@Jessica I read the first in the wheel of time series many years back. Tried to listen to it on audible a couple months back and was gonna go through the entire series on audible but couldn’t get through the first one it was sooooo slow! Scared that the way of kings will be the same…
Wheel of time is very very descriptive writing. Like i once read an entire chapter about what the scene looked like. But I enjoy that kind of writing. From my understanding way of kings isnt as bad in that aspect.
@Jessica I like it also to an extent. Thought I would be able to kinda lose myself in the story, especially on audible but it just didn’t work for me. Maybe it was cause I had read it before. Not really sure
The Silver Call (which is a duology omnibus) by Dennis McKiernan. Very much inspired by the Mines of Moria. A number of McKiernan books are inspired by Tolkien. I found them a fun read.
@Sean I looked the dragon lance chronicles up in audible and didn’t find a single good review. Not cause the book was bad but because the narration was so terrible. Might be that I need to read those instead of listen.
Wow! I find it interesting that none of the same books in this post were recommended in another post I made looking for a journey or quest like adventure that was epic and long but maybe not so boring and drawn out. In that one it was Hobbs and Sanderson and several others but I don’t think one single series or author was mentioned in both posts…
the Bible isn’t entirely fictional but it’s not entirely real either it’s a work of pseudo history sorta like the book the kings of Britain it has plenty of real people and real history but it mixes it in with bs like rock people angels demons and super powered babies
I’ve been looking for something similar and as epic as LOTR since the early 70’s and haven’t found it yet! It’s pointless to try, but when a book leaves such a strong impression on you it’s hard not to compare everything else to that one book! I might have made some suggestions on your other post. There are so many great fantasy series out there…I don’t think any on my favorites list is that similar to LOTR!
I can’t remember the name of the books or author right now. But there’s a series that someone else wrote which was actually intended as a sequel. Not Tolkien… I wanna say Kevin something… maybe McKenna or something like that. Ultimately, he couldn’t get the right to make it an actual LOTR book, so they changed a few things around and published it as a separate series. But it was VERY similar to LOTR.
@Roger I was hoping someone else would remember. It was about a halfling/hobbit. And I seem to recall it involved a meteor crashing to Earth and then using the metal for some kind of magic.
I can’t think of one off the top of my head but the LOTR formula is pretty popular within fantasy. People go on quest to destroy item/(s) to stop an evil overlord from conquering the world with evil monsters.
I actually can’t think of one. Most of the most LotR-y books would be the copycat authors who followed on Tolkien’s heels in the later 70’s and early 80’s, so I guess the ones I’ve read in that vein would be the Belgariad, mostly.
The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant, the Unbeliever by Stephen R. Donaldson is the closest in its approach and style to Tolkien whilst also subverting certain tropes. At least, based on the first trilogy, since that’s the only one I’ve read. As the introduction, the first book is slowest, and it contains a fair bit of travelling and world-building. Second instalment is excellent, and many of the secondary characters are very well developed. Caveat: the protagonist is full of self-pity and also self-hate, sometimes a little too much, but it’s actually justified.
Next closest of the ones I’ve read would be The Fionavar Tapestry by Guy Gavriel Kay. He wrote it right after his stint as editor for the Tolkien Estate, so the Tolkien influence was strong.
Co-incidentally, both of these trilogies are portal fantasies.
I’m currently reading the second instalment of Tad Williams’ Memory, Sorrow and Thorn trilogy. Really enjoying it very much. This is another direct homage to Tolkien, and done very well, although when it comes to writing styles, both Kay and Donaldson are easily superior. Williams’ trilogy is also far more conventional, but that doesn’t mean it’s bad. Like I said, I’m liking it very much.
Probably Wheel of Time.
I second that.
What do you think of wheel of time verses the way of kings series?
I’m only halfway through the wheel of time so I cant answer that till probably this time next year ?
@Jessica so you’ve read all Of way of kings then?
Not yet that’s next. I have the first book but want to finish wheel of time first
@Jessica I read the first in the wheel of time series many years back. Tried to listen to it on audible a couple months back and was gonna go through the entire series on audible but couldn’t get through the first one it was sooooo slow! Scared that the way of kings will be the same…
Wheel of time is very very descriptive writing. Like i once read an entire chapter about what the scene looked like. But I enjoy that kind of writing. From my understanding way of kings isnt as bad in that aspect.
@Jessica I like it also to an extent. Thought I would be able to kinda lose myself in the story, especially on audible but it just didn’t work for me. Maybe it was cause I had read it before. Not really sure
For writing style – Rise of the apostate by DR Hill was pretty good!
Conan the barbarian because of the amount of world building that’s involved in lotr
If your into that sorta thing
@Brandon looks like there is a 17 book series on audible for one credit. Are each of these books very short reads or something?
yeah there Short fun and a lot of times you don’t need to read the one before it to understand what’s happening
The first Shannara novel is very similar.
@Alastair he actually admitted years later that it was a deliberate rip off…
@Davfyd It wasn’t exactly subtle ?
@Alastair another one said to have terrible narration. I think I may have read it tho years back.
Following
The Silver Call (which is a duology omnibus) by Dennis McKiernan. Very much inspired by the Mines of Moria. A number of McKiernan books are inspired by Tolkien. I found them a fun read.
Dragonlance chronicles.
@Sean I looked the dragon lance chronicles up in audible and didn’t find a single good review. Not cause the book was bad but because the narration was so terrible. Might be that I need to read those instead of listen.
I didn’t use audible for them. I loved them as a written work
as far as writing, the fionovar tapestry is very similar.
Nothing compares to the LOTR its the best!
Wow! I find it interesting that none of the same books in this post were recommended in another post I made looking for a journey or quest like adventure that was epic and long but maybe not so boring and drawn out. In that one it was Hobbs and Sanderson and several others but I don’t think one single series or author was mentioned in both posts…
The Sword of Shannara, though I loved it when I read it the first time.
Shannara
Something long, epic, totally fictional, full of made-up people…. Have you tried the Bible? ???
@Jon
Yes I have and I believe it to be Gods inerrant word and without flaw! Maybe you should check it out yourself…
Read it, found the protagonist to be slightly boring.
the Bible isn’t entirely fictional but it’s not entirely real either it’s a work of pseudo history sorta like the book the kings of Britain it has plenty of real people and real history but it mixes it in with bs like rock people angels demons and super powered babies
also never compare lotr to something like the Bible the lotr is at least 90% better
I’ve been looking for something similar and as epic as LOTR since the early 70’s and haven’t found it yet! It’s pointless to try, but when a book leaves such a strong impression on you it’s hard not to compare everything else to that one book! I might have made some suggestions on your other post. There are so many great fantasy series out there…I don’t think any on my favorites list is that similar to LOTR!
I can’t remember the name of the books or author right now. But there’s a series that someone else wrote which was actually intended as a sequel. Not Tolkien… I wanna say Kevin something… maybe McKenna or something like that. Ultimately, he couldn’t get the right to make it an actual LOTR book, so they changed a few things around and published it as a separate series. But it was VERY similar to LOTR.
@Mike
Well how can I figure it out I wonder?
@Roger I was hoping someone else would remember. It was about a halfling/hobbit. And I seem to recall it involved a meteor crashing to Earth and then using the metal for some kind of magic.
@Roger I found it.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/554774.The_Dark_Tide
@Mike
Thanks I’ll check it out
Sparhawk
I can’t think of one off the top of my head but the LOTR formula is pretty popular within fantasy. People go on quest to destroy item/(s) to stop an evil overlord from conquering the world with evil monsters.
Definitely ShAnnara!!!!!
I actually can’t think of one. Most of the most LotR-y books would be the copycat authors who followed on Tolkien’s heels in the later 70’s and early 80’s, so I guess the ones I’ve read in that vein would be the Belgariad, mostly.
I’d put the Dragon Bone Chair up there in this category. .. classic well written fantasy
The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant, the Unbeliever by Stephen R. Donaldson is the closest in its approach and style to Tolkien whilst also subverting certain tropes. At least, based on the first trilogy, since that’s the only one I’ve read. As the introduction, the first book is slowest, and it contains a fair bit of travelling and world-building. Second instalment is excellent, and many of the secondary characters are very well developed. Caveat: the protagonist is full of self-pity and also self-hate, sometimes a little too much, but it’s actually justified.
Next closest of the ones I’ve read would be The Fionavar Tapestry by Guy Gavriel Kay. He wrote it right after his stint as editor for the Tolkien Estate, so the Tolkien influence was strong.
Co-incidentally, both of these trilogies are portal fantasies.
I’m currently reading the second instalment of Tad Williams’ Memory, Sorrow and Thorn trilogy. Really enjoying it very much. This is another direct homage to Tolkien, and done very well, although when it comes to writing styles, both Kay and Donaldson are easily superior. Williams’ trilogy is also far more conventional, but that doesn’t mean it’s bad. Like I said, I’m liking it very much.
That was a great series