Fantasy book club suggestions?

Hi! I am a librarian and I am planning on starting a fantasy book discussion group at my branch. But I need suggestions for our first book. Do I go more mainstream? Something meaty? Something fun? My only real criteria is that is has to be pretty readily available so that we can get multiple copies easily. Bring on the suggestions, you brilliant people!

Brent Weeks' Night Angel Trilogy seems popular with people in a wide range of age groups and would be readily available to your book discussion group. Janny Wurts and Naomi Novik are also very popular. My own choice would be anything by Robin Hobb but I'm not sure that her work would suit your criteria for the discussion group you have in mind.

I'd avoid books that are part of long ongoing series, because of the issue of finding any older books at the beginning of the series.

Are these folks who read fantasy? Or are they new to the genre? Or mixed?

Off the top of my head, for a quick, fun read, not too heavy and not dark, maybe Soulless by Gail Carriger. New enough it should be easily available.

Also perhaps Leviathan or anything else by Scott Westerfeld.

A more young adult fantasy series is the Alcatraz books. They are about a teenage boy telling his story about his family of occulators who have special talents. For example, the main characters talent is breaking things. the try to free the hushlands from the evil librarians, who teach us weird things ( who said there was only 7 continents?).

Thanks so much for the suggestions!

As a librarian, I love the Alcatraz books (we so rarely get to be such interesting villains) but I'm aiming for a more adult crowd. Same goes for Leviathan, though that was excellent as well. I really, really love Soulless, but I thought the paranormal romance aspects might discourage some readers. And, while I love Janny Wurts, I think she might be a bit complex to kick off a group on. I'll have to think about the Brent Weeks series. I have the first one, but haven't finished it. And the Tremeraire books are great, but I think are better discussed as a series, not a stand-a-lone, and so are not quite what I am looking for. Robin Hobb is great, but my own preference would be for Assassin's Apprentice and once again, I think that series is better discussed as a whole.

Maybe I am just over-analyzing this. I want it to go well; the fantasy section might get some better funding if I can show a community base.

Any more thoughts out there?

What would make you want to attend a book club that you had never heard of before?

What kind of a group are you aiming for? Newcomers to fantasy? In that case, Watership Down is an oldie but such a classic that it's still readily available and you won't go wrong with it. (I happen to think Shardik is Adams' best novel, and it also happens to be Adams' own personal favorite, but Watership Down is a safer bet for newbies.) One danger with a classic, though, is that some "know it all" might show up at your group and try to monopolize the discussion to show off his knowledge of Adams.

For something more recent, I have a suggestion for a YA novel but one that should also definitely attract adult interest, Here Lies Arthur by Philip Reeve. It's a deconstruction of the Arthurian myth, told from the perspective of a young girl, Gwyna, whose village is destroyed by Arthur's bandit gang. She's "adopted" more or less by a wandering bard, Myrrdin, who also has a talent for slight-of-hand magic and who uses her underwater swimming ability to make her into the Lady of the Lake. It's about how a society creates its founding myths (which should be a good jumping off for adult discussion), and there are also a couple of interesting transgender twists along the way.

What would make you want to attend a book club that you had never heard of before?

A book that struck my fancy. (And, er, knowing it would be/was a small group, but that doesn't really help you.) Majkia asks a good question, though: are you expecting mostly people who're 'fantasy veterans' or 'fantasy newbies'?

If you're expecting more of the latter, it might be a better idea to pick some fantasy that they can ease into instead of starting with a more mainstream fantasy book.

Series, even duologies, might be best avoided unless they're readibly available in one volume, though.

The Vintner's Luck by Elizabeth Knox might be worth looking at. It's definitely for the more mature crowd, should be easily available, is quite light on the fantastical elements, has scads and scads of discussion potential, and stands on its own. (And, also, for those who love it, they can try hunting down the stand-alone sequel.)

Fitcher's Brides by Gregory Frost might also be worth looking into.

Is there any way you can check what the people of your library might be interested in reading for such a bookclub? That might also give you some ideas. ^-^

well, you could try Game of Thrones given the tie in with the new HBO series beginning next year. Perhaps that would be a real draw.

I think it depends, as others have said, on what kind of crowd you want to draw. If you want it to be more accessible to a broader audience--both beginners and vets of the genre--I would pick something a little less dark and dire than Robin Hobb or George R. R. Martin. Doorstopper-sized books might also scare off some people.

Something by Neil Gaiman might work. His books tend to be stand-alone, and American Gods was just done for "One Book, One Twitter" group read pretty successfully, as I understand it. Or you could go for the humour side of things and do his collaboration with Terry Practhett, Good Omens.

Other than that, maybe poke about the "One-shot/Standalone" rec thread here: http://www.librarything.com/topic/1549 since it sometimes feels hard to find fantasy novels that are not part of a series.

I was just about to suggest Gaiman as his works are mainly stand-alone. American Gods or Neverwhere would make a good group read.

Shardik is a fantastic idea. (Though I may be biased; it's my favorite book.) If you want something a little more traditional/mainstream, perhaps The Name of the Wind?

I'd go for a standalone.

If your crowd is looking for classic fantasy, many a new reader has found Legend by David Gemmell a good starter. If your group is mixed, the men won't be turned off.

If you have a more literate crowd, and want short, or easily accessible to a mainstream reader (and your group, perhaps leans toward women) then I'd try (short and not intimidating!) Tea with the Black Dragon by R. A. MacAvoy. Or The Grey Horse also by her.

If your group is mostly women, Juliet Marillier writes mostly stand alones.

If your group is very literate, Patricia McKillip - I loved her Od Magic for deep allegorical themes.

If you are running a mixed age group, women, men, and some YA readers, Greg Keyes The Briar King offers some creative beauty with the language, and has well drawn characters. It is the beginning of a series, but it concludes well.

If your readers won't follow shifts of viewpoint well, and you want a single viewpoint story, Carol Berg's standalone Song of the Beast moved quickly, had plenty of depth, and was not derivative formula.

(shame on so many of the touchstones not working!!)

I believe another strong candidate author for your fantasy reading club would be Guy Gavriel Kay.

GGK is a very popular and highly respected writer and poet whose works can be (and are) enjoyed but a vast and varied audience. As a master of "historical fantasy" his world-building is original and creative but with strong and recognizable parallels to historical regions and epochs in our own world.

Most of his novels are stand-alone, but are (usually) set in the same twin-mooned world. Though they can be clearly assigned to the modern "fantasy" genre, they encompass elements of action/adventure, political intrigue, romance, mystery, humour and often with surprisingly sharp social/philosophical insight. His characters - both male and female - are always interesting and often gave me the sense of reminding me of people from my own life. The magical-mythical elements that most clearly define the fantasy genre are also present in these stories to a greater or lesser degrees, but not to the point where the overwhelm the world-view credibility.

Tigana, A Song for Arbonne, The Lions of Al-Rassan or The Last Light of the Sun would be my recommendations from this author. If your club members would prefer a more "Tolkenesque" read try his Fionavar Tapestry trilogy (perhaps his best YA work), or if their tastes may lean toward a more adult "urban fantasy" feel take a look at "Ysabelle".

Good luck with your reading club, no matter which author or book you decide to go with!

the book should probably be stand alone right? unless you are willing to read whole series.

the first book could be the first southern vampire book. the true blood series is based on it. and i know it is not really stand alone, but it comes pretty close.

or maybe a book of short stories, as the stories are easier to finish for people with lots of busyness in their life? something with stories from the different subgenres of fantasy. that could be an aim of your bookclub - explore all the different subgenres of fantasy.

Good stand-alone fantasies are hard to find!

But perhaps Warbreaker by Brandon Sanderson, The Magicians by Lev Grossman, Trader or Forests of the Heart or another novel by Charles de Lint, The Bell at Sealey Head by Patricia McKillip, just about anything by Neil Gaiman, or one of Terry Pratchett's Discworld novels? (The Discworld novels, while technically part of a series, do stand alone for the most part.)

Bridge of Birds by Barry Hughart. There's a nice, light confection which introduces and plays with standard fantasy tropes. Or go traditional and try Tolkien's Hobbit.

I wouldn't worry too much about introducing the first book in a series - if people like the book, they can carry on with the series, and if they don't, they won't bother.

Assassin's Apprentice is a great choice.

Another two books with cross-gender appeal and good entertainment value might be The curse of Chalion and Inda.

#17 I'd have to say that the fantasy I've enjoyed the most has been part of a series and I had assumed that by introducing the first book it would be up to the book club members to decide if they wished to continue. It was reading Assassin's Apprentice that convinced me that it would be worthwhile switching from science fiction occasionally. I wasn't sure if Urban Fantasy (apart from young adult romances) was on SockMoneyGirl's agenda but The Stolen Child by Keith Donohue is a stand alone book that is definitely an interesting read.

I ditto The Curse of Chalion with exclamation points. I found Assassin's Apprentice, while well written, to be very depressing.

Personally, I often dislike series for lazy installment writing, which is usually my greatest impediment to fantasy reading. (Assassin's Apprentice in particular, I found not depressing, but boring, yes.)

I think going pretty mainstream and standalone and relatively new (within the last 10 years) works for a starting a new group. It casts a wide net and all and then seeing your membership, you can tweak!

Aww, someone beat me to The Curse of Chalion for a suggestion. I love Od Magic too. I'd also suggest Jane Lindskold's Changer, although that may be harder to find, as it merges Old World gods with the modern American Southwest (and she did it earlier and better than Gaiman, although I love his Anansi Boys).

Brandon Sanderson's adult work has been very popular, and his Elantris is a stand-alone.

Diana Wynne Jones' The Dark Lord of Derkholm is delightful but perhaps more appreciated by those who are familiar with the tropes of fantasy. Reading any book in conjunction with The Tough Guide to Fantasyland is recommended highly!

I chose The Stolen Child for my non-fantasy reading book club and everyone liked it. If you are thinking about Neil Gaiman for a new-to-fantasy audience, I would recommend Stardust or maybe even Coraline. So many of his other books are dark and intense and while I really like them, they may be intimidating.

Oooh, I second Stardust - light, quick read and yet interesting.

A Night in the Lonesome October by Roger Zelazny

A Very Funny, standalone fantasy. Perfect for book club.

I always agree with a recommendation for A Night in the Lonesome October! One of my favorite books.

25:

They recently reissued the audio book of A Night in a Lonesome October on CD, which was read by Zelazny and is awesome.

Speaking Volumes is also reissuing properly remastered versions of the Amber books on CD as read by Zelazny.

A wonderful classic example of fantasy would be The Last Unicorn by Peter S. Beagle. It is beautifully and lyrically written and would be enjoyed by any age group, in my opinion.

Thanks to everyone for some great suggestions!
I think that I am going to go with Good Omens for the first book Sunshine for the second and The Curse of Chalion for the third. After that, the group can decide (if anyone shows up). Thanks again!

Thinking strategically, and in response to your question of what would draw me: selecting a short, classic standalone with some strong depth to it would be the best first choice. Perhaps the first volume of The Once and Future King, or A Wizard of Earthsea, The Last Unicorn, The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe, The Neverending Story, The Hero and the Crown. I don't see a problem with straying to young adult fare, provided the depth is there for interesting followup discussion.

I would hope that the group intends to explore fantasy with respect, as a serious genre worthy of literary analysis. I'd be interested in exploring novels from the perspective of tropes, the quest theme, and what they are able to say about real society; that is, how each novel might contain lessons/statements applicable to real-life events.

The strongest defences of the genre from an analysis standpoint that i've yet heard: Gene Wolfe's position that all novels are fantasy, some are just more honest about it. And the genre's freedom to generically explore issues which can be made more generally applicable and absorbed than a novel set in a real time and place. In other words, dissociating from reality frees these novels to explore what is the essence of humanity common to all of us, regardless of our real backgrounds and cultures. Arguably (discuss!) it's the least prejudiced genre ever invented.

You could do some internet research on whichever author you choose as to what they've said in interviews about the importance and placing of the genre in the literary sphere, and explore this in tandem with their novel. Then the next novels selected for reading could build upon the direction initiated, seeking answers to questions risen.

It would also be fantastic to have an in-group introductory discussion around what is considered to be fantasy. Most people I'm sure would be surprised to see what it ecompasses and how strong its root are: Homer, Beowulf, Dante, Shakespeare, Carol, etc.

Perhaps I'm outlining a PhD program instead of a reading group, lol. But I would be sorely disappointed if the group proved to be nothing more than "let's read this book together because it's a fun one, and we'll just chat about our favourite parts". That would lead me to a quick exit.

Edit: for a helpful listing on LibraryThing of what's held to be classic and/or popular, you might consult this. I recommend sorting by the Tag field.
http://www.librarything.com/catalog/1001Fantasy/yourlibrary