I recently discovered an awesome local bookstore in France, hence I'd like to pick up a French-language SF/F novel that isn't a translation and would be difficult to find in the US. Suggestions? (Subgenre preferences below the jump)
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posted by serelliya
on May 7, 2013 -
8 answers
After spending several years reading largely YA, I'd like to read some grown-up secondary world fantasy novels. Persnickety tastes below the fold.
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posted by PhoBWanKenobi
on Apr 30, 2013 -
58 answers
A while ago I read an essay/article/rant online re a fantasy author / series and I'd like to read it again but google is failing me because I can't remember any specifics.
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posted by fearfulsymmetry
on Apr 23, 2013 -
2 answers
Sci-Fi/FantasyFilter: I've just been told that I get to be the first one to teach a brand new Science Fiction & Fantasy elective at my High School. I am building this class from scratch and since the students will be responsible for getting the books themselves, I have pretty much free-reign for my book choices. Great, right? Absolutely! However, I want to expand my initial book search so I wanted to enlist the Hive Mind to help with this initial salvo. More details below the fold.
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posted by ThaBombShelterSmith
on Mar 21, 2013 -
68 answers
Just too late for Valentine's Day, recommend me some awesome fantasy novels with satisfying romances.
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posted by WidgetAlley
on Feb 15, 2013 -
18 answers
Name that young adult fantasy novel: Two boys who are enemies at school are transported to some magical scenario where they have to work together.
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posted by latkes
on Feb 13, 2013 -
4 answers
As a reader of fiction (especially if you're a devotee of
speculative fiction), how much do you like detailed descriptions and/or lists as part of the story? What if the story switches between detail and expediency?
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posted by batmonkey
on Dec 28, 2012 -
12 answers
I'm just finishing up
the third book in Ben Aaronovitch's "Rivers of London" series, and I've really enjoyed these books. What fantasy book(s) should I read next to suit my current mood?
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posted by taz
on Dec 18, 2012 -
12 answers
I remember this illustrated children's book from the 1970's, a vaguely Arthurian fantasy with anthropomorphic pigs. I think the main character was named "Hamlet" and there were other pig themed puns. He had an Excaliber-like sword that was all rusty and bent up. Please help me find it again.
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posted by wobh
on Dec 4, 2012 -
4 answers
What fantasy/SF/steampunk/cyberpunk novels feature guns or other modern or futuristic weapons with enchantments or magical effects on them?
posted by shivohum
on Sep 4, 2012 -
16 answers
Please help me find contemporary literary/fictional characters that make you want to love them, hate them, or -- even better -- both.
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posted by GnomeChompsky
on Aug 2, 2012 -
44 answers
I'm looking for some new books and/or authors to read, probably fantasy/SF or historical, dramatic but not dark and preferably with female characters.
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posted by jb
on Jul 16, 2012 -
47 answers
Requesting intelligent, well-written "realistic" epic fantasy book suggestions. Having George R.R. Martin withdrawals. Need more severed heads & engaging dialogue and relatable bleakness, less "you're the one," stilted conversations and Randomly capitalized Words.
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posted by apostrophe
on Jul 10, 2012 -
57 answers
I need a great escapist doorstop novel, and I love some magic and weird creatures, but most big fantasy novels seem to be about BAND of WARRIORS leading to EPIC BATTLE and grimness and people dying. Battles bore me and I'm just not that interested in violence (including magical violence). I'm also interested in people without so much power-- so no royalty, super-wizards, or Chosen Ones. Can you recommend fantasy books that AREN'T about warriors, magical or otherwise? That feature intrepid traders? Cunning craftspeople? What are the bourgeoisie and the working stiffs up to in magic epic land?
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posted by Erasmouse
on Jun 27, 2012 -
78 answers
There is no shortage of fantasy novels set in a fantasy world based on Europe. But what about fantasy worlds based on other cultures?
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posted by Kutsuwamushi
on Jun 2, 2012 -
54 answers
I'm looking for the title of a novel. The novel is set in the future, in a utopian society. Men and women have reverted to sexist roles (men farm and women cook and clean). The protagonist is a young woman, who runs away from home to go join one of the many military schools populating her country. The book has a male author, and last I checked it was no longer in print.
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posted by emilynoa
on Mar 20, 2012 -
3 answers
I'm looking for suggestions for science fiction/fantasy/fairy-tales/etc. for young(ish) girls. I'm especially interested in epic stories that are similar to the ones I devoured when I was that age (Star Trek, Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, superhero comics, Dragonlance, etc.), but which are centered on female protagonists and which don't reinforce sexist social messaging about female passivity or objectification.
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posted by gerryblog
on Feb 26, 2012 -
47 answers
Looking for some recommendations for serious fantasy books, especially those inspired by fairy tales. A couple guidelines inside.
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posted by houndsoflove
on Feb 16, 2012 -
59 answers
BookRecommendation Filter: More books that follow a character from youth through adulthood, to become someone powerful, famous and influential. ie- I'm looking for more books like Robin Hobb's Farseer trilogy and Patrick Rothfuss' Kingkiller Chronicle.
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posted by ThaBombShelterSmith
on Feb 11, 2012 -
39 answers
Bookfilter: looking for fantasy novels without the entrenched sexism. An impossible task? There are plenty of fantasy stories in which the woman proves herself equal to the men, but that's not what I'm looking for. I want a setting in which that proof simply isn't necessary.
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posted by marginaliana
on Oct 18, 2011 -
79 answers
Please help us find a book my friend saw mention of somewhere. Or recommend other books.
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posted by KChasm
on Aug 5, 2011 -
10 answers
I'd like to try to read a fantasy or even a sci-fi epic. I really have no experience in either realm besides Lord of The Rings, one Dune book, the Ender Series, and Hitchhikers. All of which I enjoyed but especially LOTR. What would be a good series to start off? The epic is the key thing as I want some nice thick books that I won't read in a day. I'm leery of things with faeries in them. Or twee YA books.
posted by kanata
on May 13, 2011 -
118 answers
Looking for titles for two fantasy books from childhood, the publishing time frame is 1970~1990ish. Scenes from Game of Thrones reminded a friend of them...
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posted by nightchrome
on Apr 18, 2011 -
11 answers
[YA book filter] I would like to find some YA or easy-to-read adult sci-fi, speculative fiction, or dystopian fiction. Preferably, about the United States or other earthly country, not deep-space intergalactic stuff.
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posted by lockstitch
on Mar 29, 2011 -
37 answers
Help me identify a pulp sci-fi/fantasy book from around the 1970's w/a male protagonist who ends up in a fantasy land and can "shift" objects to make them appear when he needs them.
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posted by dadici
on Jan 11, 2011 -
4 answers
What are the best magical duels and battles in literature? Sorcerors blasting each other with lightning bolts, the metaphysical shenanigans of Last Call etc, whatever. I haven't actually read the Harry Potter books, so if there are any particularly good wizard battles in that, do say.
posted by nicolas léonard sadi carnot
on Dec 17, 2010 -
38 answers
I'm currently looking for some new fantasy books to read. The last thread I found that was closest to this was in 2004, so I figure some new stuff has come out since then. I'm looking for books that are actually well written, and aren't overly dense or ridiculous.
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posted by gchucky
on Nov 30, 2010 -
38 answers
I am a long-time hardcore fantasy fan. I have scorned Harry Potter as fantasy for people who have never tried the real thing. Oh MeFi fantasy aficionados...is HP worth it for us?
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posted by zachawry
on Nov 20, 2010 -
40 answers
Going on a holiday with lots of car time, need a
decent, massive fantasy omnibus.
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posted by smoke
on Jun 22, 2010 -
37 answers
Do you know some sort of online database of books where you can make a profile and compile a list of what you've read? (more explanation)
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posted by CelebrenIthil
on Apr 21, 2010 -
11 answers
I'm writing a postgrad research paper on Michael Ende's
The Neverending Story. I'm keen to hear from anyone who has done any academic work on the novel, or those who have a personal interest in understanding aspects of the novel.
Very little in terms of scholarly research exists on the topic to date . My particular focus is a Jungian analysis of archetypes within the novel. It's an introduction of sorts, a quick overview (10 000 words) of a topic I have the potential of working onto a longer thesis.
posted by New England Cultist
on Apr 6, 2010 -
12 answers
Book-recommendation-filter: Can you help me find something to read? Parameters to follow.
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posted by Janta
on Dec 22, 2009 -
33 answers
Okay, fantasy novel ID two-fer. Book One: people live in villages that are suspended on the side of an enormous cliff and a girl is born who has wings. Book Two: set in a world made up of bits of earth suspended in a void, cape-fighters, a spider-god....
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posted by otolith
on Oct 28, 2009 -
7 answers
