To Reign in Hell by Steven Brust

Stand Alone Fantasy Titles, August 2012

It is always immensely rewarding when you can pick up a book and be moved or have your perceptions changed in even the slightest way. Steven Brust takes the story of the revolt of the angels in Heaven and the fall of Satan and pulls them out of religious dogma and drops them squarely into the world of fantasy. Making the war of the angels his own, Brust tackles such questions as Where did God come from and how did He create Heaven? Why, and how, did the angels rise up against Him? This is not designed as an explanation of religious word but a fantasy take on the tale. Among the more commonly known characters, such as Satan, Raphael, Michael, the lesser angels Sith and Kyriel tend to steal the show. 

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Jonathan Tropper, author of One Last Thing Before I Go

When Drew Silver, the former drummer for a one-hit wonder rock band, learns that his heart requires emergency, lifesaving surgery, he makes the radical decision to refuse the operation. He would rather use what little time he has left to repair his relationship with his daughter, become a better man, and live in the moment, even if that moment isn't destined to last very long.

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Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury

Stand Alone Fantasy Titles, August 2012

Youth and Age. Belief. Fear. Morality and Sin. These are the building blocks of this dark novel from master author Ray Bradbury. When Cooger And Dark's Pandemonium Shadow Show pulls into town, Jim and Will are mesmerized by the sights and sounds and the witness the magic of the carousel as it turns the old into children. Mr. Dark then begins the hunt for the two boys and a war for their souls is about to take place. Bradbury was a genius of the craft and it shows with this novel. The people of the town come to life and are easily understood because much of what they think and feel and fear is inherent in all of us. A darkly glorious yarn.

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Silverlock by John Myers Myers

Stand Alone Fantasy Titles, August 2012

Extraordinary. And sadly mostly forgotten. John Myers Myers weaves the tale of A. Clarence Shandon, whose ship Naglfar founders in a storm and and he finds himself on an island known as the Commonwealth of Letters. There he meets Golias and the two of them explore the island and come to encounter myriad characters from various tales and legends. Beowulf, Daniel Boone, Robin Hood, Job -- these are just a few of the people Shandon, aka Silverlock, encounters. It is a fun and adventurous tale and the ship captain ultimately learns more about himself as he engages in various exchanges with these extraordinary figures. Not always an easy book to find these days but well worth the hunt.

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The Princess Bride by William Goldman

Stand Alone Fantasy Titles, August 2012

It would be inconceivable that readers of fantasy would have failed to watch the brilliant film version of this book, but seeing the film is nothing compared to the great fun one has in reading this "good parts version" by William Goldman. A swashbuckling romp and laugh out loud funny, Goldman intersperses the legends of the land of Florin while also recounting the life of his father, a supposed man of Florin who relayed the story to a young Goldman. The Princess Bride is a genuine feel-good fairy tale with all the ingredients of fantasy cleverly combined into one perfect package.

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The Prestige by Christopher Priest

Stand Alone Fantasy Titles, August 2012

The year is 1878 and two rival magicians locked in a bitter feud use every last ounce of their illusory power to outwit the other. Told from the perspectives of both magicians through their personal journal entries, the story unfolds a dark and deceitful war that holds horrible consequences for the descendants of these men, and they piece together the lies and tricks and eerie events as they read these journal pages left by their ancestors. Describing it can get confusing and that's because The Prestige is a trick and an illusion at every page turn, and it will keep readers guessing right up until the back cover is closed. Christopher Priest nails the period elements and drives the pace with a crisp tension that makes the book one you cannot put down.

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The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley

Stand Alone Fantasy Titles, August 2012

The legendary tale of Camelot gets an intriguing spin in the deft hands of Marian Zimmer Bradley. While the saga of Uther Pendragon and his son Arthur cover the span of the novel, the attention is more focused on the women of Camelot, particularly Arthur's half-sister, Morgaine. The work is romantic, epic, and emotional, and there is no straight-forward good and evil. Bradley weaves a careful tale of majesty and colors her cast in shades of grey, and it is a crowning achievement, not just of Arthurian retelling, but of fantasy. Yes, there are sequels that were eventually written nearly a decade later but it is a work that easily stands on its own.

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Le Morte D'Arthur by Sir Thomas Mallory

Stand Alone Fantasy Titles, August 2012

There are many who try their hand at the world of King Arthur, Gwenyvere, Launcelot, and the Camelot legends of the Knights of the Round Table, but none have ever matched the output of Sir Thomas Malory. First published in 1485, Malory's work is actually a compilation of the romantic tales and legends of Camelot, many translated from French. It is from the work of Malory that the majority of continued Arthurian tradition springs, including T.H. White's Once and Future King, Alfeed Tennyson's Idylls of the King, and the 80s cult-favorite film Excalibur. Le Morte D'Arthur is an essential part of any fantasy collection and a masterful presentation of the myth of Arthur.

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The Last Unicorn by Peter S. Beagle

Stand Alone Fantasy Titles, August 2012

A veritable classic of fantasy, Peter S. Beagle's tale of the last remaining unicorn is brimming with wonder and the necessity for dreams and magic in our lives. Giving up a life of ease and peace, Unicorn sets out to face Red Bull and free the imprisoned unicorns. Along the way she will meet great companions and undergo great tribulations, in the end learning that she is forever changed by her journey. It is beautifully written, with language that creates mental images instantly, and which sing on the page. What will you do for those you care about and what is it to be a hero? These are of major importance to this exquisite tale.

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The King of Elfland's Daughter by Lord Dunsany

Stand Alone Fantasy Titles, August 2012

Fairy tale and high fantasy converge in this 1924 novel. The lord of Erl and the daughter of the king of Elfland are wed and have a son. As is the way of things, the elf queen is out of place in this world and returns to her home. Her husband, forlorn in his loss, wanders lost in a desperate quest to find her. The King of Elfland's Daughter is a beautiful work. It is written with such graceful language and with a touching tale to be told. Alongside Tolkien, Dunsany's novel is one of the cornerstones of fantasy, and ranks as one of the lost gems that should be a part of any library.

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