What book/author brought you into the Fantasy Genre?

[Sethanel]

I have been surfing through the forums of late and have noticed that a lot of people seem to have read RA Salvatore at one point. I have also read Mr. Salvatore's work (Drizzt moreso than the others) but no longer do.

So here is my question: What author or series brought you full heartedly into the Fantasy Genre?

For me it was a mixture of Anne McCaffrey, Terry Brooks and RA Salvatore. Who are yours?

[Donnie ledbetter]

My love of fantasy started in elementary school with Harry potter. I tried to read The Chronicles of Narnia but couldnt get in to it. From there I explored J.R.R. Tolkien and enjoyed his works. The series that really made me appreciate fantasy was Terry Goodkind's Sword of Truth series. I have read A VERY LARGE AMOUNT of little known authors and seem to like those better than "mainstream" writing. (Brent Weeks is great)

I would love to read The Wheel of Time series by Robert Jordan, the Shannara books by Terry Brooks, and EVERYTHING by RA Salvatore. If anyone has read any of these novels please share information!

Thanks in advance,

Donnie

[Sethanel]

With RA Salvatore, I found that his Drizzt series (Forgotten Realms) and Cleric Quintet was better than his other works. It is best to start with Homeland (or whichever is the first in that series).

Terry Brooks' Shannara series is really good. Start with the First King and go forward before heading back to Running with the Demon.

For Robert Jordan, I could never really get through his books because of the mass influx of characters in the third or fourth book. But if you are determined, wait to see if the last book is published. Jordan died September 16, 2007. The last 3 books in the series will be completed by Brandon Sanderson (author of the Mistborn Trilogy). and in saying so, the last three may be better than the middle ones.

What are some of those little known authors you have read recently?

[Enarra]

The first book- no, it was the author... Anyways. It was, of course, J.R.R Tolkien's The Hobbit. I was ten at the time. I was reading Greek and Irish myths before that, but Tolkien brought life to the surroundings instead of the people. I'm an immensely detail oriented person, and the way he wrote could bring the world he created into my mind. I could see everything. I have been hooked ever since. A few other books that brought new life to fantasy was Elizabeth Moon's The Sheepfarmer's Daughter and the following two in that trilogy, all of Piers Anthony's books, and Homer's Illiad and The Odyssey. Perhaps these last two are not the Fantasy genre as we know it, but I have great respect for them.

I was never the type for princess stories, though. They irritated me for the most part, unless she had a sword in hand or that she wasn't the 'damsel in distress'.

I absolutely adore books that show faults. I could relate to those characters more than anything else (I especially liked Vi, because she had problems like the rest of us). I have read series in which the main character was dipped in a large vat of Godly perfection. Too quintessential to relate to, or even comprehend. The plots were fantastic, but the ho-hum pigs-bum ace of a main character made those books too predictable. Though, with my small quirk of not being able to walk away from a book (and not finish it), has had its moments of triumph when the last few chapters have a twist.

Oops, seems like I kind of ranted... Anyways... Those are the books that gave my mind the journeys it needs from time to time.

Ah, and I cannot forget to add Brent Weeks's series... The whaddyamacallit series with the uh... assassin or some such (I kid, I kid! But I really do love the series. Wonderful job!).

[Nickel Fox]

David Eddings when I was about 12. I reread the first couple of series he did recently and while I still enjoyed the books it wasnt as good as I remember.

[Shadow Wolf]

I've always loved fantasy, but the book that made the most impact on me would have to be Terry Goodkind - Wizards First Rule. I was working at a library at the time, so if I fancied a book I'd take it home and read it, but I don't seem to remember many of those books, after reading Wizards first rule my reading appetite was insatiable, I'd devour RA Salvatore, David Eddings, Margaret Weis & Tracy Hickman, Anne McCaffrey and soo much more and I still do.

[WhiteSheWolf]

Oh gosh. What a question! Honestly...a good friend got me into Elizabeth Hayden's books, (books that middle schoolers probably shouldn't read, but, we did anyways) so a mix of her and Tamora Pierce, along with, of course good ol' J.R.R Tolkein got me involved in fantasy.

[Suzanne]

It was Tolkien for fantasy and Philip Jose Farmer (To Your Scattered Bodies Go) for sci-fi, both courtesy of my mom. One of my most cherished childhood memories is of mom reading the Hobbit to me from a copy of the book illustrated from the '70s film. Farmer's book was just one I came across on mom's bookshelves; I have that aging copy on my shelves now, though it actually begins at page 63 these days. I also have elementary school recollections of Madeline L'Engle (still have some of those books too).

I know the question was about authors, but what really sticks out in my mind when I think of the source of my passion for fantasy and sci fi is my mother. She always read to me as a kid and she never once told me No when I wanted something to read even when we were living off macaroni and brussel sprouts.

Oh, and really, doesn't Dr. Seuss count as fantasy? While I'm told my first real comprehension of spoken word being linked to squiggles called writing was with The Foot Book, I have no doubt that Horton, the Grinch and that silly Cat wormed their way into my psyche early to lay out the welcome mat for later reads.

[Gannofdreams]

I started with the mother of fantasy; LotR, when I was 8. Didn't really understand it so good at that time though, so I don't know if I should write that it got me into fantasy.
When I was in my early teens I read some David Eddings trilogy, The Tale of Elenia or whatever its name is in English, and that's when I really got into fantasy. Read a whole lot of fantasy then, but I tired since I thought every single one of em were almost the same. You knew the heroes were going to survive and save the world with some stone or magical artefact and all that crap, so I stopped reading. Took a couple of years till I picked up; "A Song of Ice and Fire" by: George R. R. Martin. Best freakin series I've ever read, and all books arn't even out yet. It did something different with the fantasy and everything could happen, those you thought would save it all suddenly died and I found new hope in fantasy again. Picked up this series so I could have something to do at work, and I love it! Almost as good as R. R. Martins books even if this is a bit more predictable. keep up the good work Brent!

[Tom Rotondo]

Interesting you put R.A Salvatore, with the Forgotten Realms series. You have read all of Legend of Drizzt and all that? I finished "The Thousand Orcs" first, which I really liked, then I started reading the first book of the Legend (still reading it now, it's great)

For me, it was some smaller novels, like the Deltora novels when I was in grammar schol, and Pendragon by D.J Machale and such.

There was one book from a series I read that was called "The Magic Circle' series, and I read one and I liked it quite a bit.

And let's not forget my first fantasy love, the Hobbit, XD. That opened my mind when I first read it. I liked J.R.R Tolkien's work quite a bit.

[Tom Rotondo]

Now that someone mentioned it, I realized I left out an important one: Artemis Fowl, by Eoin Colfer. That I was the biggest fan of. Read all books except for latest one. Favorite character is Butler (and of course, the devious Artemis).

[Sethanel]

Is, perhaps the Magic Circle, really the circle of magic by Tamora Pierce? Books are titled: Daja's Book, Tris's Book, Briar's Book and Sandra's Book?

Well I have read all the way up to the Thousand Orcs Trilogy but lost interest after that.

[Zepwolfx]

For me it wasn't a book, but a great story nonetheless: Final Fantasy VII. I f'n love that story. I cannot grow tired of that game. It's been 12 years and for me it's still one of my all time faves.

However, as literature goes . . . Well, I don't remember being much of a reader growing up, but one book that certainly caught my eye was an old Greek Mythology book I found in my house when I was about seven or so. I lost count on how much I read that book. Since then, I've been a fan of fantasy, and story-telling.

Then with the LotR movies, I decided to get more involved with fantasy. I'm not as involved as people here, but one day I will. The first book I bought was actually Brent Weeks The Way of Shadow. I'm currently awaiting the other two books of the series to arrive via mail, so I can finish the series.

I didn't start to pursue writing until a couple of years back though. I started writing Naruto fanfics for a website by the name of: narutohurricane.com (now disconnected, but re-launched as shannaro.wordpress.com). It was my fans there that suggested I should write my own work. So, I decided to do a story with my best friend. We currently have 5 chapters, sort to speak.