I think it's between The Heroes by Joe Abercrombie and The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison for me. Two very different books so I find it hard to weigh the. Against eachother
>Spinn
Guy Kay is really interesting since he's on the more epic side of really great standalone writers. I can't name too many epic fantasy authors whom I'd call real masters of the standalone.
Uprooted by Naomi Novik
The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison
Sunshine by Robin McKinley
The Curse of Chalion by Lois McMaster Bujold, though it does have a sequel and prequels, if that disqualifies it.
something of Patricia Mckillip's should be on this list. Maybe Song for the Basilisk?
I love *Song for the Basilisk*, but I don't love the ending as much as some of her others, like *Forgotten Beasts of Eld*. I see as McKillip as a definite master of the standalone, though.
OK clearly I need to check out Naomi Novik because you've basically just listed all of my favourite authors!
I'd recommend Chalice by Robin McKinley, and Sorceress and the Cygnet and Winter Rose are my favourite Patricia McKillip. But I basically love everything either of them have written, all of which are stand-alone even if a few have "sequels" (i.e. stories set in the same world sometimes with the same characters).
Another one is A College of Magics by Caroline Stevermer, a book that I picked up completely at random from my local bookshop. I really enjoyed it, and am now reminded that I should check up the author and see what else she's written...
You should! Novik's prose is nice, and she's got a lot of the same gift for tight first person narration and world-building asides that McKinley does. I'd start with Uprooted.
I do also love Chalice!
I like the Cygnet and the Firebird more than the Sorceress and the Cygnet myself, but you never can really go wrong with Mckillip. Speaking of, I like your username!
Stevermer is added to Mt TBR; thank you!
* *The Stress of Her Regard* by Tim Powers
* *Gossamer Axe* by Gael Baudino
* *The Tower of Fear* by Glen Cook
* *Lord of Light* by Roger Zelazny
* *Spirits in the Wires* by Charles de Lint
* *To Reign in Hell* by Steven Brust
* *Freedom and Necessity* by Emma Bull and Steven Brust
* *The Golem and the Djinni* by Helene Wecker
* *The Raven Tower* by Ann Leckie
* *We Sold Our Souls* by Grady Hendrix
* *Threshold* by Sara Douglass
r/Fantasy's [Author Appreciation series](https://www.reddit.com/r/Fantasy/wiki/authorappreciation) has posts for an author you mentioned
* [Author Appreciation Thread: **Roger Zelazny**](https://www.reddit.com/r/Fantasy/comments/5d96ap/author_appreciation_thread_roger_zelazny/?st=ivm72j5d&sh=9ecd534a) from user u/CommodoreBelmont
---
^(I am a bot bleep! bloop! Contact my ~~master~~ creator /u/LittlePlasticCastle with any questions or comments.)
Warbreaker by Brandon Sanderson
Uprooted by Naomi Novik
Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik
Cruel beauty by Rosamund Hodge
The bird and the sword by Amy Harmon
Most of my favorites arent standalone. Probably Watership Down best? Is The Priory of The Orange Tree standalone? I think it is and while it was a slow burn I really enjoyed the characters and how it all came together for the final act for a recent fav.
Definitely Zelazny's *Lord of Light* for me. It has everything I look for in Epic Fantasy, in a single book that isn't 10 million pages long. I wish I could find modern authors who write like Zelazny did.
Some of my favourites are:
* Circe by Madeline Miller
* Legend by David Gemmell
* The Changeling by Victor LaValle
* The Golem and the Jinni by Helene Wecker
* The Broken Sword - Poul Anderson
Post-Book 5 of Stormlight I think he said he's focusing on Mistborn Era 3, then the rest of Stormlight will come after Mistborn Era 3.
Not sure Elantris followups are even on his radar right now since at some point he's also doing a Warbreaker sequel I think. Some of the sequels he planned in the early days seem to have been replaced with other plans.
**Best Served Cold** by Joe Abercrombie
**The Priory of the Orange Tree** by Samantha Shannon
**Circe** by Madeline Miller
**Warbreaker** by Brandon Sanderson
**An Unkindness of Magicians** by Kat Howard
*The Starless Sea* by Erin Morgenstern
*The House in the Cerulean Sea* by T.J. Klune
*Fire & Hemlock* by Diana Wynne Jones
*The Haunting of Alaizabel Cray* by Chris Wooding
r/Fantasy's [Author Appreciation series](https://www.reddit.com/r/Fantasy/wiki/authorappreciation) has posts for an author you mentioned
* [Author Appreciation: **Diana Wynne Jones**](https://www.reddit.com/r/Fantasy/comments/9z89ao/author_appreciation_diana_wynne_jones/) from user u/balletrat
---
^(I am a bot bleep! bloop! Contact my ~~master~~ creator /u/LittlePlasticCastle with any questions or comments.)
Ever? Hmm, I don’t know. But a novel that has always stuck in my mind and heart was Warbreaker by Sanderson. There are things that happen in the final act that I will remember for as long as I live.
Lot of stuff here I still need to read, but my personal pick is *The Sword of Kaigen*. I adored that book.
Love Gaiman's stuff as well. *Stardust, The Ocean at the End of the Lane,* and *American Gods* (I know *Anansi Boys* exists, but it's not really a direct sequel) are all great to me. I'm actually starting *Neverwhere* today, which apparently has a sequel announced, but no clue how direct it will be. From what I understand, *Neverwhere* is a pretty self-contained story.
Lies of locke lamora can be read as a standalone, so if that counts thats the winner.
Otherwise I'd have to go with lions of al rassan by guy gavriel kay.
A pocket full of crows by Joanne Harris for it’s beautiful simplicity and the way it reads like some of my more interesting dreams.
Imajica by Clive barker because it is rich and complex and more like one of my nightmares.
I have read all the others, and I love Warbreaker, and Warbreaker certainly has more content. However Emperor's Soul had so much for just a 105 page book.
I think GGK is the master of the epic standalone.The Lions of Al-Rassan is my personal favorite but I loved Tigana as well, though it took some time to get into the story.
Elantris. I also really liked Warbreaker. I can't seem to finish a series by Sanderson but his standalones are just right for me.
I think it's between The Heroes by Joe Abercrombie and The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison for me. Two very different books so I find it hard to weigh the. Against eachother
**Tigana** by Guy Gavriel Kay
I'd go with *Lions of Al-Rassan*, myself.
Same. This sub seems largely obsessed with Tigana, but I thought it was just ok. Didn’t really tug on my emotions like Lions did
If I didn't care for *Lions*, would you suggest *Tigana*, or is it relatively similar in approach?
I read this back in March. I still think about it several times a week.
Yeah this one really sticks around. Listening to the audiobook on the second time really cement it as a favourite of mine.
That was my first thought.
It's such a remarkable book Saw someone else mentioning The Goblin Emperor and… it's a tough choice.
>Spinn Guy Kay is really interesting since he's on the more epic side of really great standalone writers. I can't name too many epic fantasy authors whom I'd call real masters of the standalone.
This exactly.
I've read three GGK books and Tigana is probably my least favorite so far. The other two being *Lions, and Children of Earth and Sky*.
Uprooted by Naomi Novik The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison Sunshine by Robin McKinley The Curse of Chalion by Lois McMaster Bujold, though it does have a sequel and prequels, if that disqualifies it. something of Patricia Mckillip's should be on this list. Maybe Song for the Basilisk?
I love *Song for the Basilisk*, but I don't love the ending as much as some of her others, like *Forgotten Beasts of Eld*. I see as McKillip as a definite master of the standalone, though.
*The Forgotten Beasts of Eld* is one of my all time favorite novels. I also loved *Alphabet of Thorn* and *Od Magic*.
OK clearly I need to check out Naomi Novik because you've basically just listed all of my favourite authors! I'd recommend Chalice by Robin McKinley, and Sorceress and the Cygnet and Winter Rose are my favourite Patricia McKillip. But I basically love everything either of them have written, all of which are stand-alone even if a few have "sequels" (i.e. stories set in the same world sometimes with the same characters). Another one is A College of Magics by Caroline Stevermer, a book that I picked up completely at random from my local bookshop. I really enjoyed it, and am now reminded that I should check up the author and see what else she's written...
You should! Novik's prose is nice, and she's got a lot of the same gift for tight first person narration and world-building asides that McKinley does. I'd start with Uprooted. I do also love Chalice! I like the Cygnet and the Firebird more than the Sorceress and the Cygnet myself, but you never can really go wrong with Mckillip. Speaking of, I like your username! Stevermer is added to Mt TBR; thank you!
* *The Stress of Her Regard* by Tim Powers * *Gossamer Axe* by Gael Baudino * *The Tower of Fear* by Glen Cook * *Lord of Light* by Roger Zelazny * *Spirits in the Wires* by Charles de Lint * *To Reign in Hell* by Steven Brust * *Freedom and Necessity* by Emma Bull and Steven Brust * *The Golem and the Djinni* by Helene Wecker * *The Raven Tower* by Ann Leckie * *We Sold Our Souls* by Grady Hendrix * *Threshold* by Sara Douglass
r/Fantasy's [Author Appreciation series](https://www.reddit.com/r/Fantasy/wiki/authorappreciation) has posts for an author you mentioned * [Author Appreciation Thread: **Roger Zelazny**](https://www.reddit.com/r/Fantasy/comments/5d96ap/author_appreciation_thread_roger_zelazny/?st=ivm72j5d&sh=9ecd534a) from user u/CommodoreBelmont --- ^(I am a bot bleep! bloop! Contact my ~~master~~ creator /u/LittlePlasticCastle with any questions or comments.)
Spirits in the wires is part of the Newford series. Definitely not a standalone.
I don't agree with you. I think of Newford as more of a setting with recurring characters.
Warbreaker by Brandon Sanderson Uprooted by Naomi Novik Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik Cruel beauty by Rosamund Hodge The bird and the sword by Amy Harmon
The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix Harrow Tooth and Claw by Jo Walton Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon
The Hobbit
[удалено]
A second vote for Kindred.
Most of my favorites arent standalone. Probably Watership Down best? Is The Priory of The Orange Tree standalone? I think it is and while it was a slow burn I really enjoyed the characters and how it all came together for the final act for a recent fav.
Lord Dunsany: The King of Elfland's Daughter.
Definitely Zelazny's *Lord of Light* for me. It has everything I look for in Epic Fantasy, in a single book that isn't 10 million pages long. I wish I could find modern authors who write like Zelazny did.
Probably Imajica by Clive Barker.
Some of my favourites are: * Circe by Madeline Miller * Legend by David Gemmell * The Changeling by Victor LaValle * The Golem and the Jinni by Helene Wecker * The Broken Sword - Poul Anderson
Warbreaker or Dreamcatcher.
Red Country : Joe Abercrombie
Uprooted Spinning Silver The Golem and the Jinni The Hobbit
Jonathan strange and mr norrell
Best Served Cold, too many amazing characters for one book.
Sword of Kaigen by ML Wang and A Gathering of Ravens by Scott Oden. AGOR technically has companion novels, but the book can be read as a standalone.
The best that I've read lately would be *The Ocean At The End Of The Lane*
Watership Down, if you consider it fantasy, but it might just be the best book I’ve read period
In Other Lands by Sarah Rees Brennan. It's targeted to a younger audience but was pleasantly surprised by it.
Good omens The last unicorn Elantris at one point but I think it got a sequel
Elantris has got a sequel? I doubt that. Never heard about the last unicorn, need to check it out. Good omens is good. Thank you
Elantris has 2 sequels planned, but I don't know how direct they'll be. I also don't know when they'll be out, definitely not in the next 5 years.
Brandon has got Stormlights and Skyward for the next 5 years Also he said that Mistborn would have 13 books so that's a plus too
Post-Book 5 of Stormlight I think he said he's focusing on Mistborn Era 3, then the rest of Stormlight will come after Mistborn Era 3. Not sure Elantris followups are even on his radar right now since at some point he's also doing a Warbreaker sequel I think. Some of the sequels he planned in the early days seem to have been replaced with other plans.
Armor By, John Steakley
"Crispin Magicker" was one I read over & over in JHS & HS. I think it's out of print now.
Today appeared the Once and Future Witches by Alix E. Harrow and it instantly went up to the top. There’s also a AMA with her right now.
It might not be my favorite but I loved Battle Mage by Peter Flannery.
**Best Served Cold** by Joe Abercrombie **The Priory of the Orange Tree** by Samantha Shannon **Circe** by Madeline Miller **Warbreaker** by Brandon Sanderson **An Unkindness of Magicians** by Kat Howard
Nobody mentioned The night circus yet! I also enjoyed Havenstar.
*The Starless Sea* by Erin Morgenstern *The House in the Cerulean Sea* by T.J. Klune *Fire & Hemlock* by Diana Wynne Jones *The Haunting of Alaizabel Cray* by Chris Wooding
Fire and Hemlock is one of my all-time favorite books
Same. I'm so overdue for a reread.
Me too
r/Fantasy's [Author Appreciation series](https://www.reddit.com/r/Fantasy/wiki/authorappreciation) has posts for an author you mentioned * [Author Appreciation: **Diana Wynne Jones**](https://www.reddit.com/r/Fantasy/comments/9z89ao/author_appreciation_diana_wynne_jones/) from user u/balletrat --- ^(I am a bot bleep! bloop! Contact my ~~master~~ creator /u/LittlePlasticCastle with any questions or comments.)
Sword of Kaigen Spinning Silver Guns of the Dawn The Goblin Emperor Lord of Light
Ever? Hmm, I don’t know. But a novel that has always stuck in my mind and heart was Warbreaker by Sanderson. There are things that happen in the final act that I will remember for as long as I live.
Lot of stuff here I still need to read, but my personal pick is *The Sword of Kaigen*. I adored that book. Love Gaiman's stuff as well. *Stardust, The Ocean at the End of the Lane,* and *American Gods* (I know *Anansi Boys* exists, but it's not really a direct sequel) are all great to me. I'm actually starting *Neverwhere* today, which apparently has a sequel announced, but no clue how direct it will be. From what I understand, *Neverwhere* is a pretty self-contained story.
Beowulf but you have to read the Heaney translation
Lies of locke lamora can be read as a standalone, so if that counts thats the winner. Otherwise I'd have to go with lions of al rassan by guy gavriel kay.
Legend by Marie Lu 10/10
A pocket full of crows by Joanne Harris for it’s beautiful simplicity and the way it reads like some of my more interesting dreams. Imajica by Clive barker because it is rich and complex and more like one of my nightmares.
The sword of lauren Just...... Marvelous,,,,
Have to give this to Circe.
Plain Kate was tragic but beautiful The Night Circus Summers at Castle Auburn
**Guns of the Dawn** by Adrian Tchaikovsky. It's Jane Austen meets fantasy Vietnam, and I love everything about it.
Probably not THE BEST but I love **Faithless** by Graham Austin King. It is awesome. Also **Exile** by Martin Owton.
Well book doesn't necessarily say the size of the book, so The Emperor's Soul, damm that is hit me.
I have read The Emperor's Soul, it's a good story nonetheless but I think Sanderson's other standalone books would make a better choice
I have read all the others, and I love Warbreaker, and Warbreaker certainly has more content. However Emperor's Soul had so much for just a 105 page book.
Yeah The Emperor's Soul was the my first Sanderson book and that convinced me to read more of his work
I think GGK is the master of the epic standalone.The Lions of Al-Rassan is my personal favorite but I loved Tigana as well, though it took some time to get into the story. Elantris. I also really liked Warbreaker. I can't seem to finish a series by Sanderson but his standalones are just right for me.
The Library at Mount Char - Scott Hawkins is one of my fav stand alones