Recommended reading book list

Ryuho

Newcomer

12 years ago

Jul 6, 2012, 4:50:07 AM

Currently reading the sci-fi themed "Spinward Fringe" series by Randolph Lalonde.

It really reminded me of Eveonline, to the point where I thought it was somehow related when a ship called Loki was mentioned.

The first book is free on Amazon books as of now but I liked the first book enough that I bought the rest of the series (7 books out as of now).

seanw3

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seanw3

Newcomer

12 years ago

Jul 1, 2012, 3:24:47 AM

Ender's Game is probably assumed by most people here, but deserves a good mention nonetheless. Even Mitt Romney put it on his favorite list.

From there I would have to go with Kurt Vonnegut Jr.'s works on the future. Cat's Cradle is specifically useful to read for Endless Space as it will explain what Ice 10 is in the game. The penalty for living on those planets should probably be greater. I find that reading his work over and over generally provides a better experience than getting anything off the Sci-fi best seller list. The best writers are dead or pretending.

Anu92

Newcomer

Anu92

Newcomer

12 years ago

Jul 3, 2012, 5:03:05 AM

Hmm, Sci Fi wise:

Anything in the Dune Universe,

The Myst Reader,

Stranger in a Strange Land by Robert A. Heinlein,

Frankenstein (though not of what one thinks of sci fi, it is one of the oldest and truest) by Mary Shelley,

The Darth Bane novels from the Star Wars Universe

As per fantasy:

Anything in Tolkien's Universe,

The Kingkiller Chronicle (whose first book, The Name of the Wind, just so happens to be my favorite) by Patrick Rothfuss,

The Legend of Drizzt series by R.A. Salvatore,

The Night Angel Trilogy by Brent Weeks,

and the Chronicles of Thomas Covenant by Stephen R. Donaldson

TypoPanther

Peaceful

TypoPanther

TypoPanther

Peaceful

41 600g2g pts

12 years ago

Jul 3, 2012, 6:32:12 AM

Lets see....

+1 to Redwall series, Myst series, Tolkien & C. S. Lewis

Song of Ice & Fire, J R R Martin's short story colections are fun as well.

The graphic novel version of the enders game series are actually pretty well done, but reading first is probably better. That or the full cast audio book version.

Newsflesh trilogy by Myra Grant (I'm currently in the midst of rereading the first two to read the final one)

Also anything by Michael Chabon or Cormac McCarthy gets my vote. Anne Lamott is a great writer too, more memoir style.

Umaya40

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Umaya40

Newcomer

12 years ago

Jul 3, 2012, 11:43:19 PM

I would recommend "The Hunger Games" Trilogy by Suzanne Collins

Sigmar2408

Lifter

Sigmar2408

Lifter

4 200g2g pts

12 years ago

Jul 4, 2012, 6:10:18 AM

Have to mention the great works from Philip K. Dick, mainly and foremost the VALIS-Trilogy (more of a philiosophical book about God, the human mind and its evolution), UBIK (about death and the meaning of "real" and "imaginative or virtual" reality), A Scanner Darkly (Drugs, their influence and the aspect of different personalities in everyones head) and a classic of my favourite genre, the postapocalyptic sci-fi literature, Dr. Bloodmoney or how we get along after the bomb (about the degradation of human civilization and the possibilities and chances of a new way mankind could evolve again).

Especially in the postapocayptic literature there are lots of great books beside the one mentioned, relatively new one is from the already mentioned Cormac McCarthys The Road (fantastic movie too btw!) and one of my favourite, yet strangest ones: Engine Summer from John Crowley (where all remains of the "old" civilization is only rumoured about in myths and legends, being gone thousands of years ago).

Same goes for a book, only released in Germany though from Georg Zauner. The title would be translated as "The grandsons of the rocket makers" and is located in Bavaria (yes, the land of beer and pretzels lol ) a thousand years after the degradation of mankind. It is presented as a collection of documents that some monks found and try to comprehend and letters about new and strange findings from different monk-communities throughout the region.

Could mention so much more, but these are the ones that come to my mind at the moment.

Karliki

Newcomer

Karliki

Newcomer

12 years ago

Jul 4, 2012, 9:36:38 PM

Books to read some are starts of a series -

Wise Man's Fear

The Lies of Locke Lamora

A Cavern of Black Ice

The Painted Man

The Blade Itself

Game of Thrones

1984

Heart of Darkness

War of the Worlds

Do Androids Dream or Electric Sheep?

Almayer's Folly

The Lord of the Rings

Troy: Lord of the Silver Bow

Sir Gawain & the Greene Knight

The Canterbury Tales

Beowulf

A Christmas Carol

Frankenstein

The Prince

.... I think those will do for the time being!

"I cannot live without books."

- Thomas Jefferson

skynet464

Newcomer

skynet464

Newcomer

12 years ago

Jul 4, 2012, 9:58:25 PM

The Foundation series, written by Issac Asimov. It has got to be one of the best book series i have ever read.

CrispyMouse

Newcomer

CrispyMouse

Newcomer

12 years ago

Jul 5, 2012, 9:32:37 AM

David Weber's Off Armageddon Reef (Safehold) is Sci Fi

I also like David Weber's Honor Harrington series

David Drake and Eric Flint's Belisarius series (starting with An Oblique Approach)

Brandon Sanderson's Mistborn series

Executus

Newcomer

Executus

Newcomer

12 years ago

Jun 30, 2012, 10:00:08 PM

The Grand Design by Stephen Hawking

A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson

MODNosferatiel

Informer

"God's in his heaven, all's right with the world." Nerv Motto, Neon Genesis Evangelion

MODNosferatiel

Informer

47 300g2g pts

12 years ago

Jul 6, 2012, 10:25:51 AM

"The wheel of time"-series by Robert Jordan and led on by Brandon Sanderson. May it finally come to an end, soon.

"A song of ice and fire"-series by George R.R. Martin

All "Discworld"-related books by Terry Pratchett, especially the lesser known three philosophical offsprings featuring Ian Stewart and Jack Cohen. Who doesn't know spacelifts should definitely read those.

"Good Omens" by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman.

For pure fantasy action, the "Cleric Quintet", the "Drizzt" and the "Demon wars" series by R.A. Salvatore.

"The Kingkiller chronicles" by Patrick Rothfuss

Stephen Hawking's laymans science books are a nice read, too.

Also I'd advertise the Hellsing Mangas to everybody above 18.

LastManInSpace

Newcomer

LastManInSpace

Newcomer

12 years ago

Jul 6, 2012, 10:46:55 AM

c-Row wrote:
Not exactly straight fantasy, but Stephen King's The Dark Tower is an essential read in my opinion and a huge departure from his usual work.

Definitely got to second this recommendation for The Dark Tower series, it's definitely one of my favourite series I've read. A lot of people seemed to have been upset with the ending but I personally loved it.

Also, the Discworld series by Terry Pratchett if you like some humour with your fantasy.

Vasalius

Newcomer

Vasalius

Newcomer

12 years ago

Jul 7, 2012, 2:26:04 AM

Starship Troopers, by Heinlein

(I don't think that anyone has recommended it yet, which surprises me)

Classic Sci-Fi book. The film is only vaguely related to it.

IluvatarIrmo

Newcomer

IluvatarIrmo

Newcomer

12 years ago

Jul 7, 2012, 11:42:26 PM

I can add nothing of value to this thread because all my favourites are already mentioned

Do you read the books or do most of you read it on an e-reader?

maybe its a good idea for a new poll ;-)

thataintme

Newcomer

thataintme

Newcomer

12 years ago

Jul 8, 2012, 4:05:32 AM

One of my favorite books came out last year and it's Ernest Cline's first novel. Ready Player One is the title I reccommend it to all gamers.

Bats

Newcomer

Bats

Newcomer

300g2g pts

12 years ago

Jul 8, 2012, 8:09:44 AM

The Wheel of Time saga is a must read for anyone considering himself a proper person.

Inquisitioner

Officer

Inquisitioner

Officer

20 000g2g pts

12 years ago

Jul 8, 2012, 8:44:09 AM

A Game of Thrones by George R.R Martin & Metro 2033 by Dmitry Glukhovsky.

Evrett37

Newcomer

Evrett37

Newcomer

12 years ago

Jun 18, 2012, 1:25:44 AM

I'm current reading Seeds of Earth by Michael Cobley

I would recommend in Scifi

Peter Hamilton's Commenweath Saga

Timothy Zahn's Conquerors Saga

Alistair Reynolds Pushing Ice and Revelation Space saga.

Dan Simmon's Hyperiod Cantos

David Brin Uplift Series

John Ringos Troy Rising series

Daniel Abraham The Expanse series

Jack McDevitt's Alex Benedixt Series

Larry Niven's Fleet of Worlds and Moties series'

Vernor Vinge A Deepness in the Sky

CJ CHerryh - Chanur series

and in fantasy

Steven Brust Khaavren Romances

Steven Erikson Memories of Ice (Malazan saga)

Elizabeth Haydon Sympohny of Ages

David Eddings Elenium

David Webber Off Armageddon reef series (best in audiobook)

Piers Anthony Quest for the Fallen Star

Tracy Hickman Mystic Quest series

Mysko

Old Core

one of the Myskos

Mysko

Old Core

19 100g2g pts

12 years ago

Jun 30, 2012, 2:48:51 AM

i love reading scifi and fantasy books that are from games i have played..

like Starcraft, Warcraft , Halo, Mass Effect and Warhammer 40.000

my favorite books have been from Warhammer 40.000 universe

Ultramarines

Gaunts Ghosts

Ciaphas Cain

Soul Drinkers

Grey Knights

all are omnibus.. more for the money :P

Redbull102

Newcomer

Redbull102

Newcomer

12 years ago

Jun 29, 2012, 8:51:01 PM

SCIFI :

LEM :

GOLEM XIV - hardcore scifi - ai talking to humans

Solaris - hardcore scifi - humans found a sea that creates things

the invincible - scifi - the invincible is a spaceship with a crew, sent to a planet where they lost contact to an earlier expedition

the star diaries - funny scifi - ijon tichy is telling stories about his spacetravels and the strange things that happened there.

and many more...

Stanislav Lem wrote many of his stories in the nineteensixties. So in the "modern" scifi you read a lot about warp engines... in LEMs space stories it are rocket engines.

Isaac Asimov :

Foundation - hard scifi - a dying empire, a man trying to save as much wisdom as possible through the uprising dark times, and the try to keep the dark times as short as possible.

The Caves of Steel - scifi - earth policeman who dislikes robots have to investigate a homocide together with a robot.

Naked Sun - scifi - same earth policeman investigates a crime on an othe planet.

Lucky Star - low scifi - nice stories about a person called lucky star.

Asimov wrote many great short stories too.

Many of the stories are old, in one of the stories the venus is a nice planet with water^^. Story was writen before the first probes showed us what the venus ist really like.

Arthur C. Clarke :

2001 - scifi - not much to say, nice one

and so on.

Joe Haldeman

The forever war - hard scifi - warstories about a mistake of humankind

Larry Niven

Ring World - scifi - Stories around a space object.

Allen Cole/ Chris Bunch

The Sten Chronicles - mil. scifi - A Story in multiple books about a person called Sten. Great Story and the end is what makes it very different to other military scifi.

Without telling to much, I can say the end is magic.

Ben Bova

Mars, return to Mars, Venus, Jupiter - all scifi - well written stories, most with alien lifeforms, but the humans and the conflicts of them are the main theme.

Douglas Adams

Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy - funny scifi - 42 ^^

Spaceship Titianic - funny scifi - very funny

Terry Pratchett

Dark Side of the Sun - funny scifi - story about somebody who tries to uncover a secret.

Ray Bradbury

451 - scifi - firefighter in the future burns books

Martian chronicles - scifi

....and many many more.

never can read enough scifi.

Best wishes

Redbull102

@ Yurixy

If you do not like to read because you hate reading, none of the above.

If you like funny things, maybe Spaceship Titanic.

Yurixy

Newcomer

Yurixy

Newcomer

12 years ago

Jun 27, 2012, 7:23:44 PM

what book is good for a person like me that don't like books?

i generally love to see ilustrated books, but they aren't really .. huh .. books.. idk.. lol

Selenius

Newcomer

Selenius

Newcomer

11 300g2g pts

12 years ago

Jun 27, 2012, 9:18:20 AM

I recommend you the Geralt of Rivia Saga by andrzej sapkowski.

Geralt of Rivia is also the protagonist of The Witcher

c-Row

Newcomer

c-Row

Newcomer

12 years ago

Jun 23, 2012, 8:14:58 PM

Not exactly straight fantasy, but Stephen King's The Dark Tower is an essential read in my opinion and a huge departure from his usual work.

swedewolf

Newcomer

swedewolf

Newcomer

11 000g2g pts

12 years ago

Jun 22, 2012, 11:29:19 AM

High crusade

Foundation trilogy by isac asimov. probably inspiration for the empire in star wars was in the end 5 books, but is still refered to as the thrilogy

ZZGashi

Old Recruit

Believe those who seek the truth, doubt those who find it; doubt all, but do not doubt yourself. - André Gide

ZZGashi

Old Recruit

23 900g2g pts

12 years ago

Jun 22, 2012, 8:24:50 AM

In addition to Peter Hamilton's Commonwealth Saga, I would also recommend his Void Trilogy which is set 1500 years after the Commonwealth Saga.

B.V. Larson's Imperium and Star Force series, both good SF.

Iron Elves trilogy by Chris Evan, fantasy series.

JeepDriver

Newcomer

JeepDriver

Newcomer

12 years ago

Jun 22, 2012, 1:46:33 AM

Candide is a book I would recommend

Evrett37

Newcomer

Evrett37

Newcomer

12 years ago

Jun 22, 2012, 12:03:15 AM

Just finished Dauntless - good stuff! Thanks for the rec..now I gotta find the other in the series. I didnt like Gemmell legend etc series but I havnt tried Troy..I'll give that a look too.

VIPFinalStrigon

Sheredyn

VIPFinalStrigon

Sheredyn

33 000g2g pts

12 years ago

Jun 19, 2012, 8:16:51 PM

Evrett37 wrote:
I just started The Lost Fleet: Dauntless and I'm enjoying it. Every by David Gemmell is eh except Knights of the Dark Renown, a stand alone which really could have been his opus if he turned it into a series

Oh, I loved all of Gemmell's books. In my opinion his best were those in the Troy Trilogy. Historical fiction set before, during, and briefly after the Trojan War, with some very interesting portrayals of characters and religions of the time. I prefer it even over the Iliad, to be honest, and I'm a Classics major.

Evrett37

Newcomer

Evrett37

Newcomer

12 years ago

Jun 19, 2012, 7:40:50 PM

I just started The Lost Fleet: Dauntless and I'm enjoying it. Every by David Gemmell is eh except Knights of the Dark Renown, a stand alone which really could have been his opus if he turned it into a series

VIPFinalStrigon

Sheredyn

VIPFinalStrigon

Sheredyn

33 000g2g pts

12 years ago

Jun 18, 2012, 2:04:23 PM

Sci-Fi:

The Lost Fleet series, by Jack Campbell (John G. Hemry)

--all I really know in sci-fi right now, but I'm getting ready to start the Heritage Trilogy by Ian Douglass.

Fantasy:

Wheel of Time series, by Robert Jordan/Brandon Sanderson

The Riftwar Universe trilogies by Raymond E. Feist

Anything ever written by David Gemmell (this guy is probably my favorite fantasy author)

Other:

Time Rover series, by Jana G. Oliver

--wasn't exactly sure of the genre...Sci-fi? Historical fiction? Urban fantasy? I have no idea...Kind of a blend of the three.

Evrett37

Newcomer

Evrett37

Newcomer

12 years ago

Jun 18, 2012, 1:45:28 PM

Tad Williams' War of the Flowers is excellent..but I'm not a fan of his other works...way too formulaic.

One more for the Fantasy -

Roger Zelazney's Chronicle of Amber series. Get the omnibus.

VIPadder

Old Timer

An eye for an eye leaves the whole world monocular.

VIPadder

Old Timer

25 400g2g pts

12 years ago

Jun 18, 2012, 5:42:56 AM

I enjoy book from the Dune series (F. Herbert)

Books from Stanislaw Lem

Also check out this topic: Click

DeathSarge

Newcomer

DeathSarge

Newcomer

16 800g2g pts

12 years ago

Jun 18, 2012, 5:39:54 AM

Science Fiction

The Jesus Incident by Frank Herbert

The Lazarus Effect by Frank Herbert

The Ascension Factor by Frank Herbert

Ender's Game by Oscar Scott Card

Flowers for Algernon (short story)

Cat's Eye series

Bolo Strike

Otherworld series by Tad Williams

Fantasy

Redwall series (Awwww yeah)

Memory, Sorrow, Thorn series by Tad Williams

Eragon series

Steampunk kinda sorta:

Court of the Air by Stephen Hunt

Kingdom Beneath the Waves by Stephen Hunt

Rise of the Iron Moon by Stephen Hunt

Across the Fire Seas by Stephen Hunt