by ☃ Aunt Shanny
Member since:
July 26, 2006

My Fantasy Fiction Top 10

June 21, 2008 05:14 PM EDT
views: 157 | comments: 33
Narrowing down my favorite fantasy novel series to a top ten was harder than I thought it would be. While Martin is probably #1, the others are not in any particular order; that task was impossible for me to do.

10. Sara Douglass: Wayfarer Redemption series
9. Tad Willams: Shadowmarch series
8. David Eddings: The Belgariad Series
7. Jacqueline Carey: Kushiel series
6. Weis/Hickman: The Dragonlance Chronicles
5. Robert Newcomb: Blood and Stone series
4. Kate Eliot: Crown of Stars series
3. Robin Hobb: The Tawny Man Series
2. Terry Goodkind: Sword of Truth series
1. George RR Martin: Fire and Ice series

Others near the top 10: Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series, Eric VanLustbader's Pearl Trilogy (which I consider SciFi), Alison Croggon's Book of Pellinor series, The Inheritance Cycle series by Christopher Paolini

Any I forgot?

(And before anyone mentions either LOTR or Dune, I tried several times to get into these books, but they didn't hold my attention).

What are your favorites?
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Comments: 33

Mary M. Jun 21, 2008, 5:24pm EDT
I'll have to check a couple of these out - all are new to me. I especially like that these are all series:-)

The Dune books are some of my all time favorites . . .
David W. Jun 21, 2008, 5:36pm EDT
Take a look at Dies the Fire, by S.M. Stirling, an after the fall trilogy.
David W. Jun 21, 2008, 5:39pm EDT
Oh yeah, Eric Flint's 1632 on-going series about Grantville, a modern day West Virginia town swept into the Germanies of the 1600's
A. F. Stewart Jun 21, 2008, 5:43pm EDT
There are lots more I can think of; Jennifer Roberson's "Del and Tiger" series, the Deryni series, the Dragonriders of Pern, just to name a few.
Theodore H. Jun 21, 2008, 5:44pm EDT
My favorite SF book is Man of Many Minds. Favorite series is John Carter of Mars by E. R. B. (author famous for his Tarzan books.)
Rob Appell Jun 21, 2008, 5:52pm EDT
I hate reading books...and I don't watch many movies at all. Short attention span when it comes to them. No favorite authors.
Lori Cee Jun 21, 2008, 6:04pm EDT
i havent had the pleasure of reading any fantasy fiction although i think miranda's book, that i won killing her thread, falls under that genre. i dont know when i'll get a chance to read now since it got packed away for the move. i promised myself i would get back to reading 2 or 3 books per month and grabbed the first thing from my library i saw (which, btw, was already here), mary higgins clark's "loves music, loves to dance". ive had it since the early 90s. heh.
Chick J. Jun 21, 2008, 6:11pm EDT
My favorite fantasy series is also George R.R. Martin Fire and Ice series, too. My second series is The Sword of Truth by Terry Goodkind, also.

It is hard, I know. I agree that Lustbader series is one of those hybrid between SF/fantasy.
Sarah (I want points) Jun 21, 2008, 7:53pm EDT
I love books, but am not really into the fantasy as much as sci fi...
☃ Aunt Shanny Jun 21, 2008, 7:53pm EDT
AF, just this year I tried to get into Dragonriders. I only got through one of them. Too "sci fi" for me and the sequence was rather confusing. The Deryni series might make Top 20.

Thanks for the feedback and comments! It's great to "meet" other Fantasy fans!
☃ Aunt Shanny Jun 21, 2008, 7:53pm EDT
Hi Sarah!
Sue * Jun 21, 2008, 7:56pm EDT
Just stopping in to say hello...this is totally out of my element.
☃ Aunt Shanny Jun 21, 2008, 8:40pm EDT
LOL! Thanks for stopping :)
☃ Aunt Shanny Jun 21, 2008, 8:59pm EDT
I missed your comment, Theodore, sorry. I never got into too much Edgar Rice Burroughs.
☃ Aunt Shanny Jun 21, 2008, 9:00pm EDT
David, Grant sounds more like alternate history rather than fantasy. Yes?
I loved the dragonlance novels and felt bereft when I finished them.
Larry H. Jun 21, 2008, 10:03pm EDT
thank for sharing http://home.no.net/chatoman/email/friendship.php
Larry P. Jun 22, 2008, 12:46am EDT
Phillip Jose Farmer , Jack L . Chalker . Terry goodkind was great when it stated but is one of those series that never ends . For me anyway . Anita Blake Vampire hunter was alright until she turned it into a porn series .
interesting selection
☃ Aunt Shanny Jun 22, 2008, 8:52am EDT
Melissa, that's the way I felt. So I reread them recently.

Thanks for the comments and feedback!
Jonathan S. Jun 22, 2008, 5:25pm EDT
I read more science fiction than fantasy, but one series (whether they're still in print or not, I don't know) that's worth a look is the Keltiad by Patricia Kenneally-Morrison.

And if you just want something to laugh at (while getting some intelligent reading done) - Terry Pratchett. If you've never read "Good Omens," his collaboration with Neil Gaiman, it's unbelievably funny and well-written (think of it as "The Omen" written by Douglas Adams). His "Discworld" series is more pure Terry but each of them has something to recommend it - they're more satire than plain humor.
Jonathan S. Jun 22, 2008, 5:27pm EDT
And Jennifer and I both enjoyed the Kushiel series, although the third one was disturbingly dark even for that world-setting. I haven't read the new one yet.
☃ Aunt Shanny Jun 22, 2008, 6:56pm EDT
That is good one, Jack. Does Morrison still write anymore?

I tried to read Pratchett, but couldn't get into it. And I love Neil Gaiman, who has a place in my top 20.

I find that the Kushiel series dealing with her son is just not as good. Still perfectly readable, though :)
Jonathan S. Jun 22, 2008, 7:47pm EDT
I haven't seen anything from Morrison in a while - I don't think the second trilogy of the Keltiad (the Arthur one) was as successful as the first.

If you like Neil Gaiman, have you read "American Gods" and its sequel "Anansi Boys"?

I've only read the first of the Kushiel books dealing with Imriel as an adult - I can't remember if there are two or three now. It wasn't quite as engaging but, as you say, perfectly readable.
☃ Aunt Shanny Jun 23, 2008, 8:13am EDT
I loved those books by Neil Gaiman! He reminded me of Clive Barker a bit. Barker is one of my favorite horror/metaphysics/alternate reality writers. That should be my next article...
Jerri H. Aug 8, 2008, 12:22pm EDT
Definitely the drangonlance series (especially Weis & Hickman), the wheel of time series by Jordan, the pern series by McCaffrey, I enjoyed Rice's vampire chronicles and the mayflower witch series as well. I am drawing a blank after that LOL!
Brian Rathbone Sep 9, 2008, 3:51am EDT
I really enjoyed Melanie Rawn's Dragon Prince series, along with L.E. Modesitt's Magic of Recluse. I attended a panel at last year's World Fantasy Convention where George R. R. Martin, L.E. Modesitt, and Joe Haldeman debated what constituted fantasy and what was sci-fi. To say the least it was a lively and entertaining debate.


If you happen to be looking for some new Fantasy Fiction, stop by http://brianrathbone.com
Brian Rathbone Sep 9, 2008, 3:56am EDT
Oh, and if you like an anti-hero protagonist, don't overlook Stephen R. Donaldson's Chronicles of Thomas Covenant, which just got a new installment after 20 years. This series is the reason my wedding band is made of white gold ;)
☃ Aunt Shanny Sep 9, 2008, 7:59am EDT
Brian, I tried to get into the Thomas Covenant series, and just couldn't.
Brian Rathbone Sep 10, 2008, 4:51am EDT
Hi Shannon,

I can understand that. It had been almost 20 years since I read them, and I had forgotten how bad the beginning of Lord Foul's Bane was (until your comment prompted me to reread the first couple chapters). My adult sensibilities cause me to want to put the book down after Covenant attacks Lena, but I can at least say that the series improved greatly from that point on.

Take care,

Brian
I went through a fantasy fiction phase in my teen/early 20s but then I read the Lord of the Rings trilogy and nothing has ever come within miles of being that good, so I gave up on fantasy and went back to hard SF.
Renee S. May 1, 2009, 11:01pm EDT
Kristin Britain's Greenrider series is good. I also like reading Mercedes Lackey and Katherine Kurtz.
☃ Aunt Shanny May 2, 2009, 10:13am EDT
De, I tried to get into LOTR (twice) and couldn't. You really need to try George RR Martin's Fire and Ice. You might rethink your stand.

I haven't seen anything new lately from Kurtz, Renee.

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