A fantasy ebook with no magic? That’s like a bagel with out cream cheese! Cereal with out milk! An owl with no commencement cap! Prison! Heretical! An affront to nature! Or is it? Possibly fantasy books don’t really want to be propped up by whacky magic techniques, permitting writer to concentrate on character constructing reasonably than enchanted swords and ponderable orbs. Possibly these authors are literally on to one thing right here? I’ll give these 10 finest fantasy books with no magic a strive, however I’m nonetheless gonna put cream cheese on my bagel. Some issues are supposed to be a sure manner for a cause, any school educated owl may inform you that.
His Majesty’s Dragon
If dragons existed throughout the nineteenth century, would the Napoleonic Wars would have gone in another way for his or her namesake Corsican normal? Naomi Novik’s His Majesty’s Dragon is a thought experiment that makes an attempt to reply that very query! After Napoleon has victory all however assured by way of the intelligent use of his dragon riders, the tides of battle shift when British sailor William Laurence finds a dragon egg on a captured French frigate. He varieties a bond with the beast, naming his new mount Temeraire, and finds himself reassigned to the British Aerial Corps to do battle for the Crown. Dragons aren’t magical beings on this collection, simply animals with strategic advantage. Like horses that may fly and breathe fireplace! Sorry, precise horses, y’all are gonna need to do higher if you wish to earn navy glory.
The Goblin Emperor
Whereas there aren’t any courtroom magicians in Katherine Addison’s The Goblin Emperor, the courtiers of the Elflands definitely have one thing up their sleeves. Daggers, principally. Possibly the odd flail. Being a ruler isn’t for the faint of coronary heart, and nobody is aware of this higher than the lately topped Maia – who was made an unlikely Emperor after the remainder of her royal household perished in an airship crash. Now the half-Goblin outcast has to navigate the politics of an Elvish world as its reluctant regent, a lot to the chagrin of the nobles vying for the place. The one magic that exists on this steampunk world is the arcane artwork of negotiation, which Maia should get superb at if she desires to go on dwelling in it.
The Lies of Locke Lamora
The primary of the Gentleman Bastard collection, Scott Lynch’s The Lies of Locke Lamora is the story of Chaotic Impartial poster little one Locke and his equally unscrupulous buddies. Locke’s gang ekes out a dwelling as con artists within the metropolis of Camorr, however their morally gray existence is threatened by the approaching of a mysterious determine often known as The Gray King. Now Locke and crew should battle to maintain their maintain on their numerous “reputable enterprise endeavors” and never get murdered by the King’s ruthless legal forces. Whereas rudimentary magic does exist on this universe, the one sleight of hand that Locke’s crew employs includes the artwork of deception.
Titus Groan
The primary of gothic fantasy collection Gormenghast, Mervyn Peake’s Titus Groan revolves round its morosely named titular protagonist, an toddler who takes his first breath in a fort that’s on its final legs. The halls of the crumbling fort Gormenghast are haunted by Titus’ personal familial relations, every of whom is shedding their tenuous grip on sanity as the times drudge on. The Groans try to stave off insanity by adhering to historic household traditions – with predictably middling outcomes. There’s no magic on this fantasy comedy of manners, until you discover arcane magnificence in stagnation and sluggish decay. Whereas most of Gormenghast’s denizens are content material to rot, one homicidal kitchen by with delusions of grandeur didn’t get the memo – and he’s making a Machiavellian play to seize aristocratic energy.
Tooth and Claw
Jo Walton’s Tooth and Claw is Victorian parlor room drama with dragons. On this world, dragons assert their social standing by cannibalizing one another, absorbing the facility and wealth of the eaten. After a draconic patriarch dies, his 5 aristocratic descendants should resolve who will inherit their father’s wealth (and devour his stays). Whereas it sounds whacky on paper, this can be a excessive idea story that’s written with lethal seriousness – these dragons lead full lives in excessive society, and the novel itself is extra social commentary than fantasy journey. The one magic right here is the candy, candy inheritance for which these dragon kids are tying themselves in scaly knots.
The Ruins of Gorlan
Do YOU have what it takes to be a ranger? In keeping with John Flanagan’s The Ruins of Gorlan, in all probability not. On this fantasy kingdom, Ranger candidates are educated to function scouts and spies from grade faculty age. They aren’t studying social research such as you have been at age 9, however reasonably learning the best way to stick issues with the enterprise finish of an arrow. After younger Will is chosen to turn out to be a Ranger, he embarks on a grueling quest to be taught the tips of the commerce. It’s basically a excessive fantasy model of the Spartan agoge, the place younger boys have been educated to turn out to be elite warriors in Greek antiquity. There aren’t any arcane shortcuts right here, simply onerous work – the one magic potion Will wants is somewhat elbow grease. Contemplating that an exiled darkish lord is summoning a military of non-magical however nonetheless vicious creatures to take over the realm, Will’s coaching will turn out to be useful.
The Dragonriders of Pern
Whereas dragons are magical mainstay of fantasy, Anne McCaffrey’s fireplace respiratory reptiles are constructed totally different. Engineered totally different, I ought to say. Whereas The Dragonriders of Pern could also be titled like a excessive fantasy romp, it’s really sci-fi in disguise! Within the distant future, human settlers touched down on the faraway planet of Pern, however discovered themselves reduce off from the remainder of mankind by a flesh consuming fungus that fell from area. As a way to combat the shroomy risk, the settlers genetically engineered dragons to burn away the area spores. Whereas most of superior know-how has fallen to break on Pern, dragons stay. The collection spans hundreds of years, and particulars the exploits of Pern’s dragons and the riders with whom they share a psychic connection. No magic right here, simply science – which seems like magic while you don’t perceive it.
The False Prince
Jennifer A. Nielsen’s The False Prince takes place in a fantasy kingdom on the point of break. As a way to stave off political collapse, a crafty nobleman decides to put in a faux prince on the throne of a lately deceased king and set up a puppet regime. As a way to discover the right little one actor, the nobleman auditions 4 orphans for the half. One in every of them can be chosen to play the prince, the opposite three can be put to the sword. One orphan, a plucky younger boy named Sage, lifeless set on making the reduce – lest a part of him get reduce off. As the sport goes on, the rebellious Sage makes an attempt to combat again in opposition to his merciless captor, taking part in by his personal guidelines. Nothing arcane right here, the one artwork is the artwork of deception – which Sage should get superb at with a view to survive.
The Steerswoman
Rosemary Kirstein’s The Steerswoman is the story of Steerswoman Rowan, whose job includes in search of data for data’s sake. Steerswomen journey all through the land answering individuals’s questions, supplied that these individuals reply their questions in return. Rowan is in search of details about a mysterious artifact that’s coveted by a shadowy group of energy hungry wizards. “”Wizards?!” you’re in all probability considering. “I believed this was an inventory of books with out magic!” Don’t fret, whereas the characters on this novel assume they’re in pursuit of the arcane, they’re really uncovering anxiousness know-how that looks like magic. That’s proper! It’s a secret, sluggish burn sci-fi all alongside! Unfortunate for Rowan, the whole lot she thought she knew in regards to the world was lifeless mistaken.
The Grace of Kings
Ken Liu’s The Grace of Kings is a sweeping epic impressed by Chinese language historical past, and an enemies to bromance story about two males from reverse walks of life. Kuni Garu is a crafty road thief, whereas Mata Zyndu is the son of a disgraced duke. Although they could be opposites on the subject of social class, adherence to the legislation, and trend sense, the pair turn out to be quick buddies after becoming a member of a insurrection in opposition to a corrupt emperor. Whereas there’s no magic system within the conventional sense, the supernatural does play a task within the type of gods masquerading as people. However are gods magical? Is organized faith an arcane pursuit? That’s a query on your native priest, my good friend. I’m not certified to weigh in on issues of spirit – simply literature.
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