Book suggestions?

[KoolBak]

Agreed.....they went straight to hell....lol.

The Wheel of Time is another epic fantasy.....by the late Robert Jordan....but, like the covenant books, they go downhill rapidly after the first handful (think there were like 12 or 14 total). Dune was like that too....

[TA1LGUNN3R]

I've only read the first trilogy of Thomas Covenant. Dune is good, but only read stuff by Frank Herbert, not his son Brian. Even then, don't go past, like, God-Emperor iirc.

-TG

[muy_thaiguy]

Agreed.....they went straight to hell....lol.

The Wheel of Time is another epic fantasy.....by the late Robert Jordan....but, like the covenant books, they go downhill rapidly after the first handful (think there were like 12 or 14 total). Dune was like that too....

Wheel of Time I have read twice, all 14 of the 700+ page books. And they pick up after a few books in the middle.

[macbone]

Some great reads on this list!

muy_thaiguy, yes, the Discworld books are great. Terry Pratchett is in a class of his own when it comes to fantasy writers, and if you're looking for a long-term series that you can dip in and out of, Discworld's great for that.

In the BBC's Big Read, The Lord of the Rings came in first as the UK's favorite book, but Discworld had four entries, Mort (#66), Guards! Guards! (#69), Night Watch (#74) and The Colour of Magic (#93).

Actually, the Big Read isn't a bad place to start. His Dark Materials came in at #3, and they're worth a read as well. They're kind of the anti-Narnia, and they're better than the film based on the first one, The Golden Compass, that came out a few years ago.

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy came in #4. If you like humorous, off-beat science fiction, you owe it to yourself to at least read the first book, and if you like them, I'd also recommend the Dirk Gently books, Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency and The Long Dark Tea-time of the Soul.

Terry Pratchett has another entry on the list at #68, Good Omens, a book he wrote with another writer I mentioned, Neil Gaiman. It was decent, but honestly, each writer does better work on his own.

And hey, if you're looking for something a bit different and are interested in a tale of betrayal, revenge, and brilliant plans, check out my favorite book, #44, The Count of Monte Cristo. The Three Musketeers is also great, too, although it didn't make the list.

[muy_thaiguy]

I was going to start the Discworld series, due to all the recomondations, but the store I went too only had a few, and none of them were the first couple. So I went with a couple books from the Termeraire series since that one is also on going. Though when I get done with those, I'll look into ordering the first couple of the Discworld series.

[macbone]

I got lucky with Discworld. My library back in the States had practically all of them. I read them in a funny order, though, first Eric, then Small Gods, and then Thud. After that, I started with The Colour of Magic and read them in roughly the order of publication.

Good Omens was my gateway book. Being a fan of Gaiman, I picked it up first, and then thought, hey, I should see what all the fuss is about Pratchett, and started reading Discworld.

[Lord Arioch]

Well if u want a GOOD fanatsy serie:
Joe Abercrombie, all his books are wicked good!

Urban Fantasy
Jim Butcher, dresden files, really good!

SF
Cs friedman, this alien shore one of the best!

Otherwise
Iain M banks, culture novells
Lynn Fllewlling, nightrunner series
David Weber, honor harrington series LONG serie very space opera:)
Cs friedman has also written fantasy coldfire triology

just from top of my head that:)

[KoolBak]

Agreed on the Honor Harrington series....all similar in structure but excellent reads....

[jonesthecurl]

Well if u want a GOOD fanatsy serie:
Joe Abercrombie, all his books are wicked good!

Urban Fantasy
Jim Butcher, dresden files, really good!

SF
Cs friedman, this alien shore one of the best!

Otherwise
Iain M banks, culture novells
Lynn Fllewlling, nightrunner series
David Weber, honor harrington series LONG serie very space opera:)
Cs friedman has also written fantasy coldfire triology

just from top of my head that:)

+1 for Joe Abercrombie, who I've just discovered.

[gordon1975]

game of thrones books are fantastic,last few wearnt so good,but have high hopes for the next book

[Lord Arioch]

Abercrombie were a real treat to read, usually im very restrictive when i choose new authors.. but DAMN those books were really really good!

Game of thrones were fun, but they dont hold up to rereading... thats my standard... if a book cant be read more than once well im not impressed. Some books ive read like 5 times its like an old friend, when u know whats going to happen u can concentrate more on the characters or plot.

One more book of David Weber thats fun is Path of the fury, story well a commando, that gets an greek fury in her brain and they hook themselves to an AI space ship to go hunt evil mercs... need i say more:) ?

[KoolBak]

Huh...thot I'd read all Webers stuff...thanks!

[DoomYoshi]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MythAdventures
Absolutely hilarious... it includes regions where the men are all Trolls and the women are all Trollops... probably harder to find these days; some used bookstores will carry the whole series though.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dragonlance
As much as LotR set the tone for DnD, so too did this Dragonlance series... Raistlin, Tasslehoff etc. have all become their own archetypes distinct from the strictly Tolkien archetypes.

[jonesthecurl]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MythAdventures
Absolutely hilarious... it includes regions where the men are all Trolls and the women are all Trollops... probably harder to find these days; some used bookstores will carry the whole series though.

I have a boardgame based on thoswe books.

[denominator]

I would also recommend the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.

I am enjoying the Game of Thrones / Song of Ice and Fire, but can understand why people don't like it. If you tried and and didn't enjoy it, ditch it.

My all time favourite series is the Dark Tower series by Stephen King. It gets overlooked by most because of the author, but it is a sci-fi/western, not a horror series like his other books.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Dark_Tower_%28series%29

That being said, I didn't realize there was an 8th book until I looked up the wiki page. I don't anticipate it to be all that good since it took King 35 years to write the other 7 and he had the plot arc in mind for most of the time, so adding a book now is likely just a cash grab.

[Lord Arioch]

Well Weber writes almost faster than i read....

[muy_thaiguy]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MythAdventures
Absolutely hilarious... it includes regions where the men are all Trolls and the women are all Trollops... probably harder to find these days; some used bookstores will carry the whole series though.

Robert Aspirin? Been reading his "Griffen McCandles" series. Will have to check that out.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dragonlance
As much as LotR set the tone for DnD, so too did this Dragonlance series... Raistlin, Tasslehoff etc. have all become their own archetypes distinct from the strictly Tolkien archetypes.

Actually read some of the Dragonlance series. Not my cup of tea, as I just could not get invested into it.

[notyou2]

I love Jack Whyte's books.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Whyte

[jonesthecurl]

I love Jack Whyte's books.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Whyte

I have a few of hi in the "waiting to be read" pile.

[Endgame422]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MythAdventures
Absolutely hilarious... it includes regions where the men are all Trolls and the women are all Trollops... probably harder to find these days; some used bookstores will carry the whole series though.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dragonlance
As much as LotR set the tone for DnD, so too did this Dragonlance series... Raistlin, Tasslehoff etc. have all become their own archetypes distinct from the strictly Tolkien archetypes.

The Dragonlance series! This whole thread I have been trying to remember what the ones with Raistlin were so thanks for that DY. A great series overall with some very memorable moments. Also I will say I enjoyed the death gate series and the iron druid chronicles although those may be the rune related ones mentioned in the OP. And on an unrelated note check into Clive Cussler if you have any interest in adventure novels(usually nautically themed)

[notyou2]

I love Jack Whyte's books.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Whyte

I have a few of hi in the "waiting to be read" pile.

I have read about 6. I enjoyed them all.

[Shannon Apple]

I really enjoyed The Farseer Trilogy by Robin Hobb. It's kinda got a Lord of the Rings vibe to it.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assassin%27s_Apprentice

I also agree with the Terry Pratchett's Disc World recommendations. I've only read a few of them. I read The Hogfather first, then The Colour of Magic. I don't think it matters in which order you read them.

I'm currently reading a Terry Pratchett/Steven Baxter collaboration called The Long Earth. It's more Sci fi than fantasy and weird in a typical Pratchett kinda way lol. Basically, without giving too much away, people are able to step into other Earths, dimensions if you like, using a homemade device called a "stepper." The blue print was anonymously posted online and suddenly all the kids were making these things. Guess what it gets it's power from? A potato at it's heart. LOL! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Long_Earth "The book deals primarily with the journeys of Joshua Valienté (a natural 'Stepper') and Lobsang, who claims to be a Tibetan motorcycle repairman reincarnated as an Artificial intelligence" (which happens to be a drinks machine). Yeah, it's pretty funny, and completely bonkers!

[Lord Arioch]

Robin Hobb farseer triology is really good!

Dont forget to check out Neil Gaiman... American Gods is also nice! And if u want to laugh a lot, Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett wrote Good Omens really funny!

[laughingcavalier]

Robin hobb is great. I preferred the liveship traders series to the darseer series.
I spent years refusing to read terry Pratchett because I'm a snob but when I did I laughed like a drain - great books.

[DaGip]

I'm sure it's been mentioned in this thread somewhere, but for good measure:

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These books should be read in this order, but the Icewind Dale Trilogy came out before the Dark Elf Trilogy, but Salvatore had such success and feedback over his Dark Elf character (Drizzt) that he began writing with him as the main character. So, you can do like the rest of us old farts did...read Icewind Dale Trilogy first and then back track...or, read them in order. Either way, you should enjoy the whole series.