The Sword and Laser discussion

Wondering if anyone could recommend a good book that is gritty, epic, non clique,with magic as well
So far i have read the blade itself and game of thrones and have enjoyed both series
Thanks!

You might like Robin Hobb's Assassin's Apprentice. GRR Martin is on record as a big fan of this series.

The Black Company by Glen Cook is pretty great as well, and a bit closer to the gritty tone of Abercrombie's books than is the Robin Hobb one I mentioned first.

Have you tried The Name of the Wind?

I agree with the above mentions and would add Raymond E. FeistMidekima series....it's up to about 30 boooks now though but the first 4 can be read as one story arc....I also really like S.M. Stirling Dies the fire series...the first three are really awesome and the rest holds up well it just morphs into a fantasy though in the second story arc...

Could you clarify what 'non clique' means with regards to books?

Gritty epic would point me to Steven Erikson's Malazan decalogy. I would start with Deadhouse Gates.

Think he meant cliche. And I'll second Malazan.

Not sure if you're looking for stand-alone books or a series, but I definitely endorse Robin Hobb's Assassin's Apprentice and then the other two books in the Farseer Trilogy.

I too am a big fan of Raymond E. Feist. I don't hear his books mentioned nearly as often as many others, though his books work really well as stand-alone books OR when read in the series (or the series of the series). The starting book there is Magician: Apprentice (or if you can find older publications, the book is Magician and it is both Magician: Apprentice and Magician: Master in one book).

Have you read the other books in the First Law trilogy? After The Blade Itself is Before They Are Hanged.

Another book is The Curse of Chalion by Lois McMaster Bujold. It works pretty well as a stand-alone novel, though there are two other books in the "Chalion" series, too. They're not as good as The Curse of Chalion in my opinion.

Looking through my Audible library, there is as Tom mentionedThe Name of the Wind and the next book in the Kingkiller Chronicles, The Wise Man's Fear. Of course, if you dig those two, you'll have to wait with the rest of us for the third book! ;)

I enjoyed reading the three main Mistborn novels by Brandon Sanderson. The first book for that series is Mistborn: The Final Empire. There was recently another book written in this world, though I've heard it's not part of the main trilogy (I think I read that it starts a new story line some years after the events of Mistborn).

The Night Angel trilogy, starting with The Way of Shadows is pretty decent. The trilogy represent Brent Weeks's first works, and if you are a fan of the genre you will notice some of his biggest influences. That said, the story is pretty good. I recently found out that there is a novella about the back story of one of the main characters and I'm looking forward to reading that.

If you have enjoyed Game of Thrones, you might try to find the Dunk and Egg stories. I believe that the three stories can be found in various compilations.

Other books that are on my "to-read" list that might fit your bill are The Book of Jhereg (which I believe starts a series) and The Lies of Locke Lamora. Can't vouch for them or their grittiness, though...

Yes Steven Erikson would be my pick as well. However, you should start with the first book Gardens of the Moon

I'll second Brent Weeks and The Way of Shadows or The Black Prism.

The Warded Man (known as The Painted Man outside the US) by Peter V. Brett. Epic, gritty, demons, magic, murder, bloody, noble, vile, heroic and relentless.

Levi wrote: "You might like Robin Hobb's Assassin's Apprentice. GRR Martin is on record as a big fan of this series.

The Black Company by Glen Cook is pretty great as well, and a bit..."

The Robin Hobb trilogy is truly great. I couldn't put it down.

I'll add weight to the Farseer trilogy from Robin Hobb. I just finished Assassins Quest (book 3). It had been a long time before I finally got my hands on the third book, and I'm surprised I waited so long because I really enjoy the story and lead character.

I'd second Brandon Sanderson's Mistborn: The Final Empire and throw in Neil Gaiman's work. Neverwhere for instance strikes me as being the kind of book your asking about.

I just started The Warded Man ... so far (250 pages into the first volume)I really like it...


I higly recommend The Lies of Locke Lamora ... a fun read (even though it's not as gory as Joe Abercrombie) :)