Fantasy Book Club discussion

Sorry, I'm running a little behind! Please post your nominations here. The nomination threads will be open until April 18th.

Again, please remember:
-- Nominations are limited to TWO per person.
-- Nominations must be submitted with an explanation as to why you're submitting it. (Just looking for a brief explanation of how it fits into the fantasy genre and why you're nominating it. IE: what you enjoyed -or hope to enjoy- about the book, etc.)

Submissions missing an explanation, or anything over 2 per person will not be accepted.

Please also provide the book and author (preferably using the "add book/author" link).

Thanks everyone!

I'll start things off:

To Reign in Hell by Steven Brust - This was a recommendation that I received from this group, and it seems to have gotten really good reviews. I've been wanting to read it for a while, so I'm nominating it. (Apparently it is also supposed to be humorous, which is always a plus!)

Tigana by Guy Gavriel Kay - Nominating this yet again because I'm hoping that one day it will win and I will be able to squeeze it into my reading list. I'm sure that we all know it is an epic fantasy story, and it has gotten some good reviews as well.

Assassin's Apprentice - Just because its been trying so hard the last two times and third times a charm?

The Lies of Locke Lamora - Thieving, conning and fantasy...What more can one ask for?

The Restorer by Sharon Hinck - "Meet Susan, a housewife and soccer mom whose dreams stretch far beyond her ordinary world. While studying the book of Judges, Susan longs to be a modern-day Deborah, a prophet and leader who God used to deliver the ancient nation of Israel from destruction. Susan gets her wish for adventure when she stumbles through a portal into an alternate universe and encounters a nation locked in a fierce struggle for its survival. Now stranded in a strange culture filled with poisonous enemies, Susan must overcome tremendous odds to deliver a desperate people and restore hope to a world far from her own. Author Sharon Hinck presents a unique blend of fiction written with a woman's sensibility. Female readers will uncover a story of empowerment that encourages a personal pursuit of destiny."

A Song for Arbonne by Guy Gavriel Kay - "This panoramic, absorbing novel beautifully creates an alternate version of the medieval world....Kay creates a vivid world of love and music, magic, and death." (Publishers Weekly)

Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones: After reading Princess Bride, it reminded me this one; humorous storytelling, only more lighthearted plot. An easy and fun read with more intricate storyline than the animation.

I'm going to go with Clive Barker's [Book: Weaveworld], which I've been meaning to read for a while now, and I'll give SM Stirling's [Book: Dies the Fire] another shot, despite the lack of interest last time ;-).

I'm going to go with a different approach this time. I'm nominating a classic and a newish one....

The Blade Itself by Joe Abercrombie

This is my newish book nomination. I've heard lots of wonderful reviews, and people talk about it in other threads. It looks intriguing, the series of three is already published, and there is a new book set in the same world coming out this year. That means there is more to follow up with but not so much that it's overwhelming...

Nine Princes In Amber by Roger Zelazny

This is the classic. People keep telling me to read Zelazny and this is the beginning of his Amber series. I keep seeing great reviews and feel negligent for not having tried it to this point. And if it's a selected book, I'll push it to the top of my read pile....

Both books that I want to read Chris. Good choices. :)

Instead of "Nine Princes in Amber", may I suggest The Great Book of Amber The Complete Amber Chronicles, 1-10? Actually, we could go with Nine Princes, but it's out of print as a single volume and the ending is so abrupt, you have to read the second volume anyway. The whole omnibus is about 1300 pages, but is is very light and very quickly read. Personally, I think the of the first five books as one book and the second five as another.

That's fine with me, Sandi....I'll probably read them all once I get thru the first one anyway.

The SciFi Book Club has the Amber books in two volumes, like you mention them.....I can also get them thru the Book of the Month Club 2.

You know, I've never read any of the Amber books. I keep meaning to give them a try, but something shiny and new always distracts me :-).

Haha! I know the feeling John. I bought my boyfriend the complete Chronicles for Christmas, so I will end up reading this eventually, but I've got about 80+ books in line ahead of it.

I'm up for Howel's Moving castle, loved the film and how about some Norse Mythology by Jesse Byock? I've read a bit every now and again, monsters demons gods heros. What more do you need?

I'd like to nominate The Book of Joby by Mark Ferrari simply because it's already on my shelf. Same for Wizard's First Rule by Terry Goodkind. I know WFR is the first of a very lengthy series, but I'm watching the TV series Legend of the Seeker, which is based--very loosely, I'm told--on this series, and I'm curious. For anyone who started out watching this show and gave up on it due to it's inauspicious beginnings, it has gotten a lot better since those first rather awful episodes. The actors are growing much more comfortable with their roles, and the writing has improved. I suggest giving it another chance.

Robin, can you specify the book you're referencing please?

Thanks!

Some cool suggestions here!

Let me add:Fortress in the Eye of Time by C.J. Cherryh, the start of a series, yes, but quite an astonishing take on what happens when a complete innocent (a character actually created by a sorcerer) is plunged into the greater world unprepared, and how his wildcard views of mankind's everyday foibles entangle a politically sticky situation. It has some truly orignal magic - this is not a "traditional quest fantasy" and a book I enjoyed very much.

The Firebird's Vengeance , A Novel of Isavalta by Sarah Zettel - if you like Guy Kay, this fantasy has the lush, mythic feel, a very unique use of legend, folklore, and a magical crossing between worlds that's quite fascinating, since the rules as we know them change between the realities. The characters that are well fleshed out and not all they seem at first glance. This book is a part of the Isavolta series, but the books stand perfectly well on their own, and do not have to be read in order.

I'm a huge C.J. Cherryh fan, Janny! I read that particular series many years ago and would love to revisit it.

Faye wrote: "Howl's Moving Castle by [a:Diana Wynne Jones|4260|Diana Wynne Jones|http://photo.goodreads..."

I vote for Howls' Moving Castle as well. It was a brillant film. I'd love to read the original work.

OK, a recap of what we have so far:

To Reign in Hell by Steven Brust
Tigana by Guy Gavriel Kay
Assassin's Apprentice by Robin Hobb
The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch
The Restorer by Sharon Hinck
A Song for Arbonne by Guy Gavriel Kay
Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones
The Blade Itself by Joe Abercrombie
Nine Princes In Amber by Roger Zelazny
The Book of Joby by Mark Ferrari
Wizard's First Rule by Terry Goodkind
Fortress in the Eye of Time by C.J. Cherryh
The Firebird's Vengeance, A Novel of Isavalta by Sarah Zettel

The Poll is up! Please vote! The poll will close on April 28, 2009. :)

Last day to vote! Get 'em in today if you want 'em to count! :)

And the winner is... Howl's Moving Castle! We'll be reading this book in June for discussion in July.
(And correct me if I'm wrong, but I think this might just be our very first YA group read!)