I'm looking for a good read in the fantasy or medieval setting. But I'm sick of elves and magic. I like the idea of lords backstabbing each other, or knights fighting, or nasty medieval characters in nasty situations. But most books just litter them with cute creatures or stereotypical wizards.
Does anyone have a good recommendation that is more political thriller or even just dark fantasy that doesn't get all elfy or magic packed?
I've heard Ken Follet's Pillars of Earth is good, I'm already entrenched in A Song of Ice and Fire, and I was mildly entertained by The First Law series and Lies of Locke Lamora.
The only real element I would like to adhere to is keeping it in the fantasy or even real life setting provided it's of that medieval setting. I'll even allow some magic or creatures if it's sparing in measure.
Any thoughts?Fantasy/medieval political thrillers? Dark Fantasy?
For strictly medieval period, no fantasy, you might try Sharon Kay Penman. She writes novelizations of the lives of the English Kings.
You might also try some actual Medieval literature. Gawain and the Green Knight holds up well. The Icelandic Sagas ramble about a bit by modern standards, but have lots of action. You might start with Njals Saga. The Seamus Heaney translation of Beowulf is first rate. Thomas Malory's Le Morte d'Arthur is the classic telling of the King Arthur story. Chaucer can be fun, all though some of the tales are snoozers.
Poul Anderson's medieval stuff is also great fun. If you don;t mind mixing science fiction with you medieval, The High Crusade is great.Fantasy/medieval political thrillers? Dark Fantasy?
I've read both Pillars of Earth, and the sequel, World Without End. I loved them. Plenty of back stabbing Lords, and knights fighting. No fatasy, but you don't need it. I thought they were really well written and believable.
Hope you enjoy them too.Fantasy/medieval political thrillers? Dark Fantasy?
A dark urban fantasy that you might like is Nightlife by Rob Thurman
http://www.amazon.com/Nightlife-Cal-Lean鈥?/a>
Also anything by Neil Gaiman tends not to be typical
http://www.amazon.com/Neverwhere-Novel-N鈥?/a>
Terry Pratchett is fun because his DiscWorld series was started to make fun of the elfy, magical nature of high fantasy.
http://www.amazon.com/Color-Magic-Terry-鈥?/a>
Glen Cook's Stories of the Black Company, tells tales of a mercenary company in a magic world. No elves,dwarves, plenty of wizards and backstabbing.
Fritz Leiber's Short Stories. Fafhrd %26amp; the Gray Mouser are two of the best Swords %26amp; Sorcery Heroes out there. They're more in the Conan tradition than the Middle-earth tradition. There are about a half dozen collections of these classic stories. Magic, without it being the off the shelf kind.
Richard Adams' Shardik. Odd novel of the rise of a religion. Some magic, plenty of barbarian hordes.
Michael Moorcock, His Elric series as well as the half dozen other series that interlock with it, are definitely a departure from the standard fantasy fare.
Robert Adams' Horseclans series. While some would claim that this is post apocalypse sci-fi, all the people with ESP and other magic powers make me call it fantasy. His flaws? the guy writes short books and has a tendency to use flashbacks a lot. His strength? Some of the best hand to hand fight scenes out there.
Poul Anderson's Last Viking series, as well as Hrolf Krakison. You'll have trouble finding these, but nobody reworks the old sagas like naderson does.
I admit to be a little burnt out on the fantasy genre myself till I stumbled across Martin's books. You can find plenty of Swords and Sorcery stuff out there, it is just wading through all the fourth or fifth rate stuff to find something new or interesting.
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