Hi! I am looking to write fantasy, a kind of notoriously overdone genre. I am curious if there are any “hot takes” on it that look at it from a fresh perspective? I have a long plate of titles to read already but I would be happy to learn what titles you have read and would recommend for somebody who wants to see how other people did interesting fantasy novels.
Have you read any China Mieville? Perdido Street Station is pretty good.
Meant to read him, was aware of him, thank you for a concrete title.
First one that came to mind for me is The Broken Earth trilogy by NK Jemison. I found it to be pretty unique for modern fantasy. For classic fantasy I’d recommend Jack Vance. Very influential but still very unique in its own right. His magic systems were the inspiration for some mechanics in DnD.
I… had a hard time with the first 100 or 200 pages of the first book of The Broken Earth trilogy.
Yeah, yeah, I’m squeamish, ugh… Too dark.
Thank you!
The Locked Tomb series by Tamsyn Muir is pretty good.
I can vouch for this.
The Second Apocalypse is two series by R Scott Bakker which is “philosophical fantasy” maybe hard to read but was really refreshing for me how it treats the genre.
I tend towards the mythological and symbolic aspect of fantasy moreso than entertainment and novelty. There’s the usual worldbuilding and narrative tropes, like a conflict between magic systems or whatever, but it’s not really this stuff which matters.
The whole story is actually a somewhat thinly veiled philosophical debate between schools of thought on the philosophy of mind and metaphysics at large. Really, it’s a very fancy academic paper on philosophy, if you can interpret it correctly.
I will put it on the list, but I don’t think it will be reading it so fast. your description sounds very “too smart for hoi polloi” and my last interaction with philosophy only made me hate astrology
Maybe I should mention it is still an entertaining and decent work of fantasy in the “hoi polloi” sense too. I just think it’s not remarkable in that way, and it isn’t what the author intended either so the best experience does require some effort on the reader’s part or maybe at least an interest in topics like free will
I will read and judge it eventually, but I want to write broadly accessible stuff, so other things will have priority
Two trilogies by Robert Jackson Bennett if recommend.
The first is the Divine Cities trilogy, which is focused on imperialism and colonialism. There is a nation who had lively, active gods capable of dramatically warping reality and they used that power to colonize the world. Then, those gods cease to exist, and one of their colonial subjects rises to and turns the tables on them. The story begins after all of this, and it focuses on the way cultures and societies interact through imperial relationships. This series is excellent throughout, although I found the very ending just a bit underwhelming. I strongly recommend it.
The second is the Founders trilogy, which focuses more directly on class relationships in capitalist society. There’s a big interest in a reality warping magic technology that’s at the core of the world. This series starts off lower than Divine Cities, but improves dramatically every book (and the first is still good!) The third book in particular takes the social and technological premises to their natural conclusions and goes in incredible, brave directions. It might be weird to sincerely describe a fantasy novel as “brave”, but I think communists would understand and appreciate the final book while liberals find it repulsive and offensive, if the discourse I’ve seen online is anything to go by. I’ve never read anything like Locklands, the conclusion to this trilogy. I cannot recommend it enough.
Both series are full of cool worldbuilding, fun twisty plots, satisfying character arcs, and pretty good politics. I’m not sure which series if recommend first. Divine Cities is consistent and every book is very good. Founders doesn’t hit as hard in the first book, but again, the third is astounding, challenging, and brilliant. I’d probably go with Founders first just because of that.
Thank you!
If you’re interested in podcasts. The Silt Verses is about what capitalism would be like if gods were real and its crazy good. Bonus, one of the main characters is trans and it doesn’t make a big deal out of it, its not even a plot point.
Thank you! I like pods!
Legends and Lattes. It returns to form on shorter fantasy novels, but I think its smaller scope is something I haven’t seen since some Dunsany.
Thanks, also very interesting!
Maybe read A Song of Ice and Fire in case you haven’t read it yet; it has great qualities as well as some antiquated nonsense, but I’m doing my second read-through right now and enjoying it.
Read Parable of the Sower if you want something leftist.
But as for fantasy…
Perhaps Strike The Zither by Joan He?
