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

[evil twin]

I am surprised no one has mentioned Tigana yet, by Guy Gavriel Kay. Really nice book. Most of his work is very readable but this was his opus for me.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guy_Gavriel_Kay

[kazana]

[ QUOTE ][*]The Farseer Trilogy - Have heard it's very good and is probably the next on my list. Would love to hear more about it.


[/ QUOTE ]
The Farseer Trilogy isn't terribly deep, but it is very, very entertaining. It's got all you may look for except for a deep, thoughtfully created background. Nevertheless, my favourite fantasy read in the last few years.

As for sci-fi, I really love Ian M. Banks' books. No big sagas or series as far as I have read, but the book "The Player of Games" alone was for me so remarkably different, I got all hooked on his books after reading it.

Currently, I'm scuttling through some of Peter F. Hamilton's trilogies (Night's Dawn at the moment). They're also semi-dragging at times, but (imo) with more thought put into the background events, history, etc, than Bank's books. Might be more your type?
Don't get me wrong, not terribly deep, but probably on par with Tolkien's level of details.

[neuroman]

The Demon Prince series by Jack Vance.

If you are not familiar with Jack Vance, you owe it to yourself to check his work out. I would describe most of his writing as planetary fantasy or science fantasy. It's brilliant.

[ChipWrecked]

Heechee series by Frederick Pohl.

[ardubz]

re: Terry Goodkind...

I read his first five books, only because I hadn't heard of Robert Jordan first. I then switched to Jordan's books, which were written years prior, and found way too many striking similarities (read: Goodkind ripped off Jordan huge, just huge). It's pretty gross when you sit down and start examining the parallels in both series.

[asofel]

[ QUOTE ]
re: Terry Goodkind...

I read his first five books, only because I hadn't heard of Robert Jordan first. I then switched to Jordan's books, which were written years prior, and found way too many striking similarities (read: Goodkind ripped off Jordan huge, just huge). It's pretty gross when you sit down and start examining the parallels in both series.

[/ QUOTE ]

which is funny when you realize how much Jordan ripped off from others. (read dune and then look at the aiel...)

[govman6767]

Dark Tower Series by Steven King might be the best book series I've ever read.

Book 1 would be the worst of the series and a turn off to some but mark my words this is the best book series of all time.

[kazana]

[ QUOTE ]
Dark Tower Series by Steven King might be the best book series I've ever read.

Book 1 would be the worst of the series and a turn off to some but mark my words this is the best book series of all time.

[/ QUOTE ]
Seriously? I stopped after book no 1. Might want to carry on after all?

[Dids]

[ QUOTE ]
Dan Simmons has been mentioned, but not "Hyperion" or the three sequels. I remember liking all of them, but it could be because I don't go to church.

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I thought Hyperion was good, if not strange. The sequel/2nd half was slightly worse and I couldn't tolerate the next one.

Terry Goodkind's first book was [censored] horrible nad hackish and had a weird chapter long S&M bit that was staggeringly out of place. Just trash.

[AlexM]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
re: Terry Goodkind...

I read his first five books, only because I hadn't heard of Robert Jordan first. I then switched to Jordan's books, which were written years prior, and found way too many striking similarities (read: Goodkind ripped off Jordan huge, just huge). It's pretty gross when you sit down and start examining the parallels in both series.

[/ QUOTE ]

which is funny when you realize how much Jordan ripped off from others. (read dune and then look at the aiel...)

[/ QUOTE ]

He takes a lot from Mists of Avalon as well. It's a bit different when they author's actually writing the same type of series though.