Can anyone recommend a decent book series?
- Thread starter HBMK
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Sandman Slim by Richard Kadrey. It's about a demon hunter that escapes hell after 10 years of damnation to get revenge on his girlfriend's murder. It's amazing.
The Foundation trilogy is generally considered one of the best sci-fi series there are. Though its not a very character driven series if thats the kind of thing you want.
if you like anthologies see if you can find Dreams Underfoot by Charles De Lint. It's contemporary fantasy, set in a college town in Canada. If you like that, give more of his works a try. (I'd avoid his earlier full-length novels, they really weren't as strong as his shorter stories, though the exception was Jack of Kinrowan which was actually two novellas taped together, and his more recent novels The Onion Girl & Promises to Keep were both excellent.)
For more light-hearted fantasy I recommend the Myth & M.Y.T.H. series' by the late (and sorely missed) Robert Asprin.
And of course I have to throw in a mention of the Wild Cards series, edited & contributed to by some guy named George R. R. Martin. Serious look at metahumans and their potential impact on society.
For more light-hearted fantasy I recommend the Myth & M.Y.T.H. series' by the late (and sorely missed) Robert Asprin.
And of course I have to throw in a mention of the Wild Cards series, edited & contributed to by some guy named George R. R. Martin. Serious look at metahumans and their potential impact on society.
I would recommend the elemental logic series by Laurie J. Marks pretty good if you want an mature adult fantasy check it out but the first two books arnt on kindle or nook the third is.
Also anything by Mary Shannon the fantasy is pretty seen before but she writes some amazing characters I've given up entire nights of video games to read some of her books.
Finally Ready Player1 its like Charly and the Chocolate Factory except for with an MMO.
Also anything by Mary Shannon the fantasy is pretty seen before but she writes some amazing characters I've given up entire nights of video games to read some of her books.
Finally Ready Player1 its like Charly and the Chocolate Factory except for with an MMO.
Raymond E Feist was good at the start, but he's being lazy nowadays.
The discworld series is great. Weird, wonderful and can leave you wondering what is happening half the time.
As already stated the Sergei Lukyanenko is great. So is Joe Abercrombie
The Malazan Books of the Fallen by Steven Eriksen are very well written, way better than the A Song of Fire and Ice. He also wrote his books of around 1000 pages in about a year so there are actually some spelling mistakes (of the editions I read). You don't have to wait 5 years for each instalment like you did with Martin or Jordan (obviously the later is now a non-issue). Eriksen also leaves you wondering what is happening. The books are really dense.
The discworld series is great. Weird, wonderful and can leave you wondering what is happening half the time.
As already stated the Sergei Lukyanenko is great. So is Joe Abercrombie
The Malazan Books of the Fallen by Steven Eriksen are very well written, way better than the A Song of Fire and Ice. He also wrote his books of around 1000 pages in about a year so there are actually some spelling mistakes (of the editions I read). You don't have to wait 5 years for each instalment like you did with Martin or Jordan (obviously the later is now a non-issue). Eriksen also leaves you wondering what is happening. The books are really dense.
Just off the top of my head since I am reading it now - Dark Ages Clan Novels series. 13 books in all. World of Darkness universe thing: so horror, history, intrigue, prophesies, medieval vamp politics - that sort of thing. Not really fantasy though(I think?).
I began without expecting much, and was pleasantly surprised so far.
Not to say its the greatest thing ever, but a nice puzzle "piece it together" narrative that sucks you in, set around the fall of Constantinople.
I began without expecting much, and was pleasantly surprised so far.
Not to say its the greatest thing ever, but a nice puzzle "piece it together" narrative that sucks you in, set around the fall of Constantinople.
For Steampunk, I would recommend the Leviathan series by Scott Westerfeld. It's set during an alternate WWI in which the Allies use creatures created from the DNA of various animals, known as Darwinists, while the Axis use mechanized war machines. It follows two characters who come to serve aboard the HMS Leviathan, and the entire trilogy follows them throughout the entire war.
It is isn't nearly as gritty as its source material, so if you're looking for a mature/dark story, this isn't it.
It still is an amazing read, however, and the illustrations that accompany it are high-quality, adding a great deal of details to the series.
It is isn't nearly as gritty as its source material, so if you're looking for a mature/dark story, this isn't it.
It still is an amazing read, however, and the illustrations that accompany it are high-quality, adding a great deal of details to the series.
Well if you have read all of the stuff already posted and need something to scratch that sci-fi itch, I recommend the Ware tetralogy. The Ware Tetralogy is a series of four science fiction novels by author Rudy Rucker: Software (1982), Wetware (1988), Freeware (1997) and Realware (2000). It's a short series that goes into robotics, AI, and Alien contact. It is an Adults series as it does talk a lot about substance abuse and sexuality, so not for everyone.
First pick that I have to second: Tale of the Malazan's, Book of the Fallen, by Steven Erikson. Excellent gritty dark high fantasy series. Think Game of Thrones with gods.
For sci-fi I have to second Ian M Banks, Peter F Hamilton and Dan Simmons, but absolutely have to add Alastair Reynolds, which should be right up your alley, and since you asked for a series: Revelation Space.
Cyberpunk you've probably read William Gibson and Neal Stephenson, not much more to add there, though above mentioned Revelation Space series has some similarities, while also being a space opera.
Jim Butcher is also seconded, but I'll add Monster Hunter International by Larry Correia, which is a pulpy b-movie inspired modern day dark fantasy horror action comedy mix, with sprinkles of gun porn. The first one might just be my favorite book ever.
C. S. Friedman's Coldfire Trilogy is like a mix of sci-fi, fantasy and horror, so that should suit you very well. Colony on alien planet where nightmares come to life.
Gene Wolfe's Book of the New Sun is another dark sci-fi fantasy mix, far future where human civilization has regressed to medieval, the sun is close to burning out, and we've got alien visitors, with sci-fi blaster weapons. The protagonist is a torturer's apprentice.
I'll also have to second Robbin Hobb but personally I think Soldier Son is her best series, followed by Liveship Traders. Basically inverse order of when she wrote them.
I also cannot recommend Peter Watts highly enough, very good sci-fi psychological thrillers. Wether it's a bunch of psychos on the bottom of the sea, or the crew of a spaceship with cyborgs and vampires. (Starfish and Blindsight, respectively).
I could keep going for quite a while.
For sci-fi I have to second Ian M Banks, Peter F Hamilton and Dan Simmons, but absolutely have to add Alastair Reynolds, which should be right up your alley, and since you asked for a series: Revelation Space.
Cyberpunk you've probably read William Gibson and Neal Stephenson, not much more to add there, though above mentioned Revelation Space series has some similarities, while also being a space opera.
Jim Butcher is also seconded, but I'll add Monster Hunter International by Larry Correia, which is a pulpy b-movie inspired modern day dark fantasy horror action comedy mix, with sprinkles of gun porn. The first one might just be my favorite book ever.
C. S. Friedman's Coldfire Trilogy is like a mix of sci-fi, fantasy and horror, so that should suit you very well. Colony on alien planet where nightmares come to life.
Gene Wolfe's Book of the New Sun is another dark sci-fi fantasy mix, far future where human civilization has regressed to medieval, the sun is close to burning out, and we've got alien visitors, with sci-fi blaster weapons. The protagonist is a torturer's apprentice.
I'll also have to second Robbin Hobb but personally I think Soldier Son is her best series, followed by Liveship Traders. Basically inverse order of when she wrote them.
I also cannot recommend Peter Watts highly enough, very good sci-fi psychological thrillers. Wether it's a bunch of psychos on the bottom of the sea, or the crew of a spaceship with cyborgs and vampires. (Starfish and Blindsight, respectively).
I could keep going for quite a while.
Marion Zimmer Bradley's Darkover series is variable, but has some good books in it. I quite enjoyed the Renunciate trilogy.
Basically the series is a take on Sword and Planet, and a sort of culture clash between the technologically driven and largely egalitarian Terrans, and the patriarchal yet highly telepathic Darkovans. Lots of fun.
Basically the series is a take on Sword and Planet, and a sort of culture clash between the technologically driven and largely egalitarian Terrans, and the patriarchal yet highly telepathic Darkovans. Lots of fun.
I'm going to say the Metro books. They don't quite fit into your preferred genres, but they are pretty darn good. They give a wonderful feel for russian culture (haven't read the ones set in Italy yet, so can#t comment on that) and normally manage to convey their atmosphere very well. Be careful with some of the multiple-book-long spin off series', though - they aren't for everyone and sometimes fall into unimaginative old story-trappings.
As for pure sci-fi, try Isaac Asimovs works - most of them are (sorta kinda) connected throught the same setting. The Foundation book in and of itself is a trilogy in one book - a very interesting read, if you can stomach some of the admittedly zeerusty ideas of the time.
I would reccomend starting to read Warhammer 40000 books because some of them are incredibly good... but some of them are absolute bollocks, and there is pretty much no way to know before you start reading. Sometimes, not even the fact that it is THE SAME AUTHOR assures any kind of quality.
I will recommend some that I personally like, but these can be quite hit and miss.
The Path of the Warrior: In-depth look into Eldar culture and the psyche of one Eldar in particular. Very good read, even if it is a bit predictable.
The Night Lords series: Quite good. Captures the desperate feel and almost-but-not-quite-insane minds of renegade Space Marines in league with Chaos.
Priests of Mars: I have only read the first part yet, but it was great. It looks at the story from many different perspectives. Especially the viewpoint of a typical, drafted slave toiling their life away is just perfectly described.
As for pure sci-fi, try Isaac Asimovs works - most of them are (sorta kinda) connected throught the same setting. The Foundation book in and of itself is a trilogy in one book - a very interesting read, if you can stomach some of the admittedly zeerusty ideas of the time.
I would reccomend starting to read Warhammer 40000 books because some of them are incredibly good... but some of them are absolute bollocks, and there is pretty much no way to know before you start reading. Sometimes, not even the fact that it is THE SAME AUTHOR assures any kind of quality.
I will recommend some that I personally like, but these can be quite hit and miss.
The Path of the Warrior: In-depth look into Eldar culture and the psyche of one Eldar in particular. Very good read, even if it is a bit predictable.
The Night Lords series: Quite good. Captures the desperate feel and almost-but-not-quite-insane minds of renegade Space Marines in league with Chaos.
Priests of Mars: I have only read the first part yet, but it was great. It looks at the story from many different perspectives. Especially the viewpoint of a typical, drafted slave toiling their life away is just perfectly described.
+1 for the Iain M Banks Culture books, always excellent. The non Culture books are all worth a look as well.
I'd recommend Stephen Donaldson for both Sci-fi and Fantasy. The Thomas Covenant and Gap series are both really solid.
Weis and Hickmans 'Deaths Gate' Saga is some good fantasy.
I'd recommend Stephen Donaldson for both Sci-fi and Fantasy. The Thomas Covenant and Gap series are both really solid.
Weis and Hickmans 'Deaths Gate' Saga is some good fantasy.
Among my favorites.
Riftwar Cycle. Raymond E feist.
Belgarid/malorian David Eddings.
A game of universe - combines both magic and scifi. a really really good read
Riftwar Cycle. Raymond E feist.
Belgarid/malorian David Eddings.
A game of universe - combines both magic and scifi. a really really good read
As your new then you will likely be excused but please for the love of fluffy kittens everywhere add more content to your post's in future, the Mods round these parts take particularly dim view of posts of this nature. The escapist has a low content guideline so basically don't just post stuff like '+1' or 'this' add a bit more to your post to avoid mod wrath.Terwo said:
Anyhow, welcome to the escapist forums, have fun and stay out of the basement, it's for your own good...I wish someone had warned me about it...some things you just can't un-see....the horror!
OT
Dune and it's sequels by Frank Herbert are very good.
People say good things about the Culture books by Ian M Banks, I've not looked into them that much but I liked Consider Phlebas.
Um most of the others i had in mind have already been said so you've got some solid suggestions to be gettig on with already i think. Happy reading!
I was mostly scanning the list to see if anyone was recommending The Wheel of Time and we, sure enough, someone did. Great series if you're patient enough to keep up with the slow paced parts.WolfThomas said:
Brandon Sanderson is also great. The Mistborn trilogies are trying to show a fantasy world where things are actually advancing, having one classical fantasy world, one more modern and one future arc. Currently there has only been one complete trilogy and the second trilogy is set in a western themed world. It's all pretty good so far though.
The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy series is also amazing, I'd recommend that one if you haven't read it.
Kingkiller Chronicles, by Patrick Rothfuss. Night Angel trilogy, by Brent Weeks. Anything by Brandon Sanderson. I imagine you've already read Wheel of Time, by Robert Jordan? Try Sword of Truth, by Terry Goodkind. Also, the Ranger's Apprentice series, by John Flanagan is surprisingly good despite being YA. Oh lastly, if you haven't read it, definitely take a look at the Vlad Taltos series, by Steven Brust.
Also, you should all be ashamed of yourselves for not recommending Kingkiller before I got here. For shame.
Also, you should all be ashamed of yourselves for not recommending Kingkiller before I got here. For shame.