If you haven't already run across the works of George MacDonald Fraser, I heartily recommend them. If you recognise me from other fora, sorry for plugging him so often but if you read any of the below you'll understand:

'Flashman' series. Set at the height of the British Empire, the series is practically a fanfic of 'Tom Brown's Schooldays', presenting the autobiography of the villainous Flashman throughout his long and chequered career. Basically, he's the ultimate anti-hero and despite wanting nothing more than to escape alive from various imperial wars and intrigues he always comes out smelling of roses, invariably gets the girl(s) and usually has a sulphurous comment on famous historical persons to liven things up. The first in the series is plain 'Flashman', you can read the other 11 in pretty much any order. Nonjon, if you're reading I have a feeling Sirius and Harry in 'Black Comedy' are channelling Flashy, though they've got more guts.

The Pyrates: Much funnier and sillier than PotC, on no account take this seriously or your head will explode. It's a parody of the old-style Hollywood pirates, as well as / more than the historical ones.

the MacAuslan series, collected in 'The Complete MacAuslan': Anecdotes of military life c.1948 in short-story form. Supposedly most of them really happened to the author or people he knew. I don't believe him, but they're absolutely hilarious.

Non-Fiction: Assorted, mostly autobiographical to some degree. 'Quartered Safe Out Here' is among the great war memoirs, warning in everything but especially 'Light's on at Signpost' for kinda old-fashioned right-wing political views which some find very offensive.

On a slightly more SF/Fantasy note, try the Vorkosigan series by Lois McMaster Bujold - highly recommended space opera though it does occasionally get somewhat fluffy. Her fantasy series are both also rather good but not really DLP material, both are extremely fluffy in parts. Slash-haters avoid 'Ethan of Athos' although it's neither explicit nor especially annoying. Start with 'Warrior's Apprentice' or 'Shards of Honor' - the latter's fluff quotient is redeemed by the splendid cast of villains.

 

Anything by Michael Crichton is a favourite of mine, might not always be the most accurate, but his books are always fun thrillers.

 

Some of my favorites in the action/thriller section are all the novels starring the character Jack Reacher. They are written by Lee Child and they are some of the best books I have read in a while with one main kick ass character. My favorites right now though are the novels written by James Rollins. They all are action/thrillers written in todays world but they all have a scifi/fantasy hint to them as well. Six of them all star completely different characters but the last three he has written: Map of Bones, Black Order, and The Judas Strain all are centered around the same character, Grey Pierce, and they are the best books I have read in a good long time.

 

On a small related note, When in the Dresden Files do the Denarii show up? I've been through the first four books and got nothing about them.

 

Need help selecting a new series

As I am almost done with The Dresden Files, and with college coming up again, I thought I would ask members if they could share there insight in selecting a new series to read while I wait in between classes, and while I'm at home.

I'm looking for a series (at least 5 books) that I can enjoy. I tend to read a lot for school so I'm not looking for something overtly intellectual, but at the same time not stupid.
My favorite authors so far have been Raymond Feist, and Jim Butcher, so I guess I'm looking for something similar.

Some specifications:

Genre: Fantasy

Not a fan of a female protagonist (nothing against them I just feel more into the story when the protagonist is male).

I like books where magic plays an important role in the story, or where mythology of all sorts of cultures are thrown in. For example Angels, Vampires, Demons.
Fighting and swordplay is fine but I would like magic to be the focal point of the story, or at least comes up often.
Not a fan of technology, or any kind of technomancy type magic.

So any suggestions? I apologize if my field of reading is too narrow, but I'm very picky in choosing what I want to read for pleasure.
Thanks for the help.

 

Well, if you liked female protagonists, I would have suggested Anita Blake novels by Laurell K. Hamilton. Actually, this character has more balls than any male I've ever met or read about, so you should go ahead and check it out anyway. It's gory, violent, and there's loads of sex. Perfect for any member of DLP.

Edit: I just remembered, anything by David Eddings is awesome. Loads of interesting and memorable characters, and a unique world of sorcery.

 

Sabriel/Lireal/Abhorsen is a great series by Garth Nix. It's about necromancy, and has magic users and free magic beings. Very awesome stuff. Only three books long however.

The Bartimaeus Trilogy is kind of more 'kiddie', but it's still good for a quick read, and not intellectually challenging (though it has some dry wit that I personally found pretty amusing). It's also popular with the Harry Potter crowd. And about half of the three books has a female protagonist... sort of, but not really... it switchs POV a lot.

Those are the only two series I can think of right now with magic. Garth NIx's work comes highly reccomended by me.

OH wait! The Amber Chronicles! How did I forget, it's what my user name comes from after all. 10 books, magic centered 9though a strange kind of magic), very well written. There's a recent thread on them too.

 

I checked out the summaries for the Amber Chronicles and didn't seem to enjoy it much. I may read the Anita Blake series eventually but at the moment I'm trying to find something similar to the Midkemia world and The Dresden Files.

Has anyone read Butchers other series? Is it worth a look?
And has anyone read A throne of Bones and can tell me how that is? I've heard good things, but I'm not sure on it it yet.

 

Have you read the Wheel of Time Series by Robert Jordan?
That has a bit of magic in it.

Anything by Guy Gavrial Kay will have some mythology in it.

The Dune series doesn't focus on magic, but it is very good nonetheless.

 

Try the Artemis Fowl series, if you don't mind it being a kiddie book. The first few books are the best.

 

I agree with Kyp about Eddings and Logrus about Nix. Both great authors.

If you're a fan of fantasy, I cannot recommend Terry Pratchett enough. The man's an utter genius. For magic, go with the Witches or Rincewind series.

 

If you want something like the Dresden Files, read the Garrett P.I. series by Glen Cook. It doesn't deal with magic very much, but it's pretty similar to the Dresden files. Garrett is a private investigator in a fantasy world, and the books are all in his POV. And there are issues with vampires and all sorts of magical races like elves, ogres, etc. They are all a part of the normal world in this series.

I was recommended this after wanting something similar to the Dresden Files, and I wasn't dissapointed. I think you'll really like it, so give it a try.

 

And I'm back again to peddle the wares of Terry Pratchett . There's about 40 of them (can't remember the exact number right now) and they're based on a discworld that's balanced on four gigantic elephants, which are perched on top of a 10,000 mile long space turtle. If that's not magical enough for you I don't know what is.

Funny thing is, for the first two books the main protagonist is a Wizard... Who is absolutely crap at magic XD. Its hilariously funny and I guarantee you'll enjoy it. Everyone else who's read them does .

Aekiel

 

Don't read Anita Blake OR Wheel of Time.

They suck. Infinitely. Wheel of Time is too fucking hard to get into and so damned Dry for the first book or ten. I'm all for detail but 30 pages on an oak tree is insane.

Anita Blake had a pwnsome idea. Necromancer Succubus. But the author doesn't use it anywhere near its potential.

Id recommend Pratchett's Discworld, or Adams' Hitchiker series. Hilarious, really. Christopher Moore has some good books. Bloodsucking fiends, Lamb: The Gospel acording to Biff, Jesus' childhood friend (I think thats the title anyway). Fluke. Gaiman's Good Omens is funny as hell.

Artemis fowl IS good as well. Though the Mudman thing annoys me.

How can you NOT like fowl after that? ^_^

 

/me looks along his bookshelf...

I'll bold the ones I highly recommend.

I've also edited in summaries for the lesser-known stories.

Ignoring the "no female protagonist" rule:

The Black Magician Trilogy, by Trudi Canavan
Each year the magicians of Imardin gather together to purge the city streets of vagrants, urchins and miscreants. Masters of the disciplines of magic, they know that no one can oppose them. But their protective shield is not as impenetrable as they believe. Sonea, angry, frustrated and outraged by the treatment of her family and friends, hurls a stone at the shield, putting all her rage behind it. To the amazement of all who bear witness, the stone passes unhindered through the barrier and renders a magician unconscious. The guild's worst fear has been realised ...There is an untrained magician loose on the streets. She must be found before her uncontrolled powers unleash forces that will destroy both her, and the city that is her home. THE MAGICIANS' GUILD is a blistering new fantasy adventure from a debut author skilled in both world-building and storytelling. The trilogy continues with THE NOVICE (Aug '04) and THE HIGH LORD (Feb '05).

The Age of Five Trilogy, also by Trudi Canavan
When Auraya was chosen to become a priestess, she could never have believed that a mere ten years later she would be one of the White, the gods' most powerful servants. Sadly, Auraya has little time to adapt to the exceptional powers gifted her by the gods. Mysterious black-clad sorcerers from the south plague the land, and rumours reach the White of an army being raised. Auraya and her new colleagues work tirelessly to seal alliances and unite the northern continent under their banner, but time is running out. War comes to the lands of the White, and unless Auraya can master her new abilities, even the favour of the gods may not be enough to save them...

The Pellinor quartet, by Allison Coggon
Maerad is a slave in a desperate and unforgiving settlement, taken there as a child when her family is destroyed in war. She is unaware that she possesses a powerful gift, a gift that marks her as a member of the School of Pellinor. It is only when she is discovered by Cadvan, one of the great Bards of Lirigon, that her true heritage and extraordinary destiny unfolds. Now she and her teacher, Cadvan, must survive a punishing and uncertain journey through a time and place where the dark forces they battle with stem from the deepest recesses of other-worldly terror.

The His Dark Materials Trilogy, by Phillip Pullman

The Ropemaker, by Peter Dickenson
Tilja has grown up in the peaceful Valley, which is protected from the fearsome Empire by an enchanted forest. But the forest's power has begun to fade and the Valley is in danger. Tilja is the youngest of four brave souls who venture into the Empire together to find the mysterious magician who can save the Valley. And much to her amazement, Tilja gradually learns that only she, an ordinary girl with no magical powers, has the ability to protect her group and their quest from the Empire's sorcerers.

The Various, by Steve Augarde
When 12-year-old Midge is sent by her concert-violinist mother to spend the summer at the farm of her sweet but bungling Uncle Brian, her initial resentment gives way to delight in the freedom of exploring the countryside. When she discovers a tiny winged horse lying wounded in an outbuilding, she is awestruck to find out that he comes from a civilisation of five various tribes of little people living in a nearby wood—-something readers will have already learned from alternate chapters set in the fairy world. Disaster threatens when Uncle Brian plans to sell the wood to a developer, and Midge and her cousins find (to their peril), that some of the little people are not as helpless as they seem.

The Wind on Fire trilogy, by Willian Nicholson
In the walled city of Aramanth, exams are everything -- not only for children, but for whole families. When Kestrel Hath dares to rebel, the Chief Examiner humiliates her father and sentences the family to the harshest punishment. Desperate to save them, Kestrel discovers that life in Aramanth was once different -- and if she can find the secret of the Wind Singer, maybe life can change for the better once more. So she and her twin brother, Bowman, set out on a terrifying journey -- to the true source of the evil that grips Aramanth...

A note from Taure: Much better than it sounds

The Sabriel trilogy, by Garth Nix
Sabriel attends Wyverley Girls College in Ancelstierre (Nix's version of normal) and has recently graduated with runaway firsts in every subject. But her particular school has certain extra-curricular activities, like the learning of Magic, because of its proximity to the Wall which marks Ancelstierre's border with the Old Kingdom. Over the wall, life is very different and the use of magic is commonplace. Then, on the edge of death, Sabriel's father, Abhorson, sends her a cryptic message that means she must venture into the Old Kingdom and calm the storm that is brewing there, and which will surely multiply at her father's passing. Refusing to accept his fate, Sabriel inherits the tools of her father's trade and his name. Her new duty is to lay the disturbed dead back to rest with the help of seven powerful bells worn across the chest. Sabriel seeks her father's slayer in a mammoth journey that is hindered by dark magic, monsters-a-plenty and shadowy unsubstantial evils.

The Doomspell Trilogy, by Cliff McNish
Rachel and Eric are hurtled to a terrifying place. Like thousands of other children before them, they have been snatched away by the Witch. But she has met her match. Rachel and Eric discover they have astonishing powers. Rachel is a spellmaker who can fly, change shape and scent magic across other lands and oceans. Eric is a destroyer of spells. Together they embark on a journey from which there may be no return. The Witch will stop at nothing to enslave them and destroy her old adversaries the Wizards. The fate of all children lies in the balance - will Rachel and Eric save them, or will the Witch finally triumph?

A note from Taure: a bit kiddie, bu still good fun.

The Healer's Keep, by Victoria Hanley
Set in the harsh world of Sliviia, The Healer's Keep tells the story of Maeve, a beautiful orphaned slave girl, who is trying to escape the clutches of the evil Lord Morlen. Before she realises it, Maeve is plunged into an ordeal that takes her further than she's ever been before, as she begins a battle for her life, as well as the lives of the people she has met on her journey. This is pure storytelling at its very best. Gripping, nail-biting and filled with unmissable characters, The Healer's Keep will draw you in until its exhilarating end.

If you really want to stick with a male protagonist:

The Otori Trilogy, by Lean Hearne
In his black-walled fortress at Inuyama, the murderous warlord, lida Sadamu, surveys his famous nightingale floor. Constructed with exquisite skill, it sings at the tread of each human foot. No assassin can cross it unheard. Brought up in a remote mountain village among the Hidden, a reclusive and spiritual people, Takeo has learned only the ways of peace. Why, then, does he possess the deadly skills that make him so valuable to the sinister Tribe? These supernatural powers will lead him to his violent destiny within the walls of Inuyama - and to an impossible longing for a girl who can never be his. His journey is one of revenge and treachery, honour and loyalty, beauty and magic, and the passion of first love.

The Lord of the Rings, by J. R.R. Tolkein

Harry Potter series, by J.K. Rowling

Duncton Wood trilogy, by William Horwood
Duncton Wood and the subsequent novels in the series revolve around the moles that inhabit the United Kingdom. The mole communities (referred to as "Moledom") are anthropomorphically portrayed as intelligent societies with their own social organization, history and written form of communication. The extent of animal personification is not unlike that of Richard Adams' Watership Down, to which Horwood's series is often favourably compared, in that the moles are limited to the physical behaviours of their real-world burrow-dwelling counterparts, and neither wear clothing nor exhibit any special technological aptitude. The central focus of the Duncton series is the Stone, a fictitious mole religion based on the standing stones and stone circles of Britain. As such, the novels are predominantly set in and around locales known for their megaliths, such as Avebury, Rollright and the titular Duncton.

A note from Taure: Much, much better than it sounds.

The Bartimaeus Trilogy, by Jonothan Stroud

Power of Three, by Diana Wynne Jones
Gair spent his time gazing out onto the Moor and brooding. Ayna could answer questions about the future, Ceri could find things which were lost. Gair seems to have no Gift and knew he was a disappointment to his jovial, heroic father - who is Chief. Perhaps his feelings of not fitting in was what made him so curious about these other different sorts of beings who lived on the Moor - the Giants and the Dorig. Certainly it was because he believed he was ordinary that he did his best to become wise, and to learn as much as he could abou the three great Powers of Sun, Moon and Earth. And when the crisis came, Gair found the knowledge he had gained was to help save not only his own life but those of all his people.

The Discworld series, by Terry Pratchet

Good Omens, by Terry Pratchet and Neil Gaiman

The Eragon trilogy, by Christopher Paolini

The Wizard of Eathsea, by Ursula Le Guin

The Artemis Foul series, by Eoin Colfer

Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell, by Susanna Clarke
Any book touted as the ‘adult Harry Potter’ runs the risk of attracting critical parries from swords of the double-edged variety. If this wasn’t enough, Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell--the debut novel from Susanna Clarke--also invites comparisons with Jane Austen. Set in the early nineteenth-century, the action moves from genteel drawing rooms—albeit where a mischievous Faerie king sips tea with the wife of a very human government minister, to the bloody battleground of Waterloo, where giant hands of earth drag men to their doom. The juxtaposition of perfectly realised magical worlds and the everyday one with which JK Rowling and Philip Pullman so successfully captured our imaginations and the social comedy of Austen and Thackeray can easily be recognised. But less easy to pastiche is the ability of these writers to induce sheer narrative pleasure, and it is Clarke’s great achievement that she succeeds with this hugely enjoyable read. Gilbert Norrell is determined to single-handedly rehabilitate his sanitised and patriotic version of English magic, which has suffered a post-Enlightenment neglect after a richly dark history. He ruthlessly secures his place as England’s only magician in two marvellously drawn feats. First, he brings the statutes of York Cathedral to life and then, to facilitate his entry into London society, he brings a young bride-to-be back from the dead--a feat with terrible consequences. However, another more naturally gifted magician—Jonathan Strange—emerges to become his pupil and later his rival. Strange becomes increasingly obsessed with the Raven King—the medieval lord-magician of the North of England and pursues his desire to recruit a fairy servant to the edge of madness. Whilst the differing characters of Norrell and Strange give the book a central human conflict, it is the tension between the dual natures of civilised and wilder magic that lends it a metaphysical texture that shades the narrative with wonderful and troubling descriptions of ships made of rain, paths between mirrors and faerie roads leading out of England to a bleak yet dazzling realm. Fortunately, the precision of her storytelling never reigns in Clarke’s prodigious imagination. Clarke’s broad canvas of characters—including Wellington, Napoleon and Bryon, locations and tones are masterfully realised. However, sometimes her own enchantment with them leads her to drop her pace, although even at almost 800 pages, this is a book to which you’ll muster up little resistance. Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell is the perfect novel to take up residence in as the nights get longer.

A Song of Ice and Fire series, by George Martin
The first volume of George R R Martin's glorious high fantasy tells the tragic story of treachery, greed and war that threatens the unity of the Seven Kingdoms south of the Wall. Martin unfolds with astonishing skill a tale of truly epic dimensions, thronged with memorable characters, a story of treachery and ambition, love and magic. Set in a fabulous world scarred by battle and catastrophe over 8000 years of recorded history, it tells of the deeds of men and women locked in the deadliest of conflicts and the terrible legacy they will leave their children. In the game of thrones, you win or you die. And in the bitter-cold, unliving lands beyond the Wall, a terrible winter gathers and the others -- the undead, the neverborn, wildlings to whom the threat of the sword is nothing -- make ready to descend on the realms of men. A Game of Thrones begins the most imaginative, ambitious and compelling fantasy epic since The Lord of the Rings. Thronged with memorable characters, it unfolds with astonishing skill a tale of truly epic dimensions. There have been many pretenders to the throne of Tolkien: now at last he has a true heir.

 

I've heard loads of good things about Wheel of Time, and I intend to read it soon. And yeah, the ideas in Anita Blake might not measure up to what you want, but it's a fun read.

Actually, I can't get into the Terry Pratchett books. I've tried a few times now, starting "Night Watch" and "Colour of Magic", but it just doesn't hold my attention. It must be just me, everyone else worships these books.

Taure, that is an awesome list, except for Eragon. I've heard so many bad things about that series that I'm staying away from it. Have you read it, and if so, why do you recommend it?

 

I'll suggest Sword of Truth series by Terry Goodkind. There's like 11 or 12 of them out right now not by my bookshelf sd I could be wrong. Magic get's a pretty decent siized chink of the book. There are two protagonists Richard Cypher/Rahl and Kahlan Amnell. The whole magic aspect of the books revolves around "Wizards Rules" and "additive and subtractive magic. The sword of truth is Richard's weapon and gives him the title "Seeker of Truth". Kahlan is a confessor who has the power to turn almost any one into her slave to the point where they will kill them selves if asked by Kahlan to do so. All the books are about 600-1000 pages long but can become a bit tedious to read at some points.