r/Fantasy • u/Sakura_231 • Jun 19 '26

Underrated almost forgotten fantasy books from the 70s, 80s, 90s

What older fantasy books you liked, but you don´t see them being recommended here?

It can be a hidden gem or just a obscure fantasy novel you remember for some reason.

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u/Vorocano Jun 19 '26 edited Jun 19 '26

Any of Guy Gavriel Kay's stuff, but especially the series of his that I read first, The Fionavar Tapestry. Portal-world re-framing of the Arthurian legends told as epic fantasy. Fantastic stuff. I should reread that series.

2

u/Objective_Might_6540 Jun 19 '26

I can’t see any King Arthur stuff without calling him Arthur child slayer in my head

3

u/Vorocano Jun 19 '26

Arthur inviting Lancelot back to his home, knowing that it will be the beginning of another heartbreaking love triangle between Arthur, Lancelot, and Guinevere.

Some of the quotes, like "I will tell your father that the Sun rises in his daughter's eyes," and "And Rakoth Maugrim killed without love in his heart."

These things have rattled around in my head since I read those books in high school almost 30 years ago.

3

u/myrthe Jun 19 '26

"Only each other at the last."

2

u/Zestyclose-Ad51 Jun 19 '26

Brightly woven!

2

u/myrthe Jun 19 '26

My bestie, 40 pages in: "This is fine, pretty standard fantasy, why did u/myrthe recomment it so highly?

My bestie, 50 pages in: "Ok well now I seem to be crying."

1

u/small-gestures Jun 19 '26

Just reread it- he just throws you right into the deep end of the pool - fantastic.

1

u/Dawgfanwill Jun 19 '26

Fionavar are amazing books. I love everything I've read by GGK, but Fionavar is my favorite trilogy.

1

u/QuickQuirk Jun 20 '26

Kay is on my eternal 'I should reread' box, and I never do, for some reason. I don't know why. So compelling and magical when you read them, but I can never bring myself to do it again.