C.S. Hand's Blog: Fantasy Author C. S. Hand, page 12

These Fantasy Books for Adults You Can Actually Read in Public

You used to love reading books like the Hobbit, or the Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, and the Dark Elf trilogy, but then you grew up and lost touch with the fantasy genre. (That is what happened to me, anyways.)

But there are now fantasy books for adults, because there were plenty of other children who read the same books as you did, and they went on to create fantasy novels that grapple with the complexities of the world we all grew up to inhabit.

These works are no longer simply for childre...

4 Reasons Why You Must Read Dark Fantasy Books. The Last Is Devilishly Good.

What is the appeal of all these dark fantasy books featuring anti-heroes who are seemingly capable of committing terrifying deeds of murder and mayhem?

Why are so many modern fantasy authors at work in this subsection of the genre?

If you are looking for a break from your classic epic fantasy novel, and are looking for something that is really going to turn your world upside down and make you analyze our world in vastly different ways, then dark fantasy novels might just be one of your next rea...

9 Lyrically Written Books Like the Name of the Wind

We are in the midst of the Golden Age of fantasy literature and people are eagerly looking for more books like the Name of the Wind. There is a rising demand for stylized prose, puns, lengthy tomes offering the reader a long, rich, and deeply immersive experience, and clever, even unreliable narrators.

As a toiling humanist, I find the emergence of this audience to be delightfully refreshing, especially because my books are like the Name of the Wind. Though, to be fair, they are fraught with a...

6 New Fantasy Books You Absolutely Must Read

Are you looking for new fantasy books to read?

Hold on, let me shut the door.

Do you want to see the collection of new fantasy novels I have gathered from dark and treacherous lands? Stealing these works from an author’s study is not an easy task. Within this pile there are many grim and unsettling stories told by moon-struck poets, stories of plucky, curious female protagonists, and tales of clever thieves too.

Well then my mysterious acquaintance! Pull up a chair and make yourself warm by the...

Best Fantasy Books of 2013

Looking for the best fantasy books of 2013?

I consulted the Goodreads choice awards, Buzzfeed, and Amazon’s category to compile the candidates for the best fantasy books of 2013. My interest in this is mostly cultural, so I am less recommending these books to read (though certainly that must be going on to a degree) and debating the relative merits of ranking, and more looking at what these books say, or do not say, about our cultural moment.

Regular candidates to these nominations include fant...

Drizzt Do’Urden Quotes from the Icewind Dale Trilogy

Since I have been reading through the Icewind Dale fantasy books series, I have come across a number of Drizzt Do’Urden quotes.

In a few instances I have cheated a little by adding in some of the surrounding narrative, so while it’s not technically a Drizzt quote, I thought it helpfully enhanced what the drow ranger was saying.

Drizzt Do’Urden Quotes from The Crystal Shard

“I am Drizzt Do’Urden, of the house of Daermon N’a’shezbaernon, ninth family to the throne of Menzoberranzan.”

*

“The reality...

Best Fantasy Books in…Fantasy Books

One of the most interesting things about fantasy novels is the fantasy books that the characters within them read.  I think it also provides an interesting glimpse into the mind of fantasy authors, as this is an easy place to slip in a respectful allusion to another writer the author admired.

7 Great Fantasy Books within Fantasy Books I Wish I Could Read

Tobril

This might be the best fantasy book residing inside any fantasy book you have ever read.  Why?  Because it contains the ultimate plans for the entire universe.

Would be a pretty good read.

Disks of Mishakal

So while not technically a fantasy book, these are nevertheless platinum plates with the sacred rites of a beneficent goddess etched upon them.

Sonnets of a Sorcerer

This fantasy book, from the wonderful fantasy series Harry Potter, is a book that once read, forces the reader to speak in limericks.  Forever.

Fantasy Books Bonus: There are two books mentioned in Harry Potter which can be found in Borgin and Burkes (I think): one is a book that once the person opens, they cannot stop reading.  (As a fantasy author, I’m really interested in any mage who might be able to duplicate this spell.)

More readers, did you say?

A second book was one that actually burned the eyes of the reader!

The Harry Potter fantasy series is filled with books that I wish I could read.  Excluding all the interesting spellbooks, I wouldn’t mind reading Gilderoy Lockhart’s books (composed of the pilfered memories from other sorcerers):

Gadding with Ghouls
Break with a Banshee
Holidays with Hags
Travels with Trolls
Voyages with Vampires
Wanderings with Werewolves
Year with the Yeti

 

There and Back Again, A Hobbits Holiday

An aptly “meta” entry. This book within a fantasy book is Biblo’s memoirs, and is also the preferred title of J. R. R. Tolkien’s work, The Hobbit.

Red Book of Westmarch

The Red Book of Westmarch is a collection of works from the characters in the Lord of the Rings.  It is named for its red cover and the location where it was stored, Westmarch.  These books are passed from Frodo to Samwise, and from Samwise Gamgee to his eldest daughter, Elanor Fairbairn.

Herblore of the Shire

Written by none other than Merry Brandybuck, this contains useful information about pipe-weed.  In this work, he examines the origins and history of the art of smoking, following it all the way from Tobold Hornblower.

Books of Creation

This entry comes from The Promise of the Witch King, by R. A. Salvatore. We are told of a magical book from a dead Witch King named Zhengyi which, when opened, would create an enchanted fortress and in the process suck the life out of the wizard who activated it.

So perhaps this wouldn’t be the best one to read, unless you have been able to strike a deal with a lich lord.

Bonus! Magic Quills

Not only have I given you a list of the best fantasy books in fantasy books, but now I’m going to add in the instruments that make them possible: magical quills!

The Harry Potter fantasy series leads the way with these magical items: there is the Anti-cheating quill which is self-explanatory,  and the equally self-explanatory Auto-answer quill.

Blood Quill

This quill cuts into the back of the writer’s hand, using his or her own blood for the ink.

Quick Quotes Quill

This quill, in addition to helping the writer write much faster, also adds a more dramatic flare to.  It is acid green in color.  It is most famously used by Rita Skeeter.

Fantasy Literature

As an erstwhile graduate student of literature, in addition to reading fantasy books, I also love to read about books; and the great thing about books is, there are always other books within books!

Did I miss any of your favorite fantasy books within books?

The post Best Fantasy Books in…Fantasy Books appeared first on Fantasy Author | Christopher the Scholiast.

Everville: The First Pillar Kindle ebook Giveaway Contest

UPDATE: The winner has been chosen!  A BIG thank you to all those who participated.

Even if you did not win this time, there is still a huge opportunity for you get a copy of the free ebook, Everville: The First Pillar.

There is going to be a free Kindle eBook promotion from 8/25 to 8/29 on Amazon.com, so don’t forget to head over and download it.

Everville: The City of Worms, expected to be released on August 25th, and will be on a 10 day sale for 99 cents!

Everville: The First Pillar Synopsis:

Owen Sage is the emblematic college freshman at Easton Falls University. With all the worries about his first year in college, he was not prepared for what would happen next. His way of life was flipped upside down when he mysteriously crossed into another dimension, into the beautiful land of Everville. His excitement was abruptly halted when he discovered that there was a darkness forged against both the natural world, which he knew well, and the new land which he discovered, Everville. He must devise a plan to save both worlds while joining forces with the race of Fron and The Keepers, whom both harbor hidden secrets he must learn in order to gain power over the evil that dwells in The Other In Between. With a race against time to save both worlds, his short time at Easton Falls did not quite prepare him for the evil, dark forces he must fight in order to conquer The Other In Between.

Available at:

http://tinyurl.com/c645pc7 Kindle ebook regularly $2.99

http://tinyurl.com/blbpv22 Paperback

http://tinyurl.com/cg8rtxr Hardcover

http://tinyurl.com/ktc9abl Audible audio book (Also available on ITunes)

 

Fantasy Author Bio

Roy Huff is the author of Amazon’s #1 international bestselling epic fantasy novel, Everville: The First Pillar. This is the first installment in the remarkable Everville series which combines elements of epic fantasy and young adult fiction in a form that nearly anyone will enjoy reading, young or old. He is a man of many interests including but not limited to science, traveling, movies, the outdoors, and of course writing teen and young adult fantasy fiction. He holds five degrees in four separate disciplines including liberal arts, history, secondary science education, and geoscience. Roy Huff’s background includes work in art, history, education, business, real-estate, economics, geoscience, and satellite meteorology. He was born on the East Coast but has spent more than half his life in Hawaii, where he currently resides and writes his epic fantasy sagas.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

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Best Fantasy Book Titles of All Time

More than anything, I am drawn to fantasy books and their titles.  Many people are sold on book covers, and while I certainly love a good book cover, I’m sold on two things: the title and the first 500 words (sometimes even the first sentence, in the case of Nietzsche).

I thought this would be a quick and easy post to assemble, but it turned out to be quite difficult to narrow it down to only 10 titles.  There are so many amazing fantasy books that I will probably have to make a second more inclusive post in the future.

Top 10 Fantasy Book Titles of All Time

1.  Nine Princes in Amber

This is my favorite title because it has a great word “princes” (a particularly rich word, especially if you understand it from a Shakespearean and Machiavellian context) a pun (nine princes in amber, of course being the nine princes in the world of Amber, but the pun adds value: nine princes preserved in amber as we know it in this world), and an oddness to it.  Why 9?  Its one less than the perfect number 10.  This throws the mind a little, and makes me want to discover who these 9 princes are, and what their story is.

 

 

 

 

2.  Return of the King: Being the Third Part of the Lord of the Rings

I’m listing this here because of its nod to literature, and the way poets and philosophers used to section their works.  Byron, for example, divided his Childe Harrod into “Part the First,” “Part the Second,” and “Part the Third” (looking directly back to the poetic tradition).

I also love this for what is promised in the title.  The reluctant regent makes his return.  How can you resist?

 

 

 

 

3.  Gardens of the Moon

One of the greatest words in the English language is the word “moon.”  It has beguiled and enchanted humanity throughout all the ages.  What this fantasy title does is pair the most enchanting word in our language with perhaps the second most enchanting word, “Garden.”  The allure of the magic thrumming between the covers and bouncing from word to word is irresistible.

 

 

 

 

 

4. The Girl Who Fell Beneath Fairyland and Led the Revels There

I LOVE long titles.  There need to be more verbose titles in fantasy literature!  This one has a nice postmodern echo of the popular thriller “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” but is also splendidly ironic.  There is the tension between Fairyland–generally associated with flourescent moss, frolicsome regents and puckish princes, and happiness–and the grim and darkness of the land of the dead.  The tension between these two terms is quite piquant.

 

 

 

5.  The Guns of Avalon

I do love a Zelazny title.  I particularly love this one for the imagery it conjures.  Again, strange word pairing is at work, sitting “Guns” (a word with modernity, suggestive of roughness and smoke) next to “Avalon” a pristine medieval utopia.

 

 

 

 

 

 

6. Crewel Lye: A Caustic Yarn

This reminds me of Chaucer’s middle English spellings, as well as Chaucer’s admirable word play.  Piers Anthony’s punny title is a very welcomed addition to some of the more serious titles in this list.  I had to really resist adding two other titles, Knot Gneiss and Swell Foop, both equally refreshing for their humorous winking.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

7.  Neverwhere

If you are going to use a one word title for your fantasy book (and there are certainly enough fantasy authors trying this) it has got to deliver big.

It has to be unusual.

It has to grab attention.

It has to be suggestive.

Not only do I love the word “Neverwhere” I also love the strange architecture of the word itself.  While Neil certainly isn’t getting any help from his cover, he doesn’t really need it.

Great title.

Strange, wonderful word.

 

8. Fablehaven

The second single word entry.  This is technically young adult fantasy, but it is still a beautiful title.  I think I enjoy this so much precisely because I don’t know why I enjoy it.  It’s sonorous, alluring, and altogether magical.

 

 

 

 

 

9.  Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch

What doesn’t this title have? Terry Pratchet’s gift for humour and a very English title makes this an easy inclusion.

 

 

 

 

 

10.  Wheel of Time: Winter’s Heart.  It’s almost obligatory to list a Robert Jordan title, isn’t it?  I don’t particularly gravitate towards any particular title, but I love the series title (maybe I’m cheating here a little bit; this could probably be a feature on its own since fantasy authors love to add a series title).  I love this one for the word “Winter,” which is one of my favorite words.  There is also a subtle contrast between “Winter” which summons feelings of death, cold, and ice, and “Heart” which is redolent of life and warmth.

 

 

Fantasy Books: Bonus Mentions

 Kraken: with sweet metalocalypse video!

The Lives of Christopher Chant


Corum: The Prince in the Scarlet Robe


The Scalehunter’s Beautiful Daughter


The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making
The Halfling’s Gem

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