Big Book Problem

[Doodlebug]

I am a massive Lord Of The Rings fan (aswell as an arthur fan). For obvious reasons i cant just keep on reading it over and over again throught the whole year however im finding it difficult find any other decent fantasy books. Ive read all of David Eddings' books (brilliant stuff) and just started reading Robert Jordan, which i find disappointing in many ways (plot,characters,badly written etc). can someone PLEASE help me?!!

[sft42]

Try Terry Pratchett, Robert Aspirin, Robert Rankin, Tom Holt all great authors and all, with the exception of Aspirin easy to get hold of. Unless you question was how do I get to like Robert Jordan in which case I am stumped.

[Hippy]

Two authors I enjoy are Mervyn Peak, his Gormanghast trilogy is gripping yet has its lighter humorous moments, and Hermann Hesse; his "Glass Bead Game" starts off rather slowly but soon hots up and has spawned some games based on the story.

[Hippy]

Whoops! That should have been Mervyn Peake and "Gormenghast"

[LeMarchand]

George R.R. Martin's "Song of Ice and Fire" currently runs to 3 books (in this country in paperback, part 3 was split into two volumes). Everyone I've recommended it to has loved it, it's been getting great reviews, and the fact that the author is taking his time with part 4 rather than churning out a book a year bodes well for continued quality.

[shybearuk]

I'd go with some of the suggestions already placed (Pratchett, Peake, LeGuin (but avoid Tehanu, bleurgh), but would recommend Terry Goodkind's Sword of Truth series. It hasn't got as 'up-it's-own-a**e' as the Jordan's seem to, and is far more manageable on terms of quantity of characters (i.e. less than ten thousand individual characters with names and subplots), and for a seriously good read, Robin Hobb's Assassins' trilogy, Liveship Traders trilogy and ... 'other' trilogy, the name of which escapes me >:/. Happy reading :)

[starman700]

also try tad williams memory sorrow and thorn trilogy ,i can also say the sword of truth series is also brilliant and original which is rare in the fantasy genre these days

[sft42]

NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO>>>>>do not be sucked ibnto reading the pap that is Larry Poofter by the media hype...over rated tripe written by a third rate plagarist hack....stick to the decent authors mentioned previous to this.....and the Dragonquest series of books are written by Anne McCaffery aren't they?

[Waterwolf]

Keep an eye out for the 'Fantasy Masterworks' series, which reprints a lot of underappreciated classics. There's plenty of good fantasy out there; you just need to look for it and keep an open mind. Some authors I'd recommend: Tom Arden, Jonathan Carroll, Dave Duncan, Jeffrey Ford, Neil Gaiman, Mary Gentle, John Grant, Robert Holdstock, Diana Wynne Jones, Graham Joyce, Garry Kilworth, Fritz Leiber, Michael Moorcock, China Mi�ville, Tim Powers, Jeff Vandermeer, John Whitbourn, Gene Wolfe. Will let you know if I think of any more'

[Hamish]

Try Terry Brooks (Sword of Shanara was inspired by LOTR) he has written a large number of books in the Shanara series, I have enjoyed them all. they start with the first king of Shanara (in the choronology of the series). His first book was The Sword of Shanara). Happy reading

[Gef]

Very surprised that Isaac Asimov has not had a mention yet so I'll give him one.

[shybearuk]

I agreea about Asimov being worthwhile, but most of the people I know tend to like either fantasy or sci/fi. Rarely both, so I didn't bother adding him, or Tad Williams Otherland series, which is an excellent read :)

[Doodlebug]

Thanks for all your suggestions guys (and gals)! I dont have enough time or money to rread them all yet but at least i know vaguely wots good and wots not. :-)

[Merthyr Imp]

Another author not mentioned so far is Raymond Feist. I can also strongly recommend the 'Incomplete Enchanter' stories by L.Sprague de Camp and Fletcher Pratt.