Good, Deep, Fantasy/Sci-Fi Series (for Older Readers)

[Vilica]

Let's see, going through my bookshelves.

Steven Erikson's Malazan series (also stuff by Ian Cameron Esslemont, co-creator) is good epic fantasy, sort of a combination of the best elements of Jordan and Martin. Book6 just got released today in the US, Bk7 already out in the UK. 8th book of 10 due in Jun08.

Patrick Rothfuss "The Name of the Wind", first in an already-written trilogy (Bk 2 due out Apr 08), first person retelling of a legendary "hero" and his upbringing and accomplishments.

Joe Abercrombie's First Law trilogy, books 1&2 out in UK, book 1 just got released here. The Blade Itself, very dark, very character driven sort of middle ages themed, but not historically based. Bk3 Mar2008 in UK.

Gentleman Bastards sequence by Scott Lynch, first book Lies of Locke Lamora, second book just got released, Red Seas Under Red Skies, main characters are thieves, really intriguing world and well-written. 3rd book in sequence due out Jun08.

I just bought two of the newly released books from Orbit, who just opened their printings to the US, Winterbirth by Brian Ruckley and The Electric Church by Jeff Somers. Looking forward to reading both of those shortly.

Mistborn, Well of Ascension by Brandon Sanderson, unique magical system and pretext. Very quick, enjoyable reading. 3rd book May08.

The Bakker series was pretty good, he's got another book set in the same universe coming out in Mid 08.

Couple other genres, Scarlet by Stephan Lawhead just came out, sequel to Hood. Retelling of the Robin Hood story in a different manner. Keeping It Real and Selling Out, first two of a trilogy by Justina Robson, melding of sci-fi and fantasy elements. I'd say they make for quite light reading, something you wouldn't really be embarrassed reading on a commute.

Finally, the last two on my shelf are Blindsight by Peter Watts and Infoquake by David Edelman. Blindsight is very hard sci-fi, really dense, but I enjoyed it. Infoquake is sort of a futuristic thriller, I guess. Trying to think how to describe it is hard, but it is definitely lighter-toned, not really hard sci-fi.