# Which epic fantasy saga to read next? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 8, 2011, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-epic-fantasy-saga-to-read-next/577679 "2011-04-08T16:36:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2011, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-epic-fantasy-saga-to-read-next/577679/21 "2011-04-08T20:01:13Z")
Lois Bujold has been writing some great fantasy novels lately. _Curse of Chalion_, _Paladin of Souls_, and _Hallowed Hunt_ are all set in the same world, but aren’t exactly a trilogy - the second book takes a minor character from the first and builds a story around her, the third book takes place in an entirely different country and has no direct overlap with the other two. The driving cnceit behind the series is the relationship between the novel’s various protagonists, and the gods that minister to the world. It’s a very well-thought out theology, and Bujold does a good job of exploring the ramifications of the supernatural system she created. Her other fantasy series, _The Sharing Knife_, is a bit odd, for a fantasy series. It’s kind of like if HP Lovecraft had written _Little House on the Prairie_ and had it published by Harlequin. I’m also a long-time fan of Tad Williams’ _Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn_ trilogy. Very Tolkein-esque, but written in a more accessible language. The protagonist does spend an inordinate amount of time lost in various forests, though. If someone had just given that boy a compass, the series would be about half as long. ---
**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:** [April 8, 2011, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-epic-fantasy-saga-to-read-next/577679/22 "2011-04-08T20:22:28Z")
Diane Duane’s Young Wizards series. L.E. Modesitt’s Spellsong cycle. Tanya Huff’s Quarters series. If you like humorous fantasy, Tanya Huff’s Keeper series. > [@xtisme](#): > > I’ve thought about getting the Dresden Files on audio…is it worth it? How good is it? > > -XT Well, I think it’s great fun. But if you try it, keep in mind that the first book is considered the weakest in the series (the same for his Codex Alera series). ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2011, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-epic-fantasy-saga-to-read-next/577679/23 "2011-04-08T20:26:44Z")
I had heard that the first book was not the strongest. That’s unusual for a series…usually the first book(s) are the best and it gets weaker over time. I have another long trip coming up, so maybe I’ll get the whole series off [Audible.com](http://Audible.com) and give it a try. My son is reading through the Belgariad for the first time…that’s sort of a classic ‘epic fantasy’ series that the OP might be interested in, if s/he hasn’t read it before. Though I know a lot of folks who didn’t like it, so grain of salt. -XT ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2011, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-epic-fantasy-saga-to-read-next/577679/24 "2011-04-08T20:29:39Z")
Much of [S.M. Stirling’s](http://www.smstirling.com/) SF is really epic fantasy. Check out the Dies the Fire/Change/Emberverse series and the Fifth Millennium series. ---
**Author:** ![surrounded\_by\_literalists](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8baadc/32.png) [@surrounded\_by\_literalists](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/surrounded_by_literalists)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2011, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-epic-fantasy-saga-to-read-next/577679/25 "2011-04-08T20:46:42Z")
> [@xtisme](#): > > My son is reading through the Belgariad for the first time…that’s sort of a classic ‘epic fantasy’ series that the OP might be interested in, if s/he hasn’t read it before. Though I know a lot of folks who didn’t like it, so grain of salt-XT I LOVED \*The Belgariad \*and _The Mallorean_ (David Eddings) series. I still love the classics like Marion Zimmer Bradly’s _Darkover_ series and Anne McCaffery’s _Dragonrider_ series. ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2011, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-epic-fantasy-saga-to-read-next/577679/26 "2011-04-08T20:48:30Z")
I agree on all counts, but I know a lot of people who didn’t like the Belgariad (thought it too ‘childish’), so figured I’d give the standard disclaimer. -XT ---
**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:** [April 8, 2011, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-epic-fantasy-saga-to-read-next/577679/27 "2011-04-08T21:23:25Z")
> [@well\_he\_s\_back](#): > > Please give the Obernewtyn books by Isobelle Carmody a try. I think this series has been sadly overlooked. Have they come out with the last two books yet? I second anything by Brandon Sanderson. (Actually, I wasn’t that taken with _Elantris_, but I seem to be in the utter minority there. So by all means, read _Elantris_). Warning: he’s got two(!) unfinished series at the moment. _Warbreaker_ works for the moment as a stand-alone- it doesn’t end on a cliffhanger- but there’s two many unanswered questions for there not to be a sequel. I think BS plans to have a duology. _The Stormlight Archives_ is meant to be ten (!!) books long, with only one out so far. He’s interupting everything except his WoT stuff to work on it- it’s been his pet project for ten years or something like that, and it sort of connects all of his books in a meta-universe and stuff. So you’ll have to be patient. ---
**Author:** ![Quimby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/22d042/32.png) [@Quimby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quimby)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2011, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-epic-fantasy-saga-to-read-next/577679/28 "2011-04-08T22:53:14Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > The [Dragonlance](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dragonlance) series, perhaps? I will second this. Stick with the Chronicles and Legends books by Weis and Hickman (6 in all). Since they were D&D novels, they had to shoehorn some of the concepts and rules of the game into the story but they are well done , I think (the Legends more than the Chronicles). The various spin offs, not so much. Also, while I have not read them, I have heard good things about the Shanara books. ---
**Author:** ![Helena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c68b51/32.png) [@Helena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Helena)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2011, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-epic-fantasy-saga-to-read-next/577679/29 "2011-04-08T23:58:07Z")
> [@xtisme](#): > > I’ve thought about getting the Dresden Files on audio…is it worth it? How good is it? > > -XT James Marsters doesn’t know how to pronounce “chitinous.” But I enjoyed it. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2011, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-epic-fantasy-saga-to-read-next/577679/30 "2011-04-09T00:07:47Z")
Edited: this came across as more douchey than I intended. ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2011, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-epic-fantasy-saga-to-read-next/577679/31 "2011-04-09T00:12:34Z")
> [@bucketybuck](#): > > I very much recommend the recently finished ten book epic “Malazan book of the Fallen”, by Steven Erikson. Can’t believed no one has “this’d” this yet. So This, times 100. ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Nader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Darth\_Nader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Nader)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2011, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-epic-fantasy-saga-to-read-next/577679/32 "2011-04-09T00:32:59Z")
Xanth. Did you see that? I said it without laughing out loud. Bwa haha ha hahaha hee hee hoot! ---
**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:** [April 9, 2011, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-epic-fantasy-saga-to-read-next/577679/33 "2011-04-09T00:35:21Z")
> [@xtisme](#): > > I had heard that the first book was not the strongest. The first _few_ are not the strongest IMO. They do get better, but the first few read like journeyman hack-jobs. Not awful. But a bit cliched and obvious. I has to kind of plow through the first three or four before I developed a real interest. ---
**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:** [April 9, 2011, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-epic-fantasy-saga-to-read-next/577679/34 "2011-04-09T00:43:51Z")
Seconding Mike Carey, Lois McMaster Bujold (Chalion, not Sharing Knife), and Robin Hobb. The first Dresden book is definitely the weakest, and I wasn’t impressed with the first Codex Alera book either, but haven’t pursued the series yet (and I intend to). I’d also suggest the Temeraire books by Naomi Novik. ---
**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:** [April 9, 2011, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-epic-fantasy-saga-to-read-next/577679/35 "2011-04-09T04:15:47Z")
> [@ITR\_champion](#): > > Try Hugh Cook’s [Chronicles of an Age of Darkness](http://www.chroniclesofanageofdarkness.info/index.php?title=Chronicles_of_an_Age_of_Darkness). Few people in the United States known about these books–the author comes from New Zealnad–but for action-packed, sword-slinging fantasy they’re tough to beat. There’s a huge cast of characters and a massive world spanning several continents, without countless warring factions and all kinds of unique touches. Not for children, however. Some scenes are quite brutal. > > At ten books, most of them fairly hefty, it should keep you busy for a while. BTW, what are the later books like? I’ve read the first three and am about halfway through _The Walrus and the Warwolf_, and I think they’re mostly brilliant. However, I do prefer the “gonzo picaresque fantasy” aspect of the works more than the “political intrigue” aspects. Should I keep reading the series, or should I stop after the current book? Back to the OP: The Black Company series by Glen Cook The Wood Beyond the World by William Morris The Worm Ouroboros by E. R. Eddison ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2011, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-epic-fantasy-saga-to-read-next/577679/36 "2011-04-09T04:53:23Z")
You’ve read Charlaine Harris’ books. What did you think of them? If you enjoyed them, then you too need to delve deeper into the realms of urban fantasy. - War For The Oaks by Emma Bull - The Otherworld series by Kelley Armstrong - The Hollows Series by Kim Harrison (which I personally think [Being Human](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Being_Human_(TV_series)) borrowed from) - The Cal Leandros Series by Rob Thurman - The Mercy Thomas series by Patricia Briggs If young adult books are acceptable, add these to the list: - The Modern Faerie Tales by Holly Black - The Need series by Carrie Jones - The Gemma Doyle Trilogy by Libba Bray - The Trickster’s novels by Tamora Pierce ---
**Author:** ![Meurglys](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/258eb7/32.png) [@Meurglys](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meurglys)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2011, 11:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-epic-fantasy-saga-to-read-next/577679/37 "2011-04-09T11:58:10Z")
I’d suggest the _Godless World_ trilogy, beginning with [Winterbirth](http://www.brianruckley.com/books/the-godless-world/winterbirth/) by **Brian Ruckley**. It’s more ‘Dark Ages’ than ‘Middle Ages’ with lots of characters, intrigue and some epic battles! And it’s all set during a severe winter so everybody’s miserable! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2011, 12:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-epic-fantasy-saga-to-read-next/577679/38 "2011-04-09T12:45:49Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > I’m also a long-time fan of Tad Williams’ _Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn_ trilogy. Very Tolkein-esque, but written in a more accessible language. Absolutely my favourite Epic Fantasy series of all time. ---
**Author:** ![Lochdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/edb3f5/32.png) [@Lochdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lochdale)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2011, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-epic-fantasy-saga-to-read-next/577679/39 "2011-04-09T15:42:20Z")
TheWarhammer Gotrek and Felix books are fun and easy reads. ---
**Author:** ![dangermom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e274bd/32.png) [@dangermom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dangermom)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2011, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-epic-fantasy-saga-to-read-next/577679/40 "2011-04-09T15:47:36Z")
Another vote for Brandon Sanderson–I’d start with _Mistborn_. I also just finished Kage Baker’s _Company_ series, which is SF, but it sure is good. I think it would be called ‘soft’ SF, is that right? Not a lot of focus on tech. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-epic-fantasy-saga-to-read-next/577679.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-epic-fantasy-saga-to-read-next/577679.md?page=3)