Recommend me some Fantasy/SF, if you have a free moment

[sassanik]

Originally Posted by HowGozit

old after that)
I've enjoyed and am finishing Christoper Paolini's Inheritance series (Eragon et al) Fictionwise have a 40% of sale on the 3. But only in DRM'ed versions, and it still means its about $12 for the latest one.



Ross

I actually did not make it through Eragon, I thought I would like it, but to me it felt like it was a McCaffery/Tolkien copy. It definately felt like his writing was VERY heavily influenced by their work. But if you have not read the Pern Series by Anne McCaffery then Inheritance Series would prolly work just fine for you.

Though I have to admit to liking the movie.

Amy

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by sassanik

I actually did not make it through Eragon, I thought I would like it, but to me it felt like it was a McCaffery/Tolkien copy. It definately felt like his writing was VERY heavily influenced by their work. But if you have not read the Pern Series by Anne McCaffery then Inheritance Series would prolly work just fine for you.

Though I have to admit to liking the movie.

Amy

According to what others who have read Eragon and seen the movie, the movie was not all that wonderful. But once I get around to reading Eragon, I'll find out. I have seen the movie and it did seem a bit lightweight for such a long book.

[Redcard]

I've now finished Eragon and seen the movie.. and honestly, the movie does leave stuff out.. but the stuff it has in seems to be faithful to the counterparts in the book.

I really don't think the extra stuff the book gives you makes the story "better" or more compelling.

[brudigia]

As somebody already mentioned, I would strongly suggest Dune by Frank Herbert. Not all of them and not the more recent ones by Kevin Anderson, as the direction is slightly different. The first three are ok, in particular Dune itself is masterpiece.
I second the Hyperion mention.
Nobody ever mentioned Greg Bear and its Eon series ? They are something really unusual. And very good, at least according to me.
On fantasy, I personally treasure most of the Pratchett Discworld. Not all of them, but they are usually higher than average.

I might advice Kim Harrison and the Hollows series, it really captures your attention, but I do not know whther to call it fantasy

There are oh so many. I believe there is somewhere (maybe some magazine like Locus) a list of the best 100 books. That could be a good place to look at.

From Simak's books City is nice as well.

How to forget the basics, though, (so you understand where SF/Fantasy comes from) like Burroughs, E.E. Smith (these people works are all in the mobileread library), again not all of them, but the first, just to give you a glimpse of how it all started.

[brudigia]

Have alook at these links, for example.

http://home.austarnet.com.au/petersy...oks_rank1.html

After that, there is much to say for tastes. As they differ, so the list may change also dramatically.

Cheers

[BenG]

I would recommend Mary Gentle's Book Of Ash. It's about (among other things) a female mercenary in 15th century Burgundy whose memoirs are discovered in the near future.
Sometimes it's published as four separate books: A Secret History, Carthage Ascendant, The Wild Machines, and Lost Burgundy.

[HowGozit]

Originally Posted by DMcCunney

As do I, and I'll toss in _The Goblin Reservation_ Gotta love a book where the English Department at a University is peeved at the Deaprtment of Time Travel, which has not only proved that Shakespeare didn't write the plays attributed to him, but brought Will himself forward in time to lecture about it.

______
Dennis

"The Goblin Reservation" .... Forgot about that - and yes - it is a classic. Must hunt around and see if I still have a copy..

The Stainless Steel Rat "Missing Battleship" is also at Manybooks.net.

(and Fictionwise for a buck or so..)

Ross

[BlackVoid]

The Forgotten Realms books by R. A. Salvatore are very nice. Reading the Dark Elf trilogy now and I like it.
I think these books are a nice start to read fantasy.

[JSWolf]

I'll chime in here with the Myth series by Robert Asprin. Very funny and very enjoyable.

[Slite]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

I'll chime in here with the Myth series by Robert Asprin. Very funny and very enjoyable.

I second that! And in the same sort of "zany" fantasy I would recomend Craig Shaw Gardners books about Ebenezum and Wuntvor. Been a few years since I read these, but I remember them fondly....

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Slite

I second that! And in the same sort of "zany" fantasy I would recomend Craig Shaw Gardners books about Ebenezum and Wuntvor. Been a few years since I read these, but I remember them fondly....

I'll second those as well. I did read them and rather enjoyed them.

[daesdaemar]

The Hyperion Series by Dan Simmons

[HowGozit]

To wander down another alley or 2.

Orson Scott Card - the Prentice Alvin series. (Although I never quite finished all the series - the first 3 were very good).

Katherine Kurtz - the Deryni series (only on DRM'ed ebook at Fictionwise - I have the paper versions).

Merlins Ring and Merlins Godson by H Warner Munn (good luck finding copies of that...)

Michael Moorcock - the original Elric of Menibone (I can't put in the accent ) He got a little widespread later with his Eternal Champion expansion of the idea..

Fritz Leiber - especially anything with Fahfrd and the Gray Mouser (Lankhmar series).

Brian Jacques (I enjoyed all of the Redwall series - even if they are completely illogical - they are individually good yarns), and also his Flying Dutchman pair of books.

That'll do (and looky - I see Goblin Reservation in the Bookcase )

Ross

[CleverClothe]

Originally Posted by brudigia

I second the Hyperion mention.
Nobody ever mentioned Greg Bear and its Eon series ? They are something really unusual. And very good, at least according to me.

Thirded. Fouthed.

Seconded.

[ErwinOtten]

I really liked the fantasy-books of Carol Berg.
Only the latest two are available as e-books and those are just the two I haven't read (yet)

But for p-book starters I recommend the stand alone 'Song of the Beast'
and of course the first book in the Rai-kirah series: 'Transformation'


And a 'clasic' series

The death gate cycle by Weis & Hickman.

But I can only find the last one of the cycle (nr 7) as an ebook (disregarding all the illegal torrents I find with Google of course ) Why on earth someone wants to buy the last book of a series of 7 as an ebook is completely beyond me though.

by the way...My avatar is the cover of book 3 'Fire Sea' I realise now