Recommend me a book!
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doomspark
Posts: 228 Member
I'm always looking for GOOD science-fiction / fantasy to read (and talk about). Post some of your favorites here!
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They are both YA, but the most enjoyable SF/Fantasy (Non-Dystopian!) books that I have read recently are The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer (Cinder, Scarlet, Cress) and The Raven Cycle by Maggie Stiefvater (The Raven Boys, The Dream Thieves, Blue Lily Lily Blue).
There's so much out there - It might be useful if you provide a few authors or books you've enjoyed as a starting point.1 -
Have you read The Passage and its sequel, The Twelve, both by Justin Cronin?
If you enjoy space travel Sci Fi, I highly recommend The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell.
What are your favorites?2 -
Favorites...
For science-fiction, Heinlein's "juveniles" and most of what he wrote prior to Number of the Beast. Asimov's robot novels and short stories. The "Giants" novels by James Hogan. Anne McCaffrey's "Decision at Doona" and "Dragonriders" books (mostly). The Mars series by Edgar Rice Burroughs. The Cap Kennedy series by Greg Kern. "The Microcosmic God" by Theodore Sturgeon. A.C. Crispin's and Diane Duane's Star Trek novels. Saberhagen's Bolo novels. Keith Laumer's "Retief" books.
Fantasy: Tolkien, of course. The first three "Game of Thrones" books (the 4th one is dreck). The first 4 Harry Potter books, especially GoF. "Gossamer Axe" by Gael Baudino. "The Dark is Rising" books by Susan Cooper. "Lord Valentine's Castle" by Robert Silverberg. Barbara Hambly's "Time of the Dark", Glen Cook's "Dread Empire" series.
I love Harry Turtledove's alternate histories, though I'm not sure if they technically count as SF or Fantasy. So good alternate history is DEFINITELY something I'd like.
I have read the Dragonlance books and they weren't bad, but definitely not favorites.
I stopped reading Lackey's Valdemar books after Exile's Honor, but that's a subject for a thread unto itself.
Stuff with vampires and such: handle with care. Saberhagen's modern-day Dracula books are great. I also like P.N. Elrod's books. But Twilight was DREADFUL.
I tried and did not like The Hunger Games.
Please don't recommend anything by Dean Koontz. I've read some of his work, and I just don't enjoy it.
Oh, one more thing: I will also read good fanfiction based on SF or Fantasy that I like.
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I agree that Misty Lackey is writing by the yard and her recent Valdemar heroes whine too much. I've still been enjoying her Elemental Master's Series (or at least I've read through the first few).
Have you read N.K. Jemison, C.J. Cherryh, Sherry Tepper or Kate Elliot? (Sorry - I seem to gravitate to female authors)
I'll have more thoughts later today, when I'm not stealing time away from work0 -
I've read Pride of Chanur and I started on Downbelow Station - never finished it. I'll pull it out again. Haven't heard of those other authors, so I'll check 'em out.0
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It's good to see some old favorites on your list.
With C.J Cherryh I'm a big fan of the early "Faded Sun" trilogy, 40,000 in Gehenna, and the recent Foreigner series, but never got into the Chanur books.
For military, I recently read and enjoyed John Scali's Old Man's War, but can't speak to the rest of the series. If I had more time and ambition, I'd re-read The Forever War and Starship Troopers to be able to do a compare and contrast, but I'll leave that to the academic types.
I agree that Twilight was awful, but have much enjoyed some of the other Urban Fantasy coming out recently. You might like Monster Hunter International by Larry Correia, Blood Price by Tanya Huff (these became the inspiration for the Blood Ties TV series), or Rivers of London by Ben Aaronovitch. And while these feature various critters that go bump in the night, including vampires, in cities and times at least somewhat like our own, they are supernatural PI's more in the vein of Randall Garrett's Lord Darcy than the teenage vampire porn of Twilight.
Let me know if you want more suggestions, or if this should do for a while....
Ari
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A few years ago I picked up an entire series because I liked the covers. It's called Fablehaven (also the title of the first book in the series) and I loved it. It's clearly geared at younger readers. The main character is 13 in the first book, with a younger brother, but I absolutely fell in love with it (I'm 28). It's such an easy read that I actually re-read it on occasion. Parts of the story are pretty dark, but it's dealt with in such a light, magical way. Hard to put down.
My other favorite books are the Inkworld books, Inkheart, Inkspell, and Inkdeath. These books feature some of my all time favorite villains and the story is beautifully done.0 -
My favorite Sci-Fi book is The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell. Here's the goodreads link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/334176.The_Sparrow1
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I'm just started reading Girl Runner by Carrie Snyder.It's hard to put down.1
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Favorite authors:
- Terry Brooks "Shannara" series (don't start with Sword, even though it's first in the series, it's more backstory than action; start with "Elfstones of Shannara" instead; also avoid the "Magic Kingdom of Landover" series)
- R.A. Salvatore "Dark Elf" series
- Anne McCafferey "Dragonriders of Pern" series
- Piers Anthony "Blue Adept" series (magic and sci-fi in each book!)
Stand-alone books:
- "Starship Troopers" by Robert Heinlein (nothing like the terrible movie, the book rocks)
- "Armor" by Jon Steakley (sci-fi story of a marine wearing robotic armor)1 -
Station Eleven and The Martian. I thought they were both really good.2
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I recently read a very good space opera, The Expanse series by James S. A. Corey, the pen name of Daniel Abraham and Ty Franck. Leviathan Wakes is the first book in the series followed by Caliban's War, Abaddon's Gate and Cibola Burn.
Another very good series takes place in Orson Scott Card's Ender's Game Universe (long before there was an Ender). The First Formic War series, a prequel trilogy to Ender's Game, written by Orson Scott Card and Aaron Johnston, follows a small band of unlikely heroes, including a young Mazer Rackham as they first identify, then try to stop the alien Formic invasion. The first book in the trilogy is Earth Unaware, followed by Earth Afire, and, finally Earth Awakens1 -
It's YA, but I LOVED The Giver by Lois Lowry. If you've seen the movie, don't be put off because there are some big differences.
I liked The Hunger Games, but I only read the first book.
I was surprised that I loved His Majesty's Dragon by Naomi Nokik, but it was absolutely one of my favorite fantasy type books.1 -
Try some girls bite by Chloe Neil .. Good series also the crucifix killer by Chris Carter0
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The Dresden Files, by Jim Butcher. I absolutely love them! I didn't care much for the T.V. series they made, but love the books.2
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If you're into zombies, the Grace series by M. Lauryl Lewis is amazing!1
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Ready Player One1
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Bringing this thread back because I recently read Duma Key by Stephen King and GOODNESS. SOOOO good, one of his most underrated books, I could see it becoming an amazing movie too.2
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I just finished Justin Cronin's The Passage and now starting The Twelve. So far, I'm really liking it. I'm looking forward to Duma Key. I hope it becomes available as an audio book with my library soon. It's too hard to read with my 3 year old. lol Thanks for the share @guinevere96 !0
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I just finished Justin Cronin's The Passage and now starting The Twelve. So far, I'm really liking it. I'm looking forward to Duma Key. I hope it becomes available as an audio book with my library soon. It's too hard to read with my 3 year old. lol Thanks for the share @guinevere96 !
I'm currently on City of Mirrors. I really like this trilogy. Glad that you're enjoying it as well.
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