Since I’ve planned out a series of stand-alone alternate-world fantasy novels to follow the Twilight Reign, it occurs to me I’ve not read many of that ilk. China Mieville’s certainly done several that would fit into the category. The Etched City I think would also fit, and an Australian fantasy crime book I greatly enjoyed but have temporarily forgotten the name of, but off-hand I can’t think of many more (Pratchett too, but it’s a different style of novel). I think Chris Wooding might have done a few, but the only one I’ve read has been part of a trilogy so I need to investigate his others, but can anyone think of others I might have missed?
34 thoughts on “Looking for suggestions”
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.
Hm. The “alternate world” bit makes this more difficult than I thought! The only novel I can think of, off the top of my head, is Brandon Sanderson’s Elantris, which I thought was so-so.
How about Zelasny’s Lord of Light? It’s on my to-read shelf somewhere so I know nothing about it, but I’m sure that’s a stand-alone thingie.
Neil Gaiman’s Stardust, maybe? Crosses over between worlds, of course. (I want to say American Gods and Anansi Boys but no, Sir must have his alternate world specification… So Susanna Clarke’s Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell is out as well?)
I hardly dare mention him here, but your friend whatshisname, Applecrumble once wrote a little book called Best Served Cold, of course. ;p (I think it stands alone enough from the First Law trilogy…)
I’m astonished to notice that my entire fantasy collection consists almost exclusively of series!
As soon as I wrote it I thought, ah, forgot the Applecrumble I read a month ago…
The alternate world does make it a bit tricky yes, seems to be a format that is much preferred for SF rather than fantasy. Rather than me being overly picky about it, I’m more thinking that it’d be interesting to see how authors handle the world building details for a single volume story – of course likely that there’ll be later books in the series so not everything has to be covered in each one.
I agree. Although, thinking about it, I reckon most of the world-building is actually done in the first installment of a series, no? Sequels are great for expanding the world, but mostly serve for plot and character development. Take The Name of the Wind for example, which has fantastic world-building. I’m only impatient for the next book because I want to know what happens next. :)
Oh, and I forgot to mention The Hobbit!
Well partially yes, but I think if the world isn’t developed in later books it’s a missed opportunity. What I’d failed to say was the setting more than world building though, setting of the plot if you see what I mean. The construction of that within one volume, kinda world building on the micro level rather than macro if that makes sense?
if the world isn’t developed in later books it’s a missed opportunity
Oh, absolutely!*
world building on the micro level rather than macro if that makes sense?
Yes it does. I just struggle finding examples. I’ve just been through my goodreads shelves again, but in fantasy, I draw a blank. Maybe SF isn’t a bad reference point, though, just because SF authors have to set up an entire universe when they write stand-alones?
Slightly off topic: I’ve just come across a book in the How It Shouldn’t Be Done category: The Court of the Air is messy in establishing its world. I couldn’t finish it, mostly because I wasn’t interested in the characters, but also because the world building really, really didn’t work for me. It’s…I don’t know, hasty. Just randomly thrown together, I felt.
It’s a fine line, I guess, between too much or too little information. I wouldn’t know where to start, but that’s why you’re a writer and I’m not! Good luck! ;)
* For example, I just read Wooding’s ‘Retribution Falls’ – and liked it, but I hope like HELL there’s more world development in the next installment.
;0) And for the moment I should probably stick to the more complicated issue of how to FINISH a series before I start working on much else!
Interesting to hear that about the Court of the Air – the blurb’s never inspired me really, but everything I’d heard about it seemed to be great reviews.
Hm. The “alternate world” bit makes this more difficult than I thought! The only novel I can think of, off the top of my head, is Brandon Sanderson’s Elantris, which I thought was so-so.
How about Zelasny’s Lord of Light? It’s on my to-read shelf somewhere so I know nothing about it, but I’m sure that’s a stand-alone thingie.
Neil Gaiman’s Stardust, maybe? Crosses over between worlds, of course. (I want to say American Gods and Anansi Boys but no, Sir must have his alternate world specification… So Susanna Clarke’s Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell is out as well?)
I hardly dare mention him here, but your friend whatshisname, Applecrumble once wrote a little book called Best Served Cold, of course. ;p (I think it stands alone enough from the First Law trilogy…)
I’m astonished to notice that my entire fantasy collection consists almost exclusively of series!
As soon as I wrote it I thought, ah, forgot the Applecrumble I read a month ago…
The alternate world does make it a bit tricky yes, seems to be a format that is much preferred for SF rather than fantasy. Rather than me being overly picky about it, I’m more thinking that it’d be interesting to see how authors handle the world building details for a single volume story – of course likely that there’ll be later books in the series so not everything has to be covered in each one.
I agree. Although, thinking about it, I reckon most of the world-building is actually done in the first installment of a series, no? Sequels are great for expanding the world, but mostly serve for plot and character development. Take The Name of the Wind for example, which has fantastic world-building. I’m only impatient for the next book because I want to know what happens next. :)
Oh, and I forgot to mention The Hobbit!
Well partially yes, but I think if the world isn’t developed in later books it’s a missed opportunity. What I’d failed to say was the setting more than world building though, setting of the plot if you see what I mean. The construction of that within one volume, kinda world building on the micro level rather than macro if that makes sense?
if the world isn’t developed in later books it’s a missed opportunity
Oh, absolutely!*
world building on the micro level rather than macro if that makes sense?
Yes it does. I just struggle finding examples. I’ve just been through my goodreads shelves again, but in fantasy, I draw a blank. Maybe SF isn’t a bad reference point, though, just because SF authors have to set up an entire universe when they write stand-alones?
Slightly off topic: I’ve just come across a book in the How It Shouldn’t Be Done category: The Court of the Air is messy in establishing its world. I couldn’t finish it, mostly because I wasn’t interested in the characters, but also because the world building really, really didn’t work for me. It’s…I don’t know, hasty. Just randomly thrown together, I felt.
It’s a fine line, I guess, between too much or too little information. I wouldn’t know where to start, but that’s why you’re a writer and I’m not! Good luck! ;)
* For example, I just read Wooding’s ‘Retribution Falls’ – and liked it, but I hope like HELL there’s more world development in the next installment.
;0) And for the moment I should probably stick to the more complicated issue of how to FINISH a series before I start working on much else!
Interesting to hear that about the Court of the Air – the blurb’s never inspired me really, but everything I’d heard about it seemed to be great reviews.
Chris Wooding’s The Fade is absolutely outstanding. You would be insane not to buy eight copies of it at once.
That I think will have to be my first purchase yes. And by purchase I mean pleading email to my editor hoping she’s forgotten I’ve just asked for the Quantum Thief as well!
I’ve heard good things about that one and came within a whisker of buying it the other night.
I just dislike buying hardbacks, but have heard many good things so I suspect this’ll be really worth it. Of course, The Fade is a paperback I remind myself so worth buying myself rather than being cheap, Chris being a fine chap and all.
Chris Wooding’s The Fade is absolutely outstanding. You would be insane not to buy eight copies of it at once.
That I think will have to be my first purchase yes. And by purchase I mean pleading email to my editor hoping she’s forgotten I’ve just asked for the Quantum Thief as well!
I’ve heard good things about that one and came within a whisker of buying it the other night.
I just dislike buying hardbacks, but have heard many good things so I suspect this’ll be really worth it. Of course, The Fade is a paperback I remind myself so worth buying myself rather than being cheap, Chris being a fine chap and all.
If by “alternate world” you mean “a made-up setting that is not Earth” (the term I’m familiar with is “secondary world”), then I’m going to get very egotistical for a moment and suggest…
Me. ;-)
While The Conqueror’s Shadow does have a sequel coming out, it was originally written as a one-off. The novel functions perfectly well as a standalone fantasy.
It’s only available in hardcover now, but the paperback is due out in December.
;0) Egotistical is good, always going to be supported here. Cheers for the suggestion, the blurb makes it sound rather Gemmell-esque, in a good way!
Secondary world was probably the term I was looking for yes, apologies!
If by “alternate world” you mean “a made-up setting that is not Earth” (the term I’m familiar with is “secondary world”), then I’m going to get very egotistical for a moment and suggest…
Me. ;-)
While The Conqueror’s Shadow does have a sequel coming out, it was originally written as a one-off. The novel functions perfectly well as a standalone fantasy.
It’s only available in hardcover now, but the paperback is due out in December.
;0) Egotistical is good, always going to be supported here. Cheers for the suggestion, the blurb makes it sound rather Gemmell-esque, in a good way!
Secondary world was probably the term I was looking for yes, apologies!
It’s funny, but I was thinking back on my book collection, and really struggled to think of standalone fantasy novels that weren’t yet mentioned here. I was about to suggest “The Name Of The Wind”, but that’s a rather cheap shot joke at an undeserving Mr. Rothfuss’ expense.
“The Dog Of The North” by Tim Stretton (bit Jack Vance-like). “Fallen” by Tim Lebbon. “The Still” by David Feintuch. “The Company” and “The Folding Knife” by K.J. Parker.
I wonder if thinking on these novels, if they’re novels actually very short on world building. They’re heavily about people.
haven’t heard of the Dog of the North, will go investigate that. Might be that stand-alones like that are necessarily more character-based – you’re not building for later books so it must be a different attitude to approaching the book
It’s funny, but I was thinking back on my book collection, and really struggled to think of standalone fantasy novels that weren’t yet mentioned here. I was about to suggest “The Name Of The Wind”, but that’s a rather cheap shot joke at an undeserving Mr. Rothfuss’ expense.
“The Dog Of The North” by Tim Stretton (bit Jack Vance-like). “Fallen” by Tim Lebbon. “The Still” by David Feintuch. “The Company” and “The Folding Knife” by K.J. Parker.
I wonder if thinking on these novels, if they’re novels actually very short on world building. They’re heavily about people.
haven’t heard of the Dog of the North, will go investigate that. Might be that stand-alones like that are necessarily more character-based – you’re not building for later books so it must be a different attitude to approaching the book
Like others I am presented with a struggle to think of real standalones in my collection.
You mention Pratchett; Strata and the other one [cannot recall the name right now] were both truly standalone.
Richard Morgan’s Steel Remains; works as a standalone though I believe a follow up is in the works.
Tad Williams’ War of the Flowers was good and I’ve not heard of a sequel [which may be more due to my not checking for a while since I kind of fell out with his works.]
Raymond E Feist, Rise of a Merchant Prince is a great book but is part of an already established setting though it is kind of standalone in the sense that you could read only that book and it is a self contained story.
There’s a pricking of my brain telling me that there is a book I want to mention but despite perusal of my bookshelves I just cannot think of it… I’ll come back if memory ultimately serves.
Also and finally, damn this thread! It’s just resulted in two further bok purchases. [Quantum thief and conquerers shadow – I didn’t love Tales of the kitty Hawk by wooding so may take a while getting round to buying more by him.]
Yeah, some definitions of stand-alone need to be flexible to suit the meaning here, so many of Pratchett’s stories Discworld ones are stand-alones, but some need previous reading to get the best from them. The Steel Remains I’d been told was going to be first of a trilogy, but looking at the blurb for Cold COmmands it doesn’t look like part 2 of a story.
War of the Flowers I’ve toyed with buying for years, never quite been inspired to buy it for reasons I can’t really define. But maybe I should now. Feist I gave up on years ago and is one major influence on why I’m probably not going to write more Twilight Reign novels, once you’ve had the huge epic, world-ending plots, repeating that or doing something relatively inconsequential in the same world seems, well, not good enough.
Like others I am presented with a struggle to think of real standalones in my collection.
You mention Pratchett; Strata and the other one [cannot recall the name right now] were both truly standalone.
Richard Morgan’s Steel Remains; works as a standalone though I believe a follow up is in the works.
Tad Williams’ War of the Flowers was good and I’ve not heard of a sequel [which may be more due to my not checking for a while since I kind of fell out with his works.]
Raymond E Feist, Rise of a Merchant Prince is a great book but is part of an already established setting though it is kind of standalone in the sense that you could read only that book and it is a self contained story.
There’s a pricking of my brain telling me that there is a book I want to mention but despite perusal of my bookshelves I just cannot think of it… I’ll come back if memory ultimately serves.
Also and finally, damn this thread! It’s just resulted in two further bok purchases. [Quantum thief and conquerers shadow – I didn’t love Tales of the kitty Hawk by wooding so may take a while getting round to buying more by him.]
Yeah, some definitions of stand-alone need to be flexible to suit the meaning here, so many of Pratchett’s stories Discworld ones are stand-alones, but some need previous reading to get the best from them. The Steel Remains I’d been told was going to be first of a trilogy, but looking at the blurb for Cold COmmands it doesn’t look like part 2 of a story.
War of the Flowers I’ve toyed with buying for years, never quite been inspired to buy it for reasons I can’t really define. But maybe I should now. Feist I gave up on years ago and is one major influence on why I’m probably not going to write more Twilight Reign novels, once you’ve had the huge epic, world-ending plots, repeating that or doing something relatively inconsequential in the same world seems, well, not good enough.
To put into perspective:
War of the flowers was good [though I lent the book and have never received it back so no recent re-read].
I say this as someone who read the dragonbone chair trilogy as a teenager and loved it, though a more recent re-read found me really not enjoying it. This led me to try the first otherworlds book which I just did not get [may have been too young.]
Then War of the Flowers I found myself really enjoying.
Then Shadowmarch I gave up after about a third of the book.
Feist’s first Trilogy I thought was brilliant at the time. Even better was the Trilogy with Janny Wurts based on the other civilization.
Then everything kind of went down hill [he started releasing books based on videogames based on his books 0.) ]
But I admit I kept reading despite the overall disappointment. Rise of a merchant prince on the other hand is an absolute standout for these later books though. It’s into should amost be ‘And now for something completely different’ more like a fantasy heist movie than anything else. [Funnily enough the closest thing I’ve ever read to it was Scott Lynch’s Lies of Loche Lamore.]
To put into perspective:
War of the flowers was good [though I lent the book and have never received it back so no recent re-read].
I say this as someone who read the dragonbone chair trilogy as a teenager and loved it, though a more recent re-read found me really not enjoying it. This led me to try the first otherworlds book which I just did not get [may have been too young.]
Then War of the Flowers I found myself really enjoying.
Then Shadowmarch I gave up after about a third of the book.
Feist’s first Trilogy I thought was brilliant at the time. Even better was the Trilogy with Janny Wurts based on the other civilization.
Then everything kind of went down hill [he started releasing books based on videogames based on his books 0.) ]
But I admit I kept reading despite the overall disappointment. Rise of a merchant prince on the other hand is an absolute standout for these later books though. It’s into should amost be ‘And now for something completely different’ more like a fantasy heist movie than anything else. [Funnily enough the closest thing I’ve ever read to it was Scott Lynch’s Lies of Loche Lamore.]