I can heartily recommend David Drake's books, both his own and in his collaborations. He's perhaps best known for his Military SF "Hammer's Slammers", but he's written some splendid fantasy novels too.
Some of his books are available in the Baen Free Library (for free, of course).
Specifically, I'd recommend trying
An Oblique Approach: First of a six novel series. The first four are in the free library. Alternative history SF, set around the year 540 AD.
http://www.webscription.net/p-300-an...-approach.aspx
Lord of the Isles: First of a six novel fantasy series set in a pre-industrial society with magic. Unfortunately not available in the free library, but all six can be bought in a bundle for $15. The first few chapters are available on-line.
http://www.webscription.net/p-257-lo...the-isles.aspx
With the Lightnings: First of a series in a military SF setting. The first three are in the free library.
http://www.webscription.net/p-469-wi...ightnings.aspx
The Tank Lords: the first two Hammer's Slammers books in a combined volume. Classic Military SF.
http://www.webscription.net/p-624-the-tank-lords.aspx
Quote:
Originally Posted by MdB
I love a good adventure, sure, but certainly prefer the realistic shades of gray that Martin presents to the blindingly black and white world of Goodkind. I enjoy Science, and Fantasy, and do not particularly prefer one to the other, but I need a good character development and plot over an impressive premise.
Any and all suggestions are appreciated, and if I have missed a thread that has already really answered this, I apologize. I've looked through the SF/Fantasy sticky at the top, as well as many others, and that has given me a ton of ideas, but I guess what I'm looking for is a ranking - top 10 SF books/series, so I know where to start.
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