Candlekeep Forum
Candlekeep Forum
Home | Profile | Register | Active Topics | Active Polls | Members | Private Messages | Search | FAQ
Username:
Password:
Save Password
Forgot your Password?

 All Forums
 Forgotten Realms Products
 Forgotten Realms Novels
 Sword and Sorcery suggestions?
 New Topic  New Poll New Poll
 Reply to Topic
 Printer Friendly
Author Previous Topic Topic Next Topic  

Entromancer
Senior Scribe

USA
388 Posts

Posted - 10 Jul 2013 :  03:39:58  Show Profile Send Entromancer a Private Message  Reply with Quote  Delete Topic
I can't get into epic fantasy beyond Erikson's Malazan, Lloyd's Twilight Reign, and King's Dark Tower series. I read 3 books into ASOIAF before I realized it wasn't for me; the characters I liked were far and few between the rest of the cast. Feist's work is a bit too much of the same thing for me to get into it, and I'm not a fan of the urban fantasy stuff from the Dresden series.

I've read Moorcock's Eternal Champion works, and the Conan stories by Robert Howard. Both series were concise and enjoyable. Recently I've picked up Dawnthief by James Barclay and am enjoying it quite a bit; the gist is a mercenary company called the Raven hired to stop the awakening of the Wytch Lords. It feels like epic fantasy in terms of scope, yet rolls along with the pace and fluidity of the sword and sorcery genre.

The Fafrhd and Grey Mouser series is a bit tough for me to come by, so I would ask that you refrain from suggesting them. I've read plenty of good things about them, and will be ordering them soon enough via Amazon.

PS: I've got Paul's Egil and Nix novels, and enjoyed those just as much as Cale, if not slightly better. The amount of worldbuilding he did in the prologue (without slowing the action) to The Hammer and the Blade was excellent.

"...the will is everything. The will to act."--Ra's Al Ghul

"Suffering builds character."--Talia Al Ghul

Ze
Learned Scribe

Italy
147 Posts

Posted - 10 Jul 2013 :  06:33:12  Show Profile Send Ze a Private Message  Reply with Quote
Trying to give you less obvous advice here - if you liked Moorcock and Howard, chances are you'd probably enjoy also the Kane series (nothing in common with Solomon Kane) by Karl Edward Wagner. Pure S&S from the 70s-80s.
I also advise the Thieves World series: it pays a bit to its years but it's still an enjoyable read for someone who likes that kind of fantasy.
Also, the Harpers Trilogy (not FR) by Patricia McKillip.
And the Earthsea saga.

Go to Top of Page

PaulSKemp
Forgotten Realms Author

808 Posts

Posted - 10 Jul 2013 :  11:11:31  Show Profile  Visit PaulSKemp's Homepage  Reply with Quote
Seconding the Thieves' World recommendation.

You might also consider Edgar Rice Burroughs' John Carter stories (A PRINCESS OF MARS, GODS OF MARS, etc.), Leigh Brackett's Skaith stories (THE GINGER STAR, THE HOUNDS OF SKAITH, REAVERS OF SKAITH, etc.).

If you haven't read Bill King's Felix and Gotrek stories set in the Warhammer world (SKAVENSLAYER, DAEMONSLAYER, etc. all pub. by Games Workshop), I'd recommend those, too, and they're all available in various omnibuses.

Hope that helps a bit.

Paul

Go to Top of Page

sleyvas
Skilled Spell Strategist

USA
12229 Posts

Posted - 10 Jul 2013 :  15:16:45  Show Profile Send sleyvas a Private Message  Reply with Quote
Thirding the Thieve's World recommendation. In fact, I may go back and read those.... its been about 20 years, so I've probably forgotten enough to make them seem new again.

Alavairthae, may your skill prevail

Phillip aka Sleyvas
Go to Top of Page

Quale
Master of Realmslore

1757 Posts

Posted - 10 Jul 2013 :  18:13:10  Show Profile Send Quale a Private Message  Reply with Quote
Scott Lynch's Gentleman Bastard novels
Matthew Stover Heroes Die, first novel, after that it turns epic
Joe Abercrombie, any novel, tough it has some epic fantasy elements (similar to ASOIAF)
The Broken Empire by Mark Lawrence
Gemmell's Waylander etc.
Clark Ashton Smith's Hyperborea
Glen Cook's Black Company
Steven Brust's The Phoenix Guard's etc.
Paul Kearney's Ten Thousand, not sure if it qualifies, also Sea Beggars
Sprague de Camp and Pratt
Jack Vance and Gene Wolfe, tough mixed with SF
M. John Harrison's Pastel City
Jirel Of Joiry by C.L. Moore, tough I don't like it
Nifft the Lean by Michael Shea
The Troll Hunter by Blackmore
Jurgen by James Cabell
The Last Wish by Sapkowski
Fain the Sorcerer by Steve Aylett
Seconding Wagner and Brackett
Go to Top of Page

Richard Lee Byers
Forgotten Realms Author

USA
1814 Posts

Posted - 10 Jul 2013 :  18:57:42  Show Profile  Visit Richard Lee Byers's Homepage  Reply with Quote
The Broken Sword and Three Hearts and Three Lions, both by Poul Anderson.
Go to Top of Page

Ze
Learned Scribe

Italy
147 Posts

Posted - 10 Jul 2013 :  23:00:31  Show Profile Send Ze a Private Message  Reply with Quote
quote:
Originally posted by Quale
Glen Cook's Black Company


Well, almost anything by Glen Cook is a great read.

quote:
Originally posted by Quale
Nifft the Lean by Michael Shea


Ooooh this one was in my mind too, but I did not know its original title!

And it's a pleasure to see how KE Wagner is still loved.
Go to Top of Page

Artemas Entreri
Great Reader

USA
3131 Posts

Posted - 11 Jul 2013 :  00:08:06  Show Profile Send Artemas Entreri a Private Message  Reply with Quote
quote:
Originally posted by Ze

quote:
Originally posted by Quale
Glen Cook's Black Company


Well, almost anything by Glen Cook is a great read.

quote:
Originally posted by Quale
Nifft the Lean by Michael Shea


Ooooh this one was in my mind too, but I did not know its original title!

And it's a pleasure to see how KE Wagner is still loved.




Ugh, Glen Cook writes pure garbage IMHO. Power to you if you enjoy it though.

Some people have a way with words, and other people...oh, uh, not have way. -Steve Martin

Amazon "KindleUnlimited" Free Trial: http://amzn.to/2AJ4yD2

Try Audible and Get 2 Free Audio Books! https://amzn.to/2IgBede
Go to Top of Page

Artemas Entreri
Great Reader

USA
3131 Posts

Posted - 11 Jul 2013 :  00:09:48  Show Profile Send Artemas Entreri a Private Message  Reply with Quote
Sword & Sorcery recs:

-Fred Saberhagen's "Swords" Trilogy...and "Lost Swords" series if you enjoy the first
-Frank Frazetta's "Death Dealer"
-David C Smith's "Red Sonja" books

Some people have a way with words, and other people...oh, uh, not have way. -Steve Martin

Amazon "KindleUnlimited" Free Trial: http://amzn.to/2AJ4yD2

Try Audible and Get 2 Free Audio Books! https://amzn.to/2IgBede
Go to Top of Page

Quale
Master of Realmslore

1757 Posts

Posted - 12 Jul 2013 :  09:44:37  Show Profile Send Quale a Private Message  Reply with Quote
quote:
Originally posted by Entreri3478



Ugh, Glen Cook writes pure garbage IMHO. Power to you if you enjoy it though.



Personally most of it is enjoyable or ok, except when Cook changed the narrator. It inspired the Bridgeburners.
Go to Top of Page

Bionic Man
Acolyte

39 Posts

Posted - 15 Jul 2013 :  01:06:22  Show Profile Send Bionic Man a Private Message  Reply with Quote
Tiger and Del series by Jennifer Roberson

It's a ::rolls dice:: pleasure to meet you!
Go to Top of Page

Dennis
Great Reader

9933 Posts

Posted - 15 Jul 2013 :  15:30:30  Show Profile Send Dennis a Private Message  Reply with Quote

The Black Magician Trilogy by Trudi Canavan. No swords, actually, just sorcery. But the story’s quite engaging (with twists you may not see coming), and there are plenty of likeable characters and villains that you’d love to hate.

The Nightrunner series by Lynn Flewelling. Great cast. Almost Vancian system of magic. And thieves and swordsmen and swordswomen outshine wizards most of the time. Lots of guessing games you may find entertaining.

The Banned and the Banished pentad by James Clemens. A little bit dark. Slow development, but when you reach half of each book, you’ll see the wait is worth it. If you’re a fan of Erikson, then I suppose you wouldn’t be queasy to see here some gore and quite “colorful” descriptions of killings and strange rituals.

And oh, you don’t like Feist’s books? Blasphemy!

Every beginning has an end.
Go to Top of Page
  Previous Topic Topic Next Topic  
 New Topic  New Poll New Poll
 Reply to Topic
 Printer Friendly
Jump To:
Candlekeep Forum © 1999-2026 Candlekeep.com Go To Top Of Page
Snitz Forums 2000