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Forum Name "What Does RL Stand For?"
Topic subjectAddendum
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474, Addendum
Posted by Graatch on Wed 31-Dec-69 07:00 PM
I was going to add the Elric books by Moorcock but I see others have mentioned it. I add my voice to those in support.

Not mentioned below, that I saw, were a few more I have now remembered and am upset I forgot:

China Mieville's Perdido Street Station was terrific. It's more sci-fi than fantasy, but it really straddles the two in many ways, and the writing is excellent, so I feel comfortable mentioning it for you.

Also sci-fi but a great pulp-y read: the Pip and Flinx novels by Alan Dean Foster. Started in the '70s and he still puts one out every few years now. The early ones in particular are fun reads, starting with For Love Of Mother - Not, The Tar-Aiym Krang, Orphan Star, The End of the Matter, Flinx in Flux and Bloodhype.

The Runelords books by David Farland were excellent in idea, if only good in writing. In a field of commonly derivative quests and mythology, Farland came up with something actually unique, in my experience, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. First book is The Sum of All Men. Definitely worth the read.

Similarly, another interesting series with an original (if not entirely unique as Farland in concept) premise and magic system, are the King's Blades books by Dave Duncan, starting with The Gilded Chain, and then Lord of the Fire Lands, and then three or four more after that. These are particularly good if you like excellent sword fighting and some very good character development.

Mickey Zucker Reichert has one of my two favorite northern mythology series, hers being the Renshai trilogy, starting with the Last of the Renshai. Very fun, if a teensy bit facile every now and then when dealing with Colbey, one of the main character's abilities.

The other fun northern (though southern for many of its books, you'll understand if you read) sword and sorcery series is by Jennifer Roberson and starts with Sword-Dancer. Excellent books with two main characters, a woman and a man, with fleshed out characters and sometimes poignant interactions.

Sheri S. Tepper's old, old, old series, The True Game, which starts with King's Blood Four. The other truly unique convention for magic and power, I read this around the same time I read the Riddlemaster of Hed series that has elsewhere been mentioned (and which I also endorse) and loved it. Definitely worth reading. It follows a boy, and her next series takes place in the same world, but following a girl, who makes you question everything you read in the first series. Excellent world building and internal consistency as I recall.

Lastly, I feel obliged to mention one of my all-time favorite reads, and by far the oldest of any mentioned here: Le Morte D'Arthur. The King Arthur story as originally (well, mostly) written by Sir Thomas Malory. Sure, it's from the 15th century, but on the upside you know it's what the author wanted; they didn't need Microsoft Word editing back then.

After you finish reading all these suggestions, sometime in 2017, let me know and I'll add to the list....*

*I'm jealous of you in that I remember the joy of reading many of these the first time and having that somewhat sad feeling when you finish the last page because the book's over. I think these are some great reads.