LOTR: other than “The Princess Bride,” these are the only books I prefer as movies. Seriously. I get stuck in book 1 or 2 every time I try to read these. I’ve never made it through even once, though my father did read them all to me twice when I was a wee tot. It helped that at that time I though Pippin and Merry were girls….

As for Brooks, I think that, like so many fantasy writers, his early work was his best, but even that, in my opinion, wasn’t stellar, and was derivative even for fantasy.

My list would be different, but Jordan and Martin would probably make it on.

Donaldson, Williams, Feist, Eddings…. These, among others, are the fantasy authors I read as a kid. In all cases, their early work was best, but they nonetheless have a place in my heart forever for having so much to do with who I am today and what I do and want to do in the future.

Katherine Kurtz was another early influence as well.

I read Brooks as a wee one, but lost interest by the time he’d reached book six or so. Over the years I’ve skimmed things he has written and still not found myself wanting to pick them up. I have done the same thing with Eddings, Feist, Kurtz, Donaldson, etc. I do enjoy epic fantasy, but I think when authors spend too much time in particular worlds they start to lose a lot of what made those worlds—and even the author—special. And, well, there’s the derivative nature of fantasy. It’s hard to craft something that rises above that “common myth” conundrum. But that said, as much as I generally prefer sci-fi and whatever category into which one wants to place Dean Koontz (horror has never fit; urban fantasy, perhaps, which is where I would also place the “Southern Vampire Mysteries” books that I love, I will always be a fantasy-epic junkie as well. I may complain about the genre, but I love it nonetheless.

I absorb all of the Fantasy and Historical Fiction literature that I can get my grubby paws onto. Right now I have more than 40 books I’m wanting to read. But I think Feist should be on this list, and maybe Anne McCaffrey (it’s kind of fantasy!)… Actually this list should have been more like the top 50…

Certainly, McCaffrey has written epic fantasy. She also writes sci-fi, but is best known for the former I should think.

I’m not a fan myself, but I have read many of her books.

Dare I say C.S Lewis? I read the narnia series last year and adored it. That being said I only liked the first one when I was a kid.

I’ve already said it, but I read the first book in the Sword of Truth series and looooooved it. My roommate’s reading the others.

I’ve never read the Earthsea Saga, but I read the Left Hand of Darkness and wanted to just hug LeGuin for being awesome.

Has anyone read all of the Mist of Avalon series? I read the first one and felt it wee bit too fem for me. I prefer an equal weight of the sexes rather than one or the other being overbearing.

And dare I suggest the classics? The Nibelunglied just makes me happy. Which it really shouldn’t considering the content…

Why does it seem like Terry Goodkind doesnt get enough love. Sword of Truth Series, is very epic. He may not classify himself as a fantasy author but the series definatly is.

Jason hasn’t read Goodkind. That’s probably why he isn’t on there.

I give Goodkind credit for having truly evil bad guys. As much as I like Jordan, his bad guys are laughable.

Why wouldn’t he classify himself as a fantasy author? If anyone’s story is grounded in the common myth, his is. There are so many Star Wars parallels I find myself rolling my eyes despite my enjoyment of the series. And we all know Star Wars is the common myth personified.

“Personfied” was not the right word there, but you get my point.

Autumn, I agree that “Mists of Avalon” is too feminine for my tastes.

Which is funny, because I’m all about first three seasons of Xena and Buffy, Starbuck is my favorite character in battlestar (and very possibly ever) I just prefer them to get equal footing to men, not one above the other, but yeah, I just said it.

I would also say that most of the bad fantasy out there is waaaaaaay to skewed in the other direction, where women just kinda pop in there for something for the men to lord over or worship.

I totally agree on all counts.

Actually, that’s a big part of the reason that LOTR has never been all that close to my heart, despite my appreciation for its strengths. You can tell Tolkien was a confirmed bachelor when you read those books. He’s all about the bromance, which is cool, but where are the women? The movies actually expand the parts of the women some, which is one reason I prefer them to the books.

But at least in his case the women aren’t just whinging love interests to be saved and the like. That is the worst….

See, I’m going to disagree with you there. Yes there were not that many women characters in his book. And it wasn’t because he was a confirmed bachelor, quite the opposite, he’d been married almost the entire time he was writing LOTR. He was just oldschool. The men (for the most part) went out and faught their battles and the women stayed in roles of support. This wasn’t a bad thing, and it wasn’t out of disrespect. Quite the opposite. The parts he wrote for the women in the series are the best words he put down. They’re poetic and beautiful and filled with a respect I don’t think I’ve found anywhere else except for maybe Bradbury’s respect for Clarise in Farenheit 451.

I agree that the parts for the women are strong. They are just too small for my tastes.

Huh. I had no idea he was married. If I knew that at some point, I totally forgot.

And I know it wasn’t a lack of respect that made him write that way. As I say, it just wasn’t to my tastes. I prefer women to have a more central part in any story that I read. Men and women should both feature prominently.

I have to agree with whoever said that Goodkind writes good bad guys, Jagang was one of the most evil men to ever grace my book pile.

Also I really like the Eddings books, even though they aren’t the greatest written, they’re an easy read, and the story is interesting at points.

I enjoyed the first couple Goodkind books, but tired of the series pretty fast. Hobb I have yet to read.

What I think Eddings does well is humor. I still laugh when I re-read “The Belgariad,” and even though it is essentially the same five books a second time over, “The Mallorean” as well. And I think his Kheldar is one of the most memorable characters ever written into any series.

I also like that Eddings is big on strong female characters. His work is lightweight next to others, but he was a lot of fun for me as a kid, and he created female characters that inspired me.

That said, after all six Sparhawk books I stopped reading Eddings. Those books are basically his first ten epic fantasy novels over again in another universe. The characters can even be mapped on to one another. It grew tiresome despite the fact that he still made me laugh.

But yeah, I have to reiterate that Goodkind does bad really well. If only more fantasy authors could figure out how to create worthy opponents.

The problem with fantasy / medieval lit is that there aren’t enough robots in it.

Or lasers.

I recommend Hobb wholeheartedly, she has a talent for making characters that one can relate to.

Wow. Apparently my fantasy tastes run WAY out of line with all of yours. Frankly, a bit younger. But seriously, Chronicles of Narnia would be near the top of my list. Also on the list – The Dark is Rising from Susan Cooper. I mean, c’mon – Arthur’s in it!! I think I also need to mention and encourage all to read Terry Pratchett. I’ve only read two…but wow. Out there. I absolutely loved “Maskerade,” loosely based on the Phantom of the Opera but with witches and of course, existing in the Discworld which exists somewhere on the back of a turtle or elephants or all of the above…(I can never keep it straight). Oh, and I can’t forget the fantasy love I have with all things Tamora Pierce that started with an accidental finding at the library when I was 11.

I’m not one for young adult books myself—I can’t get into Harry Potter to save my life—but I don’t doubt there is some great young adult literature out there.

I’ve heard good things about Prachett, but haven’t picked up any of his books to date.

I did read Stephenie Meyer’s books. That’s the only young adult literature I’ve been able to consume since I was younger than a young adult. And the overwhelming teenage angst that permeates those books had me rolling my eyes more than once.