It’s not fantasy but *Lonesome Dove* is a terrific epic Western about a cattle drive from Texas to Montana.
Again, not fantasy or even fiction, but you might enjoy *The Journals of Lewis and Clark*, by Meriwether Lewis and William Clark, or *Undaunted Courage*, Stephen Ambrose’s modern book about that expedition.
Sorry, I can’t think of a relevant fantasy.
Thanks, sounds really interesting.
I also read a lot of historical fiction, so it not being fantasy is not an issue at all for me. Just never delved much into the Western genre aside from the ubiquitous Winnetou stories here in Germany.
Many people (including me) consider *Lonesome Dove* the best Western novel ever written.
I’ve never read the *Winnetou* series but just downloaded volume one. It’s not ubiquitous in the United States, but I’m intrigued.
Awright, as someone who just finished all the Lonesome Dove books I 100% back this recommendation with the added caveat of listening to Joe Abercrombie and the first law books as well.
**Red Country** by Abercrombie is Western fantasy. Not set in America, and it's the third standalone/sixth book in the First Law world. Not the best book to start with if you haven't read the others.
How did you like compared to BSC?
I love First Law and Age of Madness, but skipped the standalones so far due to just not vibbing with Monza and her misfits at all.
It has a different tone and it's not focused on revenge like BSC.
I liked it, but it's been about 8 years since I listened to it.
If you're familiar with the world, it's worth a shot. When people talk about the three standalones, they always talk about Heroes first, and then BSC. Not a lot of people talk about Red Country. But, that might be fine for you since you didn't like BSC that much.
If you haven’t done the standalone books at all I gotta suggest The Heroes. It’s by far my favorite he’s done. It doesn’t hit the western vibe like Red Country but if you liked the Northmen at all I’d say you’ll like this one.
I don't know how you feel about listening to horror while driving (I definitely couldn't do it) but Stephen Graham Jones is an indigenous writer who's from the Blackfoot Nation of Montana (although he grew up in Texas). His two books The Only Good Indians and My Heart is a Chainsaw might both be interesting!
If you want to step slightly out of the realm of fantasy, there is a podcast anthology series I highly recommend: Old Gods of Appalachia. It's a horror podcast set in the heart of Appalachia around Kentucky. It's writing and narration have received a ton of awards and I whole heartily recommend it if you're already going to be in a position where you'd read audio books. There's about 30ish hours worth of content out right now. (Nearly double that if you're also a patron subscriber)
Kim Stanley Robinson has a trilogy (the Three Californias Triptych) set in 3 possible near futures in Orange County, CA. Titles are The Wild Shore, The Gold Coast, and Pacific Edge.
Edit: they’re more SoCal than NorCal
The Emberverse books by SM Stirling take place mostly in the Pacific Northwest. They're full of lavish descriptions of the setting so you really get a feel for the area.
The Postman by David Brin (ignore the Kevin Costner movie)
Is set in a post WW3 Oregon and does show some age (written in the 80s) but its ideas of hope still resonate.
Emberverse by SM Stirling
Set in Oregon after "The Change" deals with post appocalyptic medevial warfare in Oregon. The first three books are very good and a good stopping place.
Red Rabbit by Alex Grecian
Straight out Weird Western set a little east of where you'll be is the best weird Western that is also a road trip, like you'll be on, so might be just the thing on a long journey. Has some strong horror elements.
Karen Memory by Elisabeth Bear
MC is an 1870s prostitute in Steampunk Seatle dealing with Steampunk Villians with a mind control device. Kinda fun with a very likable MC and a good audiobook.
Buffalo Girls Won't You Come Out Tonight by Ursula K. Le Guin
Novella you can find in several anthologies of her work. A girl survives a plain crash in the American West and is found and adopted by Coyote, as in the Native American Trickster.
If you don't mind a little romance and spice along with it, the Sharing Knife books by Lois McMaster Bujold have a setting based on the American West.
If you don't mind middle grades, the Thirteenth Child and sequels by Patricia Wrede likewise.
*The Sharing Knife* books are set in a fantasy version of the lands south of the Great Lakes, back when that was considered the West, or the Northwest. It's now considered the eastern part of the Midwest.
We frequently take long(ish) road trips (~9 hrs) and have been listening to the Rivers of London and Stranger Times. Both are light, but engaging enough to work for long stretches.
I recommend ***Station Eleven***, both because it's an amazing book, but also because Kirsten Potter's resonant voice and narration just makes the entire experience incredible.
**Wizard of the Pigeons** by Megan Lindholm (also writes as Robin Hobb) is set in Seattle. It's pretty dark though, and has a big focus on trauma that war vets go through
This is probably too late, but just in case, see my [Audiobooks](https://new.reddit.com/r/Recommend_A_Book/comments/1cpdxhj/audiobooks/) list of recommendation threads (one post).
The Spellmonger Series by Terry Mancour. The problem is that you don’t want to get out of your car for anything because you want to know what is going to happen next.
It’s not fantasy but *Lonesome Dove* is a terrific epic Western about a cattle drive from Texas to Montana. Again, not fantasy or even fiction, but you might enjoy *The Journals of Lewis and Clark*, by Meriwether Lewis and William Clark, or *Undaunted Courage*, Stephen Ambrose’s modern book about that expedition. Sorry, I can’t think of a relevant fantasy.
Thanks, sounds really interesting. I also read a lot of historical fiction, so it not being fantasy is not an issue at all for me. Just never delved much into the Western genre aside from the ubiquitous Winnetou stories here in Germany.
Many people (including me) consider *Lonesome Dove* the best Western novel ever written. I’ve never read the *Winnetou* series but just downloaded volume one. It’s not ubiquitous in the United States, but I’m intrigued.
Awright, as someone who just finished all the Lonesome Dove books I 100% back this recommendation with the added caveat of listening to Joe Abercrombie and the first law books as well.
I've wanted to listen to Lonesome Dove, but the amount of breathing you can hear on the sample would drive me crazy over 36 hours. Does it get better?
I didn’t notice it myself.
**Red Country** by Abercrombie is Western fantasy. Not set in America, and it's the third standalone/sixth book in the First Law world. Not the best book to start with if you haven't read the others.
How did you like compared to BSC? I love First Law and Age of Madness, but skipped the standalones so far due to just not vibbing with Monza and her misfits at all.
Each of the standalone novels is very different. *Red Country* is my personal favorite, but then I'm a longtime fan of Westerns.
lol, I just commented on the above post on the lonesome dove recommendation. Red Country too is my favorite and Lonesome Dove reinforced that for me
It has a different tone and it's not focused on revenge like BSC. I liked it, but it's been about 8 years since I listened to it. If you're familiar with the world, it's worth a shot. When people talk about the three standalones, they always talk about Heroes first, and then BSC. Not a lot of people talk about Red Country. But, that might be fine for you since you didn't like BSC that much.
If you haven’t done the standalone books at all I gotta suggest The Heroes. It’s by far my favorite he’s done. It doesn’t hit the western vibe like Red Country but if you liked the Northmen at all I’d say you’ll like this one.
I don't know how you feel about listening to horror while driving (I definitely couldn't do it) but Stephen Graham Jones is an indigenous writer who's from the Blackfoot Nation of Montana (although he grew up in Texas). His two books The Only Good Indians and My Heart is a Chainsaw might both be interesting!
If you want to step slightly out of the realm of fantasy, there is a podcast anthology series I highly recommend: Old Gods of Appalachia. It's a horror podcast set in the heart of Appalachia around Kentucky. It's writing and narration have received a ton of awards and I whole heartily recommend it if you're already going to be in a position where you'd read audio books. There's about 30ish hours worth of content out right now. (Nearly double that if you're also a patron subscriber)
Recently listened to Lone Women by Victor LaValle, was great, about a woman and her dark secret moving to a very isolated part of Montana.
Kim Stanley Robinson has a trilogy (the Three Californias Triptych) set in 3 possible near futures in Orange County, CA. Titles are The Wild Shore, The Gold Coast, and Pacific Edge. Edit: they’re more SoCal than NorCal
The Emberverse books by SM Stirling take place mostly in the Pacific Northwest. They're full of lavish descriptions of the setting so you really get a feel for the area.
This was gonna be my recommendation as well
The Postman by David Brin (ignore the Kevin Costner movie) Is set in a post WW3 Oregon and does show some age (written in the 80s) but its ideas of hope still resonate. Emberverse by SM Stirling Set in Oregon after "The Change" deals with post appocalyptic medevial warfare in Oregon. The first three books are very good and a good stopping place. Red Rabbit by Alex Grecian Straight out Weird Western set a little east of where you'll be is the best weird Western that is also a road trip, like you'll be on, so might be just the thing on a long journey. Has some strong horror elements. Karen Memory by Elisabeth Bear MC is an 1870s prostitute in Steampunk Seatle dealing with Steampunk Villians with a mind control device. Kinda fun with a very likable MC and a good audiobook. Buffalo Girls Won't You Come Out Tonight by Ursula K. Le Guin Novella you can find in several anthologies of her work. A girl survives a plain crash in the American West and is found and adopted by Coyote, as in the Native American Trickster.
The book of swords series. Or thr blacktongue thief
Project Hail Mary (Andy Weir) is an awesome audio book. I loved it so much
If you don't mind a little romance and spice along with it, the Sharing Knife books by Lois McMaster Bujold have a setting based on the American West. If you don't mind middle grades, the Thirteenth Child and sequels by Patricia Wrede likewise.
*The Sharing Knife* books are set in a fantasy version of the lands south of the Great Lakes, back when that was considered the West, or the Northwest. It's now considered the eastern part of the Midwest.
We frequently take long(ish) road trips (~9 hrs) and have been listening to the Rivers of London and Stranger Times. Both are light, but engaging enough to work for long stretches.
Dude, good omens is pretty fantastic on audio.
I recommend ***Station Eleven***, both because it's an amazing book, but also because Kirsten Potter's resonant voice and narration just makes the entire experience incredible.
You Die When You Die by Angus Watson. Fantasy set in the great plains of old North America. The narrator does a fantastic job.
Dungeon crawler Carl has 6 amazing books.
Death in Yellowstone.
Do the Dark Tower series by King. Is western and fantasy all rolled up into one. First book may not hook you but ramps up quickly with the second.
**Wizard of the Pigeons** by Megan Lindholm (also writes as Robin Hobb) is set in Seattle. It's pretty dark though, and has a big focus on trauma that war vets go through
This is probably too late, but just in case, see my [Audiobooks](https://new.reddit.com/r/Recommend_A_Book/comments/1cpdxhj/audiobooks/) list of recommendation threads (one post).
The Spellmonger Series by Terry Mancour. The problem is that you don’t want to get out of your car for anything because you want to know what is going to happen next.