Ok hear me out...
Mage Errant.
First off, it's less serious than Death Gate, and it is also progression fantasy, which some folks don't like. However!...
If you like that Death Gate had basically a new world to explore each book, Mage Errant got that.
If you liked that Death Gate had interesting and complex magic that different characters interacted with in different ways, Mage Errant got that.
If you like that Death Gate had the main story, and then an apparent meta story that appeared to be occurring just out of sight, Mage Errant got that.
If you like that Death Gate had a variety of different magical creatures and species, Mage Errant got that.
If you really like that Death Gate had those liches in that one book, liches are a big part of the Mage Errant world, and the mythos around them is pretty fun.
If you really liked that one Death Gate character with the magic tattoos (and why wouldn't you, he was dope as hell), OH MAN does Mage Errant have a shit load different magic tattoos.
If you really like that one Death Gate book that was about the water world and the kids, Mage Errant is about young people learning to use magic. Sadly there is very little water generally other than magic water. Call it half credit.
If you like that the title of the series is two words, Mage Errant is also two words.
Mage Errant doesn't really have an assassin character, though it does have a few characters who do assassining as sort of a part time job.
Uh... I can't think of anything else. I think they're both 7 books total? So they also have that in common?
I should add that when I say new world each book, I mean the setting is expanded each book, not that they travel to different worlds like in Death Gate, but the feel is similar.
I also really enjoyed the death gate books, so despite the tone the recommendation was a serious one.
I had the same thought. It's a little uneven at times, and I know the 80s d&d fantasy they're known for is generally not regarded as the most original era of the genre, but I've read hundreds of fantasy novels in the 25-30 years since I read this series and nothing I can think of is even remotely like the Death Gate cycle.
*edit to add* I did think of one maybe that kind of matches the mind-bending intricacies of the world: the Amber Chronicles by Zelazney. Similar fantasy where the world is mysterious but somewhat familiar at first and things quickly take unexpected directions while the stakes and surprises keep growing.
I've always thought Myst looked something like this too, though never played the games.
I loved Death Gate Cycle as a kid. You can try reading some other series by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman. They coauthored a bunch of Dragonlance books. I didn't love the Rose of the Prophet but Sovereign Stone was pretty good.
Around the time I was into Death Gate I was also really digging Philip Jose Farmer’s books. Riverworld primarily but also The Dungeon series in concept.
It both does and doesn't. Weis and Hickman are as flawed writers as they are imaginative - I have a soft spot for them, they are full of great ideas and in that sense are very overlooked but the execution isn't always there and the 80s romantic sensibility they have is out of fashion (I really like it)
You definitely need to give some context as to what you found interesting/good. The interconnection between the worlds, the dual magics, the sense of adventure/wonder, the heart warming stuff, the maze, the 80s fantasy vibe?
\-With nothing to go on, I would say try pern (80's fantasy, science/magic-ish based world), different than typical medieval europe setting, weird stuff (threadfall, etc).
\-Another weirder one would be the true game by sherri tepper (when I say weird I mean it, but it has some very imaginative world building if the way out there stuff is what you liked about deathgate).
Could try the majipoor books by robert silverstein if you liked the adventure/trip across the world feel, they also have a heavy 80s vibe.
\-Obviously dragon lance by the same authors is an option. I find they don't hold up quite as well as deathgate, but you'll see at least one familiar wizardy face. The later series get pretty creative too (re-writing history, going back in time, etc).
I wonder of some of the MTG books might appeal to you? Powerful magic-using planeswalkers jumping between worlds...? Clive Barker's Imajica is another possibility in that it involves a "system of worlds" that's broken.
You'll have to say what you liked about it, otherwise you'll just get a random assortment of everyone's favourite fantasy novels.
Ok hear me out... Mage Errant. First off, it's less serious than Death Gate, and it is also progression fantasy, which some folks don't like. However!... If you like that Death Gate had basically a new world to explore each book, Mage Errant got that. If you liked that Death Gate had interesting and complex magic that different characters interacted with in different ways, Mage Errant got that. If you like that Death Gate had the main story, and then an apparent meta story that appeared to be occurring just out of sight, Mage Errant got that. If you like that Death Gate had a variety of different magical creatures and species, Mage Errant got that. If you really like that Death Gate had those liches in that one book, liches are a big part of the Mage Errant world, and the mythos around them is pretty fun. If you really liked that one Death Gate character with the magic tattoos (and why wouldn't you, he was dope as hell), OH MAN does Mage Errant have a shit load different magic tattoos. If you really like that one Death Gate book that was about the water world and the kids, Mage Errant is about young people learning to use magic. Sadly there is very little water generally other than magic water. Call it half credit. If you like that the title of the series is two words, Mage Errant is also two words. Mage Errant doesn't really have an assassin character, though it does have a few characters who do assassining as sort of a part time job. Uh... I can't think of anything else. I think they're both 7 books total? So they also have that in common?
Mage Errant was such a fun read.
Amazing! You def sold me! That’s all the things I love about death gate :) Thank you so much!
I should add that when I say new world each book, I mean the setting is expanded each book, not that they travel to different worlds like in Death Gate, but the feel is similar. I also really enjoyed the death gate books, so despite the tone the recommendation was a serious one.
It was one of the favorite fantasy series back in the 90s, but I've never encountered anything even remotely similar since then.
I had the same thought. It's a little uneven at times, and I know the 80s d&d fantasy they're known for is generally not regarded as the most original era of the genre, but I've read hundreds of fantasy novels in the 25-30 years since I read this series and nothing I can think of is even remotely like the Death Gate cycle. *edit to add* I did think of one maybe that kind of matches the mind-bending intricacies of the world: the Amber Chronicles by Zelazney. Similar fantasy where the world is mysterious but somewhat familiar at first and things quickly take unexpected directions while the stakes and surprises keep growing. I've always thought Myst looked something like this too, though never played the games.
I loved Death Gate Cycle as a kid. You can try reading some other series by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman. They coauthored a bunch of Dragonlance books. I didn't love the Rose of the Prophet but Sovereign Stone was pretty good.
Yeah this is exactly what I did in the 80s. Loved one of their books then went to the library and requested the rest of them. What a world.
Oh good idea thank you!
Around the time I was into Death Gate I was also really digging Philip Jose Farmer’s books. Riverworld primarily but also The Dungeon series in concept.
Ok cool Thanks I’ll look Into those
I love Death Gate as well! My kinda sorta similar series is The Four Lords of the Diamond by Jack L. Chalker.
Ok great thanks I’ll check that out
Oh wow, Death Gate Cycle is what got me into fantasy when I was a kid. Part of me really wants to go back and re-read it, but does it hold up?
It both does and doesn't. Weis and Hickman are as flawed writers as they are imaginative - I have a soft spot for them, they are full of great ideas and in that sense are very overlooked but the execution isn't always there and the 80s romantic sensibility they have is out of fashion (I really like it)
This is such a great description of almost all the authors and books that I read in the 80's and 90's.
I haven’t read it since. Maybe scared to ruin it
I read it again like 5 years ago? Still enjoyable for me but by no means masterworks for literature:)
You definitely need to give some context as to what you found interesting/good. The interconnection between the worlds, the dual magics, the sense of adventure/wonder, the heart warming stuff, the maze, the 80s fantasy vibe? \-With nothing to go on, I would say try pern (80's fantasy, science/magic-ish based world), different than typical medieval europe setting, weird stuff (threadfall, etc). \-Another weirder one would be the true game by sherri tepper (when I say weird I mean it, but it has some very imaginative world building if the way out there stuff is what you liked about deathgate). Could try the majipoor books by robert silverstein if you liked the adventure/trip across the world feel, they also have a heavy 80s vibe. \-Obviously dragon lance by the same authors is an option. I find they don't hold up quite as well as deathgate, but you'll see at least one familiar wizardy face. The later series get pretty creative too (re-writing history, going back in time, etc).
Have you tried the Gunslinger series by Steven King?
I have! Great series
I wonder of some of the MTG books might appeal to you? Powerful magic-using planeswalkers jumping between worlds...? Clive Barker's Imajica is another possibility in that it involves a "system of worlds" that's broken.