Books

[Fightgarr]

I myself also enjoy fantasy. However most fantasy doesn't really do it for me. Here are some books I've read recently and enjoyed:
Ghormenghast by Meryn Peak
A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius by Dave Eggers
The McSweeney's 27 by various authors but edited by Dave Eggers
When it comes to fantasy Patricia A. McKillip suffices for all of my needs because she is primarily a poet and thus her work reflects that background. I also enjoyed the first couple Earthsea books by Ursula Leguin and of course Tolkien's collection is excellent if for no other reason than the degree to which his world is fleshed out.

On an ending note I condemn anyone who is able to put an R.A. Salvatore novel on this list seriously.

 

[EMO_of_LiGHT]

The greatest book in the world is Ninja Burger Employee Handbook. Haha, now you must buy it or be assasinated for knowing too much. But Coffler is good. lol, dwarf farts.

 

[Dorian]

What you ask of me is impossible! The closest I can go is series.

1. The Inheritance Cycle (Eragon) by Chris Paolini

2. The Circle of Magic by Tamora Pierce

3. The Book of Useless Information by Noel Bortham (It's a real book!)

 

[ninja555]

Crimson by Gord Rollo
Not as good as the shining but still an awesome horror novel

 

[Higeki_iz_DEAD]

1. Battle Royale
2. Cirque Du Freak - Darren Shan
3. Acheron
4. American Psycho
[SUP]I Don't know the Author's to most of these books =/[/SUP]

 

[Sanaj]

Edit: Top 3 are not in order

1: The Lord of the Rings by JRR Tolkien ("trilogy" - though every one had two books in it.)
2: Dune by Frank Herbert (avoid the books by Brian Herbert)
3: Wheel of Time (series) by Robert Jordan

If I'm allowed to include plays...

Hamlet - Shakespeare
A Christmas Carol - Charles Dickens

 

[Sweep117]

3: Wheel of Time (series) by Robert Jordan

Thank you!!! I read every post on two pages and you're the first person to mention The Wheel of Time by Robert Jordan. I'm slightly insulted on Jordan's behalf that you put it behind LotR, though. WoT is easily two-three times better. Haven't read Dune so no comment there.

Okei, here is the thing.
I am a student who really want to become an author. You could say I'm a sucker for Fantasy books. Then i started wondering what you guys like, are the books from Tolkien, Angie Sage, Lewis and Eoin Colfer as much fun for you as it is for me? or do you prefer other types of books? If so name you favorites. a top 3 list if you will.

I haven't read too many books but I love the ones I have read.

1. The Wheel of Time series by Robert Jordan
2. The Fall of Reach, First Strike and Ghosts of Onyx from the Halo series by Eric Nylund
3. Signal to Noise and A Signal Shattered by Eric Nylund.

If you like fantasy and are looking to read the best series ever, check out The Wheel of Time series by Robert Jordan. Can't promote that one enough.

Props to a fellow "author in progress"!

 

[Lullabye]

I presume we are allowing scripts as well?

The Tempest - Shakespeare
Hamlet - Shakespeare
Romeo and Juliet - Shakespeare
We Need To Talk About Kevin - Lionel Shriver
The Lord of the Rings trilogy - J.R.R. Tolkien
High Fidelity - Nick Hornby
A Long Way Down - Nick Hornby
Fever Pitch - Nick Hornby
Cloud Atlas - David Mitchell
Cuckoo's Egg - Cliff Stoll
In Praise Of Slow - Carl Honore
Persepolis - Marjane Satrapi
City of Tiny Lights - Patrick Neate
The Righteous Men - Sam Bourne
Jpod - Douglas Coupland
The First Casualty - Ben Elton
The Polysyllabic Spree - Nick Hornby
About a Boy - Nick Hornby

(Jpod by Douglas Coupland is a must-read, by the way, Look into it and you'll see what I mean.)

due, i am so gonna read jpod.

now as for my favs, i don't have them in any particular order, so here:
1. Enders Game by Orson Scott
2. Mr. Norrel and Jonathan Strange by Jonathan Stroud(I love him, so to speak)
3. Bible of the Flying Spaghetti Monster
4. Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer(seems lacking after reading Enders Game though)
5. Ideal Wife by Mary Blogh
6. Romeo & Juliet by William Shakespeare(seriously, i liked it)
7. Lord of the Flies
8. Bokura no(its a manga, but its a really good one. sad too....)
9+ I like most genres, but I rally enjoy Victorian romance, genius, and slice of life stories. Im sure ii've read many good books but for the life of me, i cant remember them all..

 

[Da Joz]

I really enjoyed "Let the right one in" by John Lindqvist. Its what "Twilight" wanted to be IMO.

 

[Sanaj]

3: Wheel of Time (series) by Robert Jordan

Thank you!!! I read every post on two pages and you're the first person to mention The Wheel of Time by Robert Jordan. I'm slightly insulted on Jordan's behalf that you put it behind LotR, though. WoT is easily two-three times better. Haven't read Dune so no comment there.

Yeah, those are just my top three choices.
I like them for different reasons so I can't really decide on an order.

I've gone back and edited my earlier post to clear this up.

 

[Skuffyshootster]

The Chronicles of The Black Company.

 

[Quaidis]

I'm currently reading books from Lawrence Watt-Evans, which are all good (especially his Dragon Weather series).

If you want to become an author, however, you should find new and independent authors. They pop up at random conventions and have books eight-hundred pages thick. And while there are rare gems, most books are hard to go through and can test your patience. That will teach you what to do and what not to do in a very forceful way. Some indy books may make you consider typing style or organization, others will have you bang your head on a wall and question air. All will teach you something.

And instead of doing what you think other people will like, come up with things you want to write. Be original. If you fall into fanboy pressure, everything you write will be terrible. You should also start with short stories and work up. Get into a magazine first, write full novels later.

 

[jamesworkshop]

Might is Right - Ragnar redbeard
The War Hound and the World's Pain - Michael Moorcock

 

[Gyrefalcon]

If you want a good fantasy series, read the His Dark Materials trilogy. It's still my favorite fiction series, and I'm patiently waiting for Noble Collection to finish work on their replica Alethiometer.

Infact I have read that triology and I must say I Loved it, it was very original, and that is one thing many fantasy books miss!

Do try to buy The Golden Compass movie! It didn't do well up against Sweeney Todd so they aren't green-lighting The Subtle Knife! And EVERYONE would love that one! It was the best of the 3!

But I hated the ending on the last book so it doesn't make my fav's.

Current favs:

Mercedes Lackey: Bardic Voices 1: Lark and Wren, then her Heralds of Valdemar series.
Jim Butcher: The Dresden Files series
Kim Harrison: The "Dead Witch Walking" series. (All the titles are old Western puns.)
Jim C. Hines: The Goblin Hero series (how would you like annoying adventurers messing up
your home?)
Anne McCaffrey: Dragonrider of Pern series, Crystal Singer series, and The Ship Who
Searched
Stephen Brust: Jhereg series (best assassin ever)
Neil Gaimen: Neverwhere, American Gods, Stardust, and Anansi Boys

For Humor: Terry Prattchett: Discworld series (especially Reaper Man and Going Postal)
as well as Good Omens which is co-written with Neil Gaimen
If you want deeper reads: Jean M. Auel's Earth's Children series
Ursula Le Guinn's A Wizard of Earthsea series
Tim Powers...any. You are guaranteed weird and complex

 

[Supernatural Girl]

I love the sci-fi and fantasy, so:

1. All that is Ciaphas Caine (Sandy Mitchell)
2. The Hollow Choclate Bunnies of the Apocalypse & The Toyminator (Robert Rankin)
3. If You Could See Me Now (Celia Ahern)

 

[Mr.Top Hat]

In no order:
Heart Of Darkness-Joseph Conrad.
Dispatches- Michael Herr.
The Forever War-Joe Haldeman.
Thats all i can think of for now.

 

[Halfbreed13]

Dark Tower

 

[wikicated]

mtg ravnica city of guilds series just love it one of the few series i can reread