SciFi and Fantasy Book Club discussion

Everyone, I enjoy a well developed protagonist. Someone who you can love and/or hate. There must be at least 5 books in the series (I would prefer more). There are a large number of series books out there that meet this criteria.

I am looking to start some new ones and I would like your input on what you think is the best.

I have read and enjoyed the following single protagonist series (not in order):
1. Butcher - Dresden Files - Sci-Fi
2. Lindsay - Dexter - Serial Killer
3. Bujold - Vorkosigan Saga - Sci-Fi
4. Stirling - Nantucket - Fantasy/Sci-Fi
5. Koontz - Odd Thomas - Sci-Fi
6. Rowling - Harry Potter - Fantasy

Please suggest your favorite single protagonist series.

...yes, you have tried Bujold. :)

My top favorite is Harry Dresden from Jim Butcher's The Dresden Files

Terez wrote: "My top favorite is Harry Dresden from Jim Butcher's The Dresden Files"

You may like the Vorkosigan Saga by Bujold. Miles Vorkosigan is one of my favorite characters.

Mark > Miles

Balkron wrote: "Terez wrote: "My top favorite is Harry Dresden from Jim Butcher's The Dresden Files"

You may like the Vorkosigan Saga by Bujold's. Miles Vorkosigan is one of my favorite characters."

I'm not familiar with that series, so I'll check them out. Thanks for the recommendation!

Aaron wrote: "Mark > Miles"

Mark is not prominent enough in the books to be greater than Miles. I am hoping Bujold makes a sub book about Mark like she has with some of the other characters. I will just have to wait and see.

Terez wrote: "Balkron wrote: "Terez wrote: "My top favorite is Harry Dresden from Jim Butcher's The Dresden Files"

You may like the Vorkosigan Saga by Bujold's. Miles Vorkosigan is one of my favorite characte..."

I would suggest reading it out of order. I would start with The Warrior's Apprentice (book #2) then read #3 and #4. If you like Miles like I do, then go back and read #1. #1 is about Miles parents not Miles himself. So it gives you some back story about his parents. Then try to read the rest in order. This will give you the most pleasure as you will understand all of the references from the earlier books.

I started with the #2 and then read any of the books I could find. So I read them out of order. The books stand by themselves pretty good. I missed a few references from books I hadn't read yet but overall you could still enjoy them in any order.

Mark is not prominent enough in the books to be greater than Miles.

Maybe all Aaron means is that Mark is bigger than Miles. :)

Margaret wrote: "Mark is not prominent enough in the books to be greater than Miles.

Maybe all Aaron means is that Mark is bigger than Miles. :)"

That he is.

Since Dresden has been named already, I'll just add Richard Cypher/Rahl from Sword of Truth by Terry Goodkind.

G.G. wrote: "Since Dresden has been named already, I'll just add Richard Cypher/Rahl from Sword of Truth by Terry Goodkind."

I will add this series to my to read list. Thank you for your input.

How about the Retrieval Artist series (SF/Detective) by Kristine Kathryn Rusch:

https://www.goodreads.com/series/4224...

I've read a couple of them. Quite good, I thought.

Well, if you like Dresden, Kevin Hearne's Iron Druid books come to mind.

Second the Iron Druid. Atticus is a great main character and narrator!

Would also recommend Rothfuss' Kingkiller Chronicles: Kvothe is an awesome main character. Also Ryan's Blood Song has a great main character telling his own story

Koontz: Christopher Snow
Butcher: Harry Dresden

Balkron wrote: "G.G. wrote: "Since Dresden has been named already, I'll just add Richard Cypher/Rahl from Sword of Truth by Terry Goodkind."

I will add this series to my to read list. Thank you for your input."

If you want to frequently throw the book against the wall at the protagonist's complete lack of common sense, go for it. ;)

Paul wrote: "Koontz: Christopher Snow
Butcher: Harry Dresden"

I loved Christopher Snow. I can't wait for him to finally finish the trio.

I would go with Felix Castor from Mike Carey. I think there are six so far.

I will add them all to my reading list.

Keep your suggestions coming.

Scott wrote: "Second the Iron Druid. Atticus is a great main character and narrator!

Would also recommend Rothfuss' Kingkiller Chronicles: Kvothe is an awesome main character. Also Ryan's Blood Song has a great..."

I have a second thread for listing your favorite Story Tellers (for me Rothfuss is at the top of the list). I am just wrapping up my second time through book 1 & 2.

Kenneth wrote: "If you want to frequently throw the book against the wall at the protagonist's complete lack of common sense, go for it. ;)
"

This don't bide well for the book, I hate stupidity. I will still give it a try, I can always throw the book.

Sarah wrote: "Paul wrote: "Koontz: Christopher Snow
Butcher: Harry Dresden"

I loved Christopher Snow. I can't wait for him to finally finish the trio.

I would go with Felix Castor from Mike Carey. I think th..."

I will add Felix. Thank you

Cherryh: Foreigner series, Bren Cameron (scifi political)
Kris Longknife series (space opera)
Honor Harrington series (space opera)
Barsoom series (though not all include John Carter) (scifi on Mars)

Laz wrote: "Cherryh: Foreigner series, Bren Cameron (scifi political)
Kris Longknife series (space opera)
Honor Harrington series (space opera)
Barsoom series (though not all include John Carter) (scifi on Mars)"

I will add to my list. Thank you.

Elizabeth Moon Trading in Danger - first of Vatta's War 5 book series - somewhat military, but oh so much more.

Cheryl in CC NV wrote: "Elizabeth Moon Trading in Danger - first of Vatta's War 5 book series - somewhat military, but oh so much more."

I couldn't remember if that was 5 books. Moon's other two space operas (Serrano and Suiza) are great too, but fewer than 5 books each (I think).

Cheryl in CC NV wrote: "Elizabeth Moon Trading in Danger - first of Vatta's War 5 book series - somewhat military, but oh so much more."

I added it to my list. Thank you for the suggestion.

Thomas Covenant :)

Fernando wrote: "Thomas Covenant :)"

I will give it a try.

Scott wrote: "Second the Iron Druid. Atticus is a great main character and narrator!

Would also recommend Rothfuss' Kingkiller Chronicles: Kvothe is an awesome main character. Also Ryan's Blood Song has a great..."

I've read both and honestly can't decide which one is better. Each book has its own charm that trumps the other. Both are very good books.

Seems like everyone hit the obvious ones already.

Owen Z. Pitt - Monster Hunter International - Larry Correia - UF+Horror+Guns

I find him to be a reasonably flawed character he makes a good number of mistakes and is hardheaded about a few things when he shouldn't be and the rest of the cast acts appropriately.


Taylor(Skitter) - Worm - John McCrae(Wildbow) - New Adult + Super Powers + Web Serial(complete ~1.7million words)

Bullied kid has a super power to control bugs wants to be a super hero...but ends up getting invovled with super villians and gets stuck in a world where Villians arn't all bad and Heroes arn't all good.


Artemis Fowl - Artemis Fowl - Eoin Coifer - MG/YA + Fae + Child Genius.

One of my favorite YA series of all time. Child Genius with near infinite money is a spoiled rotten schemeing evil brat and thoughout the series learns the more important things and life and becomes a good guy.


Haru(Silver Crow) - Accel World - Reki Kawahara - MG/YA + Sci-Fi + VR - Hey First book comes out officialy in English tommorow. Sadly they kept the same cover art...ughhh.

Starts off a bit shaky, but it has turned into one of those series I think about a lot. It's about a insecure fatkid in the near future where VR and AR are huge. Gets invovled in the Accel World which is like a VR Hardcore Mode Fighting Game MMO. Where your character represents your personal traumas/dreams, and the power of belief and sheer will can distort the world.


John Geary - The Lost Fleet - Jack Campbell - Space Opera

Want more Honor Harrigton, this is the closest I have found.

Aaron wrote: "Seems like everyone hit the obvious ones already...."

Excellent post!!

I will be adding all of the new ones to my reading list.

I like Artemis Fowl and have read quite a few of them. Entertaining YA Sci-Fi.

Thanks for the excellent post!

Harry Dresden - Dresden Files
Atticus O'Sullivan - Iron Druid Chronicles
Felix Castor - Felix Castor series
Vin - Mistborn trilogy
Kvothe - Kingkiller Chronicles
Kylar Stern - Night Angel trilogy

Sten from the Sten Chronicles is mostly about the titular character. First book is Sten. Did I say "Sten" enough? Sten.

Atomic Robo is a comic book, but the stories are self-contained arcs. It's just great fun, as you would expect about a robot built by Nikola Tesla who has superscience adventures.

A somewhat lesser one that's still fairly entertaining but I'm mostly including because 1) everyone took my initial answers already and B) a bit more diversity never hurts, the Mercedes Thompson books by Patricia Briggs. The first one is Moon Called. I've read four or five of these and found them entertaining.

James wrote: "Harry Dresden - Dresden Files
Atticus O'Sullivan - Iron Druid Chronicles
Felix Castor - Felix Castor series
Vin - Mistborn trilogy
Kvothe - Kingkiller Chronicles
Kylar Stern - Night Angel trilogy"

Like Atticus, but the dog, Oberon, "makes" the series.

I also like:
-"Slippery Jim" DeGriz - The Stainless Steel Rat.
Angela DeGriz - His homicidal wife.
-Rod Gallowglass - The Warlock in Spite of Himself series.
-Lazarus Long - Heinlein's long-lived hero (Methuselah's Children and 2 others).
-Jim Eckert - The Dragon Knight
-Onja Kvoorik - The Fighter Queen saga
-Zac Mbele - The Profit Log series

Trike wrote: "Atomic Robo is a comic book, but the stories ar..."

I hadn't thought of Atomic Robo, but now that you mention it, I really have to agree. Everything I've read from those comics is pure gold (both from a sci-fi and humor perspective). I even like the new role playing game.

I have been working my way through the Dresden Files and I really do like how Harry slowly changes over the course of the books. It keeps him interesting. I'm also a few books into Richard Kadrey's Sandman Slim books. It's another urban fantasy, but way darker and has an interesting single protagonist.

With the publication of Foxglove Summer, Ben Aaronovitch's Peter Grant (aka "Rivers of London") series hits five volumes and thus qualifies for the OP's list. Urban fantasy police procedural, well and wittily written, and Peter is a great protagonist.

Aside from what others have mentioned already, Seanan McGuire's October (Toby) Daye series is good. It's urban fantasy with a touch of noir centered around Irish folklore. The audiobooks are quite entertaining. Mary Robinette Kowal does a wonderful job.

Margaret wrote: "With the publication of Foxglove Summer, Ben Aaronovitch's Peter Grant (aka "Rivers of London") series hits five volumes and thus qualifies for the OP's list. Urban fantasy police ..."

I'm not sure whether it will matter to anyone here, but the audiobooks of the Peter Grant series are exceptionally good.

The Dresden Files. Harry Dresden is the single most entertaining protagonist I've met so far.

The Nicholas Seafort series by David Feintuch. The first volume is Midshipman's Hope.

They are military SF/space opera and the protagonist, Nicholas Seafort is extremely well drawn. There are seven books in the series.

I agree with Gianluca and many others. I love the Dresden Files and can't wait for the next installment in the series. Harry Dresden is smart, funny, sarcastic and with every book a more knowledgeable Wizard. Love all his friends and some of his enemies. Dresden is the best.