Eeek! Running out of books to read! Help!

I do agree that The Mallorean is more of the same and it isn't as good, but it is still a fun read if you end up loving the characters.

Anyone here know of a character similar to Miles Vorkosigan?

For some reason ALL the Vorkosigan books make my wife give me funny looks as I chuckle out loud randomly

Pawz wrote:

Anyone here know of a character similar to Miles Vorkosigan?

Maybe the Honor Harrington series is worth a look? It has some similar elements.

The Name of The Wind was a book that a lot of people recommended here a while ago, and I thought it was really good.

Not sure why no one has suggested it yet, or maybe it's like Lord of the Rings that everyone already has read it ? : p

MikeSands wrote:
Pawz wrote:

Anyone here know of a character similar to Miles Vorkosigan?

Maybe the Honor Harrington series is worth a look? It has some similar elements.

Ate those already

Malor wrote:

Oh, I was going to mention The Belgariad as being exactly what you're looking for. But be careful never to read or even admit to the existence of the sequel, The Malloreon, which is the exact same story in the exact same order, for reasons that I never had the patience to discover.

Eddings went into that at some depth in The Rivan Codex -- he had an essay in there about the formula he used for writing epic fantasy.

As far as book series, how about Lynn Flewelling's Nightrunner series. The first three books are not quite a trilogy -- a duology, (Luck in the Shadows / Stalking Darkness) followed by a related book featuring some of the same characters (Traitor's Moon). There's also another trilogy beginning with _The Bone Doll's Twin_ and a trilogy-in-progress featuring the same characters as the first series, starting with _Shadows Return_. The third book is due next spring.

Tanglebones wrote:

Malazan Book of the Fallen by Steven Erikson
Black Company by Glen Cook

These will keep you busy for a while. My suggestion, get The Black Company first. It's not very long. If you hate the style of writing, you will hate the rest and everything Erikson has done.

To me Erikson is perhaps the best long-form fantasy writer.

And dear lord you need to read something by Guy Gavriel Kay. Tigana is a general favorite.

Katy wrote:
Malor wrote:

Oh, I was going to mention The Belgariad as being exactly what you're looking for. But be careful never to read or even admit to the existence of the sequel, The Malloreon, which is the exact same story in the exact same order, for reasons that I never had the patience to discover.

Eddings went into that at some depth in The Rivan Codex -- he had an essay in there about the formula he used for writing epic fantasy.

Eddings got me into fantasy. They're poorly written compared to modern fantasy. Meaning, I'd avoid them.

Katy wrote:

As far as book series, how about Lynn Flewelling's Nightrunner series. The first three books are not quite a trilogy -- a duology, (Luck in the Shadows / Stalking Darkness) followed by a related book featuring some of the same characters (Traitor's Moon). There's also another trilogy beginning with _The Bone Doll's Twin_ and a trilogy-in-progress featuring the same characters as the first series, starting with _Shadows Return_. The third book is due next spring.

The Nightrunner series is great. Fairly throw away in my book, but highly enjoyable. The Bone Doll Trilogy is pretty damn dark. I likes. Flewelling's who I go to when I want something tight, light (don't need a dictionary) and enjoyable.

I don't know if I'd say they are poorly written, though that could be the rose tinted glasses. I did introduce a friend to them after buying the compilations and he seemed to enjoy them quite a bit.

Listen, ignore everything else in this thread so far. Buy Swan Song by Robert McCammon right now. It won the Bram Stoker award for best novel in 1988 and is one of my favorite books of all time. It's $9.40, what have you go to lose?

I think when you read something and really enjoy it as a kid, you're more likely to notice similar things as an adult. That may be why we like books and movies we initially watch as children and those who see them initially as adults might not. Eddings in general is really all about the dialogue. The byplay between the characters is what I read it for, and the best moments aren't the most dramatic or climactic, but really good one-liners and bits of characterization. If you're reading Eddings for a deep story, you may be missing the pay-off. It's like watching "The Fall" for a great plot. There isn't one. But there is some incredible cinematography and the set pieces are outstanding.

I don't think Eddings is poorly written any more than I think Dostoyevski is poorly written. Yes, people don't actually talk like that. The brothers Karamazov are not believable in the 'these people could exist' sense, but their discussions are interesting in and of that. Likewise the plot(sing.) to the Belgariad and Mallorean is somewhat trivial. But that's not the point, any more than whether or not Cherek has a sustainable economy. I want to read Silk being a sarcastic ass and the rest dealing with him. That is excellent, the lines are good, and the delivery is fluid. That's what I think is exceptionally well written.

Again, though, that's what you have to read it for. If that doesn't work for you, don't read it. If it does, you're in for a treat.

Hmm I seem to recall something about a character named silk.. now I have to look up the Belgariad... annnd yes, I have read the series. Funny I remember the names/events better than the names of the books.

Drat. *crosses it off the list*

Miashara wrote:

I think when you read something and really enjoy it as a kid, you're more likely to notice similar things as an adult.

That's not to say that your tastes don't become more refined, though. I ADORED Feist's first Riftwar series, the original, when I read it in 10th grade. I've gone back to read it a couple times since then and I'm sorry to say that nostalgia makes the books seem better than they actually were. The only fantasy writers who tend to ring my bell these days are Guy Gavriel Kay and George R.R. Martin, and they couldn't be more different in writing style, although similar in choices of subject matter (at least at first... Kay tends to tackle real history in a fantasy environment more recently, whereas A Song of Ice and Fire started out as a retelling of the War of the Roses, but gets more fantastical as it goes).

If you want a well-crafted retelling of the Lord of the Rings trilogy, I suggest Kay's Fionavar Tapestry.

Pawz wrote:

Hmm I seem to recall something about a character named silk.. now I have to look up the Belgariad... annnd yes, I have read the series. Funny I remember the names/events better than the names of the books.

Drat. *crosses it off the list*

Oh well, at least you experienced it. My friends have gotten into reading R.A. Salvatore books, but I can't seem to get into them.

Mex wrote:

The Name of The Wind was a book that a lot of people recommended here a while ago, and I thought it was really good.

Not sure why no one has suggested it yet, or maybe it's like Lord of the Rings that everyone already has read it ? : p

I haven't been able to find many books like it, and it is easily one of my favorite reads in the past couple years. Highly recommended.

Sorry, six books, not five. Still left me constipated. Each trilogy has about enough story for one book.

My friends have gotten into reading R.A. Salvatore books,

I just read a recent one of his, on a lark. By any reasonable, objective measure, it was terrible. It's poorly written, juvenile, and has utterly inept characterization. It's just so bad.

But, for all that, I actually enjoyed the damn thing. I don't think I'll buy any more, but the one I did read will go on my guilty pleasures list.

IMAGE(http://aardvarkian.files.wordpress.com/2010/07/thomascovenant1-6.jpg)
"How many books do you see there?"
"I see six books."
"No. There are five."

Agreed on Salvatore. I have the first Drizzt series (Drizzt Omnibus? can't remember) somewhere, which are middling, and picked up the Cleric quintilogy which is horrid. No more Salvatore for me, thanks.

Nightmare wrote:

IMAGE(http://aardvarkian.files.wordpress.com/2010/07/thomascovenant1-6.jpg)
"How many books do you see there?"
"I see six books."
"No. There are five."

lol, I have all six books, those exact editions to be specific. And my experience with them pretty much matches Malor's.

Probably my favorite Donadlson is his Gap Cycle books. I don't think he has written any other sci-fi besides this.

Malor wrote:

Sorry, six books, not five. Still left me constipated. Each trilogy has about enough story for one book.

My friends have gotten into reading R.A. Salvatore books,

I just read a recent one of his, on a lark. By any reasonable, objective measure, it was terrible. It's poorly written, juvenile, and has utterly inept characterization. It's just so bad.

But, for all that, I actually enjoyed the damn thing. I don't think I'll buy any more, but the one I did read will go on my guilty pleasures list.

There was some points that I enjoyed it, but I couldn't get over pretty much any of the points you listed above. I may try. Another one day, after finishing "A Song of Fire and Ice".

It took me a good three tries to get into the Dark Elf Trilogy. They're not amazing, but considering when they were written I can see the huge appeal. By the end I rather enjoyed them, but mostly because Drizzt is such a cool character. The first book of the trilogy is the least interesting, imho.

RA Salvatore's stuff was awesome when I was 12. So were the original Dragonlance books, and the Forgotten Realms sets.

They are not particularly good books from an absolute perspective - they tend to be trite and cliched - but they are excellent either as Young Adult books or as intro to fantasy.

Once you move on to some of the heavier hitters, you really can't go back. (I've tried; I was sad.)

Since you apparently like door stoppers let me add The Commonwealth Saga and The Void Trilogy by Peter F. Hamilton. Both series are set in the same universe with The Commonwealth Saga happening first both chronologically and in order of publication. Part Space Opera and part conspiracy/action (More so in the second book) its set in one of the better realized worlds I’ve ever read. The impact of the technologys and policys introduced in the story are convincingly explored as part of the story itself. I didn’t find it so myself but some people I've spoken too feel the first book (Pandora's Star) is a bit slow. Let me assure you this is just so the author can pull that many more Holy S**t moments in the second book (Judas Unchained).

Also The Culture (Iain M Banks). Read it!

I don't particularly mind what other people call slow, as long as it contributes to building the world and the author keeps things consistent and believable.

Just finished Moorcock's "Count Brass".. can't say I'm real impressed with his style. Too many pages where he shoves in things like 'oh and they traveled for another month'. I just can't get the crazy asian lady voice out of my head going 'And theeeen? And theeeen?' while I'm reading.

Zona wrote:

Since you apparently like door stoppers let me add The Commonwealth Saga and The Void Trilogy by Peter F. Hamilton. Both series are set in the same universe with The Commonwealth Saga happening first both chronologically and in order of publication. Part Space Opera and part conspiracy/action (More so in the second book) its set in one of the better realized worlds I’ve ever read. The impact of the technologys and policys introduced in the story are convincingly explored as part of the story itself. I didn’t find it so myself but some people I've spoken too feel the first book (Pandora's Star) is a bit slow. Let me assure you this is just so the author can pull that many more Holy S**t moments in the second book (Judas Unchained).

Also The Culture (Iain M Banks). Read it!

Door stoppers are great :). I've read Hamilton's Night's Dawn trilogy and really enjoyed it. Squee! He has more trilogies!

Sonicator wrote:
wordsmythe wrote:

This is obviously a trick. Running out of reading material is impossible.

My book pile is even bigger than my game pile. This may be one of the best problems ever.

I think I have a solution: books should have achievements.

NSMike wrote:

Gah, I do not understand how anyone can recommend Joe Abercrombie. Go to a Barnes and Noble and try it out before you buy.

Patiently awaiting me on my kindle:

His Majesty's Dragon - Naomi Novik (A friend actually gave me the paperbacks, and I got this one for free, but I haven't really wanted to dive into it yet).
Candide - Voltaire
The Varieties of Scientific Experience: A Personal View of the Search for God - Carl Sagan and Ann Druyan
Food Inc.: A Participant Guide: How Industrial Food is Making Us Sicker, Fatter, and Poorer-And What You Can Do About It - Karl Weber
The Lost City of Z: A Tale of Deadly Obsession in the Amazon - David Grann
Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance - Robert M. Pirsig
Understanding Exposure, 3rd Edition - Bryan Peterson
Consider Phlebas - Iain M. Banks
Empire of the East - Fred Saberhagen
Brave New World - Aldous Huxley
Anathem - Neal Stephenson
Cat's Cradle - Kurt Vonnegut
Packing for Mars: The Curious Science of Life in the Void - Mary Roach
Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers - Mary Roach
Earth - David Brin
The Killer Angels: The Classic Novel of the Civil War - Michael Shaara
Practical Demonkeeping - Christopher Moore
The Handmaid's Tale: A Novel - Margaret Atwood
The Jeeves Collection - P.G. Wodehouse
The Novels of P.G. Wodehouse (Thirty Three Books with active table of contents) - P.G. Wodehouse
Neuromancer (Ace Science Fiction) - William Gibson
A Supposedly Fun Thing I'll Never Do Again: Essays and Arguments - David Foster Wallace
The Religion of the Samurai A Study of Zen Philosophy and Discipline in China and Japan - Kaiten Nukariya
Life on the Mississippi - Mark Twain
Civil Disobedience - Henry David Thoreau
On the Origin of Species By Means of Natural Selection, or, the Preservation of Favoured Races in the Struggle for Life - Charles Darwin
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks - Rebecca Skloot
Under Heaven - Guy Gavriel Kay

This is a seriously awesome list of books.

re: Iain M Banks; Consider Phlebas is probably the dryest and least representative of the Culture novels. A smart story but in no way indicates the sheer joy and awesome of the later Culture novels. Excession is probably my favourite Culture novel by my favourite of his Sci-fi books is The Algebraist which is just fantastic from beginning to end. I'd also recommend pretty much all of his literary fiction works too (released under his Iain Banks moniker).

re David Eddings; dreadful hack work if ever there was. The belgariad are great novels for 12 year olds, and I really did love the first set, but even back then I was old enough to feel cheated by the second set of books. I did try to reread them as an adult and couldn't get past the first novel.

As for other suggestions:
Carter Beats The Devil - Glen David Gold
The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay - Michael Chabon
The Wind Up Bird Chronicle - Haruki Murakami
Causing Death & Saving Lives - Jonathon Glover

No one has mentioned "Battle Royale" by Koushun Takami? Very disturbing, very good. (Hmmm... maybe that's why...) If you can deal with Banks' "Wasp Factory" or Irvine Welsh's early works, this one will be quite entertaining.

So I guess adding "Trainspotting", "Glue" and "Filth" are out of the question?

Gravey wrote:

Eeek! Finally have time to read everything but my glasses broke and everyone is dead! Help!

Oh your eyesight isn't too bad, and you could always read the large print editions

IMAGE(http://pretprieel.nl/pictures/futurama_the_scary_door.jpg)

Or get a Kindle and put the font size to large!

Picked up the first book of Malazan Book of the Fallen by Steven Erikson - about 65% done. Excellent book so far.

Pawz wrote:

Picked up the first book of Malazan Book of the Fallen by Steven Erikson - about 65% done. Excellent book so far.

And it's by far the worst of the series