46 replies to this topic

[King Tyrion VII]

The only fantasy books I have ever read is ASoIaF. It has inspired me to write my own medieval fantasy series. However, I really need to read other books as well. I have a major problem right now. I can't come up with much of anything since I don't know anything outside of ASoIaF.

Which non fiction books would you recommend I read? I would like to know as much about medieval life as I can. Including what it was like to be royalty or a commoner, life as a farmer, castles, forts, ports, etc, weapons, armor, catapults, etc

Also which fantasy series' do you recommend I read to get a bigger picture of how medieval fantasy is outside of ASoIaF?

One idea I'm having right now is I would like to have alot more warhammers and big two handed axes than what we see in ASoIaF, which is mostly swords. Another is I would like my story to be more in your face with the brutality and violence.

Thank you in advance,

Tyrion Baratheon

[Sci-2]

GRRM has some recommended books:

Quote

Q:  How do you research your novels?

A:  The Internet is a wonderful tool, and I am using it more and more as time goes by, but I still do most of my research the old-fashioned way, with books.

I use a "total immersion" method. Since I do not know going what particular nuggets I may need during the course of writing a novel, I try to learn as much as possible about the subject in question (the medieval world, in the case of A SONG OF ICE AND FIRE, or the antebellum river and the steamboat era in the case of FEVRE DREAM) by reading everything I can get my hands on.

Some particular books I found useful for A GAME OF THRONES and its sequels deserve mention. For anything military, one good place to start is with the Osprey series of illustrated reference books. They are primarily intended for gamers and miniaturists, but they give an excellent overview of the periods and campaigns they cover... and they're inexpensive as well, generally running only $12 to $14 a volume.

Some other good stuff can be found in:

THE MEDIEVAL SOLDIER Gerry Embleton & John Howe
A DISTANT MIRROR Barbara Tuchman
MEDIEVAL SWORDMANSHIP John Clements
THE MEDIEVAL WARFARE SOURCE BOOK David Nicolle
LIFE IN A MEDIEVAL CASTLE and LIFE IN A MEDIEVAL CITY, both by Joseph and Frances Gies
THE DICTIONARY OF HERALDRY by Joseph Foster
TOURNAMENTS by Richard Barber & Juliet Barker
GREAT CITIES OF THE ANCIENT WORLD by L. Sprague de Camp
THE CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, AND OTHER PLACES ADJOINING, by Sir Jean Froissart

The latest thread on history and fantasy is here.

[Grack21]

Yes.

[Twelve Angry Nonmen]

Tyrion Baratheon, on 24 April 2012 - 09:15 PM, said:

One idea I'm having right now is I would like to have alot more warhammers and big two handed axes than what we see in ASoIaF, which is mostly swords. Another is I would like my story to be more in your face with the brutality and violence.

You know...

[King Tyrion VII]

sciborg2, on 24 April 2012 - 10:14 PM, said:

GRRM has some recommended books:



The latest thread on history and fantasy is here.

Thank you very much

Can anyone recommend which medieval fantasy series(multiple) I should read to prepare myself to write my own? I'd like to get a better feel of how medieval fantasy fiction is since ASoIaF is the only one I've read so far.

I'm thinking about getting The Blade Itself, The Steel Remains and Prince of Nothing. Any other recommendations would be greatly appreciated.

[King Tyrion VII]

Xir’kirimakra, on 25 April 2012 - 12:08 AM, said:

You know...

What?

[polishgenius]

Do you actually have an idea for a story?

[Errant Bard]

There are stickied recommendation threads in this forum. Read everything mentioned there. No, I'm not joking. Also read from every genre, and also non-fiction.

Also, before becoming a Fantasy writer, just become a writer. Start with short stories, write now, don't wait to be ready or something, do it.

Tyrion Baratheon, on 25 April 2012 - 12:43 AM, said:

What?

I think he means that the direction of your ideas sound immature and more fit for a D&D fanfiction than a serious novel.

That or he's going Freudian on you pointing phallic metaphors. One doesn't exclude the other, though.

Edited by Errant Bard, 25 April 2012 - 12:52 AM.

[polishgenius]

Errant Bard, on 25 April 2012 - 12:46 AM, said:

I think he means that the direction of your ideas sound immature and more fit for a D&D fanfiction than a serious novel.

That or he's going Freudian on you pointing phallic metaphors. One doesn't exclude the other, though.

I think he's pointing out that there already exists a series that is violent and brutal and indeed grim and dark that involves big fat weapons like, for example, a Warhammer.

[Sci-2]

Tyrion Baratheon, on 25 April 2012 - 12:43 AM, said:

What?

You brought up Warhammers and Violence, so it calls this to mind.

I'd say get a feel for stuff outside of genre as well. Romance and horror are good for this.

Read shorts, helps to get a sense of varying styles. I recommend Strange Horizons.

Read reviews, especially negative reviews.

Read about how to write dialogue, characterization, plotting.

Are you writing on the level of warring nations, a city, or about a small village?

How much magic do you want?

Write short stories. Write journal entries of characters. Write conversations. Write travelogues for your world.

[King Tyrion VII]

polishgenius, on 25 April 2012 - 12:45 AM, said:

Do you actually have an idea for a story?

None at all really. I've thought of bits and pieces but I want to read other series plus non fiction medieval books first so I don't end up write ASoIaF-lite. And prior to ASoIaF I had never read fantasy before so I don't really know what to include and not include.

What little I have done so far is to research names and try to make up my own. I have over 1,000 so far. I'm going to do alot of research and worldbuilding before I begin writing the first book. Considering I plan on making my series at least as big as ASoIaF, I am well aware that it could be 5 years from now before  the first novel is ready for publication.

[Errant Bard]

I think first thing, you need to read this article on worldbuilding (it's an archive, wait for it to load): http://web.archive.o...27/very-afraid/

Also, on top of the stickies:
http://asoiaf.wester...antasy-writing/
http://asoiaf.wester...a-novel-take-6/

Edited by Errant Bard, 25 April 2012 - 01:48 AM.

[Mikael]

I'd say just try and write something first. Would be a bummer if you spent 5 years researching only to find that you didn't like the writing part.

Also, as for recommendations, WoT seems to be pariah around here, so I mention it every time.

Edited by Mikael, 25 April 2012 - 02:32 AM.

[Eloisa]

Read anything and everything, and don't restrict yourself to existing pseudo-mediaeval fantasies.  Other genres may inspire you to do something unusual within the subgenre of epic fantasy.

If you want to know about mediaeval life, go the history book route, not historical fiction.

[King Tyrion VII]

sciborg2, on 25 April 2012 - 01:00 AM, said:

You brought up Warhammers and Violence, so it calls this to mind.

I'd say get a feel for stuff outside of genre as well. Romance and horror are good for this.

Read shorts, helps to get a sense of varying styles. I recommend Strange Horizons.

Read reviews, especially negative reviews.

Read about how to write dialogue, characterization, plotting.

Are you writing on the level of warring nations, a city, or about a small village?

How much magic do you want?

Write short stories. Write journal entries of characters. Write conversations. Write travelogues for your world.

Yeah that's not at all what I meant by warhammers and violence. Just talking about using warhammers and axes more than what GRRM does and describing the violence and battle scenes in more detail than he does. At least describe the battles in more detail. And have more of them.

I have read lots of horror (I am a huge Stephen King fan) and lots of space sci fi (Night's Dawn trilogy anyone? )

Yes it will be warring nations. Haven't thought of much detail for it yet though. I don't want much magic, one of the things I love about ASoIaF is there isn't much magic.

I definitely will do the other things you advised. I need alot of practice before actually making the book. Like write short stories, dialogue and travelogues and then see how it can molded together to form the story.

[King Tyrion VII]

Errant Bard, on 25 April 2012 - 01:19 AM, said:

I think first thing, you need to read this article on worldbuilding (it's an archive, wait for it to load): http://web.archive.o...27/very-afraid/

Also, on top of the stickies:
http://asoiaf.wester...antasy-writing/
http://asoiaf.wester...a-novel-take-6/

Thank you. Will do

[King Tyrion VII]

Errant Bard, on 25 April 2012 - 12:46 AM, said:

There are stickied recommendation threads in this forum. Read everything mentioned there. No, I'm not joking. Also read from every genre, and also non-fiction.

Also, before becoming a Fantasy writer, just become a writer. Start with short stories, write now, don't wait to be ready or something, do it.

I better start reading. That's ALOT of books. I'm going to have to learn to read faster. It takes me 2-3 minutes per page usually.

[Sci-2]

Note that GRRM himself published lots of shorts, scripts, and novels before he started Song.

You may want to start with something on a smaller scale.

It is good to have high reaching goals, and I wish you luck.

ETA: Concentrate on writing and research as much as reading. Not much of a writer but better to read slow, IMO, if you are trying to understand where an author succeeds/fails at dialogue/mood/setting/info-giving/pacing.

Edited by sciborg2, 25 April 2012 - 05:31 PM.

[sologdin]

NOW INTO COURT, through undersigned counsel, comes the BOARD, and moves this court for dismissal as a matter of law pursuant to Rule 12( b )( 6 ) of the Rules of Procedure, for the following reasons, to wit:

In the matter of Mark Sawyer v. Westeros, Magistrate X-Ray presiding, this Honorable Court ruled as follows:

Quote

Closing this thread because we have many other threads, not just the stickied ones, that have book recs in them. In the future, saying that one wants books "like ASOIAF" is not sufficient criteria to start a thread. Either be more specific or, better yet, use the search function.

Given the ruling and dismissal in Mark Sawyer, dismissal of this matter is warranted because the claim for relief herein is substantially similar to the claim in Sawyer, which the Court found fatally defective to the extent that the pleadings, under Iqbal and Twombley, are insufficient to state a claim for relief.

WHEREFORE movant prays for judgment in its favor and against petitioner, Tyrion Baratheon, dismissing petitioner's claims with prejudice, at petitioner's cost.

[Sci-2]

Sorry Solo, going to have to challenge you -> Books "like Song" and books "enabling one to write a fantasy novel" are not the same.