Sci-fi/fantasy book recommendations

I actually surprised myself by actually enjoying the Mass Effect series of novels. Well, the first one so far, anyway. Well written for a game tie-in.

So many people have mentioned a great number of excellent series so far. One series I intend to re-read someday is the Ender series. I used to read Ender's Game almost every year as a teenager, but my (paperback) copy is now so beat up I dare not use it for actual reading anymore.

For totally brutal oh-my-god-I-can't-believe-he-went-there post-apocalypse goodness, I'll recommend the "Plague" books by Jeff Carlson. The guy pulls no punches and really makes armageddon seem like a genuinely horrible experience. The series is about the accidental release of a nanophage which consumes every warm-blooded biological thing below 10,000 feet, above which it self-destructs. As you can imagine, this has the nasty effect of wiping out nearly 99% of the world's human population, as well as *more than* 99% of the animals. Only people living near the top of mountains or who happen to be hiking/skiing/backpacking when the machine plague hits survive it. If you were in an airplane when it hit, you're fine... until you land. Then the miniature machines eat you alive.

Not only is it bad enough that everyone you know has been excruciatingly killed by things you can't even see, the plague starts World War 3 between the US, Russia and China because the most precious thing left in the world is the small amount of real estate that's above 10,000 feet.

I just started the 3rd book in the series and once again I can't believe how unflinching Carlson is with his story. He doesn't play favorites with his characters: they're caught in a hellish situation and have to deal with it as best they can.

Pendragon by D.J. MacHale. There are 10 books in total, and I can honestly say it is my favorite series thusfar. I pretty much went down your list and went "Check, check, check.", except maybe for lovecraftian themes, but thats because I haven't read lovecraft.

I'll second The Hunger Games.

The Midnighters by Scott Westerfeld. It is a trilogy. At midnight, for a select group of people, time freezes for a hour. But as you know...evil things lurk in the dark. ...Ok I'm terrible at describing things! But don't let that stop you from reading this trilogy!

Oh oh oh! I almost forgot! The Uglies. This is also a trilogy (Technically there are four books, but I don't like the 4th. And trilogy is easier to say) It takes place sometime in the future, and in this world you or either an Ugly (regular people like us), or a Pretty. Almost everyone is a pretty. Pretties look perfect, no blemishes, no asymetry, absolutely perfect. The main character, a young girl by the name of Tally Youngblood can't wait till the day when she can become a pretty, but things don't always turn out how you think they will.

One of my favorite series starts with this trilogy:

The Farseer Trilogy, by Robin Hobb

Warning: It ain't kittens and fluffy bunnies.

Also, it is 9 books total, and they're LONG books to boot.

But I really liked it.

Also, if you're into science fiction at all, you have to read The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy and all of its sequels. For many, many reasons. DOO EET.

Based on your description, Mr_Squid, it sounds like you may enjoy some of China Mieville's stuff, particularly Perdido Street Station or The Scar.

I just finished Ex-Heroes (superheroes and zombies) that is a fun read.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Smersh The Jhereg series, Steven Brust. A professional assassin who takes down wizards. Many of the books are great swashbucklers, though there is at least one major dud in the series.

I'll echo this - been reading this series since it started in the 80s - Brust is one of my favorite authors, because few people can manage dialogue as well as he does. (And I do not know which of these could be called a dud?) He has several others in the same setting.

I had to look it up...

But Athyra was absolutely awful.

Hey Mr. Squid. I like your taste in fiction!

I would give The Dresden Files by Jim Butcher a shot. It is a modern fantasy series about a Wizard living in Chicago who supports himself as a Private Investigator. Sounds cheesy (and it kinda is at first) but it is a fantastic series. The fantasy world Butcher explores in the series is very rich. Demons, Vampires, Cops, Wizards, Necromancers, Werewolves, Faeries, Archangels, Chicago Gangsters etc. Lots and Lots of very cool magical and paranormal action (and a good dose of gunplay too.)

The 13th book in the series comes out in March. And apparently he has something like 12 more planned.

And the Seventh law of magic in the series is; "Thou shalt not seek beyond the Outer Gates." So there is a small (yet to be explored in depth) Lovecraft element.

And a personal note, I have a tattoo of Cthulu on my leg. Then I had a dream about Cthulu not long ago. I told my girlfriend why this means the end of the world and she just rolled her eyes at me. It's hard being a geek.

Edit: I second the Dark Tower series. My all time favorite series and inspiration for one of my other literary tattoos.

The Quantum Thief. Best sci-fi book I've read in absolute ages. It's a great, great book.

Although I've heard it's not due for release Stateside for a while and I can't find it on Kindle.

In the meantime Iain M Banks books if you're looking for a highly detailed setting. Start at the beginning (although I didn't, I started with The Player of Games). His latest, Surface Detail is excellent, but you want to read the older ones first (Consider Phlebas is the first).

*Edit, ooops, just spotted that you've already started on them. I've just started reading The Wind-up girl which is available on Kindle. So far I'm enjoying it, but its early days.