I Asked Famous Fantasy Authors for Book Recommendations
For fantasy readers seeking a standout standalone, the creator’s top pick is The Priory of the Orange Tree.
- Try Lonesome Dove for an adventurous Western with memorable characters and humor.
- Read Assassin’s Apprentice before Royal Assassin, which one guest calls a favorite.
- Choose The Priory of the Orange Tree for a fantasy standalone praised for its world and character arcs.
The notes capture the recommendations and the creator’s final pick; there is no extended walkthrough. · Best for: Readers looking for recommendations, especially fans of fantasy and speculative fiction.
At a book event, authors and book creators recommend fiction they think people should read. Their picks range from fantasy and science fiction to a Western, contemporary fiction, and a nature book. The creator’s favorite recommendation is The Priory of the Orange Tree.
Lonesome Dove and other early picks0:00
- Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry is praised as a funny, moving adventure with strong characters.
- A guest recommends Joe Hill’s forthcoming Hunger, described as historical fiction set in revolutionary-era Boston.
- A Beast in the Lines of Wars Beijing by Alice Evelyn Yang is recommended for readers who enjoy Babel or The Poppy War.
Nature writing and character-driven fiction1:47
- Is a River Alive? by Rob Macfarlane explores whether rivers should have rights, alongside river mythology.
- Bridget Jones’s Diary is praised for its humor, central character, and distinctive authorial voice.
Fantasy and science fiction recommendations3:44
- Dungeon Crawler Carl is described as fun, with darker themes beneath its humor and an underdog story.
- Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard features a society divided by blood status and supernatural powers.
- Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury is recommended for its enduring themes of censorship and book burning.
Series and fantasy favorites5:44
- One guest names The Lord of the Rings as foundational to their reading, then recommends Pierce Brown’s Red Rising series for its pacing and characters.
- Royal Assassin by Robin Hobb is praised for its character study and blend of fantasy and politics; the guest recommends starting with Assassin’s Apprentice.
- Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones is described as magical, nostalgic, and appealing to different ages.
The creator’s final pick7:37
- The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon and books by M. L. Wang are praised for their worlds, character arcs, and real-world themes.
- The creator chooses The Priory of the Orange Tree as the best recommendation and says it is already on their shelf.
- The creator also plans to read Lonesome Dove after trusting Joe Abercrombie’s earlier recommendation of The Lies of Locke Lamora.
Tools & resources mentioned
- Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry — recommended Western adventure.
- Hunger by Joe Hill — forthcoming historical fiction recommendation, as described in the transcript.
- Is a River Alive? by Rob Macfarlane — explores rivers, mythology, and the question of river rights.
- Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury — recommended for its themes of censorship and book burning.
- Red Rising series by Pierce Brown — praised for plot, pacing, and characters.
- Assassin’s Apprentice and Royal Assassin by Robin Hobb — a suggested starting point and follow-up in the Farseer trilogy.
- Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones — recommended fantasy novel, compared favorably with its film adaptation.
- The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon — the creator’s top recommendation from the event.
Notes are AI-generated from the video's transcript and may miss nuance.