Looking for sci-fi/fantasy recommendations

[OverHaze]

If there is one thing I can't criticise Erikson for its his comedy characters. Are there any authors in Sci-Fi or Fantasy that can match him at that?

[kennyc]

Who?




.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by OverHaze

If there is one thing I can't criticise Erikson for its his comedy characters. Are there any authors in Sci-Fi or Fantasy that can match him at that?

Terry Pratchett with Discworld.

[Dngrsone]

Don’t know Erikson, but Keith Laumer (Retief!) is pretty amusing...

On a side-note; anyone know of a book/series of military sci-fi that follows an enlisted person, rather than Officers?

I mean, sure, there are enlisted characters in, say Elizabeth Moon's Familias books or Weber's Honorverse, but they are not the main characters.

[OverHaze]

As I recall The Forever War is about an enlisted man.

[gweeks]

Originally Posted by Dngrsone

Don’t know Erikson, but Keith Laumer (Retief!) is pretty amusing...

On a side-note; anyone know of a book/series of military sci-fi that follows an enlisted person, rather than Officers?

I mean, sure, there are enlisted characters in, say Elizabeth Moon's Familias books or Weber's Honorverse, but they are not the main characters.

Temporary Duty by Ric Locke.

It's the only book he wrote. He died shortly after.

Greg

[artifact]

Originally Posted by Dngrsone

On a side-note; anyone know of a book/series of military sci-fi that follows an enlisted person, rather than Officers?

I mean, sure, there are enlisted characters in, say Elizabeth Moon's Familias books or Weber's Honorverse, but they are not the main characters.

Tanya Huff's Confederation follows an NCO -- does that count? There are some nice inner thoughts about pandering to officers. It is more Mil-SF than Familias but less than Honorverse.

[ApK]

Originally Posted by Dngrsone

On a side-note; anyone know of a book/series of military sci-fi that follows an enlisted person, rather than Officers?

Off the top of my head:

Starship Troopers
Old Man's War
A Hymn Before Battle
the Star Corpsman books by Ian Douglas

Some follow both officers and enlisted, and some enlisted go mustang or get field commissions, but all have enlisted as major central figures.

And I never read them but I believe some of the novels set in the HALO video game world follow Master Chief and other enlisted.

ApK

[Dngrsone]

Thanks for a lot of great recommendations, guys!

[OverHaze]

Given my liking for complex sometimes dark worlds, likeable well written characters and so on where the heck should I start with Discworld? I've been thinking about diving into the series for years but the sheer number of books makes it intimidating,

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by OverHaze

Given my liking for complex sometimes dark worlds, likeable well written characters and so on where the heck should I start with Discworld? I've been thinking about diving into the series for years but the sheer number of books makes it intimidating,

In a moment JSWolf will be along, insisting that the only way to read the Discworld books in in publication order. Ignore him.

I'd recommend starting with Mort, or Guards! Guards! or Small Gods or (if you like camels) Pyramids.

If you wanted me to pick just one, I'd say Small Gods.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

In a moment JSWolf will be along, insisting that the only way to read the Discworld books in in publication order. Ignore him.

I'd recommend starting with Mort, or Guards! Guards! or Small Gods or (if you like camels) Pyramids.

If you wanted me to pick just one, I'd say Small Gods.

Oh heck no. Small Gods is a terrible starting point. It's only good if you've read enough of the series. The best starting point would be The Colour of Magic.

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Oh heck no. Small Gods is a terrible starting point. It's only good if you've read enough of the series. The best starting point would be The Colour of Magic.

See what I mean? (The Colour of Magic was the first book published.)

In fact, Small Gods is an excellent starting point. It includes almost no characters or places from the earlier books, and needs no prior knowledge of the Discworld.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

See what I mean? (The Colour of Magic was the first book published.)

In fact, Small Gods is an excellent starting point. It includes almost no characters or places from the earlier books, and needs no prior knowledge of the Discworld.

While Small Gods was enjoyable, as a starting point, it would not be as enjoyable.

The problem with not reading The Colour of Magic & The Light Fantastic is you don't read some very useful background information that helps when reading other books in the series.

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

The problem with not reading The Colour of Magic & The Light Fantastic is you don't read some very useful background information that helps when reading other books in the series.

Name the most important piece of background info that is required to appreciate Small Gods.