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Favourite Sci-Fi / Fantasy Books of all time... What's yours?

Discussion in 'General Chat' started by Lizards of Renown, Jun 24, 2020.

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  1. Scalenex
    Slann

    Scalenex Keeper of the Indexes Staff Member

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    When I read the novel of Coraline I almost gave up on writing because I was thinking "I can never write anything this good, so why should I try?"

    The movie was an almost perfect adaptation. A lot of the book is Coraline sorting things out in her head. The movie didn't want to show Coraline talking to herself constantly so they made the side characters more important and more present, so she'd have someone to talk to.
     
    Scalenex, Jul 3, 2020
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  2. Tk'ya'pyk
    Skar-Veteran

    Tk'ya'pyk Well-Known Member

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    My favorite Gaiman book is still Good Omens, with Terry Pratchett.
     
    Tk'ya'pyk, Jul 4, 2020
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  3. Killer Angel
    Slann

    Killer Angel Prophet of the Stars Staff Member

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    Yeah, that is really brilliant.

    And anyway, not strictly a book, but the whole Sandman series should be included. Such a masterpiece...
     
    Killer Angel, Jul 4, 2020
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  4. Lord Agragax of Lunaxoatl
    Slann

    Lord Agragax of Lunaxoatl Eleventh Spawning

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    What history did you study? (Just interested in seeing what periods of history are being taught because I love history but refused to study the GCSE or A-Levels because they were obsessed with the Cold War which is boring as frak :inpain:)
    I certainly am interested, especially if they’re Ancients and Medieval.
     
    Lord Agragax of Lunaxoatl, Jul 4, 2020
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  5. Tk'ya'pyk
    Skar-Veteran

    Tk'ya'pyk Well-Known Member

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    Mostly Medieval Russia/Kievan Rus while in college, though I have spent a lot of time researching the Mediterranean basin during the Medieval and Renaissance eras since then. Some ACW, because as a citizen of the USA it is hard to get away from, some Ancient because backstory is important.

    Ok. Well, if you're interested in a good read, John Julius Norwich has several good texts out. Absolute Monarchy is a study of the papacy, The Other Conquest and Kingdom In The Sun are about the Norman conquest of Sicily, and he did a three volume set on the Eastern Roman Empire (Byzantium) that I highly recommend.
     
    Tk'ya'pyk, Jul 4, 2020
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  6. Warden
    Slann

    Warden Tenth Spawning

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    Lot of great books listed here.

    The two books from this genre I would label as my absolute favorites are:

    venus inc.jpg
    Venus Inc. by Frederick Pohl and CM Kornbluth, and

    fitzpatricks war.jpg
    Fitzpatrick's War by Theodore Judson

    Both fantastic books. First one is a sci-fi book (from 60s-70s) about what would happen if advertising companies took over the world. Second one is an Alexander-the-Great type figure, but with steampunk zeppelin airforces, and is an awesome book on the power of controlling history.

    I have read a ton more and own most of my favorites:
    • Dune series by Frank Herbert
    • Wheel of Time by Robert Jordan
    • Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn by Tad Williams
    • Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy by Douglass Adams
    • Song of Fire and Ice series, I actually read the book (first three before the TV show). Loved the heraldry in them
    • Hobbit and Lord of the Rings
    • Ben Bova planets series

    Also some more "YA" books that I read when younger:

    • Redwall series by Brian Jacques. Favorites were Redwall, Outcast of Redwall, Salamandastron, Martin the Warrior, and Mossflower
    • Harry Potter series by JK Rowling. Favorite book was Goblet of Fire
    • Chronicles of Chrestomanci was a great series about a magical wizard with nine lives
    • Artemis Fowl series
     
    Warden, Jul 5, 2020
    #46
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  7. Imrahil
    Slann

    Imrahil Thirtheenth Spawning

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    I recently watch the Disney movie. I was very dissapointed in het acting and fast 'story-line'.
    I haven't read the books so I can't compare.

    Did you see it?

    Grrr, Imrahil
     
    Imrahil, Jul 5, 2020
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  8. Lizards of Renown
    Slann

    Lizards of Renown Herald of Creation

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    I like your choices too. My list of books to check out is growing at a very respectable rate!
     
    Lizards of Renown, Jul 5, 2020
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  9. Warden
    Slann

    Warden Tenth Spawning

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    Sadly I did not watch it. I didn't have many high hopes for the movie when I heard about it, and then I watched the trailer followed by a review... no thanks.

    There are a ton of great options on this thread, I need to look up some of the titles listed.

    Now that I have had time to actually look at my bookshelf, I noticed forgot a couple:

    • Forgotten War by Joe Haldeman- space military story in the vein of Starship Troopers
    • Ilium and Olympos by Dan Simmons- Greek Gods fighting the Trojan War... in the future and they live on Olympos Mons on Mars
    • The Chanur Saga by CJ Cherryh, humanoid lion-people in space
    • The Journeyor by Gary Jennings- technically "historical fiction" about Marco Polo's adventures
    Someone else already mentioned the Belgariad series by David Eddings and his wife; I really loved Belgarath the Sorceror it is one of my other favorite books. Also enjoyed his Redemption of Althalus.
     
    Warden, Jul 6, 2020
    #49
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  10. Killer Angel
    Slann

    Killer Angel Prophet of the Stars Staff Member

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    ooohhh, i've got one. Fantasy.

    Every single book / short story about Kane, by Karl Edward Wagner.

    he's a anty-hero, inspired to the figure of Cain.
    He is an immortal, cursed to wander the earth until he is destroyed by the violence that he himself has created. He is a well-read and intelligent man who has traveled his world for centuries and is able to discuss music, poetry, politics, and many other subjects…. but he is also highly amoral and a born killer.
     
    Killer Angel, Jul 6, 2020
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  11. Scalenex
    Slann

    Scalenex Keeper of the Indexes Staff Member

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    Reviewers I trust, both those who read Artemis Fowl and those who did not state that the Artemis Fowl movie is among the worst book adaptation movies ever made. I couldn't even find a paid critic to say nice things about the movie. That's why Disney dumped it on their streaming service with little fanfare.
     
    Scalenex, Jul 7, 2020
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  12. ASSASSIN_NR_1
    Carnasaur

    ASSASSIN_NR_1 Well-Known Member

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    Hmm, I guess my favorites are:
    - The Witcher Books
    - The Inheritance Cycle
    - The Ranger's Apprentice
    Of those I'd probably rank the The Ranger's Apprentice books as my absolute favorites, not because they are necessarily the best objectively, but I just really enjoy the characters.
     
    ASSASSIN_NR_1, Jul 7, 2020
    #52
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  13. Padre
    Stegadon

    Padre Well-Known Member

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    Most of my favorites are already listed. Tolkien and Lewis, Eddings. But I'll add a couple others.
    Anything by David Drake. The Hammers Slammers series is some of the best Mil-SF out there.
    David Weber's fantasy series. (Oath of Swords, The War God's Own, Wind Rider's Oath) It's a good high fantasy series with some unique twists. The latest book is a lot darker, fyi. Also, his Safehold series is excellent.
    Almost anything by John Ringo. Mostly SF and near future mil-sf. The Prince Roger series (March Upcountry, etc.) which he co-wrote with Weber is a good coming of age story.
    Anything by Lois McMaster Bujold. She is one of the best writers of this generation and is high in the list of best writers out there period. Even her romance series is better than 90% of what you can find on the market today.
    I can list others if needed.
     
    Padre, Jul 8, 2020
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  14. Lizards of Renown
    Slann

    Lizards of Renown Herald of Creation

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    Just finished Book 1 of Rage of Dragons by Evan Winter.

    Would recommend this.

    Is a fantasy novel set in an African-like country with some powerful messages of hard-work, determination and dragons!
     
    Lizards of Renown, Sep 16, 2020
    #54
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  15. WildColonial Boy
    Salamander

    WildColonial Boy Well-Known Member

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    The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings – JRR Tolkien
    This was and always will be a fantasy classic. Had to read The Hobbit at High School back in the 70's and this lead to my mates and I reading LOTR

    A Song of Ice and Fire series – George RR Martin
    I started reading this when the first TV episode was released. I couldnt get through it quick enough. The books are far far better than the series

    The Dune Series – Robert Heinlein
    Again another classic.

    Lensman series – EE Doc Smith
    Classic sci-fi

    Foundation series – Isaac Asimov
    It will be interesting to see how many people pick up this old classic now that the Netflix? series is coming out.

    The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant the Unbeliever - Stephen R. Donaldson
    Thomas is the epitome of an anti-hero. These books draw you in to a unique fantasy world. However when I tried to re-read them years later I struggled with Donaldson's style

    The Gap Cycle - Stephen R. Donaldson.
    Donaldson's venture into space. Again unique.

    Gone series – Michael Grant
    I picked the first book up by accident. I think they were written for young adults (teens) but I was overwhelmed by the whole concept and couldn't get enough of the story.
     
    WildColonial Boy, Sep 20, 2020
    #55
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  16. Tk'ya'pyk
    Skar-Veteran

    Tk'ya'pyk Well-Known Member

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    A History of Venice, by John Julius Norwich. I know it is history, but I happen to find it fascinating.
     
    Tk'ya'pyk, Sep 21, 2020
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  17. Lizards of Renown
    Slann

    Lizards of Renown Herald of Creation

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    So I poo-poo'd JK Rowling writing as Robert Galbraith for ages, ignoring my wife trying to get me started on them (as I loved the Harry Potter series).

    Finally started reading the first one a couple of weeks ago and have binge read the five existing books.

    Would highly recommend.

    Obviously completely different genre to HP, but I like me a good murder mystery.
     
    Lizards of Renown, Oct 28, 2020
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  18. Imrahil
    Slann

    Imrahil Thirtheenth Spawning

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    And of course in hindsight you gave here credit for this? :p

    Grrr, Imrahil
     
    Imrahil, Oct 28, 2020
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  19. Lizards of Renown
    Slann

    Lizards of Renown Herald of Creation

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    Of course I gave her credit for getting me onto these... (because I want to continue to sleep in our bed).
     
    Lizards of Renown, Oct 28, 2020
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  20. ravagekitteh
    Skink Chief

    ravagekitteh Well-Known Member

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    That’s great, but if anyone else is going to get them, I would recommend doing so second hand. Given JK Rowling’s recent bouts of transphobia, the last thing anyone needs is to be giving her any money or support, even if it is indirectly.
     
    ravagekitteh, Oct 28, 2020
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