Favorite Epic Fantasy Authors

walkertexasdruid · 05-31-2009, 06:19 PM

Ever since I stopped reading Star Wars Novels, at age fifteen, I got into epic fantasy novels. I have been reading them for a long time now and I would like to recommend some authors to those who may interested. As always feel free to recommend your own favorites, and to make any comments that may come to mind. My favorites are as follows:

David Eddings (Especially the Belgariad and the Mallorean series)
Margret Weis and Tracy Hickman (Go Dragonlance!)
David Drake (Lord of the Isles)
Terry Brooks (Shanarra and The Magic Kingdom of Landover)
R. A. Salvatore (Go Drizz't!)
Robert Jordan (Wheel of Time)

These last three are not recommended for younger readers but are still good:

Stephen R. Donaldson (Thomas Covanant series)
Sara Douglas (All of her books are good but definately out there)
Terry Goodkind (Sword of Truth; "The Legend of the Seeker" is I would very loosely based on this series of books)

Well there you have it. If I think of any more I will post them later. I hope hear from the rest of you soon.

Magus · 05-31-2009, 07:40 PM

Have to second Robert Jordan, I hope the new author does justice to the final novel. Been looking forward to it. Thank you for reminding me to get into David Eddings, people keep telling me about the Belgariad so I think that will be on the list.

Dragonlance's third novel didn't really impress me, which is probably unfortunate because I guess I missed out on Raistlin doing all kinds of crazy stuff in later novels.

Also I think Drizzt should be retired, I mean, Icewind Dale trilogy is good but at this point I find myself trying very hard to care about that on-going (and on-going, and on-going) series.

Going to read A Song of Ice and Fire series for my next fantasy series, everyone here seems to like recommending it.

For my own recommendations, you can't go wrong with Michael Moorcock's Elric series, or The Eternal Champion series. Pretty good epic fantasies. And of course he has lots other books which aren't exactly in that vain but still quality as fantasy novels.

Odjn · 05-31-2009, 07:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by walkertexasdruid

Terry Goodkind (Sword of Truth; "The Legend of the Seeker" is I would very loosely based on this series of books)

I am seriously convinced the universe wants me to be sad.

I liked the first two of Ender's Game. They were not completely Cardshit like the rest of the series.

I remember Shannara as kinda cookie cutter, to be honest. First book was good, second book alright, third blugh.

Mr.Bookworm · 05-31-2009, 08:07 PM

George RR Martin. Though genre-ically speaking, I don't know if ASoIaF actually qualifies as "epic" fantasy.

Tolkien, of course. Even if I don't like the books themselves that much, I like the whole mythology and can certainly respect the massive influence he's had on the genre.

I've read like half of the first Wheel of Time book, and I remember it being pretty good.

The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant are totally great if you can get past the literary style.

Kepor · 05-31-2009, 08:10 PM

Wheel of Time, highly recommended.

A Song of Ice and Fire, likewise.

Shanarra, never really got into it. Just wasn't interesting.

Sword of Truth, well now.

BitVyper · 05-31-2009, 08:46 PM

Tolkein, first of all. The stuff he did was downright incredible.

Honorable mention goes to Evan Dahm for making Rice Boy, which I was just introduced to a few days ago thanks to this forum. Rice Boy feels like what I think Tolkein's stuff would have felt like when it was originally published.

Not really a novelist, but Genndy Tartakovsky made Samurai Jack, and I think that qualifies him here.

I have a lot more, but I can't really think right now.

Mirai Gen · 05-31-2009, 10:07 PM

I gotta hand it to Mercedes Lackey for having a strong set of characters, be it female or homosexual, while all the while introducing an intense amount of political intrigue and widespread warfare and conflict.

Fifthfiend · 05-31-2009, 10:18 PM

The one Sara Douglass book I read was either a great story about horrifying things or just completely fucking horrifying; I still can't decide.

I liked Terry Brooks' Nest Fremark books up to the point where I heard he wrote one that makes it a Shannara prequel and fuck that. I liked the Scions of Shannara series out of his Shannara books which had some interesting things going on and also IIRC giant mutated magitek ants.

Jagos · 05-31-2009, 10:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mirai Gen

I gotta hand it to Mercedes Lackey for having a strong set of characters, be it female or homosexual, while all the while introducing an intense amount of political intrigue and widespread warfare and conflict.

One thing that stuck with me. She literally drops mountains on these people and puts them through turmoil to show what type of person they truly are. I'm thinking specifically of Vanyel but even then, the fact that her books are very good is an understatement on my part.

Eldezar · 05-31-2009, 10:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mirai Gen

I gotta hand it to Mercedes Lackey for having a strong set of characters, be it female or homosexual, while all the while introducing an intense amount of political intrigue and widespread warfare and conflict.

That description sounds remarkably like the books by Jennifer Fallon, which is my recommended author. Rated G, yet borderlines a little bit into R.

05-31-2009, 06:19 PM	#1
walkertexasdruid I am the One Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Infinate Layers of the Abyss Posts: 533	Favorite Epic Fantasy Authors Ever since I stopped reading Star Wars Novels, at age fifteen, I got into epic fantasy novels. I have been reading them for a long time now and I would like to recommend some authors to those who may interested. As always feel free to recommend your own favorites, and to make any comments that may come to mind. My favorites are as follows: David Eddings (Especially the Belgariad and the Mallorean series) Margret Weis and Tracy Hickman (Go Dragonlance!) David Drake (Lord of the Isles) Terry Brooks (Shanarra and The Magic Kingdom of Landover) R. A. Salvatore (Go Drizz't!) Robert Jordan (Wheel of Time) These last three are not recommended for younger readers but are still good: Stephen R. Donaldson (Thomas Covanant series) Sara Douglas (All of her books are good but definately out there) Terry Goodkind (Sword of Truth; "The Legend of the Seeker" is I would very loosely based on this series of books) Well there you have it. If I think of any more I will post them later. I hope hear from the rest of you soon. __________________ Naive Optimist

05-31-2009, 07:40 PM	#2
Magus Archer and Armstrong vs. the World Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 7,164	Have to second Robert Jordan, I hope the new author does justice to the final novel. Been looking forward to it. Thank you for reminding me to get into David Eddings, people keep telling me about the Belgariad so I think that will be on the list. Dragonlance's third novel didn't really impress me, which is probably unfortunate because I guess I missed out on Raistlin doing all kinds of crazy stuff in later novels. Also I think Drizzt should be retired, I mean, Icewind Dale trilogy is good but at this point I find myself trying very hard to care about that on-going (and on-going, and on-going) series. Going to read A Song of Ice and Fire series for my next fantasy series, everyone here seems to like recommending it. For my own recommendations, you can't go wrong with Michael Moorcock's Elric series, or The Eternal Champion series. Pretty good epic fantasies. And of course he has lots other books which aren't exactly in that vain but still quality as fantasy novels. __________________ The Valiant Review

05-31-2009, 08:46 PM	#6
BitVyper History's Strongest Dilettante Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Arcadia Posts: 6,662	Tolkein, first of all. The stuff he did was downright incredible. Honorable mention goes to Evan Dahm for making Rice Boy, which I was just introduced to a few days ago thanks to this forum. Rice Boy feels like what I think Tolkein's stuff would have felt like when it was originally published. Not really a novelist, but Genndy Tartakovsky made Samurai Jack, and I think that qualifies him here. I have a lot more, but I can't really think right now. __________________ "There are worlds out there where the sky is burning, and the sea is asleep, and the rivers dream. People made of smoke and cities made of song. Somewhere there's danger, somewhere there's injustice, somewhere else the tea's getting cold. Come on, Ace; we've got work to do!" Awesome art be here.

05-31-2009, 10:07 PM	#7
Mirai Gen We are Geth. Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 14,032	I gotta hand it to Mercedes Lackey for having a strong set of characters, be it female or homosexual, while all the while introducing an intense amount of political intrigue and widespread warfare and conflict. __________________

05-31-2009, 10:18 PM	#8
Fifthfiend for all seasons Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 19,409	The one Sara Douglass book I read was either a great story about horrifying things or just completely fucking horrifying; I still can't decide. I liked Terry Brooks' Nest Fremark books up to the point where I heard he wrote one that makes it a Shannara prequel and fuck that. I liked the Scions of Shannara series out of his Shannara books which had some interesting things going on and also IIRC giant mutated magitek ants. __________________ check out my buttspresso

05-31-2009, 08:07 PM	#4
Mr.Bookworm YYYEEEEEAAAAAAHHH Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 2,034	George RR Martin. Though genre-ically speaking, I don't know if ASoIaF actually qualifies as "epic" fantasy. Tolkien, of course. Even if I don't like the books themselves that much, I like the whole mythology and can certainly respect the massive influence he's had on the genre. I've read like half of the first Wheel of Time book, and I remember it being pretty good. The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant are totally great if you can get past the literary style.

05-31-2009, 08:10 PM	#5
Kepor pretty cool guy Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 814	Wheel of Time, highly recommended. A Song of Ice and Fire, likewise. Shanarra, never really got into it. Just wasn't interesting. Sword of Truth, well now.