What are you reading?

Discussion in 'Geek Cave: Computers, Tablets, HT, Phones, Games' started by OJneg, Sep 30, 2015.

  1. Skyline

    Skyline Double-blindly done with this hobby

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    Nope...it was due back to the library and has a huge wait list. I'll get back to it soon.
     
  2. Syzygy

    Syzygy Friend

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    @LetMeBeFrank

    Earlier series I liked were the Fafhrd and Grey Mouser series by Fritz Leiber, and several of the Moorcock series (Elric of Melniboné comes to mind). Also the Roger Zelazny Chronicles of Amber.

    I also really liked the Chronicles of Cheysuli by Jennifer Roberson, and The Belgariad series by David Eddings.

    Edit:

    Dang, just about forgot the Night Angel Trilogy by Brent Weeks. I thought that was excellent. I haven't made it through his Lightbringer series, which is 4/5 complete.
     
    Last edited: Jan 6, 2019
  3. LetMeBeFrank

    LetMeBeFrank Won't tell anyone my name is actually Francis

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    Thanks for the recommendations, I'll have to check them out. I have read the night angel series and I thought that was great too.
     
  4. bobboxbody

    bobboxbody Friend

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    @LetMeBeFrank

    My favorite competed fantasy series that you haven't already mentioned above:

    The Shadow Campaigns by Django Wexler
    The First Law by Joe Abercrombie
    The Long Price Quartet by Daniel Abraham
    The Chronicle of the Unhewn Throne by Brian Stavely
    Sarantine Mosaic by Guy Gavriel Kay

    All have great characters, Joe Abercrombie's stand out as the most uniquely individual. All the worlds in these series are pretty dark, but the writing and stories are great.
     
  5. TwoEars

    TwoEars Friend

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    Seriously good fantasy, the cover doesn't really do justice to the depth of the overall story or characters. This is a very deep and very serious fantasy series. This is going on my all-time fantasy recommendations list along with all the other big names.

    [​IMG]

    @bobboxbody

    The First Law Trilogy is one of my favorites as well, seriously good. Have you read The Hyperion Cantos by any chance? Another one of my favorites.
     
    Last edited: Jan 7, 2019
  6. Jinxy245

    Jinxy245 Vegan Puss

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    I've always been a sucker for the Shannara series by Terry Brooks if you haven't read that.

    The Fatemarked series by David Estes is a more recent series that has hooked me as well.

    A little different, but I found to be very interesting is the Tales of the Otori by Lian Hearn (starts with"Across the Nightingale Floor")

    And a little more on the YA side, but very well written IMO is the Throne of Glass series by Sarah J. Mass
     
  7. LetMeBeFrank

    LetMeBeFrank Won't tell anyone my name is actually Francis

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    I also really liked The First Law. Mistborn is another favorite as well, I mentioned Sanderson but wasn't specific. I really want to read Stormlight Archive but I won't start until it's finished. He has so many pokers in the fire right now it's insane.

    @bobboxbody thanks for the good suggestions! I'll be checking them out.
     
  8. LetMeBeFrank

    LetMeBeFrank Won't tell anyone my name is actually Francis

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    I actually have the Shannara series but there are so many of them and I'm not sure where to start. Published or chronological order?
     
  9. rott

    rott Secretly hates other millenials - Friend

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    I agree, things were kicked up a notch in books 2 & 3.

    On the lighter side of SF, I have really enjoyed John Scalzi. I finished up the Old Man's War series (skipped book 4) and Redshirts was a fun read.

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
  10. Jinxy245

    Jinxy245 Vegan Puss

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    Published is fine I think, it makes sense that way...you could start with the 1st king, but I wouldn't get too crazy about the chronology.
     
  11. Gemini

    Gemini Facebook Friend

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    [​IMG]

    Just finished this. A bit derivative of his earlier works, but a mediocre Murakami is better than 90% of novelists.


    Next up:

    [​IMG]
     
  12. bobboxbody

    bobboxbody Friend

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    @TwoEars I haven't read it as I don't branch out into sci-fi very often but I'm going to give it a shot. I'm only reading completed series these days while I wait for so many others to be finished. The list is growing shorter so I appreciate the recommendation.
     
  13. TwoEars

    TwoEars Friend

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    @bobboxbody

    Yes, I'm the same. I hate starting a series and then come back to it after 2 years only to have forgotten half the characters. Keeping away from stormlight archive and a few others for this very reason. Actually the same thing with Game of Thrones, haven't read any books yet but planning on once the series is completed.

    Some other sci-fi series which I think fantasy fans might enjoy:

    Dune (could be argued to be fantasy too, maybe it's both)
    Hyperion Cantos
    Foundation

    Fairly big and well known series but you might have missed one or two. Dune and Foundation are fantastic exercises in world building but they can also get a bit long-winded in places, similar to Tolkien but no worse than the Wheel of Time series. I'd probably start with Hyperion Cantos personally, I think it reads a bit more direct. Dune and Foundation reads a bit like Tolkien while Hyperion Cantos reads more like Sanderson.

    Everyone should also read Hitchhiker's Guide to The Galaxy at some point, it's a fun easy read and totally lives up to the hype IMHO.
     
  14. Rustin Cohle

    Rustin Cohle FKA jazztherapist

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  15. LetMeBeFrank

    LetMeBeFrank Won't tell anyone my name is actually Francis

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    I'll be checking those out for sure, really need some more sci fi in my life.

    When I was a kid my dad had the Hitchhiker's Guide box set with 2 vhs tapes and the book in the middle, never got around to reading it but I loved the BBC miniseries. I've also seen Frank Herbert's Dune and Children of Dune, but I didn't read the original books either.
     
  16. captkirk

    captkirk Khan's BFF

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    Definitely read Dune. It's one of a few foundation novels for modern SciFi today, a true space opera. All writers should learn world building from Herbert.

    A few SciFi recommendations:

    Player of Games - Ian M Banks
    Forever War - Joe Haldeman
    A Fire Upon the Deep - Vernor Vinge
    Perdido Street Station - China Mieville
    Neverwhere - Neil Gaiman (Fantasy, actually)
     
    Last edited: Jan 8, 2019
  17. LetMeBeFrank

    LetMeBeFrank Won't tell anyone my name is actually Francis

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    I downloaded a bunch of the books that everyone has suggested but I started with Hyperion Cantos mainly because it was only 4 books and had very positive reviews (one guy mentioned wishing he could erase his entire memory just to experience the series again). Last night I read the prologue and the first very long chapter... holy shit, this book is crazy good so far.

    The priest's story with the cruciform and the Bikura had me completely enraptured. I just couldn't put it down until I finished his chapter.

    Anyway, thanks for the suggestions!
     
  18. Skyline

    Skyline Double-blindly done with this hobby

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  19. OJneg

    OJneg The Most Insufferable

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    I saw the newest Stormlight novel in a bookstore. It feels like so long since I read the first 2 that I might have to reread them. Have you been following that series?
     
  20. OJneg

    OJneg The Most Insufferable

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