I know The hitchhikers guide has already mentioned, but if not that, there's always the Dirk Gently series.
I need some good book recommendations......
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LOL at the title with two colons.Zeke109 post=18.71006.712457 said:
My favourite book ever is Catcher in the Rye. Love in the Time of Cholera or 100 Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez also fantastic. Heard someone suggest slaughterhouse five - YES. Also anything by Raymond Chandler, but his best two probably the Big Sleep or Farewell My Lovely. Hardboiled pulp classics, but written so lyrically.
"The old man spoke slowly, conserving his strength like an out-of-work showgirl conserves her last clean pair of stockings" - how is that anything other than genius?
Dunno whether this has been said already, but I highly doubt it.
Derek Landy's 'Skulduggery Pleasant' series. It's comedy, it's action, and it's got an wise-cracking, undead skeleton/detective/wizard as the main character.
It's basically pure, unadulterated win.
Derek Landy's 'Skulduggery Pleasant' series. It's comedy, it's action, and it's got an wise-cracking, undead skeleton/detective/wizard as the main character.
It's basically pure, unadulterated win.
I highly recommend the following.
Mind Parasites by Collin Wilson
Space Vampires by Collin Wilson
- Both excellent books with great philosophical content
Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep by Philip K. Dick
- The book that Blade Runner was based on. (The book is a thousand times better with much deeper content)
Neuromancer by William Gibson
- Possibly the first true piece of cyberpunk fiction
A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burges
and if you are feeling like doing something real bad to your mind
Naked Lunch by William S. Bourroughs
Mind Parasites by Collin Wilson
Space Vampires by Collin Wilson
- Both excellent books with great philosophical content
Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep by Philip K. Dick
- The book that Blade Runner was based on. (The book is a thousand times better with much deeper content)
Neuromancer by William Gibson
- Possibly the first true piece of cyberpunk fiction
A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burges
and if you are feeling like doing something real bad to your mind
Naked Lunch by William S. Bourroughs
Well considering this is The Escapist, this has probably already been said and I wouldn't attempt it for a book report, but a good book is Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand.
I'm in the process of reading it now, it's as good as everyone on The Escapist says it is.
I'm in the process of reading it now, it's as good as everyone on The Escapist says it is.
I would read A Rumor of War by Philip Caputo.
Or the first book in the X-Wing series of Star Wars. The books name is Rogue Squadron by Michael Stackpole.
Or the first book in the X-Wing series of Star Wars. The books name is Rogue Squadron by Michael Stackpole.
Someone already said 'Catch-22' (really really good, but if you are not the greatest reader, it will be difficult to follow)
And someone already mentioned 'A Game of Thrones'
Here's more:
-The Postman (really really really good, prob. my favorite)
-David Eddings- 'Sparhawk Series' (Starts with- The Diamond Throne)
- Mistress of the Empire (Raymond E. Feist and Janny Wurts)
And then if anyones interested, Joe Sixsmith novels and Dalziel & Pascal detective novels.
And someone already mentioned 'A Game of Thrones'
Here's more:
-The Postman (really really really good, prob. my favorite)
-David Eddings- 'Sparhawk Series' (Starts with- The Diamond Throne)
- Mistress of the Empire (Raymond E. Feist and Janny Wurts)
And then if anyones interested, Joe Sixsmith novels and Dalziel & Pascal detective novels.
I'm fairly sure someone has mentioned it, but...
The Moon is a Harsh Mistress, by Robert Heinlein, is in my opinion the quintessential example of a book done perfectly right. What depresses me is that no one I recommend it to ever sees fit to read past the first chapter or so.
Seriously, though, more folks need to be reading this book. It's the best piece of Science fiction I've had the good fortune to come across, with none of than namby-pamby aliens crap - all the conflict you need if engineered by good old human stupidity.
Every time someone says that book is boring, humankind devolves just a little more.
The Moon is a Harsh Mistress, by Robert Heinlein, is in my opinion the quintessential example of a book done perfectly right. What depresses me is that no one I recommend it to ever sees fit to read past the first chapter or so.
Seriously, though, more folks need to be reading this book. It's the best piece of Science fiction I've had the good fortune to come across, with none of than namby-pamby aliens crap - all the conflict you need if engineered by good old human stupidity.
Every time someone says that book is boring, humankind devolves just a little more.
I ended up having to just grab 20,000 leagues under the sea because I didn't have time to run to the store/library. =( Ah well, I'll still read most of the recommended books, just kinda sucks that I wasn't able to take care of two birds with one stone. =/ Thanks for all the suggestions, I really need to get off my ass and hit the library soon....
Off Armageddon Reed and its sequel By Schism Rent Asunder by David Weber. Second one just came out, going to be at least one more.
The Abhorsen trilogy (first one called Sabrial) by Garth Nix.
The Abhorsen trilogy (first one called Sabrial) by Garth Nix.
One thing that bugs me, and its connected to the 'video games in the media' thing...
Terry Pratchett's books, generally seen as kid's books by most people, even the people who go on and on about how great the Harry Potter books were.
Sure Terry Pratchett makes em easy to read, but over the last 30 or so books, he's tackled racism, sexism, war, religion, freedom of speech, the economy, and just about every big topic out there, and by placing the big ideas in a parallel world, stops people being offended by them.
Also while being genuinely funny, he is a true craftsman, usually having multiple tales all going on, crossing over each and weaving together near the end, and is capable of being funny and touching at the same time. I know the last part of Jingo was tough going, in terms of caring for the characters, as one example.
Oh and he never feels preachy either
Stephen King was something I really started out reading, but I suggest you start out on his smaller collections of short stories, as he's one of those writers who can go 50 pages without actually saying anything.
What's weird about King, is that his non horror tales are the only ones that seem to make good movies. Shawshank Redemption, Green Mile, etc.
Terry Pratchett's books, generally seen as kid's books by most people, even the people who go on and on about how great the Harry Potter books were.
Sure Terry Pratchett makes em easy to read, but over the last 30 or so books, he's tackled racism, sexism, war, religion, freedom of speech, the economy, and just about every big topic out there, and by placing the big ideas in a parallel world, stops people being offended by them.
Also while being genuinely funny, he is a true craftsman, usually having multiple tales all going on, crossing over each and weaving together near the end, and is capable of being funny and touching at the same time. I know the last part of Jingo was tough going, in terms of caring for the characters, as one example.
Oh and he never feels preachy either
Stephen King was something I really started out reading, but I suggest you start out on his smaller collections of short stories, as he's one of those writers who can go 50 pages without actually saying anything.
What's weird about King, is that his non horror tales are the only ones that seem to make good movies. Shawshank Redemption, Green Mile, etc.
Unfortunately, the books I'm reading for pleasure now can be considered textbookish (though "Mapping Recreational Literacies" and "New Literacies" are very interesting books). My absolute favorite series I've read this year is the Bourne Identity. The series does not follow the storyline of the movies at all, so don't go off of the movies, or you will fail.