In need of a compelling read
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Anything by Terry Pratchett. I suggest starting with Colour of Magic and working you way through the Discworld series. That said, "Diggers" and "Wings" are both fantastic and "Nation" is one of my favourite books ever.
Another book you might enjoy is Catch 22. It's in a war setting, but wonderfully written. It's also one of the few novels I've read which can make my ribs ache from laughter and tears prick at my eyes.
For science fiction, Brave New World.
Another book you might enjoy is Catch 22. It's in a war setting, but wonderfully written. It's also one of the few novels I've read which can make my ribs ache from laughter and tears prick at my eyes.
For science fiction, Brave New World.
Wicked by Greogory Maguire, its all set in a realistic wizard of OZ world full of dark politics, racism, hatred and murder.
You've always come across as being a very well read fantasy fan, so I'm not sure what worthwhile recommendations I can give. I've heard some good things about Clive Barker, but I haven't read anything by him yet. Definitely read the Earthsea Quartet at some point if you haven't already, although it may not the compelling read your looking for right now.
It doesn't fit the genres you usually seem to read, but I suppose I might suggest one of the good James Clavell novels (Shogun, King Rat and Tai-Pan are my favourites). Historical fiction set in Asia at in different periods with a lot of liberties taken, they are still entertaining, suspenseful reads. Not particularly well written, but its a good, if basic insight into the cultures explored.
I, Claudius and Claudius the God are a much more accurate pair of historical fiction books. Brilliantly written from the perspective of a lame, stammering member of the Imperial family, you get a real insight into all the political intrigue and warfare at the time. Those Roman's being a bloodthirsty lot, there's a lot of conspiracys and murders in the book, nothing near as dry as a similar novel set in these times would be. Very enjoyable read, although theres a lot of factual events detailed so it can become a bit of a heavy read. Also it can become a little hard to keep track of the semi-incestuous bloodlines and who killed who. The first book was on TIME's top 100 novel list if that's any recommendation.
It doesn't fit the genres you usually seem to read, but I suppose I might suggest one of the good James Clavell novels (Shogun, King Rat and Tai-Pan are my favourites). Historical fiction set in Asia at in different periods with a lot of liberties taken, they are still entertaining, suspenseful reads. Not particularly well written, but its a good, if basic insight into the cultures explored.
I, Claudius and Claudius the God are a much more accurate pair of historical fiction books. Brilliantly written from the perspective of a lame, stammering member of the Imperial family, you get a real insight into all the political intrigue and warfare at the time. Those Roman's being a bloodthirsty lot, there's a lot of conspiracys and murders in the book, nothing near as dry as a similar novel set in these times would be. Very enjoyable read, although theres a lot of factual events detailed so it can become a bit of a heavy read. Also it can become a little hard to keep track of the semi-incestuous bloodlines and who killed who. The first book was on TIME's top 100 novel list if that's any recommendation.
Iain Banks [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iain_Banks#Novels_as_Iain_Banks] does great realistic fiction, plus some excellent science fiction under the name Iain M. Banks. I highly recommend Dead Air and Complicity, and Use Of Weapons is good on the sci-fi side.
Layer Cake [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Layer_Cake_(novel)] by J. J. Connolly is an excellent crime novel with a lot of black comedy but a serious heart. There's one chapter in particular that absolutely left my mouth dry.
Run [http://www.amazon.com/Run-Douglas-E-Winter/dp/0451409809] by Douglas E. Winter is another crime novel. I picked this one up at the library on a whim and it absolutely blew me away. Highly recommended.
On a lighter note, High Fidelity [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_Fidelity_(novel)] by Nick Hornby is the book I just finished reading, and it was really enjoyable.
Peter F. Hamilton's Night's Dawn trilogy, beginning with The Reality Dysfunction [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Reality_Dysfunction], is a lot of fun, and notable for the way it melds lightly supernatural themes into a science fiction setting without breaking the whole damn thing.
Anything by Philip K. Dick [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philip_K._Dick] is guaranteed to leave you staring at your hands.
Layer Cake [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Layer_Cake_(novel)] by J. J. Connolly is an excellent crime novel with a lot of black comedy but a serious heart. There's one chapter in particular that absolutely left my mouth dry.
Run [http://www.amazon.com/Run-Douglas-E-Winter/dp/0451409809] by Douglas E. Winter is another crime novel. I picked this one up at the library on a whim and it absolutely blew me away. Highly recommended.
On a lighter note, High Fidelity [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_Fidelity_(novel)] by Nick Hornby is the book I just finished reading, and it was really enjoyable.
Peter F. Hamilton's Night's Dawn trilogy, beginning with The Reality Dysfunction [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Reality_Dysfunction], is a lot of fun, and notable for the way it melds lightly supernatural themes into a science fiction setting without breaking the whole damn thing.
Anything by Philip K. Dick [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philip_K._Dick] is guaranteed to leave you staring at your hands.
my recomendations would be: a clockwork orange by anthony burgess a story about a vicious 15 year old in future london (remember this was written in the 60's so I'm using future sorta loosely) who goes to prison for murder and is brainwashed. Remember to get the version with 21 chapters not 20.
I also reccomend just about anything written by Philip K. Dick especially do androids dream of electric sheep which is set in 2020 (I think) and is about a man who hunts down rouge androids that look and act like human. It brings up some very interesting questions.
I also reccomend just about anything written by Philip K. Dick especially do androids dream of electric sheep which is set in 2020 (I think) and is about a man who hunts down rouge androids that look and act like human. It brings up some very interesting questions.
Yeah, anything by Nick Hornby is worth reading I think. Some people find his stuff quite slow, but I really enjoy his humorous existential musings. I related to the character in High Fidelity a lot, although I also related to FF VIII's Squall...Fraser.J.A said:
Cirque de freak is not exactly light hearted but it shure drags you in after the middle of the first book
A lot of books that I'd recommend have already been mentioned. I'm currently reading Mockingbird by Walter Tevis and it's awesome.
Rather than try and remember the books I enjoyed, here's a link to my book collection. Some of the 'read' books have ratings and reviews.
http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/982876
EDIT: Actually, Slaughterhouse 5 is amazing...and short.
Rather than try and remember the books I enjoyed, here's a link to my book collection. Some of the 'read' books have ratings and reviews.
http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/982876
EDIT: Actually, Slaughterhouse 5 is amazing...and short.
I was going to recommend Dune but several people already mentioned it so all I can do is add my support to their recommendations.
If you can open your mind enough to accept the 40k universe I'd advise "Legion" it was a pleasant surprise of how exciting warhammer lore can really be.
The discworld series is another good recommendation that has already come up, but in my opinion a lot of the books are really similar so take some time between each one of them.
I personally liked the Eragon series (yet to be finished) but most people I know doesn't agree with me so maybe I just have a better taste in adventure/ fantasy books than my friends.
If you're going to read Dan Brown than I suggest starting with Angels and Demons (it's the book before the Da Vinci code) since The Da Vinci Code is basically a rip off from this book.
Personally I don't read books that I don't choose myself, which might explain a few oddities, but I hope something strikes your interest
If you can open your mind enough to accept the 40k universe I'd advise "Legion" it was a pleasant surprise of how exciting warhammer lore can really be.
The discworld series is another good recommendation that has already come up, but in my opinion a lot of the books are really similar so take some time between each one of them.
I personally liked the Eragon series (yet to be finished) but most people I know doesn't agree with me so maybe I just have a better taste in adventure/ fantasy books than my friends.
If you're going to read Dan Brown than I suggest starting with Angels and Demons (it's the book before the Da Vinci code) since The Da Vinci Code is basically a rip off from this book.
Personally I don't read books that I don't choose myself, which might explain a few oddities, but I hope something strikes your interest
A Scanner Darkly by Philip K. Dick: One of my favorite of Dick's novels. It's SF about the drug culture surrounding a new hallucinogenic, told from the perspective of a narc slowly losing his mind to Substance D. Like all of Dick's work, it questions reality and morality. Dark, but also with an edgy sense of humor to it.
Warchild by Karin Lowachee: I pimp this book out to everyone and anyone. It's hands-down the best SF to debut in the past 10 years. Very much a deconstruction on the space opera genre. The real strength of the novel's in its characters. They are realistically portrayed, everyone flawed and damaged to some degree. And the antagonistic is the only literary character to make my skin literally crawl and send my heart rate racing. Gritty, dark, pulp science fiction at its best.
The Dark Glory War by Michael A. Stackpole: Nice start to an even better fantasy series. Like Martin's Song of Ice and Fire, the book is a deconstruction on typical epic fantasies. You won't see the end coming, I promise you that much. And the rest of the series is pure gold as well. Very underrated fantasy.
The Death of the Necromancer by Martha Wells: Steam fantasy with a Victorian-esque setting. Again, great characters and a unique world make this one a very interesting read. No big surprises at the end, just a solid, well-written book in a genre that can get a bit trite and long-winded at times (and I say that as a fantasy fan).
A Talent for War by Jack McDevitt: This kicks of McDevitt's new series about an archaeologist in the space age. It starts a bit slow, but the central mystery of the plot is very engrossing and the characters grow on you over time. I found myself unable to put it down, forgoing sleep just to find out what was going on.
Already Dead by Charlie Huston: Bit of an urban fantasy/vampire novel to change things up. NOT a book for Twilight fans. Huston's vampires are murderers, liars, gangsters, and world-class manipulators. In other words, their people allowing their vices to rule them. Even the main character, our supposed hero, isn't really a great person. Nice book to read if you're tired of the poetic, sympathetic Anne Rice-style vampires. Huston's vamps are often ugly and mean, even the nicest in the lot.
Warchild by Karin Lowachee: I pimp this book out to everyone and anyone. It's hands-down the best SF to debut in the past 10 years. Very much a deconstruction on the space opera genre. The real strength of the novel's in its characters. They are realistically portrayed, everyone flawed and damaged to some degree. And the antagonistic is the only literary character to make my skin literally crawl and send my heart rate racing. Gritty, dark, pulp science fiction at its best.
The Dark Glory War by Michael A. Stackpole: Nice start to an even better fantasy series. Like Martin's Song of Ice and Fire, the book is a deconstruction on typical epic fantasies. You won't see the end coming, I promise you that much. And the rest of the series is pure gold as well. Very underrated fantasy.
The Death of the Necromancer by Martha Wells: Steam fantasy with a Victorian-esque setting. Again, great characters and a unique world make this one a very interesting read. No big surprises at the end, just a solid, well-written book in a genre that can get a bit trite and long-winded at times (and I say that as a fantasy fan).
A Talent for War by Jack McDevitt: This kicks of McDevitt's new series about an archaeologist in the space age. It starts a bit slow, but the central mystery of the plot is very engrossing and the characters grow on you over time. I found myself unable to put it down, forgoing sleep just to find out what was going on.
Already Dead by Charlie Huston: Bit of an urban fantasy/vampire novel to change things up. NOT a book for Twilight fans. Huston's vampires are murderers, liars, gangsters, and world-class manipulators. In other words, their people allowing their vices to rule them. Even the main character, our supposed hero, isn't really a great person. Nice book to read if you're tired of the poetic, sympathetic Anne Rice-style vampires. Huston's vamps are often ugly and mean, even the nicest in the lot.
The Tales of the Otori:
Across the NightenGale floor
Grass for his pillow
Brillnce of the moon
These three make up the main trilogy with the fourth book Harsh Cry of the Heron being an long Epilouge of sorts to end the series. Forgot to mention that they are a series of books set in a fedual Japan style setting involving warriors, the rights of women,war, allinces and honor. a great series.
Across the NightenGale floor
Grass for his pillow
Brillnce of the moon
These three make up the main trilogy with the fourth book Harsh Cry of the Heron being an long Epilouge of sorts to end the series. Forgot to mention that they are a series of books set in a fedual Japan style setting involving warriors, the rights of women,war, allinces and honor. a great series.
Mortal Engines by Phillip Reeve, brilliantly written and a truely original idea of post-nuclear destruction (as far as i know)
And i agree with the person who is hopefull above me when i post this. Tales of the Otori is a great series of books, well the first three i havent read the last one but I imagine its similar
And i agree with the person who is hopefull above me when i post this. Tales of the Otori is a great series of books, well the first three i havent read the last one but I imagine its similar
try the percy jackson books. they're based on greek mythology so it doesn't fit in much with steampunk but is a great fantasy read.
also one of the greatest fantasies of all time Lord Of The Rings, although some fnd it difficult to get into the books as it is mostly dialogue.
also one of the greatest fantasies of all time Lord Of The Rings, although some fnd it difficult to get into the books as it is mostly dialogue.