Share your favorites here. ^^ I just finished mine and I am at a loss... I like fantasy the most, though I'll read anything. In the meantime... *re-reads Call of the Wild for the nth time* :3
Not really... Raymond E Feist stuff is all I've ever read beside token tolkein works.
All five of Richard Bach's The ferret Chronicles. Even if you aren't crazy about ferrets, they're real sweet. and Stephen King's The Stand.
Any of King's short story collections are excellent.
Quote from: vulpesweasel on August 07, 2006, 09:52:28 PM
All five of Richard Bach's The ferret Chronicles. Even if you aren't crazy about ferrets, they're real sweet.
I love ferrets... they're super cute, plus once, an albino one climbed up the pants of this guy I really hated and bit him repeatedly. My heroes ever since. xD
I've read a couple of Stephen King's books, but not his short stories. Good idea, I'll check both those and the Ferret Chronicles out.
Excellent-est: Sword of Truth series by Terry Goodkind
Excellent-er: Wheel of Time series by Robert Jordan
Fantasy, you say?
I recommend the Keys to the Kingdom series and the Pendragon series (kind of fantasy, kind of sci-fi). Both are excellent. Also, I have a cousin who seems very fond of most of the books from the Dragon Lance franchise, as well as The Bartimaeus Trilogy, and I've found I usually like what he likes. Oh, and if you want a superb piece of fantasy, try Ray Bradbury's Something Wicked this Way Comes. His writing style is a little different, but he's a great author. (If you like Something Wicked..., you should check out his sci-fi books, too.) Also, try Cornelia Funke's Inkheart series and Dragon Rider.
There are also a few favorites of mine that are somewhat easier reads, but still very good: The Seventh Tower series, the Diadem series, the Deltora books, The Dark is Rising series, The Divide series, the Artemis Fowl books, and the A Wrinkle in Time series. Also, I've heard good things about the Eragon books. And if you're looking for a good fantasy comic, try the Bone series. Very unique, very entertaining.
Also, if you like humor, try the Outernet books. It's sci-fi, but it's still good. To be honest, the premise is similar to what I've heard about Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, but I haven't read that yet, so I can't be sure. Try it out anyway, if you want.
There's many variants of fantasy.
Sword and Sorcery: try almost any David Eddings book. I personally like reading the Belgariad, Mallorean, with two prequels and the Rivan Codex to book (13 books in total) but that's because I read fairly fast, so I tend to chew through them all... Other than that, well, Pern is an obvious chunk, by Anne McCaffrey. I'd suggest The Last Dragonlord and The Dragon and the Phoenix, only the latter needed a good editor, and didn't get one. L E Modesitt had a few good ones in the Recluce saga - which is mostly written in reverse, and the last couple are in third person present syntax - "he moves up agains the wall" sort of thing. Slightly odd, but catchy. As someone else mentioned, Robert Jordan, if you don't mind the fact he hasn't finished it yet, and the last couple have been turgid and huge...
If you start getting into comedy - parody and the like - you can never lose out by looking at Terry Pratchett. Tom Holt is another good one, although his ouevre varies rather more in quality - Terry is pretty much always great, although the first four or so books were a bit lower quality, before he hit his stride.
After that, I could probably list you some other stuff to read - move more into the Sci-Fi genre, however - space opera, that sort of thing.
As a final resort, you could always look at my reading list (http://flawed.perception.co.nz/me/books.html) over the last year or two, and ask me about just about any book there. :-)
I've just finished the Mortal Engines Series by Philip Reeve (Mortal Engines, Predator's Gold, Infernal Devices, and A Darkling Plain), and I would recommend them if you enjoy novels of the sci-fi/fantasy ilk.
Garth Nix's Sabriel, Lirael, and The Abbhorsen are all good, as is Mister Monday by the same author.
the His Dark Materials is good(Golden Compass, Subtle Knife, Amber Spyglass), City of Embers, Gregor the Overlander, Haunted(by Meg Cabot), The Wizard of Earthsea(Ursula K. LeGuin) and Discworld is always good if you'd rather humor.
I think that's all I can think of for now, there will most liekly be more.
if you like a little humor in your fantacy, try the xanth novels (piers anthony) or the diskworld novels (terry pratchet).
and while it's sci-fi, I really like the hitchhiker's guide to the galaxy "trilogy":
the hitchhiker's guide to the galaxy
restraunt at the end of the universe
life, the universe, and everything
so long, and thanks for all the fish
mostly harmless
and of course, if you havent' already read it (shame on you if you haven't), there's the lord of the rings trilogy.
I love the Keys to the Kingdom series, and I tried to get Pendragon from my library but the first one's always checked out.
The Bartimaeus Trilogy. Ohmigosh. That is my favorite. Series. Ever. No competition. I've made desktop backgounds for it, k? It is love.
Inkheart is great, and Dragon Rider, the Abhorsen series, the Artemis Fowl books, Eragon, and LOTR are right next to each other on my bookshelf, and His Dark Materials are just below them. ^^ Haunted was great, in fact, I loved that whole series.
The rest sound great, thanks so much to everybody. *makes a list on a scrap of paper and marches to the library* :mowgrin
Here's a few more offbeat ones. I think I was fifteen when I read most of these:
* A Fire Upon The Deep - Vernor Vinge (Godlike artificial intelligences, dog-like creatures that are only intelligent in packs of four or more, and a pan-galactic internet service. What more could you need?)
*'What Good Is a Glass Dagger?' - Larry Niven (short story)
Fantasy writing from a hard SF author - a short story about a werewolf with a glass dagger placed in his heart by a warlock. Can be found in the collections 'Playgrounds of the Mind' and 'Flight of the Horse'.
* 'The Soft Weapon' - Larry Niven (short story)
An ancient weapon is found in a stasis field. Can be found in 'Neutron Star'.
* "Wasp" - Eric Frank Russell
An insurgent from earth is sent alone to an alien world in order to try and distract the government from the earth invasion force. Terry Pratchett wrote "I'd give anything to have written Wasp. I can't imagine a funnier terrorist's handbook". Dirac Angestun Gesept!*
I was about 25 when I read this, but it is one of my absolute favourites:
* "The Silver Wolf" - Alice Borchardt (Ann Rice' sister.. a charming yet dark book about a young female werewolf living around the time of Charlemagne. There are two other books in the series, but I think this is the best one.)
* D.A.G. : Sirian Freedom Party
Any of Scott Adams' buisness books are brilliant, try them out.
The only books I'd ever read willingly, or without a requirement for school or something similar:
Dragonriders of Pern series
Ender's Game series
Mostly short stories, but the writing of Janus
I tried reading Ender's Shadow but for some reason hate it very much. Then again I have this little problem where I really don't like reading in general. It used to be a complete hate when it comes to reading, other than in games or basic online stuff, but being in this place has forced me to reduces such hatred. :januscat
Kitsune:
you missed "The Salmon of Doubt" in the H2G2 series. :-) Of course, it's not complete, but it's not too bad nonetheless.
Oh, yes. EFR. Tapewolf, do you know where your Eustace is? I've been looking for Phenackertiban, but haven't met him yet.... :-)
The actual story part of Salmon isn't that good, but the short writings in it make it brilliant.
Quote from: Lysander on August 08, 2006, 12:18:52 PM
I tried reading Ender's Shadow but for some reason hate it very much.
Felt the same way 'bout
Xenocide. Speaker was a very nice book, though.
Quote from: llearch n'n'daCorna on August 08, 2006, 12:25:33 PM
Oh, yes. EFR. Tapewolf, do you know where your Eustace is? I've been looking for Phenackertiban, but haven't met him yet.... :-)
Holy God, pork and beans! I haven't read that one for ages. I'll have to try and get a copy of it. 'Next of Kin', wasn't it? I mentioned 'Wasp' because it's currently in print in the Gollancz SF Masterworks set, I'm not sure about much of the other stuff.
Another good one for E.F.R. is 'With A Strange Device', but I'm pretty sure that's seriously out of print by now. Somewhat out-of-date too, since it's very much a Cold War novel. Gripping, though.
Lysander mentioned the Dragonriders of Pern series. It's a good series with a good setting. I particularly like the Dragonsong trilogy, but that's just my musical roots showing.
If you ever have a chance to read the Demonwars saga by R.A. Salvatore, go for it. It has a very interesting take on magic and elves.
Eon Coilfer's Artemis fowl books are fantasy mixed with a die hard atmousphere. Its pretty futuristic/present.
Quote from: Sketchy boy on August 08, 2006, 01:56:27 PM
Eon Coilfer's Artemis fowl books are fantasy mixed with a die hard atmosphere. Its pretty futuristic/present.
I read those to, well have read them. finished the forth book a week ago. Definitely good books.
I also like Christopher Paolini's 'Eragon'
and also the grown up and EMO infused 'Darren Shan' series by J.K. Rowling.
Quote from: Tapewolf on August 08, 2006, 12:11:18 PM
* "The Silver Wolf" - Alice Borchardt (Ann Rice' sister.. a charming yet dark book about a young female werewolf living around the time of Charlemagne. There are two other books in the series, but I think this is the best one.)
That's the one I just finished. xD You're right though, I loved it.
I'm at the library now, and running around with this huge stack of books, attracting stares. Gotta love it. *scampers off in search of the newest suggestions*
I've got a few more for you, but they're mostly sci-fi:
Marco's Millions (sci-fi; series)
Mindwarp (sci-fi; series)
Pure Dead Magic (fantasy; series)
Heartlight (sci-fi)
Mirror Mirror (shortstories; fantasy/sci-fi/something else)
Also, I'd like to put particularly high recommendations on one of my childhood favorites: The Phantom Tollbooth, where jumping to conclusions has an entirely different meaning.
Ooh, get "Freakonomics", by Levitt and Dubner. Awesome book.
Two of my more favourite authors are Bill Bryson and Scott Adams (the guy who does the Dilbert comic).
Bill Bryson does a mix of rather interesting books from travel to origins of languages and science, but his books all contain random and rather amusing facts that you never would have figured. I reccomend his Walk in the Woods and Made in America books.
Scott Adams writes humourous business-related books alongside his Dilbert comic. He combines the two to great effect in many of his books to show the lighter sides of big business, and how to find it in your own job. He tends to place a lot of anecdotes in his books, both from himself (the stories from when he worked in a bank never cease to amuse me), and from the public. I reccomend The Joy of Work and The Way of the Weasel.
I might as well mention one of my favourite writers from when I was younger- Tamora Pierce. I've always adored her more than J K Rowling when it comes to magic-based fiction. She has written a lot of series, with many memorable characters and plots. I've been a big fan of her Circle of Magic series, though there are many more series just as enjoyable. I think it was because of this series that got me so hooked on Naruto with some of the similarities.
Oh, and I also used to be quite a fan of the Dragonriders of Pern series as well, though I find the series to be a little tiresome in its extensive history. Enjoyable, none the less though.
Well, for graphic novels, I'd say anything, ... anything by Grant Morrison. Occasionally his works are just pseudo art-magick pap I admit but every now and then, he has this ability to allow comics to be astoundingly deep and this ability is second-to-none.
Stuff wot Morrison did (http://www.readyourselfraw.com/profiles/morrison/profile_morrison.htm).
Particular favourites there are Arkham Asylum (you'd have to read it to see why), We3 (it's just so damned beautiful) and Flex Mentallo (I shall defuse this bomb with the amazing power of my mind muscle!).
(Edit: Can't believe I forgot to mention I was talking about graphic novels.)
Quote from: RJ on August 09, 2006, 09:14:42 AM
Bill Bryson does a mix of rather interesting books from travel to origins of languages and science, but his books all contain random and rather amusing facts that you never would have figured.
I've read his
A Brief History of the Universe. I liked it, entertaining and informative.
QuoteI might as well mention one of my favourite writers from when I was younger- Tamora Pierce.
Heh, before I read
The Silver Wolf, I'd just finished with three of her series, the ones placed in Tortall. I <3 Numair... he's so sweet.
Quote from: Miaka on August 08, 2006, 08:35:04 AM
Garth Nix's Sabriel, Lirael, and The Abbhorsen are all good, as is Mister Monday by the same author.
D: I thought I was the only one that liked the Sabriel series! Yay for other peoples that do... :)
One book I really loved was The Book of Atrus...yes, I'm a Myst fan. :) There's another Myst book coming out shortly, not sure what it is about. I'm guessing probably Yeesha, or something related to her.
As for other books, I like most of R.A. Salvatore's, including the Cleric Quintet and The Dark Elf Trilogy.
I also liked the book Blade Runner was based off of (Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Phillip K. Dick).
I see other people also like Tamora Pierce and Raymond E. Feist as well. :3 I read Pierce's books all the time years ago. I still like Feist's Betrayal at Krondor. Interesting video game too. :P
Quote from: RJ on August 09, 2006, 09:14:42 AM
Two of my more favourite authors are Bill Bryson and Scott Adams (the guy who does the Dilbert comic).
Scott Adams writes humourous business-related books alongside his Dilbert comic. He combines the two to great effect in many of his books to show the lighter sides of big business, and how to find it in your own job. He tends to place a lot of anecdotes in his books, both from himself (the stories from when he worked in a bank never cease to amuse me), and from the public. I reccomend The Joy of Work and The Way of the Weasel.
Good man! :cheers
Quote from: Hilary on August 09, 2006, 12:14:07 PM
Quote from: RJ on August 09, 2006, 09:14:42 AM
Bill Bryson does a mix of rather interesting books from travel to origins of languages and science, but his books all contain random and rather amusing facts that you never would have figured.
I've read his A Brief History of the Universe. I liked it, entertaining and informative.
I enjoyed the parts where he said how all the scientists were crackpots who experimented on themselves :) (yes, sticking a needle in your eye DOES hurt)
Most of what has been mentioned are good reads.
Writers that are not too shabby: Terry Brooks, Anne McCaffery, Mercedes Lackey, Piers Anthony and David Eddings. Individual tastes may vary on them though.
Quote from: Azlan on August 09, 2006, 10:37:24 PM
Writers that are not too shabby: Terry Brooks, Anne McCaffery, Mercedes Lackey, Piers Anthony and David Eddings. Individual tastes may vary on them though.
I actually picked up an Anne McCaffery book on impulse at the library yesterday. For those who care, it's called
No One Noticed the Cat, and it's pretty small (about the size of a CD case) and relatively short. It was great though, made me crack up a couple of times. (Knickers in the crypt... ahh... never gonna forget that.)
I have a couple of Terry Pratchett books now, and wow, they totally are all you people have cracked them up to be. (Heh, funky sentence.)
Gaurds! Gaurds! is positively hilarious.
Quote from: RJ on August 09, 2006, 10:21:03 PM
I enjoyed the parts where he said how all the scientists were crackpots who experimented on themselves :) (yes, sticking a needle in your eye DOES hurt)
Hehe, bird poop on the satellite dishes. xD Reminds me of
Spaceballs (The radar's been jammed!) Erk... wierd connection time.
Heehee... If you're looking for a series to keep you occupied for a while, I absolutely ADORE the Malazan Tales of the Fallen series. It's a little hard to figure how everything in his universe works the first time you read it, but it is a really amazing series... and each book is REEAAALLY long... Let's get a page count here, in order...
Gardens of the Moon; 703
Deadhouse Gates; 935
Memories of Ice; 1180
House of Chains; 1013
Midnight Tides; 932
The Bonehunters; 883
... with just about dictionary size font for the first five. (For no apparent reason, The Bonehunters is hardcover sized, but softcover, with a larger font.) It is a great series, just not the lightest read (in a few different senses of the phrase.) And apparently there are four more books coming.
And I agree with everyone who recommended Garth Nix, Anne McCaffery, and Anne Rice. They rock. :)
I'm surprised no-one mentioned the Elric books by Michael Moorcock (no, I didn't make up that last name).
Margeret Weiss and Tracy Hickman also write entertaining books.
Also, 1984 is an interesting read, even if it's not stricktly fantasy. It's where the phrase "Big Brother is watching you" comes from.
Quote from: Vidar on August 10, 2006, 10:18:04 AM
I'm surprised no-one mentioned the Elric books by Michael Moorcock (no, I didn't make up that last name).
Yes, I can agree with that. Some of them are a little patchy, but many of them are well worth reading.
I tried one of those, and found it turgid and obscure.
Reckon you can suggest a reasonable one to start with, to take the original taste out of my mouth, as it were? :-)
do we want novels or Graphic Novels/Manga? X3
Quote from: Xze-Xze on August 10, 2006, 11:29:03 PM
do we want novels or Graphic Novels/Manga? X3
Anything you like, really, but I'll be more able to get ahold of regular novels, because I can get them for free at the library. *hugs it* But then, I have been known to sit all day in Borders and read graphic novels when I can't pay for them, so reccommend away. ^^ (It's a good thing they have free coffee at the Fresh Market next door, or else I'd go mad.)
Quote from: Hilary on August 11, 2006, 12:10:31 AM
Quote from: Xze-Xze on August 10, 2006, 11:29:03 PM
do we want novels or Graphic Novels/Manga? X3
Anything you like, really, but I'll be more able to get ahold of regular novels, because I can get them for free at the library. *hugs it* But then, I have been known to sit all day in Borders and read graphic novels when I can't pay for them, so reccommend away. ^^ (It's a good thing they have free coffee at the Fresh Market next door, or else I'd go mad.)
good lord you're like me...
i'll make a list ^^
Hmm. It's been awhile since I've read an actual novel. I think the last new one I've read was a Redwall book. Those are always good, but I've yet to determine how long to wait before I can bother reading it cover to cover again. With any luck, I can continue stalling for a few more weeks. Anyways, to suggestions: Anne McCaffrey (already suggested) and her son whose name escapes me (he kind of continues the story of Pern). My psych teacher reccomended this one sci-fi writer and told me to google the guy. I can only say what I found bored me to tears, but then, I prefer flat out fantasy. I need to find more authors, so I appreciate this thread being here.
Specific books, I liked "The Lure" by Felice Picano. It has some adult content, but that's not why I picked it. <.< Then I wanted to read another of his novels but couldn't finish it. I 'll have to look for it sometime.
Then there's this one book I hated. I forgot the title, but the basic story had something to do with a guy who moves to L.A. while grieving, where he meets this couple trying to build their dream house and ends up drawn to their lives and their past. I want the hours I wasted on it back.
As for manga, there's a whole selection. I also spend a lot of time at Borders reading the stuff. my favorites include:
-Negima
-xxxHOLiC (I love this one)
-Tsubasa Chronicle
-Ranma 1/2
-Rave Master
-Fruits Basket
-Ouran Host Club
-Our Kingdom (cute)
-Her Majesty's Dog
-Ghost Hunt
-Rurouni Kenshin
That's all I remember. I'm such a geek.
Quote from: Roureem Egas on August 11, 2006, 02:11:33 AM
-Negima
-xxxHOLiC (I love this one)
-Tsubasa Chronicle
-Ranma 1/2
-Rave Master
-Fruits Basket
-Ouran Host Club
-Our Kingdom (cute)
-Her Majesty's Dog
-Ghost Hunt
-Rurouni Kenshin
You forgot Urusei Yatsura, Oh My Goddess (no, not Charline), Inu Yasha, and Maison Ikkoku.
To add to the Manga I'd say X/1999 and Sorcerer Hunters.
The only other two I've read are listed. :januscat
I just started Negima and Fruits Basket a week or so ago, they = love. ^^
My library, due to my 'persuasion' (incessant nagging) has purchased some Ranma 1/2, InuYasha, and Fruits Basket. (I rawk. Free manga!)
**Edit** Oh yeah, they have Oh My Goddess! too.
The only manga I've really been getting into is the Naruto manga. *rarrs at the anime fillers*
Though I have read Oh My Goddess, Chobits, Bleach, Bizenghast, Mark of the Succubus, and now my boyfriend is trying to get me to read Priest.
Graphic Novels? Um... to be honest, I don't read that much of them really (I can't get my hands on enough of them). But here's my reccomendations of ones I've looked at and liked:
Naruto- this one was obvious, wasn't it? I'm a huge fan of this, and the series has never steered me wrong. Kishimoto is a genius in his own right. He likes to place a lot of underlying themes in the plot (along with red herrings). The bad guys aren't your everyday villians either- you really have to enjoy how they've all got quirks in their own way.
Bleach - I've only started watching the anime, but I've seen a couple chapters of the later manga and I've quite liked many of the characters, like Orihime. But at the same time, the series is a lot like DBZ and a little tiring at times. The characters are enough to get to stay around though.
Chobits- classic. It's just one of those series you just have to see.
.hack//Legend of the Twilight- the difference between the anime and the manga is surprising, but cute none the less. This is only a smaller part of something greater though, so a few references might lose you. The series is still good by itself though.
One Piece- if only to see the comparison with the horrible work 4kids did, but the characters are all amazing, and Luffy is one of those guys you just gotta love. Also, steampunk genre is awesome.
Tokyo Mew Mew- see above. It's definitely a shoujo series, but it's got some really cute quirks.
Tenjho Tenge- even with the fanservice, there's quite an interesting plot there.
Kamichama Karin- biggest eyes ever, seriously. And cute enough to rot your teeth on top of that. The main character, Karin, is a total goof.
Here's some reccomendations I've gotten from another forum I go to:
Black Cat-
QuoteCharacters are interesting, and the story line is something easy to understand. The reason why I loved this manga was because I could understand the story easily, without having to even turn back to previous pages. XD *unlike Naruto and Bleach, which has some complicated elements in it*
Karin-
QuoteAs if a vampire who produces so much blood it comes out her nose isn't enough *snort*
Goong-
Quote1st: The art is stunningly beautiful. The characters are sooo cute! Both the boys and the girls are really pretty.
2nd: The story is really catching. The charactes are interesting. There's this cold and selfish prince who has no interest in marrying a common girl, the main character Chae Gyeong who hates the strict palace world and her husband, the prince's cousin, Yul, who was once destined to be the king and is also interested in Chae Gyeong....
Blade of the Immortal-
QuoteThat this manga is not more popular is mind boggling to me. I suppose it's because it's not going to appeal to the very young or the weak of stomach. This is one of those titles so good, it's heartbreaking to read it a) because it is that gripping and b) you don't want to go through the agony of having to finish it.
In Japan it won the prestigious Media Arts Award and in America, it won the 2000 Eisner Award. Not hard to see why.
Eyeshield 21-
QuoteOkay, the main thing that makes me really likes this manga is because the team captain, Youchi Hiruma. This guy is very interesting (in evil way)...using all kind of method (most of 'em are kinda extreme) to 'recruit' members. He's the kind of guy who plans far ahead, a good strategist, and BADASS; far from being naive. There are other interesting (should i say wierdly unique??) characters.
I like how the author matches every football team's name with their characters (knight, cowboy, egyptian, etc)
This is one that I've been addicted to for the past few weeks.
http://www.harpercollins.com/books/9780060760243/How_to_Lose_a_Battle/index.aspx
Awesome book, get it if you're interested at all in military history.
I like to read Larry Niven, Steven King, and Piers Anthony. These Authors write excellent books. I would actually Suggest RingWorld from Larry Niven
Quote from: BillBuckner on August 12, 2006, 11:12:25 AM
This is one that I've been addicted to for the past few weeks.
http://www.harpercollins.com/books/9780060760243/How_to_Lose_a_Battle/index.aspx
Awesome book, get it if you're interested at all in military history.
*pounces* That looks great-- it might help me with a story I'm working on, too. Bonus.
That's a great list, RJ. A vampire with blood coming out of her nose? Sounds good to me. >:3
I've borrowed/stolen some Naruto from my friend's brother. << It's really good, I like Kakashi best. ^^
Michael Crichton is an effing genius. Jurassic park is like ten times better than the movie. My favorite books by him include 'Prey' and 'State of Fear.'
I also really enjoyed the Halo series.