Esa1996 Posted January 24, 2016 Share Posted January 24, 2016 As for series that are not on the list? (In order of my preference) Wheel of Time: This one has loads of magic in it and some violence but not anywhere near as much as in ASOIAF (Wouldn't call it gridmark), however otherwise it has many similarities with ASOIAF. Both series have really complex and long plots, both series are really long (ASOIAF 5 890 pages, WOT 14 600 pages), both series have loads of named characters (ASOIAF 2 303, WOT 2 782), both series have extremely detailed worlds... Oh, and this one is also finished. Stormlight Archive: This one again has loads of magic in it and again some violence but not anywhere near as much as in ASOIAF (Wouldn't call it gridmark either). Slightly smaller in scope than ASOIAF and a slightly less detailed world (At the moment that is, there are only 2 out of 10 planned books out at the moment). When ready this one will be really long too, possibly even longer than WOT. Has some of the best characters in fantasy, and is tied with Malazan Book of the Fallen for the best action scenes I've ever read anywhere. Malazan Book of the Fallen: Once again, loads of magic. This one, however, can most definitely be called gridmark. ASOIAF is light compared to this. I don't remember ever thinking "Holy f**k, did the author seriously write this into a book?" when reading ASOIAF but it happened multiple times with Malazan. Tied with Stormlight Archives for the best action scenes I've ever read anywhere. Really long (11 000 pages + loads of prequels and sequels, which, at the moment, amount to around 6 000 pages), with a very big scope (The story takes place on 3 different main continents, but another four are visited too). Really hard to get into as the characterization starts out quite weak (It gets better with time though) but pretty damn good once you do. Each book is somewhat independent (Something I don't particularly like), but it ensures that each book also has a seriously kick ass ending. Kingkiller Chronicles: Really good characterization although there is only one POV so it's to be expected. The plot and the world are decent, but nothing spectacular. The Second Apocalypse: Tied with WOT, ASOIAF and Malazan for the most interesting and detailed fantasy world. Lots of magic and violence (Definitely gridmark). Somewhat predictable, unfortunately. The quality of action scenes varies somewhat, but at his best Bakker is very much equal with Erikson (Malazan Book of the Fallen) and Sanderson (Stormlight Archives). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darth Richard II Posted January 24, 2016 Share Posted January 24, 2016 Oh just go and read all of Robin Hobb. It's better than almost everything else, ever. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peterbound Posted January 25, 2016 Share Posted January 25, 2016 Glokta, Bayaz and Bloody-Nine are right there as some of the best characters in fantasy. They give a match to Martin's best characters. Quite different though, of course. To be honest, I agree. I'm just being careful. I've gotten into loads of arguments here for saying that something is better than ASOIAF. [emoji3] Many things are better than asoif. I'm sure even George would tell you that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darth Richard II Posted January 25, 2016 Share Posted January 25, 2016 Guy asks for moral complexity, gets WoT recommendations... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darth Richard II Posted January 25, 2016 Share Posted January 25, 2016 12 minutes ago, Leap said: What's more morally complex than working out the fuck schedule for your three beautiful paramours? I dunno, have you seen the art in the companion book? Them girls be ugly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HexMachina Posted January 25, 2016 Share Posted January 25, 2016 5 hours ago, Esa1996 said: To be honest, I agree. I'm just being careful. I've gotten into loads of arguments here for saying that something is better than ASOIAF. No, you get into arguments when you suggest Wheel of Time is better. Big difference. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darth Richard II Posted January 25, 2016 Share Posted January 25, 2016 Also, cmon, if the three chicks your banging know about each other and are into it, that's not moral complexity, that's porno. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peterbound Posted January 25, 2016 Share Posted January 25, 2016 I think I'm going to do a wot re read. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Esa1996 Posted January 25, 2016 Share Posted January 25, 2016 9 hours ago, HelenaExMachina said: No, you get into arguments when you suggest Wheel of Time is better. Big difference. We shall see if I avoid those arguments this time. After all, I didn't compare anything to ASOIAF in my post, at least not in terms of overall "goodness". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SeanF Posted January 25, 2016 Share Posted January 25, 2016 9 hours ago, HelenaExMachina said: No, you get into arguments when you suggest Wheel of Time is better. Big difference. You'd get more than arguments if you suggested Terry Goodkind was better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheRevanchist Posted January 25, 2016 Share Posted January 25, 2016 10 hours ago, Darth Richard II said: Guy asks for moral complexity, gets WoT recommendations... The weakest point of that series. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HexMachina Posted January 25, 2016 Share Posted January 25, 2016 33 minutes ago, SeanF said: You'd get more than arguments if you suggested Terry Goodkind was better. Not enough moral ambiguity for the OP. Too much evil incarnate and farmyard animals Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SeanF Posted January 25, 2016 Share Posted January 25, 2016 17 minutes ago, HelenaExMachina said: Not enough moral ambiguity for the OP. Too much evil incarnate and farmyard animals Plenty of comedy value, though. Some of the Goodkind threads have had me in stitches. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bjornbert Posted January 25, 2016 Share Posted January 25, 2016 Scott Lynch seems like the best fit to me. The series that feels the most like ASOIAf to me but better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheRevanchist Posted January 25, 2016 Share Posted January 25, 2016 @The Glad King, you mentioned The Dagger and the Coin, but consider also Long Price Quartet, from the same author. It is really morally ambiguous, and very unique in pretty much every sense. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Esa1996 Posted January 25, 2016 Share Posted January 25, 2016 7 hours ago, SeanF said: You'd get more than arguments if you suggested Terry Goodkind was better. Haven't read his books, though I've heard plenty. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
End of Disc One Posted January 25, 2016 Share Posted January 25, 2016 I'm pretty sure it's against the forum rules to be a fan of Terry Goodkind Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frey Filet Posted January 26, 2016 Share Posted January 26, 2016 On 1/20/2016 at 0:18 PM, aceluby said: Dagger & The Coin hits the ASOIAF tone for me than any of the others. I didn't really like the Long Price Quartet and would say to skip that one, but others here absolutely loved it. The First Law is also absolutely wonderful. I'd also suggest sprinkling in some Robin Hobb in there as well, as her Farseer series outranks ASOIAF for me, but can be emotionally exhausting. And here I thought I was the only one who didn't like the Long Price Quartet. I feel like we're family! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ghjhero Posted January 30, 2016 Share Posted January 30, 2016 Come now, The Second Apocalypse by Bakker is what you need to read next. But, if your not willing to descend into the madness, The First Law is a great series to give a go. The Second Apocalypse series is most definitely the best fantasy series I've read since ASOIAF. It's dark, gritty and humorous. Doesn't get much better than that. I've yet to touch The First Law series as unfortunately I've had the ending of the series spoiled for me, so that's considerably dampened my enthusiasm to read it. I'm sure I'll get around to it eventually. I recommend trying the Malazan Book of the Fallen instead. Personally, I think it's amazing. It's the ultimate Curates Egg series in that bits of it are certainly amazing (Deadhouse Gates, Memories of Ice, and Midnight Tides in particular). Shame about the other parts... I feel exactly the same way. Deadhouse Gates and Midnight Tides had the strongest emotional effects on me. Unfortunately other than that the series as a whole was pretty weak imo. Lots of potential, but it was dragged out far too long with way too much filler than there needed to be. Would not recommend the series. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jo498 Posted January 30, 2016 Share Posted January 30, 2016 What's humorous about 2nd apocalypse except the bathos and over the top involuntarily funny things like Gigerian phalloi and black semen? (I do not want to dis-recommend it but humorous it isn't.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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