Looking for a new book to read
POSTED BY: amygdala
UPDATED: Wednesday, November 30, 2005 04:52
VIEWED: 27073
PAGE 4 of 8
Hi Folks
My first post here. I just came back from the bookstore having that exact problem, looking at miles and miles of fantasy and sf but not daring to buy any for fear it would be crap. To intensify the problem I must admit I am growing pickier every year. So I had to respond to this thread
I will take a chance on some of your recommendations, and although I know Amygdala is probably overloaded with recommendations by now here is my five cents worth:
My personal sci fi favourites are firstly William Gibson, especially the Neuromancer trilogy: Neuromancer, Count Zero and Mona Lisa Overdrive. Very engaging characters and totally convincing world, plus a girl in Neuromancer gets killed over 2 MBs of stolen RAM (ahh, the 80s)
Second Kim Stanley Robinson: Red Mars, Green Mars, Blue Mars. Believable science and again interesting characters. Focuses a lot on politics, though; so if thats not your thing, stay away from these.
As for fantasy I am a very big fan of the Earthsea books as well. I also liked Song of Ice and Fire.
If you like Elizabeth Moon you should definately pick up "The Deed of Paksenarrion". Very nice and very low fantasy for much of it (low fantasy is a buzzword of mine)
Also Mary Stewart's Merlin books: "The Crystal Cave", "The Hollow Hills" and "The Last Enchantment"; this is my favourite interpretation of the Arthurian legends and are also very low fantasy. They are almost historical novels with just a hint of magic (and usually get placed among the "real" books in bookstores, away from the fantasy section, but don't hold it against them).
For anyone who likes Neil Gaimans "Sandman" graphic novels please, please, read also his novels: "Stardust" and "Neverwhere"
Stephen Kings "Dark Tower" books sort of vary in quality but are very good when they are good, so worth reading in my opinion (although I haven't read the three last volumes yet).
And I also liked Robin Hobbs Assassin Trilogy, Liveship trilogy and Fool trilogy, although certain of these books have a little too much teleportation for my personal taste.
Ooh, and by the way the first couple of Dune books are also absolutely brilliant, just a pity the way the series loses in quality along the way
Aegidius Agricola de Hammo
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Quote:
Originally posted by Giles:
Ooh, and by the way the first couple of Dune books are also absolutely brilliant, just a pity the way the series loses in quality along the way
That happens to authors who get to big for an editor. I don't know if this is what happend to Herbert and the Dune series, but it is what happened to Heinlein.
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I saw the title to the thread and right away I was going to plug The Song of Ice and Fire series....that is until I saw you mentioned it already.
Not to worry, George R. R. Martin has stated that the latest installment is now complete and will release on October 17 2005.
Regarding your Robert Jordan comment: When I first layed eyes on his 1st novel I was an 8th grader. I am now almost 30. And as I understand it, he is no closer to a stopping point than he was at book 1. I read up to the 7th then finally tired of his writing style.
To anyone reading this post who has no idea what the song of ice and fire is: Go to your nearest bookstore and purchase a copy of "A Game of Thrones" by George R.R.Martin. You'll be glad you did.
Do not fear me. Ours is a peaceful race, and we must live in harmony.
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American Gods By Niel Gaimen(If i spelled that right)
crazy book! It revolves around gods. LIke since we all watch the t.v and give it attention and sometimes dominance over our lives, there is a god for televison.(who is, for some reason, lucielle ball from i love lucy.) that's only part of the story, check it out !
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Got a smoke?
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Quote:
Cryptonomican by Neal Stephenson. Also, Quicksilver, The Confusion and The System Of The World by same.
don't leave out Snow Crash by Stephenson as well. It is both hilarious and informative in a way that cannot be adequately described in less than thousands of words. He is brilliant. I highly recommend.
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you can't take the sky from me
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Good Omens by Neil Gaiman, Terry Pratchett
is amazing if you like your science fantasy twisted and a little pointless, it's also about the end of the world and balances upon a child, who is geniusly funny, and two angels, one of which is fallen, and the four bikers of the apocolypse, in fact writing about it, i may reread it, its been a couple of years now. Read this anyhow, it's fantastic!
Falling Sideways by Tom Holt is cloning confusion at its best, really amusing.
Snow White and the Seven Samuri by Tom Holt again, this is a little geeky, it's a nursery rhyme parody type book that relies on knowledge of computers, it's pretty good tho, again, complexish story lines, for fantasy anyway.
Currently reading The Year of Our War by Steph Swainston, which is real Sci-fi. It's about a war between a race with wings and an insect race, and there are immortals and there's sex and drugs and all sorts of other things. So far, it's pretty good, and it's got amazing reviews from sources whose opinions i usually trust.
However, this is not my area of expertese. So, take my suggestions with a pinch of salt!
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We achieved the impossible, and that makes us mighty
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How very absolutely completely cool 
. I won't have to buy a random luckydip-type scifi/fantasy for years and years and years.
Now, just to go completely against thread topic (sorry, have to share - you know how it is). For those who might find the lines of their current novel beginning to blur, just saw a fantastic dvd this weekend:
Independent Canadian film called 'My life without me'. About a 23 year old who learns she's dying. This movie completely defies self-pity, stereotype, and the Hollywood tendency to moralise and/or tie up the bits all neatly with string. Despite (or perhaps because of) this it still manages to be the most affecting movie I've seen for a very long time.
(But for any guys reading this, have to admit it could be a little bit girlie)
Forgive the deviation. Thank you all so much for your suggestions 
.
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"She was naked, and all ... articulate."
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Had to chime in. Stephen R. Donaldson's series, The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant, was one of the first I ever read, and one of the best IMO. And imagine how happy I was to see that it has started up again, whith a new book this year - wow, after all this time.
Also, I love the Terry Brooks Word & Void books, as well as the Landover series.
Terry Goodkind and early David Eddings as mentioned before are GREAT!!
And of course, for me, the Dark Tower Series by Stephen King is the best of best.
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I'm reiterating those who recommend the Honor Harrington series. I love those books and read them about once a year.
Can't go wrong with the Admiral.
http://tv.groups.yahoo.com/group/MN-Firefly/
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Diana Gabaldon's "Outlander" series.
I'm sure that most of the women here (speak up Channain) would recommend these. I've convinced my husband to read them when he gets back into town later this month.
Okay, this could be considered a historic romance, but there is a science fiction aspect as the female lead, Clair, is a WWII Royal Army nurse who falls through a circle of standing stones into Scotland of the 1700s.
These are fabulous stories that make you ask:
"Can we change history"
"If we do change something, what is the result"
"Did we make what we hoped to prevent actually happen because of our meddling"
Wonderful books and a wonderful story full of politics, war, wilderness, love and sex.
http://tv.groups.yahoo.com/group/MN-Firefly/
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