Favorite Sci-Fi/Fantasy books/series.

Pyro Pilots Lounge. For all topics *not* covered in other DBB forums.

Moderators: fliptw, roid

User avatar
Pun
DBB DemiGod
DBB DemiGod
Posts: 2108
Joined: Fri Aug 10, 2001 2:01 am
Location: Chicago, IL USA
Contact:

Favorite Sci-Fi/Fantasy books/series.

Post by Pun »

Rather than mucking up the other thread, I thought I'd start this new one.

What are your all time favorite books/series in the scifi/fantasy genre? Please dont list more than three.

My personal faves are (not necessarily in order of preference):

The Elric Saga (series) by Michael Moorcock
The Chronicles of Amber (series) by Roger Zelazny
Lord of Light by Roger Zelazny.


These books had huge impact on me as a kid and I ocassionally revisit them.
User avatar
WarAdvocat
DBB Defender
DBB Defender
Posts: 3035
Joined: Sun Jun 23, 2002 2:01 am
Location: Fort Lauderdale, FL USA

Post by WarAdvocat »

Wow... tough question! I've read SO many books...And some of them so many times... I think that favorite series & favorite books deserve their own categories!

Known Space series by Larry Niven
Honor Harrington series by David Weber
Matador series by Steve Perry

Those are all-time, favorite series, & I've re-read each book at least 5 times.

And Pun, everything you posted belongs on my list of all time favorites. Lord of Light would make the top 3 if I had to choose individual books. I've even used Mahasamatman, Kalkin, & Rakash as gaming handles on occasion ;) Now, if I was you, I'd go check out these two books by L.E. Modesitt, Jr.: The Hammer of Darkness & The Timegod. They're not related to each other except for sharing the same author.
User avatar
Pun
DBB DemiGod
DBB DemiGod
Posts: 2108
Joined: Fri Aug 10, 2001 2:01 am
Location: Chicago, IL USA
Contact:

Post by Pun »

Right on, bun, I'll put em in my next Amazon order.

[edit] Bun, Amazon tells me that The Timegod is the second book in a duology, following Timediver's Dawn. Worth reading Timediver's Dawn first?[/edit]
User avatar
Pandora
DBB Admiral
DBB Admiral
Posts: 1715
Joined: Thu Feb 10, 2000 3:01 am
Location: Bangor, Wales, UK.

Post by Pandora »

- the "Culture" series by Iain M. Banks
- the "Neuromancer"-Trilogy by William Gibson
- Lord of the Rings by you know who (no, not Voldemort)
Sligar
DBB Ace
DBB Ace
Posts: 92
Joined: Mon Jan 26, 2004 3:01 am
Location: Boulder, CO
Contact:

Post by Sligar »

The Book of the New Sun, by Gene Wolfe.

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/bookse ... 0176&itm=3

The Golden Age series, but John Wright.

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/bookse ... 844&itm=10

Both of these are great series. The book of the new sun is a bit more literary.
User avatar
WarAdvocat
DBB Defender
DBB Defender
Posts: 3035
Joined: Sun Jun 23, 2002 2:01 am
Location: Fort Lauderdale, FL USA

Post by WarAdvocat »

Pun: The Timegod, then Timediver's Dawn. See your PM for more. :)
User avatar
snoopy
DBB Benefactor
DBB Benefactor
Posts: 4435
Joined: Thu Sep 02, 1999 2:01 am

Re: Favorite Sci-Fi/Fantasy books/series.

Post by snoopy »

punisher wrote:The Chronicles of Amber (series) by Roger Zelazny
I'll put in another vote for Amber. That's what conned me into reading that recent crap... they referred to Amber on the book cover.
User avatar
Top Gun
DBB Master
DBB Master
Posts: 8099
Joined: Wed Nov 13, 2002 3:01 am

Post by Top Gun »

#1 is Lord of the Rings, easily. After all the books I've read, I consider it my favorite, and I don't expect it will change. Tolkien was a true master; he created an entire world and two entire languages, the roots of which trace back to his time in the trenches during World War I. In my opinion, no work of fantasy will ever live up to the standard he set. He is the first and the greatest writer of epic fantasy. :)

#2 is The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis. I first read them in second grade, and they've had a huge impact on me. They're a truly wonderful story, even if you don't realize the deeper symbolism. I can't wait for the movie coming out this December; from what I've seen, it's as true to the book as you could wish. Don't let anyone tell you you're too old for this series; they have just as much meaning at age seventy as at age seven. :)

#3 is probably a tie between the Sabriel trilogy by Garth Nix (Sabriel, Lirael, and Abhorsen), and His Dark Materials trilogy by Philip Pullman (The Golden Compass, The Subtle Knife, and The Amber Spyglass). Nix's books treat magic and necromancy in a way I've never seen before, and there are parts to the story that literally have you on the edge of your seat. Pullman's stories have wonderfully real characters and an involving storyline, including the external embodiment of people's souls as talking animal companions. It's a hard story to describe, but I found it to be very well done and very moving at times, especially the ending. They're intended for young adults, but I've always considered children's fiction to be mostly far superior to the adult variety. Let's face it: while you would probably never read such "classics" as Ulysses or Pride and Prejudice for fun, who wouldn't pass up children's classics like Roald Dahl's books? :)

P.S. Looks like I managed to slip four in there. :P If you'll allow me one more plug, I'd also recommend C.S. Lewis's Space Trilogy (Out of the Silent Planet, Perelandra, and That Hideous Strength). Good Christian allegory, if that's your thing; even if it isn't, they're worth a try.
User avatar
Sirian
DBB Admiral
DBB Admiral
Posts: 1105
Joined: Thu Nov 05, 1998 12:01 pm
Location: PA, USA
Contact:

Post by Sirian »

1. Starship Troopers - Robert A Heinlein

2. Ender's Game (and sequels) - Orson Scott Card

3. The Foundation (and sequels and prequels) - Isaac Asimov


Also great by Heinlein:
* Stranger in a Strange Land
* Orphans in the Sky
* The Puppet Masters
* The Moon is a Harsh Mistress
* Farnham's Freehold


- Sirian
Darktalyn1
DBB Admiral
DBB Admiral
Posts: 1699
Joined: Thu Mar 23, 2000 3:01 am

Post by Darktalyn1 »

Some of my favorite SciFi/Fantasy books + series

A Song of Ice and Fire (George RR Martin)
Lord of the Rings (of course)
Timothy Zahn's Star Wars Trilogy (can't really remember the name)
Starship Troopers (Heinlen)
Liege Killer (Christopher Hinz)

All I can think of off the top of my head.


I don't read near as much as I used to, just now starting to get back into it. So, I'm open to suggestions for GREAT books!
User avatar
CDN_Merlin
DBB_Master
DBB_Master
Posts: 9780
Joined: Thu Nov 05, 1998 12:01 pm
Location: Capital Of Canada

Post by CDN_Merlin »

Shannara Series by Terry Brooks
Death Gate Cycle by Margaret & Tracey Hickman
Lord of the Rings/Hobbit by JRR Tolkien
User avatar
Pun
DBB DemiGod
DBB DemiGod
Posts: 2108
Joined: Fri Aug 10, 2001 2:01 am
Location: Chicago, IL USA
Contact:

Post by Pun »

Darktalyn1 wrote: So, I'm open to suggestions for GREAT books!
That's the whole point of the thread, my man.
User avatar
Phoenix Red
DBB Fleet Admiral
DBB Fleet Admiral
Posts: 2026
Joined: Thu Jun 27, 2002 2:01 am

Post by Phoenix Red »

I know it's cliche, but <3 Wheel of Time.

Song of Ice and Fire is shaping up to be excellent as well. Any one David Eddings series (you pick) is enjoyable, but they become subsequently less so as you go on by virtue of all being exactly the same.

Dracula was also highly commendable.
User avatar
TechPro
DBB Admiral
DBB Admiral
Posts: 1520
Joined: Thu May 20, 2004 11:51 pm

Post by TechPro »

Hobbit and Lord of The Rings by J.R.R. Tolkein

Neutron Star by Larry Niven

and any other "Known Space" series books by Larry Niven that include the "Beowulf Shaeffer" character. ;)
User avatar
suicide eddie
DBB Ace
DBB Ace
Posts: 381
Joined: Mon Sep 09, 2002 2:01 am

Post by suicide eddie »

ooh you sod theres to many to list so heres a quicky
doc smith, benford, clark, chalker, bujold, anthony, pratchet, harrison, herbert, foster, niven, H.G, de camp, roddenbury, mccaffrey, mcdermott, adams and bova

theres my three......lines worth :)
User avatar
Sirius
DBB Master
DBB Master
Posts: 5616
Joined: Fri May 28, 1999 2:01 am
Location: Bellevue, WA
Contact:

Post by Sirius »

I never really read that much. Would have, but it takes time away from *cough* other things...

Anyway, some of the better series in that genre I actually did read... erm, actually, most are well-known and quite redundant.

Although the Hyperion series was well-written and isn't here. Four books, all really large, well worth it...
User avatar
whuppinboy
DBB Benefactor
DBB Benefactor
Posts: 725
Joined: Sun Jun 03, 2001 2:01 am
Contact:

Post by whuppinboy »

wheel of time series - robert jordan

sword of truth series - terry goodkind

thomas covenant series - stephen r donaldson
User avatar
Pun
DBB DemiGod
DBB DemiGod
Posts: 2108
Joined: Fri Aug 10, 2001 2:01 am
Location: Chicago, IL USA
Contact:

Post by Pun »

ooh! Thomas Covenant! I had forgotten.
User avatar
Grendel
3d Pro Master
3d Pro Master
Posts: 4390
Joined: Mon Oct 28, 2002 3:01 am
Location: Corvallis OR, USA

Post by Grendel »

Books:

"Kiln People" by David Brin
"Heart of the Comet" by Gregory Benford, David Brin
"Timeships" by Stephen Baxter
"The Shockwave Rider" by John Brunner
"In the Company of Others" and "Beholder's Eye" by Julie Czerneda
"A Fire Upon the Deep" by Vernor Vinge
"Proteus Unbound" by Charles Sheffield
"Cycle of Fire" by Hal Clement
"Draggon's Egg" and "Starquake" by Robert Forward
"Doomsday Book" by Connie Willis
"Cryptonomicon" by Neal Stephenson

Series:
"Steeldriver" and "Timberjack" by Don DeBrandt
"Uplift.." by David Brin
"Manifold:.." by Stepehen Baxter
"The Reality Dysfunction", "The Neutronium Alchemist", "The Naked God" by Peter Hamilton (6 books in that series)

Need more ? ;)
User avatar
Pun
DBB DemiGod
DBB DemiGod
Posts: 2108
Joined: Fri Aug 10, 2001 2:01 am
Location: Chicago, IL USA
Contact:

Post by Pun »

punisher wrote:Please dont list more than three.
Grendel wrote:Books:

"Kiln People" by David Brin
"Heart of the Comet" by Gregory Benford, David Brin
"Timeships" by Stephen Baxter
"The Shockwave Rider" by John Brunner
"In the Company of Others" and "Beholder's Eye" by Julie Czerneda
"A Fire Upon the Deep" by Vernor Vinge
"Proteus Unbound" by Charles Sheffield
"Cycle of Fire" by Hal Clement
"Draggon's Egg" and "Starquake" by Robert Forward
"Doomsday Book" by Connie Willis
"Cryptonomicon" by Neal Stephenson

Series:
"Steeldriver" and "Timberjack" by Don DeBrandt
"Uplift.." by David Brin
"Manifold:.." by Stepehen Baxter
"The Reality Dysfunction", "The Neutronium Alchemist", "The Naked God" by Peter Hamilton (6 books in that series)

Need more ? ;)

Skimmer!
User avatar
fliptw
DBB DemiGod
DBB DemiGod
Posts: 6459
Joined: Sat Oct 24, 1998 2:01 am
Location: Calgary Alberta Canada

Post by fliptw »

The Riftwar sagas by Raymond E. Fiest.
Birdseye
DBB DemiGod
DBB DemiGod
Posts: 3655
Joined: Thu Nov 05, 1998 12:01 pm
Location: Oakland, CA

Post by Birdseye »

Ender's Game series
User avatar
Grendel
3d Pro Master
3d Pro Master
Posts: 4390
Joined: Mon Oct 28, 2002 3:01 am
Location: Corvallis OR, USA

Post by Grendel »

punisher wrote:
punisher wrote:Please dont list more than three.
[..]
Impossible. But if you want I can cut it up in posts w/ three each :P
User avatar
Pandora
DBB Admiral
DBB Admiral
Posts: 1715
Joined: Thu Feb 10, 2000 3:01 am
Location: Bangor, Wales, UK.

Post by Pandora »

Grendel, i just read "Pandoras Star" by Hamilton, and enjoyed it very much. So you recommed the other stuff of him? I'm asking because I heard that his books before Pandora's Star were not very good.
User avatar
Nexus_One
DBB Captain
DBB Captain
Posts: 785
Joined: Tue Jun 05, 2001 2:01 am
Location: Kansas

Post by Nexus_One »

Ender's Game - Orson Scott Card
The Dark Tower Series - Stephen King
User avatar
Grendel
3d Pro Master
3d Pro Master
Posts: 4390
Joined: Mon Oct 28, 2002 3:01 am
Location: Corvallis OR, USA

Post by Grendel »

Pandora wrote:Grendel, i just read "Pandoras Star" by Hamilton, and enjoyed it very much. So you recommed the other stuff of him? I'm asking because I heard that his books before Pandora's Star were not very good.
The series I mentioned starts a tad slow but picks up speed and novel ideas until the end where he pulls a "deus ex machina". The way is the goal here, I thought it was a good read. From a "Pandoras Star" critic: "The author deftly juggles many characters in multiple plot lines." -- same happens in that series, IMO he pulled that off very well. I read some more from Hamilton -- ok, but nothing special. I'll put PS on my list tho :)

Edit: Seems it's called the "Night's Dawn" series (3000+ pages in 6 volumes :))
User avatar
Vertigo 99
DBB Fleet Admiral
DBB Fleet Admiral
Posts: 2684
Joined: Tue May 25, 1999 2:01 am
Location: Massachusetts
Contact:

Post by Vertigo 99 »

LOTR
User avatar
Mobius
DBB_Master
DBB_Master
Posts: 7940
Joined: Sun Jun 03, 2001 2:01 am
Location: Christchurch, New Zealand
Contact:

Post by Mobius »

Amazing no one has posted:

Larry Niven's "Known Space" series.

Which includes short stories and several novels including RINGWORLD and RINGWORLD ENGINEERS.

He also co-wrote "The Mote in Gods Eye", and the sequel, forgot what it was called.
User avatar
Grendel
3d Pro Master
3d Pro Master
Posts: 4390
Joined: Mon Oct 28, 2002 3:01 am
Location: Corvallis OR, USA

Post by Grendel »

WarAdvocat wrote:Known Space series by Larry Niven.
2nd post.. :P
User avatar
Jon the Great
DBB Captain
DBB Captain
Posts: 538
Joined: Fri Nov 28, 2003 3:01 am
Location: California

Post by Jon the Great »

The Foundation Series - Isaac Asimov

I just enjoyed it to pieces.
User avatar
Flatlander
DBB Fleet Admiral
DBB Fleet Admiral
Posts: 2419
Joined: Thu Apr 15, 1999 2:01 am
Location: Pennsylvania
Contact:

Post by Flatlander »

Mobius wrote:Amazing no one has posted:

Larry Niven's "Known Space" series.

Which includes short stories and several novels including RINGWORLD and RINGWORLD ENGINEERS.

He also co-wrote "The Mote in Gods Eye", and the sequel, forgot what it was called.
"The Gripping Hand," both co-written with Jerry Pournelle

...

There's no possible way I can list only three favorite SF series, so here's an incomplete list of a few of my favorite authors (with a representative title/series):

Larry Niven (Known Space)
Jerry Pournelle (anything)
Charles Sheffield (anything)
Gregory Benford (Galactic Center)
Isaac Asimov (Foundation)
Arthur C. Clarke (Rama)
Stephen Baxter (anything)
Orson Scott Card (Ender's Game)
C.S. Lewis (Narnia, Perelandra)
J.R.R. Tolkien (Lord of the Rings)
Frank Herbert (Dune)
Dan Simmons (Hyperion, Endymion)
David Drake (Hammer's Slammers)
Gordon R. Dickson (Dorsai)
Fred Saberhagen (Berserkers)
Hal Clement (anything)
User avatar
WarAdvocat
DBB Defender
DBB Defender
Posts: 3035
Joined: Sun Jun 23, 2002 2:01 am
Location: Fort Lauderdale, FL USA

Post by WarAdvocat »

LOL @ Mobius! :) Thanks for the smiles, fella.

As for Picking "Favorites":

I have an extensive library of Fantasy & SF. I'm actually in the process of building about 24 linear feet of 8' high book shelves for my home to accomodate my library, which is stacked 2&3 deep on 3 cheapie home-depot particle-board bookshelf units.

I chose my three favorites representing 3 very different schools of SF, which I felt would be very accessible to varying readers:
  • The Known Space series represents "Hard" SF. Niven is a master of Hard SF, and brings good story and characterization skills to the table as well.
  • David Weber's Honor Harrington books represent "Military SF" (Naval), with a strong "space opera" influence and socio-political intrigue.
  • Finally, Steve Perry's Matador series is an intriguing blend of genres, with many thematic elements including underworld/crime, military, martial arts, espionage & revolution. His books are short, action-packed and very tightly written, but require some thought as the books contain a lot of futuristic jargon, little of which is explicitly explained (example: "Densecris" It's obvious from context that this is a kind of bulletproof glass... Dense Crystal?)
HOWEVER, were I to post an exhaustive list... I've read a lot... a REAL lot. I'm quite sure I could fill several pages... And only scratch the surface. I'd give you a list from Lynn Abbey to Roger Zelazny.

Great SF Author/Series Resource: http://www.scifan.com/
User avatar
suicide eddie
DBB Ace
DBB Ace
Posts: 381
Joined: Mon Sep 09, 2002 2:01 am

Post by suicide eddie »

nobodys mentioned Philip Teh Dick yet :)
User avatar
Pandora
DBB Admiral
DBB Admiral
Posts: 1715
Joined: Thu Feb 10, 2000 3:01 am
Location: Bangor, Wales, UK.

Post by Pandora »

Thanks, Grendel. Night's Dawn sounds good, then (despite the slight caveat with the ending). I'll get it when I finished the the books I am reading now (Michael Marshall Smith <-- very good, but weird). :)
User avatar
Jon the Great
DBB Captain
DBB Captain
Posts: 538
Joined: Fri Nov 28, 2003 3:01 am
Location: California

Post by Jon the Great »

Red Dwarf - Grant Naylor
User avatar
TechPro
DBB Admiral
DBB Admiral
Posts: 1520
Joined: Thu May 20, 2004 11:51 pm

Post by TechPro »

Mobius wrote:Amazing no one has posted:

Larry Niven's "Known Space" series.
Hey! I did.. about four or five posts before you mentioned this. Larry Niven's writings are pretty dang good SF. :wink:
User avatar
Flatlander
DBB Fleet Admiral
DBB Fleet Admiral
Posts: 2419
Joined: Thu Apr 15, 1999 2:01 am
Location: Pennsylvania
Contact:

Post by Flatlander »

Image
User avatar
JMEaT
DBB Meat ByProduct
DBB Meat ByProduct
Posts: 10047
Joined: Wed Mar 10, 1999 3:01 am
Location: USA

Post by JMEaT »

Memory, Sorrow and Thorn by Tad Williams

Linky
User avatar
Foil
DBB Material Defender
DBB Material Defender
Posts: 4900
Joined: Tue Nov 23, 2004 3:31 pm
Location: Denver, Colorado, USA
Contact:

Post by Foil »

Yes, I'm back! :D (I finally got access back at work, so I'll occassionally be popping back in.)
Sirian, Birdseye, Nexus_One, Flatlander wrote:Ender's Game (and sequels) - Orson Scott Card
Agreed! This series is absolutely top on my list, as long as you don't include the Ender's Shadow offshoot books, which just don't seem to belong (they're more like political thrillers, while the original books up through Children of the Mind were execellent Sci-Fi with some philosophical and ethical aspects).
Pandora, Top Gun, CDN_Merlin ,TechPro ,Vertigo 99, Flatlander wrote:The Lord of the Rings - J.R.R. Tolkien
On my list as well, for too many reasons to number.
Top Gun wrote:C.S. Lewis's Space Trilogy
I haven't read these in a number of years, but I'll second Top Gun's plug, if you're interested in some decent fiction with deep theological allegory, by a writer who worked with and was very close to Tolkien.
User avatar
Pun
DBB DemiGod
DBB DemiGod
Posts: 2108
Joined: Fri Aug 10, 2001 2:01 am
Location: Chicago, IL USA
Contact:

Post by Pun »

Woo! I just ordered the following:

The Great Book of Amber - All 10 Chronicles of Amber in one 1200 page book, unabridged. To replace my badly tattered editions I bought in like 1980.

The Timegod - Brand new for $2.60! Thank you Amazon.

Lord of Light - Brand new for $3.00. Again to replace my badly tattered, stolen library copy from 1982.

Cerebus Volume 1 (Trade Paperback) - The entire first year of Dave Sim's amazing underground comic Cerebus the Aardvark.

Score!
Post Reply