I'm fairly new to this genre though I've probaby read some and just didn't realize I was reading fantasy. I saw 'charlie and the chocolate factory' listed under fantasy and 'wizard of oz'...I've also read the 1st Harry Potter and ordered the next few in the series.

I've read Storm Front, the 1st Dresden Files book by Jim Butcher and have the next 5 in my TBR pile. A coworker says she reads lots and lots of fantasy - it's her favorite genre, but she's really 'into' this and from her descriptions they sound way to over the top for me.

I mostly read romance but have ventured a little bit into paranormal so long as it's light/funny or light/funny/romantic..I think Harry Dresden appealed to me because it had 'regular' elements to it (set in chicago with non-wizard people around as well) and he was, well, likeable to me... a 'good' guy you know? I can sorta handle vampire and werewolves I think because they appear to be 'regular' people til they 'change'..I'm not sure how I'd handle dragons and all that though if I had something not too deep (lord of the rings had a lot of violence at least in the movie though Ithink I'd like to read that series someday).

I'd like something 'light' and fairly easy to follow but more 'adult' in content and not assuming I understand all the powers. I tried the first Kitty book in the werewolf s eries by Carrie? can't think of the author but it had a lot of descriptiong abou tthe bones scraping etc during the changing and that head wolf who practically rapes her...geez..I didn't care for that :-( of course it might  have improved if I'd given it time..jsut want some good books to look for that are fun and 'escapist'..something Imight want to read again and again and think about the story when I'm done.

Escapist or Funny or Romance or No hard thinking required :-) ...

Terry Brooks "Magic Kingdom for Sale"

Mary Brown "Pigs Don't Fly"

Julie Czerneda (anthology editor) "Fantastic Companions"

Julie Czerneda (anthology editor) "Misspelled"

Kate Elliott "Jaran"

Alan Dean Foster "Spellsinger"

Diana Gabaldon "Outlander"

Randall Garrett "Gandalara Cycle I and II" (close to my heart <G>)

Greenberg & Schwartz (anthology editors) "Sisters in Fantasy"

John Myers Myers "Silverlock"

You have to find something in there that you'll like :-) When I'm stuck for new authors, I usually grab an anthology to find new writers.

Good luck!

this one is a funny but good fantasy about a guy who loves to escape and read The HObbit. It turns into a Rip Van winkle meets The Hobbit type trilogy

deborah

For fun escapist lit not requiring hard thinking, I'd have to go with Lloyd Alexander's Prydain Chronicles.  The first (of five) books is The Book of Three.  Disney actually made an animated movie of this series called The Black Cauldron in the late 70's or early 80's (I think)... but if you've seen that forget about it - it does not do the books justice.

thanks!

Megan Whalen Turner's Thief series is excellent.  It starts with The Thief, then The Queen of Attolia and The King of Attolia. 

Well, this really isn't a "light" series, but based on your other reading interests I would recommend the Kushiel series by Jacqueline Carey. No magic, some ususual romance (bondage scenes), court intrigue, you name it and this series has it. This is one of my favorite reads of all time. It started out as a trilogy, but then the author added three more books to finish out the story. I would definitely recommend that you five it a try. The first book is Kushiel's Dart.

Another excellent series is Juliet Marillier's Sevenwaters trilogy. This is actually a re-telling of an old Celtic legend about seven boys who are turned into swans, and their sister's plight to turn them back into men. It may sound a bit silly, but trust me, it is a wonderful story. The first book is Daughter of the Forest and it is my all time favorite book. The series has very little actual magic, it just has a mythical feel to it if that makes sense.

I would recommend Katie Macalister books, the series about the dragons..Aisling Grey.  They are listed as romance BUT have alot of fantasy elements to them.  They can be alittle steamy but I like the humor in them.

thanks for all the recs! between here and the ubs near my house I found The book of three anda couple others by that author(had no idea they were in the kid's section LOL!) and a couple of others..I had the list from the first several posts then wishlisted a later suggestion and it came available this morning. Think I may wishlist some of the other suggestions. I appreciate the time ya'll have taken!

I also have the katie mcallister books somewhere in a TBR pile..my coworker read them and said they were really good.

I suggest Neil Gaiman's Stardust.

ok, The Book of Three arrived today! I have a few others on the way too..Ijust need more time to read!

well I think I've accidentally found one I like..thought I was buying paranormal romance since someone on the love and romance forum mentioned it in the weekly what we're reading thread a while back but after reading Patricia Briggs' short story 'alpha and omega' in 'on the prowl' I've gotten 2 other books of  hers ' Cry Wolf' and the first in the Mercy Thompson series...noticed they say 'fantasy' on the spine so we shall see!

I recommend David Eddings series.  His was the first series that I read in the genre after Lord of the Rings.  The world is very accessable - not difficult to understand or get into.  The characters are engaging and the storyline is appealing and easy to read.  I highly recommend it to someone wanting good Fantasy they don't want to HAVE to "think" too much about without it being hokey.  Start with The Belgariad series.... the first of which is (lemme check.....)  Pawn of Prophecy   There is a two-volume set that has all of the books in the series in it - you can find it here:

The Belgariad Volume 1: http://www.paperbackswap.com/book/details/9780345456328-The+Belgariad+Vol+1+Pawn+of+Prophecy+Queen+of+Sorcery+Magicians+Gambit  It is Wishlisted though. 

The Pawn of Prophecy you can get here - it is available on PBS  http://www.paperbackswap.com/book/details/9780345335517-Pawn+of+Prophecy+Belgariad+Bk+1

Have you tried C. L. Wilson's books yet? They're technically fantasy romance books, so they've definitley got what you're looking for:-) they're beyond good:-) 

Other than LOTR, I haven't read any fantasy, but this particular series convinced me to search out new authors...which leads me to say Thanks for all the suggestions! 

On a side note, Cry Wolf is more paranormal than fantasy, but still really really good! (I have the first Mercy Thompson on my TBR, but haven't read that one though it too seems more paranormal than fantasy)...Cry Wolf actually continues the story from Brigg's  story in "On the Prowl"...I read CW without reading that one first, so I was a little lost....it pretty much starts off where the short one begins, so if  you plan on reading CryWolf, try to read that first!

Any of Lawrence Watt-Evans' Ethshar books.  They take place in the same world, but are independant.  If you want to start with the first one, it's The Misenchanted Sword.

C. Dale Brittain's  Yurt series, starting with A Bad Spell in Yurt.

John Morresey's A Voice for Princess.

thanks for all the recommendations! I now have a small TBR of fantasy! hard to figure out where to start! I 'got lucky' and found Magic Kingdom for Sale and the 2nd and 3rd Kushiel books in the clearance section at halfprice books the other day..already had the 1st. also marked some for my TBR and wishlist and searched my library's online catalog so I should be set for a while!