I have read each of these books and can personally recommend them. The Amazon.com listing is so you can find them easily and, frankly some of the best advice I have ever heard, I pass on to you. Iago to Roderigo in Shakespeare's "Othello": "Put Money in Thy Purse." (Yes, you will be helping me to maintain and increase this site if you buy through these links here...Thank You.)
A good place to start is a book about the bare bones of writing the genre. This is one of the best I have read. It sparks the imagination and gives the writer an idea of what to look for in developing his or her fantasy novel.
What's a good story without some sort of hero, heroine or regular person stuck in a weird situation? Find out what goes on in the mind and heart of a hero, etc. Campbell's book is a great multi-cultural overview and Laurence Gonzales takes you direct into the feelings and even the physiological aspects of survival. Great books, both of them.
I say, is that a falchion or a dolories that ugly villain is about to decapitate our lovely heroine with, forsooth? Though it has little about guns and cannons, it provides a great pre-firearms overview of weapons and armor with far more explanation than you might think possible for the size of the book.
Need a monster or two to round out your story? How about those mischievous spirits always stealing the villager's game? Carol Rose has complied two fantastic books about fantastic creatures and spirits and things that go bump, grr, chomp in the night.
Still haven't found what you are looking for or have an idea of something else you might want? Try here „»
As I read, so shall I recommend...or not. So, watch this space and the others for More To Come!