Stand-Alone Fantasy Novels?
February 19, 2009 11:46 AM Subscribe
Stand-alone fantasy book recommendations?
So many fantasy books are parts of series so I'm looking for suggestions of fantasy books that are engaging, stand-alone works.
Bonus points if they have medieval settings and characters who use magic.
Finally, although it *is* part of a series, the person I'm asking on behalf of cites "Ink Death" as an example of the type of book they're looking for.
So many fantasy books are parts of series so I'm looking for suggestions of fantasy books that are engaging, stand-alone works.
Bonus points if they have medieval settings and characters who use magic.
Finally, although it *is* part of a series, the person I'm asking on behalf of cites "Ink Death" as an example of the type of book they're looking for.
I just went to stand in front of my bookshelves thinking "I'm sure there are lots of stand-alone fantasy novels I can recommend!" But, wow, most of what I have is a part of a series. Some exceptions:
Tigana, Guy Gavriel Kay.
Fire and Hemlock, Diana Wynne Jones.
Tam Lin, Pamela Dean.
Stardust, Neil Gaiman.
and The Hobbit.
Tam Lin and Fire and Hemlock are more "fantasy set in our world" than the other three, for what it's worth.
posted by hought20 at 11:52 AM on February 19, 2009
Tigana, Guy Gavriel Kay.
Fire and Hemlock, Diana Wynne Jones.
Tam Lin, Pamela Dean.
Stardust, Neil Gaiman.
and The Hobbit.
Tam Lin and Fire and Hemlock are more "fantasy set in our world" than the other three, for what it's worth.
posted by hought20 at 11:52 AM on February 19, 2009
I was going to suggest Tam Lin as well. It's set in modern (well, 1970s) time but with a lot of Elizabethan era fun, too. It is probably my favorite book.
posted by padraigin at 11:55 AM on February 19, 2009 [1 favorite]
posted by padraigin at 11:55 AM on February 19, 2009 [1 favorite]
I would like to suggest Wizard's First Rule by Terry Goodkind. This is actually the first in a long series but is the only decent book in the series, and I would treat it as a stand-alone. I really enjoyed it and I thought the first book did a great job of tying in the loose plot ends so I never understoon why he continued the series. I do not recommend reading any other books by Terry Goodkind. I wasted too much time reading a few others of his and they scarred my soul.
A three book series of 300-ish page books (so total number of less than a 1000 pages for the series) was the Garth Nix triology: Sabriel, Lirael, and Abhorsen. I know you said no series but this one is so short that I feel it barely qualifies as a series.
Guy Gavriel Kay's The Lions of Al Rassan is like medival Spain is still one of my favourites.
Any other books I would recommend are all series, some of which are taking forever to be released (*cough*GRRMartinImtalkingtoyou*cough*).
posted by LunaticFringe at 11:59 AM on February 19, 2009
A three book series of 300-ish page books (so total number of less than a 1000 pages for the series) was the Garth Nix triology: Sabriel, Lirael, and Abhorsen. I know you said no series but this one is so short that I feel it barely qualifies as a series.
Guy Gavriel Kay's The Lions of Al Rassan is like medival Spain is still one of my favourites.
Any other books I would recommend are all series, some of which are taking forever to be released (*cough*GRRMartinImtalkingtoyou*cough*).
posted by LunaticFringe at 11:59 AM on February 19, 2009
Drawing of the Dark, Tim Powers
Bridge of Birds, Barry Hughart
posted by robocop is bleeding at 11:59 AM on February 19, 2009 [2 favorites]
Bridge of Birds, Barry Hughart
posted by robocop is bleeding at 11:59 AM on February 19, 2009 [2 favorites]
Most of Robin McKinley's works are stand-alone. I particularly like The Hero and the Crown, which definitely fits your criteria.
posted by fermion at 12:03 PM on February 19, 2009 [1 favorite]
posted by fermion at 12:03 PM on February 19, 2009 [1 favorite]
I want to de-recommend Wizard's First Rule. Sorry, LunaticFringe, but Goodkind is execrable.
Peace, by Gene Wolfe. He also has a two-book series that is more traditionally "fantasy:" The Knight and The Wizard.
Tigana and The Lions of Al-Rassan by Guy Gavriel Kay, as mentioned above, are excellent.
Unfortunately, most of the genre is in series. Bad series. Long series.
posted by sonic meat machine at 12:04 PM on February 19, 2009 [3 favorites]
Peace, by Gene Wolfe. He also has a two-book series that is more traditionally "fantasy:" The Knight and The Wizard.
Tigana and The Lions of Al-Rassan by Guy Gavriel Kay, as mentioned above, are excellent.
Unfortunately, most of the genre is in series. Bad series. Long series.
posted by sonic meat machine at 12:04 PM on February 19, 2009 [3 favorites]
Last Light of the Sun, by the already mentioned Guy Gavriel Kay.
posted by never used baby shoes at 12:05 PM on February 19, 2009
posted by never used baby shoes at 12:05 PM on February 19, 2009
The Last Unicorn. For many people it is shadowed by childhood memories of the animated version, but the book is excellent.
posted by otolith at 12:06 PM on February 19, 2009 [1 favorite]
posted by otolith at 12:06 PM on February 19, 2009 [1 favorite]
In fact, almost everything Guy Gavriel Kay has written is stand-alone, except his first trilogy (The Fionavar Tapestry, which I didn't prefer) and the truly excellent two book sequence Sailing to Sarantium and Lord of Emperors. Hard going, though----they can be awfully grim, but exceedingly well written.
Brandon Sanderson's Elantris is a standalone fantasy that I thought was very solid.
After having read Mistborn (first in a trilogy by him), it felt awfully derivative of other fantasy stuff. But this may just be that Mistborn was so good.
Tad Williams' _War for the Flowers_ was good.
posted by leahwrenn at 12:19 PM on February 19, 2009
Brandon Sanderson's Elantris is a standalone fantasy that I thought was very solid.
After having read Mistborn (first in a trilogy by him), it felt awfully derivative of other fantasy stuff. But this may just be that Mistborn was so good.
Tad Williams' _War for the Flowers_ was good.
posted by leahwrenn at 12:19 PM on February 19, 2009
I really like Tanya Huff's "The Fire Stone" and "Gate of Darkness, Circle of Light". They're both stand-alone, shorter fantasies (2-3 hundred pages each - I got them in a book that contained both of them). They're fun and quirky reads with things like non-traditional heroines (such as a mentally disabled girl in one) and gay love stories in both. (FS has a medival setting, GoDCoL has a modern setting.)
Seconding the Lions of Al Rassan, although I personally like Kay's Song for Arbonne more. Both are stand-alones involving medival settings and political and personal intrigue, although neither involves magic.
Stephen R Donaldson's The Mirror of Her Dreams & A Man Rides through are two books, not one, but that seems positively tiny for a fantasy series these days, and I really enjoyed it when I read it, and it hits all the qualifiers, so I'm going to rec it.
posted by shaun uh at 12:19 PM on February 19, 2009 [1 favorite]
Seconding the Lions of Al Rassan, although I personally like Kay's Song for Arbonne more. Both are stand-alones involving medival settings and political and personal intrigue, although neither involves magic.
Stephen R Donaldson's The Mirror of Her Dreams & A Man Rides through are two books, not one, but that seems positively tiny for a fantasy series these days, and I really enjoyed it when I read it, and it hits all the qualifiers, so I'm going to rec it.
posted by shaun uh at 12:19 PM on February 19, 2009 [1 favorite]
The Legend of Huma. It is part of the Dragonlance series and it has sequels, but the book itself functions very well as a stand alone novel.
The Redemption of Althalus by David and Leigh Eddings.
posted by Silvertree at 12:19 PM on February 19, 2009
The Redemption of Althalus by David and Leigh Eddings.
posted by Silvertree at 12:19 PM on February 19, 2009
Oddly (since I'm not a huge fan, and this isn't his normal genre), I always thought Eyes of the Dragon by Stephen King was pretty good as a stand-alone book. It ties into his bigger mythos eventually, but wasn't written with that explicitly in mind.
posted by Shepherd at 12:22 PM on February 19, 2009 [2 favorites]
posted by Shepherd at 12:22 PM on February 19, 2009 [2 favorites]
Charles deLint may be more modern than you're looking for, but almost all his books are stand alone. I adore them.
Patricia A. McKillip - Heir of Sea and Fire is a trilogy, but the books have been collected into one thick volume, which really makes sense. All the rest of her stuff is stand alone.
I'll have to come back to this tonight or tomorrow! I have a lot of stand alone fantasy, I know I do - just have to get home to check my bookshelves.
posted by mygothlaundry at 12:28 PM on February 19, 2009
Patricia A. McKillip - Heir of Sea and Fire is a trilogy, but the books have been collected into one thick volume, which really makes sense. All the rest of her stuff is stand alone.
I'll have to come back to this tonight or tomorrow! I have a lot of stand alone fantasy, I know I do - just have to get home to check my bookshelves.
posted by mygothlaundry at 12:28 PM on February 19, 2009
The King of Elflands Daughter by Lord Dunsany is pretty much the best fantasy book ever. Gene Wolfe's Wizard Knight is available in a single volume.
Two fantasies set in modern London:
I rarely think Neil Gaiman is as good as his reviews, but I loved Anansi Boys (perhaps because I got the audio book with a stunning narration by Lenny Henry). King Rat by China Mieville was even better, although very dark.
All the other fantasies I really like are part of series so thanks for the question! I am tired of waiting three years for the next installment, or of authors dying inconveniently and will be checking out a lot of these recommendations.
posted by nowonmai at 12:36 PM on February 19, 2009
Two fantasies set in modern London:
I rarely think Neil Gaiman is as good as his reviews, but I loved Anansi Boys (perhaps because I got the audio book with a stunning narration by Lenny Henry). King Rat by China Mieville was even better, although very dark.
All the other fantasies I really like are part of series so thanks for the question! I am tired of waiting three years for the next installment, or of authors dying inconveniently and will be checking out a lot of these recommendations.
posted by nowonmai at 12:36 PM on February 19, 2009
Neither of these is traditional swords & sorcery, but both have magic:
The House Between the Worlds, by Marion Zimmer Bradley
The High House, by James Stoddard. This has a sequel, but I haven't read it (and, actually, didn't know it existed until I checked for this post).
posted by doorsnake at 12:39 PM on February 19, 2009
The House Between the Worlds, by Marion Zimmer Bradley
The High House, by James Stoddard. This has a sequel, but I haven't read it (and, actually, didn't know it existed until I checked for this post).
posted by doorsnake at 12:39 PM on February 19, 2009
Depends on what you mean by "Fantasy" - if you're after swords and dragons and elves fighting dwarves, The Hobbit is the best stand-alone example of the genre, and Gaiman's Stardust is also excellent, as is Urlsa K. LeGuinn's A Wizard of Earthsea. (Like the Hobbit, she wrote more books set in the same world, but this one can and does stand on its own.) Steven King's "Eyes of the Dragon" is also worth a read.
T.H. White's "The Once and Future King" might be up your alley as well - a novelized and folksy retelling of Arthurian legend. Very readable and compelling.
If you mean magic and monsters in general, Gaiman is the man to see here, too, with American Gods setting a very high bar. Charles deLint writes as prolifically as most series-churners, but most of his novels are separate, stand-alone stories involving secret inhuman races and sorcerers set in the middle of a modern city. Just look for deLint, and pick one at random - not brilliant works of genius, but generally very enjoyable.
posted by Slap*Happy at 12:39 PM on February 19, 2009
T.H. White's "The Once and Future King" might be up your alley as well - a novelized and folksy retelling of Arthurian legend. Very readable and compelling.
If you mean magic and monsters in general, Gaiman is the man to see here, too, with American Gods setting a very high bar. Charles deLint writes as prolifically as most series-churners, but most of his novels are separate, stand-alone stories involving secret inhuman races and sorcerers set in the middle of a modern city. Just look for deLint, and pick one at random - not brilliant works of genius, but generally very enjoyable.
posted by Slap*Happy at 12:39 PM on February 19, 2009
I will note first off, that in looking through my list of standalone fantasy novels, there seem to be a lot that have more contemporary settings. It seems like most fantasy novels with more medieval settings and lots of magic are series.
Lloyd Alexander: The Wizard in the Tree (YA fantasy)
Clive Barker: Imajica & The Thief of Always
Orson Scott Card: Enchantment, Hart's Hope, Homebody, Songmaster
Susanna Clarke: Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrel
Neil Gaiman: Neverwhere, Coraline
William Goldman: The Princess Bride
Simon R. Green: Drinking Midnight Wine
Gail Carson Levine: Ella Enchanted
Dennis McKiernan: Caverns of Socrates, Once Upon a Winter's Night
Michael Stackpole: Talion
Sheri S. Tepper: Beauty
posted by bove at 12:47 PM on February 19, 2009
Lloyd Alexander: The Wizard in the Tree (YA fantasy)
Clive Barker: Imajica & The Thief of Always
Orson Scott Card: Enchantment, Hart's Hope, Homebody, Songmaster
Susanna Clarke: Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrel
Neil Gaiman: Neverwhere, Coraline
William Goldman: The Princess Bride
Simon R. Green: Drinking Midnight Wine
Gail Carson Levine: Ella Enchanted
Dennis McKiernan: Caverns of Socrates, Once Upon a Winter's Night
Michael Stackpole: Talion
Sheri S. Tepper: Beauty
posted by bove at 12:47 PM on February 19, 2009
The Hero and the Crown by Robin McKinley
The Blue Sword by Robin McKinley
Talisman by Stephen King
Eye of the Serpent by Stephen King
Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchet
Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman
The Phoenix Guards by Steven Brust
Tigana by Guy Gavriel Kay
The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien
The Crystal Shard by R.A. Salvatore (yes, its a series but this is the first book and was originally released as a stand alone and in fact you can read this and ignore the rest of the series).
posted by Vindaloo at 12:48 PM on February 19, 2009
The Blue Sword by Robin McKinley
Talisman by Stephen King
Eye of the Serpent by Stephen King
Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchet
Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman
The Phoenix Guards by Steven Brust
Tigana by Guy Gavriel Kay
The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien
The Crystal Shard by R.A. Salvatore (yes, its a series but this is the first book and was originally released as a stand alone and in fact you can read this and ignore the rest of the series).
posted by Vindaloo at 12:48 PM on February 19, 2009
The Princess Bride!
Also, Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell is a love it or hate it kind of book, but it's one of my favorite books ever.
The Scar by China Mievelle is technically a followup to events in Perdido Street Station, but is really standalone both in plot and characters. Floating pirate city!
Graceling and Princess Ben are both recent YA-marketed standalone fantasy books with strong female characters. These and the Princess Bride are probably more suited to the Inkdeath audience.
posted by pekala at 12:48 PM on February 19, 2009 [1 favorite]
Also, Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell is a love it or hate it kind of book, but it's one of my favorite books ever.
The Scar by China Mievelle is technically a followup to events in Perdido Street Station, but is really standalone both in plot and characters. Floating pirate city!
Graceling and Princess Ben are both recent YA-marketed standalone fantasy books with strong female characters. These and the Princess Bride are probably more suited to the Inkdeath audience.
posted by pekala at 12:48 PM on February 19, 2009 [1 favorite]
All of my favorites have been suggested already (Guy Gavriel Kay is great. His novels blend together a bit, but they're so good I don't care.), so here are a few more that fit the criteria:
Not so great stand-alone novels:
*Perdido Street Station by China Mieville is a stand-alone work, and relatively well received. I had a violently negative reaction, though, so YMMV.
*Hart's Hope by Orson Scott Card. I liked this when I was younger, but I cannot vouch for it these days. Has a medieval setting.
Other recommendations that skirt the criteria, but that I can recommend:
*The Deed of Paksenarrion, by Elizabeth Moon, is technically a trilogy, but its sold now in one large book.
*The Chronicles of Amber, by Roger Zelazny, is the same, a series of short novels combined into one large standalone book.
*Brian Jaques has written a series of young adult novels that take place in the same alternate world, but all are essentially stand-alone (and once you've read one, you've pretty much read them all anyway). The first one, Redwall, would fit your criteria well.
posted by kingjoeshmoe at 12:52 PM on February 19, 2009
Not so great stand-alone novels:
*Perdido Street Station by China Mieville is a stand-alone work, and relatively well received. I had a violently negative reaction, though, so YMMV.
*Hart's Hope by Orson Scott Card. I liked this when I was younger, but I cannot vouch for it these days. Has a medieval setting.
Other recommendations that skirt the criteria, but that I can recommend:
*The Deed of Paksenarrion, by Elizabeth Moon, is technically a trilogy, but its sold now in one large book.
*The Chronicles of Amber, by Roger Zelazny, is the same, a series of short novels combined into one large standalone book.
*Brian Jaques has written a series of young adult novels that take place in the same alternate world, but all are essentially stand-alone (and once you've read one, you've pretty much read them all anyway). The first one, Redwall, would fit your criteria well.
posted by kingjoeshmoe at 12:52 PM on February 19, 2009
I personally love Wizard's First Rule by Terry Goodkind, I think it stands alone very nicely as a single book, but I also think the rest of the series is great. Its probably exactly what you are looking for, lots of magic and a somewhat medieval setting.
posted by miscbuff at 12:53 PM on February 19, 2009
posted by miscbuff at 12:53 PM on February 19, 2009
Dennis McKiernan has several stand alone books that take place in his fantasy world of Mithgar that I liked: Eye of the Hunter and Voyage of the Fox Rider.
Micheal Stackpole typically writes scifi but Once a Hero is totally captivating.
posted by euphorb at 12:56 PM on February 19, 2009
Micheal Stackpole typically writes scifi but Once a Hero is totally captivating.
posted by euphorb at 12:56 PM on February 19, 2009
Oh, I forgot to mention Lyndon Hardy who wrote three books which take place in the same world but have different stories and characters. Master of the Five Magics, Secret of the Sixth Magic, and Riddle of the Seven Realms
posted by euphorb at 1:01 PM on February 19, 2009
posted by euphorb at 1:01 PM on February 19, 2009
I enjoyed the neverending story by another German author, Michael Ende. It would probably be published as two books today.
posted by Tobu at 1:03 PM on February 19, 2009 [1 favorite]
posted by Tobu at 1:03 PM on February 19, 2009 [1 favorite]
Drinking Midnight Wine is a fairly enjoyable standalone that I recently read.
Douglas Adams' two Dirk Gently novels are totally standalone as well: Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency and The Long, Dark Tea-Time of the Soul.
posted by natabat at 1:15 PM on February 19, 2009
Douglas Adams' two Dirk Gently novels are totally standalone as well: Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency and The Long, Dark Tea-Time of the Soul.
posted by natabat at 1:15 PM on February 19, 2009
Elantris and Hero and the Crown have already been mentioned, but I'd also throw in anything by Terry Pratchett. Sure, lots of stories in the Discworld series feature the same characters, but there's no reason any of the books can't be enjoyed on their own. Very few of them have stories that depend on knowing what happened in previous novels.
posted by caution live frogs at 2:13 PM on February 19, 2009
posted by caution live frogs at 2:13 PM on February 19, 2009
nthing Tigana by Guy Gavriel Kay. I found his others to be slow going.
The Cursed by Dave Duncan (hugely underrated fantasy writer) is completely standalone and quite excellent.
posted by jefftang at 2:37 PM on February 19, 2009
The Cursed by Dave Duncan (hugely underrated fantasy writer) is completely standalone and quite excellent.
posted by jefftang at 2:37 PM on February 19, 2009
I've never seen Fantasy Masterworks (or its sister line SF Masterworks) put a foot wrong, and they are all standalones. Personal recommendation would be Tales Of The Dying Earth by Jack Vance.
posted by turgid dahlia at 2:39 PM on February 19, 2009 [1 favorite]
posted by turgid dahlia at 2:39 PM on February 19, 2009 [1 favorite]
Little, Big, John Crowley
Wizard of the Pigeons, Megan Lindholm
The Anubis Gates; The Stress of Her Regard; Last Call, Tim Powers
American Gods, Neil Gaiman (Anansi Boys is also darn good, and, while they share a character and are nominally set in the same world, they're not very serial.)
Temporary Agency, Rachel Pollack (there are two other books set in this world, but they don't share characters and, again, aren't very serial)
Lord of Light; Creatures of Light and Darkness; A Night in the Lonesome October, Roger Zelazny
posted by Zed at 2:42 PM on February 19, 2009 [2 favorites]
Wizard of the Pigeons, Megan Lindholm
The Anubis Gates; The Stress of Her Regard; Last Call, Tim Powers
American Gods, Neil Gaiman (Anansi Boys is also darn good, and, while they share a character and are nominally set in the same world, they're not very serial.)
Temporary Agency, Rachel Pollack (there are two other books set in this world, but they don't share characters and, again, aren't very serial)
Lord of Light; Creatures of Light and Darkness; A Night in the Lonesome October, Roger Zelazny
posted by Zed at 2:42 PM on February 19, 2009 [2 favorites]
The Dragon Waiting by John M Ford is set in an alternate 15th century Europe where people do use magic. It's my favourite alternate-history novel (also starring Lorenzo de Medici and Richard III.) So, so good.
posted by Pallas Athena at 3:54 PM on February 19, 2009 [1 favorite]
posted by Pallas Athena at 3:54 PM on February 19, 2009 [1 favorite]
The Face in the Frost by John Bellairs manages to be both funny and kind of scary, and has wizards, magic, kings and so forth in it.
posted by zadcat at 3:57 PM on February 19, 2009
posted by zadcat at 3:57 PM on February 19, 2009
Anything by Nini Kiriki Hoffman would be excellent.
posted by still_wears_a_hat at 4:33 PM on February 19, 2009
posted by still_wears_a_hat at 4:33 PM on February 19, 2009
Seconding The Face in the Frost, and recommending The Box of Delights by John Masefield.
I suppose it is technically a 'sequel' to The Midnight Folk, but really it just re-uses the main character, the story itself stands alone.
Before you read it, get a trusted friend or your bookseller to cut out the last paragraph for you.
Damn you Masefield!
posted by Catch at 5:26 PM on February 19, 2009
I suppose it is technically a 'sequel' to The Midnight Folk, but really it just re-uses the main character, the story itself stands alone.
Before you read it, get a trusted friend or your bookseller to cut out the last paragraph for you.
Damn you Masefield!
posted by Catch at 5:26 PM on February 19, 2009
Seconding Little, Big by John Crowley
Also:
Winter's Tale by Mark Helprin
Star of the Unborn by Frank Werfel
A Fine and Private Place by Peter S. Beagle
The Charwoman's Shadow by Lord Dunsany
Red Moon and Black Mountain by Joy Chant
Islandia by Austin Tappan Wright
The Worm Ouroboros by ER Eddison
posted by pushing paper and bottoming chairs at 5:44 PM on February 19, 2009
Also:
Winter's Tale by Mark Helprin
Star of the Unborn by Frank Werfel
A Fine and Private Place by Peter S. Beagle
The Charwoman's Shadow by Lord Dunsany
Red Moon and Black Mountain by Joy Chant
Islandia by Austin Tappan Wright
The Worm Ouroboros by ER Eddison
posted by pushing paper and bottoming chairs at 5:44 PM on February 19, 2009
nthing Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell, by Susannah Clarke. (Anyone who liked it should also read The Ladies of Grace Adieu, btw.)
King Rat, by China Miéville
Un Lun Dun by China Miéville
Salamander, by Thomas Wharton
Lud-in-the-Mist, by Helen Hope Mirrlees
The Thief Lord by Cornelia Funke
posted by gemmy at 6:08 PM on February 19, 2009
King Rat, by China Miéville
Un Lun Dun by China Miéville
Salamander, by Thomas Wharton
Lud-in-the-Mist, by Helen Hope Mirrlees
The Thief Lord by Cornelia Funke
posted by gemmy at 6:08 PM on February 19, 2009
Infinitying the John Crowley and Mark Helprin recs here - LIttle, Big and A Winter's Tale are books you should be proud to own and share with others.
Also, not fantasy, but John Crowley's Engine Summer is one of the finest SF books ever written.
posted by Lipstick Thespian at 7:13 PM on February 19, 2009
Also, not fantasy, but John Crowley's Engine Summer is one of the finest SF books ever written.
posted by Lipstick Thespian at 7:13 PM on February 19, 2009
Among the uniformly wonderful Fantasy Masterworks to which Turgid Dahlia linked, I'll draw special attention to Lud-in-the-Mist, a slim novelty from 1926 by a translator and poet named Hope Mirrlees.
Did you ever see Neil Gaiman's blurb for Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell? "Unquestionably the finest English novel of the fantastic written in the last 70 years," it reads. Lud-in-the-Mist is the reason for the qualifier.
posted by Iridic at 8:21 PM on February 19, 2009
Did you ever see Neil Gaiman's blurb for Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell? "Unquestionably the finest English novel of the fantastic written in the last 70 years," it reads. Lud-in-the-Mist is the reason for the qualifier.
posted by Iridic at 8:21 PM on February 19, 2009
Lots of my favorites are already listed here, but consider also The Raven Ring by Patricia Wrede, The Goose Girl by Shannon Hale, and Deep Secret by Diana Wynne Jones. For Patricia McKillip a good one is The Forgotten Beasts of Eld. For Nina Kiriki Hoffman good ones are The Thread That Binds the Bones and The Silent Strength of Stones. Try Patricia Briggs - The Hob's Bargain, When Demons Walk, and Dragon Bones and its sequel Dragon Blood. Tamora Pierce - Trickster's Choice and sequel Trickster's Queen. Set in contemporary times but worth checking out is The Wood Wife by Terri Windling.
posted by gudrun at 11:37 PM on February 19, 2009
posted by gudrun at 11:37 PM on February 19, 2009
Neal Stephenson:
The Diamond Age,
Cryptonomicon
Geoff Ryman:
The Child Garden
Neil Gaiman:
Neverwhere,
American Gods
Ian Banks
The Business
Anne Rice (if you dig her)
Servant of the Bones
just off the top of my head, I'm probably forgetting some good stuff. I may be back!
Looking forward to investigating other people's recommendations.
posted by snuffleupagus at 12:23 AM on February 20, 2009
The Diamond Age,
Cryptonomicon
Geoff Ryman:
The Child Garden
Neil Gaiman:
Neverwhere,
American Gods
Ian Banks
The Business
Anne Rice (if you dig her)
Servant of the Bones
just off the top of my head, I'm probably forgetting some good stuff. I may be back!
Looking forward to investigating other people's recommendations.
posted by snuffleupagus at 12:23 AM on February 20, 2009
"The Crystal Shard..."
The first rule of Drizzt fandom is that you don't talk about Drizzt fandom (if you ever want to get laid. Ever. Again.)
Let's not even talk about Raistlin. Emo before there was emo.
Salvatore. Weiss & Hickman. Those names conjure up a strange mix distant delight and immediate embarrassment.
posted by snuffleupagus at 12:33 AM on February 20, 2009 [2 favorites]
The first rule of Drizzt fandom is that you don't talk about Drizzt fandom (if you ever want to get laid. Ever. Again.)
Let's not even talk about Raistlin. Emo before there was emo.
Salvatore. Weiss & Hickman. Those names conjure up a strange mix distant delight and immediate embarrassment.
posted by snuffleupagus at 12:33 AM on February 20, 2009 [2 favorites]
Swordspoint by Ellen Kushner, a terrific novel of political intrigue, swordsmen, and decadent nobles
The Carpet Makers by Andreas Eschbach, it's a German novel mostly set in a medieval time and goes back and forth between science fiction and fantasy, but much more tilted towards the fantasy side
The Lives of Christopher Chant by Diana Wynne Jones is part of her Chrestomanci series, but it is easily the strongest one of the series and works very well on its own.
Anything by Patricia Mckillip fits this as well.
posted by so much modern time at 3:11 AM on February 20, 2009
The Carpet Makers by Andreas Eschbach, it's a German novel mostly set in a medieval time and goes back and forth between science fiction and fantasy, but much more tilted towards the fantasy side
The Lives of Christopher Chant by Diana Wynne Jones is part of her Chrestomanci series, but it is easily the strongest one of the series and works very well on its own.
Anything by Patricia Mckillip fits this as well.
posted by so much modern time at 3:11 AM on February 20, 2009
Hello. Try Lyonesse by Jack Vance. It hits all your buttons - it's a fantasy, it's in a medieval setting, it has magic, it stands alone. (A lot of suggestions on this list, fun though they are, are not medieval.)
Other things that set it apart:
1) Vance's characters' dialogue is extremely dry and eloquent and funny.
2) The main character really gets put through the wringer and escapes through wit, courage and physical ability. (Not just by being good with a sword.)
3) Its magic is truly magical - unpredictable, creepy, whimsical, ironical. Too many fantasy novels make magic about as mysterious as ordering a rarely-seen combination at Starbucks.
4) It traverses lots of different milieux that tick many of the medieval fantasy boxes: vicious combat, courtly intrigue, the fairy otherworld, wizardly duels, roguish con-games, etc.
5) It is unsentimental without being amoral - humanity is often depicted as conniving, vicious and cruel, but individuals can also exhibit dignity, honour and empathy.
(ps - afterwards, he wrote a couple of sequels. I'm talking about the first book, subtitled Suldrun's Garden, which is a standalone.)
posted by laumry at 3:39 AM on February 20, 2009
Other things that set it apart:
1) Vance's characters' dialogue is extremely dry and eloquent and funny.
2) The main character really gets put through the wringer and escapes through wit, courage and physical ability. (Not just by being good with a sword.)
3) Its magic is truly magical - unpredictable, creepy, whimsical, ironical. Too many fantasy novels make magic about as mysterious as ordering a rarely-seen combination at Starbucks.
4) It traverses lots of different milieux that tick many of the medieval fantasy boxes: vicious combat, courtly intrigue, the fairy otherworld, wizardly duels, roguish con-games, etc.
5) It is unsentimental without being amoral - humanity is often depicted as conniving, vicious and cruel, but individuals can also exhibit dignity, honour and empathy.
(ps - afterwards, he wrote a couple of sequels. I'm talking about the first book, subtitled Suldrun's Garden, which is a standalone.)
posted by laumry at 3:39 AM on February 20, 2009
Ursus of Ultima Thule by Avram Davidson
posted by Restless Day at 4:32 AM on February 20, 2009
posted by Restless Day at 4:32 AM on February 20, 2009
Lois McMaster Bujold - The Curse of Chalion
posted by gakiko at 8:19 AM on February 20 [+] [!]
Nnthing to the utmost.
That is one of the finest fantasy novels - indeed, novel of any kind - that I have read in the last 32 years. The use of magic, however, is sparing - actually, I don't believe there is any magic per se, but the actions of the gods through people looks like magic and is called it.
And I really love Tigana, which has stood up to about four readings so far - and there is magic use in there, but again it is used sparingly - being a wizard makes one rare, and powerful (and potentially dangerous).
Both have Rennaisance-style, rather than medieval settings. But you really don't care about that - still no industry, it's just a change in the hat fashions.
Bujold has written two more stand-alone novels in that same universe which are excellent - again, the magic is sparing and really is religious/god-originating in character. Kay's other novels are good - but not as good for me as Tigana, because he gets too close to the history, and the historian in me starts to itch if the pseudo-historical fantasy (as Tigana and Curse of Chalion both are - they are inspired by real-world countries c1400-1500) gets close enough to the history that I just notice the mistakes.
Bridge of Birds by Barry Hughart is one of the sadly most underrarted novels - delicate and beautful. But not a medieval European setting but a medieval Chinese setting, and almost no magic to my memory. Again, some gods. And an evil undead duke.
Actually, thinking about it - I think I prefer my fantasy to have divine mystery than simple magic.
posted by jb at 8:07 AM on February 20, 2009
posted by gakiko at 8:19 AM on February 20 [+] [!]
Nnthing to the utmost.
That is one of the finest fantasy novels - indeed, novel of any kind - that I have read in the last 32 years. The use of magic, however, is sparing - actually, I don't believe there is any magic per se, but the actions of the gods through people looks like magic and is called it.
And I really love Tigana, which has stood up to about four readings so far - and there is magic use in there, but again it is used sparingly - being a wizard makes one rare, and powerful (and potentially dangerous).
Both have Rennaisance-style, rather than medieval settings. But you really don't care about that - still no industry, it's just a change in the hat fashions.
Bujold has written two more stand-alone novels in that same universe which are excellent - again, the magic is sparing and really is religious/god-originating in character. Kay's other novels are good - but not as good for me as Tigana, because he gets too close to the history, and the historian in me starts to itch if the pseudo-historical fantasy (as Tigana and Curse of Chalion both are - they are inspired by real-world countries c1400-1500) gets close enough to the history that I just notice the mistakes.
Bridge of Birds by Barry Hughart is one of the sadly most underrarted novels - delicate and beautful. But not a medieval European setting but a medieval Chinese setting, and almost no magic to my memory. Again, some gods. And an evil undead duke.
Actually, thinking about it - I think I prefer my fantasy to have divine mystery than simple magic.
posted by jb at 8:07 AM on February 20, 2009
Neal Stephenson:
The Diamond Age,
Cryptonomicon
Geoff Ryman:
The Child Garden
Neil Gaiman:
Neverwhere,
American Gods
Um... these are all very good novels - but none of them are medieval set fantasy.
Gaimen's books are brilliant and I love them, and what I love about them is the fact that they are set in the contemporary world and constantly clash modern western UK/US culture against fairies or gods respectively.
The Child Garden is a brilliant science-fiction novel with more poetry than science, set in an unknown future when people photosynthesize. There is no fantasy, but also very little science - the author really is driven by image and narrativium in his works.
And The Diamond Age and Cryptonomicon are both hard science-fiction - very good, but nothing like fantasy. (First set in a future - Victorian/Cyberpunk, the second in the present and in WW2 - about computers).
posted by jb at 8:14 AM on February 20, 2009
The Diamond Age,
Cryptonomicon
Geoff Ryman:
The Child Garden
Neil Gaiman:
Neverwhere,
American Gods
Um... these are all very good novels - but none of them are medieval set fantasy.
Gaimen's books are brilliant and I love them, and what I love about them is the fact that they are set in the contemporary world and constantly clash modern western UK/US culture against fairies or gods respectively.
The Child Garden is a brilliant science-fiction novel with more poetry than science, set in an unknown future when people photosynthesize. There is no fantasy, but also very little science - the author really is driven by image and narrativium in his works.
And The Diamond Age and Cryptonomicon are both hard science-fiction - very good, but nothing like fantasy. (First set in a future - Victorian/Cyberpunk, the second in the present and in WW2 - about computers).
posted by jb at 8:14 AM on February 20, 2009
That's like, your opinion, man. Except for the "medieval set" bit. Which was a preference, not a requirement. With the strong preference for multiple volume series in that sub-genre, some of us are suggesting the OP branch out a little. Sorry if that offends your strict taxonomy of popular fiction.
Gaiman's books are indeed set in the contemporary world (or at least the recently contemporary world). Past that, is it OK with you if we call them fantasy? Great, thanks.
The Child Garden is very fabulist SF. You can assert that "there is no fantasy" but that doesn't make it so.
the author really is driven by image and narrativium in his works.
This disqualifies a work from being fantasy? What is required? Swords of Awesomeness, Moody Princes of Lost Empires and a strong palimpsest of a TSR product?
And The Diamond Age and Cryptonomicon are both hard science-fiction
I'm not sure either is hard SF. Victorian Cyberpunk, if you want to label The Diamond Age that way, certainly has a strong fantastic feel to it. Mieville's "steampunk" qualifies, but not Stephenson's "victorian cyberpunk?" Are these useful distinctions?
Cryptonomicon is more of a stretch, but it's not hard SF either. It has some fabulist elements to it. I wouldn't assert that it's a fantasy novel, but I would suggest it to reader of fantasy.
I would have suggested the Baroque Trilogy, except it's a trilogy and I didn't love it all that much by the end.
Hard SF, to me, is Dick or Asimov or Bester or Dickson , etc etc...(in no particular order and neglecting lots of other authors.)
posted by snuffleupagus at 10:01 AM on February 20, 2009
Gaiman's books are indeed set in the contemporary world (or at least the recently contemporary world). Past that, is it OK with you if we call them fantasy? Great, thanks.
The Child Garden is very fabulist SF. You can assert that "there is no fantasy" but that doesn't make it so.
the author really is driven by image and narrativium in his works.
This disqualifies a work from being fantasy? What is required? Swords of Awesomeness, Moody Princes of Lost Empires and a strong palimpsest of a TSR product?
And The Diamond Age and Cryptonomicon are both hard science-fiction
I'm not sure either is hard SF. Victorian Cyberpunk, if you want to label The Diamond Age that way, certainly has a strong fantastic feel to it. Mieville's "steampunk" qualifies, but not Stephenson's "victorian cyberpunk?" Are these useful distinctions?
Cryptonomicon is more of a stretch, but it's not hard SF either. It has some fabulist elements to it. I wouldn't assert that it's a fantasy novel, but I would suggest it to reader of fantasy.
I would have suggested the Baroque Trilogy, except it's a trilogy and I didn't love it all that much by the end.
Hard SF, to me, is Dick or Asimov or Bester or Dickson , etc etc...(in no particular order and neglecting lots of other authors.)
posted by snuffleupagus at 10:01 AM on February 20, 2009
The Lost Years of Merlin by T.A. Barron. Stand alone, quick read, a new twist on an old character, stuck in my head for years afterward. Sounds like just what you're looking for.
posted by lunit at 1:20 PM on February 20, 2009
posted by lunit at 1:20 PM on February 20, 2009
Oh, and as to Goodkind. Some of those books are really great, but you won't be able to read just the one. You'll want to read all of them, and then you'll be kicking yourself for it. Stay away.
posted by lunit at 1:23 PM on February 20, 2009
posted by lunit at 1:23 PM on February 20, 2009
That's like, your opinion, man.
Yes, genre is just a matter of opinion. Then no one will mind if I recommend Jane Austin to someone looking for cyberpunk. I mean, those carriages are pretty wired, right? I didn't say that they weren't good books (you included some of my favorites) - I just wanted to alert the poster that three weren't fantasy, and none were medieval set. Modern set fantasy is a very different genre and many stylistic differences. If I'm in the mood for high medieval fantasy, modern urban fantasy just doesn't seem right, and vice versa. It's like ice-cream and hot pudding - both really good, but not the same.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
My husband chimes in with this (neither of which are medieval-set fantasy novels, but rather medieval written literature with elements of fantasy):
"This may be way off-base, but I just finished reading Egil's Saga. Okay, it was written 800 years ago, but it is absolutely chock full of family drama, sword play, comedy and nifty rune magic. If you are going to read a sword and sorcery saga, why not try your hand at going back and reading the actual sagas that were their source texts?
Also, the Prose Edda - I just got to the part where Loki invents the fishing net, and then promptly gets caught in it. Oh, how they laughed...before exacting their terrible vengance."
posted by jb at 3:53 PM on February 20, 2009
Yes, genre is just a matter of opinion. Then no one will mind if I recommend Jane Austin to someone looking for cyberpunk. I mean, those carriages are pretty wired, right? I didn't say that they weren't good books (you included some of my favorites) - I just wanted to alert the poster that three weren't fantasy, and none were medieval set. Modern set fantasy is a very different genre and many stylistic differences. If I'm in the mood for high medieval fantasy, modern urban fantasy just doesn't seem right, and vice versa. It's like ice-cream and hot pudding - both really good, but not the same.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
My husband chimes in with this (neither of which are medieval-set fantasy novels, but rather medieval written literature with elements of fantasy):
"This may be way off-base, but I just finished reading Egil's Saga. Okay, it was written 800 years ago, but it is absolutely chock full of family drama, sword play, comedy and nifty rune magic. If you are going to read a sword and sorcery saga, why not try your hand at going back and reading the actual sagas that were their source texts?
Also, the Prose Edda - I just got to the part where Loki invents the fishing net, and then promptly gets caught in it. Oh, how they laughed...before exacting their terrible vengance."
posted by jb at 3:53 PM on February 20, 2009
I've never read the book you mention, but the Ethshar books by Lawrence Watt-Evans are excellent. It is set in a medievel-ish world with warlockry, wizardry & sorcery all being distinct and well defined forms of magic. Each novel is a stand-alone novel, but are tied together by the world they are set in.
I also highly recommend almost everything by Christopher Moore. Lamb is his best book imho and I have yet to talk to anyone who has even started it that didn't enjoy it. You could pick up any of his books and enjoy them, but I'd recommend Lamb, Practical Demonkeeping, Bloodsucking Fiends or The Stupidest Angel to start.
posted by thekiltedwonder at 5:31 PM on February 20, 2009
I also highly recommend almost everything by Christopher Moore. Lamb is his best book imho and I have yet to talk to anyone who has even started it that didn't enjoy it. You could pick up any of his books and enjoy them, but I'd recommend Lamb, Practical Demonkeeping, Bloodsucking Fiends or The Stupidest Angel to start.
posted by thekiltedwonder at 5:31 PM on February 20, 2009
Off top of my head.
Villains by Necessity. Eve Forward (This book is the typical D&D adventure with a twist. The bad guys save the day. I remember loving it when I was young, but that's many years ago)
Her Majesty's Wizard. Charles Stasheff (An excellent example of guy transported from modern world to medieval.)
Like several people have said anything by Patricia McKillip (The Forgotten Beasts of Eld is a good starter.)
Resurrection Man. Sean Stewart (although this does not fit the typical fantasy format)
Song of the Beast. Carol Berg (dragons, boy, girl, etc. )
I'm drawing a blank on anything more recent. I shall have to check my bookshelves.
posted by jbjohnson at 1:45 PM on February 23, 2009 [1 favorite]
Villains by Necessity. Eve Forward (This book is the typical D&D adventure with a twist. The bad guys save the day. I remember loving it when I was young, but that's many years ago)
Her Majesty's Wizard. Charles Stasheff (An excellent example of guy transported from modern world to medieval.)
Like several people have said anything by Patricia McKillip (The Forgotten Beasts of Eld is a good starter.)
Resurrection Man. Sean Stewart (although this does not fit the typical fantasy format)
Song of the Beast. Carol Berg (dragons, boy, girl, etc. )
I'm drawing a blank on anything more recent. I shall have to check my bookshelves.
posted by jbjohnson at 1:45 PM on February 23, 2009 [1 favorite]
I don't have any new suggestions, but I am going to third The Face in The Frost to make sure you'll read it.
posted by Vic Morrow's Personal Vietnam at 3:43 PM on February 23, 2009
posted by Vic Morrow's Personal Vietnam at 3:43 PM on February 23, 2009
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by restless_nomad at 11:47 AM on February 19, 2009 [2 favorites]