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I can't speak to Abercrombie, but Kay writes fantasy history. Nate Send a noteboard - 24/01/2010 09:15:05 AM
I'm getting names but I'm trying to figure out the themes, the ideas and the style...I really should have framed my original question better.


Or historical fantasy, either way you want to say it. He sets up made-up worlds with some historical or mythological similarities to periods of Earth history, and then writes touching, careful, powerful stories within those frames.

His first trilogy, The Fionavar Tapestry, is pretty much his effort to prove that high fantasy in the Tolkien vein can still be done powerfully without looking derivative. It's about modern real world people who are taken to a fantasy land filled with myth and history and conflict, where they each discover their different destinies. In terms of emotional impact and epic quality, by the time the series is over it's competing with if not surpassing Lord of the Rings. But it requires a pretty broad suspension of disbelief to get past the initial sections, and the story takes a little bit to get going. Once it gets going, it's one of the best quality high fantasies I've read, and makes all the other Tolkien clones look like children playing with tools they don't understand. There are multiple sections of such epic density that I couldn't tear my eyes from the page. It's a story about finding a place in the world, about duty and sacrifice, about defying evil and living with the consequences of your mistakes. It's got Christian mythology, King Arthur mythology, and probably others but it's been a good ten years since I read it.

After that he goes on to write quieter historical fantasies, but still powerful ones. Tigana is the only other one I've read, and it is excellent. A history of family and lovers within a fantasy war, illustrating powerfully the terrible costs that war exacts on them all. Good book.
Warder to starry_nite

Chapterfish — Nate's Writing Blog
http://chapterfish.wordpress.com
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Recommendations for a fantasy series - 22/01/2010 03:27:38 AM 1482 Views
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^ This. - 23/01/2010 04:16:53 PM 835 Views
If the series isn't done she won't read it. - 24/01/2010 03:09:02 AM 846 Views
That's fair. It won't be done for awhile. - 24/01/2010 08:59:54 AM 1030 Views
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What is the basic premise? *NM* - 24/01/2010 03:09:37 AM 372 Views
Re: What is the basic premise? - 24/01/2010 06:15:55 PM 987 Views
I'll second the recommendation, btw. - 25/01/2010 11:03:56 AM 853 Views
This is a shot in the dark - 22/01/2010 07:37:49 AM 1040 Views
How many books are there and what are they about? *NM* - 24/01/2010 03:10:11 AM 471 Views
The Empire series by Feist and Wurtz? - 22/01/2010 12:47:50 PM 984 Views
This is getting to be information overload - 24/01/2010 03:11:18 AM 775 Views
Right - 25/01/2010 02:12:06 PM 889 Views
Empire trilogy is awesome - 24/01/2010 09:57:39 PM 978 Views
I did, way back when - you don't need to have read Riftwar. *NM* - 24/01/2010 10:06:05 PM 379 Views
Si. - 25/01/2010 02:10:45 PM 846 Views
A big thank you to everyone with suggestions!!! - 22/01/2010 01:17:54 PM 852 Views
Abercrombie or maybe Guy Gavriel Kay. *NM* - 22/01/2010 03:14:03 PM 409 Views
Seconded - 22/01/2010 09:07:44 PM 755 Views
Can you give me a bit more insight (either of you) ? - 24/01/2010 03:12:23 AM 856 Views
I can't speak to Abercrombie, but Kay writes fantasy history. - 24/01/2010 09:15:05 AM 845 Views
Kay is a beautiful writer. - 25/01/2010 05:01:14 PM 1004 Views
I'd suggest Stephen King's Dark Tower series. *NM* - 22/01/2010 03:21:12 PM 409 Views
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Melanie Rawn's Dragon Prince and Dragon Star Trilogies - 22/01/2010 04:29:43 PM 832 Views
I enjoyed the Dragon Prince series. - 22/01/2010 10:19:31 PM 959 Views
The heavy emphasis on the word "Dragon" in both series makes me wary - 24/01/2010 03:15:52 AM 809 Views
Yeah, I always had the same worry when it was suggested to me. - 26/01/2010 12:53:14 AM 1049 Views
You have now - 24/01/2010 02:19:11 PM 834 Views
Go completely in another direction - 22/01/2010 06:22:45 PM 835 Views
Eh...I don't think so. *NM* - 24/01/2010 03:16:57 AM 373 Views
Series are hard. - 22/01/2010 08:10:30 PM 1048 Views
Does she like Lovecraft any? - 23/01/2010 12:06:48 AM 872 Views
McKillip is lovely. *NM* - 23/01/2010 12:34:36 AM 328 Views
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In that case... - 24/01/2010 03:29:21 AM 915 Views
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I love your false modesty. - 23/01/2010 10:35:25 AM 969 Views
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Jennifer Fallon - Second Sons - 23/01/2010 12:59:10 PM 705 Views
Is it finished? *NM* - 24/01/2010 03:23:50 AM 353 Views
Yes it is. - 24/01/2010 09:52:24 AM 747 Views
Daniel Abraham... - 24/01/2010 11:07:16 AM 897 Views
Wars of Light and Shadow by Janny Wurts - 24/01/2010 05:20:44 PM 981 Views

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