by zajhein » Tue Nov 13, 2007 3:08 am
The Sword of Truth series by Terry Goodkind is a very popular series. Starts with Wizard's First Rule and has a very good plot with interesting characters.
Discworld by Terry Pratchett is kinda zainy and changes main characters a lot through the long series, but overall is quite funny and interesting.
Lord of the Isles by David Drake is a good series with tons of magic and monsters but can be a bit slow at times.
A Song of Fire and Ice by George R.R. Martin is very well written with amazing characters and story, but no central plot compared to most fantasy series.
Kingkiller by Patrick Ruthfuss starts with The Name of the Wind which is the writer's first book but almost everyone seems to like it while it's been winning lots of awards. It can be a little awkward in writing style but turns into the First of a great new series.
Dune by Frank Herbert is similar to The Wheel of Time but is a great series with more Sci-Fi in it, and a better writing style.
Shannara by Terry Brooks is said to be a great series, but I've personally never read it. Though from what I've heard I probably will sometime.
All of the Above are more traditional fantasy series with magic and monsters in ancient times. The rest are a little different type of fantasy.
The Dark Tower by Steven King takes place in the present sort of and involves some very strange yet interesting fantasy aspects that make it unique. Though it's hailed as one of the best series by fans, some people have a hard time getting through it with all the twists and turns in it.
Dirk Gently by Douglas Adams is another unique fantasy series involving a detective, Norse gods, time traveling, and ghosts. If you've read the hitchhiker's guide to the galaxy it's similarly hilarious and strange, but very good.
Homecoming by Orson Scott Card is somewhat Sci-Fi like Dune but takes place in a more mystical setting with unidentifiable powers and fate unlike usual sci-fi.
The above are some of my favorite but there are others such as The Chronicals of Narnia by CS Lewis, Earthsea by Ursula K Le Guin, Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, and all kinds of others.
There are many other single novels from authors such as Neil Gaimen with his books American Gods, and Neverwhere. Marion Zimmer Bradley's Mists of Avalon, William Goldman's The Princess Bride, Ray Bradbury's Something Wicked This Way Comes, and Daniel Quinn's Ishmael.
And if you can't decide, just pick whichever is easiest to come by first.