So,
I've not been doing much reading lately but want to get back into it. A friend recommended GoodReads as a good place to find books so here I am.

I'm looking to start a big TBR list so thought I would ask the group for some help.

What I like:
- Traditional fantasy (knights, wizards, elves, dwarfs)
- Series verses stand alone
- NO BRICKS - I like series but don't want each one in them to be 600 - 1000 pages long - I prefer 300 - 400 pages
- Fun light reading - think "summer" popcorn movie
- No "urban" fantasy - like horses and swords that kind of things
- No vampires, no werewolves
- Likeable characters - no anti-heroes - that you are suppose to hate

Things I've liked and read - so don't recommend these:
Name of the Wind, Mistborn, C.S. Lewis, Potter, LotR

Anyone have anything to recommend?

Try Dennis McKiernan, Raymond E. Feist, or Michael Sullivan.

All are nice fun reads with traditional elements.

Feist's first, Magician, is a brick, but it reads quickly and engagingly.

I don't know how many pages my books are so if these are bricks I apologize in advance, I just read them:

1) I second Raymond E. Feist - start with Magician: Apprentice but also make sure you check out The Empire Series which starts with Daughter of the Empire
2) Naomi Novik - Temeraire series
3) Terry Brooks - Magic Kingdom for Sale--Sold
4) Anne Bishop
5) Terry Goodkind - Wizard's First Rule
6) George R. R. Martin - A Game of Thrones

Goodkind and Martin would both fall in the "brick" category :) though both are good. Have to say I was disappointed with the last installment of Martin's though. But those others are all good recommendations. I'd add Barbara Hambly and Elizabeth Haydon to the list.

The book we're currently reading in this group might fit the bill: The Warded Man by Peter V. Brett.

I would also second Elizabeth Haydon and the Daughter of the Empire series. If you're looking for something quirky and funny try Wyrd Sisters. There are a few books in this series. Also, you could try one of Mercedes Lackey's series, either Winds of Fate or Arrows of the Queen. Finally, Stardust is a stand alone but you can't go wrong with Neil Gaiman.

you could try R.A. Salvatore dark elf books or Terry Pratchett disc world books and maybe Jim Butcher Codex Alera series.

I would also recommend that you check out good book review sites, like www.FantasyLiterature.com ("Life's too short to read bad books"), or Fantasy Book Critic.

You want likeable characters? Do you want likeable bad guys, or straw men that are easy to hate (like the old serial westerns, where the bad guys all wore black hats). Terry Goodkind is terrible at bad guys, because they are all straw men that are set up for his hero, Richard Rahl, to knock down.

If you don't like bricks, it is hard to recommend any of the newer epic fantasy, also, the modern characterization is very real, so you like some bad guys and hate some good guys. In George R.R. Martin's books, if you like a character, it usually means the axe is about to fall. He does not shrink away from killing off major characters, and you should know that going in. That being said, his books are among the best in epic fantasy, along with Janny Wurts (she posted above) and her big series The Wars of Light and Shadow, and Steven Erikson's Malazan Book of the Fallen. Be warned, the modern epic fantasy is much more realistic in characterization and plotting than were the Tolkien imitators like McKiernan and Brooks. Wurts is much better and balancing light and dark than are Martin and Erikson, though (Erikson is bloodier than Martin, but Martin is darker).

It is likely that you will start with the lighter stuff and then move to the heavier. You may wish to try David Eddings to start off, namely with the Belgariad and then the Malloreon (after which all his stuff repeats itself), however, many outgrow Eddings pretty quickly. It is fun, you will like the characters, but it does get tiresome after the plot is repeated for the third time in his third series, The Elenium.

I would like to third the Daughter of the Empire series--written by Feist AND Janny, btw. I am not a fan of the Midkemian books but the first two books in the Daughter series grabbed me and didn't let me go (though the third kinda let me down).

Much to the authors' credit, all three can stand on their own even though they are closely linked together.

Rob

Vlad wrote: "I would suggest The Dragon and the George. Easy to read, great fun."

I was going to suggest that one. It also has a series of follow-up novels that got started up some years later. You might also like Leo Frankowski's Conrad Stargard books, about an engineer who gets bounced back to 13th century Poland, becomes a knight, and has to prepare for the Mongol invasion a mere decade away! And let's not forget Christopher Stasheff, who writes for the Renaissance Faire crowd.

@Janny Thanks for the recommendations - I added all the Dennis McKiernan books - Feist - wow I knew he had a lot of books but not that many - lol....I started addiging them and it got too much so I'll do some research and narrow it down. Michael Sullivan -- the books listed under him don't look rigt - they are like books young boys - goosebump kind of thing - is there a different Michael Sullivan?

Try this Michael J. Sullivan and The Crown Conspiracy.

@Chris - I added your current book - though I might be late as I need to order etc.

@Gwynnie - thanks added those as well. I'm not willing to to Pratchett's Discworld (too big of a a seires) but the one you mentioned looks great.

@adam - I added the Dark Elf and the Butcher stuff - as I mentioned Discworld is just too many books for me to really look into at this point.

I totally forgot about the Butcher books which look great (although Modern) so they are on the list as well

@vlad - thanks for Dragon and George - that looks "perfect" I also added the "Nine" book - Similiariion - I tried once and got pretty bored so that will be put ont the back burner.

Jane, have you ever read Dragons of Autumn Twilight? It fits all of your requirements above. Although it's part of a series, it's a quick, fun stand alone fantasy book that's big on adventure. You might want to check it out.

@Marc - Added your recommendations as well !!

@Jon - thanks for the correct links - that Michael Sullivan looks more along my line - added all four of his - they are great covers - much differentt hen all the others I just added ;-)

@Kevis - just added Dragons of Autum - again like George it seems to hit the mark dead on - thanks!

Jane wrote: "@Kevis - just added Dragons of Autum - again like George it seems to hit the mark dead on - thanks!"

Glad I could help! :)

I'll third Terry Pratchett, though he does have vampires and the odd werewolf. Not too many, and he is very funny.

I'll also second Hambly.

Kevis wrote: "Jane, have you ever read Dragons of Autumn Twilight? It fits all of your requirements above. Although it's part of a series, it's a quick, fun stand alone fantasy book that's big on a..."

LOVED those books way back when....named my cat Tasslehoff!

I think you would like The Banned and the Banished series. The first book is Wit'ch Fire

Actually, you don't have to read all of Terry Pratchett's Discworld series. The books in the Discworld series are only loosely linked. You can choose one of the four sub-series. My favorites are the ones about the witches. I found a breakdown of Pratchett's series here, Discworld Series. His work is definitely satirical. If you prefer pure fantasy you may not like it. It looks like you have a lot of choices now, good luck!

Patricia Briggs has written some great fantasy novels, her Raven duology and Dragon duology are very good, along with the Hobb's Bargain. (her Mercedes Thompson series is good too but it is rife with shifters, vampires, etc).

I second the recommendations for Butcher and Pratchett.

One Fantasy author I love who is really different (not urban fantasy, not traditional) is Lois McMaster Bujold. I'm a big fan of her sci-fi but she has a unique voice in fantasy...I'm specifically thinking of The Sharing Knife series. Well worth checking out.

Wen Spencer's Tinker is another good, light, funny, creative story.

I would also recommend almost anything by Patricia McKillip or Peter Beagle.

I recommend The Rangers Apprentice, The Roar, David Eddings, Terry Brooks, Brian Jaques.

If you want some light reading I would suggest David Gemmell, most of his books are standalone though there are some series in his books, none more than 3 parts though and all are self contained.

For gritty stuff, try Black Company by Glen Cook, they are a bit old, but still well worth a read.(Caution take a peek inside the cover 1st, as his writing style is not typical).

Low fantasy, try Katharine Kerr, the Deverry Chonicles(the first 3 are very good).

I would suggest The Book of Jhereg by Steven Brust. Good, light, fun read. It's 480 pages long, but that is actually the first of three in a series. I haven't read any more of them and you could actually read just the first one and stop if you'd rather. Not traditional fantasy per se, but it has some of the elements.

Shaman's Crossing
by Robin Hobb
I loved this series! not bricks, steady pace, mythical, intense yet fun.
Also I just finished Jay Lake's Mainspring It is first of 3 and an awesome steam-punk type magnificence!

I think one of the better series that I've read that's not comprised of bricks, has pretty good heroes, and not an anti-hero in the batch is Terry Brooks' Shannara series.
I read them as they came out, but you can read them in linear order, starting with the Genesis of Shannara trilogy. They just build from there.
Anything by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman that has the word DragonLance on it is usually pretty good. Admittedly, they're parts of a series, so it helps to read them in order.
Raymond Feist and Janny Wurts wrote a fabulous little thing called Daughter of the Empire. It and the books that follow are a thoroughly enjoyable read. Easily accessible, good story, no bricks.
Also, Stephen R. Lawhead wrote the Song of Albion trilogy. Straightforward Celtic fantasy.

You've gotten a lot of good suggestions, but for something old-school and quite fun, check out Joel Rosenberg's Guardian of the Flame series. Start with The Sleeping Dragon.

Basically, it's about a group of D&D role-players transported to another world - in their characters IIRC - and stuck there so need to make a life for themselves and choose to be heroes-for-hire. Great fun! Old enough to find most of the books at the library or used bookstores, I think.

Oh!
I only read the first 5 of the series, many, many moons ago, how are the last 3?

IIRC, #6 was weak, but I liked #s 7 & 8. = )

I read the first 5 & liked them, but didn't make it through the 6th as I recall & then quit. They were fun.

They were okay, but I got the impression the author was rolling dice as he wrote them, though. The plot moved randomly at times, and prophecies ended up never getting fulfilled, etc.

There have been a lot of great recommendations already. I would suggest the following:

Sasha by Joel Shepherd (female swordsman), theres only two books but it looks to go four books)

I loved the Dragon and the George by Gordon Dickson. Later Dickson did several books after it including Dragon Knight. The first is the best.

Her Majesty's Wizard by Christoper Stasheff (Wizard in Rhyme series)

Halfling Gem Trilogy by R.A. Salvatore (his first big series and still the best)

Wayfarer Redemption series by Sara Douglas is also good. It was so good that it came out in Australia then republished it in America.

Magic Kingdom Sold by Terry Brooks is also good. Although he is more famous for his Shannara series (which first 6 books are quite good), this light breezy story is a lot of fun to read.

Piers Anthony's Xanth series is also a good light breezy series The first three books -- A Spell for Chameleon, The Source of Magic and Castle Roogna are all excellent, the next 2or 3 are good and then it just goes south.

Barbara Hambly's Darwath trilogy -- Time of the Dark,
Walls of Air, Armies of Daylight are all great

I also recommend Jim Butcher Codex Alera series -- starts with Furies of Calderon

Another Piers Anthony trilogy that is excellent and fun is his Split Infinity series. Starts with Split Infinity, Blue Adept and Juxtaposition.

Sharon Shinn has a series which starts with Mystic and Rider that are good magic and romance stories.

I think Lois McMaster Bujold's Sharing Knife series was mentioned, but personally I think that takes a while to get going.

I would recommend her Chalion books. Curse of Chalion, the first, was nominated for a Hugo Award, Paladin of Souls, the second, won the Hugo Award as the best sf or fantasy book of the year.

The L.E. Modisset series that starts with Magic of Recluce is a very good series -- lots of books.

One of the best fantasy trilogies is the Riddlemaster of Hed, Heir of Sea and Fire and Harpist in the Wind by Patricia McKillup.

Gwynnie wrote: "Daughter of the Empire series.

Sphere777 wrote: "I would like to third the Daughter of the Empire series--written by Feist AND Janny, btw.

I LOVED the Daughter of the Empire series! So good! I recently finished reading Dragons of Autumn Twilight it wasn't as good in my opinion but it was a fun story.

Jeffrey wrote: Piers Anthony's Xanth series is also a good light breezy series The first three books -- A Spell for Chameleon, The Source of Magic and Castle Roogna are all excellent, the next 2or 3 are good and then it just goes south.

I was about to start reading that series.. I had originally listened to the audiobooks a long long time ago but couldn't recall why I didn't make it all the way through.. Maybe that's the reason :-)

I think i owned about 8 or 9 of the books at one time. But he got a little stale and repetitive.

1. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
2. Wizard's First Rule
3. Troy Lord of the Silver Bow
4. Inkheart
5. Eye of the World
6. Warded Man
7. Way of Shadows

I would definitely second the recommendations for Anne Bishop (esp. the Dark Jewels series and the Tir Alainn trilogy), Robin Hobb, and for Cornelia Funke's Inkheart trilogy.

I'll also put in plugs for Trudi Canavan and Kate Forsyth. They're both Australian fantasy authors, both have written finished series, and they're all fun to read. I don't remember any door stoppers among them, either.

Good luck in your search!

I don't know what to read next. I'm stuck! I'm a wee-bit new to adult fantasy... so there's certainly a lot out there to be sure.

Sometimes I get annoyed when books have ALL of the fantasy elements - dragons, princess, elves, dwarves, trolls, castle boy, wizard. I mean, those are the reasons I love fantasy, but a little here and there goes a long way. Maybe that's why I'm stuck or maybe I just need to find something good. Not sure. I like the feel of trilogies. I'm not sure how I feel about a series that runs up to 6, 7, or 8 books. Don't care about book length.

I like: Name of the Wind, Robin Hobb's Farseer Trilogy, Tad William's Memory Sorrow Thorn, Redwall, Ranger's Apprentice

Didn't like: Feist's Magician's Apprentice (heading sci-fi-ish), The Belgariad (too light), The Hobbit

I'm not into: Anything bordering on apocalyptic (post or pre) or too cliche (Dragon's of Autumn Twilight)

Thanks in advance. I love being part of this group.

Hi Wendy. You might try Brandon Sanderson's Mistborn trilogy. They're pretty original and it's complete.

Chris wrote: "Hi Wendy. You might try Brandon Sanderson's Mistborn trilogy. They're pretty original and it's complete."

Hmmmm.... Yes. I DO love a good heist/caper. Thanks - will check that out.

Wendy wrote: "I don't know what to read next. I'm stuck! I'm a wee-bit new to adult fantasy... so there's certainly a lot out there to be sure.

Sometimes I get annoyed when books have ALL of the fantasy elemen..."

Welcome, Wendy to the Fantasy Book Club. We love your being part of this group, too.

If you haven't yet, I'd like to suggest you try my favorite author, FBC author/member Janny Wurts. Since you mentioned some hesitation about long series. I'd recommend that you first try her super-good, stand-alone novel, To Ride Hell's Chasm. If you get hooked on her writing, as many of us have, you might want to brave her big series, The Wars of Light and Shadow.

Wendy

When I go to a bookstore and look at fantasy today, I see many authors that I do not know, so I can understand your situation. But there are some very good books out there. I would recommend the following, which I think are fairly available:

1. The Furies of Calderon by Jim Butcher (first of a very good series)

2. The Barbed Coil by JV Jones (standalone fantasy)

3. The Warded Man by Peter Brett (very good first fantasy of trilogy. 2nd book is now out)

4. The Curse of Chalion by Lois McMaster Bujold

5. HEr Majesty's Wizard by Christoper Stasheff

6. Black Sun Rising by CS Friedman (dark fantasy but oh so good)

7. Transformation by Carol Berg

8. Time of the Dark by Barbara Hambly

9. Rhapsody (Child of the Blood by Elizabeth Haydon

10. Mystic and Rider by Sharon Shinn

11. Magic Casement by Dave Duncan

12. The Wizard Hunters by Martha Wells

13. War for the Oaks by Emma Bull