1. Samuel Johnson vs. The Devil series by John Connelley.
2. Silence of the Lambs by Thomas Harris
3. Prey by Micheal Crichton.
2. Silence of the Lambs by Thomas Harris
3. Prey by Micheal Crichton.
Top Three Favorite Books/Series of All Time
- Thread starter retyopy
- Start date
Voltair by Candide and that's it, I stop reading most books around the 3rd chapter. I did finish Mogworld (was very good), and The Lord of the Rings Trilogy (better than the movies).
There are so many great book series I couldn't pick a 2 and a 3, but this would absolutley make this my number 1. The most original world I have ever read about, better than any movie or video game world. Great characters, great mythos, and after I've finished reading any one of the books in the series, I get a unique feeling I don't ascocaite with anything else. I relate to the characters more than any characters in other books, movies, or video games. Can't say enough how much I reccomend these books to other people.retyopy said:
*Takes breath*
Man they're awesome.
(On a side note, I just had an awesome thought. How great an RPG/MMO would these books make?!)
1. His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman
Ever since I heard the recorded tapes (read by Philip Pullman and an extremely talented cast) at the age of 12, I have loved these books. I remember how distraught I felt when The Northern Lights finished and I found that I hadn't got a book or recording of The Subtle Knife. I made it my mission to find it, and ordered my parents to take me to the book shop as soon as possible. I then read The Subtle Knife at school, in all the free time I had, until I had finished it. Then I read The Amber Spyglass. I bought all of the official tapes, and listened to them in France when I went on holiday. I fell in love with the series, and, having re-read them recently, I am still in love with them. Philip Pullman captured my mind in a way no other author has managed to before or since. For that, I will always admire him, and I cannot wait until The Book of Dust is finally released!
2. The Three Muskateers by Alexandre Dumas
This series includes Twenty Years Later and saga which The Man in the Iron Mask finishes.
3. The Moomin series by Tove Jannson
Tove Jannson had one of the most creative minds. Her books are quirky and fun, yet at the same time manage to be philosophical. I have only started to read her work recently - my love for the Moomins started years ago, when it was aired on T.V, but I wasn't aware of the books. I'm very glad I picked them up!
Ever since I heard the recorded tapes (read by Philip Pullman and an extremely talented cast) at the age of 12, I have loved these books. I remember how distraught I felt when The Northern Lights finished and I found that I hadn't got a book or recording of The Subtle Knife. I made it my mission to find it, and ordered my parents to take me to the book shop as soon as possible. I then read The Subtle Knife at school, in all the free time I had, until I had finished it. Then I read The Amber Spyglass. I bought all of the official tapes, and listened to them in France when I went on holiday. I fell in love with the series, and, having re-read them recently, I am still in love with them. Philip Pullman captured my mind in a way no other author has managed to before or since. For that, I will always admire him, and I cannot wait until The Book of Dust is finally released!
2. The Three Muskateers by Alexandre Dumas
This series includes Twenty Years Later and saga which The Man in the Iron Mask finishes.
3. The Moomin series by Tove Jannson
Tove Jannson had one of the most creative minds. Her books are quirky and fun, yet at the same time manage to be philosophical. I have only started to read her work recently - my love for the Moomins started years ago, when it was aired on T.V, but I wasn't aware of the books. I'm very glad I picked them up!
As books goes:
- Dune: The entire series is incredible well written, amazing characters, political plots, a perfect mix of fantasy and science fiction, this book is a must read.
- Elenium/Tamuli series: Technically they are two series but in the same universe with the same characters. Though simplistic at some times I found myself reading these books more than once, and was unable to put them down. David Eddings deserves notice, characters like Sparhawk, Belgarion, Belgarath and Polgara should be known by every fantasy fan.
- The death gate cycle, a different take on a known concept. The series has a total of seven books, I suggest everyone these books which certainly are worth your time.
Honorable mentions:
Hamlet: Love this book, I have read it over and over, though I own a poor translation.
The Antichrist: I requires dedication and open mind to read, but it is certainly worth the effort.
Alexander the Great books by Valerio Massimo Manfredi, simply called, "Alexander". Also from him "L'impero dei draghi", to give a simple idea of that book, imagine a Roman Commander lost in imperial china.
- Dune: The entire series is incredible well written, amazing characters, political plots, a perfect mix of fantasy and science fiction, this book is a must read.
- Elenium/Tamuli series: Technically they are two series but in the same universe with the same characters. Though simplistic at some times I found myself reading these books more than once, and was unable to put them down. David Eddings deserves notice, characters like Sparhawk, Belgarion, Belgarath and Polgara should be known by every fantasy fan.
- The death gate cycle, a different take on a known concept. The series has a total of seven books, I suggest everyone these books which certainly are worth your time.
Honorable mentions:
Hamlet: Love this book, I have read it over and over, though I own a poor translation.
The Antichrist: I requires dedication and open mind to read, but it is certainly worth the effort.
Alexander the Great books by Valerio Massimo Manfredi, simply called, "Alexander". Also from him "L'impero dei draghi", to give a simple idea of that book, imagine a Roman Commander lost in imperial china.
Drizzt Do'Urden novels; By R.A. Salvatore
The Dresden Files; By Jim Butcher
The Redwall Novels; By the late, great Brian Jacques
The Dresden Files; By Jim Butcher
The Redwall Novels; By the late, great Brian Jacques
1) Sword of Truth series, by Terry Goodkind
2) Inheritance Cycle, by Christopher Paolini
3) Atticus Kodiak series, by Greg Rucka
Yeah, i think that's accurate. The Fifth Ring trilogy, by Mitchell Graham is pretty even with Atticus Kodiak though, not sure I can really put one above the other.
2) Inheritance Cycle, by Christopher Paolini
3) Atticus Kodiak series, by Greg Rucka
Yeah, i think that's accurate. The Fifth Ring trilogy, by Mitchell Graham is pretty even with Atticus Kodiak though, not sure I can really put one above the other.
Since we are talking about series of books, I won't include books that have amazing first books and not-so amazing sequels. I'm looking at you Dune.
The Monster Blood Tattoo Series by D.M Cornish.
A Song of Ice and Fire by G.R.R. Martin
The Old Kingdom Trilogy by Garth Nix
Wow, that's a lot of fantasy.
The Monster Blood Tattoo Series by D.M Cornish.
A Song of Ice and Fire by G.R.R. Martin
The Old Kingdom Trilogy by Garth Nix
Wow, that's a lot of fantasy.
My personal top 3s are 1.Books: The Godfather (don't ask why...just read it,
The Count of Monte Cristo (Edmond Dantes is by far the most interesting and fun character in any book I've read)
and, last but not least, The Idiot...just don't read it while you're depressed
2.Series: Lotr(the characters are amazing, and the setting is truly, literally epic) Harry Potter(the series that got me into reading)
The Bartimeaus Trilogy
The Count of Monte Cristo (Edmond Dantes is by far the most interesting and fun character in any book I've read)
and, last but not least, The Idiot...just don't read it while you're depressed
2.Series: Lotr(the characters are amazing, and the setting is truly, literally epic) Harry Potter(the series that got me into reading)
The Bartimeaus Trilogy
I will choose some from the sci-fi genre to go more in line with my internet geekiness.
1. The "Revelation Space" Books by Alastair Reynolds: written in a way that drops you off seemingly in the middle of the story and it doesnt take chapters to "build" the main characters. I love how you are lost and left with questions in this engrossing story but it is so well put together in that as you go through the books all of the storylines pull together in a satisfying way.
2. Dune (including the non-FH books): Frank Herbert created such a rich and vivid universe in this series that paved the way for much of modern sci-fi writing.
3. Harry Potter: Same reasons as number 2, but I have to say that I have incredible respect for J.K Rowling, not just for her writing ability but for creating a series of books that got an entire generation interesting in reading again.
Honorable Mentions:
House of Leaves by ZAMPANO (or Johnny Truant, or ???)
The Sound and the Fury by William Faulkner
Ulysess by James Joyce
Les Miserables by Victor Hugo
and many, many others.
1. The "Revelation Space" Books by Alastair Reynolds: written in a way that drops you off seemingly in the middle of the story and it doesnt take chapters to "build" the main characters. I love how you are lost and left with questions in this engrossing story but it is so well put together in that as you go through the books all of the storylines pull together in a satisfying way.
2. Dune (including the non-FH books): Frank Herbert created such a rich and vivid universe in this series that paved the way for much of modern sci-fi writing.
3. Harry Potter: Same reasons as number 2, but I have to say that I have incredible respect for J.K Rowling, not just for her writing ability but for creating a series of books that got an entire generation interesting in reading again.
Honorable Mentions:
House of Leaves by ZAMPANO (or Johnny Truant, or ???)
The Sound and the Fury by William Faulkner
Ulysess by James Joyce
Les Miserables by Victor Hugo
and many, many others.
I've read many book series but none have quite hit home like The Dark Tower. It's so awesome that it will be taking 1st,2nd and 3rd place on my list.
So many tough choices. How to narrow it down to just three?
3. The Dune series. Just Frank's stuff. None of the dren put out by his son. Dune was just a phenomenal stand alone work, but the sequels told an even larger story, brought to its climax in God Emperor of Dune. Everything else is, in my reading, just problems that Leto already solved, but no one realizes it yet.
2. Here's a question of classification. How broad is the definition of "series"? If I can paint it very broadly, I'd include the entire Solar Cycle of Gene Wolfe, encompassing the Book of the New Sun, Book of the Long Sun, and Book of the Short Sun series'. They share a universe, several characters, and themes, but properly speaking are 3 series. In that case, I must make the heart-wrenching choice between New Sun and Long Sun, which are both full of powerful, important works that effected me in different ways. So...let's say New Sun! Hooray! Choices!
1. Here's more classifications. If I can lump Silmarillion in with Lord of the Rings, I'm going to say that. Call it "Tolkien's novels of Middle-earth". If not, then sorry, LotR, the Silmarillion is about 10 times better.
Half the rest are doing Honorable Mentions, so why not me?
-All the stuff that went in above but didn't make the final stringent cut, including Gene Wolfe's other phenomenal books, especially the Wizard Knight and Soldier series.
-The Three Musketeers, etc. I once mentioned this as a favorite to a teacher, who insisted that Dumas just followed another author's plot, sort of like a ghostwriter, and so shouldn't be so celebrated. That's just BS. What makes these novels shine is not the rather lackluster plot of historical and political intrigue. It's the characters...the dialogue that sparkle and glisten and live.
-Almost anything by Asimov. He was a superb writer in long form, short form, the man could WRITE! His characters may have all been the same, but they were fun.
-Moby Dick. Excellent, excellent, excellent. Long as hell, but worth the investment of time and muscle strain.
C.S. Lewis' Space Trilogy. This might be biased, but I love them to death. Out of the Silent Planet was vivid and wonderful and fascinating. Perelandra was profound and terrifying. That Hideous Strength was all of the above, and the take on the ancient pagan gods is interesting and clearly influenced the cosmologies of Wolfe.
Catch 22: Just brilliant and funny and sarcastic and great.
The Lensman Series by E.E. "Doc" Smith. Rollicking, old fashioned, over the top space battle sci-fi. Practically everything that has been done in the genre since then seems, to my eye, to be influenced by it.
I'd say that's enough. I could go on all day.
3. The Dune series. Just Frank's stuff. None of the dren put out by his son. Dune was just a phenomenal stand alone work, but the sequels told an even larger story, brought to its climax in God Emperor of Dune. Everything else is, in my reading, just problems that Leto already solved, but no one realizes it yet.
2. Here's a question of classification. How broad is the definition of "series"? If I can paint it very broadly, I'd include the entire Solar Cycle of Gene Wolfe, encompassing the Book of the New Sun, Book of the Long Sun, and Book of the Short Sun series'. They share a universe, several characters, and themes, but properly speaking are 3 series. In that case, I must make the heart-wrenching choice between New Sun and Long Sun, which are both full of powerful, important works that effected me in different ways. So...let's say New Sun! Hooray! Choices!
1. Here's more classifications. If I can lump Silmarillion in with Lord of the Rings, I'm going to say that. Call it "Tolkien's novels of Middle-earth". If not, then sorry, LotR, the Silmarillion is about 10 times better.
Half the rest are doing Honorable Mentions, so why not me?
-All the stuff that went in above but didn't make the final stringent cut, including Gene Wolfe's other phenomenal books, especially the Wizard Knight and Soldier series.
-The Three Musketeers, etc. I once mentioned this as a favorite to a teacher, who insisted that Dumas just followed another author's plot, sort of like a ghostwriter, and so shouldn't be so celebrated. That's just BS. What makes these novels shine is not the rather lackluster plot of historical and political intrigue. It's the characters...the dialogue that sparkle and glisten and live.
-Almost anything by Asimov. He was a superb writer in long form, short form, the man could WRITE! His characters may have all been the same, but they were fun.
-Moby Dick. Excellent, excellent, excellent. Long as hell, but worth the investment of time and muscle strain.
C.S. Lewis' Space Trilogy. This might be biased, but I love them to death. Out of the Silent Planet was vivid and wonderful and fascinating. Perelandra was profound and terrifying. That Hideous Strength was all of the above, and the take on the ancient pagan gods is interesting and clearly influenced the cosmologies of Wolfe.
Catch 22: Just brilliant and funny and sarcastic and great.
The Lensman Series by E.E. "Doc" Smith. Rollicking, old fashioned, over the top space battle sci-fi. Practically everything that has been done in the genre since then seems, to my eye, to be influenced by it.
I'd say that's enough. I could go on all day.