By the beginning of the 21st century, Robert Jordan's star was fading, and after millions of readers got sucked in (and sometimes sucked dry) by his epic-length Wheel of Time, many were looking for a new addiction. Onto the scene came new names like Steven Erikson and China Mieville, Jay Lake and others; older stars rose again as well, authors like Kate Elliott and Gene Wolfe.
Authors Who Passed the Test of Time
Some authors who were popular in the 90's remained popular in this decade, too, authors like David Farland. Farland wrote the Runelords series, which started in 1999 and just released Chaosbound: Book 8 of the Runelords in 2009. George R. R. Martin, prolific in the 90's, remained so as well. The Song of Ice and Fire series is probably his best-known work, beginning with A Game of Thrones in 1996. Martin is one, however, who makes his audience wait a significant time between installments. Fans have been waiting expectantly for book 5 since October, 2007. Martin seems to have his hands full with so many side projects that he may never return to Winterfell.
Sherwood Smith is another author who produces an incredible amount of work. Her writings – everything from The Borrowers to A Posse of Princesses – span such a variety of age groups and genres that it's simply amazing. Amidst this variety, she found time to bring us Inda. A swashbuckling series with magic and intrigue, Inda is a gem. Now in book 4, the Inda Series is excellent, and readers don't have to wait forever between installments.
Other authors worth mentioning are Tad Williams, with his Shadowmarch trilogy; Guy Gavriel Kay, who, beginning with Tigana, has never ceased to awe his readers with his smooth, sophisticated writing and his subtle, twisting plots; Gene Wolfe, with Knight and Wizard; Kate Elliott, with her Spirit Gate series; and Glen Cook – the Black Company may never die.
Fantasy Literature
Fantasy readers are constantly looking for the "different," the "creative," the "original" – whether in characters, races, world-building, or in plot. And although formulaic, kid-finds-he-has-a-special-power, gets-trained-by-old-hero, kid-becomes-hero-and-gets-the-girl books may have satisfied when those readers were younger, discerning, picky fantasy readers look for more. Books like Eragon, the Harry Potter series, The Dark is Rising, the Inkworld Trilogy, and Stardust might make great movies, but not all of them are satisfying reads for mature readers.
Many new names have brought new life to fantasy literature lately, creating new worlds for the imagination, new races of beings, new heroes and new villains, and even some new sub-genres, mixing science with fantasy, mixing hero with villain, and creating alternate realities which are thought-provoking and sometimes positively mind-bending with their complexity.
The Best New Books & Authors
Some new authors (or authors who have come into their own) have definitely stood out in the past decade.
- Joe Abercrombie made a definite statement with hisFirst Law Series, and he didn't make his readers wait years between installments. His writing is clean, not flowery, and his characters are flawed and realistic, passionate, and his world full of intrigue and magic.
- Jim Butcher, with his Dresden Files and Codex Alera series, is one of those authors who's both prolific and superb. The Dresden Files mix modern characters with magic and sorcery, and Codex Alera takes readers away to a new world with Roman-like Alerans and savage fantasy races. With First Lord's Fury just out, Butcher-fans are salivating like the Canim...
- David Anthony Durham made his mark with Acacia and its sequel, The Other Lands /em>. A story of conquest and betrayal, Durham's originality with regards to culture, world-building, and characters is what separates it from similar literature. His creativity with worlds and races – and the depth of thought that obviously goes into them – makes reading Durham enjoyable.
- Steven Erikson & Ian Cameron Esslemont write the Malazan books. Erikson generally writes the "Malazan Book of the Fallen" variety, and Esslemont writes the "Novel of the Malazan Empire" variety. Both authors write with the same style, character-hopping chapter by chapter, slowly bringing multiple supblots to climax as one, much like Jordan. Main characters overlap between authors, epic, heroic, and awe-inspiring characters like few characters ever created. Fiddler, Kruppe, Tehol, Karsa Orlong, and Anomander Rake – these characters are gritty and flawed, but beautiful and powerful, as are the books.
- China Mieville's work is more than unique, it's groundbreaking. The mix of science and fantasy reaches new heights in his books. They're complicated; they hint at stories and myths readers long to read more about; the characters, some conglomerations of machine and man – but not cyborg – are completely enthralling.
- Patrick Rothfuss made his debut with The Name of the Wind, and with it he grabbed the attention of thousands of readers who now eagerly await its sequel. Some fantasy authors write their series as if each story is separate and newly created; others seem to have obviously thought through the story start to finish, well-planned and exquisite, each book a gem leading naturally into the next. Rothfuss seems to be such a writer. Kvothe's storytelling as a frame for the books is a natural technique that ties them together, and the stories themselves are full of power and humility, smooth and intelligent writing.
- Adrian Tchaikovsky wowed the world with his Shadows of the Apt series. The reason is its difference. To think that a combination of man and bug could be interesting is almost crazy, but Tchaikovsky makes it work. It's creative and original, and Tchaikovsky doesn't wait two years between releases.
- Michael J. Sullivan's Crown Conspiracy and Avempartha are a little lighter than many of the others on this list, but in the tradition of thief/hired-sword stories, there are none better. They feel more heroic than many in their genre (Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser), and it feels like the plot will thicken considerable after Avempartha.
- Jay Lake's Mainspring was a breath of completely fresh air. A world run by clockwork is ingenious enough, but what could have been an awkward mix of mechanical and magical isn't. The quest for the "key perilous" that takes Lake's hero Hethor to the fantastical mishmash of paradise and hell at his transformed equator is as good as anything recently published.
Good Reads, Lots of Potential
- R. Scott Bakker's Prince of Nothing series is intelligent, complex, and a wonderful read, but the raw sexuality that runs rampant throughout is a turnoff for some.
- Robin Hobb built her reputation with the Farseer Trilogy and the Liveship Traders series in the 90's – she continues and maybe even exceeds it with the Soldier Son Trilogy. The world is unique; the characters are true-to-life; the magic is different and interesting.
- J.V. Jones began with A Fortress of Grey Ice in 2004, continued with Cavern of Black Ice in 2005, and added A Sword from Red Ice in 2008. Three years is a long time to wait and remain interested in characters, even those readers came to care about in the first two books. Book 4 is due out in early 2010, but it may have taken too long. Wonderful characters and world creation will keep most of her readers.
- Like Jones, J. Gregory Keyes caught many readers with The Briar King in 2004, and like her, he waited too long with his sequels – 1 1/2 years until book 2, almost 2 more years until book 3, and almost 2 more for book 4, the finale.
- Scott Lynch's The Lies of Locke Lamora is a fantastic read, down-to-earth and gritty. Its sequel wasn't quite as good.
- Eldon Thompson's Legends of Asahiel series is a bit of a throwback, but with new elements. Its characters often fit older races, or versions of them, but with subtle differences. Book 3 came out two years after book 2, but they're all released now, and definitely worth reading.
- Brent Weeks' Night Angel Trilogy was action-packed, and the 3 books were all released in three months. That in itself is reason to read them.
Most of these authors have proven (or at least begun to prove) that what they write is worth reading. They're all masters of plot, world, and character. Their ideas are new and fresh, their stories are gripping, and these books won't disappoint. They'll create those new addictions readers have been missing.
Honorable Mention:
- Robert Redick – His Ruling Sea series is fresh, a combination of the Borrowers, the Rats of Nimh, and, say, your favorite pirate-fantasy book.
- Eldon Thompson – Legends of Asahiel is certainly worth a mention.
- David Weber – Bahzell Bahnakson is a FUN character.
- Ken Scholes – Canticles of Isaak
Other Reviews by Ben Lingenfelter
Ben Lingenfelter - As an intinerant writer, I've found freedom to write and learn about a variety of topics. That fits me perfectly. I've been an English ...
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