Fantasy/Sci Fi recommendations?

dr gonzo

I must say im quite partial to both of these genres but i dont read them very often so lately ive been think that i might pick one up again as i loved books like Dune, LOTR etc. The problem however is i dont really know where to begin, these are huge genres.

Does anyone have any books or series that might be worth looking into?

toomevara

Have you read Ian M Banks 'Culture' novels? Brilliant . Peter F Hamilton's Nights Dawn trilogy, great space opera.

lemon_sherbert

Some of my favourite fantasy books are;

The Assassin trilogy - Robin Hobb
The Mistborn trilogy - Brandon Sanderson
The Wheel of Time series - Robert Jordan (though admittedly, this is very long, and some people have complained about the later books, but I still love them)

Neil Gaiman has also written some great modern fantasy, particularly American Gods

sxt

Some excellent Fantasy series here.

Song of fire and ice - George Martin

The Malazan Book of the Fallen - Steven Erikson

The Prince of Nothing - R. Scott Bakker

Green Hornet

"The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant" are excellent. Very dark and not very uplifting but a fantastic read.

I think they are like "The Lord of The Rings" for adults. Much darker and very broody.

Poly

toomevara wrote: »

Have you read Ian M Banks 'Culture' novels? Brilliant . Peter F Hamilton's Nights Dawn trilogy, great space opera.

+1 on the "Culture" books, "Consider Phelbus" was mind blowing.

Sir Digby Chicken Caesar

ash - a secret history - mary gentle

fansmeggingtastic

dr gonzo

I was actually given Consider Phlebas as a gift, is that the first one in the series?

Also ive read most of Gaimans stuff including American Gods which is great.

Rockshamrover

The Foundation series of books by Asimov.

The Riverworld series by Philip Jose Farmer.

Amtrak wars by Patrick Tilley.

+ 1 on the Thomas Covenant books.

wintear

For a lighter version of Sci Fi you could try Deathstalker by Simon R green. Proper pulp, easy to read sci fi/ fantasy. For a more highbrow sci fi read Dan Simmons Hyperion is really good.

They are both part of larger arcs of books. Both enjoyable but fairly different from each other.

Caboose

Dragonlance Chronicles by Weis & Hickman. If you like that trilogy then try the Legends trilogy by same authors.

Always enjoyed David Eddings Belgarion. The Mallorean is very similar/identical. Sparhawk series the same.

The Magician series from Raymond Feist.

For very light humour try Terry Pratchett's Discworld. These are like marmite - you hate them or love them.

Pygmalion

Best book series I've ever read (although obviously that's subjective) has got to be the Nightwatch series (by Sergei Lukyanenko).
It's Fantasy, but modern fantasy (set in modern day Russia, perhaps not what you're looking for), I rarely read (I just don't seem to have the attention span), but I couldn't put this series down.

Only other fantasy series I've read and liked was the Black Magician trilogy by Trudi Canavan, but I'm not sure if I liked it enough to really recommend it above anything else, parts of it were hit-and-miss.

Rockshamrover

Pygmalion wrote: »

Best book series I've ever read (although obviously that's subjective) has got to be the Nightwatch series (by Sergei Lukyanenko).
It's Fantasy, but modern fantasy (set in modern day Russia, perhaps not what you're looking for), I rarely read (I just don't seem to have the attention span), but I couldn't put this series down.

Only other fantasy series I've read and liked was the Black Magician trilogy by Trudi Canavan, but I'm not sure if I liked it enough to really recommend it above anything else, parts of it were hit-and-miss.

Was made into a fantastic film (in Russian) This film is brilliant in it's own right.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FYF5EhoIsA8

dr gonzo

Great recommendations, ive heard a lot about the wheel of time so i might give that a go.

Tried to read The Colour of Magic but it didnt grab me at all, although i have heard Pratchett fans saying its not the best one to start with, is that true?

Is Stephen King's The Gunslinger any good? I know people who swear by it but im not a fan of Kings so im a bit wary of it.

Sephiroth_dude

Neil gaimen-neverwhere (cant recommend this enough)
Neil gaimen-american gods
Jim butcher-the dresden files
David and Leigh Eddings-The Redemption of Althalus

Pushtrak

I can't speak to its quality, but I have been strongly recommended the Hyperion novels.

LenaClaire

David Weber does some good military Sci Fi and he also has some more fantasy novels (Honor Harrington series and the War Gods series).

Anne McCaffrey also has both Sci Fi and fantasy novels that are really good.

BopNiblets

Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson for some Earth-based techno action sci-fi.

Codofwar

Trudi Canaven's Black Magician trilogy is a very good read, I would definitly recommend it.

Moreso though is Raymond E. Feist's magician series. I got the recommendation of him from here at the start of janruary last year and have read every book he has done. you dont have to read them all and can just leave it after the first trillogy. I cant recommend it highly enough though.

Also as has been mentioned here already is Robin Hobb's Assasain trilogy.

Another series I read if you can call it that, just two books is by karen Millen/miller cant remember which surname, Her Innocent mage books are very good also.

lordgoat

Feist's epic saga is a great read. Start with Magician and move on.
Neil Gaiman is also immense.

And i recently read a triology by brent weeks. Can't think of the name of them but by far the best new series out there. i also love George RR Martin's book but i'll wait til he's finished it to read any more.

I'd avoid Robert Jordan great start to the wheel of time but it descended into dross halfway through

Monkeybonkers

Gonzo, I would second what lordgoat says and give the Wheel of Time series a miss. I'm only on the fifth book and already I'm sorry that I ever started it.

Although I've only read the first one in the series, George RR Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire seems pretty good too.

I've read a lot of Ian M. Banks' stuff. It's good too but is a lot more SF than the others that I've already mentioned. I tend to prefer the fantasy stuff but there's no doubt that Banks is a brilliant author. I thought that 'Use of Weapons' was excellent and to a lesser extent 'The Player of Games'. I wasn't quite as impressed with others. If you're going to try one I'd recommend starting with 'Use of Weapons'.

dr gonzo

Sephiroth_dude wrote: »

Neil gaimen-neverwhere (cant recommend this enough)
Neil gaimen-american gods

Read both and completely agree, i loved Neverwhere.

Thats a no to the wheel of time so, if im going to be taking on some weighty tomes i'd at least like to know that they're well thought of(Im a bit of a sheep that way).

Thats also two recommendations for Robin Hobb's assassin trilogy so thats top of the list now.

lemon_sherbert

dr gonzo wrote: »

Read both and completely agree, i loved Neverwhere.

Thats a no to the wheel of time so, if im going to be taking on some weighty tomes i'd at least like to know that they're well thought of(Im a bit of a sheep that way).

Thats also two recommendations for Robin Hobb's assassin trilogy so thats top of the list now.

I wouldn't write off Wheel of Time completely, while I'll agree that I didn't love books 9-11, book 12 was fantastic (having been taken up by Brandon Sanderson since Jordan died) and the early books are brilliant. Definitely read hobb's trilogy first (and if you find you like it, she has written two more trilogies set in the same universe, with another one on the way ) but I'd keep Jordan in mind, I'm pretty sure my local library has them, so you might borrow them and see what you think, or pick up them up cheap second hand. I don't mean to be so pushy, but they've been some of my favourite books, and would hate to see you miss out

genericguy

dr gonzo wrote: »

Is Stephen King's The Gunslinger any good? I know people who swear by it but im not a fan of Kings so im a bit wary of it.

i've read all of these, and while a couple of them are fantastic, i found a couple of them were utter tripe, particularly the later ones. the gunslinger series would have been much better if there'd been no ending imo.

IrishPhoenix

The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch is a brilliant fantasy. Couldn't rate it highly enough.

Jim Butcher's Dresden Files are fantastic urban fantasy.

Sephiroth_dude

IrishPhoenix wrote: »

Jim Butcher's Dresden Files are fantastic urban fantasy.

Love those books,reading death masks currently.

Sconsey

Pushtrak wrote: »

I can't speak to its quality, but I have been strongly recommended the Hyperion novels.

+1 for Hyperion, and the follow up book Fall of Hyperion are both great sci-fi. Am reading another Dan Symmons called Illium at the moment, it's interesting.

I read one called Revelation Space a while ago (can't remember the authors name), maybe a little bit heavy at times but a great read if you like sci-fi, it seemed to go under the radar a bit in the media.

There's a sci-fi classic called Enders Game by Orson Scott Card, I read it years ago, it's a great read, especially for younger readers.

Swampy

For Fantasy start with "Magician" by Raymond E. Feist.

All of his series of books are excellent. Magacian is probablt my favourite fantasy book of all time.

Four-Percent

Alastair Reynolds - Chasm City. One of the best books I've ever read.

Sephiroth_dude

I enjoyed the fablehaven books by brandon mull too.

RepublicanEagle

I recommend (highly)that anyone with any interest whatsoever in the fantasy genre,to read the writer;Raymond E Feist's books.Starting off with "The Riftwar Saga",bascially the first series of books he wrote beginning with "The Magician".His books literally knock all others out of the water,including Tolkien.Although "The Wheel of Time" would be a good competitor imho.

TheBandit

dr gonzo wrote: »

Great recommendations, ive heard a lot about the wheel of time so i might give that a go.

Tried to read The Colour of Magic but it didnt grab me at all, although i have heard Pratchett fans saying its not the best one to start with, is that true?

I wasn't a big fan of The Colour of Magic but i've read about 5 or 6 other discworlds and loved them. I'd recommend Night Watch as a good first one to read, its a take on a detective story, very funny.

I gave up on the Wheel of Time after 4 1/2 books, i thought it just turned to crap. Song of Ice and Fire by George RR Martin is great, not as cliche as your average fantasy book. I'm only halfway through the third book mind you.

I read the Necroscope series years ago and loved it. vampire/fantasay book

LenaClaire

I have been looking for a new author and after all of the Raymond Feist suggestions I read Talon of the Silver Hawk and it was really good! I am going to have to read more of his books.

Thanks for the suggestions

Green Light

I'm on Book 12(out of 14) of the Wheel of Time Series caled The Gathering Storm.

The WOT Series is immensely detailed and has a 'cast' of nearly 3,000 characters. It can be tough going but it is really worth the work you put into in in my view as the Last Battle is looming large on the horizon...:)

Very sadly Robert Jordan died after Book 11 but thankfully he left extensive notes and plot lines and actually wrote the final Chapter of Book 14 before he died.

His widow and son asked Brandon sanderson to take on the onerous task of finishing the epic off and The Gathering Storm is his first effort. I'm halfway through it and am loving it.

Denerick

I liked Wheel of Time when younger, but wasn't able to finish Crossroads of Twilight (I got immensely bored after book 5, but kept at it because I was curious about how the plot would turn out) TBH, Jordan was a horrible writer, he was really bad at writing women and he introduced far too many superflous characters and gratuitous paragraphs.

David Gemmel is alright, I read one of his books one time.

For science fiction, you really can't beat Isaac Asimov. The man was one of the highest ranking members of Mensa for christs sake!

Tabnabs

Surprised to see William Gibson's name hasn't been mentioned yet? One of the all time outstanding Sci-Fi authors. Start with Neuromancer and continue with Count Zero and Mona Lisa Overdrive. You won't be disappointed and it won't be the last time you read this trilogy. :cool:

lordgoat

jujibee wrote: »

I have been looking for a new author and after all of the Raymond Feist suggestions I read Talon of the Silver Hawk and it was really good! I am going to have to read more of his books.

Thanks for the suggestions

you need to stop and go back to the first book or you'll miss out on so much!

Magician - R E Feist - go get it in chapters for E5 if you're in dublin!


The storm had broken.

LenaClaire

Thanks for the tip! I am in Cork but I am sure I can find Magician. That will have to be my quest for tomorrow.

lordgoat

jujibee wrote: »

Thanks for the tip! I am in Cork but I am sure I can find Magician. That will have to be my quest for tomorrow.

I actually started re reading it again todau, if you somehow can't find it let me know! i think i have a spare copy of it knocking around somewhere.

p to the e

If you are looking for something a little less weighty try "I am legend" by Richard Matheson. It's very different to the film of the same name and quite short and to the point. Regular readers will fly through it in no time.

LenaClaire

I found a copy of Magician here and it was really good! Going to have to read all of the rest now.

ixoy

jujibee wrote: »

I found a copy of Magician here and it was really good! Going to have to read all of the rest now.

You do realise there's well over 20 books to go yeah?

LenaClaire

Yeah, but I am a book nerd and I read fast so I should be finished in a month or so as long as I can find them all

Paddy Samurai

For fantasy......................Gemmell.
Not to be missed if your intersted in Fantasy

• Legend (1984)
• The King Beyond the Gate (1985)
• Waylander (1986)
• Wolf in Shadow (1987)
• Against the Horde (1988)
• Ghost King (1988)
• Last Sword of Power (1988)
• Knights of Dark Renown (1989)
• Last Guardian (1989)
• Lion of Macedon (1990)
• Quest for Lost Heroes (1990)
• Dark Prince (1991)
• Drenai Tales (1992)
• The First Chronicles of Druss the Legend (1993)
• Waylander II - In the Realm of the Wolf (1993)
• Bloodstone (1994)
• The Hawk Eternal (1995)
• Ironhand's Daughter (1995)
• Legend of Death Walker (1996)
• Winter Warriors (1996)
• Dark Moon (1997)
• Midnight Falcon (1999)
• Sword In The Storm (1999)
• Hero in the Shadows (2000)
• Ravenheart (2001)
• Drenai Tales - Volume III (2002)
• Echoes of the Great Song (2002)
• Stormrider (2002)
• White Wolf: A Novel of Druss the Legend (2003)
• The Swords of Night and Day (2004)
• Troy: Lord of the Silver Bow (2005)
• Troy: Shield of Thunder (2006)
• Troy: Fall of Kings (2007)

Also The Name of the Wind,The Painted Man,The Blade Itself trilogy,A Game of Thrones Series,any and all of these are worth reading.
Your lucky as you have years of great reading ahead of you if you hav'nt read any of these books.

Denerick

I really liked Sword in the Storm when I was younger. Can anyone recommend a fantasy novel to respark the love of fantasy in me? Not George R.R. Martin, I honestly thought his first novel of the series was boring as hell (Only got to Pg. 150 or so)

lordgoat

Denerick wrote: »

I really liked Sword in the Storm when I was younger. Can anyone recommend a fantasy novel to respark the love of fantasy in me? Not George R.R. Martin, I honestly thought his first novel of the series was boring as hell (Only got to Pg. 150 or so)

If you like Gemmil and don't like Martin, i'd prob recommend Eddings. Easy to read fairly standard fantasy.

I preferred Jon Shannow books to Druss one's.

Paddy Samurai

Denerick wrote: »

I really liked Sword in the Storm when I was younger. Can anyone recommend a fantasy novel to respark the love of fantasy in me? Not George R.R. Martin, I honestly thought his first novel of the series was boring as hell (Only got to Pg. 150 or so)

Try Tim Powers "The Drawing of the Dark" or " On Stranger Tides"

Fluorescence

Gemmel is good. Raymond E Feist is one of my favourite authors, along with Trudi Canavan (light, easy fantasy) and Terry Pratchett (as much satire as fantasy).

Amhran Nua

Michael Moorcock's Elric saga hasn't got a mention yet, absolutely epic storyline and breadth of imagination, pulls no punches either while not losing a smooth narrative flow. Don't go buying his whole catalogue though, some of the books are not fantasy or indeed any genre I could pin down. One standalone novel of his that was superb was "The warhound and the world's pain", excellent work. I haven't read them for a decade or so now but the old Warhammer fantasy books used to be fairly good. Also Ursula leGuin's Earthsea books, intriguing internal logic.

Amhran Nua

Scott Lynch's "The lies of Locke Lamora" as well, cleverly written and plotted, it tracks the derring do of a con artist in a fantasy world. Definetely the kind of characters that would have you counting your fingers after a handshake.

davy7

just starting the wheel of time series now but not so enthusiastic now about continuing on for too long with it.

any tips or advice on when the series starts to drag? thanks