Book Recommendations

At the moment I am between good books and looking to discover a few good new ones. I figure that odds are a sizable portion of WD enjoys reading as well and might know of a few good books off the beaten path.

My recommendations:

The Stainless Steel Rat series by Harry Harrison - an excellent scifi series, occasionally silly but somehow engrossing

The Wizard of Earthsea Trilogy by Ursula Le Guin - an amazingly good fantasy trilogy that is at least as good as LotR but surprisingly ignored

Anything written by Raymond E. Feist - Prolific writer of some amazingly complex fantasy spanning at least a dozen books over 200 years of a world.

The Stainless Steel Rat series is one the true classics. Jim DiGriz is my hero!!! The same can be said of the Earthsea Trilogy. Ursula Le Guin is a true master. Three other of her books also are of the "classic" variety "The Left Hand of Darkness", "The Dispossessed" and "Rocannon's World". The only novel I've read by R.E. Feist is "Magician".

I'm more of a hard sci-fi fan myself (Larry Niven, Greg Bear, Arthur C. Clark, Asimov, Herbert, Pohl, Dietz, Zahn, Benford, etc.). On the fantasy genre I have enjoyed Robert Silverberg's Majipoor Books (Lord Valentine's Castle is a must read) and I really, really enjoyed Roger Zelazny's Amber series (the series has been continued by John Gregory Betancourt as a prequel). Seems as prequels have been the rage lately with both the Foundation and Dune series being resurrected. (actually the Dune prequels are pretty good).
:thumbs2:

ALL of the following authors are extremely prolific, so if you like one book by them, you can find a lot more that they have written... and with the exception of Roger Zelazny, they are all still writing as well...

Ender's Game - Orson Scott Card - a classic sci-fi, cult favourite of geeks and kids who were gifted and outcast in school. Lots of strategy and tactics.

A Night In The Lonesome October - Roger Zelazny - Sheer creativity - written from the point of view of Jack the Ripper's dog. All the politics of Zelazny, mixed with classic horror, and a little bit of mystery. VERY cleanly written, beautifully plotted and nicely wrapped up at the end.

The Chronicles Of Thomas Covenant The Unbeliever - Stephen R. Donaldson. Epic fantasy in six books. Depressing main character that some people may not like, but absolutely brilliantly designed fantasy world, and very entertaining storyline...

The Farseer: Assassin's Apprentice, Royal Assassin, and Assassin's Quest - Robin Hobb - Extremely good "character" fantasy, with a protagonist and other players you find yourself caring about. Holds your interest throughout, few or no boring spots. Politics and a little bit of magic.

If you like fantasy/sci-fi ... try anything by Arthur C Clarke or of course the sci-fi master Isaac Asimov... hey why am I bothering? Major kong has listed 'em all, with WC mopping up the rest ! :thumbs:

Discworld, get an education in the oblique. :D

Piers Anthony, all 7 books in the "Incarnations of Immortality" series, "On a Pale Horse" being the first (and best in my opinion).

For those into the older SciFi, try E. E. Smith's "Lensman" series.

I'm halfway thru the Mars series by Jeanne Robinson (Red, Green, Blue Mars books)....interesting read on how Mars may be colonized.

Of course, if you have a kinky flair, then read Anne Rice's "Sleeping Beauty" series :devil:

A couple years ago I picked up The First Deadly Sin by Lawrence Sanders. I really enjoyed it, and have read the continuation of the series up to The Fourth Deadly Sin. This are murder mysteries set in NYC.

The only books I've recently read are This Present Darkness and Piercing the Darkness by Frank Peretti and The Ishbane Conspiracy, Safely Home, Edge of Eternity, and Deadline by Randy Alcorn. This last two are Christian authors that I really enjoy reading...

George RR Martin Fire and Ice Series, all that needs to be said

Or, How Few Remain by Harry Turtledove which is a great standalone but also moves into the Great War series which I am reading now.

For a little fun with the recent religious threads, Dan Brown's Angels and Demons for a science vs vatacin mystery, or Dan Brown's Da Vinci Code brilliant, takes some poetic license from the holy grail and magdalene themes, but loved it. Then you can go off and get Holy Blood, Holy Grail for more insights into that realm.

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Originally Posted by paraflyer

For those into the older SciFi, try E. E. Smith's "Lensman" series.

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A little selfless family plug... For those that are true die-hard older SciFi Fans, Check out George O. Smith. Books to his credit are:

Venus Equalateral
Highways in Hiding
The Fourth "R"
Hell Flower
Scientists Nightares

He was credited back in the 40's by Arthur C Clark and Isaac Asimov as being the First qualified SciFI Author.

And for those that are really hard core, he was also a member or the Black Widowers Club.

Geekhood runs in my blood... :) ;)

Elizabeth Moon - The Deed of Paksanerion, excellent fantasy novel. Get the 3 book compalation.

Right now I am mid-way through The Wolves of the Calla by Stephen King. The Dark Tower series is probably his best work.

More light Fantasy; RA Salvatore. He is very prolific and will keep you in short easy reads for months.

And then there is the 12 year old girl inside me that says go for Harry Potter. My daughter forced me to read these books and they were great entertaining little reads.

- John

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Originally Posted by jmani

And then there is the 12 year old girl inside me that says go for Harry Potter. My daughter forced me to read these books and they were great entertaining little reads.

- John

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Better watch out or the Potter haters will come get you. They have been attacking me for so long, I don't remember what enjoying Potter in peace is like. :sad:

The Dune prequels are my current rage, but for a great read "The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant" are a great read. Just thinking of it brings back memories of the Urlord and Unbeliever. On the other hand it also brings back horrible memories of my first wife, maybe thats why I loved it so much I could identify with the main character.

If it's a really different book you are looking for try "Fierce Invalids in from Hot Climates" by Tom Robbins, very funny man. Must be an old stoner.

One of my favorites is Fred Saberhagen's "Empire of the East". His "Sword" books are excellent also.

Steven King Rules!

Last one I read was Bag of Bones... Most Execlent!

Riverworld series - Philip Jose Farmer

Triton, Dhalgren, Driftglass or Nova by Samuel R. Delany - Really spacy stuff!