Visions of Other Worlds: fantasy friday

Today's stop on our month-long journey is on the doorstep of the wild and often magical world of fantasy. Namely, we'll be looking at one of the main elements of both high and dark fantasy fiction: the eldritch.

The most concise definition of eldritch can be described in a word: weird or eerie. Its origin, however, is much more fun.

Eldritch was first used in 1508 and is thought to originate from the Middle English word elfriche, the combination of "elf" and the Old English "rice" or "riche," meaning kingdom. So, loosely translated, eldritch is referring to the elf kingdom or, its more common association, fairyland.

Basically, anything unearthly or beyond human reason is covered. Eldritch creatures in fantasy, for example, are often uncanny or even spooky or deal in powers beyond the understanding of other characters. Some authors, as well as gaming manuals, have used it to refer to magical weapons that can kill things from worlds beyond our own. Dungeons and Dragons, in particular, released an entire supplementary rulebook in 1976 called Eldritch Wizardry to introduce psionics and the druid class to the original edition of the game.

For fans of H.P. Lovecraft, the term is instantly recognizable as a macabre word used throughout his dark stories. A collection of his short fiction is contained in the book Eldritch Tales.

I think it's a fascinating word and one I wouldn't mind using in a story myself. What do you think? Are there other definitions or examples of eldritch magic that you've come across in fictional worlds?

Last April, I published a post on my top favorite science fiction and fantasy books that are on my "again and again" reading list. It proved to be very popular and is still one of the top-read posts on Visions of Other Worlds.

As a result, I decided to take that idea a step further and let you all know what you should be on the lookout for this year. While I haven't yet read any of the following fantasy books, they are my top picks of what I'd like to get my hands on this year based on pre-release reviews and excerpts I've read. If you have better (or further) suggestions, let us know in the comments - none of us bibliophiles want to miss a great find!

Now...on to my top 10 fantasy books of 2013!

1. Steelheart by Brandon Sanderson

I have been a fan of Brandon Sanderson ever since I accidentally discovered his first novel, Elantris, in a bookstore four years ago. Steelheart is the first of a new fantasy trilogy and looks to be one of his best yet.

2. A Memory of Light by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson

I've only read the first two books in the Wheel of Time. I am committing sacrilege in the minds of many by saying two was enough. But since the series has such an enormous fan following, I would be remiss in leaving A Memory of Light off my top ten fantasy books list. (Plus, Brandon Sanderson wrote it, so it can't be too bad.) This is the penultimate end title to the epic saga.

3. Six-Gun Tarot by R.S. Belcher

Yet another little jewel I found quite by accident. The debut novel of a comic book shop owner, this is a blend of steampunk and Western for a fascinating fantasy twist that I can't wait to explore.

4. The Gate Thief by Orson Scott Card

The Gate Thief is the sequel to The Lost Gate, a tale of otherwordly mages who have long hidden their talents from the world at large. While a few of my friends disliked the first of this series, I was once again happily drawn to yet another world of OSC's masterful making. Definitely a must-read.

5. Fade to Black by Francis Knight

A city built upwards upon itself. A sun-ruling Ministry and dark-dwelling forsaken. Pain-mages. I swear my imagination exploded when I first read the description of this debut novel from Sussex-native Knight. The first of a series, I'm betting on it being a good one.

6. The Crown Tower by Michael J. Sullivan

A self-publishing super-success story, Sullivan returns to the world of his original books with the first of a prequel series. I've never read his previous books but I am impressed by the reviews from other avid readers of his work. Touted as lighter and more action-oriented than most contemporary fantasy, reviewers proclaim this a quick and easy read for those who love a good action story.

7. Blood's Pride by Evie Manieri

Another debut novel from a new author, this one intrigues my darker senses. It hints at vampirism or, at the very least, undead foes. While I have never been able to get with the current YA and TV trend of sexy vampires, this darker tone appeals to me.

8. Sworn in Steel by Douglas Hulick

Sworn in Steel is the sequel to Among the Thieves, a novel that took Douglas Hulick ten years to write. Another light, action-packed read, both books look like a fun flashback to eighties-style fantasy that were more single-person oriented than epic.

9. The Golem and the Jinni by Helene Wecker

Once again, I turn to a first-time author to supply me with good reading material. I like the idea of a flow of Yiddish and Middle Eastern fable tradition interwoven with a whole new fantasy tale. Some of the best books I've read have been based on one type of fairy tale or another.

10. Written in Red by Anne Bishop

Any widely-read fantasy fan has more than likely heard of New York Times bestseller, Anne Bishop. While I have never been a big reader of her books, this new fantasy series looks interesting. The concept of telling the future through blood-letting is both new and original and steeped in pagan and mythical traditions of the past. I'm curious enough to give it a go.

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Do any of these fantasy books catch your imagination? What's on your reading list for 2013?