Best Fantasy book/series?

[TheDrunkenDwarf]

Just thought I'd see what people think on the topic.

Until a short time ago I would have stuck with Tolkien's stuff... but then I started reading the Wheel of Time series. I'm completely blown away.

I've read the prologue and the first 4 books... workin' on #5 now and I'm loving it!

[Eclipse]

Wheel of Time is amazing until the end, Jordan bites off a little more than he can chew.
I am awaiting the next installment, and so far it has been all in all my favorite series...but it's slowing down. Thousands of fans are hoping he comes out with a bang in the next book.

Not to let you down though, you're just beginning to uncover the great points in the story.
My absolute favorite writer is Terry Brooks. Shannara is just a step above Wheel of Time, just because it has more history. Jordan's underlying political and religious undertones make WoT amazing and deeper than most fantasy series' I've seen.

My brother is raving about dragonlance, but I think I'll stay away.
There's one other series that blew me away by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman and I forgot what it was called...it had Haplo, Hugh the Hand, and a massive amount of characters in 7 or 8 different worlds.

Anyways, I'm just goin on and on.


-Eclipse

[Jabari Dreamchaser]

I am a pretty big fan of Harry Potter... and the current plan is to start reading the Wheel of Time series. With all the good things said about it, I would be a fool not to.

[Fadeyn]

*tch* Attention please.........Now for an announcement from Fadeyn......

The Sword of Truth Series is my favorite.

Thank you for your time, we will now return you to your previously scheduled programming........*tch*

[Fisty]

RA Salvatore. Icewind Dale and the Dark Elf trilogies in specific.

Dragonlace.. but I guess that's pretty easy to figure from my name.

[ThunderAxe]

All of the series listed are great for very different reasons.

Tolkien....yep, grandpa Jones of epic fantasy...but a very tough read. He set out to create a language and ended up making Peter Jackson a rich man!!

Brooks...I have a special place in my heart for the Shannarra series, simply because I read SoS when I was 13 years old and never looked back. Terry Brooks' specialty is his visceral descriptions of the environment and how it plays on the characters and plotline. The funny thing about this series, when I first read it, I thought I was dealing with some type of post-apocalyptic society where mutants were labeled with names from fantasy...such was the mind of an 13-year old weened on Ted Rockson and the Doomsday Warrior series.

Jordan...this man is the devil. I started reading TWoT when it first came out in '90 (or '91...I can't keep track). I went so far as to design a tattoo to add to my Celtic work that was based on the Wheel....Jordan's world is Tolkein on Horse Steroids It is so massive and cumbersome, I pray to all that is holy that he can pull it off with some modicum of finality.

Side Note-picked up Knife of Dreams yesterday...but am afraid to open it, knowing I won't see #12 for 3 more years.

Goodkind...talk about political and philosophical debate while lopping the heads off your enemies! The Sword of Truth started out with a disturbing likeness to Jordan's TWoT...all female M-User society (Sisters of the Light)trying to "educate" the male M-Users so that they are not a harm to those around them, (well, no Red Ajah, but some pretty nasty Dark Sisters). But then it evolved. Goodkind developed some twisted ideology, but pulled it off in extended dialogue sequences that made alot of sense. Not to mention the fact that Richard has only Kahlan to love, while Rand has to deal with a trifecta of lovelies. BTW "Phantom" will be out in 2006 and will conslude the SoT series.

RA Salvatore...Bruenor BattleHammer lives!!! Icewind Dale came out when I was deep into fantasy gaming and reading any piece of pulp put out by Tor or Baen. Drizz't was an interesting character, but I wal all about the brutal attacks of Wulfgar and Bruenor. Now I find variations of Drizz't's name in World of Warcraft, complete with scimitars that give off an eerie glow...an enchant that is 7g by the way).

Margaret Weiss and Tracey Hickman...Dragonlance should be a primer for any would-be GM/DM who wants to run epic fantasy. Next to WoT, this is the series I would most like to see have the Peter Jackson treatment at the movies.

JK Rowling....The books made me want to be Harry Potter...the movies made me want to go to Hogwarts...talk about thunder and lightning, Rowling got it all right in one series. Harry earns our empathy and sympathy in the first few books....by then we were hooked on the crackpipe and needed a new fix. Then Chris Columbus came along and made that tinkley tune synonymous with Christmas....now there is one book left and the Goblet of Fire, though edited beyind belief, is the darkest outing yet for the movies.

But there are other authors that are must reads...

Raymond E. Feist...if you haven't picked up the Riftwar Saga, do so now!! You can get the whole thing at Half-Priced Books for about 25 bucks and I am talking about 8 or 10 books of high fantasy that will leave you begging for more. His book "Rise of the Merchant Prince", should be required reading for any Economics major or Entrepeneur

George R.R. Martin...Game of Thrones series...pick it up, it will knock you on your ass. The Wars of the Roses on crack and mixed with dragons and magic.

Christopher Paolini....say what you will about this teenager....I was engrossed in Eragon and have Eldest next up in the queue after KoD

Glenn Cook...The Black Company series...mercenary adventure with magic and demons....a bit heavy handed sometimes but a good read for those who like military fantasy and military sci-fi.

David Eddings....another crafter that took my hard earned ducets. The Belgariad and Elenium and Mallorian series are books I revisit like old friends. The dialogue is spot-on and humorous and the plotlines are varied and layered. Perfect rainy day reading.

There are so many past authors that get it right...the problem is that so few current authors get it wrong or hash the job, the market is glutted with pulp-fantasy and pop-sci-fi that dilute the genre to the point of absurdity....

Where's my damn Axe!! I need to maim something....

[QuinnDexter]

I have to go with the Amber Series by the late Roger Zelazny. However there is someone writing new amber novels - John Gregory
Betancourt - The dawn of amber (1st new one)

Wheel of Time is outstanding I have read all but the latest one. Robert Jordan is the man

Oh and the Margaret Wies novels with Haplo are called the Deathgate series. Very good and yes I agree about making it a movie he he.

For Sci Fi check out Peter Hamilton's Neutronium Alchemist series - devastatingly good sci fi. That's where I got the Quinn Dexter name from

[Glauroth]

I like:

Terry Brooks
David Eddings
RA Salvitore
Tracy Hickman/Margaret Weis
Ray Feist
Christopher Paolini (Reading Eragon now)

Plan on reading:

Robert Jordan
Terry Goodkind

I'd have to rate Dragonlance as my highest, just because the character of Raistlin was incredibly well-written.

[Daragoth]

[Romm]

i have to agree with thunderaxe about feist and the merchant prince, and feist books in general, one of my favorite authors.
/vote george r r martin
/vote salvatore
/veto eddings and rowling

everyone else is covered in posts already, with the one exception of LE Modesitt, he does a nice job imo.

I keep kicking myself for not starting jordan, i guess i'm waiting for him to finish heh.