Fantasy Reading Reccommendations...

Linus · 04-05-2006, 08:35 PM

I need some new stuff to read. My gaming computer died and I'm saving up for a new one - so I'm looking for good fiction to keep me occupied between working, eating, and frequent masturbatory journies to the depths of the internet.

So, akin to the "Greatest Raid Dungeon" thread - what are everyone's "Must Read" sci-fi/fantasy books? I've read the classics - Heinlein, Asimov, et al - I'd appreciate more modern / slightly unknown authors. When I go to Barnes and Noble all I seem to see are Forgotten Realms books, books that look like fantasy versions of Harlequin novles, a bajillion Harry Potter ripoffs, and Anime.

Please help. What do y'all read?

Edit: Yeah, sorry I posted this in MMO General. I once left this forum and went to screenshots just to explore - and quickly decided I'd only ever post here. FoHSS just makes me feel ... unclean ...

Regime · 04-05-2006, 08:39 PM

Lots of good threads in General.

A Song of Fire and Ice - George R.R. Martin
Dune

peace

Diakonov · 04-05-2006, 08:41 PM

Snow Crash
Cryptonomicon
Diamond Age

Anyen · 04-05-2006, 08:41 PM

Read a real book instead. Learn something.

... · 04-05-2006, 08:45 PM

warhammer 40k novels:

Eisenhorn trilogy
Gaunts ghosts series (its a big series now. the first book is either first and only, or a huge book that combines the first three books called 'the founding').
double eagle

'corse those are mainly recomended if you're a warhammer fan.

Khorum · 04-05-2006, 08:46 PM

If you're into hard sci-fi and new weird in general, I'd highly recommend Alastair Reynolds' Revelation Space series.

He's british and a working physicist, but he writes really dark, brooding almost horror-like (think lovecraft) space opera. Really outstanding stuff if you're into hard science fiction.

The Revelation Space series addresses one of the bigger paradoxes today---namely why the galaxy seems devoid of intelligent life, whilst statistically and scientifically, a 7-billion year old galaxy should be BRIMMING with intelligent life. The whole arc is massive and sweeping with secret societies and time-dilation and nanotech and ancient 2-billion year old wars between cthulhu-like civilizations... good shit.

He's won every british literary award and I believe hes up for the nebula this year.

Madrugan · 04-05-2006, 08:46 PM

Dunno if I'll get trashed, but I loved the Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn Saga by Tad Williams.

Khorum · 04-05-2006, 08:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Madrugan

Dunno if I'll get trashed, but I loved the Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn Saga by Tad Williams.

Why would you get trashed? I loved his War of the Flowers, with the steampunk sidhe world, I kept wishing arcanum felt more like that book.

Deris · 04-05-2006, 08:55 PM

Michael Moorcock - Anything about Elric, anything about Hawkmoon, but generally stick with Elric, the quintissential anti-hero for the ages.

Madrugan · 04-05-2006, 08:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Khorum

Why would you get trashed? I loved his War of the Flowers, with the steampunk sidhe world, I kept wishing arcanum felt more like that book.

I've always considered Tad Williams to be one of the best authors to happen to the fantasy genre in the past 30 years, but talking with fantasy 'geeks' about how good the Saga was got me thrashed. Folks seem to love Eddings/Martin, but I got so much more involved with the Saga. Some of my favorite fantasy characters come from that series (Camaris, Seoman, Morgenes, Josua, to be obvious.)

I was nervous about War of the Flowers, Having read some of Williams' Otherworld series (Couldn't get completely into it). Maybe I'll check into it.

Herroick · 04-05-2006, 08:58 PM

It may be more mainstream then your looking for and you sound like you may have already read it, but if you haven't read Ender's Game (as well as the other books in the Ender Saga) I would strongly recommend them.

I don't like reading that much, but I really, really like those books.

Korbal · 04-05-2006, 08:59 PM

Most of the stuff these guys are posting sucks.

Get either:
a) A Song of Ice and Fire by George R R Martin
or
b) Malazan Book of the Fallen by Steven Erikson

Both are very unique, and very very well written. I'd recommend SoIAF first though, and I can guarantee you won't be disappointed.

Khorum · 04-05-2006, 09:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Madrugan

I've always considered Tad Williams to be one of the best authors to happen to the fantasy genre in the past 30 years, but talking with fantasy 'geeks' about how good the Saga was got me thrashed. Folks seem to love Eddings/Martin, but I got so much more involved with the Saga. Some of my favorite fantasy characters come from that series (Camaris, Seoman, Morgenes, Josua, to be obvious.)

I was nervous about War of the Flowers, Having read some of Williams' Otherworld series (Couldn't get completely into it). Maybe I'll check into it.

That's alright, fantasy's a ghetto today precisely because of readers like those. In a few years the weirdos are gonna slam the genre firmly in the same backwater as the 'romance' novels. Feel bad for the Tolkiens, Phillip K. Dicks and Samuel R. Delaneys who wrote real literature in their time.

War of the Flowers was a great read though... it's pretty demanding about some familiarity with gaelic fae lore, but if you're into the seelie/unseelie sidhe and moorcock-style victorian steampunk, it's a great read.

Darkwave · 04-05-2006, 10:09 PM

George RR Martin - Game of Thrones Series
Terry Goodkind - Sword of Truth Series (awesome)
Various - War of the Spider Queen ( I know FR but its good! )

splok · 04-06-2006, 02:42 AM

I've always liked all of Raymond E. Feist's stuff (with the exception of the three Krondor books). It's pretty easy reading and sometimes gets bashed a little for that, but sometimes some good, fast entertainment is just right. One problem though is once you're caught up, it really sucks waiting forever on the next book, only to tear through it in an afternoon. I recommend reading them a series at a time for maximum enjoyment.

04-05-2006, 08:35 PM	#1 (permalink)
Linus had the chance to ask the world to dance Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Midlothian Posts: 174 +0 Internets	Fantasy Reading Reccommendations... I need some new stuff to read. My gaming computer died and I'm saving up for a new one - so I'm looking for good fiction to keep me occupied between working, eating, and frequent masturbatory journies to the depths of the internet. So, akin to the "Greatest Raid Dungeon" thread - what are everyone's "Must Read" sci-fi/fantasy books? I've read the classics - Heinlein, Asimov, et al - I'd appreciate more modern / slightly unknown authors. When I go to Barnes and Noble all I seem to see are Forgotten Realms books, books that look like fantasy versions of Harlequin novles, a bajillion Harry Potter ripoffs, and Anime. Please help. What do y'all read? Edit: Yeah, sorry I posted this in MMO General. I once left this forum and went to screenshots just to explore - and quickly decided I'd only ever post here. FoHSS just makes me feel ... unclean ... Last edited by Linus : 04-05-2006 at 08:50 PM.

04-05-2006, 08:41 PM	#4 (permalink)
Anyen Registered User Join Date: May 2002 Location: California Posts: 313 -1 Internets	Read a real book instead. Learn something. __________________ Freedom is not free; free men are not equal; equal men are not free; individual rights are inextricably linked with government control.

04-05-2006, 08:59 PM	#12 (permalink)
Korbal edits every post Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Canada Posts: 501 +0 Internets	Most of the stuff these guys are posting sucks. Get either: a) A Song of Ice and Fire by George R R Martin or b) Malazan Book of the Fallen by Steven Erikson Both are very unique, and very very well written. I'd recommend SoIAF first though, and I can guarantee you won't be disappointed. __________________ "And for the record, I've been a Retribution Paladin the entire time I've played WoW."--Glaive

04-05-2006, 10:09 PM	#14 (permalink)
Darkwave Korea Sucks Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: San Antonio Posts: 57 +0 Internets	Books George RR Martin - Game of Thrones Series Terry Goodkind - Sword of Truth Series (awesome) Various - War of the Spider Queen ( I know FR but its good! ) __________________ That which you desire the most will eventually control you.

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04-05-2006, 08:41 PM	#3 (permalink)
Diakonov Registered User Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Mongolia Posts: 289 -1 Internets	Snow Crash Cryptonomicon Diamond Age

04-05-2006, 08:45 PM	#5 (permalink)
... Avatar won't work. Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: ... Posts: 1,729 +0 Internets	warhammer 40k novels: Eisenhorn trilogy Gaunts ghosts series (its a big series now. the first book is either first and only, or a huge book that combines the first three books called 'the founding'). double eagle 'corse those are mainly recomended if you're a warhammer fan.

04-05-2006, 08:46 PM	#6 (permalink)
Khorum Registered User Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Chicago Posts: 3,992 -16 Internets	If you're into hard sci-fi and new weird in general, I'd highly recommend Alastair Reynolds' Revelation Space series. He's british and a working physicist, but he writes really dark, brooding almost horror-like (think lovecraft) space opera. Really outstanding stuff if you're into hard science fiction. The Revelation Space series addresses one of the bigger paradoxes today---namely why the galaxy seems devoid of intelligent life, whilst statistically and scientifically, a 7-billion year old galaxy should be BRIMMING with intelligent life. The whole arc is massive and sweeping with secret societies and time-dilation and nanotech and ancient 2-billion year old wars between cthulhu-like civilizations... good shit. He's won every british literary award and I believe hes up for the nebula this year.

04-05-2006, 08:46 PM	#7 (permalink)
Madrugan Registered User Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Manhattan Posts: 307 -1 Internets	Dunno if I'll get trashed, but I loved the Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn Saga by Tad Williams.

04-05-2006, 08:55 PM	#9 (permalink)
Deris Banned Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Rochester, NY Posts: 1,629 -7 Internets	Michael Moorcock - Anything about Elric, anything about Hawkmoon, but generally stick with Elric, the quintissential anti-hero for the ages.

04-05-2006, 08:58 PM	#11 (permalink)
Herroick Registered User Join Date: Feb 2003 Posts: 19 +0 Internets	It may be more mainstream then your looking for and you sound like you may have already read it, but if you haven't read Ender's Game (as well as the other books in the Ender Saga) I would strongly recommend them. I don't like reading that much, but I really, really like those books.

04-06-2006, 02:42 AM	#15 (permalink)
splok Registered User Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Guildhall Posts: 398 +1 Internets	I've always liked all of Raymond E. Feist's stuff (with the exception of the three Krondor books). It's pretty easy reading and sometimes gets bashed a little for that, but sometimes some good, fast entertainment is just right. One problem though is once you're caught up, it really sucks waiting forever on the next book, only to tear through it in an afternoon. I recommend reading them a series at a time for maximum enjoyment.