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Sci-Fi/Fantasy Recommendation & Discussion Thread

Posted on 12/7/18 at 5:34 pm
Posted by Sneaky__Sally
Member since Jul 2015
12364 posts
Posted on 12/7/18 at 5:34 pm
After looking for some sci-fi / fantasy recommendations, I figure it may be good to have a running thread for people looking for recommendations or discussing some of the series that pop up every few weeks.

We should probably try to mark any spoilers and avoid anything too spoilery when discussing series, but if you haven't read something - just be careful about reading too far.

Some of the stuff I've read and loved include:

Lotr
Wheel of time
Malazan
Lies of Locke/ gentleman bastards
Foundation series
Mistborn
Three body problem
Faithful and the fallen
Dark tower
American gods
Black company

Probably some others I havent mentioned. Trying to get a list together cause I am better about reading regularly if I have a backlog of good recommendations - I'm sure there are some must read books/ series I've overlooked.

I'm more open to fantasy but really loved the foundation and three body problem series so could definitely branch out into more sci fi that is on that level.
This post was edited on 12/26/18 at 11:31 am
Posted by PillageUrVillage
Mordor
Member since Mar 2011
14838 posts
Posted on 12/7/18 at 6:10 pm to
I’m thinking about starting either the Stormlight Archive series (Brandon Sanderson), Kingkiller Chronicles (Rothfuss), or The Wakening series (Jonathan Renshaw) next.

The only downside is none of those series are complete, and The Wakening only has one book out (Dawn of Wonder).

How was Wheel of Time? It’s 12 books, right? I might start sprinkling some of those in. Or maybe just put my nose down and read all of them back to back.
Posted by auyushu
Surprise, AZ
Member since Jan 2011
8606 posts
Posted on 12/8/18 at 12:08 am to
In no particular order for some of the best fantasy series I've read in recent years that you didn't mention in your post:

Michael J Sullivan- Riyria series
Joe Abercrombie- First Law trilogy and stand alones
N K Jemison- Broken Earth trilogy
John Hornor Jacobs- Incorruptibles series
Miles Cameron- Traitor Son Cycle
Alec Hutson- The Crimson Queen and Silver sorceress
Brent Weeks- Nightangel and Lightbringer series
Matthew Woodring Stover- Acts of Caine series
Kevin Hearne- Iron Druid series
Jim Butcher- Dresden Files series
Mark Lawrence- Broken Empire, Red Queen's War series
Brian McClellan- Powder Mage series
Django Wexler- Shadow Campaigns series
Brian Staveley- Chronicles of the Unhewn Throne
Rob J Hayes- everything
Sebastian de Castell- The Greatcoats series and spellslinger series
David A Wells- Sovereign of the seven isles series
Will Wight- Cradle series
Paul Kearney- Monarchies of God series, Macht series
Chris Wooding- Tales of the Ketty Jay series
Peter Flannery- Battle Mage
M L Wang- the sword of Kaigen
Drew Hayes-(pretty much everything)
Craig Schaefer-start with Daniel Faust
Dyrk Ashton-Paternus trilogy
J Zachary Pike- Dark profit saga
Mike Shel- Iconoclast trilogy
Patrick Samphire-Shadow of a Dead god
James Islington-licanius trilogy
Larry Corriea-Monster hunter series
Evan Winter-rage of dragons series
Jay Kristoff-Nevernight chronicles
Benedict Jacka-Alex Versus series
Jonathon French-the grey bastards
Fonda Lee-green bone saga
Nicholas Eames-The band series
Phil Tucker-black gate Chronicles
This post was edited on 9/27/21 at 11:23 pm
Posted by thatguy45
Your alter's mom's basement
Member since Sep 2017
18897 posts
Posted on 12/8/18 at 2:38 am to
Scifi
The Robot books - Asimov (assuming you didn't read them with foundation)
Ring World and the Ringworld Engineers - Niven
Starship Troopers - Heinlein
The Forever war - Joe Haldeman
Armor - John Steakley
Space Viking - H Beam Piper
The City and the Stars - Arthur C. Clarke (actually just finished this one. Was interesting)

Fantasy
The Hour of the Dragon - Robert E Howard
Conan short stories - Robert E. Howard
The Silmarillion - Tolkien
A song of ice and fire - Martin (don't know if youd count this as close to done though)


If youre a star wars fan, the Thrawn trilogy is pretty good.
This post was edited on 12/8/18 at 2:45 am
Posted by Tigris
Mexican Home
Member since Jul 2005
12411 posts
Posted on 12/8/18 at 7:32 am to
The Great Book of Amber - Zelazny
Posted by ecb
Member since Jul 2010
9359 posts
Posted on 12/8/18 at 8:39 am to
Are we to assume you have read all the classics already? Heinlen, Vonnegut, Asimov?
Posted by ecb
Member since Jul 2010
9359 posts
Posted on 12/8/18 at 8:53 am to
The sparrow and children of God by Mary Russell are very different sci fi books
Posted by Maytheporkbewithyou
Member since Aug 2016
12665 posts
Posted on 12/8/18 at 5:32 pm to
I read the Back to Normal series by Randy McWilson a couple of months ago. That was a really good 4 book series.

Just finished up the Gideon Crew series by Preston and Child. That was a really good series too.

I'm going to start the Agent Pendergast series by Preston and Child next week. Book one is The Relic which had a movie based off of it in the 90s.
Posted by boxcarbarney
Above all things, be a man
Member since Jul 2007
22822 posts
Posted on 12/8/18 at 7:49 pm to
If you haven't read it yet, give the Dune series a try. Read only the original Frank Herbert books.
Posted by OldTigahFot
Drinkin' with the rocket scientists
Member since Jan 2012
10502 posts
Posted on 12/8/18 at 9:25 pm to
Anything by Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle including The Mote in God's Eye and The Gripping Hand, Lucifer's Hammer and many more.

The Elric of Melnibone series by Michael Moorcock.

All of the Chronicles of Amber by Zelazney

Posted by theGarnetWay
Washington, D.C.
Member since Mar 2010
25904 posts
Posted on 12/10/18 at 10:23 am to
I really enjoyed the Red Rising series. It was originally a trilogy but a second trilogy that is a direct sequel is in the works - the first book of that second trilogy (Iron Gold) has already been published and the 2nd installment is due for 2019 I believe.

Definitely targeted to younger readers, but there were times when I couldn't put the books down.
This post was edited on 12/10/18 at 10:27 am
Posted by Spaceman Spiff
Savannah
Member since Sep 2012
17583 posts
Posted on 12/13/18 at 2:25 pm to
The Conan series
Posted by SundayFunday
Member since Sep 2011
9322 posts
Posted on 12/18/18 at 3:30 pm to
Three Body Problem

Posted by Centinel
Idaho
Member since Sep 2016
43432 posts
Posted on 12/19/18 at 8:02 am to
Since I didn't see this one listed:

Memory, Sorrow, Thorn by Tad Williams

I also second the Riyria Chronicles.

Based on your book list, we seem to like the same type of fantasy so I highly recommend the above two for you.
Posted by Skeezer
Member since Apr 2017
2296 posts
Posted on 12/22/18 at 3:38 pm to
The moon is a harsh mistress.
Posted by scrooster
Resident Ethicist
Member since Jul 2012
37906 posts
Posted on 12/22/18 at 10:28 pm to
The Martian Chronicles.
Posted by llfshoals
Member since Nov 2010
15571 posts
Posted on 1/7/19 at 4:59 pm to
Safehold series by Dave Weber. Off Armageddon Reef is the first book.

I have read a lot of sci-fi/fantasy in my years, but this series is the best I have run across.

John Ringo’s Black Tide Rising series is excellent also.
Posted by JawjaTigah
Bizarro World
Member since Sep 2003
22511 posts
Posted on 1/16/19 at 9:29 am to
What I don't want is to get into a series, if I can help it. So I prefer stand alones when they are available. Two good recents for me were THE MARTIAN and ARTEMIS (same author).
Posted by IceTiger
Really hot place
Member since Oct 2007
26584 posts
Posted on 1/18/19 at 2:59 am to
To add, I've read most of the stuff in this thread...F&E is one of my favorite reads...

But, if you care to delve into the 40kverse, I highly recommend ADB's Night Lords trilogy. The books are: Soul Hunter, Blood Reaver, and Void Stalker and come in an Omnibus.

I've read a bunch of 40k novels, and this series is the best. There are other stand outs, but this beats them...

It's is about a squad of space marine supermen one by one being slowly corrupted by the demons they mingle with...while the main character deals with his psychic visions guiding their path.

Posted by Porcine Human
Fayetteville, Arkansas
Member since Feb 2016
11225 posts
Posted on 2/5/19 at 3:07 pm to
Dune
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