Need a Book series recommendation

HLS · 12-04-2017, 07:38 PM

I am looking for a book series to read from a well known author but nothing super big like Alex Cross. I hear its 26 books deep and there is no way Ill ever get caught up. Maybe a series that is no more than 3 -4 books in. It can be horror, sci-fi, Mystery, thrillers, suspence but I am big in horror and science fiction. Thank you. Do not include Arthur C Clarke for I already have almost every one of his books and short stories

GeoffR · 12-04-2017, 10:28 PM

Not a lot to go on, but here are some shorter SF series I liked a lot:

Peter Watts, Blindsight/Echopraxia (2 books, omnibus "Firefall")
-- Hard SF with an intense atmosphere verging on horror.

Robert J. Sawyer, The Neanderthal Parallax (3 books starting with "Hominids")
-- Clever alternative/parallel history setting, social contrasts.

C. J. Cherryh, The Morgaine Cycle (4 books, omnibus "The Complete Morgaine")
-- Science fantasy, bleak setting, great relationship between two main characters.

Karen Traviss, The Wess'har Wars (6 shortish books starting with "City of Pearl")
-- Nicely imagined alien cultures, ethics and politics. Ambitious, with a few easily-forgiven flaws.

Apache · 12-05-2017, 06:14 AM

The Empire of Man series by David Weber and John Ringo. There are 4 books in the series.
Apache

rcentros · 12-05-2017, 09:34 PM

I'm reading the Odd Thomas series by Dean Koontz.

Dr. Drib · 12-06-2017, 10:45 AM

The series by Barry Hughart.

And for that matter, the Kai Lung books.

I'll let you do some of the 'look-up' work, for the rewards will be sweet, indeed.

cjr72 · 12-06-2017, 11:17 AM

The Takeshi Kovacs Novels by Richard K. Morgan. It's a three book sci fi noir series.

Penforhire · 12-07-2017, 10:35 AM

Just an FYI, you can dabble in the Alex Cross series without feeling forced to read them all. I say that because that is how I approach that series, still having not read them all. The protagonist persists and evolves but the stories are generally begun and ended in the same single book.

Lots of good suggestions in the thread already. I see Peter Watts mentioned so I'd add his Rifter trilogy as a SF/thriller mixture with some elements of horror.

hildea · 12-07-2017, 03:44 PM

Some great series with a few books:

Science fiction:

Ann Leckie: Ancillary Justice, triology. The protagonist used to be an AI controlling a huge spaceship and thousands of soldier units (made from prisoners of war). When the book begins the ship is gone and she has just one soldier unit left.

Kind of thriller/horror (but also really funny, in between all the horrible stuff happening):
Sarah Rees Brennan: Demon's Lexicon. Nick and Alan are brothers, and have been on the run from magicians their whole lives. But when a demon marks Alan, they have to stop running.
Sarah Rees Brennan: Lynburn Legacy. A gothic novel, about what happens when the manor family returns to the village Sorry-in-the-Vale. And why Kami's imaginary friend maybe isn't all that imaginary after all.
Both these are triologies, and both have cliffhanger endings in at least one of the books.
Here's a short story from the Demon's Lexicon universe (a prequel), so you can see if you like her way of writing. (Note: She has more short stories on her website, but a lot of them are spoilery.)

curtw · 12-07-2017, 04:06 PM

Maybe David Brin's "Uplift" books? Three stand-alone novels set in the same universe, and if you like those, there's a follow-on trilogy.

HLS · 12-07-2017, 04:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GeoffR

Not a lot to go on, but here are some shorter SF series I liked a lot:

Peter Watts, Blindsight/Echopraxia (2 books, omnibus "Firefall")
-- Hard SF with an intense atmosphere verging on horror.

Robert J. Sawyer, The Neanderthal Parallax (3 books starting with "Hominids")
-- Clever alternative/parallel history setting, social contrasts.

C. J. Cherryh, The Morgaine Cycle (4 books, omnibus "The Complete Morgaine")
-- Science fantasy, bleak setting, great relationship between two main characters.

Karen Traviss, The Wess'har Wars (6 shortish books starting with "City of Pearl")
-- Nicely imagined alien cultures, ethics and politics. Ambitious, with a few easily-forgiven flaws.

The first sounds interesting

HLS · 12-07-2017, 04:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rcentros

I'm reading the Odd Thomas series by Dean Koontz.

I read a few. I liked the first two anf got bored on the 3rd but i am thinking od taking it up again

Dr. Drib · 12-08-2017, 09:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kcladyz

I read a few. I liked the first two anf got bored on the 3rd but i am thinking od taking it up again

I have the first one, but I haven't yet read it.

In looking over a few reviews, some readers say they laughed and cried (presumably not at the same time.) What is it about this series? And what was it about the 3rd book that you got bored with when reading it?

-- Thanks.

kansaskyle · 12-08-2017, 09:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr. Drib

I have the first one, but I haven't yet read it.

In looking over a few reviews, some readers say they laughed and cried (presumably not at the same time.) What is it about this series?
-- Thanks.

I really enjoyed the Odd Thomas series. They are fun, quirky books where a young man named Odd Thomas can see and interact with the dead. There is a reason for this brought out in the series, which ultimately serves a purpose. Odd even meets some famous dead people like Elvis!

I did find the books took a bit darker twist later in the series. Overall, I found them enjoyable. They did include bits of humor and sadness -- but, not at the same time as you presumed!

Luffy · 12-08-2017, 10:04 AM

The last act of the first Odd Thomas book made me cry. I also cried when watching the movie.

Dr. Drib · 12-08-2017, 10:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kansaskyle

I really enjoyed the Odd Thomas series. They are fun, quirky books where a young man named Odd Thomas can see and interact with the dead. There is a reason for this brought out in the series, which ultimately serves a purpose. Odd even meets some famous dead people like Elvis!

I did find the books took a bit darker twist later in the series. Overall, I found them enjoyable. They did include bits of humor and sadness -- but, not at the same time as you presumed!

Thank you for the info.

Sounds like the light side of Brian Lumley's Necroscope series.

Well, I have that first one. I suppose I really should read it.

12-04-2017, 07:38 PM	#1
HLS Wizard Posts: 2,027 Karma: 15107670 Join Date: May 2017 Device: Sage, Scribe, Boox Note 2 Plus, iPad Pros and Samsungs S6,S7,S8	Need a Book series recommendation I am looking for a book series to read from a well known author but nothing super big like Alex Cross. I hear its 26 books deep and there is no way Ill ever get caught up. Maybe a series that is no more than 3 -4 books in. It can be horror, sci-fi, Mystery, thrillers, suspence but I am big in horror and science fiction. Thank you. Do not include Arthur C Clarke for I already have almost every one of his books and short stories

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12-04-2017, 10:28 PM	#2
GeoffR Wizard Posts: 3,821 Karma: 19162882 Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Te Riu-a-Māui Device: Kobo Glo	Not a lot to go on, but here are some shorter SF series I liked a lot: Peter Watts, Blindsight/Echopraxia (2 books, omnibus "Firefall") -- Hard SF with an intense atmosphere verging on horror. Robert J. Sawyer, The Neanderthal Parallax (3 books starting with "Hominids") -- Clever alternative/parallel history setting, social contrasts. C. J. Cherryh, The Morgaine Cycle (4 books, omnibus "The Complete Morgaine") -- Science fantasy, bleak setting, great relationship between two main characters. Karen Traviss, The Wess'har Wars (6 shortish books starting with "City of Pearl") -- Nicely imagined alien cultures, ethics and politics. Ambitious, with a few easily-forgiven flaws.

12-05-2017, 06:14 AM	#3
Apache Readaholic Posts: 5,132 Karma: 89858112 Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: South Georgia Device: Surface Pro 6 / Galaxy Tab A 8"	The Empire of Man series by David Weber and John Ringo. There are 4 books in the series. Apache

12-05-2017, 09:34 PM	#4
rcentros eReader Wrangler Posts: 7,433 Karma: 48453105 Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Boise, ID Device: PB HD3, GL3, Tolino Vision 4, Voyage, Clara HD	I'm reading the Odd Thomas series by Dean Koontz.

12-06-2017, 10:45 AM	#5
Dr. Drib Grand Sorcerer Posts: 44,736 Karma: 55645321 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Peru Device: Kindle: Oasis 3, Voyage WiFi; Kobo: Libra 2, Aura One	The series by Barry Hughart. And for that matter, the Kai Lung books. I'll let you do some of the 'look-up' work, for the rewards will be sweet, indeed.

12-06-2017, 11:17 AM	#6
cjr72 Groupie Posts: 172 Karma: 2900000 Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: A Yankee in Texas Device: Nexus 6p, Nexus 10	The Takeshi Kovacs Novels by Richard K. Morgan. It's a three book sci fi noir series.

12-07-2017, 10:35 AM	#7
Penforhire Wizard Posts: 2,230 Karma: 7145404 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Southern California Device: Kindle Voyage & iPhone 7+	Just an FYI, you can dabble in the Alex Cross series without feeling forced to read them all. I say that because that is how I approach that series, still having not read them all. The protagonist persists and evolves but the stories are generally begun and ended in the same single book. Lots of good suggestions in the thread already. I see Peter Watts mentioned so I'd add his Rifter trilogy as a SF/thriller mixture with some elements of horror.

12-07-2017, 03:44 PM	#8
hildea Wizard Posts: 1,217 Karma: 63835638 Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Norway Device: PocketBook Touch Lux (had Onyx Boox Poke 3 and BeBook Neo earlier)	Some great series with a few books: Science fiction: Ann Leckie: Ancillary Justice, triology. The protagonist used to be an AI controlling a huge spaceship and thousands of soldier units (made from prisoners of war). When the book begins the ship is gone and she has just one soldier unit left. Kind of thriller/horror (but also really funny, in between all the horrible stuff happening): Sarah Rees Brennan: Demon's Lexicon. Nick and Alan are brothers, and have been on the run from magicians their whole lives. But when a demon marks Alan, they have to stop running. Sarah Rees Brennan: Lynburn Legacy. A gothic novel, about what happens when the manor family returns to the village Sorry-in-the-Vale. And why Kami's imaginary friend maybe isn't all that imaginary after all. Both these are triologies, and both have cliffhanger endings in at least one of the books. Here's a short story from the Demon's Lexicon universe (a prequel), so you can see if you like her way of writing. (Note: She has more short stories on her website, but a lot of them are spoilery.)

12-07-2017, 04:06 PM	#9
curtw Outside of a dog Posts: 863 Karma: 4457646 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Houston, TX Device: Kindle Voyage	Maybe David Brin's "Uplift" books? Three stand-alone novels set in the same universe, and if you like those, there's a follow-on trilogy.

12-08-2017, 10:04 AM	#14
Luffy Wizard Posts: 4,461 Karma: 429063498 Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Mauritius Device: Kindle Paperwhite 4	The last act of the first Odd Thomas book made me cry. I also cried when watching the movie.