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**Roquefort Raider** · 11-13-2009, 03:49 PM

Tolkien didn't want his book to be split in three, but for commercial reasons that's the way we first saw Lord of the rings on the shelves : as a trilogy.

That multi-volume format seems to have been adopted by many Tolkien-wannabes, because many fantasy stories seem to need to be sprawling sagas requiring mutliple books. Sometimes it works, sometimes you just get the impression that the same story could have been told in one go.

In this thread I'd like to laud the fantasy novels that managed to tell their tale in just one book, with no prequels, sequels or in-betweenquels exploiting the story until it has lost all flavor.

The first one I'd like to praise is Guy Gavriel Kay's The lions of Al-Rassan.

It has everything a classic fantasy novel needs: a credible threat, engaging characters who are well-developed, emotional tension, sprawling world-building, an epic sweep, and a deep sense of history (even if the history is made up). It's inspired by the reconquista period in Spain, with thinly disguised Spaniards, Jews and Moors riding the waves of empire and survival.

In terms of world building, plot, character development and interest, I rate it as highly as the first three books in the "A song of ice and fire" series. Over these it also has the following advantages : (a) it is done; (b) it doesn't have a disappointing fourth book; (c) its story remained focused.

What are your favorite standalones?

Shellhead · 11-13-2009, 04:16 PM

(attempting to visualize my bookshelves right now while at work)

On Stranger Tides, by Tim Powers

The Iron Dragon's Daughter, by Michael Swanwick (technically steampunk)

Jack of Shadows, by Roger Zelazny
A Night in the Lonesome October, by Roger Zelazny

That's all that I can think of right now. Yeah, several of Powers' books would fit this definition, but I didn't enjoy some of them as much as On Stranger Tides.

howyadoin · 11-13-2009, 04:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roquefort Raider

What are your favorite standalones?

I'd probably go with Silverlock.

berk · 11-13-2009, 05:34 PM

A Voyage to Arcturus - David Lindsay

Fourth Mansions - R. A. Lafferty

The Wind in the Willows - Kenneth Grahame

Gloriana - Michael Moorcock

berk · 11-13-2009, 05:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by howyadoin

I'd probably go with Silverlock.

That sounds good, mght have to check it out.

Matthew E · 11-13-2009, 06:27 PM

The problem with our definition here is, what if a book was originally a standalone but then years later the writer wrote a sequel? I think those should still count, so I'm counting them.

Already people have named a lot of standalone books that I have a lot of time for: The Lions of Al-Rassan, On Stranger Tides, The Iron Dragon's Daughter, Silverlock, The Wind in the Willows, Gloriana...

Here are more.

Tigana - Guy Gavriel Kay (one of the best books ever, I say)
One for the Morning Glory - John Barnes
The Forgotten Beasts of Eld - Patricia McKillip
Watership Down - Richard Adams
Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell - Susanna Clarke
Dogland - Will Shetterly (another of the best books ever)
Nobody's Son - Sean Stewart (I have no idea why this one isn't more famous)
Bride of the Rat God - Barbara Hambly
Sorcery and Cecelia - Patricia C. Wrede and Caroline Stevermer (more fun than humans should be allowed to have)
Dragonsbane - Barbara Hambly
Swordspoint - Ellen Kushner
The Princess Bride - William Goldman's abridgment of S. Morgenstern's immortal classic of true love and high adventure
Tea with the Black Dragon - R.A. MacAvoy
Wheel of the Infinite - Martha Wells (not her absolute best, but her best stuff is in a series)
Briar Rose - Jane Yolen (you're shortchanging yourself if you don't track it down)
The Eyes of the Dragon - Stephen King
Good Omens - Pratchett and Gaiman (two great tastes that taste great together)

Classic standalones that never really did it for me:

Little, Big - John Crowley
Lud-in-the-Mist - Hope Mirrlees
The Last Unicorn - Peter Beagle
The King of Elfland's Daughter - Lord Dunsany

howyadoin · 11-13-2009, 07:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by berk

That sounds good, mght have to check it out.

I honestly haven't read it in years, but I think I'll dig it out soon and try it again.

Rabid Trekkie · 11-13-2009, 07:20 PM

Red Branch by Morgan Llwelyn. It tells the story of the Irish hero Cuchulain in a way that made me both laugh and cry at times. Even when you know what's coming at one point, she's still able to pack one hell of an emotional blow into the description. Probably the best retelling of an ancient legend I've ever experienced in any medium.

**Expletive Deleted** · 11-14-2009, 09:21 AM

Lions of Al-Rassan is technically stand-alone, but several of Kay's other books take place in the same world. His Constantinople stand-in wasn't quite at the same level as his Spain stand-in, but I did like the "Sailing to Sarantium" books.

**Roquefort Raider** · 11-14-2009, 06:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by howyadoin

I'd probably go with Silverlock.

Never heard of it before today. It sounds pretty good!

Matthew E · 11-14-2009, 08:06 PM

It is pretty good. I said in that other fantasy-books thread that it was kind of The Phantom Tollbooth for grownups.

Slam_Bradley · 11-15-2009, 12:17 PM

The Broken Sword by Poul Anderson. Probably my favorite fantasy.

Three Hearts & Three Lions by Poul Anderson. Hugely influential even though most people aren't familiar with it. Read it and then read Michael Moorcock's Elric and you'll see just how influential. And the influence it had on Gary Gygax is enormous.

Most of Tom Holt's books would fall in this category and are leagues above the standard Tolkein pastiches that pass as fantasy.

Tobias March · 11-15-2009, 06:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by berk

A Voyage to Arcturus - David Lindsay

THIS

Great book, beautifully written.

Also Lud-in-the-Mist by Hope Mirlees.

a. non · 11-15-2009, 07:11 PM

Winter's Tale by Mark Helprin

Mike Pothier · 11-16-2009, 02:46 PM

Does it not count if there is a sequel, but it isn't part of some preplanned multi-volume saga? Like the author just decided he liked the setting and wanted to continue it?

11-13-2009, 03:49 PM	#1
Roquefort Raider Modus omnibus in rebus Join Date: May 2004 Location: Sherbrooke, Canada Posts: 4,683	Fantasy books NOT part of a series? Tolkien didn't want his book to be split in three, but for commercial reasons that's the way we first saw Lord of the rings on the shelves : as a trilogy. That multi-volume format seems to have been adopted by many Tolkien-wannabes, because many fantasy stories seem to need to be sprawling sagas requiring mutliple books. Sometimes it works, sometimes you just get the impression that the same story could have been told in one go. In this thread I'd like to laud the fantasy novels that managed to tell their tale in just one book, with no prequels, sequels or in-betweenquels exploiting the story until it has lost all flavor. The first one I'd like to praise is Guy Gavriel Kay's The lions of Al-Rassan. It has everything a classic fantasy novel needs: a credible threat, engaging characters who are well-developed, emotional tension, sprawling world-building, an epic sweep, and a deep sense of history (even if the history is made up). It's inspired by the reconquista period in Spain, with thinly disguised Spaniards, Jews and Moors riding the waves of empire and survival. In terms of world building, plot, character development and interest, I rate it as highly as the first three books in the "A song of ice and fire" series. Over these it also has the following advantages : (a) it is done; (b) it doesn't have a disappointing fourth book; (c) its story remained focused. What are your favorite standalones? __________________ . People in white coats collects the cartoons stuck to my lab door!

11-13-2009, 04:16 PM	#2
Shellhead Elder Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Twin Cities Posts: 19,233	(attempting to visualize my bookshelves right now while at work) On Stranger Tides, by Tim Powers The Iron Dragon's Daughter, by Michael Swanwick (technically steampunk) Jack of Shadows, by Roger Zelazny A Night in the Lonesome October, by Roger Zelazny That's all that I can think of right now. Yeah, several of Powers' books would fit this definition, but I didn't enjoy some of them as much as On Stranger Tides. __________________ Good decisions come from experience. Experience comes from bad decisions. The price is wrong, bitch. --Happy Gilmour (to Bob Barker) still buying: Hellboy, Grimjack, Jonah Hex

11-13-2009, 06:27 PM	#6
Matthew E Suprmetrician Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Toronto, give or take Posts: 1,528	The problem with our definition here is, what if a book was originally a standalone but then years later the writer wrote a sequel? I think those should still count, so I'm counting them. Already people have named a lot of standalone books that I have a lot of time for: The Lions of Al-Rassan, On Stranger Tides, The Iron Dragon's Daughter, Silverlock, The Wind in the Willows, Gloriana... Here are more. Tigana - Guy Gavriel Kay (one of the best books ever, I say) One for the Morning Glory - John Barnes The Forgotten Beasts of Eld - Patricia McKillip Watership Down - Richard Adams Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell - Susanna Clarke Dogland - Will Shetterly (another of the best books ever) Nobody's Son - Sean Stewart (I have no idea why this one isn't more famous) Bride of the Rat God - Barbara Hambly Sorcery and Cecelia - Patricia C. Wrede and Caroline Stevermer (more fun than humans should be allowed to have) Dragonsbane - Barbara Hambly Swordspoint - Ellen Kushner The Princess Bride - William Goldman's abridgment of S. Morgenstern's immortal classic of true love and high adventure Tea with the Black Dragon - R.A. MacAvoy Wheel of the Infinite - Martha Wells (not her absolute best, but her best stuff is in a series) Briar Rose - Jane Yolen (you're shortchanging yourself if you don't track it down) The Eyes of the Dragon - Stephen King Good Omens - Pratchett and Gaiman (two great tastes that taste great together) Classic standalones that never really did it for me: Little, Big - John Crowley Lud-in-the-Mist - Hope Mirrlees The Last Unicorn - Peter Beagle The King of Elfland's Daughter - Lord Dunsany __________________ Legion Abstract

11-13-2009, 07:20 PM	#8
Rabid Trekkie Texan Barbarian Join Date: May 2004 Location: Pasadena, Tx Posts: 3,858	Red Branch by Morgan Llwelyn. It tells the story of the Irish hero Cuchulain in a way that made me both laugh and cry at times. Even when you know what's coming at one point, she's still able to pack one hell of an emotional blow into the description. Probably the best retelling of an ancient legend I've ever experienced in any medium. __________________ Memories from my Grandpa Newly Updated Civilized men are more discourteous than savages because they know they can be impolite without having their skulls split, as a general thing. I'm not going out of my way looking for devils; but I wouldn't step out of my path to let one go by. Free my hands and I'll varnish this floor with your brains!

11-14-2009, 09:21 AM	#9
Expletive Deleted Moderator Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: North Carolina Posts: 15,008	Lions of Al-Rassan is technically stand-alone, but several of Kay's other books take place in the same world. His Constantinople stand-in wasn't quite at the same level as his Spain stand-in, but I did like the "Sailing to Sarantium" books. __________________ Expletive Deleted Moderator, Marvel Universe Forum

11-13-2009, 05:34 PM	#4
berk Senior Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Canada Posts: 4,746	A Voyage to Arcturus - David Lindsay Fourth Mansions - R. A. Lafferty The Wind in the Willows - Kenneth Grahame Gloriana - Michael Moorcock

11-14-2009, 08:06 PM	#11
Matthew E Suprmetrician Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Toronto, give or take Posts: 1,528	It is pretty good. I said in that other fantasy-books thread that it was kind of The Phantom Tollbooth for grownups. __________________ Legion Abstract

11-15-2009, 12:17 PM	#12
Slam_Bradley Touchdown! Join Date: May 2004 Location: Idaho Posts: 20,559	The Broken Sword by Poul Anderson. Probably my favorite fantasy. Three Hearts & Three Lions by Poul Anderson. Hugely influential even though most people aren't familiar with it. Read it and then read Michael Moorcock's Elric and you'll see just how influential. And the influence it had on Gary Gygax is enormous. Most of Tom Holt's books would fall in this category and are leagues above the standard Tolkein pastiches that pass as fantasy.

11-15-2009, 07:11 PM	#14
a. non Don't Panic Join Date: May 2004 Location: Sector ZZ9 Plural Z Alpha Posts: 5,995	Winter's Tale by Mark Helprin __________________ The Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) "Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgment that something else is more important than fear." -- Ambrose Redmoon Freedom to Marry Resolution Save Spashley!

11-16-2009, 02:46 PM	#15
Mike Pothier You killed captain clown! Join Date: May 2004 Location: Second star to the right, straight on till morning Posts: 2,734	Does it not count if there is a sequel, but it isn't part of some preplanned multi-volume saga? Like the author just decided he liked the setting and wanted to continue it? __________________ Life is but a dream.

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