For some reason, I just can't get into the second book of GRRM's Ice and Fire...  Maybe I'll try again.  As most others, I've been slogging through wheel of time, but I can say that the best ones were book 6 and previous.  Winter's Heart is better then the last few, I think, although too short, like the last few.  I think the best thing about Winter's Heart is that somthing actually got DONE!  Here's to hoping the series ends well, in book 11 or 12.

Other than that, I loved the Sarantine Mosaic by Guy Gavriel Kay, although most others did not; I liked Whyte's first few books in his revisionist King Arthur tale (Singing Sword, etc), I liked the first book in the Assasin's Apprentice series (the second and third didn't do anything for me, though), loved the first book of the Coldfire series by CS Friedman, and the Death Gate cycle by Weis and Hickman.

I read just about anything, and will enjoy about 90% or more of what I read, but the above are the books that made me want to re-read them.

My GOD, someone here is from Ypsi.  Hi, Ravenhack!

Hey Rook!  Not FROM Ypsi. originally, but I've lived here for the past 7 or 8 years now. 

As for fave fantasy series, never discount Track Hickman & Margaret Weiss' Dragonlance novels. 

And yes, probably the first 2 writers who really got me READING books period, next to C.S. Lewis and Donaldson of course.

Some pretty interesting looking things posted so far, I'll have to check out some of the books that have been recommended.

I didn't really think "Highly" of Winter's Heart, but after 2 books where nothing was really DONE, I found it to be the beginning of the conclusion to the series.  Theres's a LOT to still be resolved, but at least there's now one less thing to do.  I think it's about time that some of the bazillion tasks that needed doing before Tarmon Gaidin are completed.  But, as I said, the book should have been longer and covered more ground once it managed to take off.  Ah well.

As for Song of Fire and Ice, I think I was approaching it in the wrong way or something... I picked it up expecting a light, swords and sorcery series or something, but got a whole lot more.  I don't think I was in the mood for complicated stories that month...  Ah well.  I'll give it another shot next week, maybe.

Pratchett!  How could I have forgotten him.  I love his Discworld books - they have some of the funniest characters I've ever read...  Carrot rocks my world :b

Also to add to my list is Donaldson's Mordant's Need, as well as the first Thomas Covenant series.  Both bleak, but good reads provided they don't drive you into depression.

Thanks myrkul - maybe I will try tackling Winter's Heart again (a task completed?  I'm intrigued, its about bloody time!)

Shadows and Ice wrote:

David Eddings' Belgariad 'n Mallorean get a mention because they made me laugh too.

lol, Shadows.  Thats the main reason I loved reading those books again.  A lot of people, I find, dont' like Eddings.  But I think his books are pretty funny.

And, as myrkul mentioned, Jack Whyte's Arthurian books are very good.  And Donaldson's First Chronicals of Thomas Covenant were great.

Here's my two cents.

Series' everyone should read:

Narnia; (did you know Lewis family has decided to licence other authers to continue Narnia? I shudder.)
LOTR;
Donaldson's Unbeliever trilogies; [sic?]
MS&T; (I'm not trying to suck up here, I just think Tad accomplished something here)
Some Discworld novel; (your choice)
Some Michael Moorcock. (your choice)

Series' I've really enjoyed:

Anything by Weis and Hickman;
Riftworld/Daughter of the Empire by Feist. (and Janny Wurts, on daughter of the empire)

Series' I wish I had never started.

Robert Jordan's;
David Eddings'.

Ahh!  Where was my brain when I posted my original reply?  How could I forget Discworld?  And ASH?  And Golden Witchbreed & Ancient Light?   And the book of the New Sun?    And Ender's Game?  Although ender's Game and Ender's Shadow are by far the best two books of that series.  And by Children of the Mind, the original Ender saga more or less sucked.

My personal favorites are, in no particular order

1) MS&T
2) Wizard of Earthsea By U. K. L.
3) Riddlemaster of Hed by Patricia Mckillip
This series is awesome and it seems few people have read it
4) LoTR Of course its gotta be here
5) A Song of Fire and Ice
Incredible complex characters, and a sense of horror.  His scummy, villianous common folk remind me of some of the background characters of Stephen King, and Peter Straub
6) Shadowland by Peter Straub
The best horror book ever written in my opinion.  The premise that "real" magicians hide behind the guise of stage illusionists is fascinating, and the writing is very hypnotic,  its like being sucked into a dark whirlpool.. HIGHLY recommended.
7) Gorky Park by Martin Cruz Smith
I know its not fantasy, but my god this ia a brilliantly written book.  A very authentic look at life in communist Moscow, wrapped in a murder mystery
8)  The Taltos Books by Stephen Brust
9)  Nine Princes in Amber By Zelazny
10) The Majipoor Chronicles By Robert Silverberg
11) On My Way to Paradise by Dave Wolverton AKA David Farland
His debut novel, a very powerful look at the dehumanizing effects of repeated violence.  Not for the faint of heart.
I'm sure I've forgotten some good stuff, but this is a good list

               Robert S.

"When trying to better oneself, its best to take excremental steps."

ooh, fave fantasy reading...well, it all really started with the narnia books and the pern books by miss anne mccaffery.  (which made me want my own dragon..i still do) then, much later..tad's books, of course but also mercedes lackey's valdemar books, melanie rawn's dragon prince books, um...c.j. cherryh's merovingin nites anthology series, the anita blake vampire hunter series (can't remember the author's name..they're alt.history type books), ummmmm...i hate to say this, but i, too, have never managed to finish the LOTR series. i don't know if it's my copies (they have really small print) or what...i'm hoping the film adaptation will inspire me to get thru it. i know there's more but i'm not in sight of the bookcase....