# Recommend a Fantasy series to me, please. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 23, 2010, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-fantasy-series-to-me-please/561659 "2010-11-23T15:19:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 11
**Author:** ![Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/malleus_incus_stapes/32/3293_2.png) [@Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malleus_Incus_Stapes)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2010, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-fantasy-series-to-me-please/561659/201 "2010-12-15T20:57:41Z")
You forgot the way that all his books have to have a character named Paul, Neville, or Jane, preferably the protagonist(s). Yeah, he’s got his… quirks, and if you don’t like them you’ll probably hate him. If you do like overly-elongated metaphors, excessive silliness, the journey more than he destination, and the basic plot of “Loser schlub stumbles into mythological mayhem,” go for it. FWIW, he’s the only person that has ever made me laugh with a monologue about insurance. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Scud](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f08c70/32.png) [@Tom\_Scud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Scud)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2010, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-fantasy-series-to-me-please/561659/202 "2010-12-15T21:09:50Z")
> [@Tamerlane](#): > > They’re _all_ the same. > > … > > Tom Holt isn’t necessarily a bad writer. Like I said I’ve enjoyed some of his books. But with me and Holt familiarity really does breed contempt ( or at least temporary weariness ). Have you read his historicals? I think you in particular would love them. ---
**Author:** ![Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/malleus_incus_stapes/32/3293_2.png) [@Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malleus_Incus_Stapes)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2010, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-fantasy-series-to-me-please/561659/203 "2010-12-15T21:18:22Z")
Some more thoughts on Tom Holt-ology. I think I like the four books I mentioned because they _don’t_ all have the same generic plot. _Who’s Afraid of Beowulf_ is the most conventional of the lot- hapless archaeologist digs up a ship full of live Vikings- but IMO is better written than most. _Faust Among Equals_ stars “Lucky George” Faustus, Helen of Troy, and a supernatural bounty hunter named Kurt Lunqvist. _Snow White and the Seven Samurai_ has a sibling team who hack into a fairy-tale simulation and break it, shown from the point of view of nearly everyone. And _Nothing But Blue Skies_ stars… well, there’s _two_ schlubs/weirdos, and a woman who’s really a Chinese water dragon. The classic loser schlub character (he’s even named Paul!) is secondary, and intentionally bland… maybe I’ve spent too much time on TvTropes, but it’s almost like he’s a deconstruction of all those Pauls and Nevilles. EDIT: Sadly, my library does not have his historical novels. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Scud](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f08c70/32.png) [@Tom\_Scud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Scud)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2010, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-fantasy-series-to-me-please/561659/204 "2010-12-15T21:50:09Z")
Huh, I just realized that the one I read was _Expecting Someone Taller_. ---
**Author:** ![ExTank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/35a633/32.png) [@ExTank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ExTank)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2010, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-fantasy-series-to-me-please/561659/205 "2010-12-16T01:12:18Z")
Glen Cook’s _Black Company_ series, with the stand-alone companion book, _The Silver Spike._ The Books of the North are the best, but latter books also illustrate how the Black Company changes over time in personnel makeup and “tone,” without ever sacrificing their identity as The Black Company. Excellent reads. ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2010, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-fantasy-series-to-me-please/561659/206 "2010-12-16T01:43:02Z")
> [@Tom\_Scud](#): > > Have you read his historicals? I think you in particular would love them. No, I was actually unaware he had written any such thing. I’ll have to give them a try. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2010, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-fantasy-series-to-me-please/561659/207 "2010-12-16T03:32:28Z")
> [@Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](#): > > Re: China Mieville- his newest book is called _Kraken_. It takes place in our world, in London, and it’s just as weird as his steampunk ones. Really, seriously. Weird. Definitely recommend this one too. In fact, if you stay away from King Rat and UnLunDun, you’ll do pretty well with Mieville IMO. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2010, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-fantasy-series-to-me-please/561659/208 "2010-12-16T03:59:30Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > Definitely recommend this one too. In fact, if you stay away from King Rat and UnLunDun, you’ll do pretty well with Mieville IMO. Un Lun Dun is the only one I’ve tried. I had to bail because I have a really low tolerance for grotesquerie (the guy with the pincushion head just gave me the willies). ---
**Author:** ![Erdosain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/erdosain/32/7284_2.png) [@Erdosain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Erdosain)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2010, 5:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-fantasy-series-to-me-please/561659/209 "2010-12-16T05:54:00Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > Definitely recommend this one too. In fact, if you stay away from King Rat and UnLunDun, you’ll do pretty well with Mieville IMO. Yeah, I actually hated King Rat. It actually has a lot of themes that are present in his later works, but they are so much better dealt with later. I chalked King Rat up as juvenilia. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Scud](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f08c70/32.png) [@Tom\_Scud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Scud)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2010, 7:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-fantasy-series-to-me-please/561659/210 "2010-12-16T07:15:07Z")
> [@jsgoddess](#): > > Un Lun Dun is the only one I’ve tried. I had to bail because I have a really low tolerance for grotesquerie (the guy with the pincushion head just gave me the willies). Yeah a low tolerance for grotesquerie probably puts Mieville out of court entirely, sad to say. ---
**Author:** ![Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/malleus_incus_stapes/32/3293_2.png) [@Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malleus_Incus_Stapes)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2010, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-fantasy-series-to-me-please/561659/211 "2010-12-17T00:12:38Z")
Yeah… if you don’t like grotesquerie, put down the book and run away screaming. China Mieville _is_ bodily horror. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2010, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-fantasy-series-to-me-please/561659/212 "2010-12-17T00:14:26Z")
> [@Tom\_Scud](#): > > Yeah a low tolerance for grotesquerie probably puts Mieville out of court entirely, sad to say. That’s kind of the impression that I’ve gotten, though it’s good to have it spelled out for me. Thanks. Pincushion heads. _shudder_ ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2010, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-fantasy-series-to-me-please/561659/213 "2010-12-17T01:28:43Z")
> [@Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](#): > > Yeah… if you don’t like grotesquerie, put down the book and run away screaming. China Mieville _is_ bodily horror. What is his best book? ---
**Author:** ![Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/malleus_incus_stapes/32/3293_2.png) [@Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malleus_Incus_Stapes)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2010, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-fantasy-series-to-me-please/561659/214 "2010-12-20T03:41:23Z")
Are you asking me? Because I’m not exactly a typical fan who’s memorized the plotlines and loves steampunk and can point you towards the books that most people like. But if you want my personal opinion… _Kraken_ was worth the read. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2010, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-fantasy-series-to-me-please/561659/215 "2010-12-20T03:46:16Z")
**jsgoddess** , yeah, Mieville is all about the bodily horror. Not to go into detail, but a major race in one of his books are the convicted criminals put through a certain process and called the ReMade. He gets quite inventive. But if I remember correctly, there’s very little of that in **The City and the City** : it’s essentially a potboiler mystery with a mindfuck in the middle. It’s possibly my favorite of his books, and it’s a stand-alone. ---
**Author:** ![Malthus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Malthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malthus)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2010, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-fantasy-series-to-me-please/561659/216 "2010-12-20T15:49:46Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > What is his best book? I’d start with _Perdido Street Station_. Though again, I agree that if one doesn’t like the grotesque, Mieville isn’t ever going to be one’s favorite … ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Scud](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f08c70/32.png) [@Tom\_Scud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Scud)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2010, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-fantasy-series-to-me-please/561659/217 "2010-12-20T16:45:04Z")
I actually think _The Scar_ is a better starting point than _Perdido Street Station_. ---
**Author:** ![Rhaegar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/51bf81/32.png) [@Rhaegar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhaegar)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2012, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-fantasy-series-to-me-please/561659/218 "2012-05-30T01:08:08Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > What do you think of Tad Williams’ Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn? Heck yeah, that was a great series. Reminded me an awful lot of the Hobbit in some ways. I’ve started reading the Shadowmarch series, but I don’t like it as much. ---
**Author:** ![Becky2844](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@Becky2844](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Becky2844)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2012, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-fantasy-series-to-me-please/561659/219 "2012-05-30T04:19:45Z")
Please forgive me for not reading the entire thread. If this has already been mentioned, disregard. I’m reading Elspeth Cooper’s _Songs of the Earth._ The Wild Hunt Book One. She’s a pleasurable writer and incorporates the fantasy in a believable way. It’s about people with “gifts” who strive to keep the known world seperate from the unknown one. Sample sentance: The cold wind cut tears from his eyes. I like how she turns a phrase. ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2012, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-fantasy-series-to-me-please/561659/220 "2012-05-30T22:40:11Z")
A vote for the [Young Wizards](http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=young+wizards) series by Diane Duane. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed them, even though they are supposedly aimed at the teen market. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-fantasy-series-to-me-please/561659.md?page=10) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-fantasy-series-to-me-please/561659.md?page=12)