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Departments => Books => Topic started by: ErikHolmes on April 15, 2009, 08:08:34 AM

Title: All my books are read, Looking for suggestions
Post by: ErikHolmes on April 15, 2009, 08:08:34 AM
Alright, I've finished reading everything on my bookshelf today and now I am looking for something else to read.

I just finished Worldbinder by David Farland, which I really liked.
Last week I read The Hero of Ages, before that I read Tithe and Valiant by Holly Black. (Loved Valiant).
I've recently read the Age of Fire books and Fall with Honor by E. E. Knight.

I've got a few series of books that I haven't finished yet, but then again I am not sure I really want to finish them, they are:

The Merry Gentry Series by Laurell K. Hamilton. I finished Mistral's Kiss. I am a huge fan of all things Fae and Sidhe but the sex is pretty overboard. Not sure if I want to read about any more enchanted, spiritually enlightening, gangbangs.

The Merchant Princes by Charles Stross. I think I finished book two, The Hidden Family and stopped. Anyone know if anything really exciting happens in books 3 or 4?

The Dragonriders of Pern. I think I finished book one and then Well of Ascension came out.

The Thomas Covenant books. A lot of people have told me they are great, I think I got near the end of book two and got bored.

Books that I loved:

The Chronicles of Amber by Roger Zelazny. My all time favorite books.
The Vlad Taltos series by Steven Brust.
The Kingdom of Thorn and Bone by Gregory Keyes.
The Rhapsody series by Elizabeth Haydon (I wish she would put out another one already, is the woman dating George R. R. Martin or something?)
The Ender books.
The Crown of Stars by Kate Elliott
The Farseer books by Robin Hobb.
The Fae Fever series by Karen Moning
Name of the Wind

I just don't know what to start on next. I think I would actually really like something along the lines of Valiant or the Merry Gentry series. I like the Fae, Faerie, Sidhe, Tuatha de Danna, etc. I really loved the Fae in Name of the Wind. I don't mean like Tinkerbell but I really like dark Fae from old folk tales, etc. Anything with that kind of a feel would be awesome.

Any suggestions?  ;D
Title: Re: All my books are read, Looking for suggestions
Post by: Eerongal on April 15, 2009, 12:54:37 PM
well, since it appears you enjoy fantasy novels, I will recommend my favorite. Tales of a dying earth, by jack vance. This book actually has alot of history to it, it inspired many elements of D&D. It also has references in some video games (for example, zork, if you ever played it, grues are from this book.) The first book is just a series of short stories, but the second and third are all about the same guy. You can get them in one large collection, and i HIGHLY recommend it.
Title: Re: All my books are read, Looking for suggestions
Post by: Bookstore Guy on April 15, 2009, 05:20:45 PM
The Dresden Files by Jim Butcher gets into the the whole Fae thing after a book or two. Book 1 is Storm Front.

Raymond E Feist wrote a novel titled Faerie Tale that was decent.

Tad Williams wrote War of the Flowers which I enjoyed.

If you want Dark Fantasy and are willing to go away from all things Fae, then I recommend R Scott Bakker's The Darkness That Comes Before. It isn't an easy read though, and most of the stuff on your list doesn't have much of a steep learning curve.

Steven Erikson is amazing, but his stuff has an INSANE learning curve. Gardens of the Moon is the first book, but it is considered the weakest of the series by far.

Considering some of the authors you seem to be reading, Urban Fantasy seems to be high on your list. I recently met Kat Richardson, and her stuff is getting good reviews. Greywalker is the first novel.

I am expecting my copy of Age of Misrule 1: World's End by Mark Chadbourn, but the description of it has a feel to it that might be to your liking. And the cover is freaking awesome. I just re-read the synopsis, and it seems to be very much in line with your tastes. Book 1 was just released in the US with books 2 and 3 coming in June and July.

Hope it helps. They don't call me Bookstore Guy for nothin...

EDIT: I also forgot that Simon R Green's Nightside series and Secret Histories series go a little Fae at times as well. They are good quick reads.
Title: Re: All my books are read, Looking for suggestions
Post by: ErikHolmes on April 15, 2009, 11:30:30 PM
Thanks for the suggestions. I just ordered World's End off of Amazon.  ;D It sounds like exactly what I am looking for.

I've been meaning to read Faerie Tale, you also just reminded me that I've been wanting to read Little, Big by John Crowley which is supposed to be really good, won the world fantasy award and was nominated for a hugo and nebula.

I keep meaning to read the Dresden Files, my friend really likes them and I even liked the TV show. Are the books better then the Tv show? (Ducks)

I am adding War of Flowers to my list.

I've often thought about starting on the Steven Erikson series but just haven't yet. Just seems like a lot to devote to one series right now.

The Darkness That Comes Before sounds really interesting, I think I will pick that up as well.

I'll have to check out Tales of a dying earth too. Thanks for all of the good suggestions.
Title: Re: All my books are read, Looking for suggestions
Post by: The Jade Knight on April 16, 2009, 06:52:55 AM
You may want to try out "Dune" by Frank Herbert, as well, if you haven't already read it (I'm not sure how much you've ventured out into Sci-Fi).  It's Sci-Fi, but quite good, and contains some fantastical elements.
Title: Re: All my books are read, Looking for suggestions
Post by: Renoard on April 16, 2009, 09:13:48 AM
Little Big by Crowley.  Shelley's original Frankenstein and Stoker's Dracula

I'd suggest some hard scifi like Dragon's Egg by Dr. Foreward and Eon by Greg Bear.

Round it out with some Sci Fantasy, like (if you can get a copy) And the Devil Will Drag You Under and The Four Lord's of the Diamond by Chalker.
Title: Re: All my books are read, Looking for suggestions
Post by: ErikHolmes on April 16, 2009, 09:25:26 AM
Little Big by Crowley. 

Man I hate you. So today when I was ordering books I remember that I really wanted to read Little, Big but I couldn't remember what it was called. I searched online for about 3 hours trying to find the title and finally found it. An hours later, you suggest it.  :P
Title: Re: All my books are read, Looking for suggestions
Post by: Renoard on April 16, 2009, 09:50:54 AM
snicker
Title: Re: All my books are read, Looking for suggestions
Post by: The Jade Knight on April 16, 2009, 11:04:36 AM
I'd recommend against Frankenstein unless you're a glutton for punishment.  That book is terribly tedious, and the questions is asks seem significantly less pertinent today than they were at the time.  Dracula is still good, however.
Title: Re: All my books are read, Looking for suggestions
Post by: Bookstore Guy on April 16, 2009, 03:32:57 PM
Thanks for the suggestions. I just ordered World's End off of Amazon.  ;D It sounds like exactly what I am looking for.

I've been meaning to read Faerie Tale, you also just reminded me that I've been wanting to read Little, Big by John Crowley which is supposed to be really good, won the world fantasy award and was nominated for a hugo and nebula.

I keep meaning to read the Dresden Files, my friend really likes them and I even liked the TV show. Are the books better then the Tv show? (Ducks)

I am adding War of Flowers to my list.

I've often thought about starting on the Steven Erikson series but just haven't yet. Just seems like a lot to devote to one series right now.

The Darkness That Comes Before sounds really interesting, I think I will pick that up as well.

I'll have to check out Tales of a dying earth too. Thanks for all of the good suggestions.

The Dresden novels are better than the TV show - I will admit that I'm a little sad the TV show got canceled since I think it was just beginning to hit it's stride. Of course, it was contending with Supernatural which is of a similar theme.

As for The Darkness That Comes Before, I'll give you the warning I give to everyone: it's really dark. When I say dark, I mean it. If you are easily offended (or not so easily for that matter) you may want to think hard before picking this up. The first book is very heavy with psychology and philosophy, with an ending that is NUTS. The following books get heavier into action.

Erikson does require an investment of time, I'm not gonna lie. The complexity of his series puts nearly all others to shame.
Title: Re: All my books are read, Looking for suggestions
Post by: Patriotic Kaz on April 16, 2009, 04:14:27 PM
Anything by Roger Zelazany (he blends Sci-Fi and Fantasy on an ungodly level has 6 Hugo's and 3 Nebula's) is good and most classic Sci-Fi such as Dune and Foundation
Title: Re: All my books are read, Looking for suggestions
Post by: ErikHolmes on April 16, 2009, 07:22:43 PM
As for The Darkness That Comes Before, I'll give you the warning I give to everyone: it's really dark. When I say dark, I mean it. If you are easily offended (or not so easily for that matter) you may want to think hard before picking this up. The first book is very heavy with psychology and philosophy, with an ending that is NUTS. The following books get heavier into action.

Erikson does require an investment of time, I'm not gonna lie. The complexity of his series puts nearly all others to shame.

Now you've got me wanting to read The Darkness That Comes Before even more. I don't mind dark, few things in fiction bother me. (About the only thing I've ever stopped reading because of content was the Merry Gentry books, even though the setting, story and characters were cool, I got sick of reading about gang bangs that lasted 4 chapters. . . and I still might go back and finish them dammit).

I'm kind of curious what you mean by complexity, just keeping track of plots, characters and who's doing what? Is there anything that you could compare it to?

I've actually thought about starting on them for a while now but I've been kind of jumping from novel to novel lately, trying new things. I've also been looking mainly for things involving the Sidhe and Fae since they are important in the book I am working on. I'd love to find something featuring Scandinavian type Trolls, not the big dumb hairy ones, but the magical faerie type ones. So far the only book featuring one I've found is Holly Black's Valiant (which I recommend to anyone, I really liked it. I've heard a rumor that they are making a movie out of it). 

(Nevermind, I just looked it up and they ARE making Valiant into a movie, MTV is doing it and it comes out next year).

Anything by Roger Zelazany (he blends Sci-Fi and Fantasy on an ungodly level has 6 Hugo's and 3 Nebula's) is good and most classic Sci-Fi such as Dune and Foundation

RZ is my favorite Author. If I was smart I would just go and read anything of this that I haven't read yet. LOL, I was actually reading chapter one of Nine Prince in Amber before I posted this, just to compare how he started out his book to how I am starting out mine.

I should also mention that the list I gave above is just what I've read in about the last six months. I've read a ton of other stuff. A lot of people suggested Dune and I've read some of that series (my buddy got me to read God Emperor of Dune first, then I went back and read books one and two I think, I stopped on the one about the Duncan clones).

Title: Re: All my books are read, Looking for suggestions
Post by: Bookstore Guy on April 16, 2009, 09:28:02 PM
Erikson has more happen in a single novel than most people have happen in entire series. Martin is absurdly simple by comparison, as is everything done by Jordan (which most people consider the more "complex" and "involved" series). There really isn't much out there that is comparable to Erikson. Scott Lynch (who is awesome) gets some of the humor that Erikson manages to put in there, and Joe Abercrombie (who is awesome) gets some of the grittiness that Erikson has.

Glen Cook (who is awesome) told me that reading Erikson is like seeing the movie Platoon for the first time - the brutal reality of it all mixed with people who become larger than life. My personal opinion is that while Cook is like Platoon in a fantasy setting, Erikson is like Platoon on every steroid known to man in a fantasy setting mixed with all of the social and political gears of intrigue. Book 1 is confusing. Book 2 (especially the end) makes you think that Erikson is pretty good. Book 3 makes you wonder why you hadn't started the series years ago.

And Erikson helped get R Scott Bakker (who is more than awesome) published. That's how I discovered Bakker. To me, after I read those two, I feel like the guy who just had the most awesome Porterhouse steak who is then forced to going back to the 4.99 special at Dennys.
Title: Re: All my books are read, Looking for suggestions
Post by: ErikHolmes on April 16, 2009, 09:36:56 PM
Erikson has more happen in a single novel than most people have happen in entire series. Martin is absurdly simple by comparison, as is everything done by Jordan (which most people consider the more "complex" and "involved" series). There really isn't much out there that is comparable to Erikson. Scott Lynch (who is awesome) gets some of the humor that Erikson manages to put in there, and Joe Abercrombie (who is awesome) gets some of the grittiness that Erikson has.

Glen Cook (who is awesome) told me that reading Erikson is like seeing the movie Platoon for the first time - the brutal reality of it all mixed with people who become larger than life. My personal opinion is that while Cook is like Platoon in a fantasy setting, Erikson is like Platoon on every steroid known to man in a fantasy setting mixed with all of the social and political gears of intrigue. Book 1 is confusing. Book 2 (especially the end) makes you think that Erikson is pretty good. Book 3 makes you wonder why you hadn't started the series years ago.

And Erikson helped get R Scott Bakker (who is more than awesome) published. That's how I discovered Bakker. To me, after I read those two, I feel like the guy who just had the most awesome Porterhouse steak who is then forced to going back to the 4.99 special at Dennys.

So . . . you're saying I should take the time to try these Malazan books?   ;D
Title: Re: All my books are read, Looking for suggestions
Post by: Bookstore Guy on April 16, 2009, 09:42:48 PM
if you have time sure. However. if you are like myself and my good friend, you like your covers and editions to match. if you are this way, i may suggest either importing them from England (a tad expensive, but then you could grab a copy of Dan Wells' I AM NOT A SERIAL KILLER as a bonus) or wait till May and pick up the better covered trade paperback:

http://www.amazon.com/Gardens-Moon-Malazan-Book-Fallen/dp/0765322889/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1239914478&sr=1-4

The US covers (minus book 2) are terribad. seriously. this new edition of the US book looks much better.
Title: Re: All my books are read, Looking for suggestions
Post by: Renoard on April 17, 2009, 01:15:14 AM
Since we're on the cusp of designer genes and tailored clones, Frankenstein seems pretty pertinent.
Title: Re: All my books are read, Looking for suggestions
Post by: RavenstarRHJF on April 17, 2009, 01:37:23 AM
Ok, don't be put off by the fact that this is YA... but you asked for Scandinavian Trolls done well, and East by Edith Pattou (I think) fits the bill.  It's not dark, but it's not all rainbows and light either.  If nothing else, pick up the book and at least scan the sections that describe the trolls and their society.
Title: Re: All my books are read, Looking for suggestions
Post by: The Jade Knight on April 17, 2009, 06:40:58 AM
Is The Darkness that Comes Before the first book of the Prince of Nothing series?  If so, then I can firmly say I did not appreciate it one whit.  If you are interested in setting, and setting only, it may prove fascinating: the author does a decent job in inventing a new, moderately rich, interesting setting.  However, the plot is weak (driven primarily by sex and violence—if this is your thing, it may work for you), and the philosophy in it is particularly poor, IMO.

Now, if you really enjoyed the later books of the Sword of Truth series, there's a decent chance you'll enjoy the Prince of Nothing.  In my case, I found it less than satisfying.

Edit:  I'm going to add that his "conlanging" for the book is quite superficial—it's a naming language, only.
Title: Re: All my books are read, Looking for suggestions
Post by: ErikHolmes on April 17, 2009, 06:43:44 AM
Ok, don't be put off by the fact that this is YA... but you asked for Scandinavian Trolls done well, and East by Edith Pattou (I think) fits the bill.  It's not dark, but it's not all rainbows and light either.  If nothing else, pick up the book and at least scan the sections that describe the trolls and their society.

Sold. I've actually read the story that it is based on, its an old fairy tale that I think I first read about in one of Andrew Lang's Fairy books.
Title: Re: All my books are read, Looking for suggestions
Post by: Bookstore Guy on April 17, 2009, 03:43:32 PM
Is The Darkness that Comes Before the first book of the Prince of Nothing series?  If so, then I can firmly say I did not appreciate it one whit.  If you are interested in setting, and setting only, it may prove fascinating: the author does a decent job in inventing a new, moderately rich, interesting setting.  However, the plot is weak (driven primarily by sex and violence—if this is your thing, it may work for you), and the philosophy in it is particularly poor, IMO.

Now, if you really enjoyed the later books of the Sword of Truth series, there's a decent chance you'll enjoy the Prince of Nothing.  In my case, I found it less than satisfying.

Edit:  I'm going to add that his "conlanging" for the book is quite superficial—it's a naming language, only.

Im going to disagree with you. It isn't driven by sex and violence. Those themes are there (though not really in terms of violence - it isn't super violent at all), but the main themes revolve around manipulation and its varied forms. The plot isn't weak at all, especially considering where it goes over the course of the following two books. However, it IS a darker toned series. For many people it is too dark, which is why I always warn people before they read it. Also, it is nothing like Terry Goodkind. Most people who dig R Scott Bakker tend to end up anti-Goodkind. Terry Goodkind isn't dark in the least, and his plots revolve around blind luck to resolve the conflicts.
Title: Re: All my books are read, Looking for suggestions
Post by: Patriotic Kaz on April 17, 2009, 05:13:57 PM
Ok while certain parts of WoT do drag you can't say that any book other than a holy book has more happen than the entire series.

PS you may want to watch the way you phrase things our wild fans may come after you :P
Title: Re: All my books are read, Looking for suggestions
Post by: WriterDan on April 17, 2009, 05:49:19 PM
I can pretty much mirror just about everything that BookstoreGuy has said.

Darkness that Comes Before is awesome.  (As are the rest of the books in the continuing series)

Thus, it follows that I am anti-Terry Goodkind.  Vehemently.

Malazan is incredibly complex (although, he's still trying to convince me to read them.  Only made it through book 2 part-way for the second time last year, and just this morning was contemplating a THIRD try at it...)

Abercrombie and Lynch are really quite good.

For my own two cents, I've also REALLY enjoyed KJ Parker.  She's a keeper.  Although, not much Fae in her stuff.  Sorry.  :)
Title: Re: All my books are read, Looking for suggestions
Post by: Sigyn on April 17, 2009, 06:28:31 PM
My problem with East was that I thought the original fairy tail was done better than the book.  Anyway, if you don't mind "girl" books and want to read about Faerie, I would suggest:

Fire and Hemlock by Diana Wynne Jones
Snow White and Rose Red by Patricia C. Wrede
Midnight Never Come by Marie Brennan
Winter Rose and Solstice Wood by Patricia McKillip
Wildwood Dancing by Juliet Marillier

Only the first one of these is in a modern setting.

Also, the third book in the Mercy Thompson Series by Patricia Briggs deals a lot with the Fae.  The first book is Moon Called and the third is Iron Kissed.  Depending on your tolerance for content, I would also recommend Tinker by Wen Spencer.  I loved the setting for this one: the Chinese build a wormhole gate which whenever it is on makes Pittsburgh on the opposite side of the world transfer into an alternate dimension where the Fae rule.

For authors in general, I second (or third or fourth?) the support for Erikson.  I also recommend Glen Cook, Jasper Fforde, Naomi Novik, Terry Pratchett, Karl Schroeder (he's sci-fi), Martha Wells, Michelle West, Liz Williams, and Walter Jon Williams.
Title: Re: All my books are read, Looking for suggestions
Post by: Bookstore Guy on April 17, 2009, 06:53:35 PM
Ok while certain parts of WoT do drag you can't say that any book other than a holy book has more happen than the entire series.

PS you may want to watch the way you phrase things our wild fans may come after you :P

Sure I can. More happens in the first 3 Erikson novels than in the whole WoT series so far. Not to mention the characters are far more colorful. When you add the 5 other Erikson novels published to the first 3, and the 3 short stories, and the 2 novels by his friend, I can safely say that MUCH more has happened. I also have more attachment to the characters and the world Erikson created because his characters are amazing, and they are in real danger of dying (which many do). I find it impossible to worry about characters in WoT, because none of them are in any real danger of coming to harm.

Now you know why I love Erikson. Characters and situations are colored in varied shades of gray. Characters solve problems through intelligence and skill rather than blindly lucking into the solution (a fate that plagues several series). Incredible.
Title: Re: All my books are read, Looking for suggestions
Post by: Peter Ahlstrom on April 17, 2009, 07:18:07 PM
Er, I found the end to Gardens of the Moon to be very much deus ex machina. That tree thing really came out of nowhere and looked like blind luck to me. Are you saying the books after that instead have endings that come from the characters' intelligence and skill?

Or if the tree thing was a magical way of solving the problem that was implemented by one of the characters, Sanderson's First Law comes into play—I didn't understand it at all, so it might as well have been deus ex machina.
Title: Re: All my books are read, Looking for suggestions
Post by: Eerongal on April 17, 2009, 07:34:34 PM
Er, I found the end to Gardens of the Moon to be very much deus ex machina. That tree thing really came out of nowhere and looked like blind luck to me. Are you saying the books after that instead have endings that come from the characters' intelligence and skill?

Or if the tree thing was a magical way of solving the problem that was implemented by one of the characters, Sanderson's First Law comes into play—I didn't understand it at all, so it might as well have been deus ex machina.

Or the part where Paran arrived in Genabackis to take command. That was very much so blind luck.

I only got about 3/4ths of the way through that book, and quit because i found it rather boring, and the characters seemed kinda bland to me. I found myself not caring about them, and just waiting for the book to end.  Eventually I was just like "Ya know what, I don't care how it ends, so I'm gonna stop now".

Also, I don't mind things being a complex and intricate system, as long as the author doesnt shove it in your face with no explanation on anything. Maybe they explain some of the things later on, like intricacies of the magic system, and what not, but I think it's poor form writing wise to just put something out there with no explanation, and just assume the readers will catch on.  The book just jumps straight into its environment and systems of functioning with no explanation, or real hints to how things work, and assume you'll figure out. That being said, though, you can tell that his setting is very rich and well thought out, just from what I read.  It has a lot of meat to it, it just offers no explanations of why things are the way they are, and how they work.
Title: Re: All my books are read, Looking for suggestions
Post by: Bookstore Guy on April 17, 2009, 07:55:00 PM
it becomes clearer as you read more, and it isn't Deus Ex (tree is pretty important).  he has a habit of explaining things after the fact. i do admit that the first book if by far the weakest of them all (others might feel differently). erikson designed the books so that on subsequent read-throughs you get more out of the books. i personally love it that way - after reading the first or 4 books, you could go back and read the first one and enjoy it more because different things jump out at you. I like having to think about what I'm reading and working to pick out the clues that have been left. It isn't for everyone by any means, but i think a person should read the first 3 before they judge one way or another. I personally feel the style he uses is refreshing where so many fantasy novels plod along in cliches and predictability.
Title: Re: All my books are read, Looking for suggestions
Post by: Patriotic Kaz on April 17, 2009, 07:55:54 PM
@bookstore guy i meant singular book as that was what you phrased earlier
Title: Re: All my books are read, Looking for suggestions
Post by: Eerongal on April 17, 2009, 08:00:19 PM
it becomes clearer as you read more, and it isn't Deus Ex (tree is pretty important).  he has a habit of explaining things after the fact. i do admit that the first book if by far the weakest of them all (others might feel differently). erikson designed the books so that on subsequent read-throughs you get more out of the books. i personally love it that way - after reading the first or 4 books, you could go back and read the first one and enjoy it more because different things jump out at you. I like having to think about what I'm reading and working to pick out the clues that have been left. It isn't for everyone by any means, but i think a person should read the first 3 before they judge one way or another. I personally feel the style he uses is refreshing where so many fantasy novels plod along in cliches and predictability.

Right, by no means am I inferring that Erikson's books are bad, just that from what I've seen so far from the first one, it's not my style. I personally prefer things to build slowly together into a beautiful tapestry of complexity, and not start at full throttle and have it broken down much later. Which is probably related to the fact that I'm a programmer, Everything slowly builds upon itself to make the final product :P
Title: Re: All my books are read, Looking for suggestions
Post by: Bookstore Guy on April 17, 2009, 08:08:40 PM
it becomes clearer as you read more, and it isn't Deus Ex (tree is pretty important).  he has a habit of explaining things after the fact. i do admit that the first book if by far the weakest of them all (others might feel differently). erikson designed the books so that on subsequent read-throughs you get more out of the books. i personally love it that way - after reading the first or 4 books, you could go back and read the first one and enjoy it more because different things jump out at you. I like having to think about what I'm reading and working to pick out the clues that have been left. It isn't for everyone by any means, but i think a person should read the first 3 before they judge one way or another. I personally feel the style he uses is refreshing where so many fantasy novels plod along in cliches and predictability.

Right, by no means am I inferring that Erikson's books are bad, just that from what I've seen so far from the first one, it's not my style. I personally prefer things to build slowly together into a beautiful tapestry of complexity, and not start at full throttle and have it broken down much later. Which is probably related to the fact that I'm a programmer, Everything slowly builds upon itself to make the final product :P

makes sense. the first Erikson (bear with me here - i am programming ignorant) is like being thrown into line 200 of 1000 lines of code - you feel like you missed a bunch and you wonder how on earth you got here.

@bookstore guy i meant singular book as that was what you phrased earlier

not quite sure what you mean. you asked me to find something that compared to the complexity of the full WoT series, so I did. did you mean you wanted me to find 1 single book that has more happen in it than the full WoT series? that's rather silly, and i'm not sure what it proves one way or another.
Title: Re: All my books are read, Looking for suggestions
Post by: Renoard on April 18, 2009, 12:35:41 AM
I think as much happens in the full Belgariad.  In some ways I think the Belgariad is WoT told from the Seanchan perspective.  Though perhaps a bit earlier or later in the rotation of the wheel.  Of course, Eddings is not quite as good as Rigney when it comes to all the color elements.
Title: Re: All my books are read, Looking for suggestions
Post by: Peter Ahlstrom on April 18, 2009, 06:06:19 AM
I'll probably get around to more Erikson eventually, but probably only the same way I got past the first Wheel of Time book—through boredom a few years later and not particularly having anything else to read. Having audio books available helps, so I do hope there are someday some, since such I'm-bored-reading is best done while doing mindless time-consuming work on something else. The first book just didn't convince me to read the second one.

I just reserved the S.M. Stirling books Island in the Sea of Time, Dies the Fire, and Conquistator at the library. I saw a sequel to Dies the Fire on the shelf and it sounded interesting, so I read up a little on his books. I saw Stirling on an alternate history panel at Worldcon and he was great, so I'm hoping the books are enjoyable. I have read one Stirling book before, his first Engineer book with James Doohan (I assume Doohan wrote almost none of it), and it was decent except that I found the religious nutjob villains to be completely flat. (If it was the book I'm thinking of.)
Title: Re: All my books are read, Looking for suggestions
Post by: Bookstore Guy on April 20, 2009, 02:30:47 PM
audio erikson would make me very happy.

i saw Stirling on a few panels there, and i wasn't impressed. there was a panel on military in F & SF that made me lose interest in his books. he wouldn't address any of the questions people asked, and he insisted on interrupting Glen Cook (who WAS trying to answer questions).
Title: Re: All my books are read, Looking for suggestions
Post by: Patriotic Kaz on April 20, 2009, 07:21:58 PM
Am i alone in the world where as i dislike audio books...
Title: Re: All my books are read, Looking for suggestions
Post by: Bookstore Guy on April 20, 2009, 09:16:42 PM
I was driving ~80 miles a day (until this week, i now only drive 15ish), and audio books kept me awake much easier than music. plus it was a good way to keep up on reading during wasted time (2-3 hours of driving a day). actually listening to books made me appreciate the descriptiveness of Martin even more, as well as the humor of Pratchett.
Title: Re: All my books are read, Looking for suggestions
Post by: Renoard on April 20, 2009, 09:51:05 PM
Audio books are okay, as long as the actors are good.  They are no substitute for a good read, but they are a different media.  I like old NBC radio sitcoms too.  Audio only is a good format when you want a change of pace.
Title: Re: All my books are read, Looking for suggestions
Post by: Patriotic Kaz on April 20, 2009, 10:46:41 PM
I like audio acting i mean even with the religious BS in The Adventures of Odyssey i still don't mind listening to it. And yes i know that show is designed for kids...
Title: Re: All my books are read, Looking for suggestions
Post by: Peter Ahlstrom on April 21, 2009, 07:05:04 AM
Some audiobook readers are better than others. Some add to the experience, and some have to be overcome by the strength of the material.
Title: Re: All my books are read, Looking for suggestions
Post by: ErikHolmes on April 21, 2009, 07:41:28 AM
The Chronicles of Amber, read by Roger Zelazny Audiobooks -- FTW.   ;D
Title: Re: All my books are read, Looking for suggestions
Post by: Renoard on April 21, 2009, 07:52:04 AM
I was disappointed he never really delved into the worlds of Corwin's Pattern.
Title: Re: All my books are read, Looking for suggestions
Post by: ErikHolmes on April 21, 2009, 08:59:49 AM
Sadly, I don't think that he ever had time. He was dying of cancer and knew it, but didn't tell a lot of people about it. I've read that he had planned to do a third series of Amber books.

I remember reading a story about how he had been gaming with George R. R. Martin, Walter Jon Williams, Jane Lindskold, and at one point they asked him what his character was doing and his reply was incoherent. They stopped the game, thinking he was just tired (they all knew he had a kidney infection but not that it was a complication of chemotherapy).

The next day he was dying in a hospital bed, the day after that he had died. From what I've read few people knew he was anywhere near that sick. They all thought he was fine enough to play some GURPS anyway.
Title: Re: All my books are read, Looking for suggestions
Post by: Patriotic Kaz on April 21, 2009, 08:22:36 PM
Merlin's half wasn't nearly as good as Corwin's and yes i would have loved to know exatcly how the traid of the Logus Vs. Dworkins Pattern Vs. Corwins Pattern played out...
Title: Re: All my books are read, Looking for suggestions
Post by: Pink Bunkadoo on April 26, 2009, 04:33:56 AM
The Merchant Princes by Charles Stross. I think I finished book two, The Hidden Family and stopped. Anyone know if anything really exciting happens in books 3 or 4?

Book 3 drags a lot in the middle.  There's a big section where Miriam is imprisoned in her room, and it's about as boring for us as it is for her.  Interesting things do happen in 4, but it's not exactly moving briskly toward a conclusion.  I expect I'll keep reading, though, just to find out what happens.
Title: Re: All my books are read, Looking for suggestions
Post by: Patriotic Kaz on April 28, 2009, 09:10:03 PM
My birthday is almost here and my parents are buying me about 20 books...half are reserved for Heinlein, i'm getting American gods, some Niven, a few Harlan Ellison, and i want to try out Erikson what book of his should i read first...
Title: Re: All my books are read, Looking for suggestions
Post by: Renoard on April 28, 2009, 09:16:34 PM
Gardens of the Moon
Title: Re: All my books are read, Looking for suggestions
Post by: Bookstore Guy on April 28, 2009, 11:36:18 PM
yup. Gardens of the Moon. The next two in the series are:

Deadhouse Gates
Memories of Ice

I recommend reading those 3 before deciding whether you love it or hate it.
Title: Re: All my books are read, Looking for suggestions
Post by: ErikHolmes on April 29, 2009, 01:02:27 AM
I've ordered most of the books people suggested for me. Right now I am reading East and enjoying it. It's for younger readers but its still good and has some interesting ideas.

It's been really helpful for my book, I looked up a few of the terms used in the book and it led me to things I can use for mine. I like the Trolls in the book.   ;D
Title: Re: All my books are read, Looking for suggestions
Post by: Patriotic Kaz on May 07, 2009, 09:03:34 PM
I recently purchased books 1-3 of the Malazan books, The Moon is a Harsh Mistress, Double Star, Ringworld Throne and Ringworld Children, American Gods, & Illustrated Man over amazon....because I am cheap i selected super saver shipping so i still have 5-7 business days to wait for their arrival
Title: Re: All my books are read, Looking for suggestions
Post by: Peter Ahlstrom on May 07, 2009, 09:41:01 PM
Double Star is the first non-Star Trek adult science fiction book my sister read to me when I was little. I have fond memories.
Title: Re: All my books are read, Looking for suggestions
Post by: readerMom on May 08, 2009, 01:41:35 AM
I love Moon is a Harsh Mistress, its my favorite Heinlein. Looks like a great selection. How much self-control do you have when you get new books? 
My husband knows not to expect much of me for a day or two after a "big" new book comes out.
Title: Re: All my books are read, Looking for suggestions
Post by: Renoard on May 08, 2009, 02:14:43 AM
A Door into Summer is a good compliment to Moon is a Harsh Mistress.
Title: Re: All my books are read, Looking for suggestions
Post by: Patriotic Kaz on May 08, 2009, 05:00:31 PM
Depends on the time period...some times i'll read eat sleep and thats it sometimes i read only about 1 hour a day
Title: Re: All my books are read, Looking for suggestions
Post by: Bookstore Guy on May 08, 2009, 05:07:31 PM
American Gods is great most of the time. There were a few short-stories spliced in throughout the book that were a tad too explicit for me (which says something since I like Bakker a lot).
Title: Re: All my books are read, Looking for suggestions
Post by: Patriotic Kaz on May 08, 2009, 07:52:07 PM
It won a Hugo in 2002 (i think that was the year atleast) so i thought i would give it a try
Title: Re: All my books are read, Looking for suggestions
Post by: Bookstore Guy on May 08, 2009, 08:01:13 PM
Like I said, 99% of it is excellent (imo). There were just 2 scenes (short stories really) that were oddly integrated in the novel that I felt went too far for shock value.
Title: Re: All my books are read, Looking for suggestions
Post by: Peter Ahlstrom on May 08, 2009, 09:37:36 PM
I stopped reading the book when some guy got sucked up inside a woman. At that point there wasn't anything that was interesting me, so I just closed it.
Title: Re: All my books are read, Looking for suggestions
Post by: ErikHolmes on May 08, 2009, 11:18:23 PM
I stopped reading the book when some guy got sucked up inside a woman. At that point there wasn't anything that was interesting me, so I just closed it.

LMAO, ya, I almost stopped at that point too.  (But I finished it).   ;D

I actually liked the Short Story that takes place after American Gods better then American Gods, its called The Monarch of the Glen. I probably liked it because it deals with my favorite creatures my mythology, the Huldra, a type of Troll from Scandinavia. It also deals with the Beowulf myth as well. It was a nice, fast read.
Title: Re: All my books are read, Looking for suggestions
Post by: Patriotic Kaz on May 09, 2009, 07:37:50 PM
My books are est. to get here the 13th...and i was applying at the mall so i stopped by Barnes and Noble and read the first 60 pages of Gardens of the Moon and its starts off slow but is well written..i expect i will enjoy the series tremendously
Title: Re: All my books are read, Looking for suggestions
Post by: PW on June 04, 2009, 10:36:53 PM
I will echo the recommendations for The Prince of Nothing.  I just finished the series and enjoyed it very much.  I will add that Bakker's prose is striking.  It has a literary quality not normally found in high fantasy.  The first self-contained trilogy is available in paperback, though the saga does pick up 20 years later in The Judging Eye.  I have not read that one yet.  Bakker has become one of my two favorite fantasy authors writing now.
Title: Re: All my books are read, Looking for suggestions
Post by: Renoard on June 04, 2009, 11:12:15 PM
Have you read Dickens?
Title: Re: All my books are read, Looking for suggestions
Post by: PW on June 04, 2009, 11:20:52 PM
Not yet.
Title: Re: All my books are read, Looking for suggestions
Post by: Shaggy on July 17, 2009, 03:44:44 AM
The Name of the Wind (Patrick Rothfuss)

The Westing Game (Ellen Raskin)

The Amulet of Samarkand (Jonathan Stroud)
Title: Re: All my books are read, Looking for suggestions
Post by: mtbikemom on August 15, 2009, 04:53:19 PM
Ooh, I loved the Westing Game!  I've read that to two batches of kids so far.

Anything by Carol Berg (violent but otherwise clean)

 Terry Pratchett's Tiffany Aching books beginning with The Wee Free Men.  I think these are better than his usual, which are fun.  Don't skip all YA books because they are meant for kids.  There are some gems to be found and this is one, IMO.

Little Britches by Ralph Moody (an American classic neglected by most public schools)

You've probably already read Ender's Game by Card (I just read it for the first time), but have you read The Foundation Trilogy by Asimov?  OS Card said once that writers should note Asimov's unobtrusive, clean writing style in the midst of a great story and this is a sci-fi classic.

I think I'll try Bakker next, myself.  Sounds good!
Title: Re: All my books are read, Looking for suggestions
Post by: ErikHolmes on August 15, 2009, 08:06:37 PM
I recently started reading the Dresden Files and can't put them down. I really think Butcher is one of the best authors out there. He might do tension and hooks better then anyone I've read.

Not to mention:

EVIL FAERIE QUEEN IS ABOUT TO DESTROY THE WORLD
Dresden runs up, snatches the magic whatsit she needs. Yells, "Meep! Meep!" and runs like hell.

Classic.

Title: Re: All my books are read, Looking for suggestions
Post by: Bookstore Guy on August 17, 2009, 04:50:42 AM
mtbkmom - careful with Bakker. After reading your other post, i dont know that it's for you. Read our review of his stuff on the blog I linked. I think it is too much for you in the sex department.

Erik - consider stopping Dresden Files after book 9. We reviewed book 11, and we don't know that the series will recover from it. If it does, great, but books 10 and 11 were very poor. You can read the review without it spoiling too much. It made us sad, cause we loved 1-9 (especially 7 & 8).
Title: Re: All my books are read, Looking for suggestions
Post by: ErikHolmes on August 17, 2009, 05:55:13 AM
Erik - consider stopping Dresden Files after book 9. We reviewed book 11, and we don't know that the series will recover from it. If it does, great, but books 10 and 11 were very poor. You can read the review without it spoiling too much. It made us sad, cause we loved 1-9 (especially 7 & 8).

Damn, that sucks. I haven't enjoyed a series as much as the Dresden Files since reading the Amber books. Then again, 9 books of goodness is a pretty good streak.  :D
Title: Re: All my books are read, Looking for suggestions
Post by: mtbikemom on August 17, 2009, 07:08:25 AM
mtbkmom - careful with Bakker. After reading your other post, i dont know that it's for you. Read our review of his stuff on the blog I linked. I think it is too much for you in the sex department.

Thanks, BSG.  I had just re-read some earlier posts on this thread about Bakker and came to the same conclusion.  I plan to spend much time on your review website/blog and I'll probably plug it heavily on the thread I started.  You sound like you are sensitive to some of the themes I'd like to avoid and a review site such as yours will be valuable to me and many of my FB friends. 
Title: Re: All my books are read, Looking for suggestions
Post by: Bookstore Guy on August 17, 2009, 03:50:59 PM
No worries! Also keep in mind that we do take requests. Many of the books Nick and I read and enjoy are of a more mature content level, but we realize that readers need a variety recommended to them. We'll do our best, and if nothing else, you can laugh while we bash certain authors.
Title: Re: All my books are read, Looking for suggestions
Post by: JCHancey on August 25, 2009, 06:10:17 PM
I don't know if someone already recommended this but oh well, my friend and I are trying to spread the word about Glen Cook. Pick up the Chronicles of the Black Company (contains the Black Company, Shadow Games, The White Rose). Oh my god I cannot express how amazing this book series is. 10 books long and is being re-released by Night Shade Books with WICKED AWESOME covers. It will probably be like nothing you've ever read, and is very gritty, presenting the soldiers view rather than some epic hero.
Title: Re: All my books are read, Looking for suggestions
Post by: Bookstore Guy on August 25, 2009, 06:50:14 PM
I don't know if someone already recommended this but oh well, my friend and I are trying to spread the word about Glen Cook. Pick up the Chronicles of the Black Company (contains the Black Company, Shadow Games, The White Rose). Oh my god I cannot express how amazing this book series is. 10 books long and is being re-released by Night Shade Books with WICKED AWESOME covers. It will probably be like nothing you've ever read, and is very gritty, presenting the soldiers view rather than some epic hero.

Except the BLACK COMPANY stuff is being released by Tor. The covers are by Raymond Swanland. Nick and I met and chatted with Cook last year, and he is indeed full of awesome. His DREAD EMPIRE series is being pushed though Nightshade, as well as some stand-alone novels.

For those of you who haven't read Cook, he took fantasy into the 1st Person Narrative and brought it to the "trenches." He is often referred to as a simpler Steven Erikson. In fact, Erikson said this about Cook. "Reading his stuff was like reading Vietnam War fiction on peyote."

We will be mentioning THE BLACK COMPANY on or review blog next week (or maybe the week after). We've been pushing Cook for a long time, glad you jumped on board Jakobus.
Title: Re: All my books are read, Looking for suggestions
Post by: Sigyn on August 25, 2009, 07:57:04 PM
I'll jump on board for Cook too. I've only read the Black Company and Sweet Silver Blues (a Garrett book), but I've really enjoyed them. In fact, I've enjoyed them so much that I now own eighteen more books by him, waiting in my book queue.
Title: Re: All my books are read, Looking for suggestions
Post by: ErikHolmes on August 25, 2009, 11:01:17 PM
I need to try Black Company again. I started it and just couldn't get through it. But people that I always agree with have told me it rocks too. I think I just need to give it another try.
Title: Re: All my books are read, Looking for suggestions
Post by: Bookstore Guy on August 25, 2009, 11:45:19 PM
It starts good, has some slow moments, but then gets going again (the series that is). It's good, 1st person, military fantasy. And considering how awesome of a person Cook himself is, you are required to like his stuff. :P
Title: Re: All my books are read, Looking for suggestions
Post by: JCHancey on August 26, 2009, 12:05:11 AM
Thanks for correcting me :)
I had Swordbearer on hand and that's one being re-released by Night Shade, so I assumed, which I should never do. The Black Company is amazing, you won't regret reading them.
Title: Re: All my books are read, Looking for suggestions
Post by: Erid on September 25, 2009, 02:43:32 PM
Hi Erik, not sure if you are still reading this thread but if you're still interested in the whole fae subject you might want to check out Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke.  It is a huge book and starts a little slow but it is great, very unique story telling, I loved it.
Title: Re: All my books are read, Looking for suggestions
Post by: Renoard on December 06, 2009, 09:52:05 PM
I felt like Black Company was just unfinished. Not unpolished, I just felt like the story didn't have a conclusion and a whole lot more needed to be told.

Doris Egan's Ivory series had the same feel. I keep hoping for the sequel that will never come.
Title: Re: All my books are read, Looking for suggestions
Post by: Bookstore Guy on December 07, 2009, 05:01:03 PM
I felt like Black Company was just unfinished. Not unpolished, I just felt like the story didn't have a conclusion and a whole lot more needed to be told.

Doris Egan's Ivory series had the same feel. I keep hoping for the sequel that will never come.

That's because the Black Company series isn't finished.  Cook has stated that he has at least 2 more novels to write in the series to finish it off.  He doesn't know when that will happen, but someday.
Title: Re: All my books are read, Looking for suggestions
Post by: Dark_Prophecy on December 27, 2009, 01:44:30 PM
I'm going to put forth Scott Lynch as someone that's definitely worth reading. If you like caper novels at all, he's the way to go.

I can already hear the complaints about how the series isn't done, he's taking forever, etc. etc. I'm just saying that the two books that are out are good.
Title: Re: All my books are read, Looking for suggestions
Post by: Patriotic Kaz on December 27, 2009, 07:39:43 PM
The Many Deaths of the Black Company is available now for pre-order from amazon, it has a cool cover too.