Book Suggestions...

[HolySmoke664]

When i walk into a bookstore i am overwhelmed with the number of fantasy/sci fi books. I spend hours staring at the shelves and most of the time walk out with something disappointing. Would appreciate it if yall could help me out.

As far as fantasy books, I've read the first three or four Diablo books which i really enjoyed. Particularly the ones written by Richard A. Knaak. I don't care for RA Salvatore too much but I do enjoy Tolkien a good deal. I like the darker themes of the Diablo books. They are a bit more evil feeling, a bit more blood and occult. As far as sci fi books, I have read Ender's Game and enjoyed it thoroughly even though its not generally my kinda genre. When i was younger i read all of the Alien books, Preadator books, and Alien vs Predator books. Was kinda my thing for a while there. Those were generally pretty good. I also like a good zombie book although i havent found much that i really cared for. I read a book called Monster Island about a post zombie apocalyptic Manhattan but it was a bit disappointing (didnt like zombies that can think). I have read things like Zombie Survival Guide and World War Z both by Max Brooks. Those were both excellent reads.

Thanks in advance for any help.
Good Gaming, Reading, whatever it is you do...

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"Some days you just can't get rid of a bomb!"
-Batman (Adam West)

[Mondayn]

If you like zombie books, or something thereof I would try, I am Legend. As far as dark fantasy goes, you always have people like Laurrell K Hamilton and Banks, they can be rather chickish but it's pretty gothic. I would also recommend the Dresden Files to you by Jim Butcher. For a really good read outside of that theme I can recommend Piers Anthony's the Incarnations of Immortality, start of with On a Pale Horse which is book 1 in the series. I would also try the Belgerath series from Eddings if you liked Tolkien and are not into contemperary authors like Salvatore. Right now I am finishing up Good Omens from Terry Pratchet and Neil Gaiman which is a very humorous look at the apocalypse from the point of view of a friendship through an angel and a demon. Terry Goodkind's the sword of truth series, starting off with Wizard's First Rule is a very good read as well, if you want more I can go on. I don't work in a bookstore! >.>

[DarKatan]

Um...

Terry Goodkind-Even though I am getting tired of his latest books, the series starts off with a bang.
Terry Pratchett-Best author ever
Terry Brooks-You can get half the series for under 20$
Tad Williams-
Greg Keyes-
Raymond Feist-His new stuff is awesome
Margaret Weis-Xanth is awesome
Tracy Hickman-With Weis, and I like her Dalamar the Dark from Dragonlance
L.E. Modesti
R.A. Salvatore-I actually prefer the Scarlet cape, and Woods out Back series
Neil Gaiman-American Gods
Eve Forward-Villains by Necessity
Mary Gentle- Grunts
Melanie Rawn-
Fred Saberhagen-
Richard Awlinson-Avatar Trilogy
Ed Greenwood-Everybody loves Elminster, dont they?
Robin Mckinley-The Hero and the Crown

[Twyll Oathtaker]

I would like to recommend Strangers by Mort Castle if you can find it. It was the first book I read twice on purpose. I also have to agree with Mondayn about I am Legend. I read it from front to back without putting it down.

[Khatib]

If you like the darker stuff and have any interest in D&D type novels, check out some of the books based on the Ravenloft domain. Most notably these two book "series" (though they're not so much co dependent or the only points in the Ravenloft collection where these characters are mentioned):

I, Strahd
I, Strahd: The War Against Azalin

and

Knight of the Black Rose and
Spectre of the Black Rose


The Sword of Truth series that was mentioned also has those darker characters in it... great start to the series, but it starts to flag a bit around book 5. Still readable, but feels preachy and as though only half the words in the books actually move the plot along. Though the plot is still interesting when it actually happens.


Also, if anyone hasn't read Good Omens, which Mondayn mentioned, check it out. Excellent, excellent book. I'm currently reading American Gods by Neil Gaiman, but I'm really not sure that I can recommend it.. Still waiting on the punchline at the end to find out if it wraps it up or if the bulk of the novel was just nonsensical ramblings of a middling story.

[Mallakith]

Id recommend the Shannara series by Terry Brooks, excellent series.

I like Pratchetts discworlds but they're more satire than sci/fi fantasy in my eyes.

PS my favourite sci/fi was by robert rankin years ago... armageddon the musical is lunacy in paper form but i couldnt stop laughing :)

[scrmndmn]

I'm working on the third trilogy from Robin Hobb - she's awesome. I highly recommend all of her 3 series' - Assassin, Liveship traders, the fool series. Someone also mentioned Tad Williams, read the "Memory, Sorrow and Thorn" trilogy. Although I'm not sure these fit into your likes/dislikes they are all very good. You've always got Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time. Plus if you haven't read Brook's Shannara series you've got a lot of catching up to do there as well. Seriously just those 4 authors and you've probably got 40 books.

[Rumbleguts]

If you like dark fantasy try The Black Jewel Trilogy by Anne Bishop. Dark modern fantasy the Dante Valentine series (Working for the Devil only one I can remember off the top of my head) by Lilith Saintcrow. And of course there is always the dark beauty of Micheal Moorcocks books about Elric of Melniborne and the other Eternal Champions. Both the Elric books and Corum books are in print and are excellent dark fantasy.