The Death Gate Cycle, by the same people who wrote Dragonlance, whos' names I cannot spell right now, remains the superior series, in my opinion.
Alan Dean Fosters' Flinx and Pip series is showing unfortunate signs of 'creative drift'...Much like an unsteered boat.
Gordon R. Dicksons' Dragon series, about a modern man who ends up in a fantasy england and cons himself into a castle on the way to rescueing his girlfriend and ends up a hero is both old, funny, deadly serious and witty.
John de Chancies' Castle Perilous series makes absolutly no pretentions to seriousness or philosophy, yet still manages both on its way to a barrel of laughs.
Rick Cooks' Wizardry series, about a programmer from earth who gets kidnapped to another world and ends up a wizard, is both old, unfortunatly discontinued and funnier than a bunch of dwarves trying to fly.
Books!
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Thanatos5150
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I think E.E. Knight has a good thing going with his Vampire Earth series. About a post-apocolyptic Earth being invaded by vampire-like aliens, and in particular, one of the Resitance members named David Valentine.
I just started delving into his Age of Fire seires, which, so far (I'm not even done with the first book yet), seems to be about the dying age of dragons, focusing on Auron/AuRon (When he gets his wings, the second syllable becomes capitilized, and explanation is left out.), who is a (rare) scaleless "grey" dragon. I put "Grey" in quotes becuase he seems to be more of a Chameleon than a Grey.
I just started delving into his Age of Fire seires, which, so far (I'm not even done with the first book yet), seems to be about the dying age of dragons, focusing on Auron/AuRon (When he gets his wings, the second syllable becomes capitilized, and explanation is left out.), who is a (rare) scaleless "grey" dragon. I put "Grey" in quotes becuase he seems to be more of a Chameleon than a Grey.
"Justice is the Art of the Thief"
~Socrates~
"Weapons and armor are for those who lack skill, Honor and courage"
~Drunken Monk to a Paladin in the tavern. No bystanders were harmed in the ensuing brawl~
~Socrates~
"Weapons and armor are for those who lack skill, Honor and courage"
~Drunken Monk to a Paladin in the tavern. No bystanders were harmed in the ensuing brawl~
I too am a big fan of John DeChancie's Castle Perilous books. I still haven't read the newest one, but I've read all the others.
Despite the over-cheesiness of the banter at times, I can't prevent myself from enjoying Eddings' The Belgariad. Not so much his other works.
I liked the earlier Terry Brooks Shanarra novels, but the later stuff comes off as rushed and poorly-conceived. I really enjoyed his Magic Kingdom of Landover books, however.
I LOVE Stephen R. Donaldson's short story collections, Daughter of Regals and Other Tales, and Reave the Just and Other Tales. However, the Thomas Covenant novels are WAY too dry for me (and I've enjoyed the Silmarillion).
Tolkien is my favourite author, hands down. I'll leave it at that.
I'm a big fan of children's books that have a fantasy vein. The Hobbit, Alice in Wonderland, Baum's Oz novels, The Neverending Story, Harry Potter, The Wind in the Willows, anything by Roald Dahl, and so on.
I love epic historical fiction, such as the Patrick O'Brien novels (Master and Commander, etc). I intend to read the Davinci Code for this reason, despite all the bad things I've heard. (QUOTE: "Complete loose-stool water. Ass gravy of the worst kind." - Stephen Fry)
I'm also a fan of Robert E. Howard's Conan books, and intend to purchase the new collected editions very soon (un-pastiched!).
I'll leave the list there for the moment... too many good books!
Despite the over-cheesiness of the banter at times, I can't prevent myself from enjoying Eddings' The Belgariad. Not so much his other works.
I liked the earlier Terry Brooks Shanarra novels, but the later stuff comes off as rushed and poorly-conceived. I really enjoyed his Magic Kingdom of Landover books, however.
I LOVE Stephen R. Donaldson's short story collections, Daughter of Regals and Other Tales, and Reave the Just and Other Tales. However, the Thomas Covenant novels are WAY too dry for me (and I've enjoyed the Silmarillion).
Tolkien is my favourite author, hands down. I'll leave it at that.
I'm a big fan of children's books that have a fantasy vein. The Hobbit, Alice in Wonderland, Baum's Oz novels, The Neverending Story, Harry Potter, The Wind in the Willows, anything by Roald Dahl, and so on.
I love epic historical fiction, such as the Patrick O'Brien novels (Master and Commander, etc). I intend to read the Davinci Code for this reason, despite all the bad things I've heard. (QUOTE: "Complete loose-stool water. Ass gravy of the worst kind." - Stephen Fry)
I'm also a fan of Robert E. Howard's Conan books, and intend to purchase the new collected editions very soon (un-pastiched!).
I'll leave the list there for the moment... too many good books!
Melanie Rawn's Dragon Prince and Star Scroll series are excellent fantasy with romance, elemental magic, intrigue, and assassinations, and wars. Everything seems planned out and everything is interconnected. This is a series were the ripple in the pond comes to life.
I'm guilty of reading and enjoying all of Terry Brook's Shanara novels, though it is true that after the first three everything went down hill.
IF you don't mind some smutty romance mixed in with a lot of comedy and original-ish fantasy there is Katie McAllisters Aisling Grey series of "Fire Me Up," "Light My Fire," and then there is something else I can't remember off the top of my head.
I'd imagine that Jonny Mnemonic would be a good book, though I've never read it. It's based heavily off of a Cyberpunk campaign. One of the first, actually. The movie was good, and since that's the first I heard of the title like.. three nights ago.. I havent had time to find the books yet.
I'm also looking for Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. Should be a fun read, though the movie struck me a lot as a campaign without any dice rolling where the dm just wanted to mess with people's head. I think it'll be worth the read though.
I'm guilty of reading and enjoying all of Terry Brook's Shanara novels, though it is true that after the first three everything went down hill.
IF you don't mind some smutty romance mixed in with a lot of comedy and original-ish fantasy there is Katie McAllisters Aisling Grey series of "Fire Me Up," "Light My Fire," and then there is something else I can't remember off the top of my head.
I'd imagine that Jonny Mnemonic would be a good book, though I've never read it. It's based heavily off of a Cyberpunk campaign. One of the first, actually. The movie was good, and since that's the first I heard of the title like.. three nights ago.. I havent had time to find the books yet.
I'm also looking for Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. Should be a fun read, though the movie struck me a lot as a campaign without any dice rolling where the dm just wanted to mess with people's head. I think it'll be worth the read though.
"God, I didn't mean to open a can of nerds!"-said in reference to an ooc dartmud conversation with one of the head creators
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Thanatos5150
- Regular Poster
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- Joined: Mon Jun 05, 2006 6:51 am
- Location: Honshu, Japan
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The Hitchicker series of books is pure GOLD! The movie, notsomuch. As a matter of fact, the movie is quite decidedly BORING to me after reading the books.
~Warning~
So manythings were changed between the book and movie it may not seem - scratch that WILL not seem like the movie was based on the book at all.
However, Douglas Adams did work on the movie, so its acceptable.
<<R.I.P. Douglas Adams>>
~Warning~
So manythings were changed between the book and movie it may not seem - scratch that WILL not seem like the movie was based on the book at all.
However, Douglas Adams did work on the movie, so its acceptable.
<<R.I.P. Douglas Adams>>
"Justice is the Art of the Thief"
~Socrates~
"Weapons and armor are for those who lack skill, Honor and courage"
~Drunken Monk to a Paladin in the tavern. No bystanders were harmed in the ensuing brawl~
~Socrates~
"Weapons and armor are for those who lack skill, Honor and courage"
~Drunken Monk to a Paladin in the tavern. No bystanders were harmed in the ensuing brawl~
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DrunkenPrayer
- Regular Poster
- Posts: 94
- Joined: Tue Apr 10, 2007 11:37 am
To be fair the HHGTTG series went through so many revision it's amazing it makes any sense at all. Radio series, books, television show (you can probably track it down on Amazon) and finally the film. I'm sure the books alone went through about three different version, never mind all the extra stuff he never put in.
Douglas Adams was a genius. Actually just checked my omnibus edition which goes with me on any journey longer than three hours and it says there were radio shows, novels, TV, a computer game (I actually remember this, it was almost impossible to beat), comic book and bath towel plus the film which was in development hell for decades.
The intro for that edition is comedy gold as well. Sorry I'll shut up now, whenever someone mentions those books I turn into a dribbling fanboy. I think it's quoted more than Monty Python in my group of friends.
Douglas Adams was a genius. Actually just checked my omnibus edition which goes with me on any journey longer than three hours and it says there were radio shows, novels, TV, a computer game (I actually remember this, it was almost impossible to beat), comic book and bath towel plus the film which was in development hell for decades.
The intro for that edition is comedy gold as well. Sorry I'll shut up now, whenever someone mentions those books I turn into a dribbling fanboy. I think it's quoted more than Monty Python in my group of friends.
Sometimes I lie awake at night, and I ask, "Where have I gone wrong?"
Then a voice says to me, "This is going to take more than one night." - Charlie Brown
Then a voice says to me, "This is going to take more than one night." - Charlie Brown
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Thanatos5150
- Regular Poster
- Posts: 570
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DON'T PANIC!
It may be Thursday where you are, but everything will be okay.
Its not outside of the Range of probability that I know these things as well.
You're safe, as long as I don't go Vogon and decided to share my poetry.
See ya at Milliways!
I'll be taking the BistroMath
<<EDIT!>>
DA also stated in an interview of his (see The Salmon of Doubt, a collection of Douglas Adams stuff ripped from his computer after he died), that everything in the Hitchhiker universe contradicted everything that came before it. So, its not really a surprise that the movie does the same.
It may be Thursday where you are, but everything will be okay.
Its not outside of the Range of probability that I know these things as well.
You're safe, as long as I don't go Vogon and decided to share my poetry.
See ya at Milliways!
I'll be taking the BistroMath
<<EDIT!>>
DA also stated in an interview of his (see The Salmon of Doubt, a collection of Douglas Adams stuff ripped from his computer after he died), that everything in the Hitchhiker universe contradicted everything that came before it. So, its not really a surprise that the movie does the same.
"Justice is the Art of the Thief"
~Socrates~
"Weapons and armor are for those who lack skill, Honor and courage"
~Drunken Monk to a Paladin in the tavern. No bystanders were harmed in the ensuing brawl~
~Socrates~
"Weapons and armor are for those who lack skill, Honor and courage"
~Drunken Monk to a Paladin in the tavern. No bystanders were harmed in the ensuing brawl~
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Thunderhowl
- Regular Poster
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- Location: in the Hospitality Mines
- Contact:
Just so you know, Johnny Mnemonic is based off a William Gibson short story. You'd be better off to start with Neuromancer and the others in the series like Burning Chrome and the other one who's title escapes me at the moment.allbark wrote:I'd imagine that Jonny Mnemonic would be a good book, though I've never read it. It's based heavily off of a Cyberpunk campaign. One of the first, actually. The movie was good, and since that's the first I heard of the title like.. three nights ago.. I havent had time to find the books yet.
A Zen Koan:
A Master said unto his Student,
"I Own you, Bitch. Know this."
And the Student was Owned,
And Knew it.
A Master said unto his Student,
"I Own you, Bitch. Know this."
And the Student was Owned,
And Knew it.
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DrunkenPrayer
- Regular Poster
- Posts: 94
- Joined: Tue Apr 10, 2007 11:37 am
Mona Lisa Overdrive, he had a short story collection and afew others but I really can't remember them. I really only remember this from working for Amazon having only read Neuromancer, I miss the discount from that job.Thunderhowl wrote: Just so you know, Johnny Mnemonic is based off a William Gibson short story. You'd be better off to start with Neuromancer and the others in the series like Burning Chrome and the other one who's title escapes me at the moment.
Sometimes I lie awake at night, and I ask, "Where have I gone wrong?"
Then a voice says to me, "This is going to take more than one night." - Charlie Brown
Then a voice says to me, "This is going to take more than one night." - Charlie Brown
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Invaluable Kiwi
- Regular Poster
- Posts: 47
- Joined: Tue May 29, 2007 12:24 am
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Thunderhowl
- Regular Poster
- Posts: 535
- Joined: Mon Apr 16, 2007 2:33 am
- Location: in the Hospitality Mines
- Contact:
My Library...
A Zen Koan:
A Master said unto his Student,
"I Own you, Bitch. Know this."
And the Student was Owned,
And Knew it.
A Master said unto his Student,
"I Own you, Bitch. Know this."
And the Student was Owned,
And Knew it.
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Redwolf603
- Newbie
- Posts: 16
- Joined: Sun May 27, 2007 1:24 am
- Location: Yuma
- Contact:
because it will bother me if I don't say it
The 'Sprawl' trilogy is:
Neuromancer
Count Zero
Mona Lisa Overdrive
There are other stories involved in that setting as well, which included Johnny Mnemonic and Burning Chrome.
To anyone who likes Cyberpunk, I strongly recommend the Takeshi Kovacs novels ( Altered Carbon, Broken Angels, Woken Furies)
Also, I can't recommend the Dresden Files enough to people who like urban fantasy and/or hardboiled-esque detective stories. They're all very well written, the main character is hilarious, and the books are so much better than the series that there's really no comparison.
Neuromancer
Count Zero
Mona Lisa Overdrive
There are other stories involved in that setting as well, which included Johnny Mnemonic and Burning Chrome.
To anyone who likes Cyberpunk, I strongly recommend the Takeshi Kovacs novels ( Altered Carbon, Broken Angels, Woken Furies)
Also, I can't recommend the Dresden Files enough to people who like urban fantasy and/or hardboiled-esque detective stories. They're all very well written, the main character is hilarious, and the books are so much better than the series that there's really no comparison.
Sisyphus had it easy....
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DM_Topher
- Regular Poster
- Posts: 42
- Joined: Wed May 30, 2007 6:45 am
- Location: South Jersey (near Philly)
- Contact:
I like Steve Alten's Meg series... of course, I'm partial to cryptozoology and paleontology.
The new book is supposed to come out around the same time as the movie, as long as it doesn't get stuck in development hell again.
Even though Alten's work reads like an encyclopedia entry sometimes, I've enjoyed all the books in the series. I need to check out his other series... although I forget what it's called at the moment.
I love me some Stephen King, too. They're finally adapting The Mist into a movie with Thomas Jane as the Punisher.
And all I know is... NEVER GO TO MAINE. Mutants, monsters, killer cars, rabid dogs, telekinetic Emo chicks, gunslingers, werewolves, Christopher Walken and assorted serial killers - I'm staying my ass in Jersey.
The new book is supposed to come out around the same time as the movie, as long as it doesn't get stuck in development hell again.
Even though Alten's work reads like an encyclopedia entry sometimes, I've enjoyed all the books in the series. I need to check out his other series... although I forget what it's called at the moment.
I love me some Stephen King, too. They're finally adapting The Mist into a movie with Thomas Jane as the Punisher.
And all I know is... NEVER GO TO MAINE. Mutants, monsters, killer cars, rabid dogs, telekinetic Emo chicks, gunslingers, werewolves, Christopher Walken and assorted serial killers - I'm staying my ass in Jersey.
Doc Ock in the house, baby!
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Narf the Mouse
- Cartoon Hero
- Posts: 1302
- Joined: Tue Apr 17, 2007 1:32 am
Fred Saberhagens' Berserker and Vlad Dracula series are literary works of art.
His Frankenstien Papers should not be missed either, for any true Sci-fi fan.
In each case, his rewrite is better than the original, in my opinion. And there is no better villian monster race than the Berserkers.
*
S
P
O
I
L
E
R
*
First they blast your orbital defences. Then the fry your cities. Afterwords, they kill every single plant and animal.
And then they fry the microbes.
And the only factor in any of their descisions is 'How much Life will this kill?'.
Skynet is a wimp.
His Frankenstien Papers should not be missed either, for any true Sci-fi fan.
In each case, his rewrite is better than the original, in my opinion. And there is no better villian monster race than the Berserkers.
*
S
P
O
I
L
E
R
*
First they blast your orbital defences. Then the fry your cities. Afterwords, they kill every single plant and animal.
And then they fry the microbes.
And the only factor in any of their descisions is 'How much Life will this kill?'.
Skynet is a wimp.
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Narf the Mouse
- Cartoon Hero
- Posts: 1302
- Joined: Tue Apr 17, 2007 1:32 am
The Bureau 13 novels by Nick Polotta are great fun - And based on a RPG.
I have a livejournal
'Rule #2 : There is the game and there is reality. Between them is a BIG HONKING wall.' - Narshal, RPG.net, D&D alignment debate.
'Rule #2 : There is the game and there is reality. Between them is a BIG HONKING wall.' - Narshal, RPG.net, D&D alignment debate.
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Thunderhowl
- Regular Poster
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- Joined: Mon Apr 16, 2007 2:33 am
- Location: in the Hospitality Mines
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I share many of xaq's favs. He and I have lent many books back and forth over the years.xaq wrote:I too am a big fan of John DeChancie's Castle Perilous books. I still haven't read the newest one, but I've read all the others.
Despite the over-cheesiness of the banter at times, I can't prevent myself from enjoying Eddings' The Belgariad. Not so much his other works.
I liked the earlier Terry Brooks Shanarra novels, but the later stuff comes off as rushed and poorly-conceived. I really enjoyed his Magic Kingdom of Landover books, however.
I LOVE Stephen R. Donaldson's short story collections, Daughter of Regals and Other Tales, and Reave the Just and Other Tales. However, the Thomas Covenant novels are WAY too dry for me (and I've enjoyed the Silmarillion).
I'm a big fan of children's books that have a fantasy vein. The Hobbit, Alice in Wonderland, Baum's Oz novels, The Neverending Story, Harry Potter, The Wind in the Willows, anything by Roald Dahl, and so on.
I'm also a fan of Robert E. Howard's Conan books, and intend to purchase the new collected editions very soon (un-pastiched!).
I'll leave the list there for the moment... too many good books!
I'll add in the Wheel of Time series by Robert Jordan (SO BITTER about his death) and Glen Cook's Black Company series.
I'm a bit of a fantasy slut though, as I'll read just about anything with a dragon on the cover.
A Zen Koan:
A Master said unto his Student,
"I Own you, Bitch. Know this."
And the Student was Owned,
And Knew it.
A Master said unto his Student,
"I Own you, Bitch. Know this."
And the Student was Owned,
And Knew it.
-
FirstAidKit
- Regular Poster
- Posts: 128
- Joined: Wed May 30, 2007 6:44 am
- Location: The Floating Continent
Wheeeee! Books thread!
I am a ridiculous bookworm, and it's one of my favorite things to talk about!
First: Weis and Hickman did the Death Gate cycle. One of the earlier series I read as a kid, and something that well exceeded my expectations after the first book. I was really impressed!
Umm... Wheel of Time and Sword of Truth. Settle in for the long haul!
HHGTTG got me detention in high school cause I was reading it in class and couldn't stop myself from laughing. I recommend the giant, black and gold leaf edition. Looks like you're carrying around a bible.
But lately, I've been into a few different things. War of the Flowers, (and anything else by Tad Williams) is good. It starts out as something very escapist and turns into something very good. The events shape up regardless of the main character, and his involvement is entirely based upon the character development.
Picked up Simon R. Green's Nightside series. I have to say, it's good just because the guy's imagination is twisted. It's gotten me on a detective noir kick lately (I've gotta get a copy of the Maltese Falcon down here)!
H.P. Lovecraft. There's something about archaic writing style and stories about madness and un-comprehendable monstrosities that makes for great bedtime reading. Call of Cthulu alone is worth its weight in internet references. The first paragraph is very good.
"The most merciful thing in the world, I think, is the inability
of the human mind to correlate all its contents. We
live on a placid island of ignorance in the midst of black seas
of infinity, and it was not meant that we should voyage far.
The sciences, each straining in its own direction, have
hitherto harmed us little; but some day the piecing together
of dissociated knowledge will open up such terrifying vistas
of reality and of our frightful position therein, that we shall
either go mad from the revelation or flee from the deadly
light into the peace and safety of a new dark age."
I really want to read Neuromancer too, and there's a list of about 30 books I've got to read, and that list is just getting longer from this thread! Speaking of which, we should do some sort of geek book club. I think there's enough folk here that it would be worth while. Comments?
I am a ridiculous bookworm, and it's one of my favorite things to talk about!
First: Weis and Hickman did the Death Gate cycle. One of the earlier series I read as a kid, and something that well exceeded my expectations after the first book. I was really impressed!
Umm... Wheel of Time and Sword of Truth. Settle in for the long haul!
HHGTTG got me detention in high school cause I was reading it in class and couldn't stop myself from laughing. I recommend the giant, black and gold leaf edition. Looks like you're carrying around a bible.
But lately, I've been into a few different things. War of the Flowers, (and anything else by Tad Williams) is good. It starts out as something very escapist and turns into something very good. The events shape up regardless of the main character, and his involvement is entirely based upon the character development.
Picked up Simon R. Green's Nightside series. I have to say, it's good just because the guy's imagination is twisted. It's gotten me on a detective noir kick lately (I've gotta get a copy of the Maltese Falcon down here)!
H.P. Lovecraft. There's something about archaic writing style and stories about madness and un-comprehendable monstrosities that makes for great bedtime reading. Call of Cthulu alone is worth its weight in internet references. The first paragraph is very good.
"The most merciful thing in the world, I think, is the inability
of the human mind to correlate all its contents. We
live on a placid island of ignorance in the midst of black seas
of infinity, and it was not meant that we should voyage far.
The sciences, each straining in its own direction, have
hitherto harmed us little; but some day the piecing together
of dissociated knowledge will open up such terrifying vistas
of reality and of our frightful position therein, that we shall
either go mad from the revelation or flee from the deadly
light into the peace and safety of a new dark age."
I really want to read Neuromancer too, and there's a list of about 30 books I've got to read, and that list is just getting longer from this thread! Speaking of which, we should do some sort of geek book club. I think there's enough folk here that it would be worth while. Comments?
"Nothing is ever easy."
"...You can't take the sky from me."
"...You can't take the sky from me."
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Thunderhowl
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- Location: in the Hospitality Mines
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Lion el'Jonson
- Newbie
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The Stormcaller by tom Lloyd is well worth a read, a very nciely written piece of fantasy there.
The Darkblade series, by Dan Abnett as part of the Black library, are gret. A properly nasty anti-hero, doing properly evil things! Whats not to like!
Actually, whilst we're on the Black Library, the Horus Heresy series are great sci-fi as well.
The Darkblade series, by Dan Abnett as part of the Black library, are gret. A properly nasty anti-hero, doing properly evil things! Whats not to like!
Actually, whilst we're on the Black Library, the Horus Heresy series are great sci-fi as well.