Good books
- Thread starter Meangunns
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The Wheel of Time: Jordan
The Belgariad/Mallorean: Eddings
The Dark tower: King
A Dream of Eagles: Jack Whyte
The Once and Future King: T.H. White
Knights of Black and White: Jack Whyte
A Wrinkle in Time
The Giver
Frankenstein, or, The Modern Prometheus: Shelly
Dracula
Sorry for forgetting authors names.
The Belgariad/Mallorean: Eddings
The Dark tower: King
A Dream of Eagles: Jack Whyte
The Once and Future King: T.H. White
Knights of Black and White: Jack Whyte
A Wrinkle in Time
The Giver
Frankenstein, or, The Modern Prometheus: Shelly
Dracula
Sorry for forgetting authors names.
You like action? Cell by Stephen King gets right into the bloody, nitty-gritty at the second page. You want a long story with characters you become familiar with? The Dark Tower is an excellent choice, took me forever, but I finished all 7 books. Fairly recent series too.
I would suggest George R.R. Martians song of Ice and fire just about anything from Simon Green but in particular the nightside books just about any Orson Scott card Dan Simmons but in particular his Hyperion/Endymion series and Illium or dies the fire by S.M. Stirling
Sounds like you'd probably like something by James Clavell, especially if you like Asian culture (particularly Japanese). King Rat is my favourite but Shogun is good too. Very thickly plotted oriental adventures that provide an insightful, although simplistic view of the culture its set in. Both books feature foriegners in Japan, so inevitably both them and the reader pick up a few words and understand the culture better too. Got plenty of action, plot twists, suspense, politics and sex (to cancel out the politics). He's not a brilliant writer, but as his views are informed by his experiences as a Japanese POW and his experience as a film writer, (he worked on "The Great Escape")he knows how to tell a good story. Entertaining and slightly informative, its a fun read.
Thirded for Terry Pratchett.
One of the reasons that his Discworld books are so popular is that the titular Discworld mirrors ours, and so certain comparisons between the two make for interesting reading - I'm a sucker for things that show our society from an outside angle (i.e. prejudice exists, but not against the colour of a persons skin - there are too many species around for humans to discriminate against each other - "black and white come together to gang up on green" - alas not a direct quote).
It is also a version of our world where science isn't needed because magic exists, and is studied as if it were a science itself.
He also has a wonderful sense of humour to boot, and is such a vivid and skilled writer that it's impossible to read one of his books and not have a definite picture in your head of the world he is describing.
There are a few different sections of society that each book tends to focus on (the wizards, the watchmen, the witches, Tiffany [younger readers], Moist Von Lipwig, and the rather random Pyramids book), so if you prefer action then the watchmen books might be best to start with (Guards! Guards! is the first watchmen themed book).
That said, I always recommend Wyrd Sisters as a starting point because a lot of people learned about Macbeth at school, and the plot is very loosely based on that story. Albeit much, much easier to follow, more entertaining to read and with more likeable characters.
One of the reasons that his Discworld books are so popular is that the titular Discworld mirrors ours, and so certain comparisons between the two make for interesting reading - I'm a sucker for things that show our society from an outside angle (i.e. prejudice exists, but not against the colour of a persons skin - there are too many species around for humans to discriminate against each other - "black and white come together to gang up on green" - alas not a direct quote).
It is also a version of our world where science isn't needed because magic exists, and is studied as if it were a science itself.
He also has a wonderful sense of humour to boot, and is such a vivid and skilled writer that it's impossible to read one of his books and not have a definite picture in your head of the world he is describing.
There are a few different sections of society that each book tends to focus on (the wizards, the watchmen, the witches, Tiffany [younger readers], Moist Von Lipwig, and the rather random Pyramids book), so if you prefer action then the watchmen books might be best to start with (Guards! Guards! is the first watchmen themed book).
That said, I always recommend Wyrd Sisters as a starting point because a lot of people learned about Macbeth at school, and the plot is very loosely based on that story. Albeit much, much easier to follow, more entertaining to read and with more likeable characters.
The Honor Harrington Series, first one being On Basilisk Station, by David Weber if you're into Sci-Fi
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EDIT
I didn't particularly like that series, but I always respected it. Then the movie and videogame come out and bastardize it. I don't know why, but the thing that pissed me off most was them calling "daemons" "Pans." for those who don't know, everyone has a daemon, the main character's was named Pan.SnowCold said:
I'd say that the City Watch books are the best overall (although thats entirely due to my preference of the characters, Vimes' cynical attitude appeals to me). I have to point out that if its a first Discworld novel and you want to go for the watchmen books, then start with 'Guards! Guards!'. I don't think its the best, but as its one of the earlier novels in the series, and the first starring the City Watch - it introduces the characters in their formative stages. And also it introduces the city in an accessible manner. Don't feel the need to try and read the novels in order as any other fantasy series, very few of them benefit particularly from this treatment and theres no sprawling, overarching plot across the series.Blue Sonnet said:
