I read a wide range of books but the majority I read are Fantasy. Guess I enjoy the escapism. Anyone else?

I think the last 'recent' Fantasy books I read were probably the 'Chronicles of Thomas Covenant' - that was some years back.

As for older books - I think you have to go a long way to beat Michael Moorcock's Hawkmoon, Corum and Elric series - 'The Eternal Champion'.

Joe

Originally posted by robbie
I read a wide range of books but the majority I read are Fantasy. Guess I enjoy the escapism. Anyone else?

I used to love reading Science Fantasy, but don't seem to have the time for it nowadays :(

Michael Moorcock, as Joe mentioned, has got to be one of the daddies of great fantasy writing. Also David Eddings' Belgariad, Terry Brooks' Shannara stories, and Piers Anthony. Tried to get into Robert Jordan, but didn't quite take to him!

For children's fantasy writers, you can't beat CS Lewis and Lloyd Alexander.

Perhaps I should try Robert Jordan again.... :D

StarSparkle

its like a Walkley Fantasy book club ;)

never never go back to Robert Jordan. :suspect:

There are the second chronicles of Thomas Covenant and some very recent ones as well.

My favourites at the moment are:

Steven Erikson-Malazan books of the dead
George RR Martin-A sng of Ice and Fire
Raymond Feist - Conclave of Shdows
Trudy Caravan-The Black Magician Trilogy.

older ones being David Eddings-Belgariad/Malorian books

Just finished The Amtrak Wars by Patrick Tilley :thumbsup: Joe, Chronicles of Thomas Covenant is one of my favourite books.

I think I read the First and Second Chronicles of Thomas Covenant. Covenant was an interesting character - physically and psychically damaged.

I have a great fascination for psycholoigcally wounded heroes - the myths around the Holy Grail and the Grail King fascinate me for similar reasons.

Similar with Corum, Elric and to a lesser degree Hawkmoon, of course.

Joe

Originally posted by robbie
its like a Walkley Fantasy book club ;)

never never go back to Robert Jordan. :suspect:


ok, Robbie, I'll stay well away from Robert Jordan! :D

"A Song of Ice and Fire" - wow, that title is just about irresistible! I'll have to check that out :thumbsup:

StarSparkle

Originally posted by StarSparkle
ok, Robbie, I'll stay well away from Robert Jordan! :D

"A Song of Ice and Fire" - wow, that title is just about irresistible! I'll have to check that out :thumbsup:

StarSparkle

you may want to wait a bit as he's started writing weeeeerrrryyyyy sloooooooowwwwllllly and its frustrating.

all those mentioned!

My current favourites;
Fantasy - Steven Erikson - a new master
SciFi - Alaster Reynolds - not in Eriksons league, but still extremely good.

Also worthy mentions to Peter F Hamilton, Iain M Banks, George R Martin and early Robert Jordan.

Dishonourable mentions to later Robert Jordan, Terry Brooks, David Gemmel, Terry Goodkind, and my least favourite author of the minute Kevin J Anderson (truly terrible, it's sci fi, but by someone who doesn't know any sci and can't write fi).

I always like Gemmil's Drenai stuff in a very trashy throw away fantasy way. Same with the James Barclay books...

Originally posted by robbie
I always like Gemmil's Drenai stuff in a very trashy throw away fantasy way. Same with the James Barclay books...

that's why i put him in the latter list, it's fantasy by formula. I still buy it though.

I like to read sci fi books I enjoyed the Stainless steel rat books by Harry Harrison although I have not managed to get through them all yet, there are also a fair few star trek novels on our bookcase too...

My partner and I read predominantly fantasy and by the the dozen. It's rare that Amazon isn't delivering or one of us can physically walk past a book shop.
Between us there's David Gemmell, Marianne Curley, Darren Shan, Tanith Lee, George R R Martin, Robin McKinley and many many more. That's just the current favourites.
Reading is like air - I can't live without it.

Philip K Dick rules. My partner is devouring "Light" by M John Harrison which is next on my reading list.

I've given fantasy up. I started with Tolkien and everything else has been a little disappointing. I've tried Donaldson, Le Guinn, George McDonald (more faerie, really), and more recently Pullman, who was the best of the rest, ruined only by his crude anti-religious plot-lines.

I read tolkien when I was younger and to be honest find modern writers to be much superior (not all of them obviously, but some).

Originally posted by Ant
I've given fantasy up. I started with Tolkien and everything else has been a little disappointing. I've tried Donaldson, Le Guinn, George McDonald (more faerie, really), and more recently Pullman, who was the best of the rest, ruined only by his crude anti-religious plot-lines.

was the donaldson the Gap series?

For sci-fi, I don't think you can beat Brave New World (Aldous Huxley), and for fantasy, I loved reading the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe books when I was younger.

If I'm going to read a book (and I really have to be in the mood, and have the time) these days, I prefer James Herbert, which is neither sci-fi nor fantasy in most cases.

Originally posted by Tubthump
Philip K Dick rules. My partner is devouring "Light" by M John Harrison which is next on my reading list.

And that comes with a recommendation from me as well.

I'd also suggest Pattern Recognition by William Gibson - a bit of a departure from his cyberpunk/cybernoir works but definitely an improvement in style, IMO.

Heinlein's also a good choice for some really good sci-fi, though some of his writing can lean heavily towards excessive liberalism at times (which is rich coming from me, a self-professed liberal).

Other good sci-fi: Phillip K Dick, as Tubthump says; selected works by HG Wells; Ursula LeGuin; CJ Cherryh (especially the Faded Sun trilogy); The Ship Who Sang by Anne McCaffery ... the list is potentially endless.

For fantasy, I always suggest Lord Dunsany (very early 'fantastic worlds' writing), Fritz Leiber (the Lankmhar series are the stuff of classic fantasy), a carefully selected reading of Michael Moorcock, a handful of Pratchett, Raymond Feist (Magician definitely, maybe the next couple as well) and David Eddings (only the Belgariad series, not the rest) to be starting with.

I'm not into Sci-Fi or Fantasy at all... it just seems too geeky and nerdy for me ... please dont anyone take offence to that by the way :)

Anyone Else Read Sci Fi/Fantasy Books?

Depends - does Harry Potter count? :heyhey: