What book to give my friend

[I'mRose]

Hello,

 

a friend of mines 24th birthday is coming up and I want to give him a book. He wants to be an author and writes in the fantasy genre. He mostly reads fantasy books and loved Dune and The name of the wind among others. I was thing of giving him the The Princess and the Goblin by George MacDonald since its said to be one of the first modern fantasy books. But do you guys have any suggestion??

[skiper]

If he likes fantasy I think he'll love book "The Master and Margarita" by Michail Bulgakov, Russian novelist, translated by Diana Burgin (this is the best translation). This is not just about fantasy and black magic, there's good political humor, and there shown good point of view on live.

[Raven]

Has he read Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman? Fantasy with a twist, and very, very good!

[Karsa Orlong]

Has he read The Anubis Gates by Tim Powers, Tigana by Guy Gavriel Kay (quite difficult to get hold of, though), or Perdido Street Station by China Mieville? They're all quite different takes on the fantasy genre.

 

Also, if he liked Dune, have you thought of some of the modern science fiction authors, like Iain M. Banks? The Player of Games by him is fantastic. Or Peter F. Hamilton's Night's Dawn trilogy?

[I'mRose]

Skiper that sounds good, I can't find that translation though. are the other ones ok? I've seen Neverwhere in his bookshelf so I think he read it.

 

Karsa, all of them sounds good. I'm gonna have a look and see which one I'll pick.

[skiper]

Skiper that sounds good, I can't find that translation though. are the other ones ok?

I compared other ones to the original, they are good too, but Diana Burgin translation is the best because this one is done in collaboration with Russian native speakers.

I love Diana Burgin translation just because it written in Russian-styled way.

[BookJumper]

May I wholeheartedly recommend Keith Miller's The Book of Flying as the most gorgeously written fantasy book I have ever read? I think it should be compulsory reading for any aspiring genre author; it's one of those books which, as an (unpublished) writer, I just wish I had written myself.