[ToRPandarine]

You know, there are a great deal of fictional, sci-fi and fantasy novels that I have read that deserve better awards than those that have received them. Among them is The Newsflesh Trilogy by Mira Grant (pen name; true name is Seanan McGuire) (to be completed by this summer) and the Mortal Coils Series by Eric Nylund (third book is pending to be picked up by a publishing house; future is unsure; pattern suggest that the third book shiuld be released some time this summer as long as the previous publishing house picks it up).

To name a few that most likely people will rattle off when asked, the Harry Potter series, the Percy Jackson series, the Twilgiht series, the Vampire Diaries series and so and so forth are good reads (urgh, the last two actually do not deserve a mention, too predictable), yes. However, for me, they lack true reading substance, are sometimes quite predictable in the early chapters. Even Lord of the Rings had something that at first drew me in but after finishing it, I did not go back.

When I say substance I do not mean storyline, captivating characters et cetera et cetera. I mean the plot keeps you guessing, characters just suddenly do things totally out of character that you expect in later chapters and not now, a story within a story, the kind of substance that piques the inner you or causes you to continue reading to know what happens next. Most importantly is a plot that has so many subplots that you go back to read just to immerse yourself in its glory. Trust me, I look at the series I mentioned above and I can more or less rattle off the plots and subplots for you but the two series I mention beforehand, I will always go back to make sure I have not left a subplot untouched.

Then again, I am just a guy whose urge to read as many books as he want is stunted, rambling about books based on his limited library and is about to be hit by the harsh realities of life pretty damn soon. AND, I have yet to taste the delight of some authors have to offer me. :P

Then again, that's life isn't it? Now, DISCUSS

[Nemo]

I advice The Farseer trilogy and then Fool's Erand by Robin Hob.

[dippa]

read everything ever written by terry pratchett and neil gaiman

the end

Quick Comments

	PiG:
	Asrathiel:	Hell yeah
	N3rdy6irl:	1000000% agree
	Cyanide:	neil gaiman

[ToRPandarine]

Originally Posted by Nemo

I advice The Farseer trilogy and then Fool's Erand by Robin Hob.

hmm...will have to see if my country bookstores carry them..

Originally Posted by dippa

read everything ever written by terry pratchett and neil gaiman

the end

indeed i have heard of terry pratchett...alas, i am not one to buy one book of an established writer who has a few titles...i am the type tht needs to have ALOT of books :P never heard of neil gaiman tho... i feel chobo now

Quick Comments

N3rdy6irl:

Terry Pratchett has in excess of 60 books, that quantifies as 'a lot of books'

[Maynarde]

Frank Herberts DUNE series!!



The greatest sci fi novel I have ever read.

Quick Comments

	Trusty:	You can't call yourself sci fi fan until you read this.
	JoFritzMD:	It took me one day to read all 700 pages of a Harry Potter book. 2 weeks to read Dune.
	Intoccabile19:	Dune = Win.....the original game was also awesome!!
	LennX:	Dune. Aye.
	xxGunslingerxx:	Epic, a classic up with LOTR
	Pox:	The first book or two were awesome
	ZergGirl:

[inFeZa]

i really like boobs too

...
BOOKS oh right books. yeah they're okay.

Quick Comments

	ToRPandarine:	oh...boobs and books..a pretty darn good combo;P
	NOM:	i love touching my boob..BOOKS BOOKS I MEANT BOOKS!

[Daboo]

Huh? I had no idea that dune was a book, only knew the game..will have to get this one.

[Maynarde]

Originally Posted by Daboo

Huh? I had no idea that dune was a book, only knew the game..will have to get this one.

The original trilogy was first released in the 60's and it's a really original and well written story. The movie didn't do it justice, but there was a mini-series released later that was pretty close to the original story but left a lot out still.

It has a lot of hidden messages in it, touches on ecology, racism, sex, religion and gender heirarchy issues while keeping it wrapped in an awesomely detailed sci fi universe with some sick villains. Can not recommend this series enough.

The games were also excellent Except for that 3rd person shooter abortion circa 2003 or there-abouts.

[x5_dot]

Harry Potter.

[raycey]

Magician, Silverthorn, Darkness at Sethanon by Raymond E. Feist.

Followed by (parallel storyline to Magician trilogy):
Daughter of the Empire, Servant of the Empire, Mistress of the Empire by Raymond E. Feist and Janny Wurts.

Quick Comments

	TAScarecrow:
	JoFritzMD:	Magician is one of the best fantasy books I have ever read.
	ToRDolo:	Feist is an amazing writer ^^
	Pox:

[ToRMaverick]

I must admit I have read my share of Sci-Fi but when I do, it is to relax. I hate the sci-fi authors that go out of there way to dream up the most difficult names, places etc to pronounce. You all know what Im talking about.... fkn annoying when you have to try pronouce it in your head like 10 times cause your not sure.

Terry Goodkinds - Sword of Truth, is awsome.....easy read, great story.
Raymond Feist - Riftwar Saga, is also awsome... another easy read, great characterisation, epic world.

EDIT: Raycey, you beat me to it! Yup, Raymond Feist series is def worth a read!

Quick Comments

Baugi:

Sword of Truth by far my favorite, tv series was horrible though

[|Erasmus|]

Originally Posted by raycey

Magician, Silverthorn, Darkness at Sethanon by Raymond E. Feist..

How I despise this series. You can really tell it was the first thing he'd written. There are entire sections of magician that are straight from lord of the rings, and it's actually pretty damn hard to tell silverthorn and darkness at sethanon apart in terms of the storyline. I feel like he matured a lot after that though, and some of his stuff is quite good. I actually think Honoured Enemy is really well done. His best book. Just my personal opinion, take it with a grain of salt.

Iain Banks writes good sci-fi, too. Player of Games and Use of Weapons are really really good. Best sci-fi i've read.

Seconding Robin Hobb and Neil Gaiman.

Quick Comments

	TAScarecrow:	Magician is a classic -.-
	breadfan:	counter neg
	x5.Revenant:	I liked the "now you have one of each comment" thingy, so here you go

[TCPLemminks]

Originally Posted by ThePandarine

hmm...will have to see if my country bookstores carry them..



indeed i have heard of terry pratchett...alas, i am not one to buy one book of an established writer who has a few titles...i am the type tht needs to have ALOT of books :P never heard of neil gaiman tho... i feel chobo now

Erm Terry Pratchett has a lot of books released...
Check out the discworld series by him.

Also Twilight...good read...you better have a good reason for me not to get my pitchfork

Quick Comments

simon:

disc world! classic

[ToRPandarine]

Originally Posted by TCPLemminks

Erm Terry Pratchett has a lot of books released...
Check out the discworld series by him

which is why i am waiting for the time i have the money....and time :P

[raycey]

Originally Posted by |Erasmus|

How I despise this series.

Didn't your mother ever teach you if you have nothing nice to say don't say anything at all?

No need to shit on another person's opinion with your own.

Don't be such a jeran.

Quick Comments

	breadfan:	He didn't just say "your opinion his shit" - he gave a valid reason for his opinion. He added to discussion, didn't shit on anything or anyone
	ToRSmotPokingFish:	he is not shitting on your opinion, just stating his point of view, which is the reason MOOOSE is such a boss :D
	Nemo:	Erasmus should have been more diplomatic indeed in expressing his opinion IMO
	Snx.FigJig:	^
	ToR.Arnor:	calm down

[Meatex]

if you want Hollywood action blockbuster in book form (and i mean the good ones *not looking at you snakes on a plane*)
Mathew Reilly

Quick Comments

ToRSmotPokingFish:

<3<3<3Matthew Reilly<3<3<3

[Cute]

Agreeing with the Raymond Feist. I guess I'm kinda biased as they were probably the first fantasy books I've read. Somewhat agree with Erasmus though, I find the latter books much better than the first few. Silverthorn in particular was rather painful ><

[|Erasmus|]

Originally Posted by raycey

Didn't your mother ever teach you if you have nothing nice to say don't say anything at all?

No need to shit on another person's opinion with your own.

Don't be such a jeran.

cause only getting positive reviews of something is going to be useful. No need to get so uppity about me disagreeing with your opinion of the series. I'm not judging anyone... it was still entertaining, just I think very poorly written.

Quick Comments

	TABjornbrandr:
	ToR.Arnor:	HOW DARE YOU HAVE AN OPINION

[ToR.Arnor]

Bernard Cornwell write some pretty awesome Historical Fiction Books

http://www.bernardcornwell.net/

My Favorite Series have to be

The Arthur Books (aka The Warlord Chronicles)
The Saxon Stories
The Grail Quest

The Sharpe Series and Starbuck Chronicles are also very good reads

Suzanne Collins' "The Hunger Games Trilogy" is a decent read also (not the best written series but certainly keeps the reader engaged)

[mGGDrGooSe]

Isaac Asimov. Greatest scifi writer of all time. Everybody knows the Foundation series Im sure, but the last book (completed just weeks before his death I believe) was phenomenal. His greatest work is by far The Gods Themselves (and is hilarious when taken into the context of people complaining that he never wrote about sex). But it doesnt matter whether its fact of fiction, his books are very well written and very engaging.
Others... Night Angel trilogy by Brent Weeks, still ambivalent about the current series he is writting. Good but no comparison.
The Starman and Persimius Series by Sara Douglass (sadly another author who passed before the stories were truly done).
Saga of Seven Suns by Kevin J Anderson who also writes star wars novel (I think) and Children of Dune with Dune author's son (I think).
Trinity trilogy by Fiona McIntosh.
Ofcourse, who could forget Juliett Marillier. Bridei Series is the flagship in my eyes but sevenwaters series, and well basically all of them are pretty good.
Rachel Vincent's Werecat series is very good.
Memory by Linda Negata is pretty good as well and somewhat off the beaten path.
Godspeaker sereies by karen Miller.
The Eragon series by Paolini.
And stepping away from scifi-fant... I like most of Clancy (although sometimes overated) and Geofrey Archer. Older Dale Brown stuff was ok too until it all become about the lasers and automated missiles and just too much scifi.
Dov Silverman, Tairo (and the follow ones that I cant recall the name of) are very good, set in pre-WWII through to the end of the war in Japan, following the story of a couple of generations of a family.
Then I just have a mess of single titles that I have come across in op-shops and what not (my god, every op-shop is stacked with Geofrey Archer and Tom Clancy, lol).

Yes I have a wall of books and no it isn't growing fast enough.

Quick Comments

	ToRPandarine:	you, good sir, i can relate to :D
	Nemo:	Asimov is awesome. Robots and Fondations
	breadfan:
	Asrathiel:	A well-organised wall of books when you finally let me do it! :P
	Uglymutt:	Asimov
	fur:	Don't read much SciFi but Asimov is an exception. Well worth your time.