fantasy books with regular people

[guess]

I read Daniel Abraham's series recently and I really liked how most of his characters were regular people. They seemed like people you could meet walking down the street. They talked about real issues. I remember I saw something with Brandon speaking and he said that fantasy was not as diverse as Science Fiction. I think it would be interested to read some fantasy novels which are a mix of popular fiction in a fantasy setting.

I read a couple of terrific middle ages historical fiction (Pillars of the Earth, Cathedral by the Sea). Most of the characters in these books were regular people. Does anyone have any fantasy books they can recommend that are based around regular people?

I don't like urban fantasy. I like the escapism of a new world.

[Alliare she/her]

I don't know if I really understand what you are asking for... but if I do, I believe you should look at Ursula K. Le Guin's fantasy novels. She's a keen observer of human nature, and some of her books focus in that regardless of the universe they are set in, which can be sci-fi or fantasy.

The book I believe would meet exactly the standards you're asking for would be Gifts, though she has more famous fantasy books (better ones, in fact), like the Earthsea series.

[guess]

if you read The Gathering Storm, Brandon had a viewpoint in the prologue with a couple of farmers. These are regular people. I think it would be interesting to have view points from a regular soldier (not an Ashaman) in Rands army. Just a regular guy who signed up to get away from home or just needed a job. A viewpoint from the spouse of someone in his army.

Maybe an innkeeper giving comments on what is going on in the world. Or in George RR Martin's book, have a viewpoint of a farmer caught up in the middle of the war. Both sides steal his food for their armies. Or possibly a servant in the royal castle who is just trying to do her job to feed her family.

I am not exactly sure what I am looking for. Someone who isn't a hero or a villain. Someone who isn't a noble or anyone special.

I tried Leguin's Left Hand of Darkness (I think that was it) about 10 years ago and just couldn't get into it. I'll try her again.

[Adrienne she/her]

He's on my list after I finish Weeks, Rothfuss and at least one from Bujold. I haven't seen a lot of "ordinary" people in fantasy books. I'm glad to hear more recommendations though.

[Alliare she/her]

I tried Leguin's Left Hand of Darkness (I think that was it) about 10 years ago and just couldn't get into it. I'll try her again.

You'd better try the ones I told you about. I've never been able to finish that one, either XD.

I can think of a fantasy book whose main character is just a normal thief, at least until the first half of the novel has ended, but he's still the main character. And he's never, well, someone 'more special than anyone else'. It's Take a Thief, by Mercedes Lackey.

[Sigyn]

Have you tried The Black Company by Glen Cook? The main characters in that are ordinary mercenaries who do what they do because they get paid. They do have to interact with the big evil guys, but this still might work for you. There's also The Company by K.J. Parker which is about a group of men who were soldiers when they were young but have ostensibly moved on with their lives and get back together to colonize an island.

[mentally ill]

maybe ember blade?? i reccomend this to like everyone but its like sanderson and lord of the rings in one. the main characters are these two like 16-17 year old guys who dont have any special powers, and are just tryin to figure stuff out. it is like 800 pages though but worth the read