OT: good fantasy books

[Endoperez]

http://www.dragonmount.com/RobertJordan/?p=90

It seems Robert Jordan is dead.

[Xietor]

Robert Jordan Is Dead - The Wheel of Time Turns No More
News Type: Event — Seeded on Mon Sep 17, 2007 7:48 AM EDT
Read ArticleArticle Source: dragonmount.com
entertainment, literature, science-fiction, fantasy, author, novels, robert-jordan, wheel-of-time, the-dragon
Seeded by Killfile

It is with great sadness that I tell you that the Dragon is gone. RJ left us today at 2:45 PM. He fought a valiant fight against this most horrid disease. In the end, he left peacefully and in no pain. In the years he had fought this, he taught me much about living and about facing death. He never waivered in his faith, nor questioned our God’s timing. I could not possibly be more proud of anyone. I am eternally grateful for the time that I had with him on this earth and look forward to our reunion, though as I told him this afternoon, not yet. I love you bubba.

[Xietor]

Robert Jordan 1st 4 books in the wot series were extremely good. He was a great storyteller. But he will always be known for not being able to finish the series. It spun out of control on him.

Basic tenet of writing violated-outline. Outline. Outline.

[djo]

I read on another forum that he had been dictating notes and outlines so the series could be finished. So there is hope for closure for those who enjoyed his work.

[djo]

Velusion said:

A very good *writer* but not really a "storyteller". I liken his books to fantasy version of the later Melville. Symbolism out the wazoo. I haven't read the Wizard Knight though, just the Torturer and Latero books.

To be fair, he can be an obscure storyteller, but he can also be a clear one as well, if he chooses. The two series you mention (Book of the New Sun, Soldier in the Mist) are definitely among his most difficult to read (unreliable narrators, both). His Book of the Long Sun is crystal-clear. The Wizard Knight is somewhere in between; I'd say it's closer to the clear side than not. Book of the Short Sun, which follows Book of the Long Sun, is back to the obscure category.

[Lazy_Perfectionist]

Xietor said:
I wanted to share a few series that I found pretty good that maybe are off the beaten path a bit. So I will avoid the usual and obvious references to Wheel of Time, Tolkien, Feist etc.

"Goblin Quest" by Jim C. Hines (first in a series. Trilogy?)
"Sir Apropos of Nothing" by Peter David (first in a series. Finished trilogy.)

"Goblin Quest" follows the typical adventuring party from the perspective of Jig, a goblin, who is kept busy trying to stay alive and save his home from invaders. Humorous and well written.

"Sir Apropos of Nothing" isn't for everyone. The series follows the 'anti-hero' who people either love or hate. It's also highly satirical in nature. Books in this series start off on humorous note, such as the parody of Lord of the Rings in the second book, but somehow manage to sneak a serious and moving plot in there when you're not paying attention.

Amazon.com has various, better written reviews. These books are off the beaten path.

[jutetrea]

For an interesting (if not very good)read, try out Grunts by Mary Gentle, a fantasy novel from the perspective of the bad guys. Heroes fighting a bunch of orcs a la Warcraft - from the side of the orcs.

[Lingchih]

Have we mentioned Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell, by Susanna Clarke? A bit overlong, but a fascinating book by any account. I believe it won the Hugo Award a few years ago.

[Beorne]

Xietor said:
It is unlikely Jordan ever completes his series. And to be honest its quality goes down rapidly after book 4.

"On March 23, 2006, Jordan disclosed in a statement[2] in a firm and optimistic tone that he has been diagnosed with primary amyloidosis with cardiomyopathy (cardiac amyloidosis), and that, with treatment, his median life expectancy is four years, though he says he intends to beat the statistics. He later posted on his Dragonmount blog to encourage his fans not to worry about him and that he intends to have a long and fully creative life, working for another 30 years.

He began chemotherapy treatment at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota in early April 2006.[3] Jordan is currently enrolled in a study using the drug Revlimid just approved for multiple myeloma but not yet tested on primary amyloidosis."

Jordan has died.

[Aethyr]

I would add Michelle West's Sun Sword series, and the Hunter's Oath / Death duology to your list Edi.