Yes, take Wheel of Time, it's just GREAT. I can also recommend David Gemmel and Terry Pratchet...

Id recommend something but it seems that all my ideas were posten many, many , many times already [img]smile.gif[/img]

Not even one single mention of R.A. Salvatore??? You've got to be kidding me.

Maybe he isn't considered "current" but he is my far and away my favorite author.

His Icewind Dale Trilogy and Dark Elf Series are both in "compilation hardback" form (my term, means that all three books are published together).

While these are his most famous works, he has written MANY other series outside of the Forgotten Realms. I've read the Crimson Shadow series. It was excellent. One of the main characters was a halfling duelist that was extremely entertaining. Once again, Salvatore establishes an unorthodox race/class mixture and makes it believable.

There is also the Demon War Saga. I have all three books, but have not started reading any of them yet. But, in an interview on his home website, R.A. Salvatore said that he felt the main character in that series was "the most real character he had ever created".

So - in case you haven't guessed - R.A. Salvatore gets my vote for a new author to explore. All of his books are well written and read very quickly.

I tried to read "Spine of the World" and put it down in disgust.
I just did not like it at all.

I think that Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman is a very nice book to read, short and interesting. It takes place in modern London too.

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George R. Martin's Sword of Fire and Ice series (I believe thats the name of the series). They are big and hefty but you'll love every page of them.

Just my 2.

a big second to George R Martin. I'm chomping at the bit for the next book.

Jordan - absolutely will keep you reading... and reading..... and reading (7000 pages or so now)

Well as Djinn Rafao said I thoroughly recomend Robin Hobb, starting with the Farseer trilogy. First book is Assassins Apprentice, absolutely a great series!
Game of Thrones-George R.R. Martin- Starts the series, and its utterly riveting, awesome books
Piers Anthonys Battle Circle is good, although its more a futuristic feudal system
Michael Moorcocks Elric series are very good! Also his Chronicles of Corum! Old D&D players would recognise a few things taken from the books and put in the game. Ok, a LOT of stuff.

[ 01-19-2002: Message edited by: Lord of Alcohol ]</p>

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Sneeki Two:
George R. Martin's Sword of Fire and Ice series (I believe thats the name of the series). They are big and hefty but you'll love every page of them.

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My vote goes to George R. R. Martin too. A Song of Ice And Fire.