Fantasy/Sci-fi Books. Any Suggestions?

[Matthew Valkanov]

Oooh! And I shouldn't forget anything by H.P. Lovecraft ; gothic cosmic horror fantasy greatest genre description ever.

It's much better to actually listen to the radio plays than read the stories by themselves. I think you can get them on iTunes. But it is really chilling to hear the voices and sound effects. The old-timey feel is pretty fun too.

I actually prefer to read them myself, but I also have the radio plays which are quite good indeed ^^

 

[quantum mechanic]

Well, since Terry Pratchett, Neil Gaiman, and Tolkien have have already been mentioned, I'll throw in Iain M. Banks. He writes dark sci-fi that's quite unique and interesting. In particular, Player of Games, Consider Phlebas, Feersum Endjinn, Use of Weapons, and Against a Dark Background are all very good.

 

[schiz0phren1c]

David Eddings' The Belgariad and Mallorean series, a la the 'Garion books'. My fav fantasy books ever!

Seconded,
also The Sparhawk novels by David Eddings too.

And I will also second that.
Sir Ulath is my favourite.

I kind of go back and forth between Sir Ulath and Sir Bevier myself,I love Ulath's sense of dry wit(and way to pick who makes breakfast!) but Bevier's a bit special too,the scene where he blesses the poor bastard then Lochabers him in half is so classic...
damn,gonna have to read them all again!

Glad to see Ray Feist and David Gemmell being mentioned too,we need more heroic fantasy in that vein,losing Davids Gemmell and Eddings lately(RIP guys) has been a terrible blow.

for very serious,dark as hell but brilliant fantasy check out the Chronicles of Thomas Covenant by Stephen R Donaldson http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Chronicles_of_Thomas_Covenant,_the_Unbeliever,
and the "Mordants Needs" books by the same(and if you like Sci Fi at all check out his "Gap Series" they are my all time favourite series of books)

 

[Grospoliner]

I'm looking for some new before-sleep reading material and was hoping you guys could give me some suggestions.
Now what I want is a grand sci-fi/fantasy saga, the likes of my three favourites which are:

-The Wheel of Time (my favourite, can't wait for the last part)
-Dune (the original six by Frank Herbert, his son and K. Anderson never got the 'tone' right imo)
-Prince of Nothing/Aspect-Emperor (can't really explain why, but this one is freakishly good, not just because it contains my all-time favourite character, Cnaïur-urs-Skiotha, breaker-of-horses-and-men)

I prefer something like the three above, but suggestions along the lines of The Dark Tower and Harry Potter are welcome as well.

Would be nice if you could elaborate on your pick, like a character you love (or love to hate), or a unique setting, etc...

Nochnoy Dozor (Night Watch) by Sergi Lukyanenko
Mad Merlin by J Robert King
Gaunt's Ghosts series by Dan Abnett
Anathem by Neil Stephenson
The Runelords by David Farland

 

[Dafttechno]

Hmm...for Sci-Fi I'd suggest Alfred Bester's "The Stars, My Destination"(alternatively called "Tiger, Tiger."), a great relatively short book that has a Monte Cristo feel, but has a wonderful use of suspense and non-described action(sounds weird, but I love it ), and also at one point becomes a calligramme.
You could also try Matheson's "I Am Legend", which is almost completely different to that thing they call a film. A great feeling of solitude and pain, righteous anger and has one of the best "so what is truly evil?" turn arounds I've ever read.
I'd also suggest any sci-fi book by Stanislaw Lem. They're slow and ponderous, but they create a wonderful sense of unease.
And of course there's Isaac Asimov, who's foundation series I just love, and if you enjoyed Herbert's Dune, I think you'll like the Foundation series as well.

For fantasy, I could suggest Scarnight(can't remember the authors name), dark fantasy with really psychotic action sequences.
Terry Brooks' Shannara series is also good as a pretty classic but well written fantasy story, but I wouldn't go past the first trilogy (Sword of Shannara, Elfstones of Shannara, and Wishsong of Shannara), after that he kinda goes loopy.
David Farland's Runelord series is also fun, although that's mainly because of the intriguing "endowment" magic system.
Oooh! And I shouldn't forget anything by H.P. Lovecraft ; gothic cosmic horror fantasy greatest genre description ever.

I'll second the Shannara series by Terry Brooks and also recommend his Magic Kingdom of Landover series for a more lighthearted tone. (why is it, that despite meeting the author and hearing how he pronounces "Shannara," I still think it and pronounce it differently?)

 

[R4GNOR0K]

Phillp K. Dick 'Nuff said.

 

[schiz0phren1c]

Well, since Terry Pratchett, Neil Gaiman, and Tolkien have have already been mentioned, I'll throw in Iain M. Banks. He writes dark sci-fi that's quite unique and interesting. In particular, Player of Games, Consider Phlebas, Feersum Endjinn, Use of Weapons, and Against a Dark Background are all very good.

I'm reading Against a Dark Background again(for the maybe 10th time) as we speak!,just finished Use of Weapons again too.
I love this thread so much!,this is a side of my fellow escapists that I really appreciate
heres another suggestion Sammaul,
not so easy to find nowadays but the Age of Misrule series by Mark Chadbourn are my favourite re-imagining's of the classic Arthurian legends,so gritty and bloody and all around awesome,and the best version of Fomorians since 2000 AD (Slaine-quote me if anyone knows what I'm on about!)

 

[spartan231490]

I'm looking for some new before-sleep reading material and was hoping you guys could give me some suggestions.
Now what I want is a grand sci-fi/fantasy saga, the likes of my three favourites which are:

-The Wheel of Time (my favourite, can't wait for the last part)
-Dune (the original six by Frank Herbert, his son and K. Anderson never got the 'tone' right imo)
-Prince of Nothing/Aspect-Emperor (can't really explain why, but this one is freakishly good, not just because it contains my all-time favourite character, Cnaïur-urs-Skiotha, breaker-of-horses-and-men)

I prefer something like the three above, but suggestions along the lines of The Dark Tower and Harry Potter are welcome as well.

Would be nice if you could elaborate on your pick, like a character you love (or love to hate), or a unique setting, etc...

"Sword of Truth" is very similar to Wheel of Time. I consider it the best book series ever written, but warning: it's very hit or miss. Fans tend to love it like the bible and opponents tend to think it's crap.

"Night Angel" Trilogy by Brent weeks is very good, although it's also very dark.

"Inheritance" by Christopher Paolini is also very good IMO, although not really anything like the 3 you requested, much closer to a Harry Potter-esk feel.

"HellGate: London" series is very good, so long as you don't mind a cliffhanger ending.

The "Mercy Thompson" series, by Patriccia Briggs is also really good. It's about werewolves, and fae, and vampires.

That's pretty much all I've got for Sci-Fi.

 

[matell]

The Ender saga (Orson Scott Card), an interesting read spread across 4 books the first one being about a brilliant boy-strategist and the next 3 following his life after

Spoiler

destroying an entire species of aliens

The Night's Dawn trilogy (Peter F. Hamilton) a very creative set with a large, well-thought universe, and stimulating philosophy for the mind (and it has

Spoiler

ZOMBIES!!

but a very different kind from what we're used to) I cannot recommend it enough;

I, Robot (Isaac Asimov), a collection of short stories about robots that should introduce you more easily in his brilliant universe;

Ubik or Time out of Joint (Phillip K. Dick), both books highly creative and with surpising endings;

Last but not least, The Hunger Games trilogy (Suzanne Collins), resembling the Lord of Flies crossed with the show Survivor, but with a sci-fi touch and a more focused main character.

I can't say much for fantasy because I don't really like them as books, but from what I saw in the movies and heard from my friends, the Lord of the Rings trilogy (J.R.R. Tolkien) is well worth it.

 

[JWAN]

Enders Game series.

Still one of my favorites.

 

[bean burrito]

For sci-fi, the easy choice is the Enders game series by orson scott card. After the first book (Enders game) it splits into 2 series, one is 3000 years in the future and much more philisophical (but it works really well) and the other is kind of more pulp, less sci fi though.
EDIT: Hivemind with post above

For fantasy, look into The Black company series by Glen Cook. It's dark fantasy about an elite company of mercenaries, but is really really good.

 

[Platypus540]

The Risen Empire series by Scott Westerfeld. Those are my favorite books I've ever read, absolutely fantastic sci-fi/fantasy.

Also does anyone know if the third one is out yet?

Edit: Ender's Game is really good too. I haven't read any of the others in the series except Ender's Shadow (which is Ender's Game through the eyes of a different character).

 

[coolkirb]

Michael Chriten (spelling?) is good, he wrote Jurasic Park and such but I highly recomend reading Sphere if you havent.

 

[Rochnan]

Its not so overtly fantasy (think "magical realism") but the best book Ive ever read has to be American Gods by Neil Gaiman, its bleak, bittersweet and puts great twists on old myths.

Urban Fantasy, I think they call it.

Anyway, Harper Collins put it up on their website here [http://www.harpercollins.com/browseinside/index.aspx?isbn13=9780060558123&WT.mc_id=author_AmerGods_FullAccess_022208], so give it a small read, then decide on buying the real thing

 

[johnzaku]

Larry Niven and Dan Abnett.

The former for more thought-provoking sci-fi

The latter for war and action.

Hope these help =3

 

[spartan231490]

Anything by R.A. Salvatore is tops for me. I recommend starting with the Drizzt series, I cannot recall off hand the first book but a quick google search should tell you. Its a somewhat easier read than many but his writing style can keep you interested without seeming condescending or trying to be smarter then is necessary.

If you want something more Sci-Fi the Warhammer 40k books are good. I'm working on the Horus Heresy atm.

The first trilogy book is the Dark Elf Trilogy. The second is the Icewind Dale trilogy. The first is actually a prequel as it was published later, but you should read it first. Fair warning, the 2 or 3 most recent trilogies kinda suck IMO. and I'm not alone in thinking that. I couldn't even read the most recent trilogy, and I barely choked down the one before it. Transitions trilogy, and the books after it are the disappointing one. Just looked it up. fist book of that trilogy is Orc King.

however, the first 12 or so books are very very good, with amazing Characters.

 

[johnzaku]

2001: A Space Odyssey by Arthur C. Clarke
Here lies one of the early cautionary tales about relying too much on artificial intelligence. It's another quick read and one that you will not soon forget!

That is seriously the message that you took away from the book?

OT: "I, Robot" by Isaac Asimov. It's a classic of science fiction; one of the first books to treat robots as a literal piece of technology rather than a metaphor for the working class.

I find it absolutely hilarious that your avatar is HAL XD

also, that's seriously what you got from 2001 lyubov?

 

[Matthew Valkanov]

Hmm...for Sci-Fi I'd suggest Alfred Bester's "The Stars, My Destination"(alternatively called "Tiger, Tiger."), a great relatively short book that has a Monte Cristo feel, but has a wonderful use of suspense and non-described action(sounds weird, but I love it ), and also at one point becomes a calligramme.
You could also try Matheson's "I Am Legend", which is almost completely different to that thing they call a film. A great feeling of solitude and pain, righteous anger and has one of the best "so what is truly evil?" turn arounds I've ever read.
I'd also suggest any sci-fi book by Stanislaw Lem. They're slow and ponderous, but they create a wonderful sense of unease.
And of course there's Isaac Asimov, who's foundation series I just love, and if you enjoyed Herbert's Dune, I think you'll like the Foundation series as well.

For fantasy, I could suggest Scarnight(can't remember the authors name), dark fantasy with really psychotic action sequences.
Terry Brooks' Shannara series is also good as a pretty classic but well written fantasy story, but I wouldn't go past the first trilogy (Sword of Shannara, Elfstones of Shannara, and Wishsong of Shannara), after that he kinda goes loopy.
David Farland's Runelord series is also fun, although that's mainly because of the intriguing "endowment" magic system.
Oooh! And I shouldn't forget anything by H.P. Lovecraft ; gothic cosmic horror fantasy greatest genre description ever.

I'll second the Shannara series by Terry Brooks and also recommend his Magic Kingdom of Landover series for a more lighthearted tone. (why is it, that despite meeting the author and hearing how he pronounces "Shannara," I still think it and pronounce it differently?)

Haha Out of curiosity, how is it meant to be pronounced? I've always thought of it as "Shun - Nara"

 

[Sonicron]

You want a big sci-fi saga? Go read the Black Library's "Horus Heresy" novels. All of them. NOW.
(They're part of the Warhammer 40.000 universe, so if that's not your particular cup of tea, go have your brain rewired until it is. )

 

[thiosk]

Ciaphas cain: hero of the imperium!

http://www.amazon.com/Ciaphas-Cain-Imperium-Sandy-Mitchell/dp/1844164667/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1310667380&sr=8-2

he's hilarious. In an ongoing battle to save his own skin while pruning his stellar reputation, ol Cain inadvertantly saves the planet from inumerable hoards. Repeatedly.