20 Books for 20Somethings

Watership Down by Richard Adams

Stand Alone Fantasy Titles, August 2012

A tale of heroism, adventure, and courage reminiscent of The Odyssey, Watership Down is the remarkable story of a warren of rabbits driven to find a new home when one of them, a runt named Fiver, has visions of the destruction of their warren by humans. Fiver can't convince the leaders that what he sees is true, so he and a small band escape the warren and flee to Watership Down and establish a new home. But nothing is without its problems, and soon a nearby militant warren seeks to dominate them. Once you look past the notion that it's a book about rabbits running around, you can find the deeper messages of honor, humanity, ethics, and what it means to be free.

Villains By Necessity by Eve Forward

Stand Alone Fantasy Titles, August 2012

In all conflicts between good and evil, good triumphs and the world is made right by this victory. But what if good was so triumphant that evil was eradicated? Would not the world crumble under the weight of imbalance. That is the conundrum faced by a set of villains in Eve Forward's clever debut novel, Villains By Necessity. In order to save the world from the evil of its over-indulged goodness, these villains must set forth to rekindle the proper balance of evil in the world, thereby restoring equilibrium and, in doing so, actually becoming heroes. A fun read cover-to-cover, with twists enough to keep readers enchanted. Not a particularly easy book to find, unfortunately.

Under Heaven by Guy Gavriel Kay

Stand Alone Fantasy Titles, August 2012

So much of what Guy Gavriel Kay does is overflowing with beauty and elegance that it can be difficult to narrow down a favorite. Under Heaven, however, jumps out as one of the finest fantasy novels of the last twenty years, hands down. A stunningly superb mix of fantasy and history, Kay grafts the semblance of Tang Dynasty China onto his land of Kitan, and unravels the story of Shen Tai, a man who buries the dead from both sides of the opposing forces in war, and who steadily gains riches and who is protected by the spirits of those he has buried. Having been gifted 250 Sardian horses, Shen tries to find out who is trying to kill him, in this tumultuous land of power and honor. Those who swear they would never pick up a fantasy novel would do well to examine this book and see just what amazing work can be found in the genre.

To Reign in Hell by Steven Brust

Stand Alone Fantasy Titles, August 2012

It is always immensely rewarding when you can pick up a book and be moved or have your perceptions changed in even the slightest way. Steven Brust takes the story of the revolt of the angels in Heaven and the fall of Satan and pulls them out of religious dogma and drops them squarely into the world of fantasy. Making the war of the angels his own, Brust tackles such questions as Where did God come from and how did He create Heaven? Why, and how, did the angels rise up against Him? This is not designed as an explanation of religious word but a fantasy take on the tale. Among the more commonly known characters, such as Satan, Raphael, Michael, the lesser angels Sith and Kyriel tend to steal the show.

Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury

Stand Alone Fantasy Titles, August 2012

Youth and Age. Belief. Fear. Morality and Sin. These are the building blocks of this dark novel from master author Ray Bradbury. When Cooger And Dark's Pandemonium Shadow Show pulls into town, Jim and Will are mesmerized by the sights and sounds and the witness the magic of the carousel as it turns the old into children. Mr. Dark then begins the hunt for the two boys and a war for their souls is about to take place. Bradbury was a genius of the craft and it shows with this novel. The people of the town come to life and are easily understood because much of what they think and feel and fear is inherent in all of us. A darkly glorious yarn.

Silverlock by John Myers Myers

Stand Alone Fantasy Titles, August 2012

Extraordinary. And sadly mostly forgotten. John Myers Myers weaves the tale of A. Clarence Shandon, whose ship Naglfar founders in a storm and and he finds himself on an island known as the Commonwealth of Letters. There he meets Golias and the two of them explore the island and come to encounter myriad characters from various tales and legends. Beowulf, Daniel Boone, Robin Hood, Job -- these are just a few of the people Shandon, aka Silverlock, encounters. It is a fun and adventurous tale and the ship captain ultimately learns more about himself as he engages in various exchanges with these extraordinary figures. Not always an easy book to find these days but well worth the hunt.

The Princess Bride by William Goldman

Stand Alone Fantasy Titles, August 2012

It would be inconceivable that readers of fantasy would have failed to watch the brilliant film version of this book, but seeing the film is nothing compared to the great fun one has in reading this "good parts version" by William Goldman. A swashbuckling romp and laugh out loud funny, Goldman intersperses the legends of the land of Florin while also recounting the life of his father, a supposed man of Florin who relayed the story to a young Goldman. The Princess Bride is a genuine feel-good fairy tale with all the ingredients of fantasy cleverly combined into one perfect package.

The Prestige by Christopher Priest

Stand Alone Fantasy Titles, August 2012

The year is 1878 and two rival magicians locked in a bitter feud use every last ounce of their illusory power to outwit the other. Told from the perspectives of both magicians through their personal journal entries, the story unfolds a dark and deceitful war that holds horrible consequences for the descendants of these men, and they piece together the lies and tricks and eerie events as they read these journal pages left by their ancestors. Describing it can get confusing and that's because The Prestige is a trick and an illusion at every page turn, and it will keep readers guessing right up until the back cover is closed. Christopher Priest nails the period elements and drives the pace with a crisp tension that makes the book one you cannot put down.

The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley

Stand Alone Fantasy Titles, August 2012

The legendary tale of Camelot gets an intriguing spin in the deft hands of Marian Zimmer Bradley. While the saga of Uther Pendragon and his son Arthur cover the span of the novel, the attention is more focused on the women of Camelot, particularly Arthur's half-sister, Morgaine. The work is romantic, epic, and emotional, and there is no straight-forward good and evil. Bradley weaves a careful tale of majesty and colors her cast in shades of grey, and it is a crowning achievement, not just of Arthurian retelling, but of fantasy. Yes, there are sequels that were eventually written nearly a decade later but it is a work that easily stands on its own.

Le Morte D'Arthur by Sir Thomas Mallory

Stand Alone Fantasy Titles, August 2012

There are many who try their hand at the world of King Arthur, Gwenyvere, Launcelot, and the Camelot legends of the Knights of the Round Table, but none have ever matched the output of Sir Thomas Malory. First published in 1485, Malory's work is actually a compilation of the romantic tales and legends of Camelot, many translated from French. It is from the work of Malory that the majority of continued Arthurian tradition springs, including T.H. White's Once and Future King, Alfeed Tennyson's Idylls of the King, and the 80s cult-favorite film Excalibur. Le Morte D'Arthur is an essential part of any fantasy collection and a masterful presentation of the myth of Arthur.

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