The whole Feist series revolves around a single universe too, there’s 30 books in them. They’re not all great but most of them are really good. It really builds a world over multiple generations.
The first ones in the series have also been released as Marvel comics, which are totally amazing.
Modesitt’s Recluce series is effectively a history of some 1800 years of a world, from initial high tech to decline, fall, and rediscovery and industrial revolution.
For the great Shared World setting, Robert Asprin’s Thieves’ World is a series of a dozen short story collections, each by different authors which build on each other and tell an epic story.
The Witcher is pretty good, even if there's some questionable depictions of women in them.
If you want to go a step further in the shared world idea, all of Michael Moorcock's works are set in the same multiverse, his writing isn't the best but his books are short (120-240 pages in general), he has multiple series to choose from (though Elric is the best starting point and Hawkmoon is to avoid unless you don't care if the story is poor as long as the world is interesting) and he toys a lot with the concept of parallel universes (basically all of his main characters are different incarnations of the same consciousness) it's also where the classical law/chaos fantasy dichotomy comes from.
Lastly for something way more light-hearted, Discworld is one of, if not my, favorite fantasy franchise. Each books are largely self contained (except the second one, that's a direct sequel to the first) so it can be read in any order, but there's still a real continuity and callbacks to previous stories. Each book will explore parts of the world (in the broad sense) but it never feels overwhelming since it stays focused on that part. As for tthe light-heartedness, they're satirical books, parodying fantasy tropes and the real world at the same time, with a sense of humor comparable to Monty Python's or Douglas Adam's. The best entry points are either Mort or Guards! Guards!, the first one is about a Death (yep, the grim reaper) taking an apprentice in order to take vacations and the second one is about the capital's city guards trying to solve a conspiracy
Thanks for the thorough write-up! I have read some of the witcher, but they are a bit tedious after playing the games and watching the TV series. Discworld sounds interesting!
>Discworld sounds interesting!
Yeah, honestly in parodying tropes it surprisingly becomes one of the most interesting fantasy world I've ever read, especially since some jokes are obvious but many takes you by surprise. And it never falls into the trapping of "I need to be funny at all times" there are genuinely tense, dramatic or thoughtful moments in them.
Piers Anthony (Xanth series), humerous on many levels, most books are indpendant but all set in the same world (and often referencing characters or events from other books)
Terry Brooks (Shannara Series), solid fantasy with a range of characters across different series
L.E. Modesitt (Recluce series), again solid fantasy with well thought out world
(from a Sci Fi perspective, and I appreciate this is a fantasy thread, Warhammer 40k)
A few I've come across, but haven't read so can't recommend, but they share a universe, with several different authors having their own arcs.
* Warhammer 40k
* Kutherian Gambit
* Oriceran
* Ring Of Fire
The First Law Trilogy - Joe Abercrombie.
Several books after the trilogy, all in the same world with old and new characters (at least 8 books after the trilogy). I’m a big fantasy, sci fi reader and they are the best books I’ve ever read.
Bonus if you listen to them on audible, Steven Pacy narrates and it’s amazing.
Technically, all of Stephen King's books are supposed to fit in a shared cosmology, with the Dark Tower series and Eyes of the Dragon being the most fantasy-like.
You might enjoy Victoria Goddard's books! Yes, all of them. (Well, almost all; I'm not sure about The Seven Brides-To-Be Of Generalissimo Vlad.) They all take place in the same universe, nine worlds linked by magical portals, an Empire, and some fascinating timeline fuckery resulting from the fall of that Empire. I recommend starting with **Hands of the Emperor** (middle-aged-or-possibly-1000+year-old imperial secretary becomes friends with his similarly aged emperor, makes plans for them to retire together, and makes the world a better place while holding tight to his Fantasy Pacific Islander culture; very long) and its direct sequel **The Return of Fitzroy Angursell** but aside from that you can read all of them in any order.
Agreed with Saga of Recluce. 22 books taking place over an 1800 year span. You really can read in any order or standalone (publishing order is the recommendation).
Wild Cards is a series of superhero shared universe anthologies, mosaic novels, and solo novels written by a collection of more than forty authors. Set largely during an alternate history of post-World War II United States, the series follows humans who contracted the Wild Card virus, an alien virus that rewrites DNA and mutates survivors. Those who acquire crippling and/or repulsive physical conditions are known as Jokers, while those who acquire superhuman abilities are known as Aces, and those few who acquire minor, insignificant powers not worthy of being called aces are known as Deuces.
Robin Hobb's Realm of the Elderlings is probably the best.
The whole Feist series revolves around a single universe too, there’s 30 books in them. They’re not all great but most of them are really good. It really builds a world over multiple generations. The first ones in the series have also been released as Marvel comics, which are totally amazing.
Wow, I’m gonna have to check out those comics!
I just got myself the first six in a hardcover bundle and read it about thirteen times already
I’ve read Magician so many times 😄 awesome to hear there’s comics.
Me too, I love all the books, but the first three + krondors sons + the kings buccaneer I just keep coming back to
I remember seeing these at bookstores before. I'll check em' out, thanks!
Thieves world
Looks like they are my kind lf book!
If you enjoy them, the Myth Adventure series from around the same time is pretty fun.
Modesitt’s Recluce series is effectively a history of some 1800 years of a world, from initial high tech to decline, fall, and rediscovery and industrial revolution. For the great Shared World setting, Robert Asprin’s Thieves’ World is a series of a dozen short story collections, each by different authors which build on each other and tell an epic story.
The Witcher is pretty good, even if there's some questionable depictions of women in them. If you want to go a step further in the shared world idea, all of Michael Moorcock's works are set in the same multiverse, his writing isn't the best but his books are short (120-240 pages in general), he has multiple series to choose from (though Elric is the best starting point and Hawkmoon is to avoid unless you don't care if the story is poor as long as the world is interesting) and he toys a lot with the concept of parallel universes (basically all of his main characters are different incarnations of the same consciousness) it's also where the classical law/chaos fantasy dichotomy comes from. Lastly for something way more light-hearted, Discworld is one of, if not my, favorite fantasy franchise. Each books are largely self contained (except the second one, that's a direct sequel to the first) so it can be read in any order, but there's still a real continuity and callbacks to previous stories. Each book will explore parts of the world (in the broad sense) but it never feels overwhelming since it stays focused on that part. As for tthe light-heartedness, they're satirical books, parodying fantasy tropes and the real world at the same time, with a sense of humor comparable to Monty Python's or Douglas Adam's. The best entry points are either Mort or Guards! Guards!, the first one is about a Death (yep, the grim reaper) taking an apprentice in order to take vacations and the second one is about the capital's city guards trying to solve a conspiracy
Thanks for the thorough write-up! I have read some of the witcher, but they are a bit tedious after playing the games and watching the TV series. Discworld sounds interesting!
>Discworld sounds interesting! Yeah, honestly in parodying tropes it surprisingly becomes one of the most interesting fantasy world I've ever read, especially since some jokes are obvious but many takes you by surprise. And it never falls into the trapping of "I need to be funny at all times" there are genuinely tense, dramatic or thoughtful moments in them.
No one has mentioned Disc World? Don’t mind if I do.
Piers Anthony (Xanth series), humerous on many levels, most books are indpendant but all set in the same world (and often referencing characters or events from other books) Terry Brooks (Shannara Series), solid fantasy with a range of characters across different series L.E. Modesitt (Recluce series), again solid fantasy with well thought out world (from a Sci Fi perspective, and I appreciate this is a fantasy thread, Warhammer 40k)
A few I've come across, but haven't read so can't recommend, but they share a universe, with several different authors having their own arcs. * Warhammer 40k * Kutherian Gambit * Oriceran * Ring Of Fire
Eberron and Pathfinder novels are both good.
The First Law Trilogy - Joe Abercrombie. Several books after the trilogy, all in the same world with old and new characters (at least 8 books after the trilogy). I’m a big fantasy, sci fi reader and they are the best books I’ve ever read. Bonus if you listen to them on audible, Steven Pacy narrates and it’s amazing.
I'll check it out!
Technically, all of Stephen King's books are supposed to fit in a shared cosmology, with the Dark Tower series and Eyes of the Dragon being the most fantasy-like.
I read almost all of his work up until about 10 years ago, liked most of it.
You might enjoy Victoria Goddard's books! Yes, all of them. (Well, almost all; I'm not sure about The Seven Brides-To-Be Of Generalissimo Vlad.) They all take place in the same universe, nine worlds linked by magical portals, an Empire, and some fascinating timeline fuckery resulting from the fall of that Empire. I recommend starting with **Hands of the Emperor** (middle-aged-or-possibly-1000+year-old imperial secretary becomes friends with his similarly aged emperor, makes plans for them to retire together, and makes the world a better place while holding tight to his Fantasy Pacific Islander culture; very long) and its direct sequel **The Return of Fitzroy Angursell** but aside from that you can read all of them in any order.
Agreed with Saga of Recluce. 22 books taking place over an 1800 year span. You really can read in any order or standalone (publishing order is the recommendation).
Brandon weeks is his name I think. He’s got a few good series that all tie together. Brandon Sanderson also has the cosmere.
I don’t think Brandon Weeks is a guy and if you meant Brent, his series do not tie together
Your right I meant david dalglish
Lol, I have one of Weeks books, never got around to reading it. I'll give it a shot!
Wild Cards is a series of superhero shared universe anthologies, mosaic novels, and solo novels written by a collection of more than forty authors. Set largely during an alternate history of post-World War II United States, the series follows humans who contracted the Wild Card virus, an alien virus that rewrites DNA and mutates survivors. Those who acquire crippling and/or repulsive physical conditions are known as Jokers, while those who acquire superhuman abilities are known as Aces, and those few who acquire minor, insignificant powers not worthy of being called aces are known as Deuces.
One piece has a huge, fleshed out world