SciFi and Fantasy Book Club discussion

Hello everyone,

nice to meet you! I am new to goodreads and this group as well. I was wondering if you could suggest me some books.

In the fantasy category I like the most Terry Pratchett with his Discworld series, while on the sci-fi one I usually prefer to read short stories. I also like Stephen King and Terry Brooks.

I have no real preferences about characters, as long as they are not "flat". It doesn't matter if the story is realistic or not, as long as it's coherent with its settings. Machines, magic, special powers are ok too.
I don't mind if it gets gory.

Thanks in advance

Well, you've worked through all the classics of the genre? LOTR, Earthsea, Diana Wynn Jones?

Thanks for the recommendations, Brenda. I must admit I have already put LOTR and Earthsea on hold. I'm not familiar with Diana Wynn Jones (honestly never heard about her..).

I admit my request was not very precise and so I'll add that I'm looking for more recent books.

Thanks all the same

joe Abercrombie's first law trilogy. on the gritty side. Patrick Rothfuss's kingkiller chronicles. a bit more tame. William Gibson's most recent book was good.

if you like "the stand" swan's song is real good.

Give Brandon Sanderson a try. Personally I'd start with the Mistborn trilogy but he's fairly prolific so lots of options. Some fairly lighthearted but still great books of his are the 'Alcatraz and the ...' Series and The Rithmatist.
Also worth a look is Brent Weeks' 'lightbringer' series. The first three books are available but the fourth is due in 2016 (i think)

I you've never read it, William Forstchen's Rally Cry series is AMAZING.

Thanks Don, I've put the first law trilogy in my to-read list; seems promising. I've read book one of the Kingkiller chronicles and I don't really like it that much.

I think I'll like the mistborn series. I am bit more doubtful about the lightbringer one, but I'll check it out.

Rally Cry, eh? Seems a long series, but also a good one.

The books I have read always seemed a bit tame, I think. And why not, I'll be sure to read the broken empire series too.

Thanks everyone for all the recommendations! :)
Feel free to suggest more good books, you know, there's never enough XD

mistborn is a great trilogy, the best of Sanderson so far.

I'll throw some out there.

The Apocalypse Door by James D. Macdonald is a book that I can't decide if it's science fiction or fantasy. One could make an argument for either, but whichever side you come down on, it's a ton of fun with a killer nun.

My recent fantasy jam is the Demon Cycle by Peter V. Brett, starting with The Warded Man. There are two sequels with a fourth (and I think final) book due in March.

Trike wrote: "There are two sequels with a fourth (and I think final) book due in March" There is a fifth novel planned I believe from this link to wikipedia. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_V....

Well, that's disappointing.

If you like science fiction short stories I suggest starting with the master of classics...Ray Bradbury. He wrote nearly 600 of them.

I don't go massively for comic fiction but do like Douglas Adams and Robert sheckley the latter of which wrote some great comical short sf. piers Antony might also be worth trying as is witches of kares. if you like brooks ' shanarra as well as Landover then you might like eddings or feist. swan song was a perfect suggestion.

Trike wrote: "I'll throw some out there.

The Apocalypse Door by James D. Macdonald is a book that I can't decide if it's science fiction or fantasy. One co..."

The Warded Man had was very very good, but the way the plot twisted in the second book got disappointingfor me.

Ursula K. Le Guin Anything by this women is amazing. Fantasy Sci-fi Space etc. I love every book I've read by her. My dad recommended The Left Hand of Darkness which is what introduced me to her. I love Changing Planes which is more short story style.

Second Mistborn. Such a great series!

A recent read that I fell in love with was the Riyria Revelations by Michael J Sullivan. Features two thieves and their adventures. Lots of characters and world building. Each book evolves and is better than the last, IMO.

I agree on Mistborn as well. Sanderson is pretty much a guarantee of a good book.

The group's bookshelf actually has an amazingly good list of books. I don't like everything but I like most, and some of them have become favorites.

I'm not much of one for Urban Fantasy but The Devil You Know by Mike Carey is amazing. I love that whole series.

Jenn wrote: "Ursula K. Le Guin Anything by this women is amazing. Fantasy Sci-fi Space etc. I love every book I've read by her. My dad ..."

I agree about Ursula K. Le Guin. I also agree that this group's bookshelf has a good list of books. China Miéville, Mercedes Lackey, Patricia A. McKillip, and Jo Walton all write excellent fantasy novels.

Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke is amazing.

An excellent, more science fiction-y author is Jack McDevitt.

Enjoy!

You can do no wrong with A Song of Ice and Fire series by George R. R. Martin. Try the first novel first, A Game of Thrones.

Wayfarer wrote: "Hello everyone,

nice to meet you! I am new to goodreads and this group as well. I was wondering if you could suggest me some books.

In the fantasy category I like the most Terry Pratchett with h..."

I suggest anything by Ray Bradbury, Kurt Vonnegut, or Issac Asimov. You can't go wrong with any of them.

I can recomend The Forever War by Joe Haldman, its a military sci-fi and is basically an allegory for Vietnam. It's quite a short book, and the best piece of sci-fi i have read.

Matt wrote: "I can recomend The Forever War by Joe Haldman, its a military sci-fi and is basically an allegory for Vietnam. It's quite a short book, and the best piece of sci-fi i have read."

That is one of the best I have ever read. A truly amazing read.

Matt wrote: "I can recomend The Forever War by Joe Haldman, its a military sci-fi and is basically an allegory for Vietnam. It's quite a short book, and the best piece of sci-fi i have read."

I'm on the fence about this one. I want to read it but I've put it off because it's military and I'm not sure if I'll like it. I generally don't like war movies and such, and when reading epic fantasy I'm not a big fan of "big battles". However, the only war book I've read is All Quiet on the Western Front, which I really enjoyed! (I guess since it was very psychological)

Do you think I'll still like forever war?

Alice wrote: "Matt wrote: "I can recomend The Forever War by Joe Haldman, its a military sci-fi and is basically an allegory for Vietnam. It's quite a short book, and the best piece of sci-fi i have read."

I'm ..."

If you enjoyed All Quiet on the Western Front, then i suspect you will enjoy The Forever War. It has many of the same elements in that it is a story about frustration and not understanding why. It does not glorify war, violence, or make the soldiers seem cool. It is simply the best metaphor for Vietnam I have ever read.

I think you will like this book. It is a very adult read and very serious. I see this as the flip side of the coin to Starship Troopers which used the glory of war as a social criticism of such.

If you're looking for an interesting fantasy author, I highly recommend Tamora Pierce's work. Her books fall in either of two universes - Tortall (if you're interested in a more traditional Western fantasy, knights, kings, magic, etc.) or Emelan (magic through the natural world, cultural exploration, travel, etc.). All of her books have strong well rounded protagonists, and they are fun light reads.

Earlier someone mentioned Diana Wynne Jones who is an incredible fantasy author. Her book Howl's Moving Castle was adapted into a fairly well known Studio Ghibli film of the same name, and the book has a lot of additional depth. That series is a good starting place, or her Chrestomani series, which plays with the idea of magical power and alternate universes.

Wayfarer wrote: "In the fantasy category I like the most Terry Pratchett with his Discworld series, while on the sci-fi one I usually prefer to read short stories. I also like Stephen King and Terry Brooks."

You might really like Faerie Tale by Raymond E. Feist.

Wayfarer wrote: "Hello everyone,

nice to meet you! I am new to goodreads and this group as well. I was wondering if you could suggest me some books.

In the fantasy category I like the most Terry Pratchett with h..."

Wayfarer, if you want more recent books (rather than classics) and enjoyed Discworld, have you tried any of these- they are favorites of mine and a wide variety of styles and subjects.

Practical Demonkeeping Moore writes hilarious books, with a somewhat Pratchett feel
God's War serious and brutal
The Mirage turns 911 on its head- Christian fundamentalists bomb Baghdad
Bitter Seeds wizards help Britain fight the Nazis, but the Nazis have their own supernatural force
The Drowning City
Snake Agent future Asian locale, policeman for supernatural problems, people can travel to heaven and hell, gods walk on earth
Any Kage Baker or Connie Willis book- both about time travel in different ways- Baker's Company series is especially enjoyable- cyborgs with a wonderfully strange heroine- Mendoza
Carnival
Souls in the Great Machine Greatwinter destroys technology and people have to start again
The Rook magic in modern times

Hope you find something you like.

Alice wrote: "Do you think I'll still like forever war? "

All the best war stories are really anti-war stories, and both AQotWF and The Forever War fit that description. There's a reason why it's rightly considered a classic.

Forever War is also relatively short, another plus in its favor. ;)

James wrote: "Wayfarer wrote: "In the fantasy category I like the most Terry Pratchett with his Discworld series, while on the sci-fi one I usually prefer to read short stories. I also like Stephen King and Terr..."

that isa great read. I think it is his best work.

Papaphilly wrote: "James wrote: "You might really like Faerie Tale by Raymond E. Feist."

that isa great read. I think it is his best work. "

I've only read around 7 of his books, but it's the best that I've read. And I really enjoyed the first Magician books.

James wrote: "Papaphilly wrote: "James wrote: "You might really like Faerie Tale by Raymond E. Feist."

that isa great read. I think it is his best work. "

I've only read around 7 of his books, but it's the bes..."

I think I read his first nine. The six magician book and the two follow up novels after them and of course Faerie Tale.

If you like fantasy and you like short stories and you like series...

Have you ever read the Thieves' World series? Each book is an anthology of different authors writing in the same Shared Universe of Sanctuary, a fallen and endangered city in a fantasy world.

Each novel has shared events and themes that tie the stories together. Plus, occasionally the authors make use of one anothers' characters.

Good series.

The first book is Thieves' World.

Plus, with Thieves' World, you will encounter many different and prolific fantasy authors whom you may wish to follow.

Alice wrote: "Matt wrote: "I can recomend The Forever War by Joe Haldman, its a military sci-fi and is basically an allegory for Vietnam. It's quite a short book, and the best piece of sci-fi i have read."

I'm ..."

THE FOREVER WAR is a critique of war, particularly Vietnam. It could also be the Middle East now. Time dilation makes war without end possible, and Haldeman's not in favor.

Have you read any of Jim Butcher stuff? Either his Dresden files series www.goodreads.com/series/40346-the-dr...

or his Codex Alera series?
www.goodreads.com/series/45545-codex-...


I recommend both of these series. Although the first entry in his Dresden files Storm Front isn't his best work, the series gets a hell of a lot better enjoy!

Robin wrote: "Have you read any of Jim Butcher stuff? Either his Dresden files series www.goodreads.com/series/40346-the-dr...

or his Codex Alera series?
www.goodreads.com/series/45545-..."

Love both of these series by Jim Butcher.

Regarding the Dresden Files, I've seen a few episodes of the tv series.

How close was the tv series, to the books?

James wrote: "Regarding the Dresden Files, I've seen a few episodes of the tv series.

How close was the tv series, to the books?"


Not very.

I did like the TV series, though, short-lived as it was.

Trust me James, reading the series is so much better than watching the tv series!! Dresden is one of my go to series if I haven't got anything else good to read.

John wrote: "Robin wrote: "Have you read any of Jim Butcher stuff? Either his Dresden files series www.goodreads.com/series/40346-the-dr...

or his Codex Alera series?
www.goodreads.com..."

Which one did you prefer mate?

I think the best fantasy book out in the past decade is Patrick Rothfuss's The Name of the Wind . Another great author is Joe Abercrombie who has written several great books including , and a new YA series that starts with .

colleen the contrarian ± (... never stop fighting) ± wrote: "Not very."

Robin wrote: "Trust me James, reading the series is so much better than watching the tv series!!"

Thanks from me, as well.

Dresden files is fast food man.... Joe Abercrombie is steak.

Don wrote: "Dresden files is fast food man.... Joe Abercrombie is steak."

Well said.

Don wrote: "Dresden files is fast food man.... Joe Abercrombie is steak."

Dresdin Files is a specific book series, starting with Storm Front.

Joe Abercrombie is an author. Does he only write Dresdin Files-like fiction? I notice that he has a LOT of books, in multiple series... which series is like (but better then) Dresdin Files?

James wrote: "Joe Abercrombie is an author. Does he only write Dresdin Files-like fiction? I notice that he has a LOT of books, in multiple series... which series is like (but better then) Dresdin Files?"

Abercrombie's books are not like Butcher's Dresden Files. Most of Abercrombie's books, starting with his First Law trilogy, takes place in a world of his own creation, peopled by kings and commoners, soldiers and slaves. Harry Dresden's world is Chicago, albeit a Chicago where magic exists. Which of the two is better is really a matter of the reader's taste. Do you prefer your fantasy high or urban, magical or military?

James, yes

So one person says Abercrombie writes stuff that is like the Dresden Files and another person says he writes stuff in a fantasy realm that isn't like that series.

I'll stick with the detailed response.

James wrote: "So one person says Abercrombie writes stuff that is like the Dresden Files and another person says he writes stuff in a fantasy realm that isn't like that series.

I'll stick with the detailed resp..."

I think it boils down to how detailed the comparison is. If you are asking if they are alike in that they are both fantasies, then 'yes' is a correct answer. If you believe that fantasy comes in many shapes and sizes, then not so much. I, for one, believe that the Chicago Cubs winning the World Series falls well within the realm of fantasy and, since that hasn't happened yet, I would have to say that Jim Butcher's world is slightly less plausible than Joe Abercrombie's.

My recommendation is to check them both out. I ahve read and enjoyed both.