Recommendations for fantasy, horror, sci-fi books?

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  • bikinibeliever
    bikinibeliever Posts: 832 Member
    I like Dean Koontz.

    Fun house, hideaway and Intensity were a couple of my favorites he wrote.
  • DAM_Fine
    DAM_Fine Posts: 1,227 Member
    If you like urban fantasy - fantasy set in modern times rather than once upon a time - and don't mind hunting down a Canadian author, Charles de Lint has some wonderful books: Mulengro, Riddle of the Wren, Moonheart, Dreams Underfoot and dozens more, some short story collections too.

    Any books by Neil Gaiman: Anansi Boys, American Gods, Coraline, Neverwhere, and on and on - so much good stuff there

    I never really got into China Mieville, but his 'youth' novel Un Lun Dun is a fun read

    For sheer 'can't stop reading this book' quality, thrillers in the Pendergast series by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Childs are wonderful reads, but take them in order if you can. Start with Relic.

    I go along with whoever suggested the Ender books, Ender's game, etc. Fantastic series of books.

    Classic SF for me would be Isaac Asimov's Foundation trilogy and any of his books in the Robot series, including the collections of short stories

    And when Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle collaborate, wonderful things happen. Look for Lucifer's Hammer, Oath of Fealty, The Mote in God's Eye, Inferno, The Burning City

    Robert J. Sawyers "Neanderthal Parallax" trilogy: Hominids/Humans/Hybrids is a very interesting read - when a connection opens between our world and a parallel world where Neanderthals thrived while Homo Sap disappeared, what would that world be like - and what happens when they meet?

    I'm currently reading the second book in the Dragon Prince trilogy. The Star Scrolls, by Melanie Rawn. The first was great; this one is typical for a second book, so I'm expecting the third to be fantastic.
  • jbuntu
    jbuntu Posts: 54 Member
    Dean Koontz's Watchers is a fun read, especially if you like dogs.

    George RR Martin is my current fav as well. At least with his Song of Fire and Ice series, you'll be reading for a long time if you like it. Each of the 5 books is around 900 pages. You can add them to your strength training regimen.

    Robert Heinlein: Glory Road or The Moon is a Harsh Mistress.

    Piers Anthony: On a Pale Horse (would've have made an excellent Johnny Depp movie)

    And one more vote for anything Douglas Adams. Don't Panic.
  • MzBug
    MzBug Posts: 2,173 Member
    Another fantasy author... Mercedes Lackey....magic and other mythical creatures.
  • Redapplecandie
    Redapplecandie Posts: 171 Member
    Peter F Hamilton - Commonwealth Saga -
    Pandora's Star and Judas Unchained.
    Followed up with the Void Trilogy
    The Dreaming Void, The Temporal Void and The Evoloutionary Void

    Frank Herbert - Dune (all the originals)
    Brian Herbert and Kevin J Anderson - The continuing story of the Dune universe.... multiple books

    Kevin J Anderson - Saga of Seven Suns (7 book series)


    Those are a few of my favorites.

    Plus Mercedes Lackey, Anne McCaffrey and Anne Rice.
  • NotGoddess
    NotGoddess Posts: 1,198 Member
    There are so many good authors to choose from, but here's a few.

    The Dresden Files by Jim Butcher - Urban Fantasy.. think Phillip Marlowe crossed with Harry Potter. The books are great and the audio-books read by James Marsters are phenomenal. 13 books so far plus a collection of short stories. There are about 23 planned for the series and he produces roughly one a year.

    The Kingkiller Chronicles by Patrick Rothfuss - Fantasy. Classic storytelling of a young musician/thief/mage that will keep you turning pages. If you are impatient, you might not want to start these immediately. The third and final book in the series has a tentative release date of May, 2013. It's written already but Mr. Rothfuss does a lot of editing and re-writing (to the benefit of the story).

    John Carter of Mars by Edgar Rice Burroughs - Classic Pulp Science Fiction. You may know him better as the author of the Tarzan series, but before Mr. Burroughs had men swinging through the jungle he had them jumping around on Mars. The 11 book series is classic science fiction and inspired many authors who followed. The first 5 books are available free as eText editions at: http://www.johncarterofmars.ca/books.html
  • xraychick77
    xraychick77 Posts: 1,775 Member
    one second after..a local author, post apocalyptic type book.
    i enjoy artemis fowl, rangers apprentice, hunger games, star wars, 1984
  • Yanicka1
    Yanicka1 Posts: 4,564 Member
    Wow thank you everyone!!!

    So many good recommendations, My poor Visa will weep LOL
  • vingogly
    vingogly Posts: 1,785 Member
    If you like urban fantasy - fantasy set in modern times rather than once upon a time - and don't mind hunting down a Canadian author, Charles de Lint has some wonderful books: Mulengro, Riddle of the Wren, Moonheart, Dreams Underfoot and dozens more, some short story collections too.

    For those who like urban fantasy, Jonathan Carroll is definitely worth a look. Also, I the urban fantasy subgenre may have originated with the superb Little, Big by John Crowley which was published in 1981. Charles de Lint's first urban fantasy novel was published in 1984, so Crowley may win the prize as the parent of urban fantasy. :) Don't know if there's anything that definitely fits the urban fantasy mold 1981 ... can't offhand think of anything.
  • dovesgate
    dovesgate Posts: 894 Member
    The Wheel of Time series by Robert Jordan
    Any of Brandon Sanderson's books
    The Hollows series by Kim Harrison
    Any of Charlaine Harris' books (she has 2 series other than the Southern Vampire/Stackhouse/True Blood books)
    Mary Janice Davidson's Queen Betsy books are hilarious bits of fluffy vampire reading.
    The Saga of Recluse series by L.E. Modesitt, Jr.
    Piers Anthony's Xanth books (fun and fluffy, young adult-ish)
    I used to like the Anita Blake books but I finally got sick of her in "The Harlequin". My tolerance for the phrase "metaphysical bull****" is absolutely shot.
    Neil Gaiman is awesome. If you get a chance to, check out his Sandman graphic novels.
    Another vote for China Mieville and his Perdido Station.
    Christopher Paolini (he started his first book in like 8th grade!)
    Kelley Armstrong's Women of the Underworld series
  • lisaidem
    lisaidem Posts: 194 Member
    If you haven't read Stephen King's Dark Tower series, I highly recommend it. I'd start with the Drawing of the Three instead of Gunslinger though. "There are other worlds than these..." Roland the Gunslinger

    Start with the "Drawing of the Three"???? HERESY!!!! The very universe is based on what happens in the first book, The Gunslinger.
  • felcandy
    felcandy Posts: 228 Member
    Stephen King - Full Dark No Stars.

    I read it one night and finished it about 5 hours later and couldnt sleep for the rest of the night cause i was so freaked out.
  • dcmat
    dcmat Posts: 1,723 Member
    Anything by Terry Pratchett or Tom Holt
  • coe28
    coe28 Posts: 715 Member
    HUNGER GAMES!!! I'm on the 2nd book of the 3 and I cannot put them down!!
  • CountryBoy65
    CountryBoy65 Posts: 908 Member
    I always reread "The Stand" when I'm up for something apocolyptic (Stephen King).


    ABSOLUTELY. BEST. NOVEL. EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  • chrisms84
    chrisms84 Posts: 8
    Ill recommend some of the Fantasy books ive read which I enjoyed:

    Stephen King- The Dark Tower Series ( New book Wind Through the Keyhole comes out April 24th!)

    J. R. R. Tolkien- The Hobbitt, as well as the LOTR (duh)

    Joe Abercrombie- First Law Trilogy (The Blade Itself, Before They Are Hanged, & Argument Of Kings)

    I am in the process of reading A Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin. Very good read, the HBO series follows along to what ive read very well so far.

    Dan Simmons- The Terror is an amazing book and may be one of my favorites the story is amazing. It's loosely based on actual events, I defintely recommend this.

    The Walking Dead comics are also incredible, I've never read a comic before TWD and I read all 92 comics (at the time) over a week or so, great reads and quick as well.


    Hope those suggestions helped.
  • CountryBoy65
    CountryBoy65 Posts: 908 Member
    If you haven't read Stephen King's Dark Tower series, I highly recommend it. I'd start with the Drawing of the Three instead of Gunslinger though. "There are other worlds than these..." Roland the Gunslinger

    Start with the "Drawing of the Three"???? HERESY!!!! The very universe is based on what happens in the first book, The Gunslinger.


    AGREE....Don't bother if you are not going to read The Gunslinger first. You miss out on so much of what the series is built on.....but I agree that the Dark Tower series is one of the best things I have ever read. It won't hurt to read Salems Lot, The Stand, and Hearts in Atlantis first though, cause they are all tied together.
  • LoraF83
    LoraF83 Posts: 15,694 Member
    For fantasy - I strongly recommend the "A Song of Ice and Fire series" by George R. R. Martin. The first book is "A Game of Thornes".

    I also really liked "The Road" by Cormac McCarthy.....if you want something post-apocolyptic/very depressing.
  • Eaglesfanintn
    Eaglesfanintn Posts: 813 Member
    The Kingkiller Chronicles by Patrick Rothfuss - Fantasy. Classic storytelling of a young musician/thief/mage that will keep you turning pages. If you are impatient, you might not want to start these immediately. The third and final book in the series has a tentative release date of May, 2013. It's written already but Mr. Rothfuss does a lot of editing and re-writing (to the benefit of the story).

    I just started the first one - I really like it. I was reading the Wheel of Time series and just needed a break from it. I like this book. I'd recommend it.

    I also am a huge fan of LOTR - probably reread that every 3 or 4 years as well as The Stand.

    Also a huge fan of the Dune series.

    And as others have already recommended - the Song of Ice and Fire series is outstanding. Can't wait for the new season to start!
    I also have read a number of Neil Gaiman books and really enjoyed them. I have American Gods on my list to re-read.
  • k8blujay2
    k8blujay2 Posts: 4,941 Member
    I'm in the Terry Goodkind camp as well.. I LOVE his "The Sword of Truth" series.
  • folgore35
    folgore35 Posts: 22
    Almost anything by Neal Stephenson is good, but The Baroque Cycle and Anathem are his best, IMO.

    Also, I finally got sucked into the whole post-apocolyptic/vampire thing with a book called The Passage by Justin Cronin
  • LosingLizard
    LosingLizard Posts: 69
    Ah, I have "horror nerd" stamped on my forehead. Always looking for something scary!

    The obvious - The Shining, The Exorcist, Dracula, Frankenstein, The Haunting of Hill House, The Hunger Games trilogy (technically not horror, but very dark and disturbing if you ask me)

    Just about anything by Dean Koontz. A few of his more recent books have been a little "meh" but Odd Thomas series is great, and "What the Night Knows" is probably the scariest book he's written. Also, The Face is amazing.

    I'm hit or miss with Stephen King, but I absolutely loved Cell, Dreamcatcher, Delores Claiborne, Gerald's Game, Rose Madder, Desperation

    Red Dragon, Silence of the Lambs - Thomas Harris

    The Dexter books (okay, the third one was pretty bad, but I liked the others)

    Trapped - J.A. Konrath (this one - it's graphic violence and cannibalism...not sure what type of horror you are into, but it creeped the heck out of me)

    American Psycho - Brett Easton Ellis (you need a strong stomach and a sense of humour for this one)

    Dark Places - Jillian Flynn

    The Ruins - Scott Smith


    And for the more thriller, rather than horror:

    Anything by Harlan Coben

    Shutter Island - Dennis Lehane

    The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (and the two books that followed) - Steig Larson
  • DAM_Fine
    DAM_Fine Posts: 1,227 Member
    If you like urban fantasy - fantasy set in modern times rather than once upon a time - and don't mind hunting down a Canadian author, Charles de Lint has some wonderful books: Mulengro, Riddle of the Wren, Moonheart, Dreams Underfoot and dozens more, some short story collections too.

    For those who like urban fantasy, Jonathan Carroll is definitely worth a look. Also, I the urban fantasy subgenre may have originated with the superb Little, Big by John Crowley which was published in 1981. Charles de Lint's first urban fantasy novel was published in 1984, so Crowley may win the prize as the parent of urban fantasy. :) Don't know if there's anything that definitely fits the urban fantasy mold 1981 ... can't offhand think of anything.

    Thanks for this! Will definitely have to look up Jonathan Carroll!
  • LosingLizard
    LosingLizard Posts: 69
    Oh! And The Monstromologist books. Really interesting stuff.
  • ScottyNoHotty
    ScottyNoHotty Posts: 1,957 Member
    House of leaves....can't recommend it enough...buy it, you'll end have to re-read it many times to figure out all the weirdness.
    ( 4 different dialogues on every page, etc. )
  • TimN1974
    TimN1974 Posts: 32
    Any books by robert a heinlein - especially the series that starts with Time Enough for Love.

    You can save your Visa by listing and trading books on Paperback Swap - all you pay is the postal charges. http://www.paperbackswap.com/index.php
  • jerber160
    jerber160 Posts: 2,607 Member
    I'm kinda shocked there aren't more Patricia McKillip fans out there. Is it because she doesn't normally do the trilogy thing?
  • adamb83
    adamb83 Posts: 719 Member
    Fantasy: The Magicians and The Magician King by Lev Grossman; Harry Potter series; The Crimson Shadow series (R.A. Salvatore); The Lord of the Rings & The Hobbit (Tolkien) ; Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke.

    Science Fiction: The Moon is a Harsh Mistress (Robert Heinlein); Ender's Game & Ender's Shadow series (Orson Scott Card); Cat's Cradle and The Sirens of Titan by Kurt Vonnegut.

    Horror: Don't read a lot of it, but Stephen King is always good. :)

    Feel free to browse my book blog for more reading recommendations: http://roofbeamreader.net
  • asgard825
    asgard825 Posts: 1,516 Member
    The Alienist -- Caleb Carr
    Star Trek : Vendetta
    Star Trek: Imzadi
    The Bridesmaid- PDJames
  • DocGu
    DocGu Posts: 51 Member
    For Fantasy give Michael Sullivan's 'The Riyria Revelations' - they are fairly recent works that are a really fun read. They are light fantasy and a nice change of pace from the Epic Fantasy that is all the rage right now (not that there is anything wrong with Epic fantasy). These are just some easy to read, fun books that are worth your time. Very much in the vein of David Eddings.

    And of course you can't go wrong with Eddings himself either.
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