Book Recommendation

So, why is it so many techie folk seem to be into sci-fi and fantasy? I've never seen the appeal.

oumahexi, if you want something completely different to strike you out of a rut, but with a hint of sci-fi, then what about Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro?

I have been interested in Sci-Fi and Fantasy since I was in grammar school (two favorite books that I remember from that time are "Fahrenheit 451" and "a Wrinkle in Time", so I think that it might just be the other way around (that people who like Sci-Fi and Fantasy are prone to become techies).:D
 
You MUST read the Anne McCaffrey dragon series (Dragon this of Pern, Dragon that of Pern), as Gary suggested. Here is a link to the reading order: http://www.annemccaffrey.net/2006-Pern-Reading-Order.pdf. There is a sub-series about a young lady and "mini-dragons" that is quite good (I think it fits in the middle of one of the dragon series books). It is pure escapism. I found her other series provided the same escapism value but without all the dragons (something about a crystal singer).

Other similar authors: Andre Norton, Ursula K. LeGuin. I could read all 3 authors all day/night long. They are a bit mushy/girlie but I'm a sucker for that kind of stuff, in private.

The Dune (Frank Herbert) series was good. Anything by Douglas Adams (combines sci-fi with humor). The Hitchhiker's Guide "trilogy" is classic/a must read.

The "Gor" series (John Norman) was...interesting, a bit brutal at times, and a bit sexy at times (not porn though). Not for the squeamish, though. Exactly the opposite of some of the more "principled" books I mention later.

An obvious set of books are the middle earth books by J.R.R. Tolkien. I used to read the Lord of the Rings trilogy and The Hobbit once a year. If you can stand it, the Silmarilion (SP?) is interesting and fits together nicely with LOTR.

For a sci-fi character you love to hate, try Stephen R. Donaldson's Thomas Covenant series. Easy read and you hate the hero but want everything to work out for him.

Piers Anthony writes some pretty good stuff. I particularly loved his "Xanth" series. There was also a series about a magician in an alternate universe, one of the titles was "The Blue Adept" (I think the first in the series). Those were good and would transition nicely from your witch readings.

I particularly enjoyed the 7 books in C. S. Lewis' Chronicles of Narnia series. Chock full of Christian principles but the stories are quite good.

Some web comics are good. Banana is always linking some interesting new web comic. I end up spending huge hours chasing one or the other of his links.

Harder, less sci-fi stuff, but still good: Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand, War and Peace (if you can get through the middle) by Tolstoi, The Holy Bible. These will all take some time but are worth it. Don't think of it as self help as there are some really interesting stories in the Bible and although there are potential life lessons in all three, the stories can be quite provocative.

All this should take you about 6 months to read. Better get to work.
 
This sounds a bit daft, but I've spent the last ten years or so reading very little other than "self help" and study material. Now I think it's time to get back to reading. Has anyone read anything that they think may be interesting enough for me?

I used to like Sci-fi - in particular I loved Michael Moorcock's Eternal Champion books, so anything along those lines...

Are you a fan of Orson Scott Card? I particularly like the Ender's Game series. It is old now, but still great.
 
the crystal singer and the other two novels that go with it are excellent reads as its the short stories that Anne M has written -
however the short stores do relate to the dragon series

the dragon singer is fantastic

- warning though read them in order - as they are charater based stories and if you skip a book then you have to read back to catch up - i have about 13 of the books and even now keep going back to them

Catherine Kerr is another author - however this is more celtic in its approach and doesn't matter too much in which order they are read - about 10 books in total and still going on strong - but best to start at the begining

Dune - a big read and a bit invovled - but i did enjoy ...
Terry Pratchett - just easy fun - the books are written on two levels one for kids one for adults seems to work

there a pretty good book about a stone and a flute - as a story without having to get involved in a series - written by a German author
then Sparrowhawk as a book (series of 3 ) the film does not do the book justice
 
Harder, less sci-fi stuff, but still good: Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand, ...The Holy Bible.
Strange to see those two mentioned in the same breath. Ayn Rand is someone who teenagers and selfish people seem to get on well with since her Objectivist rantings are all about to hell with everyone else just do things for yourself, whereas the teachings of the latter, in its New Testament, at least, propose the opposite.
 
Surprised nobody mentioned David & Leigh Eddings. I loved both Belgarath & Mallorean series and the other series which escapes me, about the character Sparhawk.

It was very appealing in part because there was so much political intrigue; eventually led me to decide to minor in International Relations (political science).
 
It's not fantasy but sci-fi ...

Stephen R Donaldson (might remember from the Thomas Covenant fantasy series) came out with another series; The Gap Cycle. The first book is called The Real Story.

I wasn't a hugh sci-fi fan, and even though Donaldson's books after the Thomas Covenant were not very good this series was totally fantastic. Although the first book trends a hair over the line graphically, it sets up the remainder.

A recommended MUST TRY for anyone.

-dK
 
Surprised nobody mentioned David & Leigh Eddings. I loved both Belgarath & Mallorean series and the other series which escapes me, about the character Sparhawk.

It was very appealing in part because there was so much political intrigue; eventually led me to decide to minor in International Relations (political science).

excellent

sparrowhawk - Ruby knight - just re -read this the other day - brill
 
Yeah, this series was definitely more intriguing.

If you haven't, be sure to grab a book of Polgara the Sorceress. Lot of diplomacy going on in there. :)

Note: Don't bother if you haven't read the Belgarath & Mallorean series.
 
read the whole series down to the tamuils ? typo
 
Erm... *looking up the series on wiki*

The Elenium and The Tamuli are a separate universe from Belgarath and Mallorean series, so as long you've read the B & M, you're OK to read the Belgarath the Socerer and Polgara the Sorceress. :)
 
lol .. I'm sorry .. I have to give a big X to some of David Eddings stuff.

The first couple of books were good - very fresh - but it seemed to me that the following books and series' were a rehash watering them down and making them stale. Think of the Dirty Harry or Charles Bronson movies of the late 70s. Good first story, the rest was just more of the same. Frankly put, I got tired of rereading the same story over and over.

-dK
 
If you want to go with mushy girly stuff, I am currently reading PS, I love you by Cecelia Ahern. It was made into a movie about a year ago. Occasionally, need a break from the murder mysteries that I lap up. If you want to go that route I could load you up with recommendations to last you for years.:)
 
The Adept Series (Anthony) was a provocative story about future earth. Almost anything by that guy is pretty creative. His newer stuff seemed more 'young reader' since they dealt with issues of teenage suicide, et al.

My last big pick is the first book of the The Death Gate Cycle: Dragon Wing.

A very innovative approach at story telling with the setting and the players involved. The last couple of books are somewhat lacking in creativity but if you are really into fantasy, the authors created a whole new universe with a compelling story line with believable characters that you understand and agree with their motivations.

-dK
 
No arguments there; I read the Blue Adept and remember was glad to finally see something besides the usual bludgeoning of Orcs & Goblins. (Which reminds me- that was the another appeal of Eddings; at least they tried to make their own races and universes than just copy the universe laid down by JRR Tolkien which gets tiresome after a bit. Oh well).

Too bad I didn't keep up with Piers, but know would if I found his books. :)
 
Strange to see those two mentioned in the same breath. Ayn Rand is someone who teenagers and selfish people seem to get on well with since her Objectivist rantings are all about to hell with everyone else just do things for yourself, whereas the teachings of the latter, in its New Testament, at least, propose the opposite.

And oddly enough, I enjoyed both! That must say something?

The message I took from Rand's books (I've also read The Fountainhead, not as good IMHO) was "strive for excellence." The thing I learned from the Bible was giving. As such, I give away my excellence at every opportunity.

Though I can't imagine a teenager reading the entire book (Atlas Shrugged). It'd have to be a very bored or very self-disciplined teen!
 
Though I can't imagine a teenager reading the entire book (Atlas Shrugged). It'd have to be a very bored or very self-disciplined teen!
Hey, they get through Lord Of The Rings, something I've never been able to do.
 
I've read much of what has been posted here, Eddings, Donaldson, Norton, Asimov, Tolkien, etc. Been a sci-fi/fantasy fan for many years. You might also look for the Kushiel books (some sexual stuff in there, but good stories) and check out the Deryni novels by Kathering Kurtz.
 
Yeah, I enjoyed the Deryni stuff but couldn't remember what they were called. It's been over 20 years.

But Atlas Shrugged is all about Artitotle's philosophies, capitalism, and business, it doesn't seem that would appeal to teens. LOTR, OTOH, has Orcs, magic, flying warriors, scary stuff...right up a teens alley. I enjoyed them both.
 

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