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Fussy Fantasy Reader
Posted: 08 Jul 2018, 07:21
by TwistedHelix
Hi All,
I like Fantasy, however, not J R R tolkein remakes. They are all painfully samey; Coming of age stable boy, a princess a big bad that's bad for badness sakes. Ridiculously long bloated narration. Cliche language such as the "for the.." template etc.
I enjoyed Feists work somewhat, and the actual LOTR was decent. GoT has been decent, though still have to power through the above issues.
My finished fantasy reading lists are
1. Dark Tower
2. Feists trilogy
3. H Potter
4. The Night Watch series (fantastic if you can grit through the average translation. I forgave it as Russian to direct English is essentially impossible so kudos to the editors/translators for getting it 95% correct).
5. LOTR
6. GoT
My incomplete list due to "not for me" is growing faster than wildfire.
I like fantasy, however am getting tired of the same old formats of medievil setting.
Are there any fantasys set with standard tech or advanced tech?
I DO NOT mean tech has to be involved with magical systems.
I DO NOT mean tech has to play any sort of major role.
I do not want a space opera with magic.
I literally mean a novel with magic and arcane wonders where instead of travelling by horse - a car or car-like invention exists.
Where instead of a big battle being yet another castle smash, could be a military complex.
Preferably also not based on Earth.
I have tried Jim Butchers dresden files and ugh, no, just no.
Yes I am fussy. Yes I am blunt.
But I hate having no books to read, and have gone a few months finding nothing but LOTR remakes, like Sanderson et al. It's all the same story in terms of setting and atmosphere, only the plot differs, but has the same allegorical feel.
Many thanks.
Re: Fussy Fantasy Reader
Posted: 14 Jul 2018, 19:38
by Ksharmilla
Have you tried the Inheritance series by Christopher Paolini? I find it similar to LOTR and Harry Potter in some aspects but it's nice. It's set in a land called Alagaesia.
Re: Fussy Fantasy Reader
Posted: 20 Jul 2018, 06:02
by TwistedHelix
Many thanks for the replies. I shall give all titles recommended a chance.
Re: Fussy Fantasy Reader
Posted: 13 Sep 2018, 16:54
by Joanna19
I have been enjoying the Bartimaeus Trilogy by Jonathan Stroud. Witty, magical, an easy read, and set in a London scene where airplanes, cars and computers coincide with imps, djinn, magicians and summoning circles.
Re: Fussy Fantasy Reader
Posted: 13 Sep 2018, 21:31
by Gravy
TwistedHelix wrote: ↑08 Jul 2018, 07:21
Hi All,
I like Fantasy, however, not J R R tolkein remakes. They are all painfully samey; Coming of age stable boy, a princess a big bad that's bad for badness sakes.
Ridiculously long bloated narration. Cliche language such as the "for the.." template etc.
I enjoyed Feists work somewhat, and the actual LOTR was decent. GoT has been decent, though still have to power through the above issues.
My finished fantasy reading lists are
1. Dark Tower
2. Feists trilogy
3. H Potter
4. The Night Watch series (fantastic if you can grit through the average translation. I forgave it as Russian to direct English is essentially impossible so kudos to the editors/translators for getting it 95% correct).
5. LOTR
6. GoT
My incomplete list due to "not for me" is growing faster than wildfire.
I like fantasy, however am getting tired of the same old formats of medievil setting.
Are there any fantasys set with standard tech or advanced tech?
I DO NOT mean tech has to be involved with magical systems.
I DO NOT mean tech has to play any sort of major role.
I do not want a space opera with magic.
I literally mean a novel with magic and arcane wonders where instead of travelling by horse - a car or car-like invention exists.
Where instead of a big battle being yet another castle smash, could be a military complex.
Preferably also not based on Earth.
I have tried Jim Butchers dresden files and ugh, no, just no.
Yes I am fussy. Yes I am blunt.
But I hate having no books to read, and have gone a few months finding nothing but LOTR remakes, like Sanderson et al. It's all the same story in terms of setting and atmosphere, only the plot differs, but has the same allegorical feel.
Many thanks.
Does the big nope to The Dresden Files make urban fantasy a no go?
Have you tried any Terry Pratchett?
Re: Fussy Fantasy Reader
Posted: 09 Oct 2018, 00:41
by ObsessedBookNerd
They are of the fantasy genre but are different than most I have read and are based on earth. The Mercy Thompson series and the Alpha and Omega series by Patricia Briggs. The Shadow falls series or the Mortican’s Daughter series by C.C. Hunter. The House of Night series by P.C. & Kristen Cast. The Shannara Chronicles which has a futuristic view of earth with elves and demons.
Re: Fussy Fantasy Reader
Posted: 09 Oct 2018, 19:58
by serendipity 27
Have you tried Scott Westerfield or Neil Gaiman?
Re: Fussy Fantasy Reader
Posted: 27 Oct 2018, 21:38
by M Zee
How about The Throne of Glass series from Sara J. Maas? It's got a great magic system and a lot of really epic world building without the bloat. I really liked it!
Re: Fussy Fantasy Reader
Posted: 08 Nov 2018, 05:35
by sszb
Have you read the Caraval and Legendary by Stephenie Garber?
The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern is another fantasy magical book.
Re: Fussy Fantasy Reader
Posted: 22 Nov 2018, 14:31
by Ksharmilla
Have you tried books by Cinda Williams Chima? They are YA but the stories are great.
Re: Fussy Fantasy Reader
Posted: 29 Nov 2018, 13:18
by sarahmarlowe randomeducator
These books may not be in the realm you are looking for, but Julie Czerneda writes beautiful fantasy books. I believe she taught science before becoming an author full-time. She is the best world builder I have ever read. She uses her background in biology not only to describe plants and animals beautifully, but she also uses biology as keys to her plots. And, her descriptions are meticulous.
One trilogy, Species Imperative, starts with a woman biologist who studies fish in a beautiful lake setting. She ends up in space saving the universe before all is over. These are fun, fast reads.
Another trilogy, The Trade Pact, is set in a different time and place. But the characters are so intriguing that Czerneda wrote another trilogy to continue with their families.
My favorite trilogy is probably The Web Shifters. I love to read about changelings from any planet. Again, she builds beautiful worlds and wonderful characters.
Maybe this will help. She has a couple of stand-alone books, too, if you are interested.
Good reading to you!!
Re: Fussy Fantasy Reader
Posted: 29 Nov 2018, 19:17
by dreamthewilderness
I'm a huge fan of the book Poison by Christopher Wooding - it doesn't match the qualification for modern tech inclusion unfortunately, but it's an exquisite read and certainly has a format of its own. Very thought provoking, and grazes the fourth wall with class - a hard thing to achieve indeed.
Re: Fussy Fantasy Reader
Posted: 26 Dec 2018, 16:47
by Glenora
I suggest the Shatter Me series it’s a dystopian romance series with pleanty of twists and turns with a relatibke protagonist. It has serveral novellas told in the perspective of the love interests. It’s action packed and exiting, with a love triangle and many good scenes. This is a very good series that I would highly recommended if you like dystopian and mutation stories.
Re: Fussy Fantasy Reader
Posted: 07 Jan 2019, 23:52
by Jamie_Pell
So, this book does not really meet the technology standard you were looking for, but does not fall into the fantasy template you describe. It's called "The Lies of Locke Lamora" and it's basically about con artists in a non-earth world where con-artistry is an unheard of crime. The writing style and plot are very unique to the genre and the book definitely feels like a breath of fresh-air compared to others.
Sorry for this recommendation coming in way after you posted, I just joined a few days ago and I always tell other Fantasy people to read this book because it is so good.
Re: Fussy Fantasy Reader
Posted: 10 Jan 2019, 12:45
by Kdefaye
Marissa Meyer's Lunar Chronicles, if you haven't already read them, and her new Renegade series.