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/lit/ - Literature

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2432160 No.2432160 [Reply] [Original]

Good day, my /lit/erate friends. I have come seeking a new book to read.

Let's keep this simple, shall we?

I am a fantasy fan. I am looking for fiction that is considered "mature" and "well-written." True, there is a lot of generic YA fantasy out there, but I am looking to avoid all of that.

I'd like to read a book that doesn't insult my intelligence.

Can /lit/ help me?

>> No.2432163

There was a great thread the other night, I'll share the recommendations I received.

China Mieville - Perdido Street Station
Joe Abercrombie - First Law Trilogy
Mary Gentle - A Secret History
KJ Parker - The Hammer
KJ Parker - Blue and Gold
Gene Wolfe - Book of the New Sun
GK Chesterson - Napoleon of Notting Hill

and my own recommendations:
Anything by Brandon Sanderson.

>> No.2432166

I think you should totally read Terry Goodkind. He's phenomenal.

>> No.2432168

>>2432163
Thank you for the list. I look forward to researching those recommendations.

>> No.2432176

>>2432166

I have tried and failed to get through two of gookind's books. It's not just his rep for irrationally unheroic behavior in his heroes, his prose is just sooo plodding!
Try Gene Wolfe's The Wizard Knight. excellent adult-level fantasy accessible to younger people.

>> No.2432182

>>2432176
Mixed reviews on Amazon.co.uk

Hmmmm

>> No.2432192

Am I wrong in assuming that the pic is an indication that you like vikings? If so, I'd recommend Cornwell's Saxon series. Most would say it pales in comparison to his Sharpe series, but I've enjoyed it.

>> No.2432195
File: 126 KB, 986x591, rage.jpg [View same] [iqdb] [saucenao] [google]
2432195

>>2432163
Honest to god I was trying to post a pic of The Way of Shadows and the captcha kept messing up and I read your list and see you already recommended it. Enclosed is my reaction

>> No.2432196

>>2432192
I do indeed, friend. I've actually studied quite about of Norse mythology. I have the Prose Edda on my desk.

I'll check that out! Thanks.

>> No.2432198

>>2432163
This guy again.
Check out Robert E. Fisk, he's got some good stuff.
Particularly his Magician series, but his other series are good, too.
Tad Williams isn't horrible, but not super great. Just average.

>> No.2432216

>>2432196

If you like the Norse stuff you really should give Wizard Knight a try, and also check out the Incompleat Enchanter, which is based directly on the Eddas, at least part of it is...

>> No.2432217
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2432217

i really liked the twilight series, maybe you would too? Theyre really well written books for mature readers.
pic related

>> No.2432222

>>2432163
I, for some reason, never read that last line. I just finished reading Elantris, actually.

Above average book, I thought. Some flaws but, you know, every book has them.

>> No.2432228

>>2432216
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Wizard-Knight-Gollancz-S-F/dp/0575077107/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=13301245
12&sr=8-1

Is one not to trust Amazon UK reviews?

I am definitely found of the setting.

>> No.2432232

>>2432228
Fond*

>> No.2432234

>>2432196
Well, in that case I'm assuming you've read Poul Anderson's The Broken Sword? If not, order a copy right now. Seriously. This is what Micheal Moorcock had to say about it: http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2003/jan/25/featuresreviews.guardianreview18

>> No.2432237

>>2432234
MICHAEL MOORCOCK
HAHAHAHA

>> No.2432250

Question: Why are all UK book covers worse than the US versions? :(

Elantris had a horrible UK cover.

>> No.2432259
File: 161 KB, 652x900, Uhtred_of_Bebbanburg_by_Elandain.jpg [View same] [iqdb] [saucenao] [google]
2432259

>>2432196

It's historical fiction, more in the spirit of Dumas than Tolkien, but I have a feeling you'll enjoy the series.

>> No.2432265

>>2432237
HA HA HA, go fuck yourself. The Broken Sword is still the best fantasy novel in the English language. or possibly any other.

To quote OP: "I am a fantasy fan. I am looking for fiction that is considered "mature" and "well-written." True, there is a lot of generic YA fantasy out there, but I am looking to avoid all of that.

I'd like to read a book that doesn't insult my intelligence." Thats exactly what The Broken Sword is.

>> No.2432266

>>2432228

The reviews of The Wizard Knight are negative because the readers likely fall into two categories: 1) people who have never read any Wolfe before, and 2) people who have just finished Book of the New Sun and want something equally good. Wolfe doesn't spell things out for you, it takes some mental agility to read his work, which is why the first group might not be fans. While the Wizard-Knight is very good, maybe even great, The Book of the New Sun is on a whole other tier, which is why the second group might not be fans.

Overall though it is very good and well worth a read. It has an excellent ending in my opinion.

>> No.2432269

One of those unremembered classics is John M. Ford's "The Dragon Waiting"

Not Norse, and sort of an alternate universe story, where Christianity is one cult among many, magic works, vampirism is a treatable disease and Byzantium is an ever present threat on the border's of kingdom run by Richard the Third.

there's a hell of a lot of historical cameos, and while the characters do seem a bit anachronistic in their behavior, it's no worse than a lot of other books, like White or (god help us) Kurtz.

Won a World Fantasy Award...

captcha Alice learnman

>> No.2432273

>>2432265
It does appear to have outstanding reviews, friend. It really does. 13 five start reviews.

I shall definitely look into this. Thanks.

>> No.2432277

>>2432266
Logical reasoning. Another recommendation I shall look into.

>> No.2432279

Get your Catherynne M. Valente on.

>> No.2432296

Don't let this thread die! It's really good.

>> No.2432310

Why now are book covers so bland and spartan?
What happened the colourful fantasy art you see on Dragonlance novels?

>> No.2432315
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2432315

>>2432310

I hear that. Either go with a cool minimalist but suggestive cover, or just go all out. The middle ground is what I hate.

>> No.2432322

Is your intelligence so insecure it can't handle being insulted?

Also, do you mean "high/low fantasy" in the traditional sword n' board wizards and spells sense, or might you be interested in other forms of fantasy?

>> No.2432323
File: 128 KB, 640x427, hughcookhandful.jpg [View same] [iqdb] [saucenao] [google]
2432323

>>2432315
Every time I squint at that thumbnail I think it's Hugh Cook covers. But it isn't.

>> No.2432331

Hey remember "Yearwood", and the finnbranch novels by Paul Hazel? those were Norse based and kicked ass as i recall.

Really, really strong prose and narrative skills. Wonder why it's not better known?

>> No.2432335

>>2432265
You misunderstand. I enjoy his works, he just has a hilarious name.

>> No.2432337

>>2432335
That's not very mature...

>> No.2432344

>>2432337
Just remember, you made me say it. neither is reading fantasy neckbear hehe

>> No.2432358

I get a little upset with the repetitive and over-promoted generic fantasy works that are posted here on a near daily basis.
I do enjoy or have enjoyed reading the vast majority of them but I believe /lit/ is often quite stagnant with recommendations.

OP, or anyone for that matter:
If you like vikings or Norse Mythology you should give this book a twirl:
The Long Ships
by Frans G. Bengtsson

Here's a link to the new york book review's synopsis:
http://www.nybooks.com/books/imprints/classics/the-long-ships/

>> No.2432383

>>2432198
>Robert E. Fisk,

Is this some bad joke about Raymond E. Feist's name, or what?

>> No.2432387

>>2432383
That was an error on my part. I had Spiderman on the mind.

>> No.2432401

Anymore recommendations?

>> No.2432422
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2432422

>>2432401
I'm surprised no one has mentioned The Chronicles of the Black Company yet. /lit/ generally likes that trilogy.

>> No.2432449

>>2432422
I've heard good and bad things about it. I personally haven't read it, so I don't have an opinion.
I've also heard conflicting opinions on Erikson's Malazan chronicles.

>> No.2432817

I see vikings

The Long Ships beckons

>> No.2432829

>>2432449

Ericksons is a mixed bag. Past book 6, the quality definitely declines. That said, Deadhouse gates and House of Chains are two amazing novels in the genre, deadhouse gates being the one that HBO could create an award winning series out of.

>> No.2432831
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2432831

>> No.2432845

>>2432829
and what series may that be?

>> No.2432924

>>2432845
Malazan Book of the Fallen.

Deadhouse gates mixes Xenophons anabasis with the events pertaining to ali outside karbala. Its a fucking mans book

>> No.2432965

>>2432924
Is that the title of the HBO series?

>> No.2433827

What do people think about David Farland's the RuneLords?