Reading Recommendations request

Alex Moon · Post by **Alex Moon** » 2003-05-18 07:41am

Since summer vacation is now here, and I suddenly have a bit more free time, I was wondering if any of you could recommend books that I should check out. No real preference as far as genres, although something outside the sci-fi/fantasy area would be nice. Thanks!

Post by **Gandalf** » 2003-05-18 07:50am

If you haven't read it, I recommend The Hobbit/ Lord of The Rings.

EDIT: Also, the Jurassic Park books by Michael Chricton, beat the shit out of the movies.

Post by **Dalton** » 2003-05-18 07:50am

Snow Crash and Cryptonomicon by Neal Stephenson. Snow Crash is more of a parody of cyberpunk; Cryptonomicon is historical hacker fiction.

Also, try the Dark Tower series by Stephen King: The Gunslinger, Drawing of the Three, The Wastelands, and Wizard and Glass. #5 is coming out soon I believe.

2000AD · Post by **2000AD** » 2003-05-18 08:03am

Out side sci fi !!! eeeeeerrrrrrrr.....

I reccomend The Beach by Alex Garland, far superior to the movie in every way.

As Gandalf said Hobbit and LoTR especially with the movies being released.

Also if you haven't already try to read some Discworld by Tery Pratchett. Then you can truly look at Dalton (assuming he keeps his current avatar) and go "Oook!" and mean it!

Post by **haas mark** » 2003-05-18 08:03am

Watership Down I forget the author
The Wheel of Time series by Robert Jordan
Interview with a Vampire by Anne Rice
The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne
Talisman and Black House by Stephen King and Peter Straub

God Emperor · Post by **God Emperor** » 2003-05-18 08:26am

The Dragonriders of Pern by Anne McCaffrey are good.

Post by **haas mark** » 2003-05-18 08:30am

God Emperor wrote:The Dragonriders of Pern by Anne McCaffrey are good.

Of course, we start the series with Dragonsong.

Also, look into Spring Moon, although I forget who it is by.
Heart of Darkness by Conrad.
Anthem, The Fountainhead, and Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand.

Exonerate · Post by **Exonerate** » 2003-05-18 01:41pm

His Dark Materials trilogy by Philip Pullman.

Dahak · Post by **Dahak** » 2003-05-18 02:08pm

The Hyperion series by Dean Simmons.
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Lord Pounder · Post by **Lord Pounder** » 2003-05-18 02:39pm

If you want a goos Sci-Fi comedy try any Red Dwarf Book by Grant Naylor or Star Wartz by Partick Tilley. If you want some mindless violence in your book try all 6 parts of the Amtrak War by Patrick Tilley. Patrick is my favourite author.

Post by **haas mark** » 2003-05-18 02:42pm

Darth Pounder wrote:Patrick is my favourite author.

Why, thank you.

XaLEv · Post by **XaLEv** » 2003-05-18 02:47pm

Flatland: A romance of many dimensions

Written a Long Damn Time Ago, so it's public domain now. Good story.

Keevan_Colton · Post by **Keevan_Colton** » 2003-05-18 03:41pm

Well, I'd suggest you check out anything at all by David Gemmel, he's an excellent author...One great series of his is the Jon Shannow trilogy and another that's great is the Drenai saga...

Faram · Post by **Faram** » 2003-05-18 04:07pm

Elizabeth Moon: Sheepfarmer's Daughter

Part 1 of 3 in The Deed of Paksenarrion series

Corny title but this is among the best Fantasy you can find HIGLY recomended.

Frank Hipper · Post by **Frank Hipper** » 2003-05-18 04:13pm

Aztec by Gary Jennings. Fun, uber-raunchy historical fiction. I recommend his The Journeyer, as well. It's about Marco Polo's sexcapades in Asia. Not for those with weak stomachs!

The Penultimate Ninja · Post by **The Penultimate Ninja** » 2003-05-18 04:42pm

It's already been said but Hyperion by Dan Simmons is quite good. It actually made me a fan of John Keats. Read the sequels too.

kojikun · Post by **kojikun** » 2003-05-18 05:13pm

Hominids, first in the Neanderthal Parallax. Its hard anthropology scifi. Very VERY good. Also Humans, the second in the trilogy.

Hendrake · Post by **Hendrake** » 2003-05-18 05:18pm

For something not exactly inside fantsy and sci-fi but somewhat related try Italo Calvino's The Invisible Cities or pretty much any other of his books.

For something more inside the F/SF boundaries, Roger Zelazny Lord of Light or, if you enjoy long series, Zelazny's Amber chronicles

Joe · Post by **Joe** » 2003-05-18 05:37pm

The Once and Future King by T.H. White, and the Book of Merlyn that accompanies it.
I, Robot by Isaac Asimov.
Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt.
Catch Me If You Can by Frank Abagnale.

I recommend his The Journeyer, as well. It's about Marco Polo's sexcapades in Asia. Not for those with weak stomachs!

I've read bits of that. Some truly sexually depraved stuff.

InnerBrat · Post by **InnerBrat** » 2003-05-18 05:48pm

Ah, the day after the BBC's Big Read.

OK, I'm going to pick soem out of the one's I've read on the list...

1984 George Orwell
Brave New World Aldous Huxley
The Colour of Magic Terry Pratchett
Emma Jane Austen - (bit of a chick lit one here, but it is good if you like rom coms)
Harry Potter and the Philospher's Stone -J. K. Rowling (oh, go on, ignore the hype - tis a good book)
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy - Douglas Adams. (You have NO EXCUSE for not reading this)
the Lord of the Flies William Golding
The Stand Stephen King
Watership Down - Richard Adams (children shmildren - this scared the crap out me when I was 19)
Wuthering Heights - Emily Bronte (NOT chick lit)

Raxmei · Post by **Raxmei** » 2003-05-18 06:15pm

It's a little short, but I quite liked The Wasp Factory by Iain Banks.

Post by **Zaia** » 2003-05-18 08:28pm

Alex, I read almost no sci-fi and I love to read, so I'll give you a couple of my personal faves in case you're interested.

Catch-22 by Joseph Heller: Simply amazing book.
The Princess Bride by William Goldman: Hilarious.
The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger: Kickass book that everyone should read at some point. One of my favourties.

Oh, and just about everything on innerbrat's list.

Alex Moon · Post by **Alex Moon** » 2003-05-19 12:47am

Thanks to everyone who responded.

I went to Barnes and Noble today and picked up The Complete Amber Chronicles by Roger Zelazny, The Road to Serfdom by F.A. Hayek, and Mathematical Economics by Kelvin Lancaster. So now I just have to finish For Whom the Bell Tolls by Hemmingway and The Last Samurai by Helen DeWitt and I can get to work on these new books.

Post by **weemadando** » 2003-05-19 01:05am

Alex Moon wrote:Thanks to everyone who responded. :)

I went to Barnes and Noble today and picked up The Complete Amber Chronicles by Roger Zelazny,

Good choice. Is it just the Corwin books, or did you get the Merlin series as well?

Alex Moon · Post by **Alex Moon** » 2003-05-19 01:17am

weemadando wrote:
Alex Moon wrote:Thanks to everyone who responded.

I went to Barnes and Noble today and picked up The Complete Amber Chronicles by Roger Zelazny,

Good choice. Is it just the Corwin books, or did you get the Merlin series as well?

It says, The Complete Amber Chronicles, 1-10 so yeah, I think both series.