Fantasy recommendations

[joost]

Michael Ende's The Neverending Story is one of my all-time favorites, about a boy who becomes part of the story he is reading. Much better than the movies, which I dislike (although the first one was a good, though flawed, effort).

Don't forget Momo, Ende's other 'big work'.

Other writers:
Mary Gentle: I discovered her with the Orthe omnibus, and am slowly collecting all her work. ASH is of course her masterpiece, but her other books are well worth reading too, especially 1610: a sundial in a grave and the aforementioned Orthe. The only book I never really got into was White crow.

Clive Barker: Although usually more associated with horror, his books contain enough fantasy elements to be liked by fantasy fans. For pure fantasy reads, the Abarat series (volume 3 is planned end this year) is probably the best starting point, together with Imajica.

Stephen Donaldson: Although the Thomas Covenant books are good, I prefer the two Mordant books.

Jude Fisher: Fool's gold is probably as cliché as you can get in fantasy terms, it's still a very good read.

Ursula le Guin: The Earthsea books are a classic, and justly so. Especially The farthest shore is very very good. Too bad about Tehanu, it's a mediocre finish...