Fantasy Book Recommendation

I'm not a big reader but I recently picked up an Amazon Kindle and want to do a lot more reading. I travel quite a bit and this thing is perfect for people on the road.

I like fantasy books but, just like my taste trends in MMOs, I like stories about rogues. They don't have to be about rogues, specifically, but those are the ones I prefer. Thieves, assassins, pirates, sneaks, swashbucklers, duelists...they all work for me.

I've read the entire Dark Elf series by RA Salvatore and enjoyed it (yes, even Drizzt). I've read the Night Angel series and am currently reading the Lies of Locke Lamora (which is VERY good so far).

I've read the first book in the Game of Thrones/Fire and Ice/whatever series and didn't like it much. Of course, I've read LOTR and The Hobbit many times.

Any other recommendations?

I'm thinking of picking up the Salvatore's Sellswords series. I read the first one, Servant of the Shard, years ago, as I thought it was part of the Drizzt series. I think it might have been but he ended up spinning off Entreri and Jarlaxle in their own series. Is the rest of the series any good (Witch King and Patriarch)? Entreri is my favorite RA Salvatore character.

...the the sword and wizard line but Brian daley's 'Requiem for a ruler of worlds' is fine space sci-fi. Also, what about the hitchhikers guide to the galaxy series. Incarnations of immortality by piers anthony are mildly entertaing as well.

The Mists of Avalon of Marion Zimmer Bradley is a nice one!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Mists_of_Avalon

The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant, the Unbeliever

by Stephen R. Donaldson

Books by the late David Gemmel, in paticular the Drenai series.


Cheers

I highly recommend Terry Goodkinds "Sword of Truth" series starting with Wizards First Rule. about 11 books long (for now). It is a very mature, thought provoking, and enertaining series of books. It is my favorite and the gold standard by which i judge all over authors/series. These books make Salvatore look like a comic book writer. Ive read about 20 salvatore books, and while i enjoyed them, they dont hold a candle to this series. This is the kind of series where you bond with the characters, i have read them multiple times and each time i do i feel like i am visiting old freinds.

Currently im reading Robin Hobbs Farseer trilogy (Assasins Apprentice, Royal Assasin, and Assasins Quest). Im about 60 pages left to read in quest and i have really enjoyed the story and have bonded with the characters much like i did Goodkinds books.

Happy reading!

The Wheel of Time series. The first book is The Eye of the World.

By Robert Jordan

(If you don't mind EPIC stories.)

Raymond E Feist's Midkemia series has its fair share of swashes, particularly the books that center around Arutha and Jimmy the Hand, also David Eddings Elenium series has quite a bit aswell, although alot more light hearted kinda writing than Feist ( he has more of a similarity with Salvatore than Feist ) . Jenny Wurts Mistwraith/Alliance of Light has a bit also with Arithon altho thats a little darker.

Well, that's a shame about Game of Thrones. People seem to love it or hate it as it is not your normal fantasy fare. I would try the next book, it may grow on you.

I would suggest the Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser stories written by Fritz Leiber, The Chronicles of Amber by Roger Zelazny (fanasty and sci-fi mixed together) and the Elric series by Michael Moorcock (not my favorite, but others seem to love it).

Just saw your part about the Sellswords. Fwiw those books were my favorite my Salavtore, You gain ALOT of insight into Artemes, about why he is how he is, and his past. Jarlaxle is amazing in these books and became probably my favorite character of all the salvatore books ive read.

Also how could I forget, anything by Gene Wolfe. Particularly the Book of the New Sun, but the Wizard Knight might be more accessible.

The First Law trilogy by Joe Abercrombie. The Blade Itself, Before They are Hanged, Last Argument of Kings.

Also Adrian Tchaikovsky's Apt Series is very good.

Raymond Feists Riftwar Saga has a rogue as one of the main characters and the books belong to the best i've ever read in fantasy literature.

The Belgariad, by David Eddings

I can recommend Robin Hobb's Farseer Trilogy, Assassin's Apprentice, Royal Assassin and Assassin's quest.

Any books with Entreri have to be read, regardless of how little he may or may not be in them, he's my favourite Salvatore character as well.

What about Erevis Cale, the trilogy, have to be honest didnt really fancy it, but once started it wasnt a bad read.

I did like the Night Angel Series.

I find it hard to read fantasy novels on Rogues, Assassins and Guilds etc, as they always seem to start out Lawful Evil and over the course of the books end up going all soft and Lawful Neutral, which isnt what I want.

PS: If you havent read them Waylander and Waylander II by David Gemmill are definately worth looking at.

Rogueish, well more Con-artisty is The Lies of Locke Lamorra by Scott Lynch

Assassinish is the Night Angels trilogy by Brent Weeks (starts with The Way of Shadows) and also Assassin's Apprentice by Robin Hobb.

I also recommend The Warded Man by Peter V Brett

The Belgariad is not really about rogues more magicians but indeed a nice read.

The Night Angel Series is really a must if you're into rogues.
Ty Kovalas, i wanted to mention that one too, but couldnt remember the name of the books. :)

Forget Thomas Covenant Unbeliever, way to wordy...

For a Rogue type like you, I would suggest the Night Angel trilogy by Brent Weeks.

Other great series are the Raymond Feist Midkemia series - most excellent and the Ranger series by John Flanagan. The Fablehaven series and the Percy Jackson series are very good reads as well.

Oh, going back a few years, Fafherd and the Grey Mouser (rogue extraordinaire) by Fritz Leiber are rollicking good.

The Wheel of time? First three books are as good as it gets! Nexr 10 are good but you never seem to get anywhere. And the author died before finishing the dang series...

The Redemption of Althalus by David and Leigh Eddings. He's not just any thief, he's the greatest thief who's ever lived. Its just that he's having a bit of bad luck, you know how that can be......

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Originally Posted by Draccus

I'm not a big reader but I recently picked up an Amazon Kindle and want to do a lot more reading. I travel quite a bit and this thing is perfect for people on the road.

I like fantasy books but, just like my taste trends in MMOs, I like stories about rogues. They don't have to be about rogues, specifically, but those are the ones I prefer. Thieves, assassins, pirates, sneaks, swashbucklers, duelists...they all work for me.

I've read the entire Dark Elf series by RA Salvatore and enjoyed it (yes, even Drizzt). I've read the Night Angel series and am currently reading the Lies of Locke Lamora (which is VERY good so far).

I've read the first book in the Game of Thrones/Fire and Ice/whatever series and didn't like it much. Of course, I've read LOTR and The Hobbit many times.

Any other recommendations?

I'm thinking of picking up the Salvatore's Sellswords series. I read the first one, Servant of the Shard, years ago, as I thought it was part of the Drizzt series. I think it might have been but he ended up spinning off Entreri and Jarlaxle in their own series. Is the rest of the series any good (Witch King and Patriarch)? Entreri is my favorite RA Salvatore character.

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I liked the servant of the shard series Jaraxle and Entreri are much more interesting characters than Drizzt

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Originally Posted by harold2560

I highly recommend Terry Goodkinds "Sword of Truth" series starting with Wizards First Rule. about 11 books long (for now).
Currently im reading Robin Hobbs Farseer trilogy (Assasins Apprentice, Royal Assasin, and Assasins Quest).
Happy reading!

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both of these are excellent series

I also recommend the Nobel Dead series by Barb and JC Hendee. As well as most of the Eberron based novels from Wizards of the Coast, they are much grittier than forgotten realms and do much to flesh out the lore of DDO which is makes me appreciate some of the nuances the devs put into this game. I think if you like stories about rogues you will enjoy stories about Inquistives in the Ebberon books

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Originally Posted by redraider

Forget Thomas Covenant Unbeliever, way to wordy...

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lol, philistine ;D

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Originally Posted by quintuss

The Belgariad is not really about rogues more magicians but indeed a nice read.

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Silk?

Dragonlance Stories ! Best World of Dungeons and Dragons !
My Favourite book
Firstborn about elven prince kith-kanan and his brother sithas

Many excellent authors have already been mentioned in this thread and all would be worthy as a "jumping off point" from the Salvatore series. Personally i have a soft spot for epic fantasy narratives as opposed to the fantastically choreographed swashbuckling adventures of our friend the Drow ranger. This gives us a platform to launch a plethora of rich characters and witness their interwoven fates unfold across sprawling lands - if this interests you then Steven Erikson should be your first port of call. "Gardens of the Moon" will introduce you to some of his most interesting characters, and if you do have a penchant for the subtle swordsage or trickster then Erikson comes up with the goods - assassinations, political backstabbing and all out massacres are all there in spades but amazingly his writing also manages to be subtly poetic for one minute detail whilst impressively straddling a truly epic span of events across various cultures.
In short i would repeat my first point, i have been lucky enough to read a few books listed above, but none have ever come close to the richness that exudes from Erikson's characters - you will be well rewarded for your time invested stroking your kindle.

Well, not a rouge type, but about fantasy books I recommend "The last wish", "The Sword of Destiny" and the "Blood of Elves" by Andrzej Sapkowski. And following books from the witcher saga, when they'll be translated to english (if you don't know any other languages).

Terry Brook's Shanara and Anne McCaffey's Pern. The Theive's World anthologies are good as well.

Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fafhrd_and_the_Gray_Mouser

Dragonlance Chronicles & Legends trilogies. Legends is a classic, but you need to have read Chronicles to appreciate it better. Everything else that comes after those two are hit-and-miss so don't bother.

First of all, I enjoyed George R.R. Martin's books, so we have that difference in taste to start with, however...

Raymond E. Feist - Start with Magician: Apprentice. As you get into the series, the roguish/swashbuckling/duelist nature will unfold. Everyone loves the "Bump of Trouble".

Brandon Sanderson - The Way of Kings. Some people hated it, I loved it. Long read.

Robert Jordan - RIP good sir. Be prepared for a long drawn out read, but I've found it entertaining, none the less.

David Eddings - The Belgariad. I found this a fun and entertaining read. You'll particularly enjoy the character of Silk/Kheldar, as others have said.

I've heard good things about Joe Abercrombie, though I haven't read anything as of yet.

The Black company by Glen Cook the first 3 books are the absolute best the rest arent bad and I wish it hadnt been so long since he had put one out.

Also outstanding is The Codex Alera series by Jim Butcher

And the Guardians of the flame by Joel Rosenburg

I liked Salvatore's "The Highwayman" series.

Not really about rogues or medieval fantasy but The Dresden Files by Jim Butcher are fantastic reads. Who doesn't love a wise-cracking wizard for hire. They're very pulp fiction noir.

Forgotten Realms, Shadowdale Series - The Avatar Trilogy.

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Originally Posted by gabriul

Not really about rogues or medieval fantasy but The Dresden Files by Jim Butcher are fantastic reads. Who doesn't love a wise-cracking wizard for hire. They're very pulp fiction noir.

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you do know he has a fantasy series right?

Yeah I'm on the last book of it now. Also a very good series. The Codex Alera by Jim Butcher. Alot of very descriptive battles.

I also find it hilarious that the wizard Harry Dresden has a D&D tabletop group in the books and plays a Barbarian.

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Originally Posted by wisdomstorment

Dragonlance Chronicles & Legends trilogies. Legends is a classic, but you need to have read Chronicles to appreciate it better. Everything else that comes after those two are hit-and-miss so don't bother.

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Loved these.

Did not see the Dune series mentioned, fantasy, but not rogue/D&D.

The Name of The Wind is a fantastic book as well

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Originally Posted by drromanelli

The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant, the Unbeliever

by Stephen R. Donaldson

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Also not exactly Fantasy (technically, it's Sci-Fi but reads like fantasy) is the Dragonriders of Pern series by Anne McCaffrey.

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Originally Posted by gabriul

Yeah I'm on the last book of it now. Also a very good series. The Codex Alera by Jim Butcher. Alot of very descriptive battles.

I also find it hilarious that the wizard Harry Dresden has a D&D tabletop group in the books and plays a Barbarian.

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Someone put out a Dresden files rpg not to long ago thats kind of funny I think

You've almost certainly never heard of the Legacy trilogy, but it's one that I thoroughly enjoyed. The books aren't particularly long, and these titles are by Michael Foster - very new to the scene, but the main character must certainly have a splash of rogue: The Young Magician, She Who Has No Name, and The Ancient Ones (due out soonish, and with luck he will let me help proofread it :)). There are a couple of honest reviews online. The only downside may be price/availability, as he was budget/self publishing until recently.

I have a first print run of his first book, warts and all. The second and subsequent should be much much better if you care about typos.

And yes, for the quality of story I will happily put it in the same ballpark as those of Eddings, Jordan etc.

Enjoy!

People have already said some of these. Note the first section is not recommended reading for someone under the age of 18 (or the age of majority where you live). All have sexual content and graphic violence to one degree or another:

Fantasy:

• Fritz Leiber (Fafhrd and Gray Mouser) - there are many anthologies available which will keep you occupied.
• Terry Goodkind (Sword of Truth series) - Personally lost interest after about book 6 but can highly recommend books 1-4 at least.
• Richard Morgan (The Steel Remains) - caution! This is a brilliant book but if you have a problem with the idea of a sexually active gay protagonist then don't read it. Or at least, don't come complaining to me, because I don't have a problem with it and you've now been warned :) If you skip it you'll miss out on one of the most gory, bloodthirsty, gritty and dark fantasy stories since the days of Fritz Leiber, but the fact remains that sexual content of this book catches a lot of people unawares and some people get unreasonably upset about it.

Sci Fi:
Anything by

• Richard Morgan (high octane sci fi thrillers often of a 'investigative' nature yet filled with massive amounts of ultraviolence, extremely high quality) or
• Peter F Hamilton (space opera usually though not always, also very high quality)

'Teen' friendly:
JRR Tolkien (the Hobbit, if you like rogues...) - if I have to say any more then you've no business reading fantasy.
Any of the DnD novels or linked series of novels
Anne McCaffrey - Dragons of Pern series. Entertaining, if light, read.
Terry Pratchett - see comment re Tolkien, insert the word 'comedy' before 'fantasy'.

Hope that helps.

Edit:

D'OH! how could I forget. The best fantasy heroine of all time, and also one of the least heard of. Morgaine. Go read the Chronicles of Morgaine by CJ Cherry. Just do it. Her other stuff is good too - mostly sci fi. Morgaine is the closest she gets to fantasy but its really sci fi cloaked in a fantasy setting (as is Dragons of Pern really).

Edit edit:

more comedy fantasy - Grunts by Mary Gentle. Superb take on what its like to be on Team Evil. And also reveals the secret of making Stealth Dragons. Key quote: "pass me another elf, sergeant: this one's split!"

Codex Alera Series - Jim Butcher

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Originally Posted by KongColeus

Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fafhrd_and_the_Gray_Mouser

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Yes...these. LOTS of great roguey-type stuff!



Don't forget about Conan too. I tend to read the Robert E. Howard Conan stories and steer away from the L. Sprague de Camp ones.

Conan did a bunch of roguey-type stuff as well as some of the folks he hung out with.

Another favorite of mine is The Coldfire Trilogy by C.S Friedman. Technically Science Fiction but mostly fantasy. The main character is a warrior priest but not like any paladin I've read elsewhere.

As mentioned before Piers Anthony's Incarnations of Immortality, and Adept series' can be very entertaining.

If you want to branch out a bit, while not exactly fantasy,(more considered mythology) Kenneth C. Flint Sidhe series as well as his Finn MacCumhal series are both excellent reads.

If you want big laughs while reading and a small, yet awesome, hidden philosophy inside, get Terry Pratchett's series Disworld.

The Colour of Magic
The Light Fantastic
Good Omens (So much ownage that I can't describe it)
Mort
Sourcery (What would humans be without love? - RARE, said Death)
Eric (Never trust a history book, they tend to exaggerate)
Guards! Guards!
Nightwatch (awesome!)
Pyramids
Making Money (What is the value of gold compared to the dexterity of the hand that holds it?)
Reaper Man (What can the harvest hope for, if not for the care of the Reaper Man?)

And a lot, lot more, but these were my favorites so far :D

Edit: Oh, and one of the best lines I've read so far, on "Soul Music":

Susan hated literature class - she'd prefer to read good books

Thanks for the great recommendations, all.

I just finished The Lies of Locke Lamora and it was fantastic. It's a very different fantasy book, imo, because the main character doesn't have titanic strength, inhuman quickness, godlike spellpowers, or even dashing good looks. He's a cunning thief who survives with quick thinking and intense training. The plot was very detailed and the book was nearly impossible to put down.

I purchased the Sellswords last night (love that Kindle! Finish a book and buy another...at 35,000 feet!).

For the other books suggested, I've actually read or started more of them than I remembered.

I read the first three books of the Wheel of Time series. I actually met the author many years ago (he's related to one of my in-laws) and started the books after meeting him. The first one was great but I thought the next two were extremely repetitive. I didn't finish the series.

I also read the first half of the Sword of Shannara (sp) series and felt it was too much of a direct copy Lord of the Rings. I may be confusing books but I think that that was the one that felt like a complete ripoff. It had copies of Ringwraiths and Gandalf and the trip to Mordor...again, I may be remembering a different book but I think that that's the one.

I read one Dragonlance book and hated it. I picked up the book in the middle of the series so that didn't help but I thought the writing was horrid. If I had to hear about he half-elf's angst for being a half elf ONE MORE TIME, I was going to throw the book away...which I did :)

Another series I've read that I enjoyed was the Nightrunner series. I wish I could remember the name of the books but the first two were great rogue stories. The third book was too heavily based in local fantasy politics so I didn't enjoy it much (I like my fantasy reading to be more micro and less macro) but they are well written and fun. The main character is openly bisexual, so don't read it if that stuff bothers you. What was the name of that book?? Their catch-phrase was "Luck in the shadows." When DDO:EU first came out, I would find guildless level 1-4 rogues in the /who list and send them stacks of +5 tools, +1 tomes, or CSW pots. I would simply say "Luck in the shadows" in the message. Not once did I get a reply :(

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Originally Posted by Mellifera

The Redemption of Althalus by David and Leigh Eddings. He's not just any thief, he's the greatest thief who's ever lived. Its just that he's having a bit of bad luck, you know how that can be......

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I certainly have to second this one.. it was amusing to say the least, but it also had a different feel throughout.. really took me by surprise. But in an overall feel, I have to say The Sword of Truth series for sure; that series changed my way of viewing things to say the least.. but the books can be rather harsh in their descriptions, and there may be lulls in the story at times, but it picks back up later on then becomes impossible to stop reading.. just gotta get through that lull.

Lots of great suggestions here. I'm jealous of your Kindle...I spend way too much on books.

One I didnt see:

Steven Erikson - Malazan Books of the Fallen series

"Gardens of the Moon" is the first in this series

Not really fantasy but there are monsters (sort of ) and Akien Drum is quite the mountebank

anyways the series is the Many colored land by Jillian May gives an interesting spin on how the Fae legends started.

Dragon Prince trilogy, and the sequel Dragon Star trilogy, by Melanie Rawn.

Non-D&D mythos, but still high fantasy, and one of the most fantastic reads I've had in a long time.


My other favourite authors (Salvatore, Goodkind, Weis & Hickman) have already been mentioned, so I won't rehash those. But if you want something different, try Rawn's books.

For a short time i used to belong to one of those sci-fi/fantasy book of the month clubs just so i could order a handful of books in that genre that i wanted to read or reread.

One of the books i was sent as a book of the month before i canceled was called Illium by Dan Simmons.I had never heard of the book or the author but figured what the hell i bought it so i will at least read a little of it to see if i like it or not.

I actually don't dig on scifi or fantasy that much but all i can say is this book is pure awesome and win.It has a sequel called Olympos which is also very good which i was at a book store to buy the day it hit the shelf which is not something i had ever done before lol

Neither book really fits the OP"s request but if you are looking for something outstanding to read that's NOT like something you have read before give these books a look.

For Fantasy:

Try "The Child Thief" by Brom. He also is a fantasy artist. I loved this book!

"The Name of the Wind" is the first in a trilogy by Patrick Rothfuss. It is the first book I've read in years that made me angry at myself that I read so darn fast. The next one is due out in March.

The rest I've seen mentioned already, so no need to repeat things.

For SciFi:

Dan Simmons was just mentioned. He is my hero. The guy writes across genres and is a master at his craft. Try the book "Hyperion" It is often taught now if you can find a college that has a SciFi class to take. It is the first of four books in a series and changed my view of science fiction. Other noteworty titles by him: "Carrion Comfort" "The Terror" "Drood" "Illium and Olympos" "Summer of Night" "Song of Kali" etc.

Try R. Scott Bakker's "The Prince of Nothing" series. He takes a deep philosophical slant on things, often to a cross-eyed degree to the layman, but the books are great. i love the 'Schools of Magic' in his world.

Kim Stanley Robinson is great. Read his "Mars" series: "Red Mars" "Green Mars" and "Blue Mars". I loved em!

I think that is enough for now.

Thanks.

Snip

To go along with the assassin type stories "The Night Angel Trilogy" by Brent Weeks is a good one.

As others have said

"The Wheel of Time" Robert Jordan
"Sword of Truth" Terry Goodkind
"Riftwar Saga" Raymond Feist

These are just a Few have fun reading there all great:D

Some great books listed here.

This being DDO I feel I have to mention Gary Gygax's "Gord the Rogue" series. I thought it was an entertaining series.

As a few others have said, The Name of the Wind is a brilliant piece of work.

The main protagonist is young and grows into what I guess I would classify in DDO terms as a rogue/wizard/bard. The unique explanation and practical view of magic in the story is quite different from magic in other fantasy novels I've read.

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Originally Posted by Tholar

Some great books listed here.

This being DDO I feel I have to mention Gary Gygax's "Gord the Rogue" series. I thought it was an entertaining series.

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yeah they werent halfbad worth a read at least

After starting to read books by Guy Gavriel Kay around a decade ago, I've found that I am no longer captivated by most fiction that I enjoyed when I was younger. I read Feist and many others mentioned above way back when I was in high school, but I got tired of seeing the words "mystic energy" on every stinking page. Enough already, buy a thesaurus, Raymond.

Back to Guy Gavriel Kay - most of his novels are set in fictionalized historical settings. I find his writing to be simply superb, and he does an amazing job on character and plot development in most of his books. The stories are captivating. My favourites include Lions of Al-Rassan, Tigana, A Song for Arbonne, Sailing to Sarantium / Lord of Emperors, The Last Light of the Sun, and Under Heaven.

Kay helped with the compilation of The Silmarillon back in the 1970s. His own novels date from the mid-eighties onwards.

Of the books mentioned above, I also enjoy the GRR Martin A Song of Fire and Ice series, and just hope that I live long enough to see it finished some day.

While I echo many others in their choices (Lieber, Erikson, Jordan, and many others), my personal favorite author (after Tolkien) would be Katherine Kurtz. I thoroughly enjoy her Deryni books, though I still think that my favorite are from her earlier books (Deryni Rising, and High Deryni). They are set in a pseudo-historical fantastical setting (mostly high middle ages, with a smattering of rare telekinetic powers which are greatly feared)

As mentioned before ANYTHING from Terry Pratchett's Discworld series is great stuff. He starts off doing pure comedy satirizing fantasy cliche's but develops into a serious satirist and social commentator that manages to hide it by being 1) superbly entertaining, 2) set in a fantasy world 2) hilarious.

An author that is new to me that I have been reading lately is Brandon Sanderson. He is entertaining but his plots take forever to mature (the first parts are very slow reads) but by the time you get to the end you are definately hooked. It is generally more political manouvering and intrigue rather than swashbuckling and fireballs, but still worth it.

If you're ok w/ Sci Fi, I loved the Stainless Steel Rat when I was younger.

Another vote for Pratchett; Moist von Lipvig (Going Postal, Making Money and soon Death and Taxes) are amusing, witty and filled with roguery.

Neil Gaiman's fiction I also enjoy.

A few that I have read and enjoyed (some of be listed already...)

Terry Goodkind – Sword of Truth Series

Jennifer Roberson -The Sword-Dancer Saga

Raymond E Feist - The Riftwar Saga

Fred Saberhagen - Books of the Swords

Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman - The Darksword series

Enjoy!