I would love to get some book (series) recommnedations. I am looking for a High Fantasy themed story so Elves, dwarves, dragons maybe but not guys with flying airships, or some advanced machines, guns etc. So something akin to Tolkiens world, Fire and Ice's by George Martin, or maybe Terry Brooks Shannara (the early stuff). I am hoping to get it in audio book format so I can listen in the car while in gridlock.

Thanks for starting the thread. I am also looking for new authors while waiting on GRRM's next.

The 2 fantasy authors I buy without question are GRRM and Robin Hobb. Not sure if Hobb fits your definition of High Fantasy. Hobb plots some what 'different' but I love her writing style. If you haven't already, check it out.

Amazon.com: Assassin's Apprentice (The Farseer Trilogy, Book 1): Robin Hobb, Michael Whelan, John Howe: Books (http://www.amazon.com/Assassins-Apprentice-Farseer-Trilogy-Book/dp/055357339X/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1234149477&sr=8-1)

I tried reading Acacia as it also got good reviews, however I did not finish the book because there were some fantasy elements that rubbed me the wrong way (e.g. whole armies destroyed just like that). But I did think the writing style was pretty good.

http://www.amazon.com/Acacia-War-Mein-Book/dp/0385722524/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1234149672&sr=1-1

The Gary Gygax books, set in the World of Greyhawk "Gord the Thief", were awesome, although I only ever read the first two (should pick up the rest). Especially the first. Don't read the Rose Estes bullshit that TSR kept up with once Gygax left.

Edit: Oh crap, just saw the audiobook part. I doubt these are on audiobook. Don't have any specific audiobook recommendations, I'm afraid.

The Magician series, at least the first series, were excellent. Raymond Feist is the author.

I recently enjoyed Doom of Kings (http://www.amazon.com/Doom-Kings-Legacy-Dhakaan-Book/dp/078694918X/ref=pd_bbs_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1234201184&sr=8-1), which is set in the D&D world of Eberron. It's the first book of a trilogy, so the rest aren't out yet, but I discovered that it is actually a follow-up trilogy of sorts, by the same author, and I've now begun reading the first book in that series (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/078693784X/ref=cm_cr_asin_lnk).

Doom of Kings was a nice, relatively quick read. At times in the middle it felt a bit like a D&D adventure module, but overall there are some nice political plots and intrigue, with some fun battles and magic mixed in.

This link has a list of 100 of the best fantasy series - though I can quibble with a few of the selections, and a couple aren't "high fantasy" that you are looking for, this provides you with a lot of the classics and a lot of can't-miss series.

Fantasy 100 - Top Fantasy Series (Books) (http://home.austarnet.com.au/petersykes/fantasy100/lists_series.html)

Personally some of my favorites are Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn series by Tad Williams, the Fionavar Tapestry by Guy Gavriel Kay, the Black Company series by Glen Cook (really anything by Glen Cook,) Jim Butcher's Codex Alera series, The Kingdom of Thorn and Bone by Gregory Keyes. Plus a lot of the older ones on that list - modern readers may have fallen away from them (and there's nothing wrong with Harry Potter) but for books that you and your kids can enjoy, the Prydain Chronicles by Lloyd Alexander and Susan Cooper's Dark is Rising sequence are great.

I think it's going to be hard to find most of these books on audio, but I will always recommend The Fionavar Tapestry first when it comes to High Fantasy. If you are looking for a series very close in tone to Tolkien, then I'm not sure you could get any closer to Dennis McKiernan's Iron Tower Trilogy and Silver Call Duology. Here's a whole thread where Tolkien-like books are discussed:

Which fantasy novels which are very similar to Tolkien's Middle-earth? [Archive] - RPGnet Forums (http://forum.rpg.net/archive/index.php/t-311323.html)

If you want to go in a different direction from Tolkien in terms of tone but still high fantasy I guess depending on your definition, I would go with Steven Erikson's Book of the Fallen series. Found out about them in another thread posted here looking for fantasy books. I'm just starting the third book. It's kind of a "down and dirty", in the trenches with a world with a long history and ancient and powerful magic with high levels of god involvement in the current day world. The second book, Deadhouse Gates, has one of the most memorable and chilling storylines I've read, Coltaine's March.

I'll second Robin Hobb and Glen Cook. Hobb's Farseer Trilogy is a great read. Cook has various series, but my favorites are The Black Company and Garrett PI. R.A. Salvatore's Drizzt series is based in the Forgotten Realms if you're looking for something like that. You've probably already read it, but I'll add the Harry Potter series from JK Rowling.

The last two books I recently read were from a newcomer by the name of Scott Lynch. His first two books are about a group of thieves that run sophisticated cons (think Ocean's 11). I wouldn't consider it high fantasy though as it's more along the lines of gritty and realistic based in earlier times.

Here are a few authors that are fairly popular on the science fiction/fantasy forums though I haven't had an opportunity to read them yet so I can't vouch for them directly. I do know each of these authors have a pretty good following though based on reader feedback on various forums.

Joe Abercrombie (relatively new author, his first book is titled The Blade Itself.)
Steven Eriksen (popular author with a series that encompasses around 8-10 books at current count)
Patrick Rothfuss (another relatively new author)
Matthew Stover (Acts of Caine series)

Wizards First Rule - great series (although the first 7 or so books are the best ones imho).

I'd also second Robin Hobb as being very good and I'm presently reading the Night Angel Trilogy by Brent Weeks which has been fantastic so far ..

(oh and finally my regular tip for 'Orcs' if you've never read it - its a neat twist where the Orcs are the heroes of the book, very interesting idea and works very well imho ...)

Im ready eddings stuff now.... the belgariad was real good, im on the second 5 now :)

Thanks I am getting a lot of great info guys keep it comming. I have read some of Cooks stuff "Black Company" and did not care for it. I was looking at some reviews of the Hobbs stuff and the only thing I am not so sure of is it seems mostly concerned with humans . There does not sound like there is much involvement in the stories of the other races. And I heard there is far less races in it than in Tolkiens world which only had a handful. The wheel of time series is one I might try too.

The Briar King by Greg Keyes.

Thanks I am getting a lot of great info guys keep it comming. I have read some of Cooks stuff "Black Company" and did not care for it. I was looking at some reviews of the Hobbs stuff and the only thing I am not so sure of is it seems mostly concerned with humans . There does not sound like there is much involvement in the stories of the other races. And I heard there is far less races in it than in Tolkiens world which only had a handful. The wheel of time series is one I might try too.

Don't underestimate Hobbs stuff just because its humancentric - the stories are great, very imaginative and the characterisation is imho excellent ... really draws you in.

I've heard good things about Weeks recently. He's another one of those authors I haven't read, but is definitely in my search queue for used books.

I'd also second Robin Hobb as being very good and I'm presently reading the Night Angel Trilogy by Brent Weeks which has been fantastic so far ..

Thanks I am getting a lot of great info guys keep it comming. I have read some of Cooks stuff "Black Company" and did not care for it. I was looking at some reviews of the Hobbs stuff and the only thing I am not so sure of is it seems mostly concerned with humans . There does not sound like there is much involvement in the stories of the other races. And I heard there is far less races in it than in Tolkiens world which only had a handful. The wheel of time series is one I might try too.


the wheel of time isnt worth the trouble.. its very tedious, and jordan died before he finished it. I got hooked, made it about 4 books in before I relaized I just wasnt enjoying it, so read all the spoilers on wiki. :devil:

Another vote for Robin Hobb. Assassin's Apprentice Trilogy is especially good, but I like them all very much.

Thanks I am getting a lot of great info guys keep it comming. I have read some of Cooks stuff "Black Company" and did not care for it.
Agree. I know there are fans of Glen Cook here but I find his writing style hard to read.

I know this is not a great way to select a book, but many times if a book has a nice map of the world, I do take a second look.

I am considering picking this up. It is supposed to be 7 books and she has 2 out already ... not to worry, I believe she is a more prolific writer than GRRM. B&N has the hardcover on sale for around $6 and it has a very nice map.
Amazon.com: Spirit Gate (Crossroads, Book 1): Kate Elliott: Books (http://www.amazon.com/Spirit-Gate-Crossroads-Book-1/dp/B0014E3MWO/ref=pd_bxgy_b_img_b)

Has anyone read any of her work?

I'll second the Belgariad and Mallorean by Eddings.

I'm only about 1/3 of the way through it, but The Name of the Wind, by Patrick Rothfuss, is extremely well-written and clever. The first book of a series, with the second due to be released shortly, it is definitely worth a look.

Agree. I know there are fans of Glen Cook here but I find his writing style hard to read.

It sort of depends on what Cook you are reading - he's one of those authors that really tries to have each book sound different depending on who the storyteller is. The Black Company series has a totally different writing style from the Garrett, PI series, for example.

Eddings stuff is great but it is "tame" in comparison to other works. There aren't many twists along the way but it is a good ride.

The Coldfire Trilogy by C.S. Friedman

Don't know if you can find it in audio and the first book takes a bit to get rolling, but it's an excellent read.

Ilium by Dan Simmons

I loved this book. I've been having a bit more trouble working through the second one (Olympos), but the first book is certainly worth the time to read it. More science fiction, though, than anything else.