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[FantasticMrFoxdie]

Pretty good top 10, but I would put Slaughterhouse Five at #1

 

[Death Dealer]

Only one book from Philip K. Dick

That's what I noticed.

I don't read much Sci-Fi, and i don't read fantasy really at all.

I'm only somewhat familiar with half of the books on that list. I suspect there are many questionable entries.

 

[Salazar]

Do us proud, Salazar.

Now, the real question is, which gaffer is going to take one for the team and actually buy and read the book?

Well, I'm definitely there.

OP is done. Post now ?

 

[ZephyrFate]

Her power, her magic, was also a weapon of defense. But it would only work on people. It would not work on a chicken. And it would not work on wickedness incarnate.
Her gaze flicked toward the door, checking the distance. The chicken took a single hop toward her. Claws gripping Juni's upper arm, it leaned her way. Her leg muscles tightened till they trembled.

The chicken backed up a step, tensed, and spurted feces onto Juni's face. It let out the cackle that sounded like a laugh. She dearly wished she could tell herself she was being silly. Imagining things.

But she knew better.

"Hissing, hackles lifting, the chicken's head rose. Kahlan pulled back. Its claws digging into stiff dead flesh, the chicken slowly turned to face her. It cocked its head, making its comb flop, its wattles sway. "Shoo," Kahlan heard herself whisper. There wasn't enough light, and besides, the side of its beak was covered with gore, so she couldn't tell if it had the dark spot, But she didn't need to see it. "Dear spirits, help me," she prayed under her breath. The bird let out a slow chicken cackle. It sounded like a chicken, but in her heart she knew it wasn't. In that instant, she completely understood the concept of a chicken that was not a chicken. This looked like a chicken, like most of the Mud People's chickens. But this was no chicken. This was evil manifest."

Nothing


NOTHING tops Terry Goodkind writing that a chicken is evil manifest.

 

[Napoleonthechimp]

I've never understood logic of combining the sci fi and fantasy genres.

This. I hate it when they do that.

 

[UnluckyKate]

Crtl + F : Replay.

0 result wtf (Ken Grimwood btw)

 

[B_Rik_Schitthaus]

I've never understood logic of combining the sci fi and fantasy genres.

Shadowrun IMG

 

[Zzoram]

This. I hate it when they do that.

The reason sci-fi and fantasy are combined is because they're ususally both fantasy, only one takes place in the future.

Aliens or Elves, not that different in practice. The stories are similar too, often exploring human social constructs and politics.

 

[Aselith]

How is the Once and Future King so low? There's certainly an argument to be made that it's been more influential than LOTR (or at least as influential) and I think it's the better book in terms of just pure writing.

 

[Puddles]

Well, it also has Gene Wolfe.

ba dum dum TSHHHHHH

Gene Wolfe is one of the best writers in the world.

This might not mean that he's one of the best storytellers, but his prose is at a level few have ever reached. Martin is a much better storyteller, but Wolfe's prose makes him look like R.L. Stein.

It's fun, but the stuff introduced in Xenocide feels so horribly ass-pulled. Children of the mind then takes that and fucks you royally. The series really does a HUGE dip after Speaker.

But at the least, they're still enjoyable reads. I'm trudging through Shadow of the Hegemon now, and this thing reads as rough as California freeway.

Try taking a bus ride through Vietnam. When you get back to California, you'll feel like you're driving on rainbows.

 

[Pand]

Wait, people actually finished The Silmarillion? I couldn't get past page 20 and the immensely dense heap of boring.

 

[Edmond Dantès]

Wait, people actually finished The Silmarillion? I couldn't get past page 20 and the immensely dense heap of boring.

Once you get past the Ainulindalë it really picks up, some of the greatest events in the history of Middle-Earth take place during the Quenta Silmarillion, events that far surpass anything depicted in The Hobbit or The Lord of the Rings.

The downfall of Melkor,
The sundering of the Two Trees of Valinor
The oath of Feanor and his sons,
The downfall of Gondolin,
The creation of men, elves and dwarves,
The origins of dragons, orcs an balrogs.
The tragedy of Hurin and his offspring,
The story of Beren and Luthien, which was the dearest story to Tolkien,
Sauron in his prime.
The War of Wrath.

All key to the history of Middle-earth.

 

[elrechazado]

good to know. what about the alvin maker series? i've always been interested in that series, but i'm hesitant.

It's awesome.

 

[V_Arnold]

What the hell? Wheel of Time only at 12th place?

 

[Codeblue]

I hate it when people have lists like these then list a series as one book.

 

[Pand]

Once you get past the Ainulindalë it really picks up, some of the greatest events in the history of Middle-Earth take place during the Quenta Silmarillion, events that far surpass anything depicted in The Hobbit or The Lord of the Rings.

The downfall of Melkor,
The sundering of the Two Trees of Valinor
The oath of Feanor and his sons,
The downfall of Gondolin,
The creation of men, elves and dwarves,
The origins of dragons, orcs an balrogs.
The tragedy of Hurin and his offspring,
The story of Beren and Luthien, which was the dearest story to Tolkien,
Sauron in his prime.
The War of Wrath.

All key to the history of Middle-earth.

Don't get me wrong, I respect what Tolkien did and admire what he tried to do, it's amazing in scope. It's also incredibly dry, more of a summation than an actual novel, as far as I remember. That may change later on, though, and it must be great to get immersed in such a rich history if you're a big LOTR fan.

 

[elrechazado]

Don't get me wrong, I respect what Tolkien did and admire what he tried to do, it's amazing in scope. It's also incredibly dry, more of a summation than an actual novel, as far as I remember. That may change later on, though, and it must be great to get immersed in such a rich history if you're a big LOTR fan.

If you read only 20 pages, then you wouldn't know whether it's dry or not. The first few chapters are like genesis in the bible, and get more detailed and more narrative from there.

 

[Natiko]

Well, I've seen worse lists I suppose.

 

[Pand]

If you read only 20 pages, then you wouldn't know whether it's dry or not. The first few chapters are like genesis in the bible, and get more detailed and more narrative from there.

The 20 pages comment was facetious, I probably read a couple of chapters since I was into Tolkien at the time. Does the rest of the book actually follow a narrative, though? I faintly remember flipping through it after giving up on it and thinking it looked more like a history book.

 

[elrechazado]

The 20 pages comment was facetious, I probably read a couple of chapters since I was into Tolkien at the time. Does the rest of the book actually follow a narrative, though? I faintly remember flipping through it after giving up on it and thinking it looked more like a history book.

It's a series of narratives that bind together into an overarching story about the rise and fall of melkor and the fall and redemption of the noldorian exiles.

 

[flintstryker]

And completely

Spoiler

Not

coincidentally.

lol now that's strange when reading that book I was thinking "hey this guy has the same name as the gaf poster in OT that everyone likes to complain about posting downer stories"

I really like the forcible system in those books though can't wait to find out more about the "sum of all men".

 

[DrM]

If pushed, I would describe it as a politico-fantasy thriller of mythic proportions. Mieville is an incredible fantasist, perhaps the best of his generation.

The Scar is awesome. I enjoyed The Iron Council, but it could be too 'socialistic' for some.

I just hope that Mieville will bring another Bas-Lag novel soon. This world that he created has so much potential in it.

 

[The Technomancer]

ibe it as a politico-fantasy thriller of mythic proportions. Mieville is an incredible fantasist, perhaps the best of his generation.

Does it have the same pacing problems as Perdido? That book had good characters, interesting ideas, a somewhat compelling plot and some of the worst pacing of any large fantasy book I've read.

(Oh, and its one of the only fantasy books I've ever read that literally broke my suspension of disbelief, but thats a different issue)

 

[Piecake]

Wow, really? Sanderson writes some of the best female characters in modern fantasy, that surprises me.

He tries to remain true to their already established character, and since it sucks, his female characters ending up sucking as well.

And I really disagree with you on Sanderson having some of the best female characters in modern fantasy. The characters in Mistborn were terrible. He definitely improved in A Way of Kings, to the point where I would say that his characters are good, but no way would I say he is world class

Oh, as For Codex Allera, I thought the first 4 books were good, but the last two books were a real disappointment, to the point where I didnt even bother finishing the series

 

[The Technomancer]

He tries to remain true to their already established character, and since it sucks, his female characters ending up sucking as well.

And I really disagree with you on Sanderson having some of the best female characters in modern fantasy. The characters in Mistborn were terrible. He definitely improved in A Way of Kings, to the point where I would say that his characters are good, but no way would I say he is world class

Okay, I should rephrase that. Sanderson is one of the few authors who I feel doesn't write female characters who are helpless princesses and crucially also doesn't write female characters who are bad-ass bitches under the pretension that that somehow makes a character "strong"

Overall his characters are still just "good". I liked Mistborn, I liked everything he's written, I'll be the first to admit that his fantasy isn't very intellectual but its very consumable and he does great world design.

 

[Piecake]

Okay, I should rephrase that. Sanderson is one of the few authors who I feel doesn't write female characters who are helpless princesses and crucially also doesn't write female characters who are bad-ass bitches under the pretension that that somehow makes a character "strong"

Overall his characters are still just "good". I liked Mistborn, I liked everything he's written, I'll be the first to admit that his fantasy isn't very intellectual but its very consumable and he does great world design.

Oh, I have no problem with reading just for fun. The problem I have with his characters in Mistborn is that they all seem to speak with the same 'voice'. I really don't know how to explain it any better than that, but his characters in that book just don't feel distinct or real to me, and that is the quickest way for me to stop caring about a book, because if I don't care or are interested in the characters I lose interest in everything else.

Again, I think he definitely improved in A Way of Kings. The characters are good, the plot is interesting, and the world is fascinating. All in all, I would consider it a very good book.

As for who I think writes better female characters in the fantasy genre, I think Martin and Abraham absolutely crush Sanderson. But, like I said, Sanderson is improving with each book he writes

 

[More Fun To Compute]

No Olaf Stapledon on the list. No Charles Stross either. I guess that it isn't an important list.

The Scar by China Miéville

Such an awesome book.

 

[Clear]

Kinda disappointed that The Stand is placed so highly, yet Robert McCammon's Swan Song is nowhere to be found.

Honestly, the two books cover very similar ground but SS is superior in every aspect.

 

[deadbeef]

Page 1: Ctrl+F Replay, No results
Page 2: Ctrl+F Replay, No results
Page 3: Ctrl+F Replay,

Crtl + F : Replay.

0 result wtf (Ken Grimwood btw)

Well, if it was just a poll I guess this explains why it's not on there!

 

[More Fun To Compute]

Flow My Tears, the Policeman Said > Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?
The Wanting Seed > Clockwork Orange

Movie fans have done a number on this list.

 

[demonturkey]

No Ira Levin, no deal!

 

[Deleted member 81567]

A Clockwork Orange not in the top 10? Blasphemy.

 

[ZephyrFate]

Gene Wolfe is one of the best writers in the world.

This might not mean that he's one of the best storytellers, but his prose is at a level few have ever reached. Martin is a much better storyteller, but Wolfe's prose makes him look like R.L. Stein.



Try taking a bus ride through Vietnam. When you get back to California, you'll feel like you're driving on rainbows.

I would believe you if that wasn't so outrageous.

 

[Volimar]

I've read 31 of those, but considering some of them are a series of books, I feel pretty good about it despite having not heard of some of these. Glad Terry Pratchett got some love.

No Wizard of Earthsea?

I am also disappoint.

 

[The Technomancer]

I've read 31 of those, but considering some of them are a series of books, I feel pretty good about it despite having not heard of some of these. Glad Terry Pratchett got some love.

Not nearly enough though. Taken as a whole the Dicsworld contains more downright amazing novels then many authors produce in their entire lives. Other authors wish they could put out works like Night Watch or Jingo or Witches Abroad or Going Postal. They're not good books because they're comedies (although the comedic elements help) they're just downright good books.

 

[Scrow]

wow just noticed rothfuss in the top twenty. Makes me want to vomit. I thought this list wasn't supposed to include juvenile fiction...

dude what?

king killer chronicles are great adventurous fantasy. it doesn't make you think deeply or provide social commentary, but it's a really fun world to lose yourself in.

it's not ASoIaF fantasy, or LotR fantasy, or Dune fantasy, or Dark Tower fantasy... it fits its own little niche of fantasy and I love it for the yarn it spins.

it's not perfect, but it's also not deserving of your venom. "juvenile fiction"? come on. it's cleverly written.

 

[elrechazado]

dude what?

king killer chronicles are great adventurous fantasy. it doesn't make you think deeply or provide social commentary, but it's a really fun world to lose yourself in.

it's not ASoIaF fantasy, or LotR fantasy, or Dune fantasy, or Dark Tower fantasy... it fits its own little niche of fantasy and I love it for the yarn it spins.

it's not perfect, but it's also not deserving of your venom.

marysue juvenile fiction

 

[The Technomancer]

dude what?

king killer chronicles are great adventurous fantasy. it doesn't make you think deeply or provide social commentary, but it's a really fun world to lose yourself in.

it's not ASoIaF fantasy, or LotR fantasy, or Dune fantasy, or Dark Tower fantasy... it fits its own little niche of fantasy and I love it for the yarn it spins.

it's not perfect, but it's also not deserving of your venom.

Yeah, the books don't suck. They're not great (and I was literally rolling my eyes in WMF when

Spoiler

he learns sex from the fae

) but they've been very entertaining timekillers.
Plus Rothefuss can still redeem himself if

Spoiler

Kvothe turns out to be an unreliable narrator who isn't nearly the uber-badass he makes himself out to be

 

[bengraven]

Why the FUCK is Goodkind higher up than China Mieville?

 

[Clevinger]

In what order should I read those three Mieville books? Thanks.

 

[Alpha-Bromega]

okay now everyone seriously, Once and Future King is the best fantasy novel ever and we all agree right!!?!!!?!!!?!!!!!!!!!? All this other stuff is fun but no Wort

 

[DrM]

In what order should I read those three Mieville books? Thanks.

1) Perdido Street Station
2) The Scar
3) Iron Council

 

[Vanillalite]

Does it have the same pacing problems as Perdido? That book had good characters, interesting ideas, a somewhat compelling plot and some of the worst pacing of any large fantasy book I've read.

(Oh, and its one of the only fantasy books I've ever read that literally broke my suspension of disbelief, but thats a different issue)

Mieville has gotten better as he's gone along which is why I always think it's a crime that lists always site Perdido as the work they like by him. He's admitted as much that Perdido was great in concept, but lacked somewhat in execution himself.

 

[bengraven]

okay now everyone seriously, Once and Future King is the best fantasy novel ever and we all agree right!!?!!!?!!!?!!!!!!!!!? All this other stuff is fun but no Wort

I agree it's in the top 3, yes. It's personally my favorite fantasy novel.

 

[The Technomancer]

I agree it's in the top 3, yes. It's personally my favorite fantasy novel.

I've never read it actually, I've got it on order at the local library as a result of this thread.

If I had to come up with what I thought of as my favorite fantasy book/series...even more then Lord of the Rings, even more then The Long Price Quartet....I'd have to go with the City Watch cycle of Discworld. The character of Samuel Vimes and his evolution over seven books is unmatched for me, in addition to the fantastic writing for all the other characters and storylines.

 

[Granger Danger]

I've never read it actually, I've got it on order at the local library as a result of this thread.

But surely you've seen the Disney adaptation?

 

[The Technomancer]

But surely you've seen the Disney adaptation?

Oh yeah, that movie was awesome.

 

[KilgoreTrout]

Not enough Vonnegut or PKD. Still pretty good list.

 

[bengraven]

I've never read it actually, I've got it on order at the local library as a result of this thread.

If I had to come up with what I thought of as my favorite fantasy book/series...even more then Lord of the Rings, even more then The Long Price Quartet....I'd have to go with the City Watch cycle of Discworld. The character of Samuel Vimes and his evolution over seven books is unmatched for me, in addition to the fantastic writing for all the other characters and storylines.

I bought it based on seeing it prominently in X-men comics and movies. haha

But I read it in the most ideal place. I was trapped on a farm in the middle of a blizzard, with no electricity. This was about 2003-2004. I had the paperback in a stack of books and I grabbed it, thinking it was a more grounded, realistic version of the Arthur myths. It took me three pages before I realized that this was actually the classic story told with philosophy and quite a bit of British humor ala Douglas Adams or Terry Pratchett.

And hours passed in the freezing darkness, reading by candlelight and I mean this, truly, it helped keep me sane for the next few nights.

It's 1/2 humor and 1/2 philosophy with quite a bit of story in between.

Just be wary that the author was somewhat misogynistic. He was suspected to be a closet homosexual (the wiki on him is fascinating in this regard) and each of his females could be in the dictionary under the words "Dumb" and "Bitch".

 

[Dresden]

Mary Stewart needs some more love, too. Her Merlin books are good stuff.

Also learned about catamites for the first time when I read them all those years back.

Why the FUCK is Goodkind higher up than China Mieville?

It's a popularity contest.

Also, Mieville has fallen off somewhat... Kraken was miserable, and I hear that Embassytown falls apart later on. Not good.