Looking for different books.

[walkertexasdruid]

As some of you may know, I have read quite a few books in my life. My focus, however, has mostly been in the fantasy genre, as well as some mystery, horror, and sci-fi. I have read almost everything by Robert Jordan, David Eddings, Terry Brooks, Terry Goodkind, Sara Douglas, David B. Coe, J. K Rawlings, Christopher Paolini, and David Drake. I have also have read many books by Margret Weis and Tracy Hickman, R. A. Salvatore, Mercedes Lackey, Stephen R. Donaldson, Tad Williams, Rosalind Miles, C. S. Lewis, J. R. R. Tolkein, John Marco, Jack Whyte, Kevin J. Anderson, Timithy Zahn, James Patterson, Dean Koontz, Stephen King, John Grisham, Tim Lehay and Terry B. Jenkins, Peirs Anthony. I have also appreciated more scholarly authors such as Plato, Niccolo Machiavelli, Voltaire, Aristophanes, William Shakespeare, Nietzche.

I am quite happy with most things that I have read, but I know there are quite a bit of books and authors that I am missing out on. So please help broaden my horizens, and recommend some books in genres I have not tried yet. I thank you in advance for any good advice that anyone gives to me. ;)

[Geminex]

Terry Pratchett is missing from that list.
He is Missing SO HARD.

[greed]

It's come up in conversations a bit recently for me so why not try Zelazny's Nine Princes in Amber. Also yes Terry Pratchett.

[Grimpond]

Why the hell isn't Terry Pratchett up there?! The man forged his own damn sword!!!!!

[Shin Amakiir]

I'mma third the Terry Pratchett. Additionally, I recommend Philip Pullman (His Dark Materials) and Margaret Atwood's "Oryx and Crake."

[Arcanum]

Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss. It's his first (and as of now only) book but I find it amazing. The Night Angel Trilogy by Brent Weeks. He's another first timer, but still very good. Also the Bartimaeus Trilogy by Jonathon Stroud.

[mauve]

I'll echo Terry Pratchett.

Also, Brian Wiprud. His mysteries are hilarious and awesome beyond all reason. Start with Pipsqueak if you're looking for a good series. His stand-alone novels, like Sleep with the Fishes, are awesome too.

[The Sevenshot Kid]

Anything written by Kurt Vonnegut but especially "Breakfast of Champions."

[Wigmund]

Jim Butcher's Dresden Files novels and anything by Terry Pratchett.

[Fifthfiend]

Terry Pratchett is missing from that list.
He is Missing SO HARD.

It's come up in conversations a bit recently for me so why not try Zelazny's Nine Princes in Amber. Also yes Terry Pratchett.

Why the hell isn't Terry Pratchett up there?! The man forged his own damn sword!!!!!

I'mma third the Terry Pratchett. Additionally, I recommend Philip Pullman (His Dark Materials) and Margaret Atwood's "Oryx and Crake."

I'll echo Terry Pratchett.

Also, Brian Wiprud. His mysteries are hilarious and awesome beyond all reason. Start with Pipsqueak if you're looking for a good series. His stand-alone novels, like Sleep with the Fishes, are awesome too.

Jim Butcher's Dresden Files novels and anything by Terry Pratchett.

OP answered, close thread.

EDIT: Walker can make another thread after he's read all the Terry Pratchett books.

[Specterbane]

OP answered, close thread.


Actually I can't see why no one put in Alexandre Dumas (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexandre_Dumas,_p%C3%A8re). The Count of Monte Cristo, and the entire Three Musketeers series are some of my favorite books and I've got a similar background to the OP. Come on people, enjoy some classics.

[Fifthfiend]

Actually I can't see why no one put in Alexandre Dumas (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexandre_Dumas,_p%C3%A8re). The Count of Monte Cristo, and the entire Three Musketeers series are some of my favorite books and I've got a similar background to the OP. Come on people, enjoy some classics.

Walker can enjoy your boring, dumb classics after he enjoys the perfect magic that is every Terry Pratchett book (except the Granny Weatherwax ones).

[Grimpond]

Walker can enjoy your boring, dumb classics after he enjoys the perfect magic that is every Terry Pratchett book (except the Granny Weatherwax ones).

:dance:

[Token]

Why the hell isn't Terry Pratchett up there?! The man forged his own damn sword!!!!!

Out of a fucking meteor. That needs to be stated.

[Satan's Onion]

Walker can enjoy your boring, dumb classics after he enjoys the perfect magic that is every Terry Pratchett book (except the Granny Weatherwax ones), especially the Watch novels and Monstrous Regiment. (The Death novels aren't bad either.)

Just thought that needed a bit of fixing. You can thank me later.

Anyway, Pratchett and Vonnegut are more or less perfect--Vonnegut's Slaughterhouse-Five is considered a classic for a damn reason--but I notice a distinct lack of Douglas Adams in this thread, and I aim to correct that. Almost everything he's done is wonderful (in before Fifth's "except Mostly Harmless, fuck that book right in the ear, man". Not that Fifth's wrong about that; it's not Adams' best work.). I'm not all the way done with Dune, but so far Frank Herbert's done a hell of a job of world-building that I think is generally worth checking out. Also, if you're looking for something a bit less "genre", you could do worse than Sinclair Lewis; his Elmer Gantry in particular I found to be compelling work.

[mauve]

Walker can enjoy your boring, dumb classics after he enjoys the perfect magic that is every Terry Pratchett book (except the Granny Weatherwax ones). The Count of Monte Cristo is wrongly persecuted as a spy, sent to prison for five years, escapes by faking death, then spends the rest of his life actively working to ruin the lives of those who sent him to prison in any way possible, through financial, psychological, emotional, and judicial means. He discovers a sizable fortune and uses it to befriend and influence those around his victims, inadvertently ruining the lives of the woman he loves and the man who should have been his son. After achieving vengeance, he feels slightly bad about it, then gives a bunch of money to some friends, thinks "welp, that's enough to counter my evil deeds!" and then sails away on a yacht with his hot new girlfriend. It's badass. The classics are generally badass (except Wuthering Heights. Screw Wuthering Heights). Hell, Jane Eyre ends with Jane's love interest having his hand burned off and his eyes singed into blindness by the psychopathic pyromaniac wife he's been hiding in the attic for years. They're not all tea parties and adorable orphans and dances with Mr. Darcy, you know.

[DarkDrgon]

Raymond E. Feist's Riftwar novels are awesome. you should go out and get Magician now. I think it's only available split into 2 volumes now, but he wrote so much that they still feel like whole books.

[The Artist Formerly Known as Hawk]

You're also missing anything written by Dan Abnett, specifically the stuff he's written for the 40k verse, along with a host of other 40k titles.

You should look in to that.

[RickZarber]

Well, I know you're asking for new genres, buuuut... if you're big on fantasy, you should definitely check out the works of Scott Lynch and Joe Abercrombie. They're two of my favorite authors who've debuted this past decade.

In fact, both of them have short stories in a recent anthology: Swords and Dark Magic (http://www.amazon.com/Swords-Dark-Magic-Sword-Sorcery/dp/0061723819/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1276257079&sr=1-1). I highly recommend it if you're looking for new stuff; I've found so many authors I've got to look into after reading it.

And Scott Lynch's story, In the Stacks, is worth the price of the book alone. It's about a living library, where the staff motto is RETRIEVE. RETURN. SURVIVE. And it's got monsters called vocabuvores!

"Aspirant d’Courin, what is a grimoire?”

“Well, she began, seemingly taken aback by the simplicity of the question. “As you said, a magician’s personal reference. Details of spells, and experiments—“

“A catalog of a magician’s private obsessions,” said Molnar.

“I suppose, sir.”

“More private than any diary, every page stained with a sorcerer’s hidden character, their inner demons, their wildest ambitions. Some magicians produce collections, others produce only a single book, but nearly all of them produce something before they die. Chances are the four of you will produce something, in your time. Some of you have certainly begun them by now.

“Grimoires,” continued Molnar, “are firsthand witnesses to every triumph and every shame of their creators. They are left in laboratories, stored haphazardly next to untold powers, exposed to magical materials and energies for years. Their pages are saturated with arcane dust and residue, as well as deliberate sorceries. They are magical artifacts, uniquely infused with what can only be called the divine madness of individuals such as yourselves. They evolve, as many magical artifacts do, a faint quasi-intelligence. A distinct sort of low cunning that your run-of-the mill chair or rock or library book does not possess.

“Individually, this characteristic is harmless. But when you take powerful grimoires, from the hands and minds of powerful magicians, and you store them together by the hundreds, by the thousands, by the tens of thousands, by the millions…”

This last word was almost shouted, and Molnar’s arms were raised to the ceiling again, for dramatic effect. This speech had lost the dry tones of lecture and acquired the dark passion of theatrical oration. Whatever Master Molnar might have thought of the aspirants entrusted to his care, he was clearly a believer in his work.

“You need thick walls,” he said, slowly. “Thick walls, and rough Librarians to guard them."

[Arhra]

Why the hell isn't Terry Pratchett up there?! The man forged his own damn sword!!!!!
You're all forgetting an important detail about Sir Terry Pratchett.

Y'see, the reason he forged a sword for himself (out of ore he refined himself, I should add!) is after getting knighted, he decided a knight needs a sword.

And now you have all of the story.

So go read all of his stories.

[Professor Smarmiarty]

Fuck Dumas, he's a tuppeny hack. Hugo has crazy adventure going but much better written, you just might need to skim some of his diversionary bits. Les Mis is the longest running musical of all time for a reason. And Notre Dame has some crazy shit going on, unlike the disney version.

Read Pratchett first though.

[Toast]

After reading Pratchett, you could maybe check out some of these.

The Firekeeper Saga by Jane Lindskold. It's pretty low magic fantasy, but very good.

Donnerjack by Roger Zelazny. It blends sci fi and fantasy quite literally.

The Lost Fleet series by Jack Campbell. Space based fleet action that is quite good.

The Last Legion series by Chris Bunch. Fairly average military sci fi, but still a fun read.

I noticed a lack of Frank Herbert and Isaac Asimov on your list. Asimov's robot anthologies and the robot detective series are quite good, as is the book Nightfall. Frank Herbert's Dune is, of course, supremely awesome.

If you're looking for more scholarly reading, you should try some Viktor Frankl (Man's Search for Meaning), Rollo May (The Discovery of Being), James P. Carse (Finite and Infinite Games), Richard Bach (Illusions), and Clarissa Pinkola Estes (Women who run with the Wolves).

[BloodyMage]

I noticed a lack of Frank Herbert and Isaac Asimov on your list. Asimov's robot anthologies and the robot detective series are quite good, as is the book Nightfall.

I'll second this. Asimov is pretty awesome. His stories about robotics and his careful manipulation of what seems like pretty firm set rules make for extremely engaging stories. His first short book collection 'I, Robot' is great too, and is absolutely a thousand times better than the film which only takes it's name.

[Specterbane]

I should add that Count of Monte Cristo take a little bit to get going at the start to get the characters established. And Dune is great once it gets the whole world established. But you made it through Tolkien so you should be fine.

I'm still whole heartedly recommending The Three Musketeers. I mean it (and Count of Monte Cristo for that matter) had the Red potion that Zelda uses before it ever used it. If you want to see what I mean then read it, and thank me later.

[xj700t]

you should try Jhon Scalzi's "Old Man's War", since it's his first novel, and 5 years old, I dont believe many will point it out first. however, it does contain exquisite story telling that reminds me a portion of the list of authors you provided (including terry pratchet for everyone else on this post.. might as well jump the wagon). it might lean more to science fiction genre rather than fantasy, but is still well worth the mention.

[Tev]

And Scott Lynch's story, In the Stacks, is worth the price of the book alone. It's about a living library, where the staff motto is RETRIEVE. RETURN. SURVIVE. And it's got monsters called vocabuvores!
I desperately want to own this book but Amazon doesn't think it exists. Help?

[Fifthfiend]

After you read every Terry Pratchett novel (Weatherwax books optional), you should read Lin Carter's Gondwane novels.

Basically full of zany ideas and lack of taking themselves seriously.

[MuMu]

I'll second this. Asimov is pretty awesome. His stories about robotics and his careful manipulation of what seems like pretty firm set rules make for extremely engaging stories. His first short book collection 'I, Robot' is great too, and is absolutely a thousand times better than the film which only takes it's name.

I'd take The Complete Robot over I, Robot, if possible. Machines That Think is also a nice sci-fi short story collection(Although I think that all Asimov's stories on this one are also in the Complete Robot, if you mind repeats).

Since you apparently enjoy fantasy so much, I read Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrel last month and it's one excellent novel, a rare gem from urban fantasy stories.

Snow Crash is cyberpunk but I think it might be up your alley, although it has a pretty nasty infodump it's a fun book that doesn't take itself too seriously.

I plan on ordering Slaughterhouse 5 this weekend, so I guess I can second that one. Probably going to get The Sirens of Titan and Cat's Cradle soon.


It has nothing to do with the above reccomendations, but I really enjoyed Catch-22. Give it a try.

[Fifthfiend]

Cat's Cradle is probably the best, most Vonnegutty Vonnegut book.

[Geminex]

To contribute some more, I recently read a collection of short stories called The Locus Awards. These are 30 years worth of awesome fantasy and sci-fi short stories, and they're all really worth reading.

Also, this isn't a book, but Homestuck is as good a story as you will find in any book (far, far better than you will find in most), and if you haven't yet, you should really, really read it. I mean, really.
REALLY.

Also, if you wanna get started on Pratchett, I'd suggest 'Guards Guards'. Or if you want something more recent, 'Going Postal', but I think his earlier stuff is better, if a bit harder to get into.

[The Sevenshot Kid]

Cat's Cradle is probably the best, most Vonnegutty Vonnegut book.

More so than "Breakfast of Champions?" If so, then I might have to ransack my local bookstore to buy a copy.

[walkertexasdruid]

Good stuff, everyone. Terry Pratchett looks like a winner, and I thin Frank Herbert is good option as well. I have read Asimov, love the Foundation books. I have watched the old movies based the Count of Monte Cristo, and the Three Musketeers, and even Breakfast of Champions. Is Pullman's books better than the movie that I had to endure once? Like I said, good stuff, people, keep it coming.

[bluestarultor]

Three authors when you've done Pratchett:

Roger Zelazny - fantasy/comedy (although Dilvish is a masterful serious series)
Robert Asprin - fantasy/comedy
Keith Laumer (if you can find any from him) - sci-fi

[Wigmund]

Is Pullman's books better than the movie that I had to endure once? Like I said, good stuff, people, keep it coming.

Much better.

[Magus]

Yeah, didn't the movie leave out the end of the book besides? (I've never been able to sit through that thing)

I'll take a crack at talkin' 'bout some other genres here, and recommend historical fiction. However, I'm not sure about what you'd like to read in that vein. I mean, there is the Kent Family Chronicles, for example, which was an interesting series (even if somewhat silly--apparently if there is a famous American historical figure, a Kent will have met them at some point in their life). Also, this may be a bit of a spoiler, but I was kind of annoyed by the fact that every major female character is raped at least once, sometimes goes insane (especially Margaret, Gideon's wife, in a total turnabout that came out of the blue and seemed mainly to exist to create part of the plot), and otherwise comes to a bad end. Also, like George R. R. Martin (not on your list, but surely you've read such a major fantasy author), John Jakes is not afraid to kill off major characters. There are 8 books and they should keep you busy if you decide to read them. On Secret Service was a stand-alone one I enjoyed as well.

Also, I am a huge fan of John Steinbeck and basically everything by him is pure gold. Most of his books are fairly short and to the point as well so you shouldn't have trouble reading them, often novella length, but the longer ones (The Grapes of Wrath, East of Eden) are great reads too. They aren't really "historical fiction" in a way though because they were all written at the time, they were contemporary topical works at best only going a few decades into the past, but looking back at them they are like historical fiction.

Also, if you want to have your cake and eat it too, read fantasy books by Guy Gavriel Kay. Pretty much all of them are based on historical events in the real world that have been scrupulously researched and turned to Kay's advantage in writing thrilling novels that are some of my favorites. Tigana, A Song for Arbonne, The Lions of Al-Rassan, The Last Light of the Sun, etc. are all amazing books that you should definitely read if you're a fan of fantasy and historical fiction.

[Locke cole]

I'll have to seccond George R.R. Martin.

A Song Of Ice And Fire is really good fantasy. Very low-magic, but the politics and character interactions are great to read.

[Magus]

Get ready to join the rest of his frustrated fans waiting for the fifth book, though, if you decide to start reading them.

I have a brother who has actually not read past the second book on purpose so as to avoid this. :D

[Locke cole]

There's a TV series being made, though. So it may be nice to read it to prepare for that.

[walkertexasdruid]

I really liked the North and South trilogy by John Jakes, and the first two mini-series were great (I really miss Patrick Swayze), and the third one was ok. Surprisingly, I have missed out on George R. Martin, so I will have to look him up as well.

[MuMu]

Can't really give them a nice description(Mostly because I suck at it) since I haven't read them yet but I just ordered the aforementioned Slaughterhouse 5 and along with it The Time Traveler's Wife, Solaris, The Left Hand of Darkness, Fragile Things and Anansi Boys, see if any of them interest you.