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Recommend me some Sci-Fi and Fantasy Books?

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Fanboydestroyer

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Yay it is my first thread topic now that I am no longer a Junior Member. Horray! Anyway I've recently fallen back in love with reading. (Yeah there was a moment in my life where I didn't like reading) Anyway I'm really into the Sci-Fi genere of late. This probably has to do with the fact that I read CHILDHOOD'S END By the amazingly talented Arthur C. Clarke. So I'm kind of on a Sci-Fi high right now. Therefore I beesech you, please help me with some Sci-Fi recommendations. Oh, and also Fantasy.

Maybe I should list the books that I am planning on reading and you guys can tell me if I'm making the right decison. Also any other suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

These are the books I'm planning on reading

Pandora's Star by Peter F. Hamilton (about halfway done)
Judas Unchained by Peter F. Hamiltion
Spin by Robert Charles Wilson
Hyperion by Dan Simmons
The Fall of Hyperion by Dan Simmons
Endiymon by Dan Simmons
The Rise of Endiymon by Dan Simmons
The Night Dawn Trilogy by Peter F. Hamilton
The Dark Tower Series by Steven King
The OtherLand Series by Tad Williams
A Song of Ice and Fire series by George RR Martin

So how am I doing? And again, if anyne wants to recommend me some other books in the Sci-Fi and fantasy genres please go right ahead. I love reading and with summer comming up I'll have alot of free time on my hand.

Also if it's possible/not to much work, I would like to have a summary of what the book is about.

Also I have edited the thread title b/c I want this to be a thread where we not only recommend Sci-Fi books but also have discussions about them.
 
I knew I was forgetting somebody. I do want to check out the Foundation books. But I don't know where to begin.

Also I want to mention that I have also read Dan Simmon's Illium and Olympos. While I enjoyed Illium, I hated Olympos.
 
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Can't go wrong with Vernor Vinge.
 
I just finished reading Childhood's end as well. Loved it. Also try Rendezvous with Rama by clarke.

At one point a year or so ago i decided i was going to go and read all the classic Sci-Fi novels. I found this site really helpful. Also take a look at the Nebula and Hugo awards winners.

So far my favourite's are Asimov, Clarke and (a newbie) Cory Doctorow. Cory makes all his books freely available in electronic form. I really enjoyed His last couple (little brother and Overclocked) and am slowly working my way backwards through all his books.
 
hoverX said:
I just finished reading Childhood's end as well. Loved it. Also try Rendezvous with Rama by clarke.

At one point a year or so ago i decided i was going to go and read all the classic Sci-Fi novels. I found this site really helpful. Also take a look at the Nebula and Hugo awards winners.

So far my favourite's are Asimov, Clarke and (a newbie) Cory Doctorow. Cory makes all his books freely available in electronic form. I really enjoyed His last couple (little brother and Overclocked) and am slowly working my way backwards through all his books.
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ChildHood's End was so amazing. My dad gave it to me and I finished it in a day. Thanks for the website. I will be bookmarking it.
 
Fanboydestroyer said:
Yay it is my first thread topic now that I am no longer a Junior Member. Horray! Anyway I've recently fallen back in love with reading. (Yeah there was a moment in my life where I didn't like reading) Anyway I'm really into the Sci-Fi genere of late. This probably has to do with the fact that I read CHILDHOOD'S END By the amazingly talented Arthur C. Clarke. So I'm kind of on a Sci-Fi high right now. Therefore I beesech you, please help me with some Sci-Fi recommendations. Oh, and also Fantasy.

Maybe I should list the books that I am planning on reading and you guys can tell me if I'm making the right decison. Also any other suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

These are the books I'm planning on reading

Pandora's Star by Peter F. Hamilton (about halfway done)
Judas Unchained by Peter F. Hamiltion
Spin by Robert Charles Wilson
Hyperion by Dan Simmons
The Fall of Hyperion by Dan Simmons
Endiymon by Dan Simmons
The Rise of Endiymon by Dan Simmons
The Night Dawn Trilogy by Peter F. Hamilton
The Dark Tower Series by Steven King
The OtherLand Series by Tad Williams
A Song of Ice and Fire series by George RR Martin

So how am I doing? And again, if anyne wants to recommend me some other books in the Sci-Fi and fantasy genres please go right ahead. I love reading and with summer comming up I'll have alot of free time on my hand.
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Excellent, saves me having to recommend them.

Now try these as well:

Sci-Fi:
The Stars My Destination - Alfred Bester
Dying Inside - Robert Silverburg
Spares - Michael Marshall Smith

Fantasy:
The Axis Trilogy - Sara Douglas
The Wayfarer Redemption - Sara Douglas
The Assassins Trilogy - Robin Hobb
American Gods - Neil Gaiman
 
I'm not as heavy a reader as some others on here so no doubt my recommendations will be lambasted by some but still:

My favourite sci-fi book.
izcm8n.jpg


My favourite fantasy book.
whbryg.jpg


Can't recommend them enough. Especially Altered Carbon. Takashi Kovacs is a freaking awesome character.
 
the-blade-itself.jpg


Start with the First Law trilogy by Joe Abercrombie.

It's pretty much a near flawless series imo. It's got quite a few of the original fantasy motives that might have drawn you to the genre but with a dark and original twist on things. It's very well written and there are some brutal combat and torture scenes along with a solid ending.
 
Fanboydestroyer said:
I am intrested in reading Dune. However I heard that I shouldn't read anything that is not by Frank Herbert in terms of Dune books.
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ya just read the first book in the series, you can skip the rest, the original book is FANTASTIC
 
dude that's a huge ass list.

unless you're planning on going away for a year or just sit at home and do nothing but read I'd say you have plenty to go on so far.

but whatevers, nice list :P
 
I really do appreaciate the recommendations that you guys have been giving me. Thanks a lot. I would like to know if any of the books I mentioned in my first post are worthy of my time. (For those who have read them) Thanks.
 
Fanboydestroyer said:
I really do appreaciate the recommendations that you guys have been giving me. Thanks a lot. I would like to know if any of the books I mentioned in my first post are worthy of my time. (For those who have read them) Thanks.
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George R R Martin should jump to the top of the list. It's generally regarded as the best epic fantasy series going.
 
Fanboydestroyer said:
Is the first book a stand alone?
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It doesn't exactly end on a cliffhanger, if that's what you mean, though the story of its particular protagonist doesn't end until the third book.
 
snaildog said:
George R R Martin should jump to the top of the list. It's generally regarded as the best epic fantasy series going.
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I have heard nothing but good things about him. One of my friends thinks I should read Terry Goodkind. But from what I've heard I don't think I would like him.

Anyway once I'm done with Pandora's Star and Judas Unchained I will be reading Spin followed by the Hyperion Cantos and then A Song of Ice and Fire Series. I'm a really fast reader so I think I can do this.
 
JayDubya said:
It doesn't exactly end on a cliffhanger, if that's what you mean, though the story of its particular protagonist doesn't end until the third book.
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Thanks for clearing that up. I know that Kevin J Anderson writes some of the Dune books. But I'm not a fan of his. I didn't like his Star Wars books. Then again I read him after I read Timothy Zahn. You can't compare with Zahn XD
 
Wes said:
I'm not as heavy a reader as some others on here so no doubt my recommendations will be lambasted by some but still:

My favourite sci-fi book.
izcm8n.jpg
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I came to post the same book, you rock.
 
The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant, the Unbeliever by Stephen R. Donaldson
(Lord Foul's Bane ♦ The Illearth War ♦ The Power that Preserves)

I haven't read the second or last chronicles yet, but I enjoyed the first one. If you don't like assholish protagonists, stay away though.

The main character has leprosy and lives as an outcast in some regular small town. He gets knocked out and wakes in some fantasy land, where he is not sick and the people there hail him as some sort of a saviour, but Covenant himself believes he is going insane.
 
You might want to check out some books by Lois McMaster Bujold. She is currently tied with Robert Heinlein with four Hugo awards for best novel. Her style is a bit different from most Sci-Fi/Fantasy authors because of her love of Romance novels.


The Amber Chronicles by Roger Zelazny are classic. Along with some of his other work like Jack of Shadows.


The War Against the Chtorr by David Gerrold. Classic alien invasion series.
 
gdt5016 said:
Isaac Asimov. Best Sci-Fi author ever.

Read his Foundation Universe. 15 books.
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ok, having lately discover the foundation books (already read everything else from him) I found some books that were "approved" by his family and not actually written by him.

Which books are the best ones/originals?

I already got the first two.
 
The Dispossessed - Ursula Le Guinn
Cloud Warrior - Patrick Tilley
The Day of the Triffids - John Wyndham
The Neverending Story - Michael Ende
The Colour of Magic - Terry Pratchett
The Dream Hunters - Neil Gaiman
Red Dwarf - Grant Naylor
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone - J K Rowling
 
51qxhokQlWL._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-click,TopRight,35,-76_AA240_SH20_OU01_.jpg


Patrick Rothfuss' "The Name of the Wind" should be in here somewhere. Excellent read and there's only one currently so it can be slipped in between series.
 
itxaka said:
ok, having lately discover the foundation books (already read everything else from him) I found some books that were "approved" by his family and not actually written by him.

Which books are the best ones/originals?

I already got the first two.
Click to expand...

If I'm reading your post right...

Everything Foundation related (all 15 of them, find the list on Wiki) was written by him. Some find fault with the stuff he wrote 30 years after the rest (Foundation's Edge, Foundation and Earth, etc) but I found them to be just as strong as everything else. With Prelude and Forward being the weakest (by far), but still entertaining books. Read them in release order.

Edit: Oh, you mean that trilogy of Foundation stuff written by other authors? I haven't read those. Didn't want to sully the whole thing :p.
 
gdt5016 said:
If I'm reading your post right...

Everything Foundation related (all 15 of them, find the list on Wiki) was written by him. Some find fault with the stuff he wrote 30 years after the rest (Foundation's Edge, Foundation and Earth, etc) but I found them to be just as strong as everything else. With Prelude and Forward being the weakest (by far), but still entertaining books. Read them in release order.

Edit: Oh, you mean that trilogy of Foundation stuff written by other authors? I haven't read those. Didn't want to sully the whole thing :p.
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I just went to the wikipedia page. If the damn book chronology is that mucked up I can't imagine what the universe must be like.
 
For fantasy I'd say absolutely anything by Peter S Beagle

The Last Unicorn
A Fine and Private Place
Tamsin
Folk of the Air (Though I believe it's out of print)
Innkeeper's Song


Quote from the Last Unicorn:
Often then, between the rush of one breath and the reach of another, it came to her that Schmendrick and Molly were long dead, and King Haggard as well, and the Red Bull met and mastered—so long ago that the grandchildren of the stars that had seen it all happen were withering now, turning to coal—and that she was still the only unicorn left in the world.
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eznark said:
I just went to the wikipedia page. If the damn book chronology is that mucked up I can't imagine what the universe must be like.
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Ehh, he just wrote them out of chronological order. It's been done plenty of times.

I say to read them in release order because there are certain reveals/twist that would be spoiled for you if you read them out of order.


Edit: He had two series in the 50's (Foundation series and the Robot series) and another loose trio of books (Empire trilogy). He stopped writing fiction for forever and began writing new fiction in the early 80's. He decided to tie all his series' together. And he did it extremely well.
 
Dark FaZe said:
the-blade-itself.jpg


Start with the First Law trilogy by Joe Abercrombie.

It's pretty much a near flawless series imo. It's got quite a few of the original fantasy motives that might have drawn you to the genre but with a dark and original twist on things. It's very well written and there are some brutal combat and torture scenes along with a solid ending.
Click to expand...

Great series... but far from fawless

spoiler!!!

Going to the end of the earth was pointless and a huge waste of like a half a book. I mean it was decent for the characters and all that but it felt so aimless... it is his first series and I loved it so I have high hopes!!!
 
itxaka said:
ok, having lately discover the foundation books (already read everything else from him) I found some books that were "approved" by his family and not actually written by him.

Which books are the best ones/originals?

I already got the first two.
Click to expand...

Read the original trilogy and stop. It tails off from there.

And OP, put every book down and read Dune immediately. It's absolutely outstanding and one of the greatest novels I've ever read, regardless of genre.
 
Uplift Saga books by David Brin
Galactic Center books by Gregory Benford
On My Way to Paradise by Dave Wolverton
 
Wraith said:
51qxhokQlWL._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-click,TopRight,35,-76_AA240_SH20_OU01_.jpg


Patrick Rothfuss' "The Name of the Wind" should be in here somewhere. Excellent read and there's only one currently so it can be slipped in between series.
Click to expand...
thought "The Wise Man's Fear" came out last month?
 
Blackace said:
Great series... but far from fawless

spoiler!!!

Going to the end of the earth was pointless and a huge waste of like a half a book. I mean it was decent for the characters and all that but it felt so aimless... it is his first series and I loved it so I have high hopes!!!
Click to expand...
That was one of my favourite parts!
Going off to the end of the world to look for an ancient legendary artifact always works out fine in fantasy books; I thought it was just hilarious that he spent half a book on a complete waste of time. The whole journey was still enjoyable to read and crucial for the character development.
 
MistakenMobius said:
Excession and Consider Phlebas by Iain M. Banksto get into the Culture-Verse
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Iain M. Banks is a brilliant author and the Culture novels are his best work, but I wouldn't recommend starting with the two books you listed, despite their excellence. The Player of Games would be the best place to begin, followed by Use of Weapons. Those books are easier to get into for those unfamiliar with Banks' world, and they'll give lots of background info that'll enhance the other Culture novels.
 
Damn there is wealth of books in here. I guess I never have to ask for a recommendation.

The first book I am going to read is Dune, after I am done with the Harry Potter series.
 
snaildog said:
That was one of my favourite parts!
Going off to the end of the world to look for an ancient legendary artifact always works out fine in fantasy books; I thought it was just hilarious that he spent half a book on a complete waste of time. The whole journey was still enjoyable to read and crucial for the character development.
Click to expand...

I don't know. I understand what you are saying. But the whole "oh! its not here, let's go back..." was kind of cool but far too long if it was just a cliche killer... The series did have some of the best characters ever... and I really do love it and his next book can't get here soon enough!
 
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