Favourite Fantasy Book

[Axis]

I felt it would be interesting to start a discussion about your favourite fantasy book.

[janeite42]

It's hard to pick just one. I started reading fantasy years ago with Tolkien, and LOTR is the one I've read multiple times. Other favorites include:

Brandon Sanderson, Mistborn: The Final Empire (the best of the three, imo)
Frank Herbert, Dune
David Farland, The Runelords
Terry Goodkind, Wizard's First Rule
David Gemmell, Legend

Looking at this list, I notice that I usually like the first book in a series the best. Is it just me, or do series begin to go downhill after the first few books?

[Adam Whitehead]

My favourite fantasy 'book' of all time is definitely The Silmarillion by JRR Tolkien. My favourite fantasy 'novel' is A Storm of Swords by George R.R. Martin.

Other works I rankly highly are R. Scott Bakker's Prince of Nothing Trilogy, Joe Abercrombie's First Law Trilogy and Best Served Cold, Chris Wooding's Braided Path Trilogy and his new novel Retribution Falls, and the earlier Malazan novels by Steven Erikson. Paul Kearney's Monarchies of God series also ranks very highly on my list.

[Sean]

Mine is and probably always will be The Fellowship of The Ring by Mr Tolkien but some that have come close are any of George RR Martins A Song of Ice and Fire series with the exception of A Feast for Crows, Joe Abercrombies Last Arguement of Kings, The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss and I even have love for the likes of Eddings (who's works have their place in the fantasy love lists) and of course the works of Mr Gemmell. My favourite is probably Winter Warriors but tht's because it was the first one I read of his but I think Legend is his best.

[Sean Giblin]

Ian Irvines- Three world cycle
The view from the mirror Quartet
The well of echoes Quartet
The song of the tears Trilogy
and

Gene Wolfe- The book of the new sun
The Shadow of the Torturer
The Claw of The Conciliator
The Sword of the Lictor
The Citadel of the Autarch
The Urth of the new son

and the Malus Darkblade books were good

[Tricia C]

This is a great idea because now I have a load of new authors to try,and I also don't feel so bad about wanting to bang my head against the wall every time I try to read LOTR, so thanks :)
I suppose that if I were to limit favourite books to those I've had to buy second copies of when I wore them out ......

the black jewels series by Anne Bishop (especially the first three)
Good omens by Pratchett and Gaiman
Mort by Terry Pratchett
Summer Knight by Jim Butcher, though the entire series good.
The Waylander series by David Gemmell

There's probably others, oh yes, the Night angel trilogy by Brent Weeks, but my brains not supplying any more.
I've also developed an almost unhealthy interest in manga over the last few years and would highly recomend the D.Gray man series and Hellsing.

[helen]

Hello. I'm a newbie here so a quick hello to all. Loads of books and authors already noted on here that i read too and you're all right. It is so hard to pick a book or author. It depends on my mood as to who appeals at that moment in time. Family motto is "when in doubt get theGemmell out" so i suppose thats my answer lol.
I am a family of 3 (hubby and 17 yr old son) and we all read the same books. Our collection includes DG, Eddings, Mercedes Lackey, Robin Hobb, Tad Williams, Fiest, Guy Gavriel Kay and loads of other authors to whom I appologise for not mentioning.
I thank you for naming other authors for us to have a read of.

[Matthew Staker]

There are surprisingly few people mentioning David gemmell on a David Gemmel fan site lol. Gemmell has always been my fav author of all and of fantasy. I love 'The Witcher' PC game and really want to read the books. Ive been reading a LOT of Louis lamour lately because i heard David Gemmell was a big fan and i know why, Louis lamour is a great author and addictive to read. I read soo many authors that i honestly cant remember them all or choose them as favs. Ill throw the names Piers Anthony and Terry Pratchett out there though, amazing authors and very established for good reasons.

[Yaritji Green]

Sándor Papp said:

R.A. Salvatore's original Dark Elf trilogy Elaine Cunningham's Starlight and Shadows trilogy (must read for anyone who likes Salvatore: compelling story and characters, lots of twists and turns)

I really like the Dark Elf trilogy - it is something that I have re-read a few times now - although there was a point I stopped reading Salvatore's works after what happened to Wulfgar but once Salvatore rectified that problem I was a happy 'book buying' camper again :) Cunningham wrote some great reads too with the Dark Elves.

I don't really have an all time favourite fantasy book - I think it depends on my mood. I did however read the Night Angel trilogy - bought it purely because I liked the cover (bought the three books on a whim) and once I started reading the first book, I just couldn't stop, my whole weekend was spent reading the trilogy!

[JOE CRAWFORD]

My favorite was originally Roger Zelazny until I read A Song for Lya. That pretty much sewed up GRRM as no 1. Until I read Legend of Deathwalker! That hit close to home because I have known most of the characters in that one. Druss is my favorite sgt major in all of literature. Dont argue rank, i know an E9 when i see one. That series along with Sword in the Stone rank up with Tolkien or anyone, dont you agree?