The Sword and Laser discussion

I have had a hard year. There were a number of serious illnesses with close family members and one recent death. I find I have less mental bandwidth for an emotionally challenging book in times like this. As a result, my reading tastes have strayed more towards light adventurous stories. I have read a number of Star Wars novels, some old Shadowrun novels, Some Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser, and a few others on that level.

What is your go to "feel good" reads? I certainly can't be the only one reading escapist stories to escape rough times.

I feel for you. I had one of those years in 2014, losing too many people, including my mother.

For me it wasn't any specific book, but reading in general that I used to escape. I agree that anything too heavy is just not possible in emotional situations and I read light pulp-y fiction just to clear my head.

I have my goto movies to cheer me up. The Matrix, Star Wars, Toy Story (It is so for 54 year olds ;-) )

(Yes, this one cheers me up)


But I also like old Shadowrun novels, Jeremiah!

Jeremiah wrote: "I have had a hard year. There were a number of serious illnesses..."
I sympathise. It is several years since I had a period like that, but I remember.

As for the books - it wasn't so much the stress that drove me to look for lighter, escapist material, more that such material is my preferred reading anyway. Not exactly YA (not by a long stretch in some cases) but I like a book that helps me escape from the world around me, which I regard as pretty sick and getting worse. (Hell's teeth, I even felt like that before the UK voted Brexit and America elected that walking disaster area).
That is why I am so unhappy with the present trends (in UK at least, and I suspect worldwide) to read what is commonly classified as 'Grimdark'.

No. The world is bad enough, I don't want reminding, or showing all the ghastly details of an imaginary world that is even worse. I want some escapism! Nice people come out on top and evil falls into the pit of its own creation!

I shall be following this thread

I've had years like that too and I sympathize.
For me, I find that older, classic SF is generally lighter and more escapist, like early Heinlein or Asimov. For more recent I would go John Scalzi or Robert Sawyer. I also like books with some humour; Terry Pratchett, Spider Robinson, Jasper Fforde, Christopher Moore.

I am currently re-reading the Belgariad by David Eddings. Its very light compared to the modern grim dark, and i love the interplay between the characters (even when you know whats coming story wise).
I also enjoy the Dragonlance series (first 2 trilogies).
Essentially books that i read in my late teens. I suppose its the comfort factor (before the brutality of being an adult really takes hold).

I started re-reading the Harry Potter series in September to escape the horrific election cycle that was occurring. It worked quite well. Then November 8th happened and it was a little too on-the-nose. But it was good escapism mostly. And it has a happy ending.

Robin Hobb's books are great escapism too. Her characters are so real and despite their hardships it's nice to get inside someone else's head for a while.

Harry Potter or Dresden Files.

Have read, a few times, the complete run of Pratchett's Diskworld. It is so good, but it is recent enough in my memory to make rereading it not work. Same with Dresden and Potter. I should get around to reading the rest of Dragonlance. The first book didn't work for me, but I hear they get better. Robin Hobb is on the long list of people I should get around to reading, but never have. I will move her higher on the list. I do like Scalzi and Sawyer. I have some stuff by them I have not read yet.

I have noticed pretty much all tie-in novels are light pulpy stuff, which there has been a lot of that on my reading list. Pulpy is not bad. I really enjoyed A New Dawn. I reread the Never Deal with a Dragon and the rest of the Secrets of Power trilogy after 2 decades and did not regret the time spent. The Halo novels are largely pretty good.

I love Robin Hobb, but she is so mean to her characters that they don't always make me feel good. Of course Dresden and HP both get dark at times.

Ready player one or expanse are likely to be something I'll read in the future when I'm in a funk.

Robert Asprin did a stack of lighthearted "Myth Adventures" books starting with Another Fine Myth.

I haven't re-read them yet, but based on Rob's recommendation, a number of us have enjoyed the Off to Be the Wizard series by Scott Meyer

I usually go YA or Gail Carriger.

SFF: Harry Potter, and Discworld, y Jonathan Stroud especially Bartimaeus Sequence and Lockwood & Co series.
Non SFF: Enid Blyton - reminds me of my childhood

Usually, I go for Jane Austen's Persuasion and Lois McMaster Bujold's The Curse of Chalion, or I go back to my YA-love, Tamora Pierce.

I've also been making my way through The Chronicles of Brother Cadfael (which starts with A Morbid Taste for Bones) for quick, light reads that follow the same comfort-food formula that I desire in my escapist tv viewing: the British detective plods along with his competent-but-not-exceptional, lovable sidekick, and solves the crime just in time for the guy to get the girl and live happily ever after.

Elizabeth wrote: "Chronicles of Brother Cadfael (which starts with A Morbid Taste for Bones) for quick, light reads that follow the same comfort-food formula that I desire in my escapist tv viewing: the British detective plods along with his competent-but-not-exceptional, lovable sidekick, and solves the crime just in time for the guy to get the girl and live happily ever after. ..."
Beautifully defined! Not necessarily detective, this trope can easily broaden to cover other genres, especially Fantasy. It is a sort of 'Comfort Food For The Soul'.
As such, like other forms of comfort food, it isn't something you should have every day, and it probably wouldn't be good for you if you did - but mix it/intersperse it with other things, and it is something you can return to over and over again, and it helps you recover from the stresses of life and the world about us. More, please!

I totally agree with pretty much everything mentioned, especially Cadfael!

I think my two favourite feel-goods (after Brother Cadfael) are Anne McCaffrey's Crystal Singer series and Isaac Asimov's Elijah Bailey books, starting with The Caves of Steel.

Anne McCaffrey is great at writing novels that are set in pretty darn depressing settings or situations, yet tells them in such a way that you never doubt that (as Oscar Wilde said I think) the good will end well and the bad will end poorly. You can just relax and enjoy the ride.

Asimov is just great, there's always some detail I forgot from the last time I read it, and there is the comfort blanket effect for me as I've read these books a gazillion times so it's a bit like visiting an old friend.

I definitely tend to go back to my favorites from childhood when I need some comfort - Harry Potter, Redwall, anything by Robin McKinley.

But probably my top comfort read (and very non-SFF) is the Amelia Peabody series by Elizabeth Peters. I read these with my mum. They're fast, fun reads with mysteries that appear supernatural at first, but always end up being perfectly normal in the end. (And I would've gotten away with it too, if it weren't for those meddling archaeologists!) Something about Egypt and the Peabody-Emersons soothes my soul, so they're where I turn when I'm feeling blue.

Elizabeth wrote: "I've also been making my way through The Chronicles of Brother Cadfael (which starts with A Morbid Taste for Bones) for quick, light reads "

The fellow who died, my step-Grandfather Brad, had the complete run of Cadfeal and we both loved it.

William wrote: "Isaac Asimov's Elijah Bailey books, starting with The Caves of Steel."

I second Asimov's Robot novels and also I, Robot.

Otherwise I often turn to Pratchett's Discworld series for feel good books. Especially some with SF elements like Thief of Time or Night Watch.

I didn't reflect on it before but a common theme is people doing things for the good of other people or humanity in general.

I tend to go for James Bond type action adventure novels. Clive Cussler, James Rollins, Ted Bell or something of similar.

Cherie Priest's Clockwork Century series, starting with Boneshaker. Old style adventure stories with a steampunk setting that ISN'T Victorian British lords and ladies for once.

Similarly, Scott Westerfeld's Leviathan series, starting with LeviathanLeviathan are rousing old style adventure yarns set in a steampunk universe.

Keith wrote: "Cherie Priest's Clockwork Century series, starting with Boneshaker. Old style adventure stories with a steampunk setting that ISN'T Victorian British lords and ladies..."

I love Cherie's books and she and I are old friends from my hanging out in coffee houses days, back in Chattanooga. Her ghost stories are awesome, as well.

Keith wrote: "Cherie Priest's Clockwork Century series, starting with Boneshaker. Old style adventure stories with a steampunk setting that ISN'T Victorian British lords and ladies..."

If you haven't read them already, I'd also suggest checking out Kenneth Oppel's Airborn novels.

I am adding a bunch of books to be read list. People have a lot of good suggestions.