Books, Books, Books

[Harlowe]

Not really geeky, but seems better to put it here than "General"

You guys seem to come up with good suggestions for reading material so, posting another one of these “Looking for” threads. What I’m looking for are some fantasy suggestions (not really interested in social, political, historical or sci-fi space shit right now).

I just finished, Midnight Never Come by Brennan (good), Pride Prejudice & Zombies by Austin & Grahame-Smith (meh-ok), Genesis by Beckett (short but good) & Sunshine by McKinley (pretty good) and also recently re-read Snow Crash, Neuromancer & American Gods (all awesome).

I’ve been trying to get through the Wraeththu trilogy by Constantine but it feels like a hermaphrodite “Mary Sue” series, so I’m bored with it and not even finished with the first book…

So basically shit with one of the following: elves, fairies, wizards, magic, futuristic, apocalyptic zombies and/or plagues, vampires, witches, Gods, monsters…all good. But please no “vampire hunter detective agency” or “fashion designer by day werewolf lover by night” chick books. The Southern Vampire series is about as lame as I can go.

[Alarik Zekaiden]

Well, I don't know what else you've read other than what you just listed, so here's a shot in the dark for you.

There's Altered Carbon by Richard K. Morgan, it's sorta like Bladerunner in a way, but a little different. There's the "Dresden Files" series, by Jim Butcher. They've got lots of magic, fairies, and all that stuff. It does involve a detective agency though, but not a vampire one. There's also some classics, such as the "Elric of Melnibone/Stormbringer" series by Michael Moorcock, which is a lot of hardcore super-fantasy, dimension-hopping, fucked-up betrayal (which is really cool, as it sorta set the tone for what was ok, and not ok in a fantasy series, so you come across some pretty out there stuff) and the "Chronicles of Conan" by a bunch of people (can't remember the name of the dude who started them, last name was Howard I think, but a lot of people have picked up the series since he offed himself, including the late Robert Jordan.) There's also the "Wayfarer Redemption" series by Sara Douglass. It's also some sword swinging, flying elf fantasy stuff. And I'm sure most of the people on this board will beat you to death with the "Song of Fire and Ice/George R.R. Martin" stick, so I'll leave that to them.

If you like some quasi-mystical + political + random drama + historical stuff, there's the "Mists of Avalon" series, by Marion Zimmer Bradley. It's a retelling of the Arthurian legend, but from the women's point of view. It's neat, but I really only liked the first book, and not any of the prequel stuff. Or "The Troy Game" series, by the same Sara Douglass that does the Wayfarer Redemption, it's a quasi-retelling of some historical events to fit a mysterious and mystical background. It sounds weird, but it's actually kinda cool, at least in the first three books. The later books sorta diverge off a little bit.

If you can stomach ones that come from a game/video game setting (I usually can't, so it shocks me when I find a good one): There's the "Eisenhorn Trilogy" by Dan Abnett, which, for a Warhammer 40k based series, is pretty fucking good. It's like you're NOT reading 40k, but something else entirely. It's probably the only Warhammer book I'd recommend to anyone who didn't play Warhammer. I've heard the loose sequel series "Ravenor" is pretty good too, but I haven't gotten to it yet. I guess the only other sci-fi stuff I'd consider reading from a gaming/RPG background would be some of the classic Shadowrun novels from the FASA days, like "Never Deal with a Dragon." They were actually pretty good, but somewhat quick reads. Their new stuff is pretty meh though.

If you're looking for a change of pace, you could also do some of the H.P. Lovecraft and Robert Chambers short stories collections. They're pretty cool, if a little scary.

Anyhow, hope that helps.

[Harlowe]

Thanks for the suggestions, and yeah, I'm not really looking for the epic Martin or Jordan stuff, just some light fantasy that isn't "tween" or Laurell K Hamilton or Mercedes Lackey bs. Speaking of Mercedes she's part of this community I am also a member of and she's a total ditzy, pompous douchebag. She actually lures cats to her yard so she can cut off their whiskers to use for painting small shit.

I can't stand that big old cow.

[Fallakin Kuvari]

The First Law series: The Blade Itself, Before They Are Hanged, and The Last Argument of Kings (Very bloody series, packed with action.)

The Book of Joby (though this one is a bit on the Religious side, obviously. Its also a bit Arthurian.)

[Freecare Spiritwise]

Have you read Battlefield Earth by L. Ron Hubbard? Only one book but really good.

I thought I remember you read the Gunslinger, but did you read The Stand?

[Harlowe]

Yep I read that Gunslinger series and The Stand. Loved them. =)

How about anything new you guys have come across?

[Ddrak]

You might enjoy Sara Douglass' Axis trilogy? The second trilogy wasn't quite as good imo, but definitely enjoyed the first. For lighter fantasy, don't miss Terry Pratchett - every last one of them (I know you probably already knew that tho). His Dark Materials (Pullman) is much better than the movie was. Umm... tired at the moment so can't think of more esoteric stuffs.

Dd

[Singollo]

Try the Malazan Book of the Fallen series by Steven Erikson, hardcore high fantasy and he's an excellent writer.
It starts with Gardens of the Moon and he's just released the next-to-last book in the series. And he, unlike Martin or Jordan, will actually finish his series before death or assassination.

[Garrdor]

Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus

[Harlowe]

Altered Carbon by Richard K. Morgan, it's sorta like Bladerunner in a way, but a little different

Do want! I've heard some good things about Moorcock, infact there was this story that sounded cute....Dancers at the End of Time?

Definitely picking up Malazan and His Dark Materials thanks! I just grabbed this too - The Stolen Child by Donohue

Has anyone read Mythago Wood (4 books?) by Holdstock, The Name of the Wind (kingkiller chronicles) by Rothfuss, In the Country of Last Things by Auster, or The Darkness that Comes Before (prince of nothing series - 3 books?) by Bakker?

Oh and thanks Ddrak, I'll check that out too. I know her covers have caught my attention before. =)

[Fallakin Kuvari]

I've been reading so many books that The Name of the Wind keeps getting pushed down the list.

[Minute]

I just started reading the Repairman Jack series by F. Paul Wilson. Good stuff. I really like how he writes it to be more realistic while just barely straying to test the impossible. Like certain things as you are reading you expect to happen, would in most books, but then don't but something else equally exciting happens. It's good stuff. Even cooler is he apparently ties this series into a larger group of books, which is kinda neat. I give it a thumbs up.

[Xythe Grebbulis]

Harlowe: Have you read anything from Glen Cook? If not I might suggest The Black Company, TOR recently started to release the books in an omnibus format. Not super heavy on the fantasy cheesiness and definitely not a "tween" series. $15 will get you the 1st omnibus containing books 1-3. Good stuff.

[Harlowe]

I'll have to check that out, thanks!

I just finished Oryx & Crake by Margaret Atwood, then the follow up (same future told from other people's perspective) The Year of the Flood.

Bio-engineered apocalypse....I do love me some dystopian science fiction.

[Freecare Spiritwise]

I do love me some dystopian science fiction.

Me too, except I've been digging up dystopian movies and TV shows.

Most here are probably too young to remember TV series like:

Space 1999
UFO

and movies like:

Soylent Green
Logan's Run
Silent Running
Westworld

Maybe I'll make a new thread for it lol.

[Partha]

Sadly, I remember all of those besides Silent Running.

If you want light stuff and don't mind older, you might check out Andrew Offutt's take on the Cormac Mac Art series. Totally overdone, but still entertaining.

A nice little sci-fi type book is Bad Voltage, by Jonathan Littell. Set in a vaguely Blade Runnerish/Shadowrunnish place as well.

Can't second the Black Company books fast enough.

To completely overload your brain, pick up Brin's Uplift Trilogy...although if I remember right, you already have.

Lastly, because we haven't enough British humour in our books, find a copy of Archer's Goon, by Diana Wynne Jones. And laugh and laugh and laugh.

[Kliban Nimbledigits]

Where to begin:

Melanie Rawn

Start with "Dragon Prince" series *3 books* followed up by "Dragon Star" series.


Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman

The Deathgate Cycle

Robin Hobb

"The Farseer Trilogy" followed by "The Liveship Traders" trilogy and finish with "The Tawny Man" trilogy

Tad Williams

His "Memory, Sorrow and Thorn" trilogy are just fantastic. Never read his "Otherworld" series.

[Alluveal]

I just picked up the first of the Deathgate Cycle. A friend recommended it. Very interested. Love me some Weiss/Hickman.

[Arathena]

Deathgate cycle struck me as six books of awesome, then one book of WTF, but Ymmv. The six books of the Uplift series, however, are incredible, though you can more or less skip Sun Diver and still know what's going on. Mostly.

[Singollo]

Also try Scott Lynch's "The lies of Locke Lamora" or China Mieville's "Perdido Street Station".