Reading Recommendations?

[PennLady]

Hi. I got an Amazon gift card for Mother's Day and I have a Kindle that could always use more books, not that I have time to read them. Any recommendations? I tend to lean toward fiction, specifically sf/fantasy and romance, but I'm open to other suggestions. Recently I've been reading Christopher Moore (hilarious), Vaughan Heppner (sf, good stuff) and then just some odds and ends. So I'm curious as to what other people are reading.

 

[hottchic]

Hi. I got an Amazon gift card for Mother's Day and I have a Kindle that could always use more books, not that I have time to read them. Any recommendations? I tend to lean toward fiction, specifically sf/fantasy and romance, but I'm open to other suggestions. Recently I've been reading Christopher Moore (hilarious), Vaughan Heppner (sf, good stuff) and then just some odds and ends. So I'm curious as to what other people are reading.

Well if you are into SF then my all time favorite author is Robert Heinline, going back a bit I know, if you never read it you might want to read 'Stranger In A Strange Land' probably his best book.

Other favorite authors of mine are Micheal Moorcock, Philip K Dick and Isac Azimov, all going back a bit.

If you are into stories about cyber space, you could read William Gibson, a major figure in the cyber punk era.

And if you want comedy then check out 'The Hitchhikers Guide to The Galaxy' series by Douglas Adams.


And in case anybody is wondering, YES I used to be a real SiFi Nerd, conventions an the whole 9 yards so to speak.

 

[RandallKinds]

Well if you are into SF then my all time favorite author is Robert Heinline, going back a bit I know, if you never read it you might want to read 'Stranger In A Strange Land' probably his best book.

I used to love Heinlein in high school and college. Absolutely devoured everything I could find and loved some of the themes that pervaded his writing. But now, years later, I find him kind of heavy handed with his message. I don't know if it's because I've grown up with an open mind or just less patient with such. Curious, I guess.

 

[hottchic]

I used to love Heinlein in high school and college. Absolutely devoured everything I could find and loved some of the themes that pervaded his writing. But now, years later, I find him kind of heavy handed with his message. I don't know if it's because I've grown up with an open mind or just less patient with such. Curious, I guess.

Actually I agree, it almost seemed that in some ways he got more closed minded towards the end, more rigid. It was years ago when I read his books, so I probably wouldn't see them in quite the same way now. However I still rate 'Stranger in a Strange Land' because it ticked all the boxes for sexual freedom at the time.

 

[RandallKinds]

Actually I agree, it almost seemed that in some ways he got more closed minded towards the end, more rigid. It was years ago when I read his books, so I probably wouldn't see them in quite the same way now. However I still rate 'Stranger in a Strange Land' because it ticked all the boxes for sexual freedom at the time.

You should read it now and see what you think. Perhaps it's just a reflection on my own personal growth. I don't recall the last one I read but I recall struggling with it and wondering why I was so enamored with it way back when.

Hitchhikers, however, never seems to get old. I still feel a great sense of loss over Adam's death and I wish I knew where he was taking the book partially presented in Salmon of Doubt.

 

[PennLady]

Well if you are into SF then my all time favorite author is Robert Heinline, going back a bit I know, if you never read it you might want to read 'Stranger In A Strange Land' probably his best book.

Other favorite authors of mine are Micheal Moorcock, Philip K Dick and Isac Azimov, all going back a bit.

If you are into stories about cyber space, you could read William Gibson, a major figure in the cyber punk era.

And if you want comedy then check out 'The Hitchhikers Guide to The Galaxy' series by Douglas Adams.


And in case anybody is wondering, YES I used to be a real SiFi Nerd, conventions an the whole 9 yards so to speak.

Well I was a sf geek, too -- even took a class on it in college. I didn't do conventions, though. I have read a ton of Heinlein, Dick, Moorcock as well as Clifford Simak, albeit long ago. I re-read the Elric Saga by Moorcock every year or two. I read a fair bit of Asimov but probably not as much as the others. I've read some William Gibson but haven't felt compelled since Mona Lisa Zero, but Neuromancer was fantastic and I think I still have it somewhere. Neal Stephenson was another that I liked -- Diamond Age, Cyrptonomicon -- but haven't had the time to keep up with new releases.

As for Adams, I've read the books and have both the recent movie and the older BBC TV adaptation of Hitchhiker's.

I have to say that I found Stranger in a Strange Land to be pretty dull. I guess I should read it again.

Okay, I will keep pondering. And browsing. I'm a sucker for the cheap/free romances at Amazon.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

I just ordered books by John LeCarre, George V.Higgins, and Chester Himes.

If you want an interesting romance try THE UNFORGIVEN by Alan Le May; it was made into a movie with Burt Lancaster and Audrey Hepburne. The movie is excellent and the book is much better.

In a nutshell Kiowa Indians stir up a hornets nest trying to recover a girl adopted by the Zachary family many years ago. The Kiowa leader believes the girl is his sister. The Kiowa are egged-on by an old tumbleweed out to settle a score with the Zachary's.

The big mystery is Rachel Zachary's race. Her Indian brother is 'white' but she's maybe 1/2 Kiowa or 1/2 Mexican (no one is certain) and the whole county has twisted panties about what she is. And they abandon her.

Its a mix of love story, social issues, and courage when the whole world is against you. Its also about how some people are able to redeem themselves.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oqewCzpfmqU

 

[RandallKinds]

Well I was a sf geek, too -- even took a class on it in college. I didn't do conventions, though. I have read a ton of Heinlein, Dick, Moorcock as well as Clifford Simak, albeit long ago. I re-read the Elric Saga by Moorcock every year or two. I read a fair bit of Asimov but probably not as much as the others. I've read some William Gibson but haven't felt compelled since Mona Lisa Zero, but Neuromancer was fantastic and I think I still have it somewhere. Neal Stephenson was another that I liked -- Diamond Age, Cyrptonomicon -- but haven't had the time to keep up with new releases.

As for Adams, I've read the books and have both the recent movie and the older BBC TV adaptation of Hitchhiker's.

I have to say that I found Stranger in a Strange Land to be pretty dull. I guess I should read it again.

Okay, I will keep pondering. And browsing. I'm a sucker for the cheap/free romances at Amazon.

I enjoyed Stephenson's 'Snow Crash' in case you haven't read it yet. An earlier work, I think.

And yes on the free stuff - I wish there was an easier way to find it on Kindle other than perusing the Top 100 free listings.

 

[Verdad]

I've never heard of Heppner, but I see he writes fantasy. If that's your thing, you might be glad to learn the next book in George R. R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire series will be out in June—after a wait of some five years that had the fans all over the world wring their hands in desperation.

I began reading the series after I was already tired of fantasy, but it was just impossible not to get gripped by it. I'm looking forward to the sequel, and if you haven't read any of it yet, you can just about cover it till June!

 

[Verdad]

P. S.

For some fun and gripping sci-fi (and not quite as, um, antique, as Heinlein), maybe try Kage Baker’s company series. I’d begin with a short story collection like Black Projects, White Knights and see how it goes. It’s nothing highbrow, but it’s good writing and I think great entertainment.

 

[ms.read]

Eon: Dragoneye reborn, for some good old fashioned fantasy, with an oriental feel.

Eona: the last dragoneye, part two of the same series. Both books got good remarks...and its a five star for me! (the two together that is.)

 

[studybuddy]

Well if you are into SF then my all time favorite author is Robert Heinline, going back a bit I know, if you never read it you might want to read 'Stranger In A Strange Land' probably his best book.

Other favorite authors of mine are Micheal Moorcock, Philip K Dick and Isac Azimov, all going back a bit.

If you are into stories about cyber space, you could read William Gibson, a major figure in the cyber punk era.

And if you want comedy then check out 'The Hitchhikers Guide to The Galaxy' series by Douglas Adams.


And in case anybody is wondering, YES I used to be a real SiFi Nerd, conventions an the whole 9 yards so to speak.

'Stranger in a Strange Land' is my favorite, favorite, favorite.

 

[R. Richard]

Shameless plug: Try Second Chance: God Killer, by R. Richard

 

[lovecraft68]

Hi. I got an Amazon gift card for Mother's Day and I have a Kindle that could always use more books, not that I have time to read them. Any recommendations? I tend to lean toward fiction, specifically sf/fantasy and romance, but I'm open to other suggestions. Recently I've been reading Christopher Moore (hilarious), Vaughan Heppner (sf, good stuff) and then just some odds and ends. So I'm curious as to what other people are reading.

I have a couple of suggestions ball are older series.

For fantasy Stephen R Donaldson's Chronicles of Thomas Covenant volumes one and two (both trilogy's)

David Eddings the Belgariad 5 books -there was a five book sequel called the Mallorean but it was a cash cow and not too good ruined all the fun of the first series.

Also for sci fi there is a series by Julian May that I am not sure what the series is callwed but there are 4 books

Many colored land. golden torc, non born king and the Adversary.

All great reads and all very different.

 

[PennLady]

I have a couple of suggestions ball are older series.

For fantasy Stephen R Donaldson's Chronicles of Thomas Covenant volumes one and two (both trilogy's)

David Eddings the Belgariad 5 books -there was a five book sequel called the Mallorean but it was a cash cow and not too good ruined all the fun of the first series.

Also for sci fi there is a series by Julian May that I am not sure what the series is callwed but there are 4 books

Many colored land. golden torc, non born king and the Adversary.

All great reads and all very different.

This is funny -- I read one of the Thomas Covenant novels and hated it. Hated enough that I never went back to try it again, although perhaps I should. I couldn't stand the (anti)hero. I mean, it wasn't the anti-hero thing itself, just that particular guy.

I read both the Belgariad and the Mallorean, which was indeed just a retread of the former with the characters in different roles. Put me off reading any more Eddings.

Julian May I've read maybe one by. I'll have to keep that in mind. Thanks.

 

[PennLady]

I've never heard of Heppner, but I see he writes fantasy. If that's your thing, you might be glad to learn the next book in George R. R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire series will be out in June—after a wait of some five years that had the fans all over the world wring their hands in desperation.

I began reading the series after I was already tired of fantasy, but it was just impossible not to get gripped by it. I'm looking forward to the sequel, and if you haven't read any of it yet, you can just about cover it till June!

Heppner also writes sci-fi; I really enjoyed his Star Soldier series, which I hope isn't over. I also picked up a couple of his other ones, at least one of which is fantasy, but haven't had a chance to read it yet. I'm not sure what I think about GRR Martin. I really enjoyed the Wild Card books from a ways back, at least the first three or four. I'll have to check that series.

Oh, and before anyone suggests Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time Series -- I read the first six books, figuring that was giving it a fair shot, but really didn't like it at all.

 

[PennLady]

I enjoyed Stephenson's 'Snow Crash' in case you haven't read it yet. An earlier work, I think.

And yes on the free stuff - I wish there was an easier way to find it on Kindle other than perusing the Top 100 free listings.

Yes, "Snow Crash" was good. I forgot about that one. It's among the many I have downstairs, I believe. You can search "free Kindle books," but yeah, there's no easy way. The Top 100 list is far easier.

It gets to be a game with the gift cards -- how many books can I get for $x?

 

[hottchic]

This is funny -- I read one of the Thomas Covenant novels and hated it. Hated enough that I never went back to try it again, although perhaps I should. I couldn't stand the (anti)hero. I mean, it wasn't the anti-hero thing itself, just that particular guy.

I read both the Belgariad and the Mallorean, which was indeed just a retread of the former with the characters in different roles. Put me off reading any more Eddings.

Julian May I've read maybe one by. I'll have to keep that in mind. Thanks.

I also read the Thomas Covenant novels and I agree with PennLady, I didn't like the character either to start with, however he did mellow in later books. I think this was the attraction of the series in some ways, a reluctant hero.

I also read the Julian May series mentioned and I did like that series at least when I was young.

The problem with me is that I was much younger when I read all the afore mentioned SF books except Hitchikers Guide which I first heard on the radio, in the original radio series. I have read the books recently after I bought them for my son thinking he would enjoy them which he did.

 

[RandallKinds]

This is funny -- I read one of the Thomas Covenant novels and hated it. Hated enough that I never went back to try it again, although perhaps I should. I couldn't stand the (anti)hero. I mean, it wasn't the anti-hero thing itself, just that particular guy.

Isn't that funny - there's several books that I classify like that. The whole Golden Compass series was like that for me. I read 'em but by the books' end I really didn't care a whit about any of the protagonists.

 

[Stella_Omega]

Terry Pratchett is funny, trenchant, loves humanity, and has written six or seven open-ended series all in one universe-- called the Discworld. Pick up anything at all, and then go backwards to find the beginning story and forwards into the series, and you will be delighted.

I just discovered Diana Wynne Jones-- because she died recently and my writing friends were blogging about her. She wrote YA and youth oriented novels that are simply extraordinary. Her imagination was unique. try "Fire and Hemlock" or "Howl's Moving Castle" for odd retakes of fairytale conventions, or "Archer's Goon" for funny quirky, Dahl-esque storytelling.

Catharine Valente is a current writer who is similar-- her blog was one of the ones where I learned about Wynne-Jones.

If you liked "Snow Crash" you might enjoy Stephenson's book "Diamond Age"

 

[PennLady]

Isn't that funny - there's several books that I classify like that. The whole Golden Compass series was like that for me. I read 'em but by the books' end I really didn't care a whit about any of the protagonists.

Now Golden Compass is one I haven't read. The movie was all right, but I don't judge movies by books and vice versa. Or at least I try not to. And at the moment I can't even recall much about it aside from a young girl, a polar bear, and Daniel Craig.

Terry Pratchett is funny, trenchant, loves humanity, and has written six or seven open-ended series all in one universe-- called the Discworld. Pick up anything at all, and then go backwards to find the beginning story and forwards into the series, and you will be delighted.

One of my absolute favorite books, and perhaps I'll get it just b/c I want to even though I have a print copy, is Good Omens by Pratchett and Neil Gaiman (another one of whom I've read nearly everything, btw). It's wonderful and funny and sometimes I just get it down and open it to a random page, because there's something on almost every page to make me laugh.

I just discovered Diana Wynne Jones-- because she died recently and my writing friends were blogging about her. She wrote YA and youth oriented novels that are simply extraordinary. Her imagination was unique. try "Fire and Hemlock" or "Howl's Moving Castle" for odd retakes of fairytale conventions, or "Archer's Goon" for funny quirky, Dahl-esque storytelling.

Catharine Valente is a current writer who is similar-- her blog was one of the ones where I learned about Wynne-Jones.

If you liked "Snow Crash" you might enjoy Stephenson's book "Diamond Age"

I'm a little leery of YA novels, but willing to give them a chance. I generally find I don't have much patience with young heroes/protagonists, but if it's done right, I'll enjoy it as much as anything else. I'd be curious to read "Howl's Moving Castle," if only b/c I've heard such good things about the movie by Miyazaki. Thanks for those recommendations. And yes, I've read "Diamond Age."

 

[lovecraft68]

This is funny -- I read one of the Thomas Covenant novels and hated it. Hated enough that I never went back to try it again, although perhaps I should. I couldn't stand the (anti)hero. I mean, it wasn't the anti-hero thing itself, just that particular guy.

I read both the Belgariad and the Mallorean, which was indeed just a retread of the former with the characters in different roles. Put me off reading any more Eddings.

Julian May I've read maybe one by. I'll have to keep that in mind. Thanks.

I agree that in the 1st chronicles Covenant is a needy whiny unlikable character however in the 2nd he is a lot better and has a woman travel with him to the land and the book is written from her POV so much better also a lot more action.

Donaldson is writing the 3rd chronicles it will be 4 books I read the first 2 and don't think I will continue.

I guess I am not the only one then about the Mallorean. The Belgariad was fun and self contained the Malorian was like "but wait there is more here is the final final prophecy I promise"

On another note a fun fanstasy series I am partial to because it is Lovecraft based is Brina Lumleys Dreamworld books starring David Hero and Elgin the Wanderer they are short and a great read forget if there is three or four to the series.

 

[Stella_Omega]

You know you can download usually the first chapter of any ebook from Amazon, which helps considerably!

Now Golden Compass is one I haven't read. The movie was all right, but I don't judge movies by books and vice versa. Or at least I try not to. And at the moment I can't even recall much about it aside from a young girl, a polar bear, and Daniel Craig.

The thing about the Pullman series is the more-sacriligious- than- you-can-possibly imagine portrayal of God. Yes, the Christian God. I don't know why Pullman hasn't been lynched, burned in effigy, excommunicated, condemned, drawn and quartered by the fundies and catholics, I really don't. But you have to read all three of the books to get that.

One of my absolute favorite books, and perhaps I'll get it just b/c I want to even though I have a print copy, is Good Omens by Pratchett and Neil Gaiman (another one of whom I've read nearly everything, btw). It's wonderful and funny and sometimes I just get it down and open it to a random page, because there's something on almost every page to make me laugh.

Don't buy it again! Get... Hmm. "Reaper Man." Or, "Men At Arms" Or, "Witches Abroad." or, "Thief Of Time" or "Equal Rites"

I have lost track of how many books the man has written-- and the literary quality is incredibly consistent all the way through. I think the very first three books are a little more comedic and less trenchant than the rest, but he gained his stride early and never really lost it again.

 

[PennLady]

You know you can download usually the first chapter of any ebook from Amazon, which helps considerably!

I know but I actually don't like that. I should take more advantage but sometimes, even with books I don't care for, I can't leave them unfinished. (Unlike The Hunt for Red October, which I've attempted three times. Perhaps I'm due again.) I don't even usually read the previews of books included in print books. Boy I put myself in a catch-22 don't I?

The thing about the Pullman series is the more-sacriligious- than- you-can-possibly imagine portrayal of God. Yes, the Christian God. I don't know why Pullman hasn't been lynched, burned in effigy, excommunicated, condemned, drawn and quartered by the fundies and catholics, I really don't. But you have to read all three of the books to get that. Don't buy it again! Get... Hmm. "Reaper Man." Or, "Men At Arms" Or, "Witches Abroad." or, "Thief Of Time" or "Equal Rites"

I had heard that about the Compass books, but I don't mind. Good grief, I've seen Life of Brian and read "Fool" by Christopher Moore. No problem.

Believe it or not, Good Omens is NOT available for the Kindle, although a summary and study guide by Gaiman is.

I have "Thief of Time" out from the library at the moment. I'm reading, though, "The Unbearable Lightness of Being," which is... meh. A friend of mine suggested I read it and I don't mind, but like the Steig Larsson books, I could stop now and not care.

 

[Stella_Omega]

I had heard that about the Compass books, but I don't mind. Good grief, I've seen Life of Brian and read "Fool" by Christopher Moore. No problem.

This is... different than those, actually. It has context, and substance. It isn't meant as a joke. I've never read anything like it in popular fiction-- not to mention in YA fiction. really intriguing...