Best Fantasy/Sci Fi series you have read, or are reading?

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simmeh

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Jan 25, 2009
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I recently read two fantasy books that drew me in nicely.

The first was The Shadow of Ararat by Thomas Harlan, which is the first book in The Oath of Empire series. It's an alternate history type fantasy, and is set in the Mediterranean in about 600 AD, hypothesizing what the Roman Empire would be like if it was neither Christianized nor overrun by barbarians, and if magic actually existed. Interesting premise that sucked me in once I go into it. Some of the characters were annoying, but it was decently paced, and the ending did a god job of making me want to read more. Alas, the local library does not have Book 2, so it looks like I'm going to be heading over to Chapters to buy the entire series (4 books) at some point.

The second book was The Anvil of the World by Kage Baker. It's a stand alone three-part story, and while I wouldn't say it's a particularly driven book, it's one of the most fun reads I've had in a very long time. It's very similar to Terry Pratchett's Discworld, with ridiculous larger than life characters and situations, and has the same witty "I-just-have-to-read-that-again" type lines. She has apparently written an entire sci-fi series that I'm going to check out at some point, because if they're anything like Anvil, I'd buy the whole lot of them - screw the library.

Other stuff:

I've read the entire Wheel of Time series thus far, but I began to lose interest in 90% of the cast around book 7 or 8. At this point, I really only care about what happens to Mat.

I read the original Dune book, which I enjoyed except for the highly implausible situation of a teenager doing all the stuff he does. I've been looking for the next book, but to no avail.

I've been searching out various Discworld books, and have enjoyed every one I've laid my hands on. Terry Pratchett is an extremely talented writer.

Harry Potter was worth the read. May not be the best, but it holds a special place in my heart for allowing a world for me to escape to when I was a young, bullied preteen.

I read the Chronicles of Narnia years ago, and have been meaning to again at some point. I thoroughly enjoyed some of the books.

I tried reading Tolkein, but always got horribly lost. Again, something I'm going to have to try again.

The Song of Ice and Fire/The Sword of Truth are high on my list of series I need to try, but I've not had any success in finding the first books of the series.
 

WahooSyrup

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Jun 23, 2009
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Okay, I'm shocked an dismayed that I may have been the only person here that read all of, enjoyed all of, and will support my decision in:

Issac Asimov's Foundation series.

The Guide series has always been a go-to for newcomers to the genre but, most definitely not THE best Sci-Fi every written.

And c'mon out there you atheists! His Dark Materials trilogy was absolutely the best coming-of-age-to-find-out-your-father-wants-to-kill-God-and-all-of-heaven story written. ever.
 

Mackinator

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Apr 21, 2009
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I dont really read anymore, but I too might read again some day... I always did like fantasys...
 

Aanorith

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Mar 17, 2009
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GoldenRaz said:
Aanorith said:
GoldenRaz said:
Tales of the Otori - Lian Hearn
Harry Potter - JK Rowling
Also reading "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" by Douglas Adams right now, seems like a good contender so far.
Otori series sucked me in completly. I bugged the local bookstore for weeks when I heard a new otori was nearing release. Now that I've read all 5 of them, i still want more. Ill prolly re-read it soon ^^
I know, they're dangerously addicting!
Even more troubling since I first thought they seemed ridiculous and all out horrible. I owe it all to my friend who managed to convince me to actually read them. I almost went crazy when I noticed that my local library had the fifth one the whole time since I read the fourth without me noticing.
Now I'm kinda hoping for a sequel, or at least a spin off. ^.^
I really hope they do continue, spin-off w/e. There is plenty of room for the story to go on :) I wanna list all the things that makes it intressting, but I refuse to spoil for anyone ^^
 

Nouw

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Mar 18, 2009
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I can't say best but Meg:primal Waters, Hells Aquarium and Starship Troopers was a good read
 

Timewave Zero

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Apr 1, 2009
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Robert E. Howard's 'Conan' stories, all collected in two volumes. They're brilliant, pure adventure stories. I plan to read all Conan stories, oh yes.

Also, the Deathworld trilogy by Harry Harrison are brilliant.
 

JayDub147

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Jun 13, 2009
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2001 by Arthur C. Clarke; specifically the first. One of the greatest science fiction stories ever created.
 

TheGreenGoblin

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Jun 4, 2009
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Mythbhavd said:
The Shannara Series by Terry Brooks
Discworld Series by Terry Pratchett
Wheel of Time series by the late Robert Jordan
Just discovering the Dresden Files by Jim Butcher. So far, very entertaining.

To go in the opposite direction, tried George Martin's stuff, found it extremely boring
I knew a thread with this title would have someone mention The Dresden Files before my time-consuming-day-job ass could park itself in the computer chair and extol the virtues of that amazing book/graphic novel/canon-violating TV series. But I'm not going to tell you readers, I'm going to show you.

I don't like reading. It isn't something I do. I do lots of other stuff and fill the down time with a DS. My brother is worse. He abhors all things educational. I think he once murdered a book's entire family because it looked at him metaphorically. Two brothers, twenty summers, zero books. I'm not even sure how we're literate at all.

My fiance gave me Proven Guilty, a book from the series. I love and occasionally trust her. She said it was about a wizard. So I read it. Turns out, it's about a wise-ass wizard. So I liked the books. I gave them to my brother and said "here, it's about you."

Now we read.
 

brianmaskill

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May 17, 2009
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Own all of the Ender's Game-related literature and the Complete Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy,recommend them both to anyone who wants a good read. Ringworld is also a good book, even though it kinda makes all of Bungie's credibility null XP