Amazon.com: The Fantasy Genre - An Overview

The Fantasy Genre - An Overview
A Listmania! list by The Gray Mouser "The Gray Mouser" (Lankhmar, Nehwon)
The list author says: "I hope that by posting my take on things that I've read and enjoyed others will discover some new reads. My 2 cents worth as Listmania lists allowed me to discover Glen Cook and Steve Erikson."

Lord Foul's Bane (The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant the Unbeliever, Book 1)

1. Lord Foul's Bane (The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant the Unbeliever, Book 1) by Stephen R. Donaldson

The list author says:
	"This book scores high both for entertainment and for literature value. Poetry, complex language and philosophy are mixed with an action packed story. Great emotional impact. I feel that this series is currently underrated in light of the prolific number of new series published in the last decade."

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The Darkness That Comes Before (The Prince of Nothing, Book 1)

2. The Darkness That Comes Before (The Prince of Nothing, Book 1) by R. Scott Bakker

The list author says:
	"The best series that is actively being written. A mystery on every page with definitive conclusions revealed within the trilogy. The philosophy and history of Bakker's world is intensely realized through the eyes of his characters. Bakker is planning additional books to follow-up with his trilogy."

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(177 customer reviews) | 1 customer discussion

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A Game of Thrones (A Song of Ice and Fire, Book 1)

3. A Game of Thrones (A Song of Ice and Fire, Book 1) by George R. R. Martin

The list author says:
	"The best worldbuilding. WHY I LIKE: Martin really injects a sense of humor into his writing which I enjoy. Anybody can be killed at any time. Martin's only failure is that he is mroe interested in eploring his world and his characters than he is in advancing the plot."

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Gardens of the Moon (The Malazan Book of the Fallen, Book 1)

4. Gardens of the Moon (The Malazan Book of the Fallen, Book 1) by Steven Erikson

The list author says:
	"All these series have great battle scenes but Erikson takes the prize which is saying a lot. Gardens is somewhat flawed first novel but the rest of the series rocks. Clearly a series that gets better as it goes on. New characters introduced in some of the later books such as Itkovian and Trull Sengar are among the best realized in the genre."

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(503 customer reviews) | 7 customer discussions

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The Black Company (Chronicles of The Black Company #1)

5. The Black Company (Chronicles of The Black Company #1) by Glen Cook

The list author says:
	"A guilty pleasure true, but these books deliver the fantasy action violence. The first person narration of Croaker creates mystery and makes this series an interesting and different take on he fantasy genre. A huge influence on Erikson, Martin, Bakker and many other contemporary greats."

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(186 customer reviews)

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The Fellowship of the Ring (The Lord of the Rings, Part 1)

6. The Fellowship of the Ring (The Lord of the Rings, Part 1) by J. R. R. Tolkien

The list author says:
	"Great is Great but these books are literature and certainly not compulsively readable pulp fiction, thus I know many fantasy fans who begin them do not finish often jumping ship for more contemporary fare."

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(1,092 customer reviews) | 4 customer discussions

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Wizard's First Rule (Sword of Truth, Book 1)

7. Wizard's First Rule (Sword of Truth, Book 1) by Terry Goodkind

The list author says:
	"Goodkind is a step below the works I mention above mainly because his world is made up as he needs enemies for his heroes to hack and slash through. A good book for non fantasy readers to read."

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(1,911 customer reviews) | 3 customer discussions

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The Eye of the World (The Wheel of Time, Book 1)

8. The Eye of the World (The Wheel of Time, Book 1) by Robert Jordan

The list author says:
	"An army of readers, many of whom I hope will see this list and check out the other books on my list. Alleviates fantasy withdrawal symptoms if nothing else is available."

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(2,100 customer reviews) | 4 customer discussions

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The Chronicles of Narnia Boxed Set

9. The Chronicles of Narnia Boxed Set by C. S. Lewis

The list author says:
	"The first series I read. The reason why I have read all the others and will continue to read fantasy."

$31.10 Used & New from: $3.76
(1,705 customer reviews) | 24 customer discussions

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His Dark Materials (Laurel-Leaf)

10. His Dark Materials (Laurel-Leaf) by Philip Pullman

The list author says:
	"Pullman just missed hitting a homerun with this series. Good, but it could have been great. I think they'll make better movies than books."

$19.11 Used & New from: $1.24
(1,256 customer reviews) | 24 customer discussions

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Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (Book 6)

11. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (Book 6) by J. K. Rowling

The list author says:
	"I've never read Potter and I don't intend to. I'm just hoping to convert some Potter fans to some of the other series on this list."

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(3,965 customer reviews) | 44 customer discussions

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The Once and Future King

12. The Once and Future King by T. H. White

The list author says:
	"A true classic. The hardest fantasy book to read but perhaps the most satisfying. People are told to start with this and Tolkein and often get turned off to the genre for the wrong reasons."

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(396 customer reviews) | 1 customer discussion

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The Coming of Conan the Cimmerian: The Original Adventures of the Greatest Sword and Sorcery Hero of All Time!

13. The Coming of Conan the Cimmerian: The Original Adventures of the Greatest Sword and Sorcery Hero of All Time! by Robert E. Howard

The list author says:
	"The pulps are the true roots of the genre and Conan is a classic."

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(148 customer reviews)

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Fritz Leiber's Ill Met in Lankhmar

14. Fritz Leiber's Ill Met in Lankhmar by Fritz Leiber

The list author says:
	"Leiber is another Pulp great who like Howard created the fantasy genre that we know and love today."

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(20 customer reviews)

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The Door to Saturn (The Collected Fantasies of Clark Ashton Smith, Vol. 2)

15. The Door to Saturn (The Collected Fantasies of Clark Ashton Smith, Vol. 2) by Clark Ashton Smith

The list author says:
	"Another talented pulp author who like Howard and Leiber forged the foundations of the genre."

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(8 customer reviews)

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The Blade Itself (The First Law: Book One)

16. The Blade Itself (The First Law: Book One) by Joe Abercrombie

The list author says:
	"Abercrombie writes a gritty debut filled with characters of questionable morals and dark humor... and it concludes neatly in 3 volumes!"

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(438 customer reviews) | 6 customer discussions

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The Name of the Wind (Kingkiller Chronicles, Day 1)

17. The Name of the Wind (Kingkiller Chronicles, Day 1) by Patrick Rothfuss

The list author says:
	"An intersting character driven debut told through first person flashbacks. Awesome story telling and story structure. I'm looking forward to the rest of the series."

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(1,805 customer reviews) | 27 customer discussions

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The Lies of Locke Lamora

18. The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch

The list author says:
	"I'm somewhat torn on this book. The Thieves' World like urban setting was intriguing. The early parts had some of the best writing and story telling I've seen in some time comparable to Charles Dickens at times."

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(329 customer reviews) | 7 customer discussions

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Winterbirth (The Godless World)

19. Winterbirth (The Godless World) by Brian Ruckley

The list author says:
	"I was very excited about this debut as the world is very similar to Martin/Bakker. Ultimately the actions of the characters became too predictable unlike Martin's books where the characters often take unpredictable actions and grow throughout the books."

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(53 customer reviews) | 2 customer discussions

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Shadow & Claw: The First Half of 'The Book of the New Sun'

20. Shadow & Claw: The First Half of 'The Book of the New Sun' by Gene Wolfe

The list author says:
	"A puzzle box masterwork from the greatest living writer in the English language."

$14.10 Used & New from: $2.33
(259 customer reviews) | 2 customer discussions

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The Knight: Book One of The Wizard Knight

21. The Knight: Book One of The Wizard Knight by Gene Wolfe

The list author says:
	"Another Puzzle Box Masterwork from the greatest living writer in the English language."

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(108 customer reviews)

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22. The Narrator by Michael Cisco

The list author says:
	"I think he is similar to M John Harrison with more of a horror bend."

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(6 customer reviews)

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Lamentation (Psalms of Isaak)

23. Lamentation (Psalms of Isaak) by Ken Scholes

The list author says:
	"After Martin, Bakker, Erikson, Scholes is number 4 in my opinion out of the new wave fantasy authors. Check this series out!"

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(86 customer reviews) | 1 customer discussion

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The Steel Remains

24. The Steel Remains by Richard K. Morgan

The list author says:
	"Dark solid noir execution."

$13.14 Used & New from: $2.41
(138 customer reviews)

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25. The Company by K. J. Parker

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(26 customer reviews)

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26. Last Dragon by J. M. McDermott

The list author says:
	"Mixed up first person narrative style somewhat like Gene Wolfe."

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(15 customer reviews)

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Discussion	Replies	Latest Post
The Name of the Wind (Kingkiller Chronicles, Day 1) forum rothfuss is a fraud	292	9 hours ago
The Name of the Wind (Kingkiller Chronicles, Day 1) forum Who would you pick to act for the movie?	16	1 day ago
The Name of the Wind (Kingkiller Chronicles, Day 1) forum Looking For Books Similar To The Name Of The Wind/ Lies Of locke Lamora	37	6 days ago
The Name of the Wind (Kingkiller Chronicles, Day 1) forum Book three of this series.... Predictions.	15	7 days ago
The Name of the Wind (Kingkiller Chronicles, Day 1) forum WORST book ever	29	Apr 15, 2013
The Name of the Wind (Kingkiller Chronicles, Day 1) forum for kids	0	Apr 10, 2013
The Fellowship of the Ring: Being the First Part of The Lord of the Rings (Lord of the Rings, Part I) forum CD unabridged version	0	Jan 15, 2013
The Blade Itself (The First Law: Book One) forum assasins	9	Nov 15, 2012
Gardens of the Moon (The Malazan Book of the Fallen, Book 1) forum UK version of this book?	0	Oct 27, 2012
Shadow & Claw: The First Half of 'The Book of the New Sun' forum Where's the Kindle Edition?	6	Oct 21, 2012
The Lies of Locke Lamora forum Looking For Books Similar To The Lies Of locke Lamora/The Name Of The Wind	20	Oct 9, 2012
Gardens of the Moon (The Malazan Book of the Fallen, Book 1) forum Convince me to keep reading!	5	Sep 20, 2012

Author

	The Gray Mouser "The Gray Mouser" (Lankhmar, Nehwon)

Qualifications: Lifelong Genre Fan

Last updated: 4/5/12

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