Fantasy Fiction

[raksmama]

Hello Mamas!
This thread is to discuss Fantasy Fiction.
What types do you like?
What types do you not care for?
And why?
Or are you not attracted to this type of fiction at all? By “Fantasy”, I mean fiction with supernatural characters.

I’ll start with myself.

I always thought I did not like fantasy fiction. I guess that I felt it was too escapist and I have always been interested in things that take place in the real world. An exception was the Chronicles of Narnia.
Also one of my favourite genres was and still is Magical Realism. I love the works of authors like Jorge Amano,Gabrielle Garcia Marquez, Isabel Allende and Rudolfo Anaya.

However, Never, Ever, did I read about vampires or werewolves! And oh, I should add that I‘ve always had an aversion to ” bestsellers” where the author quickly writes a sequel every year.

Everything changed last Spring when I read the Twilight Saga. http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/m/...collection.htm
Yes, I know what many of you think, but I still like them!
When I finished I felt like staying in a universe where vampires and werewolves exist, so I went on to the Sookie Stackhouse or the Southern Vampire Mystery Series by Charlaine Harris. http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/h/charlaine-harris/
I can understand why some wouldn’t like them. Harris is a Mystery writer and the Sookie Stachouse books are basically Murder Mysteries with Supernatural characters. For me, the books were just what I needed last summer, fun light reads.

From then I went on to The Mercedes Thomson series from Patricia Briggs
http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/b/patricia-briggs/ The first book is called Moon Called. I liked it the least and did not continue with the series again until recently but the second, Blood Bound was really good and I am currently enjoying Iron Kissed.

A well written Vampire book I enjoyed a lot that is Sunshine by Robin McKinney. http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/m/...y/sunshine.htm

What I don't like about a lot of the Urban Fantasy books is some of them are too violent, too smutty or just plain trashy for my taste. I could not get past the first few chapters of the first books of the Anita Blake and the Queen Betsy series for that reason.
I am also ambivalent about Kelley Armstrong’s Women of the Underworld series. I have only read her first book, Bitten http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/a/...ong/bitten.htm
I admit they are well written, but they seem more like horror fiction for me. When I read her books, part of me is repulsed and frightened and another part of me intrigued and can’t wait to go on reading! I liked her YA series the Summoning and the Awakening even thought they frighten me!
http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/a/.../summoning.htm
http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/a/.../awakening.htm

In general I like a lot of the YA fantasy fiction. Holly Black’s Modern Faerie Tales http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/b/holly-black/ are good too.
Of course I’ve read the first 3 Harry Potter books with my son, and we love them! http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/se...otter&btn=Find
We are currently enjoying The Sea of Monsters, the second book of the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series by Rick Riordan. http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/r/...f-monsters.htm
(The first is The Lightning Thief http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/r/...ning-thief.htm)

My favourite has to be Charles De Lint, http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/d/charles-de-lint/
http://www.sfsite.com/lists/cdl.htm I LOVE his style!
I cannot understand why he is not more well known than he is! The first book in his Newford series is called Memory and Dream http://www.sfsite.com/charlesdelint/memory-desc01.htm

I want to thank all the Mamas on MDC for recommending all these books and opening up a new world for me.

Now the problem, just don’t not want to leave the supernatural world. In fact, regular fiction seems boring to me now ! Do you think this is a problem?

[raksmama]

Most of the books I mentioned fall under the catagory of Urban Fantasy or Contemporary Fantasy but I titled the thread Fantasy Fiction so those of you who like High Fantasy could post as well. I find the labels don't always fit.
I'm posting the Wikipedia definitions.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contemporary_fantasy Contemporary fantasy is a subgenre of fantasy, also known as modern-day fantasy, or indigenous fantasy. These terms are used to describe stories set in the putative real world (often referred to as consensus reality) in contemporary times, in which magic and magical creatures exist, either living in the interstices of our world or leaking over from alternate worlds. It thus has much in common with, and sometimes overlaps with secret history; a work of fantasy in which the magic could not remain secret or does not have any known relationship to known history would not fit into this subgenre. Occasionally certain contemporary fantasy novels will make reference to pop culture.
Novels in which modern characters travel into alternate worlds, and all the magical action takes place there (except for the portal required to transport them), are thus not considered contemporary fantasy.
Contemporary fantasy is also to be distinguished from horror fiction, which also often has contemporary settings. When encountering magical events and creatures, the protagonist of a horror novel is horrified, while the protagonist of a fantasy novel (contemporary or otherwise) is filled with a sense of joy and wonder. Horrifying events may happen, but the fundamental distinction is vital.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urban_fantasy
Urban fantasy is a subset of fantasy defined by place; the fantastic narrative has an urban setting. Many urban fantasies are set in contemporary times or contain supernatural elements. However, this is not the primary definition of urban fantasy.[1] Urban fantasy can be set in historical times, modern times, or futuristic times. The prerequisite is that it must be primarily set in a city, rather than in a suburban or country setting, which have their own genre subsets.
Characteristics
Urban, according to Dictionary.com, means "of, pertaining to, or designating a city or town."[3] Thus, urban fantasy has to be set primarily in a city and contain a fantasy element. Urban fantasy sometimes features problems with inner city life, such as gangs and city management,[4] and can also be set in contemporary times and include paranormal romance.[1] However, the city setting does not determine the time period or themes, but merely tells where the action will be set.

[Storm Bride]

I don't really break it down, but I enjoy most fantasy fiction.

Thanks for the comments about the Women of the Underworld series. I've been eyeing them at the library, but was a bit worried they'd go in the horror direction. I don't like horror, and occasionally get bitten by the overlap between fantasy and horror.

I love Lord of the Rings.

Raymond Feist's Riftwar Saga is probably my favourite fantasy series ever...with the possible exception of the "Empire" books he wrote with Janny Wurts. Unfortunately, I don't care for most of his later work in the same universe. The writing's not as tight, and he's become hooked on major catastrophes...destroying a whole continent (and killing off a lot of his beloved - at least by me - old characters) in one series, and a whole planet in another one.

Let's see...I think Mercedes Lackey is unbelievably cheesy, but can't seem to resist her books, anyway.

I enjoy David Eddings, but he gets very repetitious if you keep reading. The Belgariad was his first - and best, imo - series.

R.A. Salvatore kicks butt. He's also suffering from "everyone loves this character/world, so I'm going to write it into oblivion", so I'm losing interest, but he's got some good stuff out there.

I haven't read much of the new urban fantasy stuff, although some of it looks interesting. Vampires, in general, don't appeal to me. Werewolves can be okay, but a little too likely to turn in the horror direction for my tastes. My real preference is for sword and sorcery based fantasy.

I've read dozens, probably hundreds, of fantasy novels, but I'm drawing a blank on most of it right now. I know there are books and series I've really loved that I haven't mentioned here. In general, though, I haven't read much written past the early 90s or so. I've never liked the library that much, and I didn't have the budget to hit the used bookstores anymore after that.

[MeepyCat]

Originally Posted by Storm Bride

I enjoy David Eddings, but he gets very repetitious if you keep reading. The Belgariad was his first - and best, imo - series.

There is actually a scene in The Mallorean where the characters have a conversation about why it is that the same things seem to keep happening to them over and over.

I like fantasy, but oh gosh, *cannot* get into the modern version of vampires. I loved McKinley's Sunshine, I just don't get why really old undead guys are hanging around high schools. I know Meyer tries to explain it, but really? You're ninety-someodd years old, you can't find something better to do on Saturday night than stalk seventeen year-olds?

My current faves are Ellen Kushner (particularly Swordspoint and The Privilege of the Sword), and Ysabeau Wilce (Flora Segunda and Flora's Dare, and she swears she's finished the first draft of the last book in that trilogy).

Concerning whether a genre fixation is a problem: I find that I'll go through phases where I want one thing or another, and I'll eventually find my way out of them or wake up wanting something else. Since my reading is something I do to entertain myself, there's no reason I can't just read what I want.

[Storm Bride]

Originally Posted by jalilah

Now the problem, just don’t not want to leave the supernatural world. In fact, regular fiction seems boring to me now ! Do you think this is a problem?

I've been reading fantasy and SF since I was 10 or 11. I've always found contemporary, real-world fiction kind of boring, and I read very little of it. (I went through a Harlequin devouring phase at about 12. I go through spells every few years where I read westerns, preferably Louis L'Amour, a lot for a couple of weeks. Aside from that, I read only a very occasional non-fantasy/SF fiction book - usually something someone has recommended to me.) I don't think it's a problem.

[Magelet]

I love fantasy. Most of the books I read are fantasy, with a few SF thrown in, and some historical fiction.

Somehow, I just have the hardest time getting into regular fiction set in contemporary times.

Growing up, I loved tamora peirce. I still adore her books, though they're definitely more of a comfort book than anything. (might be related to the fact that I've read every book she's written except white tiger (graphic novel) multiple times, and the earlier tortall books, I have literally read 100+ times each. (hey, I started reading them in 3rd grade, and still occasionally reread them.) And also, some of her newer books are much... more interesting/complex to an adult. Still very firmly YA at the same time.

For a while, I loved Anita Blake. But it's not very good rereading, and my book buying budget has shrunk so much, and somehow... not the sort of book I want to check out from the library, though I might.

I love Mercedes lackey (almost all of her books, but that fairy godmother's series drove me up the wall!)

I've been rereading Charles De Lint lately (Widdershins, and he has a collection of short stories out that I like some of a lot, and others not as much.)

I've been having a hard time lately, feeling caught in the abyss of not knowing fantasy authors. For years, I didn't really explore adult fantasy (except a few select authors) because it seemed intimidating, and I didn't know any of the authors. This led to a while where I didn't do much reading new fantasy, because the bad YA fantasy I loved as a teen started to seem trite, boring, contrived, or otherwise awful. (Good YA fiction, however I still love. But I now know I had a LOT of bad YA fantasy as well. and you know how hard it is to get rid of it? lol, no used book store will take it.)

Lately though, DP pointed out to me that trying a new fantasy book/author at the library shouldn't be scary. It's free. so I've been exploring a bit, and loved Od Magic by Patricia A. McKillip.

A friend recomended Mystic and Rider by Sharon Shinn, so I'm going to get that from the library as well soon.

As for whether it's bad that you love fantasy as an escape and regular fiction seems boring, I don't really think so. I think there are times when we need an escape more than others, and regardless, I'm of the opinion that it's perfectly fine to read what makes you happy, even if it's "crappy" and not quality literature. I think there will be times when that is what you want, and times when more escapist and books which capture the imagination more are important.

[Starry-eyedMom]

I go through spells where I have to have some fantasy books on the bedside table. I have enjoyed the following series--I listed the first book in each series in case you want to get started.

Kushiel's Dart by Jacqueline Carey (long, epic stories with lots of action, romance, some magic, and unique characters and plot)

Archangel by Sharon Shinn (very interesting idea--the more you read, the less it truly fits the fantasy definition but it starts out with a fantasy feel)

Dead until Dark by Charlaine Harris (Sookie Stackhouse series: vampires, mystery, funny)

Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmerman Bradley (a re-telling of the King Arthur story through the eyes of the female "villainess" Morgan Le Fey)

[raksmama]

Originally Posted by Magelet

I've been rereading Charles De Lint lately (Widdershins, and he has a collection of short stories out that I like some of a lot, and others not as much.) .

I started Widdershins and it seemed very good, but I discontinued because I felt like I was missing important information about the characters. Turns out it is part of the Newford Series. Each story is complete, however many of the characters appear in all the stories so you will appreciate them more if you read them in order. I agree with you about his short stories. I much prefer his novels. I’ve only gotten up to Ivory and the Horn but plan on reading them all.
This is the order:
Dreams Underfoot.
The Dreaming Place
Memory And Dream
The Ivory And The Horn
Trader
Someplace To Be Flying
Moonlight And Vines
Forests Of The Heart
The Onion Girl
Seven Wild Sisters (also available in Tapping the Dream Tree)
Tapping the Dream Tree
Spirits in the Wires
Medicine Road
The Blue Girl
Widdershins
Make a Joyful Noise (chapbook)
The Hour Before Dawn (collection)
Old Man Crow (chapbook)
Little (Grrl) Lost (novel)
Promises to Keep
Dingo (short novel)
Muse & Reverie

[anj_rn]

I have always love fantasy.

Marion Zimmer Bradley's Darkover series is one of my faves, but I love most of what she wrote. I also like:

Mercedes Lackey, almost everything

Tanya Huff (Confederation Novels)

Kate Elliot's Jaran series

Andre Norton, Julian May, Anne McCaffery....

My sis recently gave me J.R. Ward's Black Dagger Brotherhood novels, but they are really more romance tan fantasy (more emphasis i=on sex than plot)

As a kid I loved the Chronicles of Narnia (I still do) and anything by Madeline L'Engle

[Magelet]

Oh, I forgot that he wrote the blue girl. I liked that one too. It wasn't really related to Widdershins though.

I did like The Mists of Avalon. Since it was the first Arthurian book I ever read, it defined the story for me. Of course since it's such an unusal retelling, it means that I really dislike most arthurian legends. (pretty much anything that villainizes morgan le fay.

I also loved Tam Lin. I can't remember who the version I read was by, it's Tam Lin, but set in a college in... Minnesota or something.
ETA: It's by Pamela Dean.

Another good retelling of a classic balad (YA, but really interesting) is called Impossible by Nancy Werlin. It's a retelling of the ballad scarbourough fair, set in modern times. I would say its less of brilliant writing, and more of an intriguing concept. It's a ballad/story that fascinates me, having loved simon and garfunkle's scarbourough fair since I was a child.
ETA: It's not really fantasy though. I mean the person who put the curse on her must be some slightly fey thing, being old enough to curse many generations, but it's not really fantasy. Still good though so I won't remove the description here.

[raksmama]

When you think about it, all through the ages, people all over the world have had myths, folklore, fairy tales, and the traditional stories involving the “supernatural” or things greater than life.
I like what the author and artist terry Wendling has to say about it:
< http://windling.typepad.com/entrancehall/

[raksmama]

[QUOTE=Storm Bride; In general, though, I haven't read much written past the early 90s or so. I've never liked the library that much, and I didn't have the budget to hit the used bookstores anymore after that.[/QUOTE]

I know how you feel. I have never liked the library. Especially the one near us is very small and does not have a good selection. However now that I have finally started ordering books from the library on-line that has changed everything. When buying books I used to be more careful and only get the kind that I usually liked. Since ordering books on line I’ve tried all kind of books that I would never bought before. And now that I think of all the books I’ve read since I’ve been on this fantasy fiction phase, I am happy I’ve saved all of that money. At the same time I know there are certain authors now I would gladly pay for.

[Storm Bride]

Our library actually has a pretty good selection. I just don't have the patience for waiting for another person to return book 2 in a trilogy, only to find that they accidentally moved cross-country with book 3 after that. I hate finding some really good book in paperback (my preference, because I like to hold my book in one hand while I do other things), but the rest of the series is half in hardcover and half not there at all. It's just so frustrating.

[raksmama]

Originally Posted by Storm Bride

I just don't have the patience for waiting for another person to return book 2 in a trilogy, only to find that they accidentally moved cross-country with book 3 after that. I hate finding some really good book in paperback (my preference, because I like to hold my book in one hand while I do other things), but the rest of the series is half in hardcover and half not there at all. It's just so frustrating.

I know exactly what you mean!
I read the “Moon Called”, http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/b/...oon-called.htm the first book in the Mercedes Thompson series last summer and had to wait until January to get the second one “Blood Bound” http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/b/...lood-bound.htm
I enjoyed that one a lot more that the first and wanted to continue reading the series. When I saw that I was 31st in the cue for the third “Iron Kissed” http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/b/...ron-kissed.htm I just went out and bought it along with the fourth “ Bones Crossed”.
http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/b/...ne-crossed.htm Luckily they are all paperbacks!

[raksmama]

Just checked out Mercedes Lackey
http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/l/mercedes-r-lackey/
She certainly has written a lot of series.
Where would be a good place to start?
I've also wanted to check out Emma Bull.

[Magelet]

oathbound is a great starting point I think. I like all of her valdemar stuff, LOVE the diana tregarde, I really liked the elemental masters, I liked dragon joursters and obsidian. I think valdemar is the place to start, imo, and oathbound is great. not that interelated with the other valdemar books, however I loved starting there.

[Storm Bride]

Oathbound is good.

I actually started with the Last Herald-Mage trilogy (Magic's Pawn, Magic's Power and Magic's Price). They're part of the Valdemar group of series (don't know what else to call it - she's written multiple trilogies based in Valdemar), but are more loosely connected to the rest of them than those are to each other, imo. (Clear as mud, right?)

I don't know why I like her and keep reading her, because there are a couple aspects of her writing that drive me nuts.

[Magelet]

stormbride, I know what you mean. the inconsistancies! oh, but I love her books anyways. (and I have to say, I've actually learned a lot from them. I know several other energyworkers who learned a lot from them as well, particularly the queen's own series. seriously, you can't ground unless your centered, so why they call it grounding and centering.....)

[DaughterOfKali]

I love fantasy.

I tend to be drawn to books involving the fae.
Or those with magical or healing powers.

My favorite fantasy writers are:

Freda Warrington (Elfland) (vampire series)
Keith Donohue
Emma Bull (War for the Oaks)
Monica Furlong
Alice Hoffman

[raksmama]

What are you all reading now?
I've just started "Howl's Moving Castle" by Diana Wynne Jones http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/j/...ing-castle.htm I am quite enjoying it. From what I've read she mostly writes YA.