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10-09-2005, 10:03 AM | #1 |
A'mael Dalharen Eldarele
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Norway
Posts: 707
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Any recommendations for Medieval Fantasy books?
I'm looking for some good reads into the Medieval Fantasy genre, I'm just not sure what books to look for...
I'm looking for books with less magic than in the High Fantasy, but where magic may still be present in a lesser degree. Something like the Farseer trilogy by Robin Hobb. Any recommendations would be highly appreciated.
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10-09-2005, 07:08 PM | #2 |
Elf Lord
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Fountain Valley, CA
Posts: 6,343
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Have you read the Shannara books by Terry Brooks? They do have some fairly blatant magic, but it is usually limited to only a few individuals.
One book I strongly recommend is "The Wizard of Earthsea." It's part of a trilogy. Number 1 is my favorite. It has a truly epic duel and hunt at the end.
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10-10-2005, 07:26 PM | #3 |
Fenway Ranger, Lord of Red Sox Nation
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: College!
Posts: 1,976
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I'd recommend my books, but I haven't got them published yet!
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10-12-2005, 04:25 PM | #4 |
Hobbit in the Music
Join Date: Nov 1999
Location: Westmarch
Posts: 1,111
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I'm not sure if you can have medieval fantasy without magic.
I really like medieval fantasy that's based on mythology or folklore. In this category I would certainly recommend Lloyd Alexander (lots of mythology from different countries) and C. S. Lewis (Narnia, Till we have Faces). Enchantment by Orson Scott Card and the Firebird by Mercedes Lackey are both based on Russian folklore. Several of Robin McKinley's books fit in there too, and they are all great fantasy. Of course there's lots of other great medieval fantasy. These are some of my favorites, from least to most magic (approximately): the Princess Bride by William Goldman the Once and Future King by T.H. White T.A. Barron's Merlin Series Diana Wynne Jones Patricia C. Wrede David Eddings Raymond E. Feist |
10-24-2005, 01:54 AM | #5 |
King of Nargothrond
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Canada! eh?
Posts: 2,002
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The Pendragon Cycle by Stephen R. Lawhead
(Taliesin, Merlin, Arthur, Pendragon, Grail) One of the best Arthurian series I've seen. Also, the Crystal Cave trilogy by Mary Stewart is another.
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10-30-2005, 07:41 PM | #6 |
Enting
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Canadian temporarily in USA.
Posts: 55
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Medieval Fantasy, low magic
I'd say that if you want medieval style fantasy with low, but integral magic, you could probably do pretty well to read some of these:
Guy Gavriel Kay (styled on medieval spain, italy, england, france). I like Song for Arbonne, Tigana, Lions of Al-Rassan, and Sailing to Sarantium. Great stories. Artists tend to be his central characters. George Martin's Song of Fire and Ice series seems to be one of the popular series lately and book four is out in a few days. This one's got a complex and intriguing plot and it is character driven. Great characters, easy to love and love to hate. Good books all around. Gritty realism with a satisfying touch of magic and mystery. At times it can be crude though for those who don't like the use of strong language or sexual imagery. Someone mentioned White's Once and Future King. This one's a classic, but its also a bit of a dark comedy, and well... not a great example of 'medieval' fantasy so much as it is a great piece of literature. |
11-10-2005, 12:10 PM | #7 |
Elf Lord
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Mirkwood, well actually I live in North-west Scania, Sweden
Posts: 9,481
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I think you should definitely read AA Attanasio's four book King Arthur-series:
The Dragon and the Unicorn, The Eagle and the Sword, The Wolf and the Crown and The Serpent and the Grail. Excellent books, excellent prose. |
11-24-2005, 04:04 AM | #8 | |||
Co-President of Entmoot
Super Moderator Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Canada
Posts: 8,397
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Quote:
Another fabulous series by Stephen Lawhead is The Song of Albion trilogy. This one is all about Celtic mythology, and it is completely fabulous in every way. This series is one of my all-time favourites. Technically it doesn't quite fit in with your request since it's sort of pre-midieval, but Celtic mythology was certainly alive and well in midieval times.
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