So you're looking for someone else's presentation of a culture you're not familiar with? Just checking.
Wasn't sure if this was research or pleasure.
Though it's SF rather than Fantasy, the Chung Quo series by David Wingrove is pretty good for Asia, with some definite weirdness thrown in.
I'd also suggest the ("Ray Bradbury Presents") Dinosaur World series by Stephen Leigh. It's based on Bradbury's Sound of Thunder, and has a base in modern US, but the world-shifting takes the characters to many interesting cultures.
There are also lots of "folktales of..." books with short tales from many cultures. Those are generally pretty good "almost primary" sources for fantasy and similar elements. Many libraries have some in their collections.
I've read quite a bit of folktales, but not so many stories that take place in cultures I'm not very familiar with. I've read short stories by Aliette de Bodard and Richard Parks that I liked a lot. I have a harder time choosing novels, though.
I would still recommend Alexander McCall Smith, even though No. 1 Ladies' etc. is mystery and not fantasy. It really gives you a feel of being in Botswana.
These are books I pulled off my shelf that you might like or find interesting. They aren't novels, but they are stories. You should be able to find all of them either at the library or via Amazon.
Women Who Run With the Wolves: Myths and Stories of the Wild Woman Archetype by Clarissa Pinkola Estes. Stories and myths from a lot of different cultures mixed with commentary. It's easy to skip over the commentary and just read the stories.
The Norse Myths by Kevin Crossley-Holland A great collection of stories.
Japanese Tales edited by Royall Tyler This is a marvelous collection of over 200 stories from medieval Japan. There is so much cool stuff in this book.
American Indian Myths and Legends selected and edited by Richard Erodes and Alfonso Ortiz. This is a very thick and very nifty book with stories from all the Native Tribes, not just one. Great stuff.
The last three here are all from the Pantheon Fairy Tale and Folklore Library series. If you search Amazon for that string of words you should find more.
If it's a feel for culture that you're looking for, may I humbly suggest that you visit the books of other genres, whatever they may be, that have been suggested?
Fantasy only gives you one take. Though Nalo Hopkinson writes African fantasy.
It's not fantasy, but "Salvation on Sand Mountain" is highly recommended. This is an in-depth look at a small community of snake handlers in northeastern rural Alabama. Despite being non-fiction, the narrative reads like a great novel.
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melissajm
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(no subject)
Date: 2009-03-08 07:23 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2009-03-08 09:36 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2009-03-08 09:59 pm (UTC)Wasn't sure if this was research or pleasure.
Though it's SF rather than Fantasy, the Chung Quo series by David Wingrove is pretty good for Asia, with some definite weirdness thrown in.
I'd also suggest the ("Ray Bradbury Presents") Dinosaur World series by Stephen Leigh. It's based on Bradbury's Sound of Thunder, and has a base in modern US, but the world-shifting takes the characters to many interesting cultures.
There are also lots of "folktales of..." books with short tales from many cultures. Those are generally pretty good "almost primary" sources for fantasy and similar elements. Many libraries have some in their collections.
Hope that helps!
(no subject)
Date: 2009-03-08 10:04 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2009-03-08 07:40 pm (UTC)If you are not, I must agree with yourbob on the specificity.
(no subject)
Date: 2009-03-08 09:38 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2009-03-08 10:24 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2009-03-08 10:37 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2009-03-09 06:49 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2009-03-09 09:23 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2009-03-08 07:51 pm (UTC)Also "Out of Africa" and the autobiography of the woman this is about.
For Asian try Secrets of Jen Sei by Alma Alexander
(no subject)
Date: 2009-03-08 09:40 pm (UTC)Oo, thanks for the Alma Alexander recommendation! I loved "Worldweavers."
(no subject)
Date: 2009-03-08 11:06 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2009-03-09 12:55 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2009-03-08 08:37 pm (UTC)These are books I pulled off my shelf that you might like or find interesting. They aren't novels, but they are stories. You should be able to find all of them either at the library or via Amazon.
Women Who Run With the Wolves: Myths and Stories of the Wild Woman Archetype by Clarissa Pinkola Estes. Stories and myths from a lot of different cultures mixed with commentary. It's easy to skip over the commentary and just read the stories.
The Norse Myths by Kevin Crossley-Holland A great collection of stories.
Japanese Tales edited by Royall Tyler This is a marvelous collection of over 200 stories from medieval Japan. There is so much cool stuff in this book.
American Indian Myths and Legends selected and edited by Richard Erodes and Alfonso Ortiz. This is a very thick and very nifty book with stories from all the Native Tribes, not just one. Great stuff.
The last three here are all from the Pantheon Fairy Tale and Folklore Library series. If you search Amazon for that string of words you should find more.
Have fun. :)
edited because I still can't type
(no subject)
Date: 2009-03-08 09:40 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2009-03-08 09:27 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2009-03-08 09:41 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2009-03-08 11:03 pm (UTC)Fantasy only gives you one take.
Though Nalo Hopkinson writes African fantasy.
(no subject)
Date: 2009-03-09 12:57 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2009-03-09 02:00 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2009-03-09 02:02 am (UTC)