[bjornkeizers]

Hi all,

Well, the unthinkable has finally happened - I ran out of things to read, so I need some suggestions.

I've read every Tom Clany novel out there; a feat in and of itself as anyone who's ever picked up one will attest to. 8O

I've read quite a few classical books; George Orwell's '1984' ; H.G. Well's 'War of the Worlds' (I've read it a dozen times so far) and I'm fond of classical works such as Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes stories. Hell, I've even read some shakespeare in my day.

I'm also a big fan of contemporary Sci Fi - Star Trek. Read pretty much every good book out there (I can highly recommend Greg Cox' 'The Eugenics Wars volumes 1 and 2)

So, now that we've definied the particulars of my taste, who'd like to take on the challenge of recommending some books? I prefer series (Clancy, Harry Potter) and big books - I have a boring 3 hour commute three days a week, so I quite literally have all the time in the world...

[bjornkeizers]

Hi all,

Well, the unthinkable has finally happened - I ran out of things to read, so I need some suggestions.

I've read every Tom Clany novel out there; a feat in and of itself as anyone who's ever picked up one will attest to. 8O

I've read quite a few classical books; George Orwell's '1984' ; H.G. Well's 'War of the Worlds' (I've read it a dozen times so far) and I'm fond of classical works such as Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes stories. Hell, I've even read some shakespeare in my day.

I'm also a big fan of contemporary Sci Fi - Star Trek. Read pretty much every good book out there (I can highly recommend Greg Cox' 'The Eugenics Wars volumes 1 and 2)

So, now that we've definied the particulars of my taste, who'd like to take on the challenge of recommending some books? I prefer series (Clancy, Harry Potter) and big books - I have a boring 3 hour commute three days a week, so I quite literally have all the time in the world...

[Pat Logsdon]

If you like Potter, you're probably ok with Fantasy. One of the best fantasy series ever written (in my opinion) is the Belgariad series. All told, there are about 10 books, and all of them get 5 out of 5 stars. And if you're looking for a long, top notch fantasy series, you have to try Terry Pratchett. They man has written a book or two a year since the early eighties, most set in his "Discworld" universe. Hilarious, very well written, and there are more than 30 in the Discworld series alone. I would start with either "Wyrd Sisters" or "Guards! Guards!"

As far as SciFi goes, you might want to check out anything by Vernor Vinge, starting with "A Deepness in the Sky", then "A Fire Upon the Deep" and then "The Peace War" and its sequels. I've also just finished Richard Morgan's two books - "Altered Carbon" and "Broken Angels" - some of the best Sci-Fi I've read in years. Then, of course, there's anything by Neil Stephenson, starting with Snow Crash.

You might also want to check out Arthur C. Clarke's Rama series - those are quite good as well, and there are 3 of them, if I remember correctly. And finally, there's Dan Simmon's "Hyperion" series - there are a few of those as well, and they're really quite excellent and original.

[Jorgen]

Go for Preston and Child - any of their books, see http://www.prestonchild.com/ - I have them as paperbooks but saw that Fictionwise sells them at http://www.fictionwise.com/servlet/m...stoneBooks.htm

Fictionwise also have books by my favourite Raymond Chandler.

Or for scifi, authors like Robert Silverberg (Across a billion years, Times of Changes, Downward to Earth) and Greg Bear (Moving Mars, the mtriology Eon + Eternity + Legacy, Darwins Children) are always good.

Jorgen

[Enderet]

8O You didnt mention Isaac Asimov in your Sci-Fi.

If you have never read Asimov... go out and buy his books...right now.
He has several series... the most popular being the Foundation Series.

Also... you could try out his I, Robot series...the one from which the movie starring Will Smith is about.

Another Sci-Fi author I recommend is Orson Scott Card. His Ender Series is pretty good, and its probably his most famous. He also has several others...

If you are OK with fantasy... I suggest you give the DragonLance series a look. 100+ books if I remember correctly.

[dean_shan]

I'd recomend Starship Troopers by Robert Heinlein. Also if you are into Star Wars you should try reading The Thrawn Trilogy by Timothy Zahn.

[hamishmacdonald]

There's a nice guy I know from Toronto named Cory Doctorow who's won a Hugo award, and who releases his books as they come out in paperback and in a free digital form under an Open Commons license. His site is:
http://www.craphound.com

Free is good!

[dh]

If you are thinking of fantasy, you need to check out George RR Martin and Robin Hobb. Most of their books are available in eBook formats and are among the best things I've read for a while.

Fictionwise has the first two books of their series for the price of one so it's not expensive to get going.

I'm really looking forward to the next Martin book - A Feast for Crows - which is due out this year. I've read two of Robon Hobb's trilogies while waiting for it.

Dan Simmons' Hyperion and Return to Hyperion are my favorite ScFi books. They even made me want to read all of Keat's poems.

[Steven Cedrone]

Pick up some Clive Cussler novels, You won't regret it. I really like the "Dirk Pitt" series the best (as opposed to his newer stuff)...

Steve

[Tom W.M.]

In the SciFi category, there's David Weber's Honor Harrington novels. The first one, On Basilisk Station is available at webscription.net/free/ for free in a variety of formats. (As is Changer of Worlds, but that book should be read much later in the series.)

I'd also like to repeat the reccomendation of Orson Scott Card. He writes some of the best SciFi and Fantasty books out there. Look for his Ender Trilogy, Enchantment, and the Homecoming trilogy.

Hamishmacdonald mentioned Cory Doctrow—the free ebook he released, Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom, is just about the weirdest book I've ever read. It deserves awards for sheer creativity.

[bjornkeizers]

Originally Posted by Pat Logsdon

If you like Potter, you're probably ok with Fantasy.

Actually, Potter is the only such fantasy that I've read so far :-) I've never even read LOTR - though I have seen all of the movies in one sitting (I know, no substitute, but I just never got around to it)

And if you're looking for a long, top notch fantasy series, you have to try Terry Pratchett.

I seem to recall reading something by him.. don't know what it was, but not discworld. I'll add one to the list and see if I like it.

You might also want to check out Arthur C. Clarke's

I've read all the 2001 novels - pretty good.

Originally Posted by Enderet

You didnt mention Isaac Asimov in your Sci-Fi

There's a very fine line of what Sci-Fi I'll read and what not. Anything with Star Trek in the title is good. Since it would disrupt the space-time continuum if I was also a warsie, I don't read anything from that *other* universe.

I have to admit, I've never read any Asimov. I like my books with a little action and lotsa spaceships Asimov, while defining, does sound a little.. well, boring. Sometimes I like to try a new thing (Harrison Harry's 'the stainless steel rat' comes to mind) but I find the experience usually a bit unsatisfactory.

Cory Doctorow

Sounds like my kind of guy. Free is always good (though I must admit, I never buy any books anyway because I prefer digital formats - my eyesight is poor, so I just can't read paperbacks or certain fonts.)

All, thanks for some great suggestions. Í'll add everything to my little list. Should be enough to last me a while.