I'm usually not a big fan of fantasy novels.  I'm looking for fantasy books based on some of my favorite video games, like Fable.  I guess it'd be set in a time when there are knights and most people were farmers or merchants.  It would include magic and wizards and monsters, but all the characters would be human.  Any suggestions?  I'm browsing Amazon and holy crap, there's alot!  I'm lost ...

You MUST read the R.A. Salvatore Books about a character called Drizzt.  I believe a good starting book is the legend of drizzt.  Also might want to check out www.rasalvatore.com for more information on these books. 

I highly recommend the Diablo series. Richard Knaak writes them.

The Wheel of Time series or The Sword of Truth series.  All the major characters are human tho there are dwarves, elves, and assorted other non humans woven into the stories. Mostly, they are epic fantasy. Wheel of Time was actually made into a game I believe.

A couple of fun series from Christopher Stasheff are what I would consider light fantasy.

The Warlock series is actually set in the future on a planet settled by members of the Society for Creative Anachronism. The main character is a modern man whose technology is indistinguishable from magic by the people of Gramarye. I would start this series with A Warlock in Spite of Himself (Though technically there are two prequels - Escape Velocity and King Kobold Revived)

And another of his that is fun is the Wizard in Rhyme. Another modern man this time transported to an alternate world were magic works. The first book in this series is The Oathbound Wizard

One of the first fantasy series I started with is Katherine Kurtz Deryni series.  I recommend starting with Camber of Culdi.  I was hooked after reading this and have since read many more. 

I liked the "Magic Kingdom for Sale... Sold" series by Terry Brooks

The wheel of Time series is my all time favorite...considered High Fantasy...but a good read..

I'd also like to throw in anything by Simon R Green.

KATHERINE KERR AND RAYMOND FEIST ARE GREAT AUTHORS TO START WITH

Thanks everyone...  Wow, so many suggestiions... I can't wait to check them all out.

New books -- wheee!

Mercedes Lackey and Barbara Hambly are two very good authors, and different from a lot of the ones posted already. Magics Pawn and Owlsflight are the first in trilogies by Mercedes Lackey. A good thing about her is that she writes her books in sets of three, so it's not as hard to keep up with as those epic series.

The best fantasy books I have ever read are the Fire and Ice series from George RR Martin.  The 1st book is called A GAME OF THRONES.  They are excellent.

       Kate Forsyth has a fantastic double trilogy book called the Witches of Eileanan.  It is fantastic!  Magic, dragons, witches, good guys and bad guys.  Easy to get into and addictive!   I'm also a big fan of Anne Bishop's  Dark Jewels trilogy, as well as Elizabeth Haydon's Rhapsody series.   All are fantastic and are what got me hooked into the fantasy genre.

I have also played Fable so know what you are talking about.

I would suggest reading the MYTH series by Robert Aspirn.

The Discworld Novels by Terry Pratchett

Or even Theives World Series by Lynn Abbey, this is based on the RPG table top game of the same name and reminded me alot of Fable.

The Abhorsen Trilogy by Garth Nix : Sabriel, Lirael: Daughter of the Clayr and The Abhorsen. Not sure if this is the type you are looking for but it has necromancers, dead spirits in different forms, monsters, kings, queens, seers, etc.Really good books which I highly recommend.

I'd recommend The Winter King's War Trilogy by Susan Dexter. Tristan might be my favorite fantasy hero of all time.

Try the authors:  Eddings & Jackqueline Carey

If you've never read the classics like The Hobbit, or The Lord of the Rings, by all means give them a try.  Those books, and Terry Brooks' Shannara series are what got me into fantasy reading years ago.

OK, so he's modern-day, not medieval, but De Lint is a master at putting magic creatures into real life situations.  I love historial fantasy, too, but have gotten hooked on books life "Jack the Giant Killer".  Guy Gavriel Kay also writes beautiful magic-realism stories in a fantasy setting.  Love him, love him, love him.  The Fionavar Tapestry series is a great place to start - The Summer Tree is book one.

I love a lot of the books that have been mentioned here. I'd also like to suggest authors: Tracey & Laura Hickman, Chris Poalini (Eragon/Eldest), and Tamora Pierce (Trickster's Queen, etc).

I'm a new member and think this is a great way to share books. Sorry I'm just now hearing about this club.

Nancy

don't waste your time reading the "Wheel of time" series as the author has died and left the series uncompleted...

 the Chris Poalini (Eragon/Eldest) series was a great read, but is also not completed.

Fire and Ice series from George RR Martin not due to be completed till 2011. one of the best though...

Sorry, i like closure... ha!

probably the BEST stand alone book i've ever read and highly recommend to anyone is

 "The Deeds of Paksenarrion".  It's different from all the other village boy becomes hero/king/magician , saves realm/world/universe books out there...

Instead of telling people not to read something, perhaps you should do your research. Brandon Sanderson is already writing the last book of the Wheel of Time Series.

My sentiments exactly. I can't wait to see how Sanderson finishes the last book in the Wheel of Time series. I've read on Robert Jordan's site that Jordan planned out most  of the final book and Sanderson feels confident he can pull it together like Jordan would have wanted.

Also, Chris Paolini is finishing  the third book , due out in Sept. '08.

   There will now be a fourth book in the Inheritance Series. Check out www.shurtugal.com  or www.alagaesia.com for more info.

Well, I sent a picture of the third Polini book with the cover and it didn't show up.......blah.

Nancy