I read a lot of fantasy and sci fi, as I'm sure many here at this forum do as well. So I wanted to start a thread where people could post fantasy and sci fi series that they would recommend to others. I'll start off with one of my favorites, The Dresden Files by Jim Butcher. The series is a contemporary fantasy that recounts the adventures of Harry Dresden, a sort of combo wizard and private detective based in Chicago, who faces off against werewolves, vampires, faeries, ghosts and Lovecraftian entities to various degrees throughout the 15 book series. I like how Dresden as a character has a very "every man" feel to him, which I think allows the character to resonate with readers of the series.
Love the Dresden Files! I am a big fan of the Rivers of London series of books and comics - well worth a look if you like Harry Dresden. The first book of the same name: 'The novel centres around the adventures of Peter Grant, a young officer in the Met Police ; who, following an unexpected encounter with a ghost, is recruited into the small branch of the Met that deals with magic and the supernatural.' Also, you can't go wrong with a bit of Dune!
Cool idea! Top picks: Venus, Inc. by Frederik Pohl and C.M. Kornbluth (advertising takes over the world in the not-so-far future) Fitzpatrick's War by Theodore Judson (history of a futuristic, steampunk-zepplin Alexander-the-Great/Caesar) Dune by Frank Herbert Other close contenders: Belgarath the Sorcerer by David Eddings (fantasy series, easier to read than LOTR) Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams (the book not the movie) Illium by Dan Simmons (sci-fi space meets the Siege of Troy) The Journeyer by Gary Jennings (historical fiction about Marco Polo's journey) Dragonbone Chair by Tad Williams (first book in a fantasy series) More great series that I have read include Robert Jordans Wheel of Time and Martin's Song of Ice and Fire. I also liked Ben Bova's "planet-series" when I was younger. And Harry Potter
It depends on what your tastes in Sci-fi and Fantasy are. Tolkien is always good. So is C.S. Lewis. George MacDonald has long been regarded as one of the best of the Victorians, along with Lord Dunsany. Neil Gaiman, of course. Lois McMaster Bujold is regarded as one of the current masters of the genre. David Drake, David Weber, and John Ringo are some of the best out there in Military Sci-fi. Timothy Zahn. I can probably list a few more, but that should give you a couple years worth of reading material right there.
Don’t forget H.G Wells with the masterpiece known as the War of the Worlds (which still hasn’t had an accurate film made of it). Also I would recommend the Redwall series as a fantasy series and also Black Library (of course), from which I’ve started reading the Dwarfs omnibus by Gav Thorpe and Nick Kyme.
To keep this rolling, I gotta mention Douglas Adams. I'm not going to suggest just one of his books cause I've enjoyed everything of his that I've read. A few years back, I read The Hammer And The Blade by Paul S. Kemp, the first of the Egil and Nix series. I would recommend it as a sort of sword and sorcery homage to Fafhrd and the Grey Mouser and similar works.
Lately I'm not a huge fan of fantasy series, but... The gentlemen bastards, by Scott Linch. Just read it (in order, even if each book got an ending).
Anything by Brandon Sanderson. The Way of Kings is amazing so far, almost finished the third book. The mistborn trilogy is mind blowingly immersive in terms of a fantasy universe - and it has some expanded universe books too.
Could any of you guys recommend something for an eleven year old boy, Archie has read Harry Potter and a few others, not quite ready for LOTR or the Hobbit.
Percy Jackson? Maybe also an unusual steampunk as the trilogy leviathan - behemoth - goliath by Scott Westerfeld
I understand not wanting to let him read LotR yet but the Hobbit should be OK IMO. I haven't read it in a while but it is way less violent than the movies IIRC. ...in fact I am pretty sure I had read it already when I was 11 but of course every child is different. EDIT: Oh, maybe Eragon? Not too violent, I think it may be suitable.
I liked how Brandon Sanderson finished The Wheel of Time series, that I also like to recommend. Marion Zimmer Bradley's Darkover series also contain some great stuff, and so do some others of her books, for example Hunters of the Red Moon. Lately I read some books Peter V. Brett and they had some nice ideas about Magic.
I would definately recommend Redwall (Brian Jacques). I couldn't get enough of it when I was younger, around 5th grade I think? (around 11???) Its a fantasy/medieval series about mice/squirrels/otters/hedghogs/moles/etc set against rats/sloats/ferrets/other sneaky creatures. Hardy Boys was another big mystery series I was addicted to for a while around that age too. Loved the "Hitchhikers" series, I got a full collection book at home. It was a great read, though I didn't understand the part where the universe was basically a giant cricket match (over here we play baseball )
For an eleven year old, The Hobbit isn't too bad. C.S. Lewis' Narnia Chronicles are always good. As others have commented, Redwall is good. My 10 yo nephew is enjoying Percy Jackson right now. I'll try to think of others.
Here a few series I remember fondly that haven't been mentioned yet: The Death Gate Cycle The man-Kizin wars (or anything From Niven) The "Uplift" Universe: by David Brin Pip & Flinx Series by Alan Dean Foster