# Recommend me some good FINISHED fantasy series... **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 19, 2006, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-good-finished-fantasy-series/384849 "2006-12-19T23:47:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2006, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-good-finished-fantasy-series/384849/1 "2006-12-19T23:47:43Z")
As much as i love the Song of Ice and Fire the fact that theres been one book in the past seven years or so is really ruining it for me. I want something i can start reading and keep reading until the end, not wait around several decades for… thank og good professor Tolkien had the decency to finish his grand work long before i was born or i wouldn’t know the ending to a single fantasy series i’ve ever started. I’m sure if i could search i’d find tons of threads with exactly what im looking for, alas im not allowed the privilege yet so help me out kind dopers! Stuff i like: Lord of the Rings, Song of Ice and Fire. Stuff i’ve hated: Wheel of time after the first half dozen books, Sword of Truth same. ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2006, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-good-finished-fantasy-series/384849/2 "2006-12-20T00:11:41Z")
Not as good as Martin’s series, but Robin Hobb’s Farseer Trilogy is finished, and it’s not terrible. Also Lynn Flewelling’s Hidden Warrior trilogy – the first two books were pretty good, haven’t read the third. I know you asked for completed series, but Steven Erikson’s Malazan Empire books are almost done, and by the time you read the first five or six, he’ll probably be finished. They’re not quick reads, and the story is complex enough that re-reading is a good idea. I’ve re-read three of them, and will probably read them again. I love 'em. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_C](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Captain\_C](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_C)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2006, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-good-finished-fantasy-series/384849/3 "2006-12-20T01:40:19Z")
Then whatever you do, don’t start the Wheel of Time series!!! It’s a trap! ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2006, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-good-finished-fantasy-series/384849/4 "2006-12-20T01:45:35Z")
Zelazny’s Chronicles of Amber series is finished. And it’s a much more imaginative work than the Lord of the Rings. Better written in many respects, too. ---
**Author:** ![Lissla\_Lissar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8491ac/32.png) [@Lissla\_Lissar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lissla_Lissar)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2006, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-good-finished-fantasy-series/384849/5 "2006-12-20T01:47:33Z")
Don’t read the Wheel of Time! Don’t! The _Hidden Warrior_ trilogy is very good. I really like Tad Williams’ _Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn_. The first book is _The Dragonbone Chair_. I prefer the Sithi to the Aurenfaie, but that’s just me. Huh. Aside from _Sabriel_ and the two other books following, nothing else is leaping to mind. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2006, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-good-finished-fantasy-series/384849/6 "2006-12-20T02:28:01Z")
[QUOTE=Evil Captor] Zelazny’s Chronicles of Amber series is finished. And it’s a much more imaginative work than the Lord of the Rings. Better written in many respects, too. [/QUOTE] I second this. Some I recommend : The Spellsong cycle by L.E. Modesitt, Jr; begins with _The Soprano Sorceress_. One of my favorites. The Lords of Dûs series by Lawrence Watt-Evans, begins with _The Lure of the Basilisk_. The Deed of Paksenarrion trilogy by Elizabeth Moon. It begins with _Sheepfarmer’s Daughter_, which can be downloaded free and legal from the [Baen Free Library](http://www.baen.com/library/). The Marianne Trilogy by Sheri S Tepper, begins with _Marianne, the Magus, and the Manticore_. The Silver John series by Manly Wade Wellman. Begins with _Who Fears the Devil?_ ( short stories) and _The Old Gods Waken_ ( novel ). ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2006, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-good-finished-fantasy-series/384849/7 "2006-12-20T03:11:37Z")
Thanks for all the suggestions guys, and **AuntiePam** almost finished is fine also! As for the WoT warnings, yeah i wish i had made this post ten years ago. I’ll definitely be checking out a few of them, too bad its a bit too late to drop some christmas hints. Keep them coming. ---
**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 20, 2006, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-good-finished-fantasy-series/384849/8 "2006-12-20T03:22:38Z")
Hmm. The Abhorsen Trilogy, by Garth Nix. First book: _Sabriel_. The Outremer series, by Chaz Brenchley. First book: _The Devil in the Dust_. I don’t know if Bujold is done writing about Chalion, but the series so far can stand on its own. First book: _The Curse of Chalion_. Same with Barbara Hambly’s two-book series starting with _Sisters of the Raven_. There may be more books to come (and that’d be great), but they aren’t necessary. Another two-book series is Alan Gardner’s that starts with _The Weirdstone of Brisingamen_. Generally considered YA. Also YA is Philip Pullman’s _His Dark Materials_, starting with _The Golden Compass_. I’m not done with Hobb’s Farseer trilogy, but I’d recommend what I’ve read so far, starting with _Assassin’s Apprentice_. One more year and I’d be able to highly highly highly recommend Greg Keyes’s Kingdoms of Thorn and Bone quartet, starting with _The Briar King_. But it’s not quite done. Bother. I can’t recommend this series highly enough, though. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2006, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-good-finished-fantasy-series/384849/9 "2006-12-20T03:57:56Z")
The Sevenwaters Trilogy by Juliet Marillier was good. The Crown of Stars series by Kate Elliott was pretty good too, but the earlier books are better. ---
**Author:** ![simster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/simster/32/1047_2.png) [@simster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/simster)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2006, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-good-finished-fantasy-series/384849/10 "2006-12-20T04:04:17Z")
I’ll third the Amber Series, and pretty much anything else that Zelazny wrote… Dilvish the Damned, etc… If you want light fantasy, read Stasheef’s Wizards book… I don’t think you have to “finish” the series (I know I didnt) but I thourouly enjoyed the first number of books… Gor is fun, and more/less finished, but I didnt read beyond book 13 (and that was a long time ago)… IIRC, the style changed pretty abruptly around that book. ---
**Author:** ![Kat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b19c9b/32.png) [@Kat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kat)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2006, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-good-finished-fantasy-series/384849/11 "2006-12-20T05:09:15Z")
Some of the ones that I like that haven’t been mentioned are: Michelle West’s Hunter/Sun Sword series Steven Brust’s Jhereg series - which may or may not be finished; I haven’t gotten _Dzur_ yet to see if that’s the end or not. Juliet E. McKenna’s Tales of Einarinn series ---
**Author:** ![Aunt\_Flow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ed655f/32.png) [@Aunt\_Flow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aunt_Flow)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2006, 5:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-good-finished-fantasy-series/384849/12 "2006-12-20T05:31:51Z")
I haven’t read any fantasy novels in a long time, but my favorite from back in the day was the original Dragonlance series. The first 3 books and the Twins trilogy that followed really were favorites for me. I read them over and over still 🙂 I have no life. ---
**Author:** ![DeadlyAccurate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ac91a4/32.png) [@DeadlyAccurate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeadlyAccurate)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2006, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-good-finished-fantasy-series/384849/13 "2006-12-20T05:41:49Z")
Robin Hobb has three trilogies set in the same world. Some of the best fiction I’ve ever read. The Farseer Trilogy The Liveship Traders The Tawny Man (in that order). The second series is set in another part of the world from the first and third but has one linking secondary character. The Tawny Man Trilogy is set many years after the Farseer Trilogy but has the same main character(s). ---
**Author:** ![Hunter\_Hawk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/50afbb/32.png) [@Hunter\_Hawk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hunter_Hawk)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2006, 6:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-good-finished-fantasy-series/384849/14 "2006-12-20T06:38:28Z")
A few more: James Branch Cabell: The Biography of Dom Manuel of Poictesme Jack Vance: The Dying Earth Michael Shea: The Compleat Nifft, and The Arak Fritz Leiber: The Fafhrd & Grey Mouser books REH: The Conan stories Karl Edward Wagner: The Kane stories and novels L. Sprague de Camp & Fletcher Pratt: The Compleat Enchanter ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2006, 7:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-good-finished-fantasy-series/384849/15 "2006-12-20T07:41:40Z")
Tanya Huff’s Blood series and Four Quarters series appear to be done, and are good. _Doc Sidhe_ and _Sidhe Devil_ by Aaron Allston. The Witch World books by Andre Norton, especially the earlier books. The Castle Perilous books by John De Chancie. The Book of Years books by Peter Morwood. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Dumbest\_Guy\_in\_the\_Room](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/5fc32e/32.png) [@The\_Dumbest\_Guy\_in\_the\_Room](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Dumbest_Guy_in_the_Room)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2006, 11:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-good-finished-fantasy-series/384849/16 "2006-12-20T11:25:08Z")
You can read Raymond E Feist’s **Riftwar** trilogy and his **Serpentwar** quartet. By the time you’d finished reading the 5 books in his Conclave of Shadows the 6th and final one will probably be published. Of course, then you’d still be stuck waiting for the 4th and 5th riftwars to finally end the saga 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Oswald\_Bastable](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/oswald_bastable/32/214_2.png) [@Oswald\_Bastable](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oswald_Bastable)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2006, 12:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-good-finished-fantasy-series/384849/17 "2006-12-20T12:16:41Z")
You might like to try some **Michael Moorcock**. I’d recommend the two Corum trilogies as well as the two Hawkmoon sets, and the (original) Elric cycle. All of these are published as collections under various titles, but the names of the indiviudal books are: **Corum 1** (published collectively under titles such as The Swords of Corum, Corum: The Coming of Chaos, The Prince in the Scarlet Robe) _The Knight of the Swords The Queen of the Swords The King of the Swords_ **Corum 2** (published collectively under titles such as The Prince With The Silver Hand, The Chronicles of Corum) _The Bull and the Spear The Oak and the Ram The Sword and the Stallion_ **Hawkmoon 1** (The History of the Runestaff) _The Jewel in the Skull The Mad God’s Amulet (aka Sorceror’s Amulet) The Sword of the Dawn The Runestaff (aka The Secret of the Runestaff)_ **Hawkmoon 2** (Count Brass) _Count Brass (aka The Chronicles of Castle Brass) The Champion of Garathorm The Quest for Tanelorn_ **Elric** _Elric of Melniboné The Fortress of the Pearl The Sailor on the Seas of Fate The Dreaming City While The Gods Laugh The Singing Citadel The Sleeping Sorceress The Revenge of the Rose The Stealer of Souls Kings in Darkness The Caravan of Forgotten Dreams (or The Flame Bringers) Stormbringer_ Moorcock’s style is rather different to many modern, over wordy, fantasy authors. His economical but inspired prose moves everything on at a pace, so each book (some of which are probably shorter than the chapters in other writers’ works ;)) is a quick but exciting read. I’d highly recommend checking out some of the reviews at Amazon to get an idea. Moorcock has actually just brought his Eternal Champion cycle (of which the above series, among others, create a greater whole) to a close, so any of his fantasy work should be more of less complete (in an open ended kind of way). Check out [www.multiverse.org](http://www.multiverse.org/) for more info. OB ---
**Author:** ![Septima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dc4da7/32.png) [@Septima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Septima)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2006, 12:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-good-finished-fantasy-series/384849/18 "2006-12-20T12:27:02Z")
David Eddings has many finished series, among them _The Belgariad_ and _Sparhawk_ (can’t remember if that’s the name of the series, or the main character, but they’re not hard to find. The books are all named something involving gemstones, the first one is _The Diamond Throne_.) The _Earthsea_ series by Ursula K. Le Guin is also finished. I second _Farseer_ and _His Dark Materials_ Have you considered _Narnia_? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Lissla\_Lissar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8491ac/32.png) [@Lissla\_Lissar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lissla_Lissar)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2006, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-good-finished-fantasy-series/384849/19 "2006-12-20T12:39:37Z")
Oh, yes. Tanya Huff’s _Blood_ series is great fun. For lighter stuff, her _Summon the Keeper_ books are a nice read. ---
**Author:** ![LANmom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c89c15/32.png) [@LANmom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LANmom)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2006, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-good-finished-fantasy-series/384849/20 "2006-12-20T14:28:09Z")
[QUOTE=Captain\_C] Then whatever you do, don’t start the Wheel of Time series!!! It’s a trap! [/QUOTE] How so? I am on book seven and I devour it each night. Jordan is an excellent writer. (newbie here) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-good-finished-fantasy-series/384849.md?page=2)