The Role of Books...

[hedgeknight]

I recommend Joe Abercrombie's First Law trilogy (The Blade Itself, Before They Were Hanged, & Last Argument of Kings), followed by nearly everything else the man has written!
For some lighthearted fun with your fantasy, start with A Spell For Chameleon by Piers Anthony...and strap in for a wild ride through the rest of his numerous Xanth novels.

I also recommend the five-book series of The Belgariad by David Eddings; 1st book is Pawn of Prophecy.

And since no one has mentioned it yet, The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant by Stephen R. Donaldson. Absolutely brilliant!
(Note: I've only read the first two chronicles...the last one was unnecessary and I didn't bother with it. )

And finally, if you haven't already, you must read Frank Herbert's Dune.

I could recommend a hundred more, but Inferno's list will keep one busy for half of their lifetime on its own!

[GreyWolfVT]

For what it's worth and someone may have already shared this but openlibrary.org is a good place to get some eBooks or audio books if anyone is looking for that. https://openlibrary.org/

[Scott308]

For some lighthearted fun with your fantasy, start with A Spell For Chameleon by Piers Anthony...and strap in for a wild ride through the rest of his numerous Xanth novels.

I loved the Xanth series! I've actually been working on picking up all of his books over the last few years. I haven't read anything that's been released after I stopped reading that sort of stuff 30 years or so ago, but what I had read I really liked. Another series by him that is really good is his Adept series, although it is more sci-fi.

[dmw71]

For some lighthearted fun with your fantasy, start with A Spell For Chameleon by Piers Anthony...and strap in for a wild ride through the rest of his numerous Xanth novels.

I loved the Xanth series!

Same.

I actually re-read A Spell For Chameleon a month or so ago. I have no idea how many books are in that series, but I'm pretty sure I read 4 or 5 of them growing up,

[rredmond]

I liked the Adept series better. I have at least the first four or five Xanth books. I re-read Spell for Chameleon and was surprised at how many times Piers Anthony used the word "rapine" but the story and world are pretty good, and I don't know how many I read of them when I was a teen.

[GreyWolfVT]

I read a fair amount of the Xanth series and some of it got a bit too weird for me but yes Piers Anthony is a good author.

[Scott308]

I know there were some discussions online within the last few years about Anthony and the possible misogyny in his books. I didn't pick up on it when I was a kid, but I know there were people that due to this discussion said that, even though they used to enjoy the books, they would never buy or read them again.

[cybersavant]

And since no one has mentioned it yet, The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant by Stephen R. Donaldson. Absolutely brilliant!
(Note: I've only read the first two chronicles...the last one was unnecessary and I didn't bother with it. )

You're one of the few people i know of with that opinion. At university, in my fantasy class, it was almost unanimous that it be dropped from future classes.

[cybersavant]

A question for the Salvatore fans :

my friend LOVED his Drizzt books, but never read any of his Star Wars books.

the first book of Salvatore's i read was a SW book - hated it

So, the question : has anyone read both series? if so, is his writing different?

[Rex]

I am a big Xanth fan, have read them all. The Adept is excellent as well. I fall in the didn't like Thomas Covenant series group, but I have read them all. I don't get caught up in the micro analyzing stories bit, I either liked it or not.

[dmw71]

I hesitate to mention it because it does include some controversial or insensitive situations (e.g. slavery, misogyny, a rape scene) but I loved The Sleeping Dragon; book one of the Guardian of the Flame series.

The whole portal fantasy aspect felt so real to my teenage mind; I can't tell you how many times I found myself wishing something like that (being transported into the game world as your character) was possible. I would totally not live very long, but it would still be cool!

[ravenn4544]

The joe abecrombie series mentioned above is great. I loved that one. I have tried to read the covenant series a few times over the years but just couldn't get into it for some reason. Maybe it's time to try again .

The belgariad series (i think 10 in total) was great as i remember from reading that one decades ago.

Another one that is really good is 'The Name of the Wind' by patrick rothfuss. it's supposed to be a series but that seems to have stalled (there are two books out). If you just read the first one and call it done you won't be disappointed, I loved that one.

The Xanth series was very popular when i was growing up and I read most of them and think i still have many of them.

Another one that is a fun read is the Gentleman Bastard series by Scott Lynch (3 books i think).

Appreciate the continued recommendations!

[GreyWolfVT]

A question for the Salvatore fans :

my friend LOVED his Drizzt books, but never read any of his Star Wars books.

the first book of Salvatore's i read was a SW book - hated it

So, the question : has anyone read both series? if so, is his writing different?

Honestly, I planned to give his Star Wars books a read but I just haven't gotten to it. I have however read his Saga of the first King book 1 The Highwayman and I am a bit undecided I was going to read the rest of that series but just haven't gotten to it since I went off on another track reading more FR novels, Ravenloft Novels and DragonLance Novels.

[Scott308]

I hesitate to mention it because it does include some controversial or insensitive situations (e.g. slavery, misogyny, a rape scene) but I loved The Sleeping Dragon; book one of the Guardian of the Flame series.

I loved the Guardians of the Flame series! Another series I liked was the Magic Kingdom For Sale series by Terry Brooks. Also, the Myth series by Robert Aspirin.

[tibbius]

I very vaguely remember Magic Kingdom for Sale, that was thirty years ago but I think I liked it. I read the Myth series many times in my tween years, still think it is a great example of picaresque fiction.

[cybersavant]

if you like Robert Asprin's MYTH series, look for Craig Shaw Gardener

[tibbius]

if you like Robert Asprin's MYTH series, look for Craig Shaw Gardener

When I saw the titles, I said "ah - sophomore year!" I remember Ebenezum especially. Somewhat slapstick but engaging.

[Scott308]

I read the Ebenezum series! I had totally forgotten about that, but it was good stuff!

[tibbius]

I'm just a chapter into it, but I'm thinking that The Snow Leopard will impact at least my writing style and possibly the themes of my games.

[Rex]

If you are talking about the book by Peter Matthiessen, it is an excellent book for sure. Not a fantasy book of course more of a naturalist/theological discourse. It was required ready in one of my theology courses long ago.