BoardGameGeek discussion

What's your #1 "must-read" book? (for entertainment, non-religious)

For me, it's Dune by Frank Herbert. Though fictional, I admire the Fremen culture and always come away feeling that I can do more with less.

I've probably read it 10 times or so, despite hating the ending.

What about you?

James Joyce: Ulysses and/or Finnegans Wake

If I had to pick just one, it would be Ender's Game.

And Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.

And Watchmen.

And World War Z.

And Persepolis.

This exercise makes my brain hurt.

A Song of Ice and Fire.

T.S. S. wrote: "James Joyce: Ulysses and/or Finnegans Wake"

After I checked out Finnegans Wake on Wikipedia, I might nominate it for most underrated book. Apparently it's hard to get through, so it remains pretty unread compared to his others.

Eric wrote: "... Ender's Game.
...
This exercise makes my brain hurt."

True, true, but I'm glad you put Ender's Game first. Loved that book.

Bas wrote: "A Song of Ice and Fire."

I asked a friend if I should read these a long time ago, and he said it's not for me. Too gritty. But maybe...

Tom wrote: "T.S. S. wrote: "James Joyce: Ulysses and/or Finnegans Wake"

After I checked out Finnegans Wake on Wikipedia, I might nominate it for most underrated book. Apparently it's hard to get through, so i..."

From what I understand, Philip K. Dick read it several times! It is tough to get through. I was in reading groups, in which people took turns reading it out loud to each other and then discussing what that passage could possibly mean.

Ender's Game is a classic. One of my all-time favorites.

Lord of the Rings.

I love too many books in too many genres to pick just one... but here's what are at the top of my list:

This Alien Shore by C.S. Friedman, an amazing look at mental illness in an epic Sci-Fi/cyberpunk setting.

The Snow Queen by Joan Vinge, a retelling of Hans Christian Anderson's Snow Queen, but set in space as en epic planetary saga - and if you read this, you need to read the rest of the series.

Elric of Melniboné by Michael Moorcock. If you read epic fantasy, you will instantly recognize the tropes that have been turned upside-down in this series. The very best (or worst) of anti-heroes.

The Silmarillion by J.R.R. Tolkien. I know world building isn't for everyone, but I love the mythology that wrapped all of middle earth.

The Riddle-Master of Hed by Patricia McKillip. A classic fantasy tale of a world in danger and one bard's quest to change things.

Swords Against Death by Fritz Leiber. A must read if you like sword-and-sorcery tales. Or if you play RPGs. In fact, you should read the entire series.

Guards! Guards! by Terry Pratchett. Because you need to read a Discworld novel, and you might as well start with this amusing tale.

Elantris by Brandon Sanderson. An epic fantasy with a unique magic system and a unique magical illness that has cursed the land.

by Joe Abercrombie. Dark. You think George R.R. Martin is dark? Hah! He's got nothing on this. Revenge is dished up, in a epic fantasy setting.

Hyperion by Dan Simmons. The start of an amazing quartet that spans all of time and space. This first books reads like a Sci-Fi version of the Canterbury Tales.

The Chronicles of Amber by Roger Zelazny. The first five books are amazing, and the mixed myths are awesome. A little bit of everything, with a core of fantasy.

Space Captain Smith by Toby Frost. This series contains references to every Sci-Fi series/movie/book/TV show ever created. You are doing yourself a disservice if you pass this by!

The Misenchanted Sword by Lawrence Watts-Evans. His books are often overlooked, but are absolutely brilliant fantasy novels. The twists that the stories take are just great. The start of a series - but the books can all stand alone. They are well worth finding and reading!

Jirel of Jorey by C.L. Moore. Described as a mixture of Lovecraft and Red Sonja these tales are unique and haunting.

Grimm's Fairy Tales by the Grimm Brothers. Because I'll never get tired of reading them - dark as they are.

Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer. Because the stories can be seen retold time and again in modern books.

And trimming it down to this few was hard... and I didn't even add in anything from Douglas Adams or Ursula LeGuin or Lois McMaster Bujold or all the other authors I love...

Clay wrote: "Lord of the Rings."

LotR was hard for me to get through back in high school, but I finished the trilogy and The Hobbit. I'm re-reading Fellowship of the Ring with my wife, seeing if my experience changes as an adult.

Caroline wrote: "Elantris by Brandon Sanderson. An epic fantasy with a unique magic system and a unique magical illness that has cursed the land."

I've been a fan of Sanderson since I read Mistborn. The hard magic systems really speak to me.

The Sparrow - Mary Doria Russell.

No book has ever moved me like The Sparrow did. Don't get me wrong... I love the SciFi and Fantasy go-to books like Lord of the Rings and The Foundation trilogy, but this book actually shook the foundation of what I understand and believe.

(But, if you let me pick two, I'd probably pick Fellowship of the Ring second) :)