Science Fiction and Fantasy Books Only Thread

[Buck]

There is a great thread in the lounge about Books in general, but to be honest, all I really want to read is Sci-Fi (including post-apocalyptic), and Fantasy.

In this OP I will compile every poster's top 3 Fantasy/SciFi suggestions if they give me them. I will try to keep the posters in alphabetical order in case you want to find someone's suggestions easier.

CP POSTER SUGGESTIONS

Baby Lee
1. Fritz Lieber's Swords Against series.
2. George R.R. Martin's SoIaF series [no brainer that will probably make tons of other lists]
3. Umberto Eco, Foucalt's Pendulum [a little more obscure/forgotten to make up for GRRM]

Frosty
1.Raymond Feist - Riftwar Saga
2.Terry Brooks - Shannara series (starting with the Knight of the Word books)
3.Tad Williams - Memory, Sorrow and Thorn

Huffmeister
(1) Dune - Frank Herbert
(2) The Stand - Stephen King (1000+ page unabridged)
(3) Starship Troopers - Robert A. Heinlein (checkout the song by Yes, too. lots of great bass)

Jawshco
1. "Book of the Long Sun" by Gene Wolfe
2. "Paradise War" by Stephen R Lawhead
3. "The Dragonbone Chair" by Tad Williams

listopencil
1. Edgar Rice Burroughs, any series
2. Robert Heinlein, everything he has written in chronological order (but read Starship Troopers first)
3. Doc Smith's Lensman series

vailpass
1. The Science Fiction Hall of Fame Volume 1, 2A & 2B books are a gold mine for sampling the evolution of sci-fi. (below)
2.The Nebula Awards and Hugo Awards (selected yearly, pick a year)
3. Years Best SF Annual publication, pick any volume from 1 to the current volume 17
See Post 142

[whoman69]

Going to get a kindle for Christmas. Maybe I can start up reading again. Really want to read the last book in the Wheel of Time series.

[Braincase]

GOing old school (?), and I've been listening to The Belgariad by David Eddings. I'm into The Castle of Wizardry, with Enchanter's Endgame on deck.

[patteeu]

Originally Posted by Braincase

GOing old school (?), and I've been listening to The Belgariad by David Eddings. I'm into The Castle of Wizardry, with Enchanter's Endgame on deck.

Listening to books isn't really old school. Back in the day we used to read them.

[Ebolapox]

the newest Dresden Files book by Jim Butcher comes out Tuesday. SQUEE!

[Braincase]

Originally Posted by patteeu

Listening to books isn't really old school. Back in the day we used to read them.

Yeah, I know where you're coming from. It's almost a necessity for me. One hour commute to work and back, and in my down time, I have to get ready to certify on Windows 8, Windows Server 2012, Microsoft Lync Server 2012 and Microsoft Exchange 13, so basically 5 different MCSE tracks between now and the end of next year.

[Frosty]

Due to all the fanboi love for it, I picked up the Star Wars Thrawn series.

I'm about halfway through the first one and I'm hoping someone here can tell me the books get better as they go along.

[Braincase]

Just finished the Belgariad by David Eddings. Not bad. Just started "Eon" by Greg Bear. Really liking it a couple of hours in.

[listopencil]

Originally Posted by oldandslow

Oldandslow's Top 10

10 - Shute "on the beach"
09 - Brin "the postman"
08 - McCarthy "the road
07 - King's "the stand"
06 - Niven & Pournell "lucifer's hammer"
05 - Cronin - "the passage"
04 - Bacigualupi "the wind up girl"
03 - McCammon "swan song"
02 - Stewart "earth abides"
01 - Frank - "alas babylon"

I love this genre of fiction. I sometimes wish I hadn't read the best yet, so that I could experience them again. Driving on the train tracks in "Lucifer's Hammer," or the brother giving the code word in "alas, babylon", or the soldier and his wife crying as they put down their baby as well as themselves in "on the beach" are some of the most humbling and emotional reading excercises I have ever experienced.

Lots of great stuff on that list, but I have to say that "Earth Abides" is one of my favorite books of all time.

[listopencil]

Originally Posted by Braincase

Yeah, I know where you're coming from. It's almost a necessity for me. One hour commute to work and back, and in my down time, I have to get ready to certify on Windows 8, Windows Server 2012, Microsoft Lync Server 2012 and Microsoft Exchange 13, so basically 5 different MCSE tracks between now and the end of next year.

I have tried audio books and I just can't do it. When I read I visualize to heavily to be aware of my surroundings, and I can't stand the pacing of a recorded spoken story.

[Frosty]

Originally Posted by Braincase

Just finished the Belgariad by David Eddings.

One thing about Eddings is that once you've read one of his series, you've read them all. He just puts different names on them but the characters are the same. They even have the same banter during their quests.

[Braincase]

Originally Posted by listopencil

I have tried audio books and I just can't do it. When I read I visualize to heavily to be aware of my surroundings, and I can't stand the pacing of a recorded spoken story.

I understand completely. But, in my case the only real opportunity I have to focus on fiction (and some non-fiction) is while I'm commuting. Considering the state of sports talk radio in Kansas City, I'm better off listening to books than some of the jackhammers that have airtime.

[Braincase]

Decided to go old school on my listening the past couple of weeks. Came into the complete audio recordings of Heinlein. Started off with "Methuselah's Children" and am now almost through the original "Starship Troopers". 2 thoughts on Starship Troopers - it's little wonder that it's on the reading lists for all of the service academies, and is required reading at one (West Point?). I also now have so much more disdain for the crappy movie that bears the name. A featured element of the book is the powered armor, very novel at the time of it's writing in 1959, and that was completely absent... a well as butchering the story. I've got "Stranger in a Strange Land" ready next, then we dive a little deeper into the chronicles of Lazarus Long.

[Frosty]

I'll have to read "Stranger in a Strange Land" again someday. I liked a lot of Heinlein but I thought that one was boring. However, I read it in high school so may be able to appreciate it differently now.

[duncan_idaho]

Recently started the Malazan Book of the Fallen series.

Taking my time with this one. The story is pretty complex and difficult to follow in the early going (Lots of characters, lots of places, lots to learn/get used to), but I can feel the epic scope coming.

I also tore through the "Schools Out" series by Scott Andrews of late. It's a post-apocalyptic series set in England after a worldwide plague. Story centers around a soldier's kid who attends an all-boys military school in the English countryside, and the school's attempts to survive sans-adults in a world that's falling apart.

Pretty awesome stuff. Gritty, fast-paced, and engaging.

[Huffmeister]

Originally Posted by Frosty

I'll have to read "Stranger in a Strange Land" again someday. I liked a lot of Heinlein but I thought that one was boring. However, I read it in high school so may be able to appreciate it differently now.

I tried reading it a few years ago, and just couldn't get into it.