looking for a new book to read.Follow

Well, if you are looking for something recent, I can definitely advise Dan Simmons 'Illium'.

Perhaps you have read his 'Hyperion', then I must say that 'Ilium' is much better. Always just my opinion ofcourse :)

It's not exactly a one plot thing, it starts out with three completely different stories. It might only be about 570 pages, but it is more than worth it. The sequel 'Olympos' is released this summer.


If you have already read it, or don't care for Simmons, here are some other good books (again, imo):

- The Great Book of Amber by Roger Zelazny: guaranteed to keep you busy for a few days.

- Time enough for Love by Robert Heinlein.

- Chronicles of Cadwal by Jack Vance: trilogy, typical Vance style, not everyone's cup of tea though.

- The Galactic Milieu by Julian May: the nine part series, three different series actually: two part 'Intervention', four part 'The many-coloured land' and three part 'Galactic Milieu'. Excellent series.

Just a few, I'm not exactly sure what you like to read.

The Honor Harrington series by David Weber. Starts with "On Basilisk Station" and is something like 11 or 12 volumes now, with several short story anthologies alongside it, and at least one same-universe spinoff series going ("Crown of Slaves" is the first one, think the second is "Shadows of Saganami.") Very science-oriented science fiction with a kick-*** heroine who would be too perfect if she didn't somehow manage to remain very human through the whole thing.

I enjoyed the New Jedi Order series personally. They could've not killed some certain characters, but in all I didn't think it hurt the books any. Kinda nice when they shake things up, IMO.

Awesome. Thank you very much for all the reccomendations. They all sound great. I'm not a big star wars fan, but I'll look into those too.

Thanks, much appreciated:)



Ask and you shall recieve jsut got done, and psoted on my blog HERE. All with description/synopsis.

My not including Weis and Hickamn has little to do with them being unorignal as much as it based out of my extreme distaste for there work as a whole. I don't think they excel at anything. I think there plots border on sophmoric, their characters archetypical, their prose weak and indifferent from most fan fiction, and hopelesly irrelvant and unthougthful. It's true I cannot admit to being a fan of Dragonlance, but I think their Deathgate cycle is even worse. There is simply nothing in there work that jumps out at me that screams quality.

I point to the act that even their fans when discussing the merit of their work are often left with the presence of Raistlin as their last leg to stand on in most debates concerning the quality of the series. I just don't get wowed like that by one character (particulary one who I think is among the most overated in the genre; yet I admit his apeal on some rudimentary level)

I agree the concept of orignal is too often used, and says nothing in relation to quality. There are numerous titles on my list that are not original at all but the quality shine, the authors' talent shines, talent I just don't recognize Weiss and Hickman having. You point out the works often talked when discussing there best works (Chronicles, Twins, which I don't think are horrendous novels; however even at my most benevolent times I consider them average at best. The Deathgate Cycle I just think is truly horrific.

All that said, I am aware of thrre fanbase-a rather large one at that, and respect anyone opinion to like what they want, as we all have different opinions, and read for different reasons, but in this case - regarding my list (which is just for fun), they were not even a consideration. There were some 60 or so novels/series/cycles etc that were left off, that I felt deserved equal merit to those I listed, but Dragonlance was certainly not one of them. Truth be told they are among my least favored authors; at FBS and other boards I frequent I'm rather known for my particular distatse for Dragonlance.
We had a discussion there debating it's status as a classic if you care to chime in (we would love to hear your opinions) HERE

Edited, Thu May 26 13:02:08 2005 by AinulindaleFBS

Robert A. Heinlein. Read any and all of his books. I just got finished with JOB: A Comedy of Justice and Starship: Troopers, and i just started Stranger in a Strange Land. Also, if your into Comedy/Sci-fi check out the Red Dwarf book... And finally, if your looking for something to last you awhile, get L. Ron. Hubbard's Battlefield: Earth. Its nothing like the movie (movie sucked) and is a little over 1000 pages. Peace out

Thanks for the tips ElneClare, I'll try and find some of those authors you mentioned. I'm reading George Martin's series at the moment, finally giving in after reading so much praise for it, so I'm good for a week or two. I'll see what I can find after that.

I read the first book when it came out.

I'm going to have to see if my library has them now. Otherwise I'll hunt though cub house and if not there go buy them.

Nothing like good space opera to fill one's day reading.

I also just finished Dave Weber and John Ringo's The Few

I do hope this isn't the last of this series, as they been great fun to read.

A couple of older books:
Robert A. Heinlein Starship Troopers (great book, very different from movie)
John Wyndham The Day of the Triffids
Frank Herbert Dune

Dune should be read more than once to fully understand it. Starship Troopers is Heinlein's way of expressing his views on democracy and military service. If you want to fully understand his opinions, read it more than once. But it makes for an entertaining read the first time through.

Dune is a must for Sci-fi readers. IMO you can't call yourself a Sci-fi fan until you have read Dune at least twice.
You should also check out Jack McDevitt. He writes ok Sci-fi, the kind of books you would read when you want to relax.

Invisible Monsters - Chuck Palahniuk(wrote fight club 13.00ish)

"She's a fashion model who has everything:a boyfriend, a career, a loyal best friend. but when a sudden freeway "accident" leaves her disfigured and incapable of speech, she goes from being the beautiful center of attention to being an invisble monster, so hideous that no one will acknowledge she exists. Ebnter Brandy Alexander, Queen Supreme, one operation away from becomming a real woman, who will teach her that reinventing yourself means erasing your past and making up something better. And that salvation hises in the last places you'll ever want to look.

Slammerkin - Emma Donoghue (14.00ish)
"Born in 1748 in working class London, Mary Saunders lusts for linen, lace and a shiny red ribbon that leads her to a life of prostitution and a freedom unknown to a virtuous young woman. There are, however, three rules of the London streets that she knows she mustn't ever forget: Never give up your liberty; Clothes make the woman; Clothes are the greatest lie ever told."
Sarah - Marek Halter (12.00ish)
"The daughter of a powerful lord, Sarah balks at the idea of marriage her father has planned for her. On her wedding day, she impulsivly flees tot he vast, empty marshes outside the city walls, where she meets a young man named Abram, son of a tribe of outsiders. Drawn to this exotic stranger, Sarah spends one night with him and reluctantly returns to her fathers house. But on her return, she secretly drinks a poisonous potion that will make her barren and thus unfit for marriage.
Many years later, Abram returns to Ur and discovers that the lost, rebellious girl fromt he marsh has been transformed into a splendid woman- the high priestess of the goddess Ishtar. But Sarah gives up her exhaulted life to oin Abram's tribe and follow the one true God, an invisible diety who speaks only to Abram. It is then that her journey truly begins

Anything by Piers Anthony or Terry Pratchett is pretty easy reading and light SciFi.

Also The Other Boylyn Sister by Phillipa Gregory

There isn't a whole lot of science fiction that would seem up your alley.

Edited, Thu Oct 13 02:10:34 2005 by niobia

Maximum Ride by John Patterson (I think...) is really good, you can't put it down. If you like anything like X-Men, its great.

Althought, it is a pretty easy read so....