# Recommend some lesser-known fantasy **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 7, 2009, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-lesser-known-fantasy/499006 "2009-06-07T14:37:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2009, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-lesser-known-fantasy/499006/21 "2009-06-07T17:34:31Z")
I think it was here on the Dope that I heard of James Stoddard’s _The High House_. Not only is it a good fantasy novel in its own right, it’s sort of a homage to the works of older fantasy writers (like Lord Dunsany, George MacDonald, Mervyn Peake, William Morris, etc.), so if you like it, it may turn you on to some of them. ---
**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:** [June 7, 2009, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-lesser-known-fantasy/499006/22 "2009-06-07T18:50:23Z")
> [@Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](#): > > If you’re looking at urban fantasy, for example, Have the tried [Mike Carey](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Carey)? He’s better known as a comic book writer ( I discovered him reading _Lucifer_ ), but has a current series of novels set in a modern London where ghosts and other unquiet spirits have started emerging in the last couple of decades and centering on a part-time exorcist named Felix Castor. Four of a projected seven novels in the series have been released in the UK, with a fifth coming in September. Two released so far in the states, with the third due in July. I’ve read the first two and thought they were fairly decent. Quick, fun reads if nothing else. Otherwise another big thumbs up for Scott Lynch. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2009, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-lesser-known-fantasy/499006/23 "2009-06-07T18:55:32Z")
Like anthologies? May want to check out: > **[Thieves' World](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thieves_World)** > > Thieves' World is a shared world fantasy series created by Robert Lynn Asprin in 1978. The original series comprised twelve anthologies, including stories by science fiction authors Poul Anderson, John Brunner, Andrew J. Offutt, C. J. Cherryh, Janet Morris, and Chris Morris. > Thieves' World is set in the city of Sanctuary at the edge of the Rankan Empire. The city is depicted as a place where many are downtrodden and where the invading Rankan gods and the Ilsigi gods they had ousted begin a stru... ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2009, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-lesser-known-fantasy/499006/24 "2009-06-07T19:05:50Z")
> [@Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](#): > > Nope, never heard of Brust, actually. Then again, if it’s sci-fi-ish, I probably wouldn’t have come across him. > > Octavia Butler sounds familier… No, he isn’t sci-fi-ish at all - CS Friedman is. (Again, don’t let that turn you off of her Coldfire Trilogy - its really a fantasy world, just with a sci-fi backstory.) Brust has written several series (of varying styles and quality) - I believe his Vlad Taltos books are out in a compilation now, which you’d probably like. Have you read _Little, Big_? S’good. ---
**Author:** ![magnusblitz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b4bc9f/32.png) [@magnusblitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magnusblitz)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2009, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-lesser-known-fantasy/499006/25 "2009-06-07T19:06:42Z")
I just finished reading Brandon Sanderson’s works (the stand-alone _Elantris_ and trilogy of _Mistborn_), but seeing as how he was tapped to finish the Wheel of Time series, he might be too well-known to qualify. He definitely writes some great books though - very interesting and well-designed magic systems, good characterization, and lots of thought of ideas like religion without getting too philsophical/boring/preachy. I read David Gemmell’s _Rigante_ series (four books, with a several hundred year gap between the second and third books) way back and loved it. I just recently started with his books in the Draenai saga, going in order of publication (so _Legend_ first, then _King Beyond the Gate_, etc…) His works tend to go for the “larger than life” characterizations, but all of his characters still have interesting flaws. Also, my personal favorite still remains Simon R. Green, with his _Deathstalker_ (sci-fi) and _Blue Moon_ (fantasy) series. They’re over-the-top and approach cheesiness, but I find them to be great fun. (Never read his vampire stuff, not sure how it compares). (FWIW, I’ve also recently read Robin Hobb’s _Farseer_ trilogy, Naomi Novik’s _Temeraire_ series, and R. Scott Bakker’s _Prince of Nothing_ trilogy, all of which were kinda meh to me. Temeraire is good enough to keep me interesting (just bought the latest book, Victory of Eagles), but the other two turned me off enough that I was not interesting in picking up the future books). ---
**Author:** ![Reno\_Nevada](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Reno\_Nevada](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reno_Nevada)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2009, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-lesser-known-fantasy/499006/26 "2009-06-07T19:17:57Z")
I will second the recommendation for Stephen Brust. Start with \*Jherig \*to get an idea of his flavor. Not at all science-fictiony, by the way. \*The Worm Ouroborous \*by ER Eddison is rightly called a flawed masterpiece. It is brilliant but unusual. If you take a look at it, be aware that the framing device is forgotten almost immediately–you can safely skim it until you get to the introduction of the real heroes, the Lords Juss and Brandoch Daha. Another one that may be “new to you” is James Branch Cabell. Literate, humorous and sardonic, if you get tired of Tolkein retreads written for adolescents you can try _Jurgen_, his most famous (because it was banned in Boston for obscenity, it has rarely been out of print). Finally, I love James Blaylock, another unusual author. If you can find _The Elfin Ship_ give it a try. Again, light-hearted and unusual. ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2009, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-lesser-known-fantasy/499006/27 "2009-06-07T19:20:13Z")
::TV announcer’s voice:: Wait! There’s more! William Browning Spencer, like Carroll but with more “meat”, I think. _Resume With Monsters_ is a Lovecraftian take on office culture, and it’s awesome. All Spencer’s stuff is good, in my opinion. While you’re browsing, check out Jeff Vandermeer (_City of Saints and Madmen_) and Charles Stross (_The Atrocity Archives_ had me sympathizing with ghouls). ---
**Author:** ![Eleanor\_of\_Aquitaine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a88e4f/32.png) [@Eleanor\_of\_Aquitaine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eleanor_of_Aquitaine)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2009, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-lesser-known-fantasy/499006/28 "2009-06-07T20:10:12Z")
Have you read anything by Charlie Huston? His Joe Pitt vampire series is good, although it’s very violent. His dialog is outstanding once you get used to his style. Tanya Huff has a brand new urban fantasy novel, released last week, called _The Enchantment Emporium_. I haven’t started it yet. It’s either a standalone or the first in a new series. Her \*Blood \*books and _Smoke & Ashes_ books are good, too. I like P.N. Elrod’s Vampire Files books, about a vampire detective in 1930’s Chicago. You’ve probably heard of Patricia Briggs’ urban fantasy series, starting with _Moon Called_. It’s good. ---
**Author:** ![emmaliminal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7bcc69/32.png) [@emmaliminal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/emmaliminal)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2009, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-lesser-known-fantasy/499006/29 "2009-06-07T20:33:45Z")
You’ve no doubt tried some of the below already, but I have no idea what’s well-known outside my house these days! > [@Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](#): > > Nope, never heard of Brust, actually. Then again, if it’s sci-fi-ish, I probably wouldn’t have come across him. [Brust](http://www.amazon.com/Steven-Brust/e/B000AP75D0/) isn’t at all sci-fi; I think Zsofia meant that CS Friedman is sci-fi-ey. Some of Brust’s stuff is good stuff, and he’s prolific, and he’s been prolific for a while. I like his [Taltos series](http://www.amazon.com/gp/series/396/) best. > [@Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](#): > > Octavia Butler sounds familier… Octavia Butler is one of my all-time favorites. She definitely wrote in the sci-fi/fantasy mix space. The Xenogenesis trilogy, aka _[Lilith’s Brood](http://www.amazon.com/Liliths-Brood-Octavia-E-Butler/dp/0446676101/)_, is her most sci-fi-ish work, I think, with aliens in the future after a nuclear holocaust, though her aliens are unlike any other aliens I’ve read, and aren’t military space opera types at all. \*[Kindred](http://www.amazon.com/Kindred-Black-Writers-Octavia-Butler/dp/0807083054/) \*is a work of genius if you ask me and the only sci-fi element is a sort of time travel; it’s historical fiction as much as anything else. The \*[Patternmaster](http://www.amazon.com/Clays-Ark-Octavia-E-Butler/dp/0446603708/) \*series is only sci-fi in having an alien origin story for its otherworldly, slightly vampire or werewolf (depending) like, semi-immortal, ESP-having characters. The \*[Parable](http://www.amazon.com/Parable-Sower-Octavia-E-Butler/dp/0446601977/ref=ed_oe_p) \*two-book series is near-future survival post-urban stuff. Her last one, _[Fledgling](http://www.amazon.com/Fledgling-Octavia-E-Butler/dp/B001CB465Q/)_, is definitely a vampire book, and I loved it even though I generally do not enjoy vampire books. Ditto on **hobscrk777** and **Alessan** ’s suggesting [Scott Lynch](http://www.amazon.com/Scott-Lynch/e/B001DABSBQ/). Ditto on **Wednesday Evening** ’s suggesting [Kage Baker](http://www.amazon.com/Kage-Baker/e/B000APVVYE/). The Company series is technically sci-fi, though IMHO in the very best way. _[The Anvil of the World](http://www.amazon.com/Anvil-World-Kage-Baker/dp/0765349078/)_ is all fantasy. [Lois McMaster Bujold](http://www.amazon.com/Lois-McMaster-Bujold/e/B000AQ1PPI/) also wrote a space-opera series; if you enjoyed her other books, you might enjoy them too despite the military bent. Really, they’re almost as much feudal as military. You can see if it appeals to you in general by reading her Baen Free Library novella, _[The Mountains of Mourning](http://www.webscription.net/10.1125/Baen/1011250002/1011250002.htm)_. If you like that, there are lots of [Miles Vorkosigan](http://www.amazon.com/Lois-McMaster-Bujold/e/B000AQ1PPI/) books! Greg Keyes (a.k.a. J. Gregory Keyes) is another wonderful author. I particularly love his first set, [_The Waterborn_](http://www.amazon.com/Waterborn-Chosen-Changeling-Book/dp/0345396707/) and [_Blackgod_](http://www.amazon.com/Blackgod-Chosen-Changeling-Gregory-Keyes/dp/0345418808/). He’s also got an alternative history series in the time of Ben Franklin called the Age of Unreason, starting with _[Newton’s Cannon](http://www.amazon.com/Newtons-Cannon-Age-Unreason-Book/dp/0345433785/)_, where sorcery works; and a sort of British-Isles-flavored-but-totally-different series that starts with _[The Briar King](http://www.amazon.com/Briar-King-Kingdoms-Thorn-Bone/dp/0345440706/)_. [Guy Gavriel Kay](http://www.amazon.com/Guy-Gavriel-Kay/e/B000AQ6VIO/) is another prolific one. He most often writes fantasy inspired by some real period of European history, but set for his storytelling freedom in an alternate universe. Connie Willis may be my very favorite. \*[To Say Nothing of the Dog](http://www.amazon.com/Say-Nothing-Dog-Connie-Willis/dp/0553575384/)\*is light comedic Victorian time-travel fiction; _[The Doomsday Book](http://www.amazon.com/Doomsday-Book-Connie-Willis/dp/0553562738/)_ (which at the moment I’m rereading for maybe the fourth time) is serious Medieval time-travel fiction. All her other stuff is great, too, though some of it (especially stuff she co-wrote with Cynthia Felice) lets some formulaic-ness show. [Lian Hearn](http://www.amazon.com/Lian-Hearn/e/B001IQX7E6/) is relatively new with a feudal-Japanese-inspired series. I thoroughly enjoyed _[Acacia](http://www.amazon.com/Acacia-War-Mein-Book/dp/0385722524/)_ by David Anthony Durham. His other work is straightforward historical fiction, but Acacia is fantasy, 750+ pages in paperback, and supposedly the first in a series. The [next one](http://www.amazon.com/Other-Lands-Acacia-Book/dp/0385523327/) is due out in hardcover in September. _[The Name of the Wind](http://www.amazon.com/Name-Wind-Kingkiller-Chronicles-Day/dp/0756404746/)_ by Patrick Rothfuss is also supposed to head a series and is also delightfully long, and I agree with \*\*Alessan \*\*that you might like it. Ursula Le Guin recently (well, in 2004) started a new young-adult series called [Annals of the Western Shore](http://www.amazon.com/Gifts-Annals-Western-Shore-Ursula/dp/0152051244/) that I like. [Sharon Shinn](http://www.amazon.com/Sharon-Shinn/e/B000AP8QJ2/) has written rather a lot, but it doesn’t strike me as the highest quality writing; more like romance novels in fantasy settings. I enjoyed her Samaria series more than the 12 Houses series, but it’s all pretty predictable stuff. Good for if you’re down with the flu and want something to take your mind off things without thinking too hard. Garth Nix tends towards the young-adult and is maybe over-serious, but I like his _[Abhorsen Chronicles](http://www.amazon.com/Abhorsen-Chronicles-Garth-Nix/)_ (originally the Abhorsen Trilogy) anyway. Greg Bear is famous for hard science fiction but his _[Songs of Earth and Power](http://www.amazon.com/Songs-Earth-Power-Greg-Bear/dp/0812536037/)_ is fantasy. Here’s an author you might not have heard of: [Nalo Hopkinson](http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_b_0_4?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=nalo+hopkinson&sprefix=nalo). Why she is not hugely famous I am not sure, but _[Midnight Robber](http://www.amazon.com/Midnight-Robber-Nalo-Hopkinson/dp/0446675601/)_ and _[Brown Girl in the Ring](http://www.amazon.com/Brown-Girl-Ring-Nalo-Hopkinson/dp/0446674338/)_ are amazing. Clive Barker is famous for horror, but has some great fantasy titles too, especially _[Imagica](http://www.amazon.com/Imajica-Clive-Barker/dp/0061099643/)_ and _[Weaveworld](http://www.amazon.com/Weaveworld-Clive-Barker/dp/0671704184/)_. You know about [Robin McKinley](http://www.amazon.com/Robin-McKinley/e/B000AQ1OUY/), right? Gregory McGuire, famous for _[Wicked](http://www.amazon.com/Wicked-Life-Times-Witch-West/dp/0060987103/)_ (on which the musical is based), has retellings of other fairy tales too. My favorite is his Cinderella story, _[Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister](http://www.amazon.com/Confessions-Ugly-Stepsister-Gregory-Maguire/dp/0060987529/)_. You’re young enough (IIRC) that you might not have come across Peter S. Beagle. _[The Last Unicorn](http://www.amazon.com/Last-Unicorn-Peter-S-Beagle/dp/0451450523/)_ is his most famous, though my favorite might be _[The Innkeeper’s Song](http://www.amazon.com/Innkeepers-Song-Peter-S-Beagle/dp/0451454146/)_. The Esther Friesner edited feminist fantasy-heroine short-story anthology series is starting to show its age but is still great fun: _[Chicks in Chain Mail](http://www.amazon.com/Chicks-Chainmail-Esther-Friesner/dp/0671876821/)_, _[The Chick Is in the Mail](http://www.amazon.com/Chick-Mail-Esther-Friesner/dp/0671319507/)_, [\*Did You Say \*Chicks?!](http://www.amazon.com/Did-You-Chicks-Esther-Friesner/dp/0671878670/), _[Chicks ‘n’ Chained Males](http://www.amazon.com/Chicks-Chained-Males-Esther-Friesner/dp/0671578146/)_, and _[Turn the Other Chick](http://www.amazon.com/Turn-Other-Chick-Esther-Friesner/dp/1416520538/)_. Good authors contributed to the anthologies, and you can look up the ones you like from here. ---
**Author:** ![Mosier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ea924/32.png) [@Mosier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mosier)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2009, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-lesser-known-fantasy/499006/30 "2009-06-07T20:52:33Z")
The Renshai series by Mickey Zucker Reichert, a trilogy with the titles “The Last of the Renshai,” “The Western Wizard,” and “Child of Thunder.” There are other books about the Renshai written afterward, which are a separate series only loosely connected to the first trilogy, but the originals were the best. One of the reasons I like the series so much is described pretty well by an Amazon reviewer, below > [@amazon review](#): > > While I will agree with one of the reviewers who said that there was no clear protagonist or antagonist in this story, I do not see that as a flaw. It is not always clear in life who is the “good guy” or the “bad guy”. In exceptional stories, the good aren’t all good, and the bad aren’t all bad. One of the most sympathetic characters is the last member of a race that was destroyed in an act of genocide, but the world is probably better off without. He makes no apologies for the atrocities his people committed before they were destroyed, and in fact completely embraces his culture (although in secret, since anyone who knew his heritage would kill him). Another sympathetic character is a ruthless lunatic who attacks and kills people in fits of rage. He can not control his temper, which leads to innocent people being hurt and even killed. Somehow Reichert is able to cast this brute as someone we desperately want good things to happen to. Another character, the “bad guy” is an essential part of the stability of the entire universe, and even his enemies recognize he is simply filling a role that must be filled. He recognizes he is evil and embraces it, but is anything but a typical antagonist. I hope you enjoy these books as much as I did! Just be warned, for a long time in the beginning, the books are not very magical or supernatural. Everyone talks about wizards and a pantheon of gods and prophesies and rituals and stuff, but we don’t actually see any of it happen and we’re sort of in doubt about whether these people who claim to be wizards are actually just hallucinating. Part of the lore of the stories is that any use of magic or supernatural power allows chaos into the world, which brings everything one step closer to apocalypse. Magic is used very sparingly, and it’s always a world-changing event when it happens. There’s no casual spell-slinging to be found here. ---
**Author:** ![Scissorjack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c67d28/32.png) [@Scissorjack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scissorjack)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2009, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-lesser-known-fantasy/499006/31 "2009-06-07T22:58:41Z")
Fritz Leiber’s Fafhrd and The Grey Mouser series seldom get mentioned much these days, but they’re pretty much fantasy essentials. Pure unabashed pulp plots told in the the driest, wittiest, and most urbane fantasy prose ever written, with a philosophical barbarian and a cynical thief as the rather eccentric tomb-plundering heroes combine for sheer reading pleasure. It’s far too smart to be mere parody, but fantasy aware of its own tropes - just why are adventurers who make a living stealing enormous gems from evil sorcerers permanently broke? - pretty much began with Leiber: writers such as Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman are vastly in his debt. ---
**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:** [June 7, 2009, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-lesser-known-fantasy/499006/32 "2009-06-07T23:55:38Z")
> [@Tamerlane](#): > > Have the tried [Mike Carey](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Carey)? He’s better known as a comic book writer ( I discovered him reading _Lucifer_ ), but has a current series of novels set in a modern London where ghosts and other unquiet spirits have started emerging in the last couple of decades and centering on a part-time exorcist named Felix Castor. Four of a projected seven novels in the series have been released in the UK, with a fifth coming in September. Two released so far in the states, with the third due in July. > > I’ve read the first two and thought they were fairly decent. Quick, fun reads if nothing else. I know, but I don’t think the third one has come out yet. Can’t wait to see what happens with Juliet, though. ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2009, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-lesser-known-fantasy/499006/33 "2009-06-08T00:08:05Z")
[Prince Ombra](http://www.amazon.com/Prince-Ombra-Roderick-MacLeish/dp/0765342448/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1244419537&sr=1-2) by Roderick MacLeish is quite good. I enjoyed [Wizard of the Grove (Daw Book Collectors)](http://www.amazon.com/Wizard-Grove-Daw-Book-Collectors/dp/0886778190/ref=sr_1_27?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1244419608&sr=1-27) by Tanya Huff [The True Game](http://www.amazon.com/True-Game-Sheri-S-Tepper/dp/0441003311/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1244419654&sr=1-1) by Sheri S. Tepper was fun and IMO a fresh idea. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2009, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-lesser-known-fantasy/499006/34 "2009-06-08T00:43:47Z")
Oh, do you dig the New Weird stuff? If you’ve read China Mieville, try _The Etched City_ by, um, somebody Bishop. Although my first copy accidentally had its first half switched with conference proceedings on Virginia Woolf, of which I read several pages thinking it was possibly on purpose, because, you know, it’s New _Weird_, right? ---
**Author:** ![Elyanna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b5ac83/32.png) [@Elyanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elyanna)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2009, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-lesser-known-fantasy/499006/35 "2009-06-08T01:04:33Z")
Never seen this discussed: David Clement Davies’s _Fire Bringer_. Like _Watership Down_, only with deer. If you hated _Watership_, don’t bother, though. I think this is moderately well known, not sure–_The Book of Lost Things_, John Connolly. A boy who has recently lost his mother either finds his way into a fantasy world or has hallucinations; the book doesn’t definitively answer which “really” happened. Eerie. A little disturbing. David Garnett’s _Lady Into Fox_. The title is pretty much the plot. From 1922. ---
**Author:** ![magnusblitz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b4bc9f/32.png) [@magnusblitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magnusblitz)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2009, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-lesser-known-fantasy/499006/36 "2009-06-08T01:35:06Z")
> [@emmaliminal](#): > > Greg Keyes (a.k.a. J. Gregory Keyes) is another wonderful author. I particularly love his first set, [_The Waterborn_](http://www.amazon.com/Waterborn-Chosen-Changeling-Book/dp/0345396707/) and [_Blackgod_](http://www.amazon.com/Blackgod-Chosen-Changeling-Gregory-Keyes/dp/0345418808/). He’s also got an alternative history series in the time of Ben Franklin called the Age of Unreason, starting with _[Newton’s Cannon](http://www.amazon.com/Newtons-Cannon-Age-Unreason-Book/dp/0345433785/)_, where sorcery works; and a sort of British-Isles-flavored-but-totally-different series that starts with _[The Briar King](http://www.amazon.com/Briar-King-Kingdoms-Thorn-Bone/dp/0345440706/)_. FWIW, I thought the first two books of the Kingdom of Thorn and Bone series were excellent, the third meandered a bit and seemed like it was killing time, and the fourth went in some weird directions and gave a very anticlimatic/unstatisfying conclusion… ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2009, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-lesser-known-fantasy/499006/37 "2009-06-08T02:48:59Z")
Here’s my chance to yet again push John Morressy. The major problem with his stuff is that it’s basically all out-of-print. The better-known series of his is the Kedrigern series, which is about 6 novels and a number of short stories about a married wizard who specializes in counterspelling. This was being reprinted in what was originally planned to be three (and then four) volumes by the now-defunct Meisha Merlin. I don’t know how easy the two that were printed are to find (I need to look for hardbacks to replace my paperbacks), but if they were representative of the stuff Meisha Merlin put out, I am not surprised they went out of business. He also wrote four books known as the Iron Angel series (The Time of the Annihilator, Graymantle, Ironbrand, and Kingsbane, in internal chronological order) which are, I think, pretty good sword-and-sorcery books that’s more restrained than a lot of the stuff in the genre. In any case, you’ll have to looking in used book stores and maybe online to pick up any of his stuff. ---
**Author:** ![commasense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/commasense/32/3017_2.png) [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2009, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-lesser-known-fantasy/499006/38 "2009-06-08T03:11:41Z")
[John C. Wright](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_C._Wright) has written a two-volume fantasy novel, _The Guardians of Everness_ and _Mists of Everness_. Personally, I prefer his two three-volume sci-fi novels, _The Golden Age_ and _The Chronicles of Chaos_, but the _Everness_ books were [well](http://www.sff.net/people/john-c-wright/book-last-guardian-of-everness.html)[reviewed](http://www.sff.net/people/john-c-wright/Book-Mists-of-Everness.htm). ---
**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:** [June 8, 2009, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-lesser-known-fantasy/499006/39 "2009-06-08T05:24:58Z")
The Long Price Quartet, starting with _A Shadow in Summer_, by Daniel Abraham. The Outremer books, starting with _The Devil in the Dust_, by Chaz Brenchley. Ricardo Pinto. He and Brenchley have some strong gay themes, so if that turns you off you’ve been warned. Pinto depressed me so I stopped reading. It’s YA and famous but maybe not everyone has read it yet since it’s newish: Kristen Cashore’s _Graceling_. For urban fantasy, Patricia Briggs and Ilona Andrews. I like Carrie Vaughn’s Kitty books, too, but I think they are a step below Briggs and Andrews. I love Barbara Hambly, though I haven’t read enough by her. She’s well-known, but again seems to slip through some cracks. I’m getting into Sharon Shinn recently. Lovely writer, though definitely with romance overtones. (Not that awful “sleeps with anything supernatural” trend that infects so much urban fantasy.) Pamela Dean writes so well and she baffles me. I love to read her work and always want to find someone else to ask them questions afterward. ---
**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:** [June 8, 2009, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-lesser-known-fantasy/499006/40 "2009-06-08T05:26:00Z")
> [@magnusblitz](#): > > FWIW, I thought the first two books of the Kingdom of Thorn and Bone series were excellent, the third meandered a bit and seemed like it was killing time, and the fourth went in some weird directions and gave a very anticlimatic/unstatisfying conclusion… Yeah, I thought that series really didn’t end on a great note, but still very worth reading. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-lesser-known-fantasy/499006.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-lesser-known-fantasy/499006.md?page=3)