Try some sci-fi fantasy like the Nightside novelettes by Simon R. Green, or the Man with the Golden torc series by the same.

The Dresden Files and the Aleran codex by Jim butcher are also good. More meat than Green's stuff.

These are different from most throwaway fantasy as they don't take anything from DnD. The Aleran codex seems to be set in some kind of alternate reality Roman empire. Nightside, Golden torc and Dresden files are all in modern times.

In response to some queries...

1) I do switch up Genres, right now i'm reading alot of James Rollins, Lee Child and F. Paul Wilson.
2) I tired of Genre Tropes long ago, but you either have Tropes or Stuffy in most Fantasy, I'm looking for some Exciting Variant Fantasy.
3) *Adds Tolkien and Tad Willaims to list*, forgot about them, haven't read those books for ages.

megascorcher:
I heartily recommend the Gotrek & Felix series of Warhammer books by William King and Nathan Long. The first book is called Trollslayer and was published in 1999. The series has a very unique form of exposition, often shifting perspective to antagonists or other surrounding characters. Also the story and setting is top notch. Books eight through ten, Orcslayer, Manslayer and Elfslayer (and the eleventh being on the way) was written by another author, Nathan Long, who didn't carry on William King's form of writing, but writes interesting stories nontheless, especially his skill in painting wondrous descriptions with the English language is notable.

I second the Gotrek & Felix series, Although they may not be as varied and different as you are looking for at the moment they are definatly worth looking into when you are not so bored of fantasy.

My recommendation would be the Thieves world series edited by Robert Asprin. It's a collaborative effort by quite a few different writers that bring their own characters into a town called sanctuary(the main setting for most the storys). The storys can be fairly dark and the protagonists aren't your normal knights in shining armour. The only problem is I hear its hard to come by these books anymore as they are no longer in print having been published from 1979-89.

Read Terry Pratchet. He was a ton of books out ranging from good to really really good.

Neil Gaiman's American Gods is one of my favorite books.

Does Kurt Vonnegut count?

As for comic book s I would recommend Sandman (obviously), Lucifer and Fables if the pro Israel slant doesn't drive you crazy.

I'm Jewish and it bothers me but some people love Fables anyway.

The Watch series by a Russian named Sergey something, nice urban fantasy, awesome movie adaptations. Not even the Matrix has someone drive a car up the side of a hotel and into the function room on the top floor. Or the creepy evil Spider-Squeakie Doll.

I would suggest The Prince of Nothing series by R. Scott Bakker. The names are mostly unpronounceable but if you can get over that they are excellent books.

Another good series is The Malazan Book of the Fallen by Stephen Erickson. I will warn you that Malazan is really hard to get into since it appears that Erickson told the story in a deliberately overcomplicated way.

Glen Cook's The Black Company is supposed to be good, but I haven't got around to reading it yet so no personal recommendation there.

Ralackk:

megascorcher:
I heartily recommend the Gotrek & Felix series of Warhammer books by William King and Nathan Long. The first book is called Trollslayer and was published in 1999. The series has a very unique form of exposition, often shifting perspective to antagonists or other surrounding characters. Also the story and setting is top notch. Books eight through ten, Orcslayer, Manslayer and Elfslayer (and the eleventh being on the way) was written by another author, Nathan Long, who didn't carry on William King's form of writing, but writes interesting stories nontheless, especially his skill in painting wondrous descriptions with the English language is notable.

I second the Gotrek & Felix series, Although they may not be as varied and different as you are looking for at the moment they are definatly worth looking into when you are not so bored of fantasy.

Well, I disagree somewhat. In many of the books they encounter beings that are quite unique in regards to fantasy litterature. For example, the Skaven and the servants of Chaos. Especially when the story can often shift to their perspective, giving you an unique look into the life/culture and psychology of these factions.

There's a lot of advice for finding more great fantasy going on in this thread.

Let me point out that the genre of fantasy is almost always very poorly written. There are few pulp fiction outlets anymore, fantasy is one of them. You're probably boring of it because you've read the same variation of Lord of the Rings so many times it is time to find new sources of interest.

I would say try another genre, see what lies in the likes of Findley (I recommend the Wars or Twain (I reccomend the Mysterious Stranger) or Steinbeck (Mice or Men) or Raynd (Fountainhead is sooooooooo awesome I read it when I was 15 and I couldn't put it down). Not only is it a whole new world, you're broadening your horizons which makes you more attractive to the ladies (or the guys, you know, whatever you like)

You're a man now.

Read American Gods by Neil Gaiman.
Odin is a main character and the Queen of Sheba eats a man with her vagina.

megascorcher:

Ralackk:

megascorcher:
I heartily recommend the Gotrek & Felix series of Warhammer books by William King and Nathan Long. The first book is called Trollslayer and was published in 1999. The series has a very unique form of exposition, often shifting perspective to antagonists or other surrounding characters. Also the story and setting is top notch. Books eight through ten, Orcslayer, Manslayer and Elfslayer (and the eleventh being on the way) was written by another author, Nathan Long, who didn't carry on William King's form of writing, but writes interesting stories nontheless, especially his skill in painting wondrous descriptions with the English language is notable.

I second the Gotrek & Felix series, Although they may not be as varied and different as you are looking for at the moment they are definatly worth looking into when you are not so bored of fantasy.

Well, I disagree somewhat. In many of the books they encounter beings that are quite unique in regards to fantasy litterature. For example, the Skaven and the servants of Chaos. Especially when the story can often shift to their perspective, giving you an unique look into the life/culture and psychology of these factions.

I admit it has been a while since I read the series, I need to reread them at some point after I finish the Horus Heresy books. Though they do have many different races not typical in fantasy and bring a darker grittier world then most fantasy books, It does not change the fact that a dwarf is a dwarf and an elf is still an elf which still play a part in the Warhammer universe. I just figured the OP wanted fantasy that completely moved away from dragons, elfs, dwarfs etc.

try the Thomas covenant series by Stephen Donaldson

Maybe you could just move away from pure fantasy for a while. You could try Robert Harris' Pompeii for instance, or sticking with the pseudo historical theme, David Gemmel's The Lion of Macedon, though that's a bit depressing.
There are so many Tolkien rip offs these days I can't be bothered to sift through the crap to find the gems.
That's when I discovered Edgar Allen Poe.

I don't find Poe that interesting, I enjoy his detective fiction, but I find his writing a little lyrical and loopy and in terms of Horror or Macabre I prefer Lovecraft. Also, call me a lameass, but I like my adventure fiction, I can't get through dry character based pieces that lack excitement and I usually end up discarding them for something with some more pep and energy. It's mostly because these days I don't have time to read a book that doesn't hook me.

Anyone read The Book of the New Sun?

Well, if you like adventure fiction, how come Howard isn't on the list? About half of his Conan stories are pretty good (the other half, not so much; most of his imitators' rather suck, in my opinion). His works are public domain these days.

Fritz Leiber also wrote a lot of iconic sword-and-sorcery adventure stuff. I consider his stories pretty fluffy; most of this work doesn't take itself too seriously but doesn't rise/fall to the level of outright silliness.

If you like Lovecraft and fantasy, his contemporary and friend Clark Ashton Smith might be to your taste. I don't know much about him myself.

-- Alex

Adventure fiction, eh? ~Try the Edge chronicles by Paul Stewart and Chris Riddle.

Alex_P:
Well, if you like adventure fiction, how come Howard isn't on the list? About half of his Conan stories are pretty good (the other half, not so much; most of his imitators' rather suck, in my opinion). His works are public domain these days.

Fritz Leiber also wrote a lot of iconic sword-and-sorcery adventure stuff. I consider his stories pretty fluffy; most of this work doesn't take itself too seriously but doesn't rise/fall to the level of outright silliness.

If you like Lovecraft and fantasy, his contemporary and friend Clark Ashton Smith might be to your taste. I don't know much about him myself.

-- Alex

Oops, forgot about putting Howard and Lieber on there, I've been collecting both of their works for a long time. Though I've never read Clark Ashton Smith...

Don't think anyone has mentioned her yet, some of my favourate books, Robin Hobb. Her first lot of 9 books was great, her unrelated Soldier's Son trilogy was a bit lacking however... But give them a look in. Brief Synopsis.

If you want to look into sci fi at all, Alistair Reynolds has an excellent universe with the Revelation Space books.

For some Terry Pratchet like laughs, but in a more sci-fi area check out Rob Grant, Doug Naylor (Both Red Dwarf writers who have other comedy scifi/fantasy books) and Douglas Adams (Hitchhikers guide and Dirk Gently).

If you're liking lee child, and his Jack Reacher stuff, I'd suggest maybe, something more along those lines, like Particia Cornwell or Tami Hoag. Maybe even Dick Francis. All fairly fast paced easy to read stuff, I used to read lots of it. Haven't found time for the last couple of Lee Child's novels yet, though. I have a load of Italian novels to read.

I recommend any books by Brian Lumley, especially his 'Necroscope' Saga & his 'Cthulhu Cycle Deities' novels.

Hmm, I can recommend Roger Zelazny's Amber series although it has been quite a while since I last read them...

Alex_P:
One way to fight trope fatigue is to go with older stuff, stuff that was written before the modern trope goo really congealed. (Unfortunately, a lot of older fantasy is crap, too.)

This is a pretty good idea. You said you've read Lovecraft - have you read a novella called The Dreamquest of Unknown Kadath? It's probably my favorite work of his. It's more fantasy flavored than most of his other stuff - it's about a man named Randolph Carter and his quest through the Dreamlands to find the shining city of Kadath.

Another author to check out is Lord Dunsany. There's a collection of short stories called The Hashish Man that's quite good and different. He also wrote The Gods of Pegana, which I have not read but heard is very good. He was a big influence on Tolkien and Lovecraft.

there is also the gor books, tho if you thought Xanth was a bit cookie cutter then you might find gor novels the same way

PedroSteckecilo:
I have become damn bored of Fantasy Literature these days, and I used to be an unabashed fantasist, championing it as a grand genre full of imagination and excitement. Sadly, I have not read a fantasy book in my recent days which has truly captured my interest. There are many intellectual works out there, like China Meivilles Bas-Lag books or the Historical Fantasy of Guy Gavriel Kay, but all of that is so stuffy and lacks energy. As well anything that isn't Intellectual is far too stupid or unoriginal, lots of pointless sword swinging and macho posturing, or in the case of Terry Goodkind lots of Psuedo-Sexual Torture. So I have a question for the Fantasy Readers of the Escapist... is there anything good anymore? The Last good fantasy series is read was The Age of Unreason by Gregory Keyes, a mile a minute alternate history based around Alchemy and Apocalypticism. People, give me smart, action packed Fantasy, there has GOT to be something I'm missing.

My friend. Try one of the "Malazan book of the fallen". Ever since I have started reading these books, I can't even THINK about reading other books. I've tried to read several other fantasy books that I used to love, or look interesting, but I can't get through them. Because none of them come even close to the Malazan Book of the Fallen series...

It is saddening.

CoziestPigeon:

The Dark Tower Series by Stephen King. Starts with The Gunslinger.

Here's a second vote for the dark tower and Gotrek & felix series.
Although give yourself a 6-8 week gap between giantslayer (a gotrek and felix book) and the next one in the series as the books got a new author and the writing style can be a mood killer.

BardSeed:

the protaginist:
The city of Ember books are pretty good for fantasy.It's the kinda book that both a kid and an adult can read and they both think it's good.

and i have the same problem as you.ever since reading the Godfather,i have been more interested Crime-related stuff.

Have you read the two Godfather books by Mark Winegardner? He does a good job of emulating Puzo's style.

You mean Godfathers return and revenge?not yet,but i'm planning on it.

I haven't read much in the way of books lately myself, as I'm still stuck on the fact that my copy of The Moon is a Harsh Mistress is starting to fall apart and it'd feel like cheating on a spouse who's dying of cancer if I did read anything, even if it is a Sci-Fi book and not Fantasy...

But I did read a humorous Fantasy book called Goblin Hero a while back by Jim C. Hines. It was the second book in a trilogy, so I'm trying to track down the other two for eventual reading.

Robin Hobb. One of the best authors I know. Read her trilogy of trilogies.
And Raymond E. Feist.
And R. A. Salvatore is good for some more action-oriented stuff.

The former two authors, I cannot recommend enough.

Can't remember the author but there is a trilogy called the Cassandra Kresnov trilogy. GET IT NOW

Sci-Fi fantasy... It is soooooo good

No one else for the Book of the New Sun?

Damn your eyes!

PedroSteckecilo:
Hmmm.... okay.... time to post what I've read since I've read everything people are suggesting...

I've read pretty much everything by these folks.
- Terry Pratchett
- Niel Gaiman
- George R.R. Martin
- Chine Meiville
- Phillip Reeve
- Susanna Clarke
- Barry Hughart
- David Eddings
- L.E. Modestti Jr.
- Terry Brooks
- Charles DeLindt
- Phillip Pullman
- Ursula K. Leguin
- Piers Anthony
- Tolkien
- Tad Williams
- Tom Holt

So to rephrase the question, can anyone suggest something I haven't already read?

EDIT: SomeBritishDude... Don't dis Kids Books, sure it sometimes lacks narrative complexity but alot of them make up for that by being really clean reads and having enough imagination to knock your socks off. (Anyone who disagrees needs to go read the Mortal Engines Quintet by Phillip Reeve... NOW!)

Woah what a list!

Maybe you've just... had enough and need something new, fresh, challenging & exiting to do ^^; (You know what they say, once you've mastered something (in your case fantasy fiction reading) it loses its fun)

I recently started reading the works of Steven Burst, and I have greatly enjoyed the series so far. It's very witty and sarcastic. It also brings a number of interesting premises to ideas that are not fully fleshed out in typical fantasy. For instance resurrection/keeping someone dead is of great importance to the series in that the main character, Vlad Taltos, is an assassin.

The first book in the series, Jhereg( It's the first book written. It's not the first book in chronological order though.), plays out in a reverse murder mystery. It was a wonderful read and had me hooked from there.

Um... If you see any "Book suggestion" thread post done by me, it'll likely tell you who my author is. Jim Butcher, who does a good fantasy series.

Also... I haven't seen you

PedroSteckecilo:
for ages.

When did you get back, and how didn't I notice? D'oh!

You've grown up.

Now go read Science Fiction like Real Men.