/lit/ - Literature

Prince of Nothing Trilogy, by R. Scott Bakker. Pretty dense, heavy stuff: an intense blend of historic, philosophical, Tolkienian, and Herbert-esque qualities. I'd say it's probably the best contemporaneous fantasy trilogies out there: but if you really get into it most other fantasies will feel like shit. I don't know if you would like it though, as I couldn't even get through the first Malazan book.
Another cool one Gene Wolfe's The Book of the New Sun, though again it's not one that I think would be considered popular, and it might be difficult to get into initially.
Watership Down was great when I read it Freshman year, but I don't know how good it'd be if I returned to it today. I still love the story and everything.
The Scar, by China Mieville, is a light and entertaining read. Lots of interesting concepts, though in many instances Mieville's writing feels more like a showcase of worldbuilding than actual being story-centered.
I still haven't finished the Earthsea book. The writing is very passive, very slow, dry, and essentially dead. It's like reading a corpse. The prose mutilates any chance of the world coming alive at all.
PROTIPS: Avoid everything by FEIST and RA SALVATORE at all costs.

Someone probably already recommended R. Scott Bakker's Prince of Nothing trilogy and shot him down, but whatever, I'll still recommend for a few reasons:

Interesting deconstruction of the fantasy genre, similar in a way to how McCarthy deconstructs the classic western. Strong worldbuilding and historical foundation: believable portrayal of a pre-industrial society.
Cool metaphysical and philosophical jargon.
This is a plus for me (but may not be for you): I found the names in the book to be fun... I can't stand it when fantasies have stupid, cobbled-together Anglo-derivatives like Sparrowhawk or Tattersail or Crumbledcock and stuff like that.

Movement of the plot is a bit bogged down by character introspection, which is one of the biggest complaints against it, but if you can stomach it its a pretty great read.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/R._Scott_Bakker

This man has written the greatest fantasy series I've ever read. It's dark,heavy,and brutal.

It makes you question mankind and why we do what we do.

>>774401
totally, i even picture him as a beefed up self-insert Bakker.

i still would like the character if not for Esmenet

Oh hey /lit/,

Excuse my while I am the most important author in 20 years.

-R. Scott Bakker

is dat me sum BaKKER!?

mmm dat me sum BAkker?!

dont worry about it. Theres alot of other, better books.

try Prince of Nothing, its grimdark and much preferable to ASOIAF. Plus Bakker is young, smart, proflific, and HOT.

pic related. I LOVE YOU SCOTT<3 CALL ME!

Steven Erikson
and
R. Scott Bakker

Everybody give some love to the greatest fantasist since Tolkien