Year two thousand and Bond, James Bond

Spazz Kitti · Post by **Spazz Kitti** » Tue Jan 02, 2007 9:08 pm

I am a big fantasy fan and I am VERY fussy with what I read, and I still say "A Song of Ice and Fire" series by George RR Martin is THE BEST thing I have ever read.

Haven't got around to reading the latest installment as I want to read the first three again (read em a few years ago) and I don't own copies, so i am trying to track down second hand copies on Ebay.

But they are wicked and you must all go and read them RIGHT NOW.

Ce6 · Post by **Ce6** » Tue Jan 02, 2007 9:31 pm

Since we're throwing around Fantasy recommendations, I'll toss Eve Forward's "Villains by Necessity" into the mix.
A decent and fairly quick read (if you can find it). Though many elements are predictable and it uses formulaic concepts, it does provide a bit of twist on the classic "good vs. evil" dynamic. And the story doesn't take itself too seriously, either.

Lowky · Post by **Lowky** » Tue Jan 02, 2007 10:04 pm

I will go for a classic two trilogies and a quartet in the works. Stephen Donaldson's The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant, Unbeliever.

RavenxDrake · Post by **RavenxDrake** » Wed Jan 03, 2007 1:46 am

Lulujayne wrote:The Wheel Of Time saga quite literally killed my interest in fantasy writting. ...

Was WoT actually written in english originally? Because it came accross as a bad translation to me...

Yes, saddly it was. Goddamn that man can just run the fuck on at the mouth for hours(metaphorically at a typewriter) can't he?

And not say a fucking thing. It's ridiculous. I actually started Wheel of Time at, like, book 6 or so, after the "action" had started, and it only forced myself through it because it was part of one of those book-club forced shipments.

Went back and tried to read the first books, oh my god...

Feist is good, I like David Eddings, Tad Williams(Much love for Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn), Morecock... and I have a special soft spot for old-school misogynistic pulp-novel slock Tarzan and Conan stuff.

Awkwardschoolgirl · Post by **Awkwardschoolgirl** » Wed Jan 03, 2007 10:17 am

It's not really fantasy, it's Sci Fi, but I suggest everybody read Bill, the Galactic Hero by Harry Harrison. It's one of my all time favourite books. It's sadly not in print anymore but you can order it from some book stores (I got it from Indigo/Chapters online) to grab a copy. It's absolutely fabulous. It's kind of a comedy sci fi, which makes it extra grand.

PopeMac · Post by **PopeMac** » Wed Jan 03, 2007 1:46 pm

If we're getting into sci fi now, I will have to tell everyone who has not already done so to read the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy right now. Douglas Adams is my hero.

Also, as far as serious sci fi goes, Timothy Zahn writes some good stuff, although his books start to seem very similar after a while.

Ohforf · Post by **Ohforf** » Wed Jan 03, 2007 2:48 pm

Got to admit love the WoT series.
Also love Stephen Donaldson's The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant, Unbeliever.

and as for Harry Harrison.....Bill, is a big favourite of mine and all the Stainless Steel Rat books too

*sigh* Book Nerd

Swordsman3003 · Post by **Swordsman3003** » Wed Jan 03, 2007 2:56 pm

To me, the whole Star Wars EU is like one elaborate foray into fan-fiction.

BriHahn · Post by **BriHahn** » Wed Jan 03, 2007 4:01 pm

Fantasy recommendation: The Xanth series by Piers Anthony.

Puns, innuendos, and naked nymphs galore!

I think he's on the 31st book and still going strong. And the poor man is 70 or so!

Understand, these are not your serious fantasy books; these are the books you read when you want to laugh!

If I had to do a serious fantasy recommendation, the Neteru series by L.A. Banks kicks much ass (literally; the descriptions of fighting, sex, blooddrinking, and demon slayage are enough to make me swoon at times). Minion is the first book; then there's about five more in the series. One's coming out soon (yay!) and I'll be all on that like a tentacle-monster on a virgin schoolgirl.

Aeridus · Post by **Aeridus** » Wed Jan 03, 2007 5:28 pm

Terry Pratchett, Harry Harrison, Douglas Adams, and Piers Anthony are all excellent authors. Though I do prefer Piers' earlier works; lately, it's just a little too swarming with puns in Xanth, and getting repetitive.

But then, that's partly the fans' fault for submitting so many dang puns.

BriHahn · Post by **BriHahn** » Wed Jan 03, 2007 6:58 pm

Hey, I submitted one he used! *pouts at Aeridus*

No, I'm kidding; well, he did use the one idea I gave him (that part humans in Xanth can regenerate their souls unlike demons like Metria) but he is using a lot of puns. Part of the charm for me though; I liked Stork Naked (his latest one) a lot.

Fnyunj · Post by **Fnyunj** » Wed Jan 03, 2007 7:38 pm

I dunno - sometimes I feel as if when I'm trying to get my kids to read Tolkein instead of this other garbage, that I'm my mother and father, trying to get me to read Gore Vidal, or listen to big-band Swing music (which I now adore).

I can easily come up with criticisms of Tolkein - example: about the middle of RoTK, his language and writing style abruptly changes, and one is made to feel as if one is reading from the King James version of the Bible. Really strange and apocalyptic. (I know, that was what he was going for - but it was a really abrupt and heavy-handed change - RoTK was not my favorite).

Anyway, my kids *do* read a lot of really bad stuff. But at least they're reading. Next, I'll try to talk them into Cervantes. . .

Fnyunj · Post by **Fnyunj** » Wed Jan 03, 2007 7:53 pm

PopeMac wrote:If we're getting into sci fi now, I will have to tell everyone who has not already done so to read the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy right now. Douglas Adams is my hero.

Word.

Neal Stephenson also rocks my world.
I was really into William Gibson for a brief period in the 1990's, but after re-reading some of his stuff, well, maybe the appeal was delayed adolescence on my part? (probably also why I enjoyed John Norman).
Greg Bear wrote at least one completely ass-kicking novel called Eon. I haven't read any of his other books though.

Thomas Pynchon
And I hate to say it, Kurt Vonnegut, because I liked Cat's Cradle.
And I really hate to say it, but one of my earliest fond memories of reading science fiction was one of Michael Crichton's books; The Andromeda Strain. (I was riveted by the early scenes involving Vandenberg AFB's part in the space program, and all these years later, I've actually worked on-site there). Can't say I'm a big fan of his political stance, however. (I also thought the story in his movie Timeline was awesome - but I didn't bother to read the book).

But I grew up reading Arthur C Clark, CS Lewis (arguably a fantasy writer), Ray Bradbury, Heinlein, Niven, then Lovecraft, Poe, Shelley (arguably the first Sci Fi writer ever). There's a whole slew of them in the middle somewhere that I missed out on. (like Vernor Vinge, etc.) For now - I can't really read as much as I used to, because the only time I can set aside for it is after 9pm. I usually get about 3 sentences before I fall asleep. Or - if I make it past 3 sentences, I get so wrapped up that I CAN'T put the book down, so I end up reading straight through until 5am, and calling in sick to work. No - reading is something I'm going to have to put off until I'm retired. And by then, the republicans will probably have burned all the good books.

Edit: I completely forgot Orson Scott Card! Also a really great author.

Lowky · Post by **Lowky** » Wed Jan 03, 2007 9:43 pm

BriHahn wrote:Fantasy recommendation: The Xanth series by Piers Anthony.

Puns, innuendos, and naked nymphs galore!

I think he's on the 31st book and still going strong. And the poor man is 70 or so!

Understand, these are not your serious fantasy books; these are the books you read when you want to laugh!

If I had to do a serious fantasy recommendation, the Neteru series by L.A. Banks kicks much ass (literally; the descriptions of fighting, sex, blooddrinking, and demon slayage are enough to make me swoon at times). Minion is the first book; then there's about five more in the series. One's coming out soon (yay!) and I'll be all on that like a tentacle-monster on a virgin schoolgirl.

i will second the neteru series. I enjoyed the Xanth series when I was younger, but it lost something somewhere along the line.