Fav Fantasy writer

When i started the thread i was only thinking of fantasy under it's 2 most popular headings: Swords and Sorcery, and Imaginary World Fantasy. These seem to be an English speaking phenomanon and though a lot of the non-english books a certainly fantastic they dont carry the same tone. Fantasy in it's most popular formats is based upon the myths of scandenavia, finland, and ireland/wales. this is what I am most interested in and the format in which the writers above do specialise in.

I am sorry I forgot D Gemmel. probably the best living fantasy writer behind Martin, and Michael Moorcock and of couse Robert E Howard, but I was in a hurry

Tony R wrote: I can't believe that nobody here has mentioned Stephen Donaldsen from the list The Chronicles Of Thomas Covenant-The Unbeliever (6 books) are outstanding.   Since its publication in 1977, this award-winning trilogy has become an indisputable fantasy classic. Outselling The Lord of the Rings in its day, hailed by critics and loved by readers all over the world, no fantasy library could be considered complete without it. Thomas did not believe the strange world he found himself in, but, undeniably, the Land tempted him. Back in his world, his illness made him an outcast, unclean, a pariah – but here, he is the reincarnation of Berek Halfhand, saviour and hero. Only the mystic power of his white gold ring can protect the Lords of Revelstone and the Land from the evil of Lord Foul, the Despiser. Foul possesses the Illearth Stone, his deadly armies hold sway, and to free himself from his prison, he will destroy the Land. With only a small but determined band of followers, Covenant is inexorably drawn into a confrontation with evil that will decide the fate of both worlds . . . I cannot recommend them too highly.

Er, doesn't that plot synopsis remind you of something?

A trifle derivitive, no?

Too much of the newer fantasy is too formulaic, IMO.

(Much like some say about neo prog/retro prog.)

Hmmm... "Lord Foul -- the Despiser".... I guess he's a bad guy, right?

Signed,

Major Pain, The Irritating

Edited by Peter

Apart from one or two archetypal references Thomas Covenant (written in 1977 BTW) is subtly different to TLOTR. Just as all space-operas are set in space then all fantasy novels are set in an alternate world.

Manunkind:I've read Runes,it's not a patch on the original books.

gdub411 wrote:

for fantasy with some humour try Fritz Leiber or the outrageous

Robert Aspirin.

[/QUOTE]

Yep. (I prefer Leiber and his brilliant Fafhrd & Grey Mouser books, though.)

The aforementioned Jack Vance (Cugel's Saga & The Eyes of the Overworld) and L. Sprague de Camp (The Unbeheaded King trilogy, & others) are absolute masters of humourous, very well-written fantasy, too.

(Not so well-known, these days, perhaps -- look for them in second-hand bookstores, or online, I suppose.)

Also, has anyone read The Aquiliad, by S.P. Somtow? Three HILARIOUS books, with the ancient Romans (in the new world), a wily native chief, UFOs, hot-air balloons, an evil time-travelling pig, etc, etc. Take my word for it -- very funny, and well-written. All of my fantasy-reading friends really loved these 80s gems!

Peter wrote: Tony R wrote: I can't believe that nobody here has mentioned Stephen Donaldsen from the list The Chronicles Of Thomas Covenant-The Unbeliever (6 books) are outstanding.   Since its publication in 1977, this award-winning trilogy has become an indisputable fantasy classic. Outselling The Lord of the Rings in its day, hailed by critics and loved by readers all over the world, no fantasy library could be considered complete without it. Thomas did not believe the strange world he found himself in, but, undeniably, the Land tempted him. Back in his world, his illness made him an outcast, unclean, a pariah – but here, he is the reincarnation of Berek Halfhand, saviour and hero. Only the mystic power of his white gold ring can protect the Lords of Revelstone and the Land from the evil of Lord Foul, the Despiser. Foul possesses the Illearth Stone, his deadly armies hold sway, and to free himself from his prison, he will destroy the Land. With only a small but determined band of followers, Covenant is inexorably drawn into a confrontation with evil that will decide the fate of both worlds . . . I cannot recommend them too highly. Er, doesn't that plot synopsis remind you of something? A trifle derivitive, no? Too much of the newer fantasy is too formulaic, IMO. (Much like some say about neo prog/retro prog.) Hmmm... "Lord Foul -- the Despiser".... I guess he's a bad guy, right? Signed, Major Pain, The Irritating

Let's just say that Eduard Dujardin's Les lauriers sont coupés preceded Joyce's Ulysses.

And re-telling stories is just as important as creating entirely new ones (something that seems nigh impossible in the light of the myths). Read some medieval literature. 

Somehow I can't see Lord Foul the Despiser using his real name - "Rodney James Horowitz III is trying to invade the Land!" somehow doesn't work. Neither does "Bow before Possum Jenkins!"

Tony - I wouldn't call the differences between LotR and The Chronicles subtle... the only real similarities are between the lands. 

 

Edited by Manunkind

Lorak wrote: I cannot believe that you did not include Frank Herbert in this list.  The DUNE saga is pure fantasy and deep....very deep.  You can have Tolkien, try getting through the original Dune novels, and then pick up the the prequels done by his son Brian Herbert and collaborator Kevin Anderson (who, by the way, is into prog.  I read that he listens to Dream Theater, and another prog band that I cannot remember at this time, on his blog)

Well, Dune is generally regarded as science fiction (often concerning the future, spaceships, other planets, advanced technology, etc).

Fantasy, on the other hand, generally involves magic, and often, a pseudo-medieval setting.

The two genres are related, yes, but generally treated as separate (though sometimes the lines blur, and writers often don't necessarily stick to just one or the other).

I don't know if Herbert has ever written any pure fantasy.

 

But, just in case you don't want to take my word for it, I got this from the Official Dune Website:

"Frank Herbert's Dune series is one of the grandest epics in the annals of imaginative literature. Selling millions of copies worldwide, it is science fiction's answer to The Lord of the Rings, a brilliantly imaginative epic of high adventure, unforgettable characters, and immense scope."

 

Great books, BTW, though, for me, the first was easily the best.

Edited by Peter

Well, if I were going to pick a best fantasy genre writer: It would be Robert E. Howard, followed closely by Moorcock. For me, it never got any better than the best of their stuff.

Now, as Ivan seems to suggest, if we should include criticallly acclaimed literary authors who wrote fantastic literature, I would say that Bruno Schultz's two books provided me with the most surrealistic experiences I've ever gotten from the printed page. I very highly recommend his works to those who like Borges, Kafka, Alain-Fournier, Carrol, Poe, (and even authors like Virginia Woolf, whose "Orlando," is fantasy-style literature).

Peter wrote: Badabec wrote: The best fantasy-author is the german author Ullrich Kiesow! And by "the best," of course, you mean "my current favourite, of the limited number of authors I've read," right? Sigh -- does there always have to be one "winner," in everything? Art is not sports, you know. Gawd, I hate this prevailing mentality that increasingly reduces all human endeavor to competition, and "winners" and "losers!"

Well said Peter  

And by the way, thanks for your clarifying remarks regarding Dune.  I guess I am both a Fantasy and Science Fiction fan, and never thought about the distinction between the two. 

I have read all Dune books in existance at least twice through, and I am currently working on the original 6 for the third time. 

Peter wrote: Well, Dune is generally regarded as science fiction (often concerning the future, spaceships, other planets, advanced technology, etc). Fantasy, on the other hand, generally involves magic, and often, a pseudo-medieval setting. The two genres are related, yes, but generally treated as separate (though sometimes the lines blur, and writers often don't necessarily stick to just one or the other). I don't know if Herbert has ever written any pure fantasy.   But, just in case you don't want to take my word for it, I got this from the Official Dune Website: "Frank Herbert's Dune series is one of the grandest epics in the annals of imaginative literature. Selling millions of copies worldwide, it is science fiction's answer to The Lord of the Rings, a brilliantly imaginative epic of high adventure, unforgettable characters, and immense scope."   Great books, BTW, though, for me, the first was easily the best.

You make a point Peter, when saying limits are blur, lets see an example:

Star Wars: A futuristic space saga with spaceships, interstellar voyages, etc no doubt about it, but it has all the characteristcs of Fantasy that you mention:

1. Magic: The limits beyond magic and mysticism in the Jedi Knigts is very soft, so at least we have one component of Fantasy.
2. Swords: Light sabers are the equivalent to swords. the monsters we see take the place of the dragons, etc.
3. Pseudo Medieval settings: We have Queen Amidala, Princess Leia, Jedi Nights who fight for the sake of goodness.

What's this Sci Fi or Fantasy?

Iván

Edited by ivan_2068

• George R.R. Martin
• David Eddings
• JRR Tolkein (i know he influenced the above authors but i still enjoy them more so they go above him)
• Terry Brooks
• I used to like Jordan before he decided to drag out his gold mine. That freaking series is never going to end.
• I don't like Terry Goodkind

anyways...there you go