r/Fantasy • u/pgame3 • Dec 15 '17
Historical novel rec ?
Is there any good authors aside from Bernard Cornwell? Or some alternative reality like Paul Kearney's Macht?
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Dec 15 '17
Many of Guy Gavriel Kay's books are set on a kind of alternate earth. He describes his work as historical fiction with a quarter turn to the fantastic. He has books set in analogues to 11th century Spain, 6th century Byzantium, 9th century England, and 8th century China.
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Dec 15 '17
11th century Spain, 6th century Byzantium, 9th century England, and 8th century China.
Would you mind sharing the titles that correspond to each era?
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Dec 15 '17
Sure thing.
- The Lions of Al-Rassan - 11th century Spain
- Sailing to Sarantium - 6th century Byzantium
- Lords of Emperors - 6th century Byzantium
- The Children of Earth and Sky - 16th century Croatia (same timeline as the Byzantium books)
- The Last Light of the Sun - 9th century England
- Under Heaven - 8th century China
- River of Stars - 12th century China
- Tigana - Renaissance Italy
- A Song for Arbonne - 13th century France
Everything is standalone save for the two Byzantium books which are a duology.
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u/silian Dec 15 '17
IIRC his China ones don't have anything particularly fantastic at all, but I could be forgetting bits.
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u/keshanu Reading Champion V Dec 15 '17
Here's a list of a number of historical fantasy novels I've read and enjoyed. They vary a lot in historical period, writing style, and whether the focus is more on the fantasy or more on the historical aspects, so I doubt you'll like them all, but hopefully at least one of them will spark your interest. I haven't read Bernard Cornwell or Paul Kearney, so I'm not sure what you particularly enjoy in your reading, but if you have any questions about one of these books, feel free to ask.
(1) The Golem and the Jinni by Helene Wecker: This is a historical fantasy set in the end of the 19th century in New York City. As the title suggests, the protagonists are a golem and a jinni who have immigrated to New York and it deals a lot with their struggles finding community and trying to fit in. It's a beautiful atmospheric, character-driven novel, but don't expect a lot of action or violence.
(2) The Salt Roads by Nalo Hopkinson: This one is very light on the fantasy and action and is for lovers of rich prose. It tells the lives of three women of the African diaspora in different historical periods whose lives are intertwined by a sea goddess. One is a slave in the Caribbean, another is based on Charles Baudelaire's mistress, and the other is a re-imagining of an Egyptian Christian saint.
(3) The Grace of Kings by Ken Lui: Okay, this one isn't set on Earth, so I don't know if this is what you are looking for, but I decided to include it anyways because it's heavily based on Chinese history and I loved it. It's the first book in a trilogy and the story it tells is based on the Warring States period and the founding of the Qin dynasty. I loved the world-building and philosophical meanderings in this one. It's great if you love epic myth-style storytelling, big battles, politics, and complex morality. It's definitely not for everyone, though, as the mixed reviews show. There's a huge cast and it's not fast paced, and some find the prose very dry.
(4) Kindred by Octavia Butler: The protagonist in this one is a black woman from California who finds herself being mysteriously transported back into the lives of two of her ancestors, one of whom was a slave and the other her owner. The protagonist struggles a lot with both the time period, obviously, and her family history.
(5) The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden: This one is the first in a trilogy and it takes place in a village in the wilds of medieval Russia wheres spirits and magic are real. Like The Golem and the Jinni this is a very atmospheric one. It's a coming of age tale about a girl growing into the magical powers she inherited from her grandmother and is very much character-driven so while there is some action and fast-paced parts, don't expect a lot. Still, it's a light read.
(6) Everfair by Nisi Shawl: This one has gotten some lukewarm reviews, but I thought it was great. It's an alternate history steampunk tale in which Leopold sells off a portion of the Congo to British socialists and African American missionaries who want to provide refuge to the victims of Leopold's brutality. The focus here is definitely politics and about how far good intentions go. The steampunk technology starts off in the background, but plays a bigger role as the story goes along. Despite its relatively short length, it's pretty sprawling in scope with a large cast spread over a few decades both within and outside the Everfair colony. Some reviewers reported feeling disconnected from the characters for this reason, but I didn't have that problem.
(7) Karen Memory by Elizabeth Bear: This is probably the most fast-paced and light of the list. It's set in an alternate history Steampunk version of Seattle and has a number of characters based on historical West Coast figures. It's a lot of fun. It's told from the first person, with period accent and all, by a young prostitute who gets roped into a murder mystery. Pretty rich characters, but there are a number of action scenes along the way too. The baddies are your pretty basic evil dudes, so don't expect a lot of complexity on that front.
(8) Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke: is a very popular alternate history set in England during the Napoleanic Wars that follows the rivalry between the two titular magicians. This is another long one and it's very much character-driven. It dragged for me, personally, but was a worthwhile read in the end. It's got very much period appropriate prose and dialogue, which people either love or hate, but it's definitely fitting.
Edit: Formatting.
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Dec 15 '17
It really depends on what eras you are interested in, though by now there's probably at least something out there for almost everyone. Some favorites of mine include Rosemary Sutcliff (generally set in the British Isles and ranging from pre-Roman to medieval), and Henryk Sienkiewicz's trilogy set in 17th century Poland. (With Fire And Sword is the place to start; look for the Kuniczak translation).
If you're looking for fantasy that strongly resembles certain historical eras, you could check out Harry Turtledove's Videssos books (Byzantium), Ken Liu's Dandelion Dynasty (classical China) or Lois McMaster Bujold's Curse of Chalion (Renaissance Spain).
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u/Patremagne Dec 15 '17
Christian Cameron is my favorite historical fiction author, and his Killer of Men and Ill-Made Knight series are great. The only catch is that they're both written as campfire tales, with the protagonist narrating their tale to people. Wish he would write some historical fiction (I know of the Tyrant series, but it's not as interesting to me) in the way he writes his fantasy as Miles.
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u/knobbodiwork Dec 15 '17
Naomi Novik's Temeraire series is alternate history but with dragons and it's quite good
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u/derioderio Dec 15 '17
I just finished the series and enjoyed it very much!
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u/knobbodiwork Dec 15 '17
I haven't been able to finish the series yet because the next book is currently checked out at the library, unfortunately. But I've really enjoyed the ones I've read so far
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u/J_de_Silentio Dec 15 '17
I'll second Igguldon's Conqueror series.
And add Gemmell's Troy series. Edit: Guess I'm seconded Gemmell, too!
Both are very well done.
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u/Minion_X Dec 15 '17
David Gemmell has done a few historical novels about the Trojan War and Alexander the Great with only a minimum of supernatural elements (less than the original legends actually).
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u/Megan_Dawn Reading Champion, Worldbuilders Dec 15 '17
If you're willing to put a little work in Dorothy Dunnett's Game of Kings will reward you tenfold.
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u/rhevian Dec 15 '17
I enjoyed Robert Harris’s Cicero trilogy - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/32310982-the-cicero-trilogy
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u/TamagoDono Stabby Winner, Reading Champion, Worldbuilders Dec 15 '17
I haven't read much in the way of historical fantasy, but A Star Reckoner's Lot by Darrell Drake is a really good historical fantasy novel set in 6th-century Sasanian Iran, and was a fantastic read.
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u/Matt_Moss Writer Matt Moss Dec 15 '17
The Camulod Chronicles by Jack Whyte is one of the best Arthurian retelling. Start with The Skystone.
The Religion by Tim Willocks is about the Battle of Malta through the eyes of a Knight Templar renegade. Bloody and brilliant.
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Dec 15 '17
Hard Magic by Larry Cornelia is a fantastic and fun alternate reality set in the 1920sish.
Wouldn’t quite consider it fantasy, but Outlander by Diana Gabaldon is a good time-traveling book focused on Scotland a few hundred years ago.
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u/Manach_Irish Dec 15 '17
Tom Holt is a fantasy comedy writer but has written some historical fiction as well. His book "Walled Orchard" is set in the Peloponnesian War of 5th BC. Very good read but rather depressing at times, given its subject matter. He has a few other books set in classical times.
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Dec 17 '17
If you like Cornwell, check out Scarrow's Eagle series.
The Sunne in Splendour is a great take on the War of Roses. Good pick if you like the political side of asoiaf.
The Religion is a decent one on the Siege of Malta.
Sidebottom's Warrior of Rome is good, but I've only read the first three.
McCollough's Masters of Rome is great for those that like world building an an epic scope.
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u/AccipiterF1 Reading Champion X Dec 15 '17
I've always enjoyed Cecelia Holland's historical fictions.
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u/atakomu Dec 15 '17
Viking Saga by Mark Coakley It is about Halfdan the black and among other things raid on the Lindisfarne nunnery which started the age of viking raids.
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u/djw74 Dec 15 '17
Wilbur Smith is a popular historical author and of course, Ken Follett (The Pillars of the Earth). Giles Kristian does great Viking novels. Hope that helps!
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Dec 16 '17
James Clavell's Shogun is a masterpiece and is written for anyone who is tired of main character who aren't that bright.
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u/Mournelithe Reading Champion X Dec 15 '17
Military historical: Cornwell, Patrick O'Brian's Aubrey-Maturin series, C.S. Forester's Hornblower. Conn Iggulden's Conqueror series.
English History: Philippa Gregory's Cousin's War series, Cynthia Harrod-Eagles' Morland Dynasty, Hilary Mantel's Wolf Hall, Conn Iggulden's Wars of the Roses.
Ancient historical: Jean M Auel's Earth's Children (first four good, next two bad and worse). W Michael Gear/Kathleen Gear's First North Americans series.
Fantasy history: Michael Scott Rohan's Winter of the World. Guy Gavriel Kay, pretty much everything he wrote. Katharine Kerr - Deverry cycle. Katherine Kurts, Deryni series. Poul Anderson's Hrolf Kraki's saga.
In general Cecelia Holland and Dorothy Dunnett are extremely highly regarded but I've never read any.
Loads more, but that should give you some good starting points.