TheCatholicCrow
Inkling
I'm having a hard time finding a contemporary author that I really like. I've been disappointed with the last few fantasy books I got (won't name any names) and I'm wondering if the source of my discontent is due to the lack of research into Fantasy subgenres or just a lack of research in general. Whether its a hidden gem, genre staple, or hell, even your own novel - feel free to suggest some books!
I'm currently reading The Silmarillion but I want to queue up my book list in advance. Any suggestions? And (if you have the patience to read this) what subgenre(s) of Fantasy are best suited for me? To be honest, there's so many books out there I'm a little overwhelmed and I'm not entirely sure where to begin. I *think* the genres I'm looking for are Low Fantasy, Epic Fantasy & Sword & Sorcery/ Medieval / Historical Fantasy (?) IDK I'm new-ish to exploring the genre so I'm pretty much guessing.
I really like strong world building- whether thinly veiled allusions or completely unique, the more believable and developed the culture the better. I don't mind violence or anything dark (depending on my mood it might actually be a bonus). I'm not concerned w equal representation or other PC qualities (within reason). I love a good morally ambiguous story but I'm also a fan of comics and wouldn't mind occasional cliches w dualistic characters- good vs evil and all that jazz. I don't need a happy ending and I'm neutral about romance (though if it is present I would prefer it NOT be LGBQ or anything done explicitly for shock value- nothing against it - just not my cup of tea). I'm open-minded but I'm also pretty conservative so nothing with Militant Feminism or Erotica either. I'm also not generally a fan of YA (Hunger Games was my only YA guilty pleasure. TBH I don't care for Harry Potter. There are always bound to be exceptions but I have generally a hard time connecting w anything deliberately written for children/teens). I don't need swearing, sex, blood or gore but I would like to read something with a vocabulary that isn't interchangeable w Junie B. Jones (cough Twilight).
I read quite a bit of Historical Fiction and have a strong preference for anything set in the Medieval era (or something vaguely like it- doesn't have to be Historical per se ... Conan the Barbarian comes to mind). Arthurian Lit's okay but I'm not a fan of fan-fic or using other people's characters/worlds so except for Le Mort I'm not typically drawn to this subgenre. I really liked Song of Roland, Eyrbyggja Saga, and Beowulf (read it at least a dozen times in 3 different translations - the Seamus Heaney version is the ONLY way to go!) I'm also a fan of the Heliand gospel and things of that nature.
I REALLY like Tolkein's style (more archaic ... where it almost feels like you're reading a medieval text) but the story (while amazing and definitely a classic) is a tad fantasy heavy for me. It definitely works for him but I'd typically prefer to read something a little (or a lot) more human-based. I really enjoyed the lower emphasis on fantasy that George R.R. Martin had in Song of Ice and Fire but (coming from the Medieval stories) I wished there would have been more exposition and less dialogue (and a lot less Bran). I enjoy them both and really can't decide if style or content matter more to me.
I'm looking for something that is more contemporary (published at least within the last 40-50 years). A bonus if it has an older feel to it. (Nothing written in the first person.)
Really I'm not picky. I'll read just about anything. I just figured that if I'm asking for recommendations it might help to know my literary tendencies which are by no means exclusive but hopefully give you a feel for what I'm interested in.
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!
I'm currently reading The Silmarillion but I want to queue up my book list in advance. Any suggestions? And (if you have the patience to read this) what subgenre(s) of Fantasy are best suited for me? To be honest, there's so many books out there I'm a little overwhelmed and I'm not entirely sure where to begin. I *think* the genres I'm looking for are Low Fantasy, Epic Fantasy & Sword & Sorcery/ Medieval / Historical Fantasy (?) IDK I'm new-ish to exploring the genre so I'm pretty much guessing.
I really like strong world building- whether thinly veiled allusions or completely unique, the more believable and developed the culture the better. I don't mind violence or anything dark (depending on my mood it might actually be a bonus). I'm not concerned w equal representation or other PC qualities (within reason). I love a good morally ambiguous story but I'm also a fan of comics and wouldn't mind occasional cliches w dualistic characters- good vs evil and all that jazz. I don't need a happy ending and I'm neutral about romance (though if it is present I would prefer it NOT be LGBQ or anything done explicitly for shock value- nothing against it - just not my cup of tea). I'm open-minded but I'm also pretty conservative so nothing with Militant Feminism or Erotica either. I'm also not generally a fan of YA (Hunger Games was my only YA guilty pleasure. TBH I don't care for Harry Potter. There are always bound to be exceptions but I have generally a hard time connecting w anything deliberately written for children/teens). I don't need swearing, sex, blood or gore but I would like to read something with a vocabulary that isn't interchangeable w Junie B. Jones (cough Twilight).
I read quite a bit of Historical Fiction and have a strong preference for anything set in the Medieval era (or something vaguely like it- doesn't have to be Historical per se ... Conan the Barbarian comes to mind). Arthurian Lit's okay but I'm not a fan of fan-fic or using other people's characters/worlds so except for Le Mort I'm not typically drawn to this subgenre. I really liked Song of Roland, Eyrbyggja Saga, and Beowulf (read it at least a dozen times in 3 different translations - the Seamus Heaney version is the ONLY way to go!) I'm also a fan of the Heliand gospel and things of that nature.
I REALLY like Tolkein's style (more archaic ... where it almost feels like you're reading a medieval text) but the story (while amazing and definitely a classic) is a tad fantasy heavy for me. It definitely works for him but I'd typically prefer to read something a little (or a lot) more human-based. I really enjoyed the lower emphasis on fantasy that George R.R. Martin had in Song of Ice and Fire but (coming from the Medieval stories) I wished there would have been more exposition and less dialogue (and a lot less Bran). I enjoy them both and really can't decide if style or content matter more to me.
I'm looking for something that is more contemporary (published at least within the last 40-50 years). A bonus if it has an older feel to it. (Nothing written in the first person.)
Really I'm not picky. I'll read just about anything. I just figured that if I'm asking for recommendations it might help to know my literary tendencies which are by no means exclusive but hopefully give you a feel for what I'm interested in.
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!