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Lancer
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Oregon Coast, USA! or Bohol, Philippines!
Apr 1999
time: 05:20
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Azimov of course, the Foundation series in particular.
Red Mars, Green Mars, Blue Mars...
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Mordoch
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Denver, Colorado
Jan 2002
time: 05:20
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One fantasy series I'd recommend is L.E. Modesitt's Recluce series. The best point to start off with is probably the "The Magic of Recluce. " While its not chronological, its probably the easiest point to start from, and it was the first of the books written.
The author is actually fairly unusual in that he writes both fairly classic fantasy and science fiction books effectively. Based on the fact you like the "A Song of Ice and Fire" series, I suspect you'd like L.E. Modesitt's Recluse series as well since its a significant departure from the typical fantasy novel. A particular strength of the series is that the magical is not simply a matter of waving your hands and things happen, its a rather logical thought out system that pretty much conforms to a set of scientific rules that exist in an alternate dimension otherwise similar to our own.
I certainly recommend giving the series a try.
You might want to try giving us a bit more information about what you likde with previous books in order that we can give you some additional advice on this subject.
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Mordoch
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Denver, Colorado
Jan 2002
time: 05:20
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quote:
Discworld: I've heard a lot of good things about them, but it seems really confusing where to start. |
My advice is just try to start with one of the earlier ones, to a great degree its not so much about the plot with the books as it is to just laught as you read them. The main problem with starting later in the series is you miss some of the backstory going on with the various characters. Keep in mind that for better or worse this is definately mostly light fantasy that is intended to make you laugh and it lampoons modernity rather blatantly in the process.
The first book in the series in "The Colour of Magic", although you should be aware that the first couple books are a bit different in that they tend to be more story oriented.
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Mordoch
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Denver, Colorado
Jan 2002
time: 05:20
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quote:
Originally posted by Boris Godunov
What about raymond feist? Anyone read? My boss' husband raves about him. |
Definately a possibility, and an author I personally generally like. His books are is some ways closer to being "typical" fantasy, but at his best his fantasy world building and plot can be pretty compelling. The only warning is that I found some of the books he's written in the same fantasy world to be hit and miss in quality. (An extremely usual phenomenon to the degree it seemed to occur with him in my opinion.) If you do read his series, I'd strongly suggest starting with Magician: Apprentice, the first two books also come as a two book series in one volume called Magician, book two Magician: Master is basicly a direct conclusion to the first novel that was pretty much split up into two volumes due to publisher pressure.
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Mordoch
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Denver, Colorado
Jan 2002
time: 05:20
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quote:
Originally posted by Micha Nivenīs most popular work is the "Ringworld", but I havenīt read it yet. Any opinions on that one? |
I personally didn't like it as much as "A Mote in God's Eye". It does have its moments though and the author does do a good job of being ambitious when creating the ringworld itself.
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Jon Miller
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Cyteen, Downbelow Station, Gate of Ivriel, Merchanter's Luck, ... pretty much anything by Cherryh
Perdido station (and thoers in that world) byt China Melville
Lords of Light, Amber series, and a multitude of other books by Zelanzy (but not all, some aren't that great)
anytihng by Gene Wolfe
anything by Donaldson (see the Gap series, although it isn't his best)
anything by George RR Martin (his newest series is Song of Ice and Fire)
Curse of Challion by Bujold (her sci fi is decent also)
I could go on...
Jon Miller
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Jon Miller
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quote:
Originally posted by Lonestar
I would recommend David Weber's "Honor Harrington" series, starting with On Basilisk Station.
Think of it as Horatio Hornblower in space. |
some are ok, they get worse as he goes on...
JM
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Jon Miller
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ack, horrid horrid stuff, most isn't even entertaining..
JM
( a few are entertaining in a mildly juvenile way)
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Jon Miller
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quote:
Originally posted by Boris Godunov
What about raymond feist? Anyone read? My boss' husband raves about him. |
has some good stuff (for standard fantasy fun), I haven't liked hie most recent stuff however...
JM
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Jon Miller
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quote:
Originally posted by Micha
Larry Niven did make some good science fiction. I can recommend "The Mote in Godīs Eye" (L. Niven, J. Pournelle).
It is reasonable, entertaining and quite exciting till the last dozen pages, but itīs quite a big book...
Nivenīs most popular work is the "Ringworld", but I havenīt read it yet. Any opinions on that one? |
The Mote in God's Eye
and the Gripping Hand
are the best books I have read by Pournelle or Niven
Jon miller
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Jon Miller
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ID din't say that I thought the Gripping Hand was very good...
JM
(not a Niven fan)
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quantum_mechani
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Alaska
Nov 2002
time: 20:20
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Memory, Sorrow and Thorn: This also seems a bit like fantasy standard fare, but I might give it a try.
Black Company: I recall hearing other good things abut this, I will probably give it a try.
Raymond Fiest: Read most of his series.
Larry Niven: I read a lot of his books (liked A mote in God's Eye), they tend to range from great to meh.
Piers Anthony: Read one or two of his books... I can't say I really see the appeal.
Dune: It seems OK, but I started off out of sequence which has dampened my interest in it.
Honor Harrington: I read the first book or two, but my interest trailed off.
Cherryh: Some of theses sound pretty good, I was initially put off of the author due to the ubiquitous cat people 
Zelanzy: I have heard a lot of mixed reviews of his books, I might give them a try when I can't find anything else.
Gene Wolf: These have some nice reviews, I think I will try them.
Curse of Challion: Again, good reviews, I might try it.
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Jon Miller
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for Cherryh tha cat people books (despite being veryt popular) aren't her best
Jon miller
(although they are better than you would think, she doesn't write anything that is just 'Meh', everything is good or great or amazing)
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Wraith
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Austin, Texas, USA
Aug 1999
time: 23:20
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You don't really have many of the old masters listed. You might want to check into some of the early sci-fi works. Some author suggestions that haven't been mentioned:
Theodore Sturgeon (mostly short stories)
Fritz Leiber (his Fafhrd and the Grey Mouser series should be exactly what you're looking for)
A. E. Van Vogt
William Tenn
Urusula K. Le Guinn
Alfred Bester ("The Stars our Destination")
Some other authors to consider:
Glenn Cook (such as the Black Company series)
Robert Sheckley
Jack Vance ("Tales of the Dying Earth")
Walter Jon Williams (especially "Aristoi" and "Voice of the Whirlwind")
I also quite enjoy Janny Wurt's series, the War of Light and Shadow, but it isn't going to be for everyone.
For some more unusual sci-fi, check out the works of Haruki Murakami, especially "Hard Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World" or "The Wind-up Bird Chronicles".
--"Discworld: I've heard a lot of good things about them, but it seems really confusing where to start."
You can start pretty much anywhere. You can start with the first book, just keep in mind that the first two -- "The Colour of Magic" and "The Light Fantastic" -- are more straight-up fantasy parodies than anything. After that, it takes a couple books, and his style morphs more into the comic fantasy he uses for the rest of the series.
So if you do start from the beginning, and don't like it, don't stop there. Skip a couple, maybe to "Wyrd Sisters" (although "Guards! Guards!" works, since it's the start of the Watch sub-series) and try again.
--"What about raymond feist? "
His later books are getting kind of repetitive, to me. I haven't even finished reading the latest series in his main universe just because it didn't seem that compelling. However, the early stuff, "Magician: Apprentice", etc, are quite good. Also check out the series he co-wrote with Janny Wurts, starting with "Daughter of the Empire".
--"Cherryh: Some of theses sound pretty good"
Tried some, including at least one without catpeople. Couldn't really get into them.
--"Zelanzy: I have heard a lot of mixed reviews of his books,"
His Amber series has an interesting concept, and it's carried out pretty well. Outside that, he's done a lot of various things, so I could certainly understand mixed reviews.
Wraith
Fantasy isn't our crutch -- its arcane
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15-05-2005 10:42
ACK!
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