Books like Conan
30 fantasy books to read after Conan, by Howard, Robert E., the closest match first.
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1. The Gentleman Bastards
by Lynch, Scott
- On the same lists
One of the best fantasy series in the genre. Clever, sharply written, with some seriously awesome characters, this is a series that you MUST read. The first book was awesome,...
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2. Acts Of Caine
by Stover, Matthew Woodring
- On the same lists
Not an epic fantasy in your traditional sense, but one of the most underrated series out there starring the brutal amoral assassin, Caine. This is a series that holds nothing...
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3. Red Queen's War
by Lawrence, Mark
- On the same lists
Mark Lawrence's newest anti-hero fantasy, with the first book out so far (2015 as of this writing). It's not as good or genre pushing as his first trilogy The Broken...
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4. The Mythago Cycle
by Holdstock, Robert
- On the same lists
A wonderfully beautiful novel that explores the ideas of myth and reality and the connection between the two. You'll find here a hauntingly story about a primeval forest somewhere undefined...
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Mistborn book 1 Start here
5. Mistborn
by Sanderson, Brandon
- On the same lists
A magnificent series of adventure, magic, and revenge with one of the most unique magic systems in the fantasy genre. Mistborn is the story of a band of wizards fighting...
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6. Riftwar Saga
by Feist, Raymond
- On the same lists
Feist has quite a few Midkemia books, but his Riftwar books (starting with Magican: Master and Magician Apprentice) are by far the best of the bunch (with the exception of...
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7. Powder Mage Trilogy
by Mcclellan, Brian
- On the same lists
Trilogy where people called Powder Mages whose magical ability is manipulating gunpowder.
A series of pure awesomeness. If you love the action, magic, and adventure of a Sanderson novel, you'll love the Powder Mage trilogy. The magic system is one of the...
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8. A Raven's Shadow
by Ryan, Anthony
- On the same lists
The first book in the series (The Blood Song) was a remarkable work and hailed as a successor to Patrick Rothfuss's The Name of the Wind -- both books had...
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9. Chathrand Voyage
by Redick, Robert V. S.
- On the same lists
This “naval” epic fantasy series is a “boatload” of fun. It’s one of the more refreshing grand epic fantasy tales released in the past couple of years with a motley...
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10. New Crobuzon
by Miéville, China
- On the same lists
This is a different sort of fantasy and helped solidify the New Weird / Slipstream movement. The New Crobuzon novels are loosely connected (set in the same world), with the...
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11. Deverry Series
by Kerr, Katherine
- On the same lists
A series retells over and over the tale of two lovers (and the characters important to them) who meet and fall in love again and again over the course of...
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12. A Song Of Ice And Fire
by Martin, George R. R.
- On the same lists
This series tops the Top 25 Best Fantasy Books, and with good reason and it's my pick for the best fantasy series. Martin shattered the fantasy mold and created something...
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13. Tales Of The Dying Earth
by Vance, Jack
- On the same lists
A series, and the reason there is a Dying Earth sub-genre.
Tale of the Dying Earth truly stands as one of the greatest works ever penned. Everything that's good and bad about the human condition is eloquently expressed within this tale....
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14. The Seventh Sword
by Duncan, Dave
- On the same lists
Generally regarded, along with A Man of His Word, as Duncan’s best work. This is some of the best sword and sorcery fantasy you’ll read, period.The premise is that a...
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15. Memory, Sorrow, And Thorn
by Williams, Tad
- On the same lists
There are writers who like to write pulp and there are some writers who like to write fiction. Williams is the latter. Memory, Sorrow, Thorn is Tad Williams response to...
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16. Books Of The Cataclysm
by Williams, Sean
- On the same lists
A compelling re-telling of stories of heaven, hell, the afterlife and beyond. I don’t think there is any other story out there quit e like this one. Plenty of authors...
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17. Legends Of The Red Sun
by Newton, Mark Charan
- On the same lists
A strange mix of post-apocalyptic and steampunk fantasy, but a rewarding one. In a futuristic world, the sun is dying out and the world is slowly turning to ice with...
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18. Psalms Of Isaak
by Scholes, Ken
- On the same lists
An ambitious and engrossing post-apocalyptic meets steampunk fantasy series that seems to be doing all the right things. You might think of it as a cross between A Song of...
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19. Tales Of The Ketty Jay
by Wooding, Chris
- On the same lists
Some pretty compelling stuff in this series is its beautiful prose, imaginative scenes, and hilarious action that will have you giggling as you struggle to turn the pages faster.The key...
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20. The Deed Of Paksenarrion
by Moon, Elizabeth
- On the same lists
A significant series because the protagonist is a woman—not exactly common in Military Fantasy. Battles are plenty, but characterization is really the focus.
A twist on the classic epic fantasy conceits. Moon takes many of the best elements from the genre and puts her own unique spin on them. This is a compelling...
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21. Imager Portfolio
by Jr., L. E. Modesitt
- On the same lists
This is Le Modessit’s best work so far. It’s not a standout fantasy series, but it is pretty entertaining. Modessit’s fantasy typically features a young callow boy who rises through...
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22. Shadows Of The Apt
by Tchaikovsky, Adrian
- On the same lists
This series wins big points for originality here. The premise itself sounds, on the surface, ridiculously unbelievable: a world where all humans have the attributes of different insects. However, the...
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23. Lord of the Shadows (The Second Sons Trilogy)
by Fallon, Jennifer
- On the same lists
Fallon has written quite a few fantasy books (most of them with a heavy romantic bent to them), but her Second Son's trilogy is her best work and a remarkable...
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24. Conan The Barbarian
by Howard, Robert E.
- Same author
Conan – the name conjures up images of swords, bare chests, sweat, blood and lots of furs (like a non-campy version of Dolf Lungren's He-Man). It's hard to believe that...
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25. Troy Trilogy
by Gemmell, David
- On the same lists
This trilogy adapts the Trojan War and creates complex subplots to keep readers engaged. Like a good epic story should, this series has it all: battle, love, intrigue, tragedy, happiness.
The best of Gemmell's work -- and the last of his work too. Troy is a retelling of the Greek tale of Troy, but done told in such a refreshing...
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26. Almuric
by Howard, Robert E.
- Same author
The muscular hero of this novel is transported to the alien world Almuric and battles monsters.
Just one example from the prolific Robert E. Howard, this novel features plenty of fight scenes with some strange monsters and a hero who must continually escape.
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27. The Kingkiller Chronicle
by Rothfuss, Patrick
- On the same lists
The Name of the Wind is a stunning work of imagination and storytelling triumph and currently ranks very near the top of my Top 25 Best Fantasy List. I won't...
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World Of The Five Gods book 1 Start here
28. The Curse Of Chalion
by Bujold, Lois Mcmaster
- On the same lists
Lois McMaster Bujold did not start off writing fantasy, instead rising to fame in the early 1990s as a prolific science-fiction novelist, winning numerous accolades such as the Hugo, Nebula,...
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29. The Lightbringer
by Weeks, Brent
- On the same lists
Series where the magic system is based on color.
The Lightbringer is Brent Weeks best series so far. I was never that impressed with his Night Angel trilogy which was all action and setting but of little substance. However,...
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30. The Chronicles Of The Unhewn Throne
by Staveley, Brian
- On the same lists
A new epic fantasy series that just hits pitch perfect notes. This is really one of the best new fantasy series to come out the past decade.There's royal siblings separated...
Matches come from series and authors, from the lists the books share, and from the books readers open together. They are rebuilt every night. Back to Conan.
The shortlist
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