Book wanted!358

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	andoran_g33k	0   0
	I need a book to get my friend for Christmas. A high fantasy book, preferably, that's not WoT or LotR b/c she's seen me reading those and doesn't trust them......I'm trying to cure her of The-Affliction-That-Must-Not-Be-Named. stgermaine, you know what I'm talking about Suggestions, anyone?
	Mon, Jul 19 '10 at 4:06PM ET	Post 1

	aross07	0   0
	The best recommendation I have ever made to a non-fantasy reader, and in fact my most favorite book is Bridge of Birds by Barry Hughart. Read it yourself while you're at it. You'll be happy that you did ;-) http://www.amazon.com/Bridge-Birds-Novel-Ancient-China/dp/0345321383
	Mon, Jul 19 '10 at 5:31PM ET	Post 2

	merridin	0   0
	Get a forgotten realms book. One of the best was Elminster the making of a mage.
	Mon, Jul 19 '10 at 6:29PM ET	Post 3

	fjcc2	0   0
	you could get running with the demon by terry brooks or the icewind dale trilogy by r.a. salvatore also there is wizards first rule by terry goodkind there are a lot of good books out there
	Mon, Jul 19 '10 at 7:04PM ET	Post 4

	wolfbro	0   0
	mistborn???
	Mon, Jul 19 '10 at 7:42PM ET	Post 5

	wireguy73	0   0
	isn't warbreaker a single novel?
	Mon, Jul 19 '10 at 11:11PM ET	Post 6

	josh	0   0
	warbreaker is a bad choice IMO, that was probably Brandon's worst novel. Elantris is a single novel, and really really awesome. Or maybe a bit of Terry Pratchett...I recommend Thud, Night Watch, Going Postal or Hogfather. But don't buy any random Terry Pratchett book, some of them are not appealing to the new reader
	Tue, Jul 20 '10 at 12:05AM ET	Post 7

	salkand	0   0
	For someone who doesn't like fantasy. George RR Martin's a Song of Ice and Fire. Really one of the best books I have read, and it doesn't require the reader to suspend belief as much as other fantasies do.
	Tue, Jul 20 '10 at 1:01AM ET	Post 8

	taryntula	0   0
	Salkand..no way. GRRM is NOT the way to ease yourself into fantasy! YIKES. It's long, drawn out, and not even halfway finished. You need to start with something that has an ending, for some closure! Then move onto the big guys. I would recommend David Eddings "Belgariad" series (first book is "Pawn of Prophecy"...it's light, with fun characters, and they are shorter reads. Very cliche, but good as a starter series. Elantris is a good suggestion as well...one and done! Neil Gaiman is an awesome writer...but he's not considered high or epic fantasy...his reads are shorter and more cooky. I would suggest Stardust or Neverwhere. I enjoyed the Shannara books by Terry Brooks when I first read them, but I was in Jr. High, so I'm not sure if they aged well. Good luck!
	Tue, Jul 20 '10 at 12:38PM ET	Post 9

	salkand	0   0
	For terry brooks you have to start with Running With the Demon. His other books are OK, but the Demon/Void series is his better work I think.
	Tue, Jul 20 '10 at 1:52PM ET	Post 10

	andoran_g33k	0   0
	Thanks for the suggestions, guys! I'll make a fantasy fan out of her yet!
	Tue, Jul 20 '10 at 4:32PM ET	Post 11

	Aiel_be_back	0   0
	I have to suggest "The Magicians" by Lev Grossman. If none of you have given it a look - do. It is quite possibly the most unique and intelligent novel I have been fortunate enough to read. It is quite fast paced (after the obligatory build-up), and breaks down more than a few walls that fantasy fans have become familiar with. The references to modern culture and politics are witty at worst and brilliant at best. Honestly, rather stunning. It is an almost indefinable amalgamation of high fantasy and urban styling. I highly suggest. Although WOT is, obviously, the barometer for quality in anything I read, Grossman's take on things is not to be dismissed; in fact, I see certain aspects and ideas of fantasy in a new light due to the impact it had on me. His style and tone is slightly more . . suggestive . . than some, but was a welcome respite from the cliche-ridden dreck some authors are spewing out these days. I just realized that I unintentionally wrote a blurb for the book, but that's ok, I suppose. Anyway, give it a read. Absolutely worth it, especially while in limbo waiting on Brandon to deliver the goods. If anyone has already read it, do discuss.
	Thu, Jul 29 '10 at 6:59PM ET	Post 12

	Demosthenes	0   0
	I just couldn't get into a Song of Ice and Fire. I read the first book and half the next. All the characters I liked died until all that were left were the meh characters. Its one thing to imitate realism and kill off some of the main characters... its another thing to go out of your way to kill them off to shock the reader. ANYWAY, thats just my take on it. Not hating, just the reasons I couldnt get into it. They were ok
	Fri, Jul 30 '10 at 1:26AM ET	Post 13

	Shaltilyena	0   0
	Personally the books that threw me into fantasy were : a°) D.Eddings Belgariad b°) and most awesome °) : G.G.Kay's Fionavar. Canavan's Age of the Five trilogy is kinda fun too I loved Fallon's Chronicles of Hythria (Wolfblade trilogy and Demon Child trilogy) I would def. not recommend starting with GRRM though. I loved it, but i was already deep into high fantasy... Abercrombie's first law is way darker, with some dark humor, but I seriously liked it too. Goodkind's Wizard First Rule is nice, but the series is way too long, and a few books in it are kinda... well... As for brooks, I only read Shannara, and i completely disliked his style, but that's just my opinion.
	Fri, Jul 30 '10 at 6:43AM ET	Post 14

	Shaltilyena	0   0
	I just realized that I, a WoT fan, said that a series was way too long... Well, it didn't have WoT's awesomeness :p
	Fri, Jul 30 '10 at 6:44AM ET	Post 15

	taryntula	0   0
	Well, if it FEELS too long, that's differen. WoT doesn't FEEL long to me, even though it is
	Mon, Aug 02 '10 at 6:38PM ET	Post 16

	andoran_g33k	0   0
	WoT is far too short I think. Well maybe not. Idk. I'm confused
	Tue, Aug 03 '10 at 2:46PM ET	Post 17

	Shadar	0   0
	If we are talking Eddings --- the Elenium/Tamuli series was better than Belgariad/Mallorean IMO. But Belgariad (Pawn of Prophecy) isn't a bad place to start. The Hobbit? Dragonflight by Anne Mccaffrey Magician -- Raymond Feist
	Thu, Aug 05 '10 at 10:02AM ET	Post 18

	andoran_g33k	0   0
	The Hobbit was a pretty good book. I think I read an Anne McCaffrey book once....it's one of the only books I've ever stopped reading out of sheer, mind-numbing boredom
	Thu, Aug 05 '10 at 4:11PM ET	Post 19

	abinkley	0   0
	Magician by Feist hands down, but then there is Otherland by Tad Williams. Otherland is a quirky twist on Fantasy, Sci-fi and regular fiction. Also try the Star of the Guardians series by Margaret Weis.
	Tue, Aug 10 '10 at 9:11PM ET	Post 20

	taryntula	0   0
	I concur with you Andoran...I read Dragonflight and I had to finish it, I MADE myself finish it, but it was a painful experience. The characters were 2 dimensional, and not even the plot could save them. Bleck. I like Tad Williams, but I also like to call him Tad Winded, because he can be VERY long winded. I loved the "Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn" trilogy, but the first book was hard to get into...took about 50 or 60 pages for the story to pick up...but after that it was great. So if you have perserverance, read Tad. If not, read something shorter and more succinct.
	Wed, Aug 11 '10 at 4:18PM ET	Post 21

	andoran_g33k	0   0
	Actually, it took me about that long to get into tEotW........*hides under desk to avoid incoming balefire from enraged fans*
	Wed, Aug 11 '10 at 4:20PM ET	Post 22

	faeleone	0   0
	You should Surely get the Mistborn series or Elantris. Brandon Sanderson's writing as himself is very very good! I was reading his books when he was chosen to finish off the WoT series. I think Elantris is really my favorite and I would love to know what happened next. I know it is a stand alone novel but I want more! As for the Mistborn series, Wow...not much else to say.
	Mon, Aug 23 '10 at 2:51PM ET	Post 23

	taryntula	0   0
	@Faeleone, I agree that Branderson is a great author to read for advanced fantasy readers, but not necessarily to START. I think for anyone's first book in the fantasy genre it should be something more classic...the "Unlikely hero from a small village fated by prophecy to destroy the forces darkness and save the world" story is so iconic...and if you don't start there, you may never appreciate it. That's why The Hobbit, Pawn of Prophecy, and MAYBE The Sword of Shannara (people seem to hate or love Shannara) are good places to start. Easy to read, has all the classic iconography, and it's not so deep you feel like you are drowning.
	Mon, Aug 23 '10 at 5:31PM ET	Post 24

	faeleone	0   0
	In Reply to Taryntula, True, very true. I love Terry Brooks and also Terry Goodkind. But if you think Terry Brooks is the way then I will send up a cheer and say READ "Magic Kingdom for Sale. Sold!" that whole series is sooooo much fun. Elantris and Mistborn might be a little farther along but I think they are amazing reads for any age or level.
	Mon, Aug 23 '10 at 6:43PM ET	Post 25

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