Modern/Futuristic Fantasy

[Murrocko]

I'm looking for book the kind of a Final Fantasy might take place. Not some Middle eart type, but one that has guns (for a lack of a better example) but yet has sword play, magic, and monsters.

[Shem the Penman]

First thing that comes to mind for me is Michael Moorcock's books about Dorian Hawkmoon (The Jewel in the Skull, et al), which are very much in that vein.

You might also consider Philip Pullman's "His Dark Materials" series.

[Inkthinker]

Jim Butcher's Alera Codex doesn't have guns (yet), but it does have elemental summoning and flying knights and so forth. Sort of like FF before VI (or III if you're following the American releases).

I think the Eberron D&D setting is also a direct response to the influence of technology into fantasy settings, so you might look into their novels which revolve around that world.

[Arvandor]

Deathstalker is highly recommended, though a bit darker than you might be thinking of.

[Nogs]

C.S. Friedman's Coldfire Trilogy. One of the only books I've actually reread a dozen times. Its set on a planet that was inhabited by humans from earth(so set far in the future). The magic system is ca-razy, and there are mentions of guns, but they aren't really used that much.

It is probably more fantasy than sci-fi though, probably 90-10, so I dunno if its exactly what you are looking for.

[Murrocko]

Yes, this is exactly the types of books I'm looking for. I'm going to check as many of them as I can. Keep the recommendations coming.

[Armless Penguin]

Deathstalker is highly recommended, though a bit darker than you might be thinking of.

DEATHSTALKER is space opera though--not really what he was asking for.

[Murrocko]

A space opera does sound interesting though :D

[Yun Lao]

E.E. Knight's The Vampire Earth starting with Way of the Wolf might just fit. While most magical elements are more mystical than pure magic, it's still pretty good.

[Tobias March]

Can't say I've read it, so hopefully someone else here can point the way but - Stand On Zanzibar by John Brunner. It looks interesting and I think it's next on the list.

Anything by Alfred Bester, perhaps mostly The Stars My Destination - manages to be quite trippy in an entertaining way.

Ringworld Larry Niven/Dune Frank Herbert?

[Inkthinker]

The Stars My Desitination is pretty straight sci-fi, though... really more of a Count of Monte Cristo retelling with entertaining and interesting twists. I think the topic here is more along the lines of material that would appeal to a fan of Square's Final Fantasy series of games.

Dune has swords and knives on top of guns, but still... pretty heavily sci-fi over fantasy.

On that note, while I can't recall any guns, the Brust "Vlad Taltos" books posess a level of magic that's high enough to be treated as technology... when I read the first three in that set, I got a bit of an FF vibe in my mind.

While I haven't read any, you might also try the "Exalted" novels, based on the White Wolf RPG which is extremely FF-based. Guns and magic and geat huge honkin' swords and everything. Don't know why I didn't think to mention it before.

[Rabid Trekkie]

DEATHSTALKER is space opera though--not really what he was asking for.

Yeah, but the Nightside series by the same author may be more of what he's looking for. I've read the first three books and their fantastic.

Starts with a book titled Something from the Nightside.

[Shem the Penman]

Can't say I've read it, so hopefully someone else here can point the way but - Stand On Zanzibar by John Brunner. It looks interesting and I think it's next on the list.

While I love Stand on Zanzibar, it's got nothing to do with Final Fantasy-style fantasy. It's more in the dystopia/social satire line.

And I can't believe I didn't remember it, but: Roger Zelazny did a lot of stuff that might satisfy you, in particular the Amber books, Jack of Shadows, and possibly Lord of Light. Although that last one is, strictly speaking, SF, it's still very fantastical in the "any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic" way.

[Ryan Day]

China Mieville does that sort of thing pretty well in Perdido Street Station and The Scar. (and presumably Iron Council, which I haven't read yet) Kind of a steampunk, industrial revolution type of society with airships and rudimentary computers and even robots, mixed with forms of magic and various monsters, demons, and weird beings.

They're really awesome, imaginative books. Highly recommended.

[Tobias March]

China Mieville does that sort of thing pretty well in Perdido Street Station and The Scar. (and presumably Iron Council, which I haven't read yet) Kind of a steampunk, industrial revolution type of society with airships and rudimentary computers and even robots, mixed with forms of magic and various monsters, demons, and weird beings.

They're really awesome, imaginative books. Highly recommended.

I was thinking about Mieville, but I wouldn't like to recommend him to anyone. For one thing I can't get over how similar he is to M. John Harrison, but I get that he's more popular.

Anyone read Canticle for Leibowitz?

[Inkthinker]

Just thought I'd mention that I picked up Perdido Street Station, 'cause you guys recommended it (and on a brief skim of a few random pages, it looked pretty good).

So... thanks! I'll pop back after I read it and drop some thoughts.

[niall mc cann]

possibly Lord of Light. Although that last one is, strictly speaking, SF, it's still very fantastical in the "any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic" way.

Beat me to it. Love Lord of Light. And i think it's not a million miles away from what Murroclko's looking for.

Technically it's SF, but it's far less obvious SF than a lot of the suggestions on the list so far. And who doesn't love the idea of a false Buddha taking on evil Tyrant gods and bodiless demons to liberate a world he seeded? Top-flight stuff.