Fantasy for beginners - or dummies?

What would you recommend starting with if you were new to the genre? I'm thinking about books that do not require a wealth of "Fantasy knowledge" or that you have already read The Tough Guide to Fantasyland by Diana Wynne Jones in order to understand them (or at least not miss too much). Books that will not scare a new reader away from the genre.

The only one I can think of right now is Wizard's First Rule by Terry Goodkind - where the main character knows nothing about magic and has everything magic explained by his companion.

How would you introduce Fantasy to someone? Maybe even someone who is a bit reluctant towards both Fantasy and Science Fiction.

Wizard's First Rule would probably scare plenty of people away from fantasy, to tell you the truth. Sure, the main character doesn't know a thing about magic, but magic isn't all that makes a fantasy novel a fantasy novel. Besides, WFR is a long book that is first in a series of long books, and that may very well be more commitment than most people are willing to make, particularly on an initial venture into something new.

While there are definitely books that require some genre-based knowledge--The Icewind Dale Trilogy is more enjoyable if you know something about the Forgotten Realms--by and large I don't think you should worry about that aspect of things. What is really important is finding a book that the individual in question would enjoy regardless of the genre it was written in. To do this, you need to look at the things the person is already interested in.

For example, if you have a friend who enjoys Jane Austen novels and books set in Regency England, a good introduction to fantasy might be Sorcery and Cecelia by Patricia C. Wrede and Caroline Stevermer. Because it shares elements with other novels that you know this friend already enjoys your success rate is apt to be higher than it would otherwise be.

If they like detective stories how about Too Many Magicians

I definitly agree with the making sure it was something that the new reder is vaguely familiar with to start with.

But then most western world readers Are already familiar with the basic tenents - LoTR films and HP achieved such publicity that everybody has some concept of fantasy writing - its not quite like the world they live in, goblins are generally bad, magicians old, witches evil and small boys of no particular importance can grow up to be mighty and defeat the worst of overlords.

SO I might recomment Feist's Magician, or Canavans works or the original Dragonlance all of which are easy to read and don't require background knowledge.

Pretty much all Fantasy works explain the world in which they are set - they have to as each is always different. New readers will have to get used to the fact that most Fantasy is part of a series and tends to the longer book as well.

I agree with shadrach_anki: look at what your friend likes and take it from there. If he or she likes mystery, there are plenty of sf/fantasy books that include mysteries, etc. If he or she liked contemporary lit, perhaps try some urban or contemporary fantasy like Keith Donohue's The Stolen Child or something by Graham Joyce?

Actually, although most of the suggestions so far have been "high" or "epic" fantasy, I would warn against plunging someone straight into most epic fantasy. IMHO, a lot of it is rather badly written and cliche-ridden (including most series based on roleplaying games, e.g. Dragonlance, Raymond Feist etc), and I know that put me off fantasy for a long long while. If he or she *wants* to plunge straight into epic fantasy, I'd suggest either George R.R. Martin, Stephen Brust or perhaps Ursula LeGuin's Earthsea books. They are better written and more interesting than the bulk of the genre.

Another way in might be through fiction based on familiar mythology such as Arthurian. Familiarity might make it easier to approach the fantastical. The Once and Future King is a very good take on Arthurian mythology while Robert Holdstock's Mythago Wood is a complex, fascinating look at the mythology of the subconscious.

A final alternative might be a collection of short stories by varied authors. I'll admit that I haven't read it but my husband really likes Flights: Extreme Visions of Fantasy. I'm sure people can suggest others. Short fiction can introduce your friend to new authors and styles in bite sized chunks: far more accessible than some enormous series...

My very first fantasy novel was A Spell For Chameleon by Piers Anthony. It is a very good stand alone fantasy or you can travel on to the rest of the series (it's a huge series!) It has a lot of humor in it too.

I agree with this, although my first was Faun and Games also a Xanth novel by Piers Anthony. I loved it and went on read the whole Xenath series.

If you're looking for a way to introduce the more sutble Fantasy Fiction (that doesn't deal directly with the swords and sorcery aspect of the fantasy genre) I would reccomend books like Watership Down by Richard Adams. A very readable book that doesn't delve too hard into the wild side of fantasy. Another great book in the same vein is The Book of the Dun Cow by Walter Wangerin, a great fantasy (that doesn't get much coverage!).

Otherwise, if you want more magic, then I would agree with guernicus's list.

One of my first fantasy books was Castle Roogna by Piers Anthony. I would definitely recommend his early Xanth books, as they are worth the read, well edited and he took the writing of the series with some thought and seriousness (Even through all the puns.)

The closer you get to the recent books, the more they have become jokes, even to the author. I'm in the process of trying to finish The color of her panties and it is an arduous process because he doesn't take the book seriously.

This may also depend on the age of the person you are suggesting to start into fantasy, however.

Gilroy ~ I agree about the Xanth series. I used to buy each new one the minute it came out, but after about the 8th or 10th, I lost interest. I think A Spell for Chameleon was the best of all; maybe because it was so different and unexpected.

I started early with the LeGuin Earthsea trilogy, which I still like now it's a sextology. (Hexology?) I think the Terry Pratchett books are easy to jump into also.

The bits from the Tough Guide to Fantasyland keep popping into my head every so often when I read a book, like "you are going to have to visit every single place on this map"; "Stew will be what you are served to eat every single time". Also the progression of Confrontations.

Isn't Eartsea a quintet with an additional prequel book of short stories?

How about The Hobbit, and the first Harry Potter? Although they're also classified as 'children's books' I think they would make a great into into the field. Not what I started with though...

I wouldn't go with The Hobbit myself - most everyone I've known who's liked Tolkien didn't like the Hobbit half as much. I know that for me and one of my friends, we had to skip it altogether and found it much easier to just start off with The Lord of the Rings and come back around to it.

I would recommend Garth Nix's The Old Kingdom Trilogy, which is intended as YA lit, but reads easily and well, and without much background needed at all.

Oh, and yes - Harry Potter, of course :)

I'd go with Guernicus's suggestion of something like Flights, or any anthology. Try the Locus awards even, though that throws in a lot of SF, but Hartwell and Kramer put out a fantasy anthology every year of just short stories. So does Datlow with Link and hellz I can't think of the other guy's name right now..
Anyhew, short stories require less of a commitment and the multiple author anthologies provide a wide range of fantasy writing styles from the urban to the classic and can usually give a new reader a great introduction to what kind of fantasy they may like and want to explore more through the novels..

The Colour of Magic by Terry Pratchett is where I'd suggest a someone new to fantasy start.

but the colour of magic is a mass of fantasy in jokes.

The Colour of Magic is still funny even if you haven't read any fantasy to speak of. I hadn't, apart from children's books, when I read it aged 15 or so.

Now I have a groaning shelf of Pratchetts and an awful lot of fantasy books.

I think I'd recommend Earthsea first, though. My husband read a few early Discworld books but wasn't convinced, and has been rather put off fantasy ever since. It's all a matter of individual taste.

If you're going for Discworld, I wouldn't start with The Colour of Magic - I know it's the first, but some of the later titles are probably more forgiving for first time readers. The good thing about the series being so huge now is that you can tailor a start point to just about anyone. For example:
Shakespeare fan: Wyrd Sisters
Music fan: Soul Music
Newspaper/media lover: The Truth
Film buff: Moving Pictures
Scientist: The Science of Discworld

Other "starter" fantasy could include some Tom Holt (comedic, but real-world enough not to scare people off!), most Diana Wynne Jones (Chrestomanci series could work. I'm a fan of Hexwood, although that borders on SF in places), Earthsea (again) and, from the Tolkien works, The Hobbit is probably the easiest for unsure readers to break into, and has the bonus feature of leading straight into The Lord of the Rings if they like it.

mpettitt, I'm inclined to agree - I tried The Colour of Magic and just couldn't get into it. I found the books really featuring DEATH to be more interesting, particularly Reaper Man

I think Jumper by Steven Gould is a great book to ease someone into fantasy. It takes place in our world and features an ordinary guy who just happens to be able to teleport.

That is one of my favorite books of all times, and I frequently lend it to people who have either are disinterested or have no exposure or have a chip on their shoulder about 'Fantasy.' I've never had anyone say that they disliked it. It's very readable.

Terry Pratchett is one of the best writers in English today, very talented guy (humor is very difficult to pull off, Pratchett is the equal to Wodehouse in the use of humor to move a story along IMHO).

I'm surprised that no one has recommended David Eddings yet. Yes, his books are rather clichéd. Yes, they have stereotypical characters. But those are the exact reasons to why I think that starting from his books is the best way.

Although, it may affect my judgement that The Belgariad was the first fantasy series I ever read. ;) I found myself enjoying his novels very much, and afterwards it was easy to expand my views on fantasy with J.R.R. Tolkien, Robert Holdstock and other authors.

If your friend likes classic literatur you might choose Peter Pan or Hans Christian Andersens Fairy tales. And for the rest. I would also try an Anthology, chances are good that at least one story hits the mark.

I know I'm dating myself, but before Tolkein's Lord of the Rings I was reading H. Rider Haggard, the Witchworld books by Andre Norton and Jirel of Joiry by C.L. Moore. Oh, and Lord Dunsany wrote some wonderful fantasy. Maybe those are just too old-fashioned for people today though.

It is difficult to know what a 'newbie' to fantasy might enjoy, but maybe something urban fantasy as charles de lints Moonheart, someplace to be flying, Forest of the heart, memory and dream greenmantle, Nina kiriki hoffmans a fistful of sky or stephen kings Talisman & Black House or Dark tower series. I don't think that I would recommend Robert Holdstocks Mythago wood series though, they are very dense, and a bit of an acquired taste. When it comes to 'straight' fantasy I think single standing works, and great authors are the thing - Martha wells is a fantastic writer with very inventive worlds as in wheel of the infinite, city of bones, the ile-rien series Guy Gavriel Kings historical fiction is great as well with The Lions of al-rassan or the sarantine mosaic a good place to start.

They might like something like Magic Kingdom For Sale-Sold by Terry Brooks. It's a fun read and it doesn't just throw you into the fantasy world right away. Instead it gives a decent transition. The only downside is that it is part of a 5 book series.

If they usually read stories that are more based in reality, I would have them avoid books form Forgotten Realms or Dragonlance. Those books might scare him or her away.

Probably Garth Nix's The Keys to the Kingdom series. Not to daunting- just the right size for new fantasy readers, and pretty fast-paced. Original too, so that when you reading other fantasies you don't say "OH! I read that in..." Also...The Chronicles of Narnia. Thats like the standard start-off.

First enjoyable fiction novels were The Warrior Heir and the wizard heir

I agree with the suggestion of Trudi Canavan, The Magician's Guild is one of the books I recommend most to new readers of the genre! Personally, I try to find authors or titles that have something in common with a book that the newbie already likes. For example, if they read a lot of romance I might suggest something like Elizabeth Vaughan's Warprize.

One of the first books I read growing up was Dragon On A Pedestal by Piers Anthony. I liked it so much that I haven't stopped collecting the Xanth series and have infected quite a few friends with a love for his puns. I'd say this is a good series to get started with.

Anne McCaffrey's Dragonriders of Pern series also appeals to a lot of people and is very easy to read. Dragonsong & Dragonsinger is usually a good place to start.

I agree with the many people who said to find out what the person already like and find something that is similar to that.

But after that I would suggest good fantasy, not the boilerplate stuff like "Dragonlance".

"The King of Elfland's Daughter" by Edward John Lord Dunsany
"The Hobbit, or There and Back Again" by J. R. R. Tolkien
''The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" by C. S. Lewis
"The Once and Future King" by T. H. White
"The Worm Ouroboros" by E. R. Eddison
"The Wizard of Earthsea" by Ursula K. LeGuin
"The Book of Three" by Lloyd Alexander
"A Wrinkle in Time" by Madeleine L'Engle
"Titus Groan" by Mervyn Peake
"Over Sea, Under Stone" by Susan Cooper
"Conan the Barbarian" by Robert E. Howard
"Nine Princes in Amber" by Roger Zelazny

I'd suggest maybe starting with stuff based on recognizable fairy tales. Most of the stuff in this category that I personally am familiar with are aimed at young girls with the specific intention of having them grow up to be real people, but despite this very specific market they're still really good--books like Ella Enchanted or anything else by Gail Carson Levine, perhaps Patricia C. Wrede's Enchanted Forest Chronicles (Dealing with Dragons, etc). If you know the original fairy tales, which you probably do, then it won't feel as much like jumping into a whole brand new genre.

I'd say that any fantasy ought to start with the assumption that the reader doesn't know anything about the book's world, unless it's a later book in a series. Decent worldbuilding is a part of good fantasy. How am I supposed to know if author X's dragons work the same as author Y's dragons, even if I am a regular fantasy reader?

So I'd recommend fantasy to new readers of the genre the same way I'd recommend it to anybody else:
1. something to fit their taste
2. something good

This is a really interesting question - it has me looking at my bookshelf very thoughtfully.

My assumption was that fantasy readers start in childhood with classics like The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, and read their way up to adult fantasy via Lloyd Alexander's Black Cauldron, Mary Stewart's Once and Future King and then eventually find the Belgariad and Feist's Magician in their school library. When it happens like that, books suggest themselves based on the age and attention span of the reader.

I'm not sure that a good introduction to the conventions of the genre should be a criteria for recommendation. The best books are the ones that breach those conventions anyway, and surely if the goal is to tempt, using the best books is a good idea.

If I was trying to tempt an adult reader with no interest in the genre, my criteria would be the quality of the writing and the believability of the characters (given how unbelievable they will find everything else). To be honest, I'd probably try to tempt them to speculative fiction via SF rather than fantasy as it's less of a stretch.

Sarah Douglass' Crucible series, starting with The Nameless Day might be a good starting point. It is set in the real past, and the fantasy elements mirror the beliefs of people at the time so it isn't as a big a leap as books that feature a more 'high fantasy' plotline.

Robin Hobb's Liveship series features well drawn characters so it's another one I'd consider recommending.

Wow. I would really NOT reccomend Sara Douglass or Robin Hobb for beginners! They're both pretty seriously grim/depressing.

#36, in my opinion that makes them perfect for readers of literary fiction.

I find the human suffering that seems so rife in literary fiction grim and depressing so people who enjoy that sort of stuff should be right at home with Douglass and Hobb.

I guess I think that the Crucible series is less 'out there' than high fantasy because the magic in the book is what people believed during that era of history. In a weird way it really existed back then even though it doesn't now. So the reader is being asked to swallow fewer fantastic elements - if that makes sense?

Sassm, I think you mean T. H. White's Once and Future King. Mary Stewart wrote a trilogy about the Arthurian legend, starting with The Crystal Cave, moving on to The Hollow Hills and concluding with The Last Enchantment.

I have just now read Ursula LeGuin's Earthsea trilogy plus one. Somehow I missed them when I was first reading fantasy. The writing is wonderful, but the first two books were a little short on action, particularly for a new reader to the genre.

I might start someone off with Robert A. Heinlein's Glory Road, if only because it's reminiscent of the kind of swashbuckling material most readers recognize (Three Musketeers, Zorro, etc.).

Linkmeister you're right. Thank you.

I can't believe I mixed them up. They're both great though.

No worries. I loved Mary Stewart, but it took me a long time to shift from her contemporary romance material to the Arthurian books; I think I'd read White's book too recently when she started publishing them, and I saw no need to go over the same legend again.

I was surprised to find Arthur, Guinnevere and Lancelot in Guy Gavriel Kay's Fionavar Tapestry trilogy, which I just read for the first time a few weeks ago.

37: I suppose. But the person in question is also reluctant to read science fiction, which means the "fantasy" elements aren't the only problem.

And in terms of "not scaring off" newbies, I still would strongly reccomend against Hobb or Douglass. Especially The Crucible, which has a completely unlikeable main character; it's realistic to the time, yes, but that doesn't mean it's any more pleasant to read something in the perspective of a raving woman-hater. I like Douglass, and I still only made it about fifty pages into the first book of the Crucible before I had to put it down in sheer disgust.

lohengrin, that's very true. I think I probably have a specific few people in mind when I'm thinking about this question. A little bit of misogyny wouldn't be as much of a deterrant as an elf, a wizard, or a farmboy destined to be king.

Great topic!

Of course it depends on the person, but I would second the recommendations of Ursula LeGuin's original Earthsea trilogy. She wrote more books about Earthsea after the first three, but amazingly enough they are awful. A Wizard of Earthsea, The Tombs of Atuan, and The Farthest Shore are the original trilogy, and they are very good.

And Watership Down is another great intro to fantasy.

You know, I just read the Earthsea books last week (I know, I'm appalled too; how did I get to be an SF fan and avoid those for 40 years?), and I have to say they are wonderfully well-written, but it sure took a long time for anything to happen in them, at least the first three.

Maybe I'm spoiled or affected by all the others I've read over the years.

Creating new worlds is obviously a major component of fantasy, but if a whole new world might be too much for someone new to the genre, what about something like Neverwhere ? The story transitions easily between worlds, perhaps it would help nudge one's thinking in that direction without overwhelming them.

In the spirit of the UnSuggester, The Silmarillion should make sure they never even look at a book with the word 'elf' in it! ;-)

#45 Heh! I LOVE the Lord of the Rings "trilogy" and have read all three volumes at least 12 times since 1970, but even I can't deal with The Silmarillion! lol

ETA: How about the novels by Jim Butcher which I just discovered this year? For someone who likes mysteries, the Dresden Files starting with Storm Front might be perfect, since it's set in Chicago in the present of a slightly alternate universe. I know Butcher also writes straight fantasy, i.e., The Alera Codex, but I haven't read any of those yet. Also just started reading the Artemis Fowl YA fantasies, which are such fun!

Well, which genre of fantasy are you talking about? I'd argue that you have urban fantasy like Night watch, Neverwhere, Someone Comes to Town, Someone Leaves Town and Charles deLint. You have "high fantasy" like The Lord of the Rings and Conan. You have magical realism. You have revisions and adaptations of folklore and the classics such as A Wonder-Book for Girls and Boys. You have horror fiction such as H. P. Lovecraft and Stephen King. Then there is stuff that crosses genres such as Dragonsong.

If someone is of a more poetic bent, recent years have produced two very readable translations of Beowulf and Gilgamesh.

#45 I share your love for the Lord of the Rings trilogy, and also couldn't get through Silmarillion - until I got the audio version. I really enjoyed listening to that, and have listened to it several times now.

I saw someone mentioned The Stolen Child but personally, I found that one a little harder to get through than many others. I would definitely suggest any of the Harry Potter books, and any of the Artemis Fowl books, The Akhenaten Adventure.

I would have thought Arrows of the Queen would be the best, it's fluffy and easy to understand because you are lead by Talia's lack of knowlege, doesn't have anything majorly bad in it, is really simple and has a happy ending, perfect bread and cheese.

49: Arrows doesn't have anything majorly bad in it, no, but it IS the first part of a trilogy, and the third book certainly has majorly bad things in it.

Maybe pick something with a theme that they already like -- someone above suggested mysteries. Animals might also be an option -- anthologies like Catfantastic or Knight Fantastic could be a good introduction to authors that have published longer works. If they don't like anthologies but are into history, maybe Mercedes Lackey's This Scepter'd Isle, or for something sort of suspenseful & thriller-esque, Mirror of Her Dreams and the sequel A Man Rides Through.

And of course, there are lots of great contemporary urban fantasy/romance titles. Age, other interests, and gender may make some difference, at least before they're hooked!

Well, my first intro into fantasy was Terry Brooks, Robert Jordan, and David Eddings.

I like big books or series and descriptive worlds so I had no problems with any of the above authors.

But like others have stated, what kinds of fantasy books to suggest to a new fantasy reader will depend on their reading preferences (long/short books, series, overly descriptive, etc).

There are so many choices, as so many have already given suggestions from all types of fantasy. IMO I would start them off, maybe something less complex and just straight fantasy. Terry Brook's Shannara books and David Edding's Belgariad are good examples of that. The familiar quest story by a small group, lots of magic that people usually think of in fantasy.

I agree with the comment other people have made, what does this person like to read now?

If it was me, I would recommend something that has great character and story, something good enough to draw them in, but something thats not terribly heavy on the fantasy/SF.

Something like Temeraire or His Majesty's Dragon by Naomi Novik (depending on which country you are in would be good for someone who has enjoyed victorian/edwardian stories. College of Magics and Scholar of Magic by Caroline Stevermer would also suit, as would Adventures of an Enchanted Chocolate Pot and Grand Tour by Stevermer and Patricia Wrede

For mystery/crime I would agree with whoever suggested the Harry Dresden books Storm Front is the first (tho it takes about the 3rd one to settle in.

For someone with more adult taste, with a gothic theme there is the good old Anita Blake books (I know there will be collective groans to this) but lets face it, the early books were good

There is lots of good contempory Urban fantasy out there that is approachable Kitty and the Midnight Hour about a woman turned into a werewolf and the problems she has adjusting, similar theme with Bitten by Kelley Armstrong but quite different books.

Bit of romance involved in Moon Called by Patricia Briggs, but good story and characters .

And to finish, I strongly recommend the Belgariad by Eddings and for a bit of SF - The Many Coloured Land series by Julian May - a little bit of identifiable fantasy (based out of fairytales) with a little bit of SF, but great characters and story and plot

Good question! Hope you find the right fit for your person.

YAY , more books for my wish list ! LOL ! I really need to stop reading threads and get back to reading books !

whant about So you whant to be a Wizard by Diane Duane, alot like Wizard's First Rule by Terry good kind, the character knows nothing about magic and has everything explained, in this case by a book with all the rules and instructions. Plus it is a fun book.

Legend by David Gemmell is the book i always recommend to a beginner to reading books in general, nevermind fantasy and every single time that person has gone on to read more fantasy.

Piers Anthony is a good place to start period. He has many fantasy books that'll pull you in that isn't too harsh or hard to understand.

#57- urgh. Some of his early work maybe, but he's writen some complete tripe too, so probably not the best to recommend picking up anything by him.

#58 well, as long as you start out reading 1-8 in the Xanth series you will be in good hands. The books are well thought out and very light and fun. After Crewel Lye it gets iffy and after Heaven Cent its really hit or miss.

I started one of Anthony's books... Night Mare I think it was... and was bored three pages in. He seems to think he's really clever — and isn't.

Or perhaps I didn't give him a fair try.

Ok so nobody suggested anything by Tamora Pierce. I know her books are in the Teens/YA section in book stores but so are many of the other books being suggested. She's good especially if your a girl getting into fantasy because her characters mostly are girls. Check out Song of the Lioness series, The Immortals series, The Protector of the Small series (all from the land of Tortall. She also has another group of books Circle of Magic series and The Circle Opens series. All amazing sets I read as a newbie to fantasy 12 yrs ago.

I love Tamora Pierce so much!! I've never read the Circle books, but the Tortall books I think I've got memorized! I have to restrain myself very hard to only read them ONCE a year. Actually I've been craving them again lately, but I'm pretty sure I read them in November...so I need to contain myself a bit.

They truly are fabulous!

#62 Totally try the Circle. They are much different from the Tortall books. The magic is different and the teacher (Numair type guy) is way cool. My fav. character is Briar Moss; his is the last book in the first quartet (Circle of Magic).

>63 summerbis:. Oddly, I've had several of the Circle books for years, and just never read them. Too obsessed with Tortall I suppose (though as a side, I'm not really enthused about the new Terrior series). But if you say they're great I'll give them a try...one of these days, when I don't have 47 books checked out of the library!

P.S. I love Numair! "Canoodling", ha!

#56

Same for me, except I used Sword in the Storm. They then proceeded to read all the rest of my books by David Gemmell.