Timewaster's Guide Archive
Departments => Books => Topic started by: Silk on September 15, 2010, 03:56:19 AM
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So I'm trying to come up with a decent list of fantasy stories that include non-Western mythologies, or stuff inspired by non-Western mythologies, and am having a tough time thinking of more than a couple. Anybody got any suggestions to throw out there for me? (I know, this is specific enough that I might only get blank stares, but I figured it was worth a shot.)
They don't have to be novels. Short fiction counts.
Thanks!
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The Nightengale Floor by Lian Hearn
Erm. That's all I can think of off the top of my head. There aren't a ton.
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one of the guys nominated for a Campbell Award is writing an Islamic fantasy novel. No idea when it will be released. I would like to see fantasy worlds where authors jumble up cultures. For example.
People that look like a cross between Japanese and Indians
Music culture from central africa
political system based on ancient rome
something like that. You would need someone either fascinated by culture or someone with an anthropology background.
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one of the guys nominated for a Campbell Award is writing an Islamic fantasy novel. No idea when it will be released. I
I heard about that! Can't remember the fellow's name, or I'd try looking into some of his short fiction. (Um, I think his last name was Ahmed?)
Nessa: Thanks, I'll check it out.
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There's really a lot of these:
Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman uses African
Bridge of Birds by Barry Hughart is Chinese
Book of a Thousand Days by Shannon Hale is I think set in Mongolia
Mary Brown has a trilogy that starts with Pigs Don't Fly that starts out in Europe but eventually goes to Nepal, where the dragons live
Tea with the Black Dragon by R.A. MacAvoy has a chinese dragon
The Dragon Keeper by Carole Wilkinson is also set in China
The Iron Ring by Lloyd Alexander is set in India, or a fantasy land that is almost the same
Lord of LIght by Roger Zelazny is sf but based around Hinduism
Castle in the Air by Diana Wynne Jones is set in a fantasy world that looks like 1001 Arabian Nights
The Temeraire books by Naomi Novik have a main British character, but they do travel to China and across the Himalayas and to Australia
Some others I haven't read but found in a quick search:
The Conch Bearer by Chitra Baerjee Divakaruni which is set in modern India
Dragon Horse by Peter Ward which is set along the Great Silk Road
Michael and the Monkey King by Alan James Brown has the Chinese Monkey King
The Red Pyramid by Rick Riordan is based on Egyptian Mythology
Do you also want books that have a fantasy world "kind of like" Japan/China/India, etc? Because there are a lot of those too.
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I believe Liz Williams also has an Urban Fantasy set in Singapore. I haven't read them, but the covers are cool looking.
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Most of Guy Gavriel Kay's books are set in a different cultural background. His newest, which I believe is called Under Heaven, is set in China.
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Most of Guy Gavriel Kay's books are set in a different cultural background. His newest, which I believe is called Under Heaven, is set in China.
A lot of them are Europe based. But yes, Under Heaven is set in 5th Dynasty China. But it's more alternate historical fiction than really solid fantasy.
OK, it's ACROSS the Nightengale Floor. That's what I get for not checking first. And Barry Hugart's stuff (that Sigyn mentioned) is a favorite.
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There are a bunch on PodCastle. If you want to read instead of listen, the intro to each story tells where it was originally published.
I vouch for the excellence of all of these. There are a few that I left out because I found them less than excellent.
Run of the Fiery Horse (http://podcastle.org/2008/04/15/pc003-run-of-the-fiery-horse-by-hilary-moon-murphy/) (My third favorite)
The Grand Cheat (http://podcastle.org/2008/07/01/pc014-the-grand-cheat/) (If you listen to only two, make this the second. My second favorite.)
Moon Viewing at Shijo Bridge (http://podcastle.org/2008/09/02/pc023-moon-viewing-at-shijo-bridge-podcastle-giant/) (If you listen to only one, make it this one. My favorite in the lot.)
The Fable of the Ostrich (http://podcastle.org/2008/09/28/podcastle-miniature-013-the-fable-of-the-ostrich/) (Flash fiction; set in Africa but the 'voice' is western)
The Tanuki Kettle (http://podcastle.org/2008/10/08/pc028-the-tanuki-kettle/)
Bright Waters (http://podcastle.org/2009/04/08/pc047-giant-episode-bright-waters/) (Native American)
The Nalendar (http://podcastle.org/2009/05/14/podcastle-052-the-nalendar/) (cultural influence unknown to me, but I don't think it's western)
Chu-bu and Sheemish (http://podcastle.org/2009/05/28/podcastle-miniature-32-chu-bu-and-sheemish/) (flash fiction)
On the Banks of the River of Heaven (http://podcastle.org/2009/06/30/pc059-on-the-banks-of-the-river-of-heaven/)
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There's a very good YA quartet by Laurence Yep that starts with Dragon of the Lost Sea that draws heavily from asian mythology; the first book is actually a re imagining of an old Chinese folktale. It's probably one of my favorite books as a child, and considering it's age group does a really good job dealing with character development, sacrifice, redemption, and the cost of magic.
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Are any of these books non-YA (I don't like young adult literature) and set in a separate fantasy world? Like a World of Time type thing with more non-western cultures? Or fantasy books set in anything other than 14th century Europe with magic?
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Long Price Quartet by Daniel Abraham
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Have a alook at the "Age of discovery" Trioligy by M.A. Stackpole. It ist not really asian mythology, but borrows heavilly.
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Oh, wow. Thanks, everyone--you guys are awesome!
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What do people think of Stackpole's writing? I am not interested in his Star Wars books. The impression I get from his blog is that he rushes through books. So I have been hesitant to try him. Yeah I know some of you think that isn't fair.
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Lord of Light was already mentioned and it is SF blended with Fantasy but it is Hindi and very well done. It won Zelazny his first Nebula and Hugo awards.
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guessingo: I haven't read Stackpole, so I can't offer an opinion there.
Thanks, Kaz--I'll definitely check it out. (I need to read some Zelanzy anyway.)
Sigyn: I'm always happy to read more "kind of like place XYZ" books, though they seem to be easier to find, and the mythology focus is for a specific project. =)
Ryos: I just popped Moon Viewing at Shijo Bridge onto my mp3 player. I'll try to give it a listen tomorrow when I go for my workout.
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Cool, I'm curious to know what you thought when you've finished. :)
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Burglars have to stick together ;) also by Zelazny Creatures of Light and Darkness (Egyptian SF/ Fantasy)
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@guessingo:
I like Stackpoles character development. His characters feel "real" to me. I do not feel rushed at all, even if his books tend to be short. Try Talion: Revenant (stand alone) or the dragoncrown war cycle (1+3)to get a feel for his writing.
Modify due to dimwitted oversight of page 2.....
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^Assuming that Bejay's remark was in response to guessingo's question about Stackpole.
Ryos: Wow, thanks for that recommendation. Excellence indeed.