Fantasy novels for a beginner,please!

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Tony Furze

Fantasy novels for a beginner,please!

Lead

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Posts: 34

(06/03/09 06:51)

Avid Reader

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In my advancing years I've become interested in reading fantasy books. I know nothing about authors or stories, so i'd like some help. Who's a good author to begin with? (A list would be great as I can't rely on all being available here.)

I have the first of the Lord of the Rings, but it strikes me as a book to work towards, rather than begin with. Any advice?

Thanks.

saundrakane

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Posts: 48965

(06/03/09 07:28)

The Boss Lady of the BS Board

There are many members that read fantasy here but I know my daughter is an expert. I think she likes George R.R. Martin. I will ask her to post some of her favorites in this thread.

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Saundra Kane
Bestsellers and Literature

Violanthe

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Posts: 508

(06/03/09 04:03)

Saundra's Daughter

Actually, I think reading some of the newer stuff might spoil you for Lord of the Rings.

George R.R. Martin's Game of Thrones is more or less the seminal fantasy work of today. If the size of that tome daunts you, then you might want to try something lighter like Robin Hobb's Assassin's Apprentice, or maybe Jim Butcher's Furies of Calderon. If you're looking for something a bit more intellectual, you might try Guy Gavriel Kay's Lions of Al-Rassan. On the other hand, if you're looking for an unapologetic crowd-pleaser, try Wizard's First Rule by Terry Goodkind.

Violet Kane
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ARWZ.com: A Magazine of Alternative Reality Fiction

saundrakane

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Posts: 48973

(06/03/09 06:12)

The Boss Lady of the BS Board

thanks Vio

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Saundra Kane
Bestsellers and Literature

Tony Furze

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Posts: 35

(06/04/09 08:36)

Avid Reader

Thank You, Violanthe. And very nice to meet you!

I'll get back to you whether any of your suggestions actually exist here - I go to the book shop every Sunday. If not, I'm off to England to see my Mum (after 2 years) on Monday. I'll be away from the forum as she has no computer, but don't think I've abandoned you again!

I'll be back on 28th July. I'll definitely be on the lookout for those titles you suggest in York, Sheffield and Doncaster.

Again, many,many thanks.

saundrakane

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Posts: 48979

(06/04/09 09:08)

The Boss Lady of the BS Board

Have a wonderful time. We look forward to seeing you again in July.

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Saundra Kane
Bestsellers and Literature

Islandgirl81

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Posts: 207

(06/05/09 03:50)

Literature Scholar

Have you read the Harry Potter books? They're a good fantasy series to start off with if you don't normally read that genre.

Lyrap

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Posts: 3

(06/08/09 12:27)

I'd say that if you're looking for "adult" fantasy, and you've never really read much of it, try The Legend of Huma by Richard A Knaack--that is, if you can find it. It's hard to find, but it has all of the elements of fantasy novels, while succeeding in being quite an enjoyable read.

Rogmeister

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Posts: 8409

(06/13/09 05:42)

Town Marshal

When I was just out of high school and in the early years of my job, I remember buying and enjoying A Princess of Mars which was the first of a series by Edgar Rice Burroughs...best known for his Tarzan books. For some reason I never continued reading the series...I forget how many books he wrote in that series...but I really did enjoy that first novel.

Yadi

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Posts: 17

(06/15/09 03:01)

as a Lewis and Tolkien freak I would say... start with the hobbit or the books of Narnia. LOTR is quit big and these are small enough to have a first impression. and other good book are the space trilogy of Lewis. I never heard about it, but when I read the first... amazing!

With love,
Yadi

mauraid

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Posts: 5

(06/15/09 10:46)

Have you ever heard of the Dune series ? Excellent books. Detailed , but not so complicated they will make you nuts.

Violanthe

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Posts: 511

(06/16/09 02:16)

Saundra's Daughter

That's true, Dune, even though it has planets and spaceships, is actually a fantasy in its fundaments

Violet Kane
webmaster@arwz.com
ARWZ.com: A Magazine of Alternative Reality Fiction

Rockthief

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Posts: 817

(06/19/09 08:03)

Terry Pratchett's books are pure fun and ez to read.

Tony Furze

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Posts: 37

(06/26/09 05:53)

Avid Reader

(Replying from a cybernet cafe Doncaster)

Thanks for all the suggestions!

Plenty of choice over here.

All the best.

saundrakane

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Posts: 49162

(06/26/09 07:57)

The Boss Lady of the BS Board

thanks for stopping in on your vacation

Saundra Kane
Bestsellers & Literature

katzedrei

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Posts: 2

(10/22/09 06:10)

I second a recommend to read The Hobbit before the lord of the rings books. It was originally intented as a young adults book and is still studies primarily in grades 7 and 8 but still well loved by adults.

Eye of the Dragon by Stephen King (its fantasy and very good, not horror)
Anne Mcaffterty has a huge series
Chris Paolini and his Aragon series. There should be five books in total and #4 should be published soon
But I bet you would love Terry Brook's Landover Series. Magic Kingdom for sale is the first one if I remember correctly. It's about a lawyer who buys a magic kingdom. Very good and funny.
Also by Terry Brooks is the Shannara Series. Thats Fantasy for sure. He also did another series called running with the Demon. I liked that one a lot but it's a lot more dark than the Shanara books.
Dune is very good, but the latter books in the series really take on a sameness after a while.

The member formerly known as Shan

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Fantasy novels for a beginner,please!

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