Book Recommendations? You know the things with words...

[Montyix]

For fantasy I would recommend Mervyn Peake's Gormenghast series. Start of with "Titus groan" and go from there they are fantastically well written and different from almost anything else in the fantasy genre.

 

[HerrBobo]

The Rift War Saga by Raymond E. Feist

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Riftwar_Saga

 

[Averant]

Why would anyone have a problem with female heroines? Aren't they the only kind?

The only good kind. :3

I kid, I kid.

but seriously, Ever read Tamora Pierce's books? Wonderful heroines for most of her series. Never really got into the Circle books, though...

For a scifi, you might pick up David Weber's Honor Harrington saga. You'll have to put up with a lot of politics (about half of all the books combined, if I had to guess) but the other half is well worth the wading.

Percy Jackson and the Olympians. No, NOT the movie. Don't you dare get the movie. If you've already watched it, erase it from your mind.[footnote]not that it will matter much, I'm told the movie is a completely different plot than the first book. le sigh.[/footnote] The books are so much better. And in the most recent book, Riordan actually manages to weasel in some internet culture. Absolutely made my month.

PM me, I'll give you my bookshelf.

 

[Averant]

Also, this book will be a little easy for your literary levels but "Maximum Ride" is a pretty good book series (well 1-3, the 4th is pretty retarded). I mean you could probably bust out a book in about 3 hours if you read books usually of a higher page number I.E Harry potter, game of thrones. I advise you check it out if your into that sci-fi super hero scene.

I loved Maximum Ride. The Trilogy was a wonderful story. The fourth, I could handle. Heavy handed on the eco message, but I could handle it.

There are no others.

I said there are no others.

 

[chaosyoshimage]

-Another good series would be The Sword of Truth novels. A bit more adult than most, but solid reads, however the books are a bit long, 1000 pages normally.

Oh yeah, forgot to mention that's on my list. I loved the corny TV show and want to read the real story.

So, I'm halfway through The Hunger Games right now and I'm loving it. Anything like that would be highly appreciated!

 

[Soviet Heavy]

Night Watch. Just Night Watch. Even on its own, it is by far one of the best books I've read, regardless of whether you've read the other Discworld novels beforehand.

 

[Blobpie]

On a Pale horse by Piers Anthony is a good book, and the rest of the series is pretty good as well.

 

[moxretroero]

David and Leigh Eddings Belgariad and Mallorean are always worth a read.

Thank Aldur that someone mentioned these. Superbly written fantasy stories with the best mix of humor and seriousness I've ever seen in a series. Also see if you can dig up the Elinuim and the Tamuli from the same, even though they are quite similar in theme and structure to the first set, so if money is tight only get the Belgariad and Malloreon.

Also, see if you can find a catalogue for something like the Science Fiction Book Club (get it from a relative or friend if you can) and peruse it. A lot of it is junk, but you'll often find some good deals or book series that spark your intrest. If one catches your eye, you can either look it up in your local book store, online, or ask your friend/realtive to order it and let you reemburse them.

 

[Craorach]

Anything by Terry Pratchett or Neil Gaiman is pretty much a given... Good Omens is an awesome combination of both. If you enjoyed The Hobbit, try Lord of the Rings, but be warned it can be a bit of a slog.

If you are even remotely interested in Warhammer 40k or generally gritty Science Fiction, try the Gaunt's Ghost's series. One of the very few collections of books I've found to be able to bring real characters into the 40k universe.

Stephen Lawhead's Hood is an enjoyable take on the Robin Hood mythos, and he does some other mythical/historical work that is interesting, if a bit slow to get going.

 

[chaosyoshimage]

If you enjoyed The Hobbit, try Lord of the Rings, but be warned it can be a bit of a slog.

Yeah, I already have The Lord of the Rings, but I can never get all the way through the book or the movies. And yet, I think I can read A Song of Ice and Fire...

 

[MortalKomic]

Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer
Cirque Du Freak by Darren Shan
DO AS I COMMAND AND YOUR EYES SHALL HAVE THY HAPPINESS...or sumthin..

 

[Giftfromme]

Robbin Hobb - Liveship Trader series and Assassin trilogy