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Basically what the title says but not the "main stream" writers. I'm looking for the secret gems in the fantasy world. Can you help me out?

im reading Endymion Spring atm by Matthew Skelton.

almost half way, pretty fun book

I recently read "The Blade Itself" and "Before They Are Hanged" by Joe Abercrombie, books one and two of a new series (The First Law Series). I think they are his first books, so you couldn't call him 'main stream' just yet!
I also found 'Shadow Fall' and 'Hinterland' (Godslayer Series) by James Clemens an excellent read.
I tend to read a lot of books, all Fantasy, and stick to the same authors. I found myself running out of the my normal authors like Robert Jordan (Wheel of Time Series) Terry Brooks (Shannara series - read these a LONG time ago!) L.E. Modesitt Jnr (Saga of Recluce) so had to take a punt on something new.
The books I mentioned earlier did not disappoint. The only problem is I read them so quickly that I'm now waiting for the third book in each series to come out!
I'm currently reading The Farseer Trilogy by Robin Hobb while I wait for them to be released. Been around for a while now, but quite enjoyable.
Hopefully that's given you a few ideas and you can find something to suit.

Thanks I'll check Matthew Skelton, Joe Abercrombie and James Clemens.

@ Debiruman:
I recognize the problem about the quick read and on top of this is the fact that I always wait for the paperback version. Sometimes it's a big nuisance to see the hardcover in a store and not getting tempted to buy it!

Have you ever read Steven Erikson "Malazan Book of the Fallen"? It's already into it's 6th installment and an absolut must in my opinion.

I've quit reading Robert Jordan as it went on and on and on ........ the characters were starting to get on my nerves (Nyneava (sp) tugging her braid.... yuck)

Author: Orson Scott Card
Homecoming Series

I thought these seem interesting, honestly, haven't read yet, but have had on shelves collecting dust.

Anything from Paulo Coelho.

@ Shimrod:

I tend to wait for the paperbacks too! Not because i'm tight........honest. I just find them much more portable as I don't want to be lugging a hardback around all the time.
I haven't read any Steven Erikson, but I'm bound to run out of 'reads' pretty soon, so i'll give him a go. Thanks for the tip.
With regard to Robert Jordan, I have to agree that a couple of the latter books didn't really add much to the story, but as a 'completist' I have to finish the series. Seeing as I've read up to book eleven in a proposed twelve book series, I have to finish it!
Sadly Robert Jordan died at the end of last year, initially putting the end of the series in jeopardy. Therefore that final book will have to be finished by another author, rumoured to be Brandon Sanderson.

Eragon series

Sabriel by garth nix (there are 2 other books after this one just cant remember what they're called)

Morgoth wrote:Eragon series

its good but i suggest he starts reading em when book 3 is out, like
august this year i think. i'm really annoyed by the fact that i read
the first 2 books like 2 or 3 times because i'm afraid i will forget
how the story went before i start reading book 3 -.-

Eragon series

I hope their better then the movie was

Didn't even know that Robert Jordan died last year

cin wrote:

Morgoth wrote:Eragon series

its good but i suggest he starts reading em when book 3 is out, like
august this year i think. i'm really annoyed by the fact that i read
the first 2 books like 2 or 3 times because i'm afraid i will forget
how the story went before i start reading book 3 -.-

AFAIK there's going to be a 4th book.
Paolini can't get everything he wants in 1 last book.

Anyway a small list. Sorry but I can't be arsed with deleting non mainstream writers as I don't know which ones they are.

*Robin Hobb
Only read the farseer trilogy, but it's a beauty.

*Susanna clarke
Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrel
^A great book with a setting around the Napolean wars in England. It's about the revival of English magic and a different approach to elves/fairies than most fantasy give.

Raymond E. Feist
Another great writer.

R.A. Salvatore
I simply love Drizzzt (spelling?).

JRR Tolkien
The father of fantasy. If you like fantasy and haven't read Tolkien, you deserve to die imo.

Katherine Kerr
Another great writer in the world of fantasy. Recurring of souls in different bodies might seem weird in the beginning. But once you see the links, you'll notice the similarities between the reincarnations, trying to mend the mistakes from the past.

Trudi Canavan
I've read her black magician trilogy and I loved it.

Weis and Hickman
A great duo of fantasy writers. I liked every book I read by those 2.

More to be added when I can remember some more names.

PS. Stay away from Philip Pullman. His dark material trilogy is utter crap and the male main character is obnoxious.

Terry Brooks

Start with The Sword of Shannara, and move on up to his other 12 or so books in the series. Only Shannara though.

Gene Wolfe: The Shadow of the Torturer, The Claw of the Conciliator, The Sword of the Lictor and The Citadel of the Autarch. Collected as "Shadow and Claw" & "Sword and Citadel". Probably the second best in the genre to The Lord of the Rings.

Mervyn Peake's Gormenghast trilogy is great but really dense.

Fritz Lieber's Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser collections are light but well written and engaging. Recently reprinted with Mike Mignola artwork.

Robert E. Howard's Kull, Conan and Bran Mak Morn stories have all been recently reprinted in excellent, complete editions.

I hope you read LOTR before any of these other ones

Thanks all, I've seen some stuff worth checking.....

I hope you read LOTR before any of these other ones

erm, I've probably read more then you would guess

Tasdik wrote:

Eragon series

I hope their better then the movie was

yes, 100000000000000 times better

meh i don't read a lot but i found airborne to be a good book

The Magic Tree House! :3

fena wrote:The Magic Tree House! :3

lol

wow lots of fantasy fans here..most of my fav's have already been listed. my favorite series is the wheel of time by robert jordan. lol i hated it first time around because of the length but went back and reread it and loved it. you just have to go slow since the series is HUGE. the shannara series are good too. also try david eddings's books. especially the belgariad and the other series.

btw if you are looking for a book by ra salvatore, try reading the war of the spider queen series. i loved them!! i bought the entire series from ebay as soon as i finished reading them.

LOTR if you havent read it

His Dark Materials series from phillip pullman (golden compass and such) the books fuckin owned but the movie was meh at best.

I'll second the Malazans Book of the Fallen, if you think Robert Jordan created a big world, that's nothing compared to the one created by Erickson in MBOTF. It's currently at book 7 of 10, but each book is well over 1000pgs so it'll take you some time. And stick with it, just when a chapter seems to have nothing to do with the main story, it soon will.

L.E. Modesitt is another favorite of mine his Magic of Recluse is an amazing series, I think it's around book 10 or 12 now. I'm currently re-reading it. Also his Corean Chronicles is very good too. I like the fact that most of his characters are ordinary people that are put in extraordinary circumstances and how they react.

Michael Stackpole DragonCrown War was a fun read, lots of action and adventure.

David Farland's Runelords saga was another good read too.

For a one book read I highly recommend a book called Good Omens by Neil Gaimen and Terry Pratchett, hilarious read.

For those in the UK, you might like Gaimen's other book Elsewhere, although most of you might know it already, I heard they made a BBC show out of it, although I never saw it, but the book was excellent.