my favourite fantasy novels/series are harry potter, a song of ice and fire, anything from david gemmell, and the inheritance series, can someone recommend me fantasy series similar to these that i will enjoy? i liked the whole touch of sex,extreme violence and swearing in a song of ice and fire series is there any other good fantasy novels that do this? thanks. the more recommendations the better chance of getting the best answer from me.
2007-02-24 18:50:27 · 12 answers · asked by One Man Army 1 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Books & Authors
The Sword of Truth Series by Terry Goodkind: Epic fantasy with a touch of magic, sex, violence, and a few plot twists. You'll see the same basic themes found in most contemporary fantasies, but it's well written and engaging enough to be interesting.
Jonathon Strange and Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clark: Right now there's just the one book, but I think it's going to be developed into a series. It imagines an England at the time of the war with Napoleon where two very different British magicians have stepped into the forefront. It's humorous and engaging in the same way Harry Potter is so entertaining, but both Strange and Norrell are far different and more adult than Potter.
The Wayfarer Redemption series by Sara Douglass: Another epic fantasy with a bit more sex and violence. It's a little more original in that Douglass created three unique fantasy races (going past stock characters of elves, dwarves, etc.). Not as good as Martin or Gemmell, but still worth reading.
Dragon's Winter and Dragon's Treasure by Elizabeth A. Lynn: I don't know if there will be more besides these two books (I certainly hope so), but they're worth the read on their own, especially the first one, Dragon's Winter. Lynn has created a world populated with humans and shapeshifters. And at the top of the pecking order are the dragon shapeshifters, so rare there's usually only one or two around at the same time. It's beautifully written and very captivating, and it comes recommend by George RR Martin, so you know it follows some of his themes.
Dragon Champion and Dragon Avenger by EE Knight: I'm sure there will be more (at least one) where these two came from. Each novel has thus far followed a different dragon from the same clutch of eggs. The human characters definitely take second stage to the reptilian. Instead of mindless, evil beasts, Knight has given us dragons with a culture and tradition. But they're still violent killers when they want to be.
The Wheel of Time series by Robert Jordan: This is definitely a great series to get into. There's plenty of violence and sex (especially in the more recent books) as well as plot twists and intriguing characters. Like A Song of Ice and Fire, the cast of characters is absolutely huge. And as the series goes on, more minor characters step forward into major roles. Very cool series, and a staple in fantasy.
Nighwatch series by Segei Lutyanenko: Nightwatch is the first book in what I think is a series. I know the second book, Daywatch, comes out in March. It's an import from Russia, set in modern day Moscow about people called the Others. They can be magicians, werewolves, vampires, etc. They're set apart from society and strictly divided as the Light Ones and the Dark Ones. But despite these divisions into supposedly good and evil, both sides commit heinous acts and both offer pardons. Who's good and who's evil is a matter for debate. Foul language, violence, and a touch of sex are all there. This is definitely one of the best modern fantasies out there and I personally can't wait for Daywatch.
The Art of Arrow Cutting and Shadows Bite by Stephen Dedman: I don't know if this series will be continued, but these two books alone are worth the read. These are both modern fantasies set in present-day Los Angeles. Much of the myth and magic that comes into play is Japanese in origin, not something you see too often in an actual novel. It's very original and can be very funny at times.
Dragon Weather, The Dragon Society, and Dragon Venom by Lawerence Watt-Evans: The first two are definitely the strongest in the trilogy, but the three as a whole are still a great epic fantasy about individuals who are physically altered through accidental contact with dragons. Weird sounding, yes, but ultimately an interesting book with some of the same elements of Martin and Gemmell, but with enough originality to keep it fresh and interesting.
The Amber Chronicles by Roger Zelazny: I believe there are ten short books in this series. They're an older series, but one that remains very interesting and engaging even today. It's about the one true city, Amber. Everything we see is just one of the many reflections of Amber. So basically, we're all living in parallel worlds and nothing is real but the one world at the core. It's a bit mindbending, but Zelazny explains it better. The violence, language, and sex are all there, too.
The Dragon King saga by Stephen Lawhead: Lawhead's famous for doing more than a few Arthurian fantasies, but the Dragon King is an original epic.
American Gods and Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman: Gaiman's a master of dark, original fantasy. American Gods and Anansi Boys both throw some of the old world gods into America. They were brought there by the beliefs of some of the original American immigrants, but now they're mostly forgotten. Very edgy. Also check out Neverwhere by this same author. It's not part of the series, but it's a great piece of fantasy.
A Storm of Wings, Knighthood of the Dragon, and The Last Battle by Chris Bunch: This is good wartime epic fantasy. Bunch uses WWI as a model for the war he describes, but instead of emerging pilots, we have dragon riders.
2007-02-25 01:31:43 · answer #1 · answered by ap1188 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Robin Hobb's books are fantastic. Her first three trilogies are all related; the Farseer Trilogy, the Liveship Traders Trilogy and the Tawny Man trilogy. The Farseer and the Tawny Man are about the same people. There are magics, including the Wit, a despised magic, allowing one to bond with an animal. The first series is about a royal bastard, who becomes an assassin, with the Wit.
The last one is set fifteen years later, that time having been taken up in the Liveship Traders, and Fitz, the Witted assassin, returns from a life alone with a different identity to Buckkeep castle, the royal castle he grew up in.
The second trilogy is set far to the south of Buckkeep, at the 'Cursed Shores'. It can be read seperately, as all the characters are different but for a small acception that you don't find out is a person from the first trilogy until you read the third trilogy.
These books have your whole touch of sex, extreme violence and swearing.
She also writes under the name Megan Lindholm. I'm just reading one of her books, the Reindeer People, and it's fantastic, also a fantasy.
Some other good fantasies:
Ian Irvine is supposed to be a great author, I haven't read his books but my brother has, and he has the same taste as me (and from the sound of the books you like, the same taste as you). He has three trilogies too, the second set a hundred years after the first, and the last ten years after the second. I think there are monsters and a war between them and humans or something...
If you like Harry Potter and the Inheritance trilogy, there's Cornelia Funke's books. They're great. Especially Inkheart. In that, characters come out of a book. It sounds childish, but it's not. Then there's Dragon Rider and the Thief Lord. The Thief Lord isn't a fantasy, but it still has the same taste to it.
Dragon Keeper's pretty good, too. I'm afraid I can't remember the author, though.
Um... That's all I can think of now. Hope they come in handy!
2007-02-25 05:17:50 · answer #2 · answered by Eloise 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Zelazney, Roger. "Nine Princes in Amber." is the first book of the sequence which ends, I think, with "In the Court of Chaos."?
Moorcock, Michael. The "Jerry Cornelius" tetralogy (which links to other Moorcock sequences such as the "Eternal Champion").
Harrison, Harry. "The Stainless Steel Rat." et al.
Farmer, Philip Jose. "The Fabulous Riverboat." et al.
The list would actually be enormous - these are a few that are often overlooked - any web search will turn up hundreds of series!
As an unusual inclusion:
McMullen, Sean. "Greatwinter." An Aussie trilogy which commences with "Voices in the Light." I enjoyed it immensely, especially the notion of a computer consisting entirely of human slaves/workers doing the data-crunching!
Paul
2007-02-25 03:37:54 · answer #3 · answered by cwoodsp 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Try the Dark Tower Seriesby Stephen King. Different than his other books, fantastical as well as engrossing. One of my favorite series. Also try George R. R. Martin's A Game of Thrones (That's either the name of the series or a book in that series, I can't remember). Terri Goodkind's Sort of Truth Series. One of the best ever written. And of course, The Wheel Of Time series by Robert Jordon.
2007-02-25 02:58:23 · answer #4 · answered by Kat 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Try Jane Lindskold's 'Wolf' series. Or just about anything written by Dennis McKiernan. Another is Raymond Feist, David Weber, John Ringo, Eric Flint, Ted Bell, Trudi Canavan, and the list goes on and on.
2007-02-25 12:46:57 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Stephen Donaldson. Chronicles of Thomas Covenant the Unbeliever. The writing is incredible, the twists out of knowhere and it all adds up to fantastic storytelling. The main character is not a sympathetic character, yet you find yourself mesmerized with him. There are three series out about him, the latest being written as we speak (one book's out, three more being planned). If you like dark, angst, violence, you'll love these books.
2007-02-25 11:14:18 · answer #6 · answered by Stacia Wolf 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i have one answer DAVID EDDINGS try the Belgariad Series & The Mallorean Series then the Elenium Series & Tamuli Series, he is rated as the best in modern fantasy
He craps all over Tolkien and although Harry Potters great it is a little childish
2007-02-25 04:58:37 · answer #7 · answered by phantasmagoriajewellery 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Trickster's Choice, I forgot the author.
Magician's Guild series by Trudi Canavan.
Ranger's Apprentice.
Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.
2007-02-25 02:57:14 · answer #8 · answered by Mystikdancer 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The Dark Tower series by Stephen King is definitely great, I also suggest Jacqueline Carey's series (all the books begin with "Kushiel's," the first one is "Kushiel's Cart")
2007-02-25 03:09:16 · answer #9 · answered by hitwoman001 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The Dark Tower.
And now all seven are out in mass market paperback so they're incredibly easy to find too.
2007-02-25 06:15:58 · answer #10 · answered by Dan A 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋