Out of the Norm Fantasy

[Mutatis-Mutandis]

Well, the title pretty much sums up what I'm looking for, Fantasy (or sci-fi) that is unique, whether it be through the author's writing style or the content. I'm just looking for stuff outside of the swords and dragons and magic vein.

[OrphanPip]

Well I'm assuming you're familiar with the usual fair (George R. R. Martin and the recently dead Jordan).

Gene Wolf's stuff is very different from the usual fantasy. Early Le Guin for sci-fi is another interesting choice, especially The Left Hand of Darkness. She has been winning Nebula awards since the 60s and won the 2008 one to boot.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Left_Hand_of_Darkness

Nebula and Hugo award winners are a good place to look for interesting sci-fi/fantasy.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nebula_Award_for_Best_Novel
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hugo_Award_for_Best_Novel

The Hugo award tends to lean more towards the mainstream, there is also a lot of overlap between the two list.

I enjoy Neal Stephenson and China Mieville's novels as guilty pleasures :p

edit: Oh and if you enjoy short fiction, Bradbury's Martian Chronicles is a fabulous mix of nostalgic golden age 1950s sci-fi that never fails to put a smile on my face.

[togre]

Tad Williams' most recent novel War of the Flowers is quite unique if not earth-shatteringly so. It contains magic but in a world that views it much as we view technology.

[Mutatis-Mutandis]

Thanks for the recs and links. I'm a huge GRRN fan and need to check out Jordan. And The Martian Chronicles is my favorite Bradbury book.

[OrphanPip]

Well I don't particularly like Jordan, I find him to be a Tolkien imitator that borrows from Asian mythology rather than Norse/Teutonic. He's popular though.