I need a book to read; no wait I need twenty

[Kajt]

Try the DragonLance series by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman, they're all great fantasy books.

 

[Lyri]

Do Androids dream of Electric Sheep? by Phillip K. Dick.

It's the novel that was later turned into the film, Bladerunner. I'm reading it myself and it's pretty good thus far.

 

[Croaker42]

Ugh Otherland was murder to me. I do agree that it dose get better after the first half of the first book but still that initial climb almost completly turned me off of the series. (Made it through book two) T

 

[Artemis923]

I've got a long and boring summer holiday coming up. My job isn't suited for extra shifts, PC gaming is dire and I can't be bothered with films.

This leaves me with books. I love reading, i used to read non stop, i read War and peace in 2 weeks and really enjoyed it. Lately I've slacked off a bit and I think that now is a good time to re-start my favourite hobby.

So I need some book recommendations, one's that I haven't read. To make your suggestions more useful here's a list of the type of books I want/like:

1. Fiction suggestions only please
2. My favourite genres are Sci Fi and Fantasy or any good action book
3. I'll happily read Children's books
4. I love funny books
5. I hate overly discriptive books (i.e. Dickens)
6. Books in a series are good as I have other books to read later on
7. My favourite authors are Terry Pratchett, Tolkien, Garth Nix and Christopher Paloini
8. I have read all Twilight novels - there OK but not great
9. 'Girly' books are fine, they provide an insigh into the opposite sex
10. Expense is not an issue, I've got a £100 lying around
11. I really love books that are 'un-put downable'

I HATE: depressive, emo, moodly, sulky and depressive books. I like to be cheered up . I can cope with 'dark' novels as long as they don't make you feel like you should go slit your wrists.

Cheers folks

A Song of Ice and Fire, starting with Game of Thrones.
The Legend of Drizzt, starting with either Icewind Dale or the Dark Elf Trilogy
The Wheel of Time series. It has its eh moments, but a good series all around.
The Poetic Edda
The Eyes of God Trilogy, good fantasy read.
Anything by H.P. Lovecraft

 

[Skeleon]

Ugh Otherland was murder to me. I do agree that it dose get better after the first half of the first book but still that initial climb almost completly turned me off of the series. (Made it through book two) T

Yeah, it took me a second attempt to get through the first book.
But afterwards I was hooked and read the 2nd, 3rd and 4th with incredible speed.

Oh, another one: His Dark Materials.
Gets a bit random during the second book and very cheesy towards the end of the third, but overall it's good.
The first book is still best, though.

 

[Cormitt]

George RR Martin's song of ice and fire series (maybe the best fantasy series ever)

AMEN!!! Damn fine read all of the books. Can't wait for Dance with Dragons to finally (if ever) come out. On top of that... It's hard to fault an author who's not afraid to kill off main characters in their series.

 

[cars-009@hotmail.com]

The "Death Gate Cycle" By Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman. There are 7 books.

 

[Artemis923]

AMEN!!! Damn fine read all of the books. Can't wait for Dance with Dragons to finally (if ever) come out. On top of that... It's hard to fault an author who's not afraid to kill off main characters in their series.

If GRRM can finish it this month it'll be out by September.

 

[KSI Hellboy]

Check out the six different Halo novels, they are all amazing books.

 

[Easykill]

Read Idlewild. It's not depressing, exactly. Not in the way "Death of a salesman" or "The Great Gatsby" were. Bad stuff happens, but it's more than that. It's an awesome book. Seriously, just do it.

 

[skips]

Kafka on the Shore.

 

[Jerious1154]

Two words.. Patrick O'Brien - 21 books of fun and frivolity with Jack Aubrey and Stephen Maturin.

Failing that.. just finishing "American Gods" by Daniel Gaiman. Pretty decent read.

It's Neil Gaiman.

But yes, American Gods is amazing, and I would recommend anything by Neil Gaiman.

Also, you should read Tigana by Guy Gavriel Kay.

 

[Geamo]

Dune all by Frank Herbert.
Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card
War of the Worlds/Time Machine by H.G. Wells
Do Androids dream of Electric Sheep?/the Man in the High Castle by Philip K. Dick
1984/Animal Farm by George Orwell
The Farseer Trilogy by Robin Hobb
American Gods/Coraline/The Graveyard Book/Stardust by Neil Gaiman
Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams
A Song of Ice and Fire by George R.R. Martin
Necronomicon by H.P. Lovecraft
Stranger in a Strange Land/starship Trooper by Robert A. Heinlein
Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut

All Sci-Fi/Fantasy. Have a good summer.

Basically this.
Also, I Am Legend by Richard Matheson, and the Watchmen comic.

 

[noodlestreet]

After reading through the list:

For science fiction, definitely read SLAUGHTER-HOUSE 5 by KURT VONNEGUT

if you like it, Cat's Cradle and Breakfast of Champions are both also excellent

If you looking for action, read FOR WHOM THE BELL TOLLS by ERNEST HEMMINGWAY

this is my favorite novel

Lastly, I suggest A CLOCKWORK ORANGE by ANTHONY BURGESS

the movie is good, but the book is far far superior. the movie leaves a ton out.

Finally, I know you said fiction only, but someone above suggested STALINGRAD by ANTHONY BEEVOR, which is the best WWII history written in the past ten years.

All great reads. Enjoy

 

[Jamous]

Try some David Eddings.

 

[black-magic]

Without remorse by Tom clancy, Same can be said about just about any book actually written by tom Clancy (I.E. Not ghost written) Other personal favorites are Red storm rising and Clear and Present Danger.

Besides Tom Clancy I truly enjoyed The whole dragonlance series by Margret Weis and Tracy Hickman.

And if your accepting of graphic novels, Saikano has a better plot then any of the books thus far mentioned in this thread.

Edit: I hadn't thought of it, but Slaughterhouse 5 and cats cradle are both excelent reads, along with 1984.

 

[MagnetoHydroDynamics]

All the "Culture" novels by Ian Banks.
Should keep you entertained for a good while.
Top Sci-Fi with a good storyline. All the books are more or less independent, so which one you pick up isn't really important.

What he said.

Also, try getting your hands on Clifford D. Simak's "Waystation" and "City".
They are some marvelous 30's sci-fi.

And just to finish:
Red/Green/Blue Mars trilogy by Kim Stanley Robinson.

 

[Exile714]

Despite the fact that it's been made into a movie (a book killer in my view), you could read "The Road" by Cormac McCarthy. It's not very science-fictiony, but its a good post-apocalyptic and a faster read.

 

[S.H.A.R.P.]

I have 24 books for you, all in one series, which I all found very pleasurable to read! No wait, I didn't read them, I listened to some fantastic audio books!

It's the Bernard Cornwell's Sharpe series [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Sharpe_(fictional_character)#The_Sharpe_novels_and_short_stories].

It's fiction, but not fantasy or sci-fi. No, these books take you back to the time of musketry, dreadful canister shot and infantry square formations! These books follow the life and career of private Richard Sharpe, soldier in Her Majesty's Royal Army, also known as the British army, through epic battles throughout the world. Sharpen up your historical knowledge, while at the same time becoming fascinated of the way warfare was handled at that time.

Wage huge battles, with staggering odds. Stand in the frontlines, where you'll wet your long johns in sheer terror alongside your brethren, fearing each salvo fired by the enemy. Join in on the famous clockwork regiment fire and mow down your fear stricken enemies. Assault dreadful fortresses where there isn't even time to fear, only bravery and downright fury will get you across the walls!

Seriously, I went through these books in a storm. These were the first historical novel series I read, and they are very well written in my uneducated opinion. I learned a lot of historical warfare, and what sheer idiocy war was at that time. Most stories in the series share some common ingredients; battles, intrigue, love, friendship. But even though they bear some similarities, each book is awesome to read. Of course, Sharpe doesn't stay as a private, but moves up through the ranks (which was a wonderful and very uncommon feat at that time).

If you need something else than your standard fantasy or sci-fi story, read the Sharpe novels!