Locus Magazine has published their recommended reading list of Fantasy and Sci-fi published in 2011. There is some good stuff on this list. I just finished "The Magician King" by Lev Grossman which is a follow up to "The Magicians". Kind of a Harry Potter for grownups, but not really.
I've read books by a lot of the authors on this list, but The Magicians is the only book on the list that I've read so far. Anyone read any of the others?
Sarge wrote:Locus Magazine has published their recommended reading list of Fantasy and Sci-fi published in 2011. There is some good stuff on this list. I just finished "The Magician King" by Lev Grossman which is a follow up to "The Magicians". Kind of a Harry Potter for grownups, but not really.
I've read books by a lot of the authors on this list, but The Magicians is the only book on the list that I've read so far. Anyone read any of the others?
Been searching high and low for Perdido Street Station from China Mieville Who appears to be the complete polar opposite of J.R.R. Tolkien
The "world" is not good, the bad guys are bad - and win (a lot) apathy is everywhere - the outlook is dim. I hear he tells a story as well as Tolkien, just not all peaches and cream.
Sarge wrote:No. I'm assuming that because you brought it up, that it is a good one. I'll add it to my list of books to read.
The first 2 are probably some of the best Fantasy books I have ever read...it is a longer series and after the first 2 books his writing goes from awesome to terrible to ok to good to terrible again. The third book really starts a new bad guy that carries on for 7 more books and it is very cyclical in the quality of writing and story. Read the first 2, and decide if you want to carry on for the long haul. You really don't have to read the remaining books as they start a whole new story arc, some are good, but some are not so if you have the time to spare, go ahead.
My second favorite book/series would be "The Warded Man" by Peter V Bretts. Completely original world and lore. The third book in the series will be coming out in a year or so. I would say this ties "Wizard's First Rule" for my favorite book.
I've been wanting to read the Warded Man so I'm glad to hear it's a good one.
Duck I read the second book in that China Mieville series without realizing that it was the second book. It was called The Scar and it was excellent and he does tell a great story. I was mildly confused about some things, but I don't think it is one of those series that you have to read in order as the stories are related but not a continuation of each other.
From the linked list:
Steven Gould - He wrote "Jumper" about a kid that figures out how to teleport himself anywhere. They made it into a movie that wasn't nearly as interesting as the book.
Joe Haldeman - Wrote "The Forever War" which is a classic piece of science fiction
Rule 34, Charles Stross - I've heard really good things about this one.
Zone One, Colson Whitehead - Listened to an NPR interview with the author and sounds really interesting.
Vortex, Robert Charles Wilson - Have at least one other of his books on my "to read" list.
The Magician King, Lev Grossman - Just finished this and it is excellent.
A Dance with Dragons, George R. R. Martin - Supposed to be excellent
The Cold Commands, Richard K. Morgan - Read another series of his that was very cool and involved downloading yourself into different bodies as a way to travel through space.
The River of Shadows, Robert V. S. Redick - This is book three of a series. I've read the first two and they are very good.
The Wise Man’s Fear, Patrick Rothfuss (DAW; Gollancz) - I have heard good things about this series but haven't read it.
Mastiff, Tamora Pierce (Random House) - I listened to the first book of this series on CD with my kids and it was a great story set in kind of a magical/steampunkish land.
Goliath, Scott Westerfeld - Read the first two books of this series and they were great and a quick read as they are YA novels. Very cool alternative take on WWI that involves the Mechas (Germany and it's allies) against the Darwinists (England and it's allies) and includes things like giant Mech-warrior type vehicles and a giant flying whale airship.
Sarge wrote:I've been wanting to read the Warded Man so I'm glad to hear it's a good one.
...
The Wise Manâs Fear, Patrick Rothfuss (DAW; Gollancz) - I have heard good things about this series but haven't read it.
I could not put down the Warded Man. Words cannot express how unique the story and world lore is. Top notch, and the second one, the Desert Spear is even better.
I read "Name of the Wind" which was the first one in the series by Patrick Rothfuss. It was really good, but left me wanting a ton more because it didnt' exactly "end". I was glad the 2nd one came out relatively quickly, just haven't had a chance to read it yet.
A couple of other good ones that aren't on this list are
Jim Butcher's "Codex Alera" a six book series that boils down to: Roman legions + magic vs Werewolves+ magic. Followed by Roman Legions + Werewolves + Magic vs. Hive mind zombies. Excellent story.
Ken Scholes "Psalms of Isaac" series. Involves magic, robots, battles, and plots within plots within plots. I've read the first two and am waiting for the library to get the third.
I don't have much time to read outside of Cisco books, but I do audio books from Time to Time. I'm much more mainstream. Currently working on The Dark Tower IV: Wolves of Calla. I started this series about 20 years ago and I'm bound and determined to finish it.
Next up will be Inheritance by Christopher Paolini. I've finished the first three and really want to see how it all ends. If you judge this book based on the movie, you are making a mistake. It's a great series and if it had been given the same treatment as LoTR, it would have been epic.
Speaking of Judging Books by the movie.. Starship Troopers. nuff said.
-----------------------
Song of Fire & Ice - George R.R.R.R.Martin.. That entire series is great, main guys dying left and right. Evil guys winning left and right.. but a thread of hope remains. Very good. Even better now with more books available.
The Sword of Truth Series - Terry Goodkind.. I would say that the series kept strong until about the 6th book.. maybe 5th then it went south and lost my interest, the short story was original quality again. The great difference between him and the Wheel of Time guy was Terry managed to keep a story contained to one novel with an overarc storyline that branched through other novels, almost graphic-novella-esk if that makes sense, that and I think he survived his series.
Once Upon Series - Dennis L. McKiernan.. Classic epicness in bite size portions. The books are all set in the same world but rarely tie into one another except in passing as historical references. Very well done study of emotions.
A few lighter [not as lengthy series reads]: Dragon Jousters Trilogy by Mercedes Lackey Any series by Robin Hobb [All the full series out now are great] Riddlemaster of Hed Trilogy [released as a single novel] - Patricia A. McKillip Saga of the First King - RA Salvatore [its R.A.] Deed of Paksenarrion - Elizabeth Moon [Good military stuff]
If you want twisted storylines and epic bloodshed and can handle it the Malazan Book of the Fallen Series by Steven Erikson rivals the encyclopedia britannica as far as length. The number of plots going on at a time in the book can twist you a bit but it comes together and flows well, its an awesome world that was put together. But take a taste test first, some can't follow it but if you do its good crack for the first 6 books or so.
Montivagus wrote:Song of Fire & Ice - George R.R.R.R.Martin.. That entire series is great, main guys dying left and right. Evil guys winning left and right.. but a thread of hope remains. Very good. Even better now with more books available.
I read the first one and it was a little too "political" for me, however I absolutely loved the HBO series....it has made me put the 2nd book back on my to read list...just not sure if I will read the book or just watch the 2nd season starting up soon.
Montivagus wrote:Song of Fire & Ice - The Sword of Truth Series - Terry Goodkind.. I would say that the series kept strong until about the 6th book.. maybe 5th then it went south and lost my interest, the short story was original quality again. The great difference between him and the Wheel of Time guy was Terry managed to keep a story contained to one novel with an overarc storyline that branched through other novels, almost graphic-novella-esk if that makes sense, that and I think he survived his series.
I completely agree...for me it was closer to the 4th or 5th one where it went downhill...however I think his writing got cyclical in quality book to book. The omen machine just came out but its reviews are not too great so I may be dissappointed. I think Goodkind suffers from George Lucas Syndrome (lost his creativity when he started milking the established IP)
Hadaka wrote:The omen machine just came out but its reviews are not too great so I may be dissappointed. I think Goodkind suffers from George Lucas Syndrome (lost his creativity when he started milking the established IP)
I just picked 'Law of Nines' up last night [hardcover] for $1.64 on Amazon.. new.. so I will be receiving it soon.
Montivagus wrote:Any series by Robin Hobb [All the full series out now are great]
If you want twisted storylines and epic bloodshed and can handle it the Malazan Book of the Fallen Series by Steven Erikson rivals the encyclopedia britannica as far as length. The number of plots going on at a time in the book can twist you a bit but it comes together and flows well, its an awesome world that was put together. But take a taste test first, some can't follow it but if you do its good crack for the first 6 books or so.
I've read the "Soldier Son", "Farseer" and "Tawny Man" trilogies by Robin Hobb and all were excellent. The local library has the "Liveship Traders" books and they are on my list as well.
I haven't read the Steven Erickson books yet but have read "Night of Knives" by Ian Esselmont that is set in the same world and was very good.
Sarge wrote:I've read the "Soldier Son", "Farseer" and "Tawny Man" trilogies by Robin Hobb and all were excellent. The local library has the "Liveship Traders" books and they are on my list as well.
I haven't read the Steven Erickson books yet but have read "Night of Knives" by Ian Esselmont that is set in the same world and was very good.
The 'Liveship Traders' was the first series of her I read I believe.. that worls is rather interesting, her latest series, 'The Rain Wilds Chronicles,' needs another year before you pick it up just so you have a chance to read it undisturbed. I 'previewed' through Amazon 'Vine' the first book but it ended almost halfway through the storyline that wasn't continued until the second book without any start/stop that she normally manages. Something I haven't experienced with S.Erikson yet and which typically defines which author I will actively read.
Also if you like the war/bloodshed/mindless violence the Black Library is full of them. Anything from Ciaphas Cain to Gotrek & Felix, they are all deliciously pulpy and full of black humour.
