Books Science Fiction and Fantasy Books Only Thread - Page 33

**Buck** · 12:56 PM

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

keg in kc · 01-31-2018, 10:43 AM

Children of Time was good. Did the audiobook during a trip last summer.

Need to buy the latest Expanse novel.

ShiftyEyedWaterboy · 01-31-2018, 11:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by keg in kc

Children of Time was good. Did the audiobook during a trip last summer.

Need to buy the latest Expanse novel.

I’m digging it so far. Reminds me of A Fire Upon the Deep a little.

Miles · 01-31-2018, 03:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by keg in kc

Children of Time was good. Did the audiobook during a trip last summer.

Need to buy the latest Expanse novel.

Good to hear as I’ve had Children of Time in my Audible queue for a while but haven’t gotten around to it yet. Will be my next up.

**Bowser** · 01-31-2018, 08:16 PM

I always enjoy seeing this thread bumped.

I took Shifty's recommendation and downloaded Alastair Reynolds' House of Suns. I'll report back on it when I'm done.

keg in kc · 01-31-2018, 08:23 PM

I've never been able to get into Alistair Reynolds for some reason. I've tried, but something about his writing hasn't resonated with me.

**Bowser** · 01-31-2018, 08:26 PM

Well shit, tell me that now. Lol

I'll probably que up your Children of Time next. I've had pretty good luck taking recommendations from this thread.

ShiftyEyedWaterboy · 01-31-2018, 08:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bowser

I always enjoy seeing this thread bumped.

I took Shifty's recommendation and downloaded Alastair Reynolds' House of Suns. I'll report back on it when I'm done.

Hope you like it.

I'm a huge Reynolds fan and this is one of my favorites of his. He has a bit of a rep for not finishing novels well but I thought he did great with this one.

ShiftyEyedWaterboy · 01-31-2018, 08:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by keg in kc

I've never been able to get into Alistair Reynolds for some reason. I've tried, but something about his writing hasn't resonated with me.

I can see that. Some of his novels feel a little cold/dark with few likable characters. The ending of Revelation Space was shit, too. Shame because the first 3/4's are one of my favorite sci fi stories.

House of Suns is a safe bet, though. Some of his stronger writing with a good ending. His characters are a bit more likable, as well.

keg in kc · 01-31-2018, 08:42 PM

It's been a few years, my reaction may be different now...

Also, after thinking a bit more about it, the issue may not have been with the writing, but with the narrator. That can happen sometimes with books I listen to rather than read.

Looking back in my library I went through House of Suns and the first four revalation space novels back in 2012. And the same narrator did some other books I had issues with, a couple from Ken Follett and a couple more from Peter F. Hamilton (who along with Reynolds and the late Iain Banks formed the holy trinity of UK space opera...)

ShiftyEyedWaterboy · 01-31-2018, 08:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by keg in kc

Looking back in my library I went through House of Suns and the first four revalation space novels back in 2012. And the same narrator did some other books I had issues with, a couple from Ken Follett and a couple more from Peter F. Hamilton (who along with Reynolds and the late Iain Banks formed the holy trinity of UK space opera...)

I'm a big fan of all three. Have a problem with Hamilton's cinder blocks, though. I enjoyed Night's Dawn but I let out a huge sigh of relief when I was done. I have 200+ books on my goodreads to-read shelf. Get a little antsy spending that much time on one author. Was his Commonwealth Saga any good?

stumppy · 01-31-2018, 10:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by keg in kc

Children of Time was good. Did the audiobook during a trip last summer.

Need to buy the latest Expanse novel.

I'm almost halfway through. The pace is picking up nicely. It a pretty good read so far.

ShiftyEyedWaterboy · 02-04-2018, 09:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stumppy

I'm almost halfway through. The pace is picking up nicely. It a pretty good read so far.

Just finished it. I really liked it. Neat ending, too. Took me by surprise.

I realize I bitched about long series in my last post but I’ve decided to jump into Malazan. It’s been awhile since I’ve read some fantasy and I’ve heard great things about it.

duncan_idaho · 02-04-2018, 09:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ShiftyEyedWaterboy

Just finished it. I really liked it. Neat ending, too. Took me by surprise.

I realize I bitched about long series in my last post but I’ve decided to jump into Malazan. It’s been awhile since I’ve read some fantasy and I’ve heard great things about it.

It's worth the effort. Eriksen's ability to bend tropes and create dynamic, interesting characters is really first-rate.

You just have to give it time to build up.

ShiftyEyedWaterboy · 02-04-2018, 09:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by duncan_idaho

It's worth the effort. Eriksen's ability to bend tropes and create dynamic, interesting characters is really first-rate.

You just have to give it time to build up.

I’ve heard it’s difficult but I’ve read a lot of Gene Wolfe recently so I’m used to filling in blanks. I’ve been told things really pick up in books 2 and 3. I’ll make sure to get through them before I start to judge it.

duncan_idaho · 02-04-2018, 09:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ShiftyEyedWaterboy

I’ve heard it’s difficult but I’ve read a lot of Gene Wolfe recently so I’m used to filling in blanks. I’ve been told things really pick up in books 2 and 3.

Yes. And then book 4 shifts gears entirely at the start. Weird change. But cool.

03-20-2012, 07:05 PM
Buck Take a Chill Pill Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: South Carolina Casino cash: $7599900	Science Fiction and Fantasy Books Only Thread 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 Last edited by Buck; 03-25-2012 at 12:56 PM..
Posts: 44,566

01-31-2018, 10:43 AM	#481
keg in kc oxymoron Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: OP/KC/Whatever Casino cash: $9556299	Children of Time was good. Did the audiobook during a trip last summer. Need to buy the latest Expanse novel.
Posts: 58,682

01-31-2018, 08:16 PM	#484
Bowser sorta mod-ish Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: KC North Casino cash: $1671616	I always enjoy seeing this thread bumped. I took Shifty's recommendation and downloaded Alastair Reynolds' House of Suns. I'll report back on it when I'm done.
Posts: 103,920

01-31-2018, 08:23 PM	#485
keg in kc oxymoron Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: OP/KC/Whatever Casino cash: $9556299	I've never been able to get into Alistair Reynolds for some reason. I've tried, but something about his writing hasn't resonated with me.
Posts: 58,682

01-31-2018, 08:26 PM	#486
Bowser sorta mod-ish Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: KC North Casino cash: $1671616	Well shit, tell me that now. Lol I'll probably que up your Children of Time next. I've had pretty good luck taking recommendations from this thread.
Posts: 103,920

01-31-2018, 08:42 PM	#489
keg in kc oxymoron Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: OP/KC/Whatever Casino cash: $9556299	It's been a few years, my reaction may be different now... Also, after thinking a bit more about it, the issue may not have been with the writing, but with the narrator. That can happen sometimes with books I listen to rather than read. Looking back in my library I went through House of Suns and the first four revalation space novels back in 2012. And the same narrator did some other books I had issues with, a couple from Ken Follett and a couple more from Peter F. Hamilton (who along with Reynolds and the late Iain Banks formed the holy trinity of UK space opera...)
Posts: 58,682