Yes, and when my mother shows my kiddie pictures around people say, " Dude, you looked like Harry Potter". Then they ask, "what happened?" . To which I reply, "I swallowed Hagrid" .

GB

Seriously though, I have a hard time getting into newer Fantasy series because so many are variations on Tolkien, Lewis, the old Arthurian legends, Beowulf, etc.,and I feel like I've read it already. I liked Potter because it was the first new Fantasy series in decades to really float my boat and put a whole new spin on the genre.

But there are other series that occasionally grab me. Since seeing Inkheart I'm tempted to read the books. I liked the Earthsea books, Terry Brooks's Shannara series (one of the better Tolkien take-offs) and his Magic Kingdom for Sale series, some Terry Pratchett's, and a few others.

And I keep hoping people will let me know some good new books to try that I will like and won't bore me. Since seeing Legend of the Seeker, I think I'd like The Sword of Truth series. So I am glad this thread is active and people are recommending other books (just don't dis Potter , You can rip on Twilight though ). *just kidding*

GB

Hmm I do agree harry potter has got to be one of very few new(ish) and original ideas. Far too many fantasy books are tolkien take offs. Not that its the authors fault, Tolkien just wrote such a rediculous amount that works that people just cant envisage any thing else.

I read a few people mention the inheritance cycle, I assume you mean eragon and his ilk, personally I read the first 2 and found them so redicuously predictable I never bothered with the third. I cant help thinking that we already have 1 star wars we really didnt need a "middle earth wars" to go with it.

Again though cant criticise the writer, hats of to him for creating such a popular book at such an early age. Wasnt he 16 or something when he wrote the first one?

I look forward to seeing some new material from him.

I did quite like the Belgariad and Mallorean, my main criticisms was a seeming lack of depth.

I dont know if anyone read Eddings later work, The Redemption of Althalus. Not bad but pretty much more of the same, warring gods, lots of very distinct human factions very few fantasy elements apart from a bit of magic.

I find it difficult to remember many fantasy books I have read that were noticeably great. There was a series called The Worlds of Chrestomanci, which was original but for quite a young audiance, the same applies to Artemis Fowl.

I do also have to show my admiration for Garth Nix' Abhorsen series, though I am less of a fan of Keys to the Kingdom, there is something rather boring about books that follow a distinct and obvious formula, in this case 1 book per day of the week. The same was im sorry to say slightly true of harry potter. I would have liked to have seen the seventh book perhaps extend to longer that 1 year to break the cycle.

The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant the Unbeliever had some intriguing ideas a few decades ago . But the series was so relentlessly depressing and the protagonist so unlikable, I gave up after about 3 tries.

One of the best series I've read in the last couple of decades is The Chronicles of Amber series by Roger Zelazny. It had some great concepts and great characters. It riffed on the theme of parallel universes with court intrigues among the demigods that kept the whole thing stable. They could move through Universes by just walking and altering their surroundings around themselves.

And I agree with Elledan that Paolini should at least get props for writing a fairly popular series at such a young age, even though I found the series boring myself. But when he gets over re-writing Tolkien and McCaffrey, he's got the potential to write something a bit more unique.

GB

hello to all,
in my humble opinion,the best fantasy series after LOTR would be Micheal Moorecock's Elric series.Although more dark and sinister than the Tolkien books,the writing is excellent and really draws you into the characters.Alot of tlak of doing a movie based on the books but i think production companies are scared of the dark content

The Belgariad by David Eddings. BRILLIANT.
The Mallorian by David Eddings. brilliant
The Magician by Raymond Fiest also very good

Has anyone mentioned Fritz Lieber's Fafhrd & Grey Mouser books? They're very easy to read (important for me), funny, exciting and creepy all at the same time. The city of Lankhmar is fascinating as are the villains, like a secret society of intelligent, giant, anthropoid rats. I was able to enjoy them at a point in my life when LOTR was too much. Now that I "get" Tolkien, I still enjoy the more action-packed Lieber books. But I enjoy Tolkien much more, in retrospect.

through all of this not one mention of the Song of Fire and Ice by George Martin?

I had a friend who was one of those who sneered about Tolkien. His beef was that the characters were not realistic (I don't consider this a fault in a mythic work, but he did). He suggested this dangerously addictive series, very complex and well written. I laid a pox on my friend because I was unable to get any work done until I had plowed through all the books I could find. Then I discommoded my brother in the same way, who has doubtless passed on the favor. Unfortunately Martin has taken a long hiatus before completing the final book in the series, and I'm sure part of the problem is constant harassment by fans who want him to finish.

This is one of the few series that feel 'real' to me the way middle earth does. Most fantasy fails this test. Some (like Jack Vance) should not be judged in this way, but if a fantasy author tries for reality and succeeds it's a rare and precious thing.

A Song of Ice and Fire is definitely my favourite after Tolkien.

I'm caught between The Dancers at the End of Time (Moorcock), The Planet of Adventure (Vance) and Narnia (Some guy everyone knows). I never read all of the Taran books (Lloyd Alexander), and must do so. I think that series would be up there too.