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An epic fantasy even older than The Odyssey

This summer sees the release of the blockbuster film, The Odyssey, based on a Greek epic written nearly three thousand years ago. The movie has already received rave reviews, and its all-star cast will almost certainly ensure it's the cinematic event of the summer. It seems destined to win a few Oscars when the time comes. But the Odyssey is not the oldest fantasy epic ever written. That honour goes to a Sumerian epic known as Gilgamesh, which...

THE PRINCESS BRIDE BY WILLIAM GOLDMAN

The Princess Bride is known to many people through the film. It was based on a book of the same name by William Goldman, who also wrote the screenplay. It is a cult classic, a delightful fantasy, and although written in modern times, it matches the best in traditional fairy tales. Wonderful stuff.

While I prefer Fantasy to Science fiction, a long-forgotten series about a space surgeon by James White has recently been republished which remind me how good stories set in the future can be. The novels he wrote epitomise everything I love about science fiction. They are based on original quirky ideas, they are thought-provoking and linger in the mind long after you finish reading them. Things that are sadly lacking in most SF today.

You can read my...

THE CEMETERIES OF AMALO BY KATHERINE ADDISON

One of the most underrated and perhaps overlooked fantasy trilogies of recent times is The Cemeteries of Amalo by Katherine Addison. Best known for her standalone novel, The Goblin Emperor, her three books based on the doings of a humble priest who can speak to the dead are just as good, if not better. Gentle and whimsical on the one hand while at the same time set in a world believable enough to almost be considered Grimdark

LORD OF LIGHT by ROGER ZELAZNY

Roger Zelazny is quite rightly acclaimed as one of the all time greats of Science Fiction and Fantasy. He is my favourite author of fantasy and one of the biggest influences on my own writing. He is best remembered for his Amber series and for the marvellous Lord of Light. But for me, his best book is This Immortal.

And while you are here. Please have a look at one of my own books. A Jade Treasury. A collection of the legends and myths surrounding Jade, the...

A Trade of Blood by Robert Jackson Bennett.

For this episode I am going to recommend a novel that I haven't read as it hasn't yet been published. A Trade of Blood, the third in a the Shadow of the Leviathan trilogy, by Robert Jackson Bennett The first two instalments were so good I have no doubt part 3 will be equally entertaining.

DANCERS AT THE END OF TIME by MICHAEL MOORCOCK

Michael Moorcock is best known for his stories about the albino prince, Elric and his magic sword, Stormbringer. Perhaps rightly so, but for me his finest work is his Dancers at the End of Time trilogy. Far ahead of its time and thought provoking. Written by a story teller at the top of his game.

THE PRINCESS BRIDE BY WILLIAM GOLDMAN

One of the most charming books written in the fantasy genre has to be Princess Bride by William Goldman. Both the book and the film that was made from it are cult classics. As fresh today as the day it was first published. a tale of true love and swashbuckling adventure.

TERMINATOR, THE FILM, STARRING ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER

Although this is mainly a podcast about fantasy books that I love and recommend, I occasionally branch out to talk about a film that is classified as either fantasy or science fiction. This week I want to talk about what I consider to be one of the best SF movies of all time. It also happens to be one of the best 'chase movies' ever filmed. I am talking about the original Terminator, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger as a killing machine sent...

THE GOBLIN EMPEROR BY KATHERINE ADDISON

It is difficult to put your finger on which sub genre of fantasy the Goblin Emperor fits into. Most of the elements that most people associate with good fantasy, like sorcerers, dragons, enchanted blades, and mighty heroes are missing. And the hero is an ordinary man, or half elf half goblin in this case, with no special powers who just has to muddle through when plonked on the throne and told he's now emperor. A great read. Unputdownable

A SONG OF ICE AND FIRE

In this week's episode of Lord Yama's Fantasy Book Review I look at the work of one of the giants of the fantasy genre, George R R Martin......

THE CRYSTAL SINGER BY ANN McAFFREY

Ann McCaffrey might be best known for Dragonsong and other stories set on the world of Pern but I prefer her Crystal Singer Trilogy. Perhaps this is because the woman at the centre is a deeply flawed character who should be difficult to like - but isn't. Wonderful stuff.

KING RAT BY CHINA MIEVILLE

One of the best debut novels in the world of fantasy has to be King Rat by China Mieville. He is better known for his later works, such as Perdido Street Station, but my heart belongs to his first novel, King Rat, which updates one of the best-known fairy tales by placing it in the London of the 1990s

And while you are here. Please have a look at one of my own books. A Jade Treasury. It's about the legends and myths surrounding Jade, the Stone of Heaven. To ancient...

MARY STEWART'S MERLIN TRILOGY

The modern fantasy genre has its roots in myths and fairy tales. One persistent theme in the English language has been the tale of King Arthur, his sword Excalibur and the Knights of the Round Table. It has been told again and again in different ways for centuries. It is a central myth of English folklore. Many of the giants of the fantasy genre have reimagined it. But none have matched what is known as the Merlin Trilogy by Mary Stewart, in which we are told the...

FIRE FROM HEAVEN BY MARY RENAULT

The legacy of Mary Renault cannot be underestimated. Her marvellous historical fantasy trilogy about Alexander the Great was one of the first in any genre to break the mould and include homosexual love in popular literature. Writing more than half a century ago, she dared to break the rules not only with her Alexander series but with many of her other published works.

HARRY POTTER

The most successful author in the world of fantasy has to be J K Rowling. Her Harry Potter series and the films they spawned have been enjoyed by hundreds of millions of adults and children alike. We can thank this very gifted writer for making so many people fall in love with fantasy. Many of them have gone on to buy books by other authors in the genre. I would say she is as influential as J R R Tolkein.

The warrior, Wēngzhòng.

My latest book, Renn, was inspired by a semi mythical warrior, called Wēngzhòng, who lived during the reign of the first Chinese emperor, Qín Shǐ Huáng. I learned about him while I was being taught the art of jade carving in Suzhou. A pendant in his likeness has been carved in China and worn as an amulet of protection for more than 2,000 years.

He was one of the first pieces I was taught to carve. It is a simple figurine wearing...

THE LITTLE PRINE BY ANTOINE DE ST EXPURY

The Little Prince is a magical book, a modern fairy tale, written more than eighty years ago, and it still enchants adults and children alike. Undoubtedly one of the best introductions to the world of fantasy that has ever been written

Fantasy comes in many different guises. It ranges from Romantasy to Grimdark and from Sword and Sorcery to Magical Realism. One of my favourite books which doesn’t quite fit into any of the sub genres that I generally read is Piranesi by Susanna Clarke. While there are many who scoff at fantasy as not really literature, I would beg to differ and offer this novel as a prime example of great writing.

And just to let you know that the first in my new fantasy trilogy, Renn, is due for release...

One of the best grimdark fantasy trilogies written this century, at least in my humble opinion, has to be A Land Fit for Heroes by Richard Morgan. It was ahead of its time when it was written and still as fresh today as when it was first published. It drew me in from the first page and I read the first book in one sitting.