming of age story. Ticks so many dang boxes so well... still the best of the best IMO.

There's always The Hollow March and its sequel by Chris Galford. Some magic, but the plotting and scheming's the bulk of things and real detailed at that. Pretty much anything by Guy Gavriel Kay would be right on the mark too and The Lies of Locke Lamora.