Roundtable: While GRRM Fans Wait for Book Six…
Stefan Dziemianowicz
Agreed that writers like Peake, Eddison, et al. would likely not appeal to readers of contemporary high fantasy looking for a stopgap between GRRM novels. Although they’re extensions of a tradition, most of the epic series we’ve been talking about still have a modern sensibility, whereas the Gormenghast books have a very old-fashioned feel. Leiber and Vance were modern for their time and might still appeal.
I think there’s a difference between epic fantasy and sword and sorcery, though hell if I can articulate it. Leiber’s Fafhrd and Gray Mouser stories have an epic feel that I think sets them apart from, say, Howard’s tales of Conan. When I read Leiber, I feel that I’m reading stories that are part of a culture and a saga that are more fleshed out than Howard’s Hyborian Age.
Paul Witcover
I think some GRRM fans would enjoy Vance — his Lyonnesse books, or the Dying Earth series in particular. But I suspect that a lot of readers looking to satisfy a GOT jones would be put off by his mannered, ironic style. I think Dorothy Dunnett’s Lymond Chronicles would be a good recommendation, though.
Gwenda Bond
YA has some excellent high fantasy that I suspect many of his fans might be intrigued by (and which I know lots of GRRM fans in the YA field also read). Along those lines, a couple of recommendations:
Kristin Cashore’s Graceling and Fire – While these are relatively heavy on the magic side of things, the politics is cut-throat in both. I have a feeling that anyone who cheers on Dany or Arya will cheer on Fire and Katsa.
Megan Whalen Turner’s Attolia series – I definitely think these fit the bill; the magic is backgrounded, the politics are complicated, and she’s not afraid to maim a beloved character. (The first one of these, The Thief, skews much younger than the books that come after.)
Elizabeth Hand
Katherine Kurtz’s Deryni books fit the bill, I think, though the series went on long after I stopped reading them. Also, I assume E.R. Eddison’s The Worm Ouroboros has come up …
Karen Burnham
Having read Worm Ouroboros relatively recently, I have to say that I don’t think it would appeal to GRRM fans. If I had to guess, I’d say most of them would find the language very off-putting (although the opening is a pretty good hook).
Cecelia Holland
In this context The Worm Ouroboros is caviar to the general.
Elizabeth Hand
Yeah, good point, Karen. Good thing I didn’t suggest A Fish Dinner in Memison …
For that historical feeling with more than a touch of the fantastic, I do recommend Chelsea Quinn Yarbro’s Saint-Germain novels (including the Olivia Clemens trilogy). Often harsh and always unflinching in its portrayal , this is an excellent counterpoint to Anne Rice on one hand and the saccharine feminized histories of recent prodigy on the other.
I would recommend the trilogy by Daniel Fox (Chaz Brenchley): Dragon in Chains, Jade Man’s Skin and Hidden Cities
Peter Orullion’s “The Unremembered” is very much in feel like Jordan’s “Wheel Of Time” and up there with Ken Scholes’ “Psalms of Isak” as the best fantasy I’ve ready in the past two years. Both are highly recommended as epic fantasy.
I’d recommend Sherwood Smith’s Inda series and Kate Elliott’s Spirit Gate books. Both of those series are finished, too.
You guys know there’s and app for this right? If I use Novelist (on my Public Library’s web-site), and look at the appeal factors for SOIAF, then pick Epic and Fantasy from the genre, go with intricately plotted from the storyline, and gritty for the writing style I get these recommendations: Chronicles of Thomas Covenant the Unbeliever by Stephen R. Donaldson (all 3 trilogies), Chronicles of Siala by Alexei Pekhov, and Chronicles of the Black Company by Glen Cook. You can play around and pick different factors. But those are pretty good suggestions. Personally, I also think Joe Abercrombie, Steven Erikson, and R Scott Bakker are also really good suggestions. I love Watership Down, but I’m not sure I would hand it to someone jonesing for more GRRM.
I think Vance’s Lyonesse trilogy deserves wider appreciation, so I’d recommend it to anyone. Certainly Vance was merciless with some of his seemingly important characters, as is GRRM’s wont. I suppose some Catholics might take umbrage at Umphred, though.
I’m surprised no one has mentioned Tim Lebbon yet.
And what about David Gemmell? I haven’t read much of his work (and it was a long time ago), so I’m not going to make any recommendations, but it seems to be well suited to GRRM fans.