I need some dark fantasy reading (not romance--dark fantasy)

SenorDingDong · 02-13-2012, 07:34 AM

So I've been into dark fantasy for a whole now, and I was wondering if you guys had any recommendations.

I have most of Neil Gaiman's books, just but the Abhosen trilogy by Garth Nix, been getting into Raymond Feist (mostly Fairie Tale), I'm a huge Brom fan, and I've got a few others.

Any more suggestions?

I'm not big into swords and shields, dragons and orcs. I like my fantasy dark, with a tinge of horror to it.

Varcolac · 02-13-2012, 08:08 AM

China Miéville - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

His Bas-Lag books (Perdido Street Station, The Scar, and Iron Council) are dark, knowing, epic, quasi-steampunk fantasy madness. Some swords and shields, but none of that goblins and orcs crap. His work is very consciously not Tolkeinesque. All three Bas-Lag books have won the Arthur C. Clarke Award. Out of the three, I prefer The Scar, since it's got pirates and quantum physics.

Other good stuff of his would be Kraken, an urban fantasy set in contemporary London, apocalyptic and nerdy and mind-bogglingly creepy, Embassytown, a far-future sci-fi linguistics thing which I have some reservations about but is still immensely engaging and dark. The City And The City is a non-fantasy book, there's no supernatural elements at all, but the brainscrewing head....ery of the premise and its deconstruction/reconstruction makes it almost more weird than Kraken.

great_kthulu · 02-13-2012, 09:35 AM

George RR Martin's "A song of Ice and Fire" Sounds perfect for you. Just remember, no character is safe!

SenorDingDong · 02-13-2012, 09:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Varcolac

China Miéville - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

His Bas-Lag books (Perdido Street Station, The Scar, and Iron Council) are dark, knowing, epic, quasi-steampunk fantasy madness. Some swords and shields, but none of that goblins and orcs crap. His work is very consciously not Tolkeinesque. All three Bas-Lag books have won the Arthur C. Clarke Award. Out of the three, I prefer The Scar, since it's got pirates and quantum physics.

I almost bought King Rat once because it was a runoff of Neil Gaiman's Neverwhere.

I'll definitely have to check this guy's writing out. Thanks!

nojyeloot · 02-13-2012, 10:45 AM

You might enjoy Terry Goodkind's Sword of Truth series. (Don't let the sitcom fool you, they butchered that).

EDIT: But yes, great_kthulu is right, George RR Martin might fit your needs too.

Xaios · 02-13-2012, 10:52 AM

+1 to the "A Song of Ice and Fire" saga from George R.R. Martin. Highly engrossing.

Another good read is Patrick Rothfuss' "Kingkiller Chronicles." Granted, there are only two books, and supposedly only 1 more on the way, but they're both extremely good. The first is "The Name of the Wind," the second is "The Wise Man's Fear."

SenorDingDong · 02-13-2012, 11:34 AM

I'll check out "A Song of Fire and Ice," though I am a bit hesitant to jump into series books (I don't know why really, I just am).

I've seen the reviews and they're great.

I'll also look into "Sword of Truth," thought I believe the series is a but long for my interest (over ten books I believe). I'll probably get the first and see from there.

I'm really interested in The Kingkiller Chronicles, they sound awesome.

nojyeloot · 02-13-2012, 12:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JWGriebel

I'll check out "A Song of Fire and Ice," though I am a bit hesitant to jump into series books (I don't know why really, I just am).

I've seen the reviews and they're great.

I'll also look into "Sword of Truth," thought I believe the series is a but long for my interest (over ten books I believe). I'll probably get the first and see from there.

I'm really interested in The Kingkiller Chronicles, they sound awesome.

OK, gotcha. I love investing in long series.

So, if you want something good and short (trilogy-esque) then I suggest the Mistborn Trilogy by Brandon Sanderson. I loved Feist, but Sanderson is a bit more about character development. It's not as "dark" as you've requested, but it might satiate your hunger. It's incredible.

My tastes (for reference):
Jordan
Goodkind
Sanderson
Feist
Tolkein
CS Lewis
Martin

Xaios · 02-13-2012, 12:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nojyeloot

So, if you want something good and short (trilogy-esque) then I suggest the Mistborn Trilogy by Brandon Sanderson. I loved Feist, but Sanderson is a bit more about character development. It's not as "dark" as you've requested, but it might satiate your hunger. It's incredible.

Heh, that reminds me, I've had "The Way of Kings" sitting in the back seat of my car for probably 6 months now, still in the bag from the book store. Gotta read it sometime.

SenorDingDong · 02-13-2012, 03:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nojyeloot

OK, gotcha. I love investing in long series.

So, if you want something good and short (trilogy-esque) then I suggest the Mistborn Trilogy by Brandon Sanderson. I loved Feist, but Sanderson is a bit more about character development. It's not as "dark" as you've requested, but it might satiate your hunger. It's incredible.

My tastes (for reference):
Jordan
Goodkind
Sanderson
Feist
Tolkein
CS Lewis
Martin

Tolkein and Lewis are two greats, I'll definitely look into Mistborn.

Hah I have OCD with books, so series books are hard for me--I have to read them all in a row.

Have you had any experience with Tad Williams? I've really been scoping out the Shadowmarch and Otherworld series'.

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02-13-2012, 07:34 AM	#1
SenorDingDong Smeller of Smells Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Bristol,CT Posts: 3,667 Thanked: 124 Feedback Score: 8 reviews	I need some dark fantasy reading (not romance--dark fantasy) So I've been into dark fantasy for a whole now, and I was wondering if you guys had any recommendations. I have most of Neil Gaiman's books, just but the Abhosen trilogy by Garth Nix, been getting into Raymond Feist (mostly Fairie Tale), I'm a huge Brom fan, and I've got a few others. Any more suggestions? I'm not big into swords and shields, dragons and orcs. I like my fantasy dark, with a tinge of horror to it. Tumblr: http://jwgriebel.tumblr.com/ My art blog. ".... Heaven. I haven’t gotten Earth sorted out yet." - Clive Barker - Imajica

02-13-2012, 08:08 AM	#2
Varcolac Frets? What frets? Join Date: May 2009 Location: London Posts: 1,504 Thanked: 13 Feedback Score: 0 reviews	China Miéville - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia His Bas-Lag books (Perdido Street Station, The Scar, and Iron Council) are dark, knowing, epic, quasi-steampunk fantasy madness. Some swords and shields, but none of that goblins and orcs crap. His work is very consciously not Tolkeinesque. All three Bas-Lag books have won the Arthur C. Clarke Award. Out of the three, I prefer The Scar, since it's got pirates and quantum physics. Other good stuff of his would be Kraken, an urban fantasy set in contemporary London, apocalyptic and nerdy and mind-bogglingly creepy, Embassytown, a far-future sci-fi linguistics thing which I have some reservations about but is still immensely engaging and dark. The City And The City is a non-fantasy book, there's no supernatural elements at all, but the brainscrewing head....ery of the premise and its deconstruction/reconstruction makes it almost more weird than Kraken. SenorDingDong likes this. Carpathia : progressive extreme metal from London. Free track! Click here! SchecterWhore: "Development, phase four. Beethoven takes you for a ride through space in his Pontiac Trans Am."

02-13-2012, 09:35 AM	#3
great_kthulu SS.org Regular Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: peterborough, NH Posts: 440 Thanked: 8 Feedback Score: 0 reviews	George RR Martin's "A song of Ice and Fire" Sounds perfect for you. Just remember, no character is safe! nojyeloot and SenorDingDong like this.

02-13-2012, 10:45 AM	#5
nojyeloot SS.org Regular Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Mansfield, TX Posts: 3,023 Thanked: 89 Feedback Score: 10 reviews	You might enjoy Terry Goodkind's Sword of Truth series. (Don't let the sitcom fool you, they butchered that). EDIT: But yes, great_kthulu is right, George RR Martin might fit your needs too. SenorDingDong likes this. My Soundcloud Page \| Bear Witness \| The Famine "If anyone speaks badly of you, live so that no one believes it."

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02-13-2012, 10:52 AM	#6
Xaios Foolish Mortal Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Nimbus III Posts: 6,442 Thanked: 128 Feedback Score: 0 reviews	+1 to the "A Song of Ice and Fire" saga from George R.R. Martin. Highly engrossing. Another good read is Patrick Rothfuss' "Kingkiller Chronicles." Granted, there are only two books, and supposedly only 1 more on the way, but they're both extremely good. The first is "The Name of the Wind," the second is "The Wise Man's Fear." SenorDingDong likes this. Revenge is a dish best served with nice biscuits. ALL HAIL DJOD, MASTER OF THE SSO NEGAVERSE

02-13-2012, 11:34 AM	#7
SenorDingDong Smeller of Smells Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Bristol,CT Posts: 3,667 Thanked: 124 Feedback Score: 8 reviews	I'll check out "A Song of Fire and Ice," though I am a bit hesitant to jump into series books (I don't know why really, I just am). I've seen the reviews and they're great. I'll also look into "Sword of Truth," thought I believe the series is a but long for my interest (over ten books I believe). I'll probably get the first and see from there. I'm really interested in The Kingkiller Chronicles, they sound awesome. Tumblr: http://jwgriebel.tumblr.com/ My art blog. ".... Heaven. I haven’t gotten Earth sorted out yet." - Clive Barker - Imajica

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