Sci Fi and Fantasy Books - Page 2 - Writers Forum

SoNickSays... · 05-05-2008, 10:51 AM

Fantasy? Try Sergei Lukyanenko. I've only read his Watch Series (Night Watch, Day Watch, Twilight Watch) and I found them really interesting. Im now waiting for his final book of the series The Final Watch to come out in English.

It's a good fantasy read.

Tiamat10 · 05-05-2008, 10:57 AM

In no particular order...

The Dragon Jousters series by Mercedes Lackey
Harry Potter
The Sword, The Ring, and The Chalice trilogy by Deborah Chester
anything by Charles De Lint
Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card (but nothing else in that series or the related series)
Temeraire (series) by Naomi Novik

Damien. · 05-06-2008, 08:30 AM

Percible Dryke · 05-07-2008, 08:53 PM

For sure The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch. Probably my favorite new fantasy book of the year. Also, Raymond E. Feist is always good. Harry Potter of course. And finally, Terry Brook's work in Shannara. However, this may be biased as he was the first author to get me interested in fantasy, but they are overall excellent books.

seigfried007 · 05-08-2008, 05:31 AM

Even though I disliked Ron and Harry and many other 'major' characters, Harry Potter was entertaining.

Robin Hobb's awesome--and no elves, dwarves, etc. I've read Farseer and Tawny Man trologies.

Sabriel by Garth Nix was pretty good, but I've heard mixed reviews about the others in the series.

Loved Dune.

LOTR was very good, which is why I can't stand most fantasy any more.

I've heard Dark Tower was great but I started midway through the series and think I should have started at the beginning

buyjupiter03 · 05-08-2008, 06:14 AM

I'm about half-way through the first volume of Otherland by Tad Williams. It's one novel published in 4 volumes, so it's quite a commitment. I cannot remember the last time a book grabbed me within the first five pages. Very very very good so far. It's about the 'net and VR (virtual reality), and this aspect of the VR is sucking kids in and they're "disappearing" (they go into comas/other brain trauma). It's SF, and I've heard it classified as semi-cyberpunk, but it's rather epic in scope and draws from a lot of different styles. I'm thinking this is something I'm going to be highly recommending for some time. It may be my favorite book this year.

aspiretowrite · 05-08-2008, 07:58 AM

LOTR Trilogy - a masterpiece
Positronic Man - Asimov. Made me cry at the end
Harry Potter
Only two really good Star Trek books (Probe and Q-In Law) the rest suck
Bradbury - Martian Chronicles (eerie stuff)

Their not books but I am a huge fan of the Cube Trilogy especially the 1st two. As books I think they would have been quite the spinetingler.

playstation60 · 05-08-2008, 12:20 PM

I disagree, Apsire on the Star Trek books, you should have Shatner's The Return in there.

I say Timothy Zahn's Heir to the Empire Trilogy deserves mention. Angel Mass was a good read too.

Something no one ever seems to mention is Tranquility Wars by Gentry Lee.

buyjupiter03 · 05-08-2008, 04:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by playstation60

Something no one ever seems to mention is Tranquility Wars by Gentry Lee.

If that isn't the series cowritten with Arthur C. Clarke, then it is nearly impossible to find. In fact, I'd thought the only things he'd written were with Clarke. (I'm talking about walking into your average Borders/library.)

Damien. · 05-09-2008, 08:27 AM

LionofPerth · 05-09-2008, 11:31 AM

Starship Troopers by RA Heinlein.

Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep, Phillip K Dick

Larry Niven's Ringworld

Rucka's Perfect Dark Zero: Initial Front and Second Vector. Ever since Perfect Dark I've been a big fan of Jo Dark, and she's.... well, I guess it's the fact it's a she, that got me hooked. And no, she's no a Croft clone, her bust is a respectable size, at least it was in the original, till Rare added at least five inches way too much in Zero.

Ender's Game

HP series up to number 4, the rest... well, the last two I smell cop out to be honest.

Don't read that much fiction any more to be honest.

buyjupiter03 · 05-09-2008, 04:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Damien.

Okay, why do writers have to copy each other? The only reason dragons are now unoriginal is because The Hobbit was copied over and over. Same thing with LOTR. Band of adventurers are everywhere; DragonLance Chronicles, any of R. A. Salvatore's works, although I love him.

Um, you have heard of "themes", and that there are truly only about 20 plots to choose from? I mean sure, Paolini is obviously a rip off of Tolkein, but most authors add their own twists to an old story. As a matter of fact, Tolkein ripped off a lot of stuff from Norse Myth. I mean, by the time Tolkein was around Elves, Dwarves, Orcs were so not original.

The band of adventurers works so well because no one person would have all the skills to survive the adventure. Not to mention it would get damn boring with no other main characters.

dwellerofthedeep · 05-09-2008, 08:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by buyjupiter03

Um, you have heard of "themes", and that there are truly only about 20 plots to choose from?

I know you were talking about plots here but I'd argue that most fantasy authors could work a little harder at their settings considering how derivative they are.

Quote:

I mean sure, Paolini is obviously a rip off of Tolkein, but most authors add their own twists to an old story. As a matter of fact, Tolkein ripped off a lot of stuff from Norse Myth. I mean, by the time Tolkein was around Elves, Dwarves, Orcs were so not original.

Tolkien was all about myths and language though. Those things were his passions. There is nothing wrong with these things in and of themselves, and I'm sure there are other good fantasy authors who use them but the author might produce something better if they go with his or her true passion in writing. Of course if the author's passion is elves, maybe then? I don't think a few changes here and there is a productive standard for the genre's future myself.

Quote:

The band of adventurers works so well because no one person would have all the skills to survive the adventure.

I don't know if that should be assumed...

Quote:

Not to mention it would get damn boring with no other main characters.

...But I agree with you on this far more important point.

As for books:

I absolutely love Ender's Game and I liked Ender's Shadow too.

Sabriel, Lirael and Abhorsen help remind me that there is more to fantasy than Tolkien. I'm not so fond of Nix's Seventh Tower though.

Steven Brust's Vlad Taltos books are excellent as well if one wants something different from fantasy.

buyjupiter03 · 05-09-2008, 10:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dwellerofthedeep

I know you were talking about plots here but I'd argue that most fantasy authors could work a little harder at their settings considering how derivative they are.

I've read so much now that I have a hard time finding something "original". So I just try to enjoy the writing, the interesting descriptive phrases, and the characters.

I know this is such a cliche, but "if it ain't broke, don't fix it". The medieval earth (pseudo-earth) setting works for fantasy. The only book in recent memory that did a good job of blending magic and technology in a non-earth setting was Jackal of Nar. It was a really good military fantasy (odd categorization, but it works). No elves. No dwarves. I don't remember any dragons (pretty damn sure there aren't any). Good fantasy.

dwellerofthedeep · 05-10-2008, 08:58 AM

There is nothing wrong with enjoying fantasy as it is, I suppose, but there is potential for more out there in my opinion. You seem far better read than I am in the genre so your point seems valid to me. When I write I try a blend often enough that I feel like I learned a thing or two but being a good reader probably taught you what I learned and more.