Fantasy Aficionados discussion

Hi,

I'd like to find some good fantasy novels (strong writing, world building and characters) with Asian elements (world, time period and/or characters). They can be any style of fantasy (Epic, traditional, urban etc.)

Thanks in advance for your recommendations and help!

I enjoy Liz Wiiliams' Snake Agent series. Sort of modern UF with strong supernatural elements.

I assume you've already read The Broken Crown?

The first thing that comes to mind is the Tales of the Otori series by Lian Hearn. It's sort of an alternate feudal history of Japan with assassins and sword-fighting.

Carol wrote: "I enjoy Liz Wiiliams' Snake Agent series. Sort of modern UF with strong supernatural elements."

Oh wow, I love Singapore! Thanks for this!

Judy wrote: "I assume you've already read The Broken Crown?"
Yes, also Ms. West's Urban Fantasy series Chronicles of Elantra

Katie wrote: "The first thing that comes to mind is the Tales of the Otori series by Lian Hearn. It's sort of an alternate feudal history of Japan with assassins and sword-fighting."

Hadn't heard of this one...adding it to my "Want to read." Thanks!

Mina wrote: "Judy wrote: "I assume you've already read The Broken Crown?"
Yes, also Ms. West's Urban Fantasy series Chronicles of Elantra "

Huzzah! At last, someone who has read them! AND someone who considers them urban fantasy!! (I'm sorry, can't help myself, the happy is overflowing =] )

*ahem* on topic:

Jane Lindskold has two series that have some Asian influence:

http://www.goodreads.com/series/40895...

And

http://www.goodreads.com/series/45839...


I've only read the Firekeeper books, which are a kind of kingdom fantasy. The asian influence isn't very obvious until the third book. Huge cast of characters, some animal telepathy, lots of politicking. Very good stuff.

I thoroughly enjoyed



written by Lorna Suzuki

I haven't read them yet, but I've heard mostly good things about James Calbraith's Year of the Dragon series, which begins with The Shadow of Black Wings. It's been described to me as Welsh/Japanese steampunk with dragons.

Katie wrote: "The first thing that comes to mind is the Tales of the Otori series by Lian Hearn. It's sort of an alternate feudal history of Japan with assassins and sword-fighting."

I second the Tales Of The Otori. I really loved this series.

If you don't mind YA is UF with Chinese mythology and the leading character is Chinese American.

Have you tried Haruki Murakami? I've only read one of his books , but I really liked it.

This book is on my to read shelf:

I really liked Daniel Abraham's Long Price Quartet- the first is A Shadow in Summer

I second the recommendation for Liz Williams' The Snake Agent (and the rest of the series). Also: Brite, Poppy Z Triads
Lake, Jay Mainspring (Asian elements, but not primarily Asian)

These are not set in our world, but definitely have an Asian influence:

Daughter of the Empire - #1 - by Raymond Feist & Janny Wurts

Amelia wrote: "These are not set in our world, but definitely have an Asian influence:

Daughter of the Empire - #1 - by Raymond Feist & Janny Wurts"

agreed, these are very good

John wrote: "Amelia wrote: "These are not set in our world, but definitely have an Asian influence:

Daughter of the Empire - #1 - by Raymond Feist & Janny Wurts"

agreed, these are very good"

Ooh, I've been meaning to add that to my "To Read" list. Thanks for the reminder!

I was at work, so I didn't get to elaborate on my Liz Williams suggestion (thanks for the second, Tasula). It's called the "Detective Chen" series, and he is in all of them, but it doesn't totally center around him, the way Dresden or other typical UF-detective mysteries do.

It is set in "Singapore Three," a franchised Singapore (!) but also involves an active Heaven and Hell. It's really interesting world-building, and Williams doesn't do a ton of explanations, so there's not long info-dump passages. I love her imagery-not wordy, but she puts things together in a fun way. I wish she was more widely known, because I think it's one of the more original fantasy series out there. Just this week I decided to seek out some of the other Chen books in hardcover for my permanent collection.

J.D. wrote: "James Calbraith's Year of the Dragon series, which begins with The Shadow of Black Wings. It's been described to me as Welsh/Japanese steampunk with dragons."

Oh Wow. LOVE the description! Totally adding that, thank you!

Sophie wrote: "Huzzah! At last, someone..." Hee!Hee! Glad I could make happiness flow :D Thanks for the additional recs!

OK, y'all are awesome! And my TBR list is growing...woot!

I enjoyed The Secrets of Jin Shei by Alma Alexander. It's more historical fantasy... takes place in a "mythical Chinese realm" is the wording in the description. In any case, I'd recommend it as a very enjoyable, complex book.

Megan wrote: "I enjoyed The Secrets of Jin Shei by Alma Alexander. It's more historical fantasy... takes place in a "mythical Chinese realm" is the wording in the description. In any case, I'd recommend it as a ..."
That does sound interesting, and I like women's stories. Added it! Thanks!

Patrick wrote: "I would recommend Under Heaven. Well written, great use of fantasy, and with some decent research."

Huh, GGK! Hadn't heard of this one...TY!

Amelia wrote: "These are not set in our world, but definitely have an Asian influence:

Daughter of the Empire - #1 - by Raymond Feist & Janny Wurts"

Beat me to it! I was looking at this thread in the folder and wondering. It always struck me as one with an Asian influence. There's also Servant of the Empire and Mistress of the Empire, which are books two and three. :)

It is a bit out of the box, but you might consider Jacqueline Carey's Namaah trilogy. It begins with Naamah's Kiss. I will grant that there are other cultural influences in the books (the main character is not of Asian decent), but some of my favorite representations of various Asian cultures are in these books.

Since Daughter of the Empire came with multiple recs and I found it in our library, picked it up. Can't wait to start reading!

Not sure how you feel about YA, but I highly suggest Sea of Shadow which is part of the Twelve Kingdoms series that Tokyopop began translating. Unfortunately, they never finished since they went under, but the four books they managed to get out were amazing. It's like an epic fairy tale and the books come with some gorgeous illustrations.

Mina wrote: "Since Daughter of the Empire came with multiple recs and I found it in our library, picked it up. Can't wait to start reading!"

I hope you enjoy it!

Bridge of Birds: A Novel of an Ancient China That Never Was


One of the best fantasy novels of any kind and a World Fantasy Award winner.

Mina wrote: "Since Daughter of the Empire came with multiple recs and I found it in our library, picked it up. Can't wait to start reading!"

Ah, yes. :) I hope you like it!

Sophie wrote: "Not sure how you feel about YA, but I highly suggest Sea of Shadow which is part of the Twelve Kingdoms series that Tokyopop began translating. Unfortunately, they never finished since they went un..."

So,wow, this is a graphic novel?

Malrubius wrote: "Bridge of Birds: A Novel of an Ancient China That Never Was


One of the best fantasy novels of any kind and a World Fan..."

Added it to my Want To Read List! Note: Lois Bujold read & rated it...SQUEE! Yes, I'm such a fan girl :D

You can try by Jay Kristoff. I haven't read it yet, but I've heard a lot of good things about it. It's an Asian setting with steampunk influence.

Sorry, for some reason my notifications weren't working, hence the very late reply.

The Twelve Kingdoms are novels, but they happen to have illustrations here and there. They started in Japan as "light novels" (more or less the Japanese equivalent to the US Young Adult genre) and an author usually pairs up with an artist that will do the cover designs and some sketches to put in the story. For 12 Kingdoms it was Akihiro Yamada

Some examples of his stuff :
https://www.google.ca/search?client=s...

Patrick wrote: "I would recommend Under Heaven. Well written, great use of fantasy, and with some decent research."

I'll say thanks for this, as I hadn't heard of it and have now bought a copy. Fantasy Tang, must try.

I have Silk Road by Jeanne Larsen that also seems to be fantasy Tang, but haven't read yet.

James wrote: "You can try by Jay Kristoff. I haven't read it yet, but I've heard a lot of good things about it. It's an Asian setting with steampunk influence."

I like steampunk, but recently read a few that left me sorely disappointed. The covers were steampunk, labeled steampunk, but the stories only had a passing reference (like maybe an airship shows up once in a while). Sigh.

But keeping an open mind, and adding this!

Bryn wrote: "Patrick wrote: "I would recommend Under Heaven. Well written, great use of fantasy, and with some decent research."

I'll say thanks for this, as I hadn't heard of it and have now bought a copy. Fa..."

So glad others are finding this thread useful as well, I'm loving it! And Silk Road sounds awesome. Thanks!

Mina wrote: "So glad others are finding this thread useful as well..."

Yes, I'm glad you started the thread, Mina, I'm keen for recs with certain Asian settings too. Historical or quasi, though I like the well-researched.

I've read The Fox Woman that was mentioned, nice but didn't love it. A folklore love story.

I forgot about Kij Johnson. Her stuff is not strictly "Fantasy", and more mythology-folklore, as Bryn has said.

I read her second book Fudoki about a cat who loses her home and shape and goes on a journey. I enjoyed it quite a bit, there's a very graceful storytelling quality to the writing. It's also epistolary, if I remember, the Cat's story told by an old noblewoman in her notebooks.

I'll have to go look for The Fox Woman, now that I know it exists. =]

Sophie wrote: "I forgot about Kij Johnson. Her stuff is not strictly "Fantasy", and more mythology-folklore, as Bryn has said.

I read her second book Fudoki about a cat who loses her home and shape and goes on a..."

Hmm, doesn't myth and lore form the foundation of all stories? I think even contemporary or futuristic tales have elements of myth hidden deep within their skeletons.

Anyhow, the cat book sounds like a fun read...will keep an eye out for it! Thanks :)

I thought this was a good book years ago...not sure if it holds up....but it is a stand alone.


Swordswoman

As I was looking for it I came across....Tomoe Gozen

Haven't read it, but I think I'll put it on my to read list.
Looks like the main character is taken from the 12th century history.

Older books so only available used.

I just learnt that Guy Gavriel Kay has another recently out, a kind of follow-up to 'Under Heaven', fantasty history set in the Song Dynasty of China.

River of Stars

Quite excited, I like this time period even better, though I have 'Under Heaven' still in the mail.

Mina wrote: "Hmm, doesn't myth and lore form the foundation of all stories? I think even contemporary or futuristic tales have elements of myth hidden deep within their skeletons. "

very true, but Kij Johnson uses very well known mythological characters directly and...I'm just realizing that there's tons of YA series out right now that deal with mythological characters and they qualify as fantasy. =/

Its one of those funny genre hoppers. It IS fantasy, but using real world elements and history, so it isn't just Fantasy, it isn't Urban Fantasy, but its more than regular Fiction. The closest I can compare it to is the term that Charles de Lint coined, "Mythic fiction". Bookstores, however, shelve it under General Fiction.

Sorry for the ramble. Genre's been on my brain lately =)

Sophie wrote: "Mina wrote: "Hmm, doesn't myth and lore form the foundation of all stories? I think even contemporary or futuristic tales have elements of myth hidden deep within their skeletons. "

very true, but..."

Actually, the Kij Johnson book the Fox Woman is on Terri Wendling Mythic fiction list. I have loved almost every book on that list! http://endicottstudio.typepad.com/jom...
There are quite a few books on it that are either from Asian authors or Asian themed.

Kylie Chan has two trilogies set in Hong Kong. Start with White Tiger. That is the first book in the first trilogy.

Another Asian based trilogy is the Seven Brothers series by Curt Benjamin. The first book is The Prince of Shadow.

Technically this is SF not fantasy, but Orson Scott Card's "Xenocide" is set at least partially in what appears to be a futuristic China.

Stormdancer was good once you got past the issues with misuse of language. It only happens a few times, and honestly it was enough for me to look past it. The plot was enjoyable and really picked up after the first couple chapters.

Jalilah wrote: "Actually, the Kij Johnson book the Fox Woman is on Terri Wendling Mythic fiction list. I have loved almost every book on that list! http://endicottstudio.typepad.com/jom...
There are quite a few books on it that are either from Asian authors or Asian themed.

That is an awesome list! Thanks sharing it Jalilah =]

Jalilah wrote: "Actually, the Kij Johnson book the Fox Woman is on Terri Wendling Mythic fiction list. I have loved almost every book on that list! http://endicottstudio.typepad.com/jom...
There are quite a few books on it that are either from Asian authors or Asian themed...."

Thanks for the very interesting list! A lot of the books are by writers of Indian origin. Interestingly, classified them (I have read quite a few) as literary rather than fantasy...hmm, wondering if I fell for labeling or a cultural perception.

Patrick wrote: "S wrote: "Technically this is SF not fantasy, but Orson Scott Card's "Xenocide" is set at least partially in what appears to be a futuristic China."


The Windup Girl would also work nicely if you ..."

Definitely interested in checking out Windup Girl's setting! And tickled that one of my fav. YA fantasy writers

Maria V. Snyder liked it :)