Want to recommend a book, or a series of books?

I'm looking for a novel (or possibly some short stories) to read, but I'm not sure where to look. Good fantasy (inc. urban), sci-fi, supernatural, historical, cyberpunk or related fiction would probably be a good bet, though (surprise, surprise for a roleplayer, eh).


In the fairly recent past, I've read American Gods, Perdido Street Station and GRRM up-to-date.

Sounds like I've gone partway through the RPGnet 'required reading list'. . . or something like that. Er, I haven't, at least not intentionally - and I don't think there even is one, either...

Oh, plus some of the Dune books, and a few other things.

...

Does anything leap to mind as the perfect recommendation?


One last thing: I'll give almost anything a try. Something bizarre (or even mainstream ) to suggest? Go ahead!

I can't recommend the Shadow War series enough (Shadow Moon, Shadow Dawn, and Shadow Star) by Chris Claremont with ideas from George Lucas. It's a continuation of Willow, but Claremont fleshes out the world, Elora's part in the post-Bavmorda climate, and Willow becoming the world's foremost sorcerer. The characters are great, the way that Claremont writes magic is great (it does take a little getting used to), and the story is top-notch. I love this series and actually wish they'd continue it, when I prefer most series to end after a time.

After that, I like Stephen King's Dark Tower series. It's weird, wild, and excellent. There are some things that only longtime King readers will pick up on, but it doesn't affect the story for those coming into the series without having read any of his older material.

Kane

Necroscope by Brian Luley. Thriller/Fantasy/Horror mix.

It is saga, but first books are kind of stand alones(there are difrent villains)

Main hero can speak with the death, his enemy in first book is Necromancer that works for Soviet's Union secret service and tortures death for their secrets.

And those books feature Vamphires that would eat Dracula or Angel for breakfast.

Kanegrundar said:

I can't recommend the Shadow War series (Shadow Moon, Shadow Dawn, and Shadow Star) by Chris Claremont with ideas from George Lucas...The characters are great, the way that Claremont writes magic is great (it does take a little getting used to), and the story is top-notch. I love this series and actually wish they'd continue it, when I prefer most series to end after a time.

Kane

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If you like this book so much why can't you recommend it?

Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson is required reason for cyberpunk enthusiasts.

For pure fantasy with excellent portrayal of paladin/clerical powers I would recomment Curse of Chalion and Paladin of Souls by Lois McMaster Bujold.

An author who writes both sci-fi and mainstream stuff is Iain Banks. Try The Wasp Factory, or Complicity. Tends to be darker stuff. Banks writes his sci-fi under the name Iain M. Banks, and the "mainstream" stuff under plain Iain Banks, to give you a point of reference.

Psychic Warrior said:

If you like this book so much why can't you recommend it?

Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson is required reason for cyberpunk enthusiasts.

For pure fantasy with excellent portrayal of paladin/clerical powers I would recomment Curse of Chalion and Paladin of Souls by Lois McMaster Bujold.

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Doh! It should say "enough" after series. I guess I needed another cup of coffee this morning!

Kane

Some of these are "No-Brainers" others are a bit more obscure. Of course, there's tons more that I can't even think of off the top of my head!! Most of these are fantasy/sci-fi, needles to say.

Series:
"Lensman" series- EE Smith
"Chronicles of Amber"- Roger Zelazny
"Book of the New Sun"- Gene Wolfe
"Song of Fire and Ice"- George RR Martin
"Wheel of Time"- Robert Jordan
"Wars of Light and Shadow"- Janny Wurts
"Otherland"- Tad Willimas
"Memory, Sorrow & Thorn"- Tad Willams
"ShadowMarch"- Tad Williams
The "Wraethu" trilogy- Storm Constantine
"Crown of Shadows"- Kate Elliott
"Runelords"- David Farland
"Medalon" series- Jennifer Fallon
"The Obisidian Trilogy"- Mercedes Lackey

Stand-alones:
The "Ring" trilogy (Ring, Spiral, Loop)- Koji Suzuki (The first book was the basis for the movie.) This is a trilogy, but each is also stand-alone.
"A Rumor of Gems"- Ellen Steiber (One of my current favorite novels!!)
"Elantris"- Brad Sanderson
"Battle Royale"- Also a movie, but you need to read the book: quite violent, but very thought-provoking.
"The Demolished Man"- Alfred Bester
"The Screwtape Letters"- CS Lewis

Cool, recommendations already. Thanks!

This is how each of them relates to my experience/thoughts.

I haven't heard of these books at all (so I'll look into them further):the Shadow War series by Chris Claremont; Curse of Chalion and Paladin of Souls by Lois McMaster Bujold; The Wasp Factory, or Complicity by Iain Banks (though I've heard of this author's name); "Crown of Shadows"- Kate Elliott; "Runelords"- David Farland; "Medalon" series- Jennifer Fallon; "A Rumor of Gems"- Ellen Steiber; "Elantris"- Brad Sanderson; "Battle Royale"- Koushun Takami (?); "The Demolished Man"- Alfred Bester.

These have appealed and/or been recommended to me before, and I'd forgotten or just not got around to them yet: Stephen King's Dark Tower series; Necroscope by Brian Lumley; Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson; "Lensman" series- EE Smith; "Book of the New Sun"- Gene Wolfe; "Wheel of Time"- Robert Jordan; "ShadowMarch"- Tad Williams; "The Obisidian Trilogy"- Mercedes Lackey; The "Ring" trilogy (Ring, Spiral, Loop)- Koji Suzuki; "The Screwtape Letters"- CS Lewis.

And these, I've already read: "Chronicles of Amber"- Roger Zelazny; "Song of Fire and Ice"- George RR Martin; "Wars of Light and Shadow"- Janny Wurts; "Otherland"- Tad Williams; "Memory, Sorrow & Thorn"- Tad Willams; The "Wraethu" trilogy- Storm Constantine.

A quick note: I beleive the series by Kate Elliott is actually called "Crown of Stars" not Crown of Shadows. The first book is King's Dragon. It is an excellent series. Book 6 just came out this month (it should be shipping to me right now ). The seventh and final book of this series is due out in the late winter/early spring of 2006. This last book was supposed to be the final one, but by the time she finished, it was too large for a single book, so they split it into two.

Kate Elliott's "Jaran" novels are also quite good, a mix of sci-fi and fantasy.

I'll also recommend Peter Hamilton's trilogy: The Reality Dysfunction , The Neutronium Alchemist and The Naked God

I'll second the Dark Tower books. Love them, love them, love them.

Another series I would recommend is the His Dark Materials books by Philip Pullman. They're technically intended for "young adults", but they're absolutely phenomenal.

And if you're looking for short stories, I'll throw out one of my all-time favorite books - A Fisherman of the Inland Sea by Ursula K. Le Guin.