Looking for fantasy book series recommendations

[mvd]

After finishing President Obama's book, I'll be wanting to start another fantasy series. I like Twilight and especially Harry Potter, so something like those would be good. Just make sure it can appeal to adults.

[auntAgonist]

1. have you read the Wheel of Time books by Robert Jordan?

The first one is Eye of the World.

http://www.amazon.com/Eye-World-Wheel-Time-Book/dp/0812511816

[TZ]

3. ooh I love those

I've started re-reading them cause a new (final?) volume is coming out November 3rd!

[SteppingRazor]

8. Apparently, the final book was so huge that it'll be released as three books.

RJ sort of became Michael Douglas in Wonderboys at the end of his life. From what I understand, the final book was going to be more than 2,000 pages(!)

[Mythsaje]

72. Speaking of, the author taking it over is a good one too...

Brandon Sanderson. His Mistborn series has become another of my favorites.

[NewJeffCT]

13. I liked the first 3 1/2 or 4 1/2 books of the series

but, then it just seemed to drag on & on over the next 4-5 books and I ended up losing interest in them and haven't read the last few books.

Terry Goodkind Sword of Truth series is very derivative of Jordan and I lost interest in that one as well when his Ayn Randian politics became too blatant. I do like the syndicated show "Legend of the Seeker" as well.

I think I need to wait until a series is over and then read it, because sometimes I lose interest when there is a long wait between books (curse you George RR Martin!)

[TZ]

14. LOL--I felt the same way about Sword of Truth

I just finally recently read the final books in the series...Meh.
But I really love WOT. I thought Crossroads of Twilight was meh..but the next book was much better...

[NewJeffCT]

16. The syndicated show of Sword of Truth

was pretty good, though it was based on just the first novel in the series - the two leads playing Richard & Kahlan (Craig Horner & Bridget Regan) are both very appealing as well, which helps. Legend of the Seeker is the show:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legend_of_the_Seeker

[SteppingRazor]

4. Of course, if you start now, you'll be finishing the series in, oh, 2015 or so.

Man, those are some big books. :)

I got through Crossroads of Twilight, but then I (finally!) lost interest.

[quakerboy]

62. I read them all a while back

there may be more since then, it was 11 of them at that point. It held me for almost a month. Mostly because I had to wait for one to be published. Wasn't highly impressed with the writing, but not many sets of books can hold me that long.

[mvd]

5. No, I haven't - thanks for the recommendation

:hi:

[TZ]

2. This is VERY adult ....

George RR Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire. Its very very good though

[mvd]

6. Thanks, TZ!

:hi:

[NewJeffCT]

7. +1

Definitely an excellent series - it's pretty dark as well.

[SteppingRazor]

9. +2. Probably the best fantasy series ever written, always excepting Tolkien of course. n/t

[NewJeffCT]

15. George R.R. Martin is also a liberal

the day after Bush won re-election in 2004, he posted the Thomas Jefferson quote on his website that Elizabeth Edwards also posted on DU - "A little patience, and we shall see the reign of witches pass over, their spells dissolve, and the people, recovering their true sight, restore their government to it's true principles. It is true that in the mean time we are suffering deeply in spirit, and incurring the horrors of a war & long oppressions of enormous public debt. "

[yellowdogintexas]

50. These books so totally rock! His characters are incredible. We wait

impatiently for book 5.

[Beetwasher]

40. Steven Erikson's Malazan Empire Series Is Better

IMO. But they are both exceptional.

[Lucian]

63. +3

I'm waiting very impatiently for A Dance With Dragons.

[quakerboy]

85. Everyone seems to be in a rave about this

How did I miss its existence so completely? I guess it will have to go on the "to be acquired" list. Thanks

Edited for spelling

[BreweryYardRat]

100. Adding yet another recommendation.

The fifth book may be out (relatively) soon, given the news on his livejournal.

[NewJeffCT]

10. Lord of the Rings?

I haven't read Twilight, but isn't it (and Potter) aimed more at teens & young adults, though both have appeal for adults as well.

LotR is geared for an older audience than Potter.

A bit lighter than LotR is Terry Brooks' "Sword of Shannara" series, though I wouldn't really call it a series. Sword of Shannara was a very successful stand alone novel and was derivative of LotR, but is easier to read than LotR. Then Brooks decided to write some sequels, like Elfstones of Shannara and then Wishsong of Shannara.

[mvd]

11. Harry is pretty much for everyone IMO

Twilight more teen oriented, but it had appeal to me.

Have heard of LOTR, but haven't given it a chance yet - thanks. :hi:

[NewJeffCT]

12. I haven't read a vampire novel

since I started disliking Queen of the Damned from Anne Rice. Loved the 1st 2 novels (Interview & Lestat), but hated Queen and haven't read any vampire books since.

But, the Shannara books might be a bit too simple if you're looking for adult material.

[SteppingRazor]

18. I'm sure the OP would disagree with me, and I usually have huge respect for mvd's taste in music...

but as far as Twilight, I'd like to borrow a phrase from Dorothy Parker and say, this is not a book to be tossed aside lightly. It should be thrown with great force.

[mvd]

32. Well, it's a guilty pleasure of mine

The actual writing does leave something to be desired. :hi:

[Mythsaje]

35. I like 'em too...

It's really a matter of taste. Like with music, I don't assume my opinion is the end-all.

[mvd]

42. That's how I see it, too

:thumbsup:

[susanr516]

48. My husband is a big fan of Terry Brooks

He's read all of his books. Although I've read all the Harry Potter books and LOTR, I'm not a fantasy fan.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

17. Tales of the Dying Earth. Jack Vance.

Best author you've never heard of.

Imagine Lord of the Rings, only Frodo's a real dick who screws everybody over on his way to Mt. Doom. Then screws it up and has to do the whole thing over again.

Here's a good recent article on Vance:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/19/magazine/19Vance-t.html

[Mythsaje]

19. The Black Jewels by Anne Bishop...

Tops in my book.

Not really like Twilight or Harry Potter--given that it's dark epic fantasy.

You could always try the Infinity: Earth series by Saje Williams. :)

Diane Duane's "Young Wizards" series is awesome. It's a YA series, but still one of my faves.

[KG]

20. Dan Simmons - the Hyperion / Endemion series - actually, its more sci-fi

[quakerboy]

65. how many of those are there?

I read one or two, then got busy and never looked for more

[Broken_Hero]

21. Annals of the Black Company by Glenn Cook

its about 9-10 books total in series, and another book of the series is coming out next month...

This is damn near my favorite fantasy set.

[Mythsaje]

22. Good series, though I liked the earlier books much more than the later ones...

:shrug:

Have you tried the Black Jewels?

[Broken_Hero]

23. No I haven't read the Black Jewels,

I'm awaiting the last Omnibus book of his of the Dread Empire series, that series was pretty good as well. I haven't read any of his Garrick books(really don't plan on to either), but the Black Company was...great! :D Dread Empire is just as good.

[Mythsaje]

25. Black Company was the first "dark" fantasy series I liked...

Black Jewels was the second. It is, without a doubt, my favorite fantasy series ever. My wife turned me on to them when we first got together and we've had to replace at least the first book (we finally got an omnibus of the first three) something like five times. We don't loan them out anymore. :)

[Broken_Hero]

27. who writes the Black Jewel series you are talking about...nt

[Mythsaje]

29. Anne Bishop...

And it's the Black Jewels. Accept no substitutes. (Her other series aren't anywhere near as good).

[Broken_Hero]

31. Okay, thanks for that

I haven't read any new fantasy series in a while...I read the Eragon set it was, ok, and I'm currently in book II of the Xanth series by Piers Anthony and I'm lacking much energy to finish.

[Mythsaje]

34. They'll suck you in...

Dark, funny, scary, unsettling, romantic... all at once. If you like the Black Company with its dark setting, you'll like the Black Jewels. It turns a lot of fantasy conventions on their head. You'll see. :)

[Beetwasher]

39. What?? A New Black Company book?? Where Did You Hear This???

One of my favorite series EVER.

[Broken_Hero]

43. Yep, I was surprised too....follow this link:

http://www.fantasy-fan.org/index.php/News/2009/06/18/The-Return-of-the-Black-Company/

[Beetwasher]

44. That's Not A New Book

It's a new collection of previously published books. Oh well.

"This omnibus volume comprises the novels Bleak Seasons and She is the Darkness."

[Broken_Hero]

46. aww, shit

:eyes: :banghead:

bleh, meh...all worked up over nothing.

[_dynamicdems]

24. Piers Anthony, Incarnations of Immortality Series

Incarnations of Immortality is the name of an eight-book fantasy series by Piers Anthony. The first seven books each focus on one of seven supernatural "offices" (Death, Time, Fate, War, Nature, Evil and Good) in a fictional reality and history parallel to ours, with the exception that society has advanced both magic and modern technology. The series covers the adventures and struggles of a group of humans, called "Incarnations", who hold these supernatural positions for a certain time.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Incarnations_of_Immortality

[Glorfindel]

26. Anne McCaffrey "The Dragonriders of Pern" series

I love these books!

[Betty88]

53. These were the first books that came to mind

It's been years but I loved those books

[kentauros]

28. Fred Saberhagen - Swords

Fred Saberhagen - Swords

I know I've read the first 5-6 books, but none of the others. Engaging, detailed and for adults :)

Also

John Varley's Gaea Trilogy - Titan, Wizard, Demon (science fiction but reads like fantasy)
Roger Zelazny - The Chronicles of Amber

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

30. I really liked the trilogy "His Dark Materials" by Philip Pullman.

[krispos42]

98. I read the first about 4 months ago.

It was interesting. This reminded me I have to hunt down the 2nd book.

[mvd]

33. Thanks again, all

I'll add the topic to my journal so I don't forget.

[Rob H.]

36. The 'Harry Dresden' novels by Jim Butcher

It's like a combination of Harry Potter and Sam Spade, so you get magic and hardboiled detective fiction rolled into one.

[Mythsaje]

38. His "Furies" series isn't bad either. n/t

[Lucian]

64. +1

[Mythsaje]

37. Got a few more...

Tanya Huff's Victoria Nelson series (source of the unfortunately short-lived "Blood Ties" series on Lifetime).
Charlene Harris's Sookie Stackhouse novels (source of HBO's True Blood series).
Mercedes Lackey's "Diana Tregarde" books as well as her "SERRAted Edge" series. (I really like the first book "Born to Run"...the others, not as much).
Fred Saberhagen's "Dracula" books.

For something different, you might try Julian May's "Saga of Pliocene Exile."
Sharon Shinn's "Twelve Houses."
Lois McMaster Bujold's "Curse of Challion" and "Paladin of Souls."

And, well, you might like my futuristic fantasies from my Infinity: Prime and Infinity: Empire series as well as my Infinity: Earth saga.

[Beetwasher]

41. Steven Erikson's Malazan Empire Series Is The Single Greatest Fantasy Series Ever Written

IMO.

It starts w/ Garden's of the Moon and there's 7 books so far ( I think).

He also has a partner Ian Esselmont who is writing some books in this world.

Simply the best.

[VenusRising]

45. The Southern Vampire Mysteries by Charlaine Harris.

I only read them because I started watching True Blood and wanted more story. Boy, did I get it. There are 9 books and a 10th on the way. I was going through a book a day. The first book is Dead Until Dark. You should at least read the first one considering your other fantasy likes.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Southern_Vampire_Mysteries

[yellowdogintexas]

51. these are great fun, and so is her other series, The Harper Connelly

mysteries.

[VenusRising]

55. The Harper books look very interesting.

I read a teaser for one in the back of one of the SVM paperbacks, and I really want to read those, too.

[surrealAmerican]

47. Have you read any Dianna Wynne Jones?

Some of her books are in series (Dalemark, Chrestomanci) others not. Some are young adult, but most appeal to a broad audience.

[WritingIsMyReligion]

49. I highly recommend the HIS DARK MATERIALS trilogy by Philip Pullman.

It's classified by bookstores as "young adult," but the themes are very, very philosophical and adult (religion, atheism, souls, love/sex, other worlds, etc). Pullman is an avowed but positive-thinking atheist and a beautiful and creative writer.

The three books, in order, are THE GOLDEN COMPASS (known as NORTHERN LIGHTS in the UK), THE SUBTLE KNIFE, and THE AMBER SPYGLASS, and they really must be read in order to get the most impact out of them. Pullman is British, so the main worlds of the books are based on the United Kingdom, not America, but it's not high, Tolkein-esque, dwarves-and-goblins fantasy, and the characters (excepting a very select few) do not wield magic. The magic in the book is not wand-wielding or spell-casting but much more naturally based. Undoubtedly fantasy, but in a sly way, and very thought-provoking.

[yellowdogintexas]

52. another good author: Robin Hobb. A Triple Trilogy

The Farseer Trilogy
Assassin's Apprentice
Royal Assassin
Assassin's Quest

The Liveship Traders Trilogy
Ship of Magic
The Mad Ship
Ship of Destiny

The Tawny Man Trilogy
Fool's Errand
Golden Fool
Fool's Fate

these three trilogies are loosely connected, and set in the same world.

and a separate one in a different world.
Soldier Son
1. Shaman's Crossing (2005)
2. Forest Mage (2006)
3. Renegade's Magic (2007)


I would also recommend The Fionavir Tapestry by Guy Gavriel Kay, as well as his other books. This is also a trilogy.

If you like vampires, try Brian Lumley's gargantuan series. A different twist on vampire origins and lore with a lot of other supernatural stuff thrown in

[wickerwoman]

76. I'll second Robin Hobb

especially the Farseer books.

I also love David Eddings, Stephen King's Dark Tower series, Jennifer Robeson's shape-changer books...

There's a lot of great stuff out there.

[SidneyCarton]

54. "Darkness" series by Harry Turtledove

It is a reimagining of WWII in a world where magic is used instead of technology.

[Strong Atheist]

56. Scifi, fantasy, comics:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=105&topic_id=8487486#8487599

[Mythsaje]

73. Definitely concur on Order of the Stick and Girl Genius...n/t

[Strong Atheist]

82. Another comic person!

:toast:

LOVE Phil Foglio stuff; been reading his stuff since I was a kid and it was in The Dragon Magazine...

[quakerboy]

57. The Death Gate Cycle

I'm not sure I would put them in the same category as twilight and HP, but then a lot of what has been mentioned by others is not in that category either. What is it about the other two that draw you? If you are wanting the connection to the real world, to our world, then my suggestions may not have validity.

In my opinion Weiss and Hickman did an excellent job on the Death gate Cycle. Slightly lighter, and possibly more in a tone with Twi and HP, the paired trilogies of the Elenium and the Tamuli by David Eddings. That's where my love of fantasy really took fire, and for a 2nd grader, they were very mature. They are much lighter and I come up with more questions now as an adult, but still enjoyed re-Reading them a few years back.

The Chronicles of Narnia have some surprising depth for such short books. For all his kooky church, Orson Scott Card is an Excellent writer. The Heirs of Alexandria by Lackey,Freer and Flint were also an enjoyable read, and I could draw some similarities to HP and possibly Twi.

[mvd]

58. I'm open-minded about it

I kind of crave something like HP since I miss the series, but good fantasies aren't limited to the HP kind of thing.

[quakerboy]

61. Then I stand by my recommendations

All those that I said.
The Narnia books are the quickest reads, because of their physical brevity, but are also the most clearly meant to "teach" a message, and I appreciate the openness of CS Lewis.
The Eddings books are the lightest reads, I think.
I really enjoyed the odd(to me) thinking that clearly went into the creation of the Death Gate Cycle books. 7 books
The Heirs of Alexandria series is still in progress, and I found them to be well rounded and easy to read. How could a combination of 3 authors I enjoy go wrong?
Orson Scott Cards best work is Sci-fi, in my opinion, but his maker series is enjoyable. If you can sort out the mormonism, and just enjoy his characters. I feel the characters is where he truly excels.

Now that Ive recommended you read a combined 25+ books, let me add another hundred or so to the list:

Superlight reading: Simon Hawke, anything in his Wizard of Series
silly: Terry Pratchett, DiscWorld series
Also silly: Robert Asprin: Mythworld.
Undead: WM Mark Simmons: one foot in the grave, etc
Pretty much everything Written by Eric Flint or Mercedes Lackey
oldschool: Edgar Rice Burroughs

[Unvanguard]

66. The Death Gate Cycle is one of the best fantasy series ever written.

Really, really fantastic. That is the best work Weis and Hickman have ever done: not because the rest of their stuff is bad, but because it is so ridiculously good.

I cannot recommend it too highly.

[Mythsaje]

70. Can't stand anything by Weiss and Hickman but Dragonlance...

Couldn't even say why, other than I've never been able to read anything else they've written. Agree about Eddings, but ONLY so far as the first series of the Elenium and the Belgariad. Couldn't stand the Tamuli (maybe because it felt as if I'd already read it?) Loved the characters, though.

If you mention Lackey you have to mention the Heralds of Valdemar, as well as the "Oath" books. Some are better than others, but...

Can't read Card at all.

[quakerboy]

77. Agree on weiss and hickman

Excepting Deathgate. Ive tried their others, but I just cant read them.

Eddings does tend to repeat his themes rather verbatim from one series to the next. But as a youth, it really hit the spot, and remains relatively light and enjoyable reading. I would rank it with HP and probably with twilight, though I have to admit I have neither read nor watched that.

I enjoy most of what Lackey writes, and all of the Valdemar books are worth reading, though there are just so many they start to blend some for me. I have really been enjoying the Elemental series, actually more than the Valdemar, and the Elven/old england overlap series has caught my interest.

Whats the holdup with Card?

Have you tried Flints 163x series? It seems one of the more ambitious things going right now.

[Mythsaje]

79. Oh, I love Flint's series...

Fell in love with 1632 and will devour any other books from that series when I find them.

[quakerboy]

84. I am eagerly awaiting

The next books to come out, as I have read everything printed thus far. Some of the collaborations have been less impressive than others(I'm not much for short stories), but on the balance, very enjoyable. I wish there was more forthcoming in the 1812 series, but I have heard nothing to indicate that there is.

You still didn't answer about card. I am very curious as to your aversion to him. I know he's got some off ideas, but unlike some, say Ringo or Hogan, I think he has some real talent.

[Mythsaje]

86. Usually if I don't like something, I can say why...

That's not always the case with fiction. Fact is, I find his stuff boring. I liked the early Alvin the Maker books because I thought it was a great premise. Great premise, lame execution. IMO. I just don't like his style. It doesn't entice me into reading more.

Yeah, I'm not one for short stories either. Generally. There are a few exceptions, but since I'm more character driven, I don't feel as though I'm getting enough of a connection with the character before it ends.

[Swede]

59. The Riftwar Cycle by Raymond Feist.

It's one of my favorites.

Link to his site.

http://www.crydee.com/

[Mythsaje]

71. YES...

Though I have to admit I liked the earlier books better than the later ones. I miss Arutha, Liam, and Jimmy the Hand too much, I think.

[Rabrrrrrr]

78. Ooh, that is indeeda GREAT series!

[realisticphish]

60. Sword of Truth, for a while

Terry Goodkind is kind of a nut (an entire book was dedicated to how awesome capitalism is), but he creates a fantastic universe, and writes well. You'll probably make it through 3-4 books if you hold your nose a little bit (there is some weird stuff, occasionally, where he pretty much writes with the wrong part of his anatomy)

[RandomThoughts]

80. Parts of the story are really good, Parts are really bad

it is like the story turns on and off when his bias jumps in too much.

Heh, for me it was like really enjoying some parts a chapter here or a chapter there, and some character story lines, and having to ignore or flip the rest. It has a real elitist theme I had to discard when reading it also. But you can learn from anything, and it gives some insight into that perspective or frame of mind.

Although I will say there were character story lines that were really moving. Raina, Kahlan, some of the sisters, the girl with the doll, even the Gar. But much of the doctrine missed for me. Although I enjoyed the novels within my perspective.

:shrug:

The TV show was terrible, unwatchable, it had nothing to do with the book from what I could tell.

[TZ]

81. Yeah.

The first few are great. But the novel where he made his bad guys the Clintons ...Bertrand and Hildemara was obvious to me... I did manage to finish the series. Yawn

[ismnotwasm]

67. Otherland

By Tad Williams. It's actually sci-fi, but it crosses the line. His Dragonbone Chair series is decent as well. I'm a bit more of a sci-fi fan than a fantasy fan, but enjoy either
Oh, the Fortress series, or Gates of Ivrel books by CJ Cherryh

There's an old series by multiple authors including Cherryh, "Heroes in Hell" that's just great, darkly ironic, funny lots of action. Practically everybody you've ever heard of is in hell in this series

[Common Sense Party]

68. How about the "Ender" series by Orson Scott Card?

They're set in space, but it's not really science fiction.

[Ohio Joe]

69. Hard to find...

The Mongo books by George C. Chesbro.

Shadow of a Broken Man
City of Whispering Stone
An Affair of Sorcerers
The Beasts of Valhalla
Two Songs This Archangel Sings
The Cold Smell of Sacred Stone
Second Horseman Out of Eden
The Language of Cannibals
In the House of Secret Enemies
The Fear in Yesterdays Rings
Dark Chant in a Crimson Key
An Incident at Bloodtide
Bleeding in the Eye of a Brainstorm
Dream of a Falling Eagle
Lord of Ice and Loneliness

Part detective novels... part sci-fi... part horror... The best description I've ever seen was a Playboy review of The Beasts of Valhalla, something to the effect of Stephen King meets James Bond by way of Alice's looking glass. Amazing reads, all of them.

[Mojambo]

74. Go no further than George RR Martin if you haven't read that yet.

Magnificent.

[mvd]

75. Thanks, DU! The response has been great

I'll add that I also love political fantasy like 1984.

[Nevilledog]

83. The Bartimaeus Trilogy by Jonathan Stroud

LOVE LOVE LOVE this trilogy.

http://www.bartimaeustrilogy.com/

I'll second the Fionavar Tapesty by Guy Gavriel Kay. I was heartbroken after I finished them...I wanted more.

http://www.brightweavings.com/books/fionavar.htm

The 500 Kingdom Series by Mercedes Lackey.....new takes on old fairytales, usually quite hilarious.

http://www.amazon.com/Five-Hundred-Kingdoms-Mercedes-Lackey/lm/R2SIJGIUC5ZGFH

I think I've read everything ever written by Lackey. Her Valdemar stuff is enchanting.

[ZombieHorde]

87. The Name of the Wind. It is a fantasy book for adults.

The other books in the series have not been released yet.

[Strong Atheist]

89. Didn't like it. Boring. nt.

[ZombieHorde]

90. Wow, I though it was one of the best written books of the genre.

I did read it right after I read the Harry Potter books, so that could have skewed my view.

[Strong Atheist]

91. Cool. We all like different things. Some of my favorites in #56. nt.

[ZombieHorde]

92. Not cool. After school, we battle.

I'll check out your list.

[Strong Atheist]

93. !

:scared:

[ZombieHorde]

94. You will be scared once you realize I only fight in the nude. nt

[Strong Atheist]

97. I am a nudist, that part doesn't bother me... nt

[Celeborn Skywalker]

88. "The Name of the Wind"

by Patrick Rothfuss is an excellent and very well-written book. There are two more to follow in this series and I expect they will be fantastic.

[bridgit]

95. Marion Zimmer Bradley, Ann McCaffrey and maybe some Herbert other stuff too

Avalons: Lady of, Mists of, etc - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marion_Zimmer_Bradley

Dragonriders of Pern - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dragonriders_of_Pern

The Jesus Incident - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Jesus_Incident

Happy Reading!!

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

96. Roger Zelazny's ten volume Amber series is great.

I have the audio books read by Roger himself.

[Name removed]

99. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[BreweryYardRat]

101. A few recs, a few unrecs.

Recs:

Naomi Novik's "Temeraire" series is a good choice when you want something that's a fairly fast read. Light-hearted on the surface, but with subtle nuances and occasional dark moments.

Harry Turtledove's "Opening of the World" series is very good (albeit rather dark), but difficult to find in stores. The third and final (I think) book is due out in October, so that's a point in its favor. If you can find the (relatively recent) collections of his "Gerin the Fox" novels, those are also a very good read. ("Wisdom of The Fox" has the first two books, and "Tale of the Fox" has the last two.)

Barbara Hambly's "James Asher" duology ("Those Who Hunt the Night"/"Traveling With the Dead") is an EXCELLENT read if you like vampire novels, with some really neat variations on the standard vampire.

Martin Scott's "Thraxas" series and Glen Cook's "Garrett, P.I." series are great fantasy/mystery blends, with good senses of humor. Sort of like Butcher's "Dresden Files" (also well worth reading), only set in their own high fantasy worlds instead of Butcher's modern urban fantasy.

Unrecs:

I'd advise passing on Turtledove's "Darkness" series, despite the other recommendation -- I didn't think it was worth the time I spent reading it.

Steven Erikson's "Malazan" series...was really good for the first three books, but I hurled the fourth one into a wall shortly after starting it. Jim Butcher's "Furies" series got the same treatment about halfway into the first book, for the same reason. (Both authors independently used a really fucking skeevy plot element, which I would prefer not to discuss. Either way, it's enough to ensure I'd never touch those particular series again. Butcher's "Dresden Files" are still okay, though, and if Erikson ever writes a new series, I'd probably give it a shot.)