Good Fantasy books for someone new to the genre?

Question

I would love to read more fantasy books. I am very much interested in Arthurian legend, castles, wizards, etc. However, it seems as though all those books are in series and I don't know where to begin. Also, even though I'm sure I'll piss fans of the genre off, I just can't read Tolkien and Tolkien-esque books. They are just too wordy for me. Please don't leave me pissed off comments. I enjoyed "The Forever King" trilogy by Molly Cochran and Warren Murphy and some of the books that are in "The Mists of Avalon" series. Does anyone have any suggestions? PS~~If you suggest a series, please tell me the first book title!

I have read "The Chronicles of Narnia". I liked them, but I didn't love them.

Answer 1

You won't go wrong with Visitors by Bob Chapman it's on Amazon

Answer 2

RA Salvatore "The Icewind Dale Trilogy"

This is a great series and it is well written, not very wordy so the pace of the book moves quickly tough to put down once started. After reading that I would move on to the "The Dark Elf Trilogy"
They are available at most library's and available with all three collected books in one volume.

I had a hard time reading Tolkien as well.
These are very good fantasy novels.

Also David Eddings : The Belgariad" and "The Mallorean" both are great series.

Answer 3

1. Across the Universe is really good. I'm reading that right now. 2. Maximum Ride. 3. You could also try a Doctor Who book. Those are amazing, based on the TV show. Very Sci fi. 4. Another Faust / Another Pan 5. Alex Ryder 6. I am Number Four. Also, if you like Twilight (Which i also like) you can try other books similar to that such as: House of Night Vampire Academy Vampire Kisses Night World Vampire Diaries Blue Bloods Cirque Du Freak Those are all really good. I hope this helps a little. Happy Reading.

Answer 4

The best fantasy is Stephen King's The Dark Tower.
It has wizards, gunslingers,and of course the dark tower.
It also has a small back story of Arthur Eld [an embodiment of king arthur]. This series has everything.

The Dark Tower 1: The Gunslinger
The Dark Tower 2: The Drawing of the Three
The Dark Tower 3: The Waste Lands
The Dark Tower 4: Wizard and Glass
The Dark Tower 5: Wolves of the Calla
The Dark Tower 6: Song of Susannah
The Dark Tower 7: The Dark Tower

Answer 5

Try The Chronicles of Prydain. It is a five-volume series of children's fantasy novels by author Lloyd Alexander. The stories detail the adventures of a young man named Taran, who is awarded the honorific of Assistant Pig-Keeper but dreams of being a grand hero, and his companions Princess Eilonwy, Fflewddur Fflam the wandering bard and king, a hairy yet gentle creature called Gurgi, and a diminuitive dwarf named Doli.

The Book of Three (1964)
The Black Cauldron (1965) — a 1966 Newbery Honor book
The Castle of Llyr (1966)
Taran Wanderer (1967)
The High King (1968) - Winner of the 1970 Newbery Medal

Answer 6

Robert Asprin's "Myth" series is a lot of fun and a fast read. Begin with "Another Fine Myth," which starts the series. I have noticed that book stores are carrying this series in dual paperbacks, so you get the first two books for the price of one. Look for "Another Fine Myth" combined with "Myth Conceptions"

The Redwall series by Brian Jaquaes (sorry can't find the correct spelling-just a downfall of using the public library) is another one to consided. Your local PBS station might be showing the cartoon verions of the books. Check your listings.

If you are a true fan of the King Arthur story, try the "Winter King" series by Bernard Cornwell. This is very detailed and advanced reading material-you might need a scorecard to keep track of everybody. Cornwell is a master of the battlefield, but is best known for his "Sharpe" series that takes place during the Napoleonic wars.

Scott's classic "Ivanhoe" is another good King Arthur type.

If you want to degrade your reading standard a bit to comicbooks (only kidding in this reguard), try "Elfquest" by Wendi & Richard Pini. This is so good my public library carries graphic novels of the first four or five volumes. Another good one is Stan Sakai's "Usagi Yojimbo"; Sakai combines Japanese history and folklore to provide adventures for his ronnin (masterless samurai) rabbit..

If you want to mix genres a bit, "The Price Of The Stars" by Debra Doyle and James MacDonald is the begining of their Magewars series. It is an epic sci-fi space battle of the normal technologically inclined races against the mysterious Mages. "The Gathering Flame" is prequel and gives you story behind how the heroes' parents met (a good read, but not vital to the series).

Answer 7

My favorite ones:

The Dark Elf Trilogy by R.A. Salvatore

The Sword of Shannara books by Terry Brooks

Dragonlance series by Margaret Weiss and Tracy Hickman

Answer 8

"Carnivores of Light and Darkness" is the first book in the "Journeys of the Catechist" series by Alan Dean Foster. It's sensational in its realistic and yet fantastic elements. It takes place in what could be modern day Earth, and the lead character is a somewhat spiritual African tribesman who finds a man on his deathbed and is bound to fulfill the man's last dying wish.

Also, C.S. Lewis's "The Chronicles of Narnia" does not begin with "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe" as is erroneously stated aboved. "The Magician's Nephew" is the first in that series.

Answer 9

Dragons of Autumn Twillight by Weiss and Hickman
The Book of Three by Lloyd Alexander

Answer 10

If you want a good read, hear are some authors for what you want.
Anne McCaffery; Science Fiction
Dragonrider series, Acornia Series, Rowen Series (lots of mind reading and telekinesis)
Karen Moning;
Dark series (Romance supernatural)
Mercedes Lackey;
any thing of hers
These are just a few, but they are easy reading brain candy and very entertaining. I know you will love them.

Answer 11

Phillip Pullman - Lyra Belaqua stories(first one - The Golden Compass)
Eva Abbotson - ghost stories
Artemis Fowl
C.S.Lewis novels - other than Narnia