Book recommendations

Post by **Eldo** » Sat May 13, 2006 12:06 pm

Libaax wrote:Still it isnt good for him that most people feel like "what the hell is crap" after reading it.

Yeah, I do think that Da Vinci Code is completely overrated, perhaps I had too much high hopes for it and proclaimed it a bible. It was an enjoyable experience, but I was a bit disappointed as well, the relatively simplistic writing ruined a bit for me. I think it'll be good for him since he's sleeping with a huge pile of money beneath his pillow.

Now, Douglas Adams...all his books are equally as enjoyable, with the same level of humour throughout each books. I don't think there was a book I did not enjoy. Dirk Gently is simply one of the best books of all time.

Post by **Wandering_Mystic** » Sat May 13, 2006 1:56 pm

I just wanted to second Eldo's recommendation on the Neil Gaiman books. Especially if you're looking for some mix of adventure and comedy. Good story, and plenty of dark humor (and goofy humor too in Anasi Boys)

Post by **Libaax** » Sat May 13, 2006 6:48 pm

Eldo wrote:
Libaax wrote:Still it isnt good for him that most people feel like "what the hell is crap" after reading it.
Yeah, I do think that Da Vinci Code is completely overrated, perhaps I had too much high hopes for it and proclaimed it a bible. It was an enjoyable experience, but I was a bit disappointed as well, the relatively simplistic writing ruined a bit for me. I think it'll be good for him since he's sleeping with a huge pile of money beneath his pillow.

Now, Douglas Adams...all his books are equally as enjoyable, with the same level of humour throughout each books. I don't think there was a book I did not enjoy. Dirk Gently is simply one of the best books of all time.

I read the first Gently book its so diffrent in a great and fresh way. How is the second one? Better ? I must read it.

Post by **Killfile** » Sat May 13, 2006 10:43 pm

While the Holy Blood Holy Grail v Di Vinci Code thread would be fun - that's not what's up here.

On that note: read Holy Blood Holy Grail if you think Brown can't write but the ideas are cool.

My book recomendations:

Neil Stephenson - Everything he's written. Man's a genious.
Arthur C. Clarke - Also a genious. Fountains of Paradise is one of his less well known but most facinating works.
Peter F. Hamilton - The Reality Disfunction (Part 1) begins a six part series which is VERY cool.
Orson Scot Card - Ender's Game is great, but the rest of the series sucks. After Ender's Game check out the Shadow series which is still in progress.

Post by **SarahofBorg** » Sun May 14, 2006 2:07 am

I decided against Tarzan, it doesn't seem as intelligent as I hoped.
I love classic books from the 1800s, especially gothic horror and scifi. I've read Dracula, Frankenstien, Moby Dick, everything by Jules Verne and HG Wells.

I was hoping to find a decent Lord Ruthven story, but I can't even find the original.

Any suggestions?

Post by **Libaax** » Mon Jun 05, 2006 10:03 pm

I just finished reading Foundation's Edge the fourth book in the series.

It made me admire Asimov even more cause its the most perfect book i have read full of refereshing imagination,amazing dialogues,characters,wonderful world.

The first book i have read where there wasnt even one part of the book that was dull which is remarklable specially for a sci fi who is full of jibberish.

The best written book of the all the books i have read.

I started reading Foundation and Earth the last book.

After that im gonna start reading Robot series,im sure they are great maybe not as Foundation but still.

Post by **ryusenka** » Tue Jun 06, 2006 4:53 am

Anyone have any books they can recommend to me over the summer break? I like reading novels, they beat 50+ hr long RPGs any day. Most of these books look good and I looked them up at the public library, but they don't have summaries of their stories.

Post by **SarahofBorg** » Tue Jun 06, 2006 5:31 am

One day I was walking along and I saw a pile of books with a sign that said "free."
The only decent book was Dr. Jekyl and Mr. Hyde, so I grabbed it and read it. Loved it. Much deeper than I expected. Has a lot to say about the duality of man.
Need...more...boooooks....

Post by **Libaax** » Tue Jun 06, 2006 10:22 am

ryusenka wrote:Anyone have any books they can recommend to me over the summer break? I like reading novels, they beat 50+ hr long RPGs any day. Most of these books look good and I looked them up at the public library, but they don't have summaries of their stories.

I woud recomend the first Foundation book you can find summaries if you just search after the book in google.

If you want thriller i would recomend John Rain books by Barry Eisler.

Post by **Loeviz** » Tue Jun 06, 2006 10:38 am

If you like Fantasy I strongly recommend Robin Hobbs "The Assassins Apprentice". I recommend all her books actually but start with this trilogy and I promise you wont get disappointed one bit

I also recommend Terry Goodkinds books

Post by **Libaax** » Tue Jun 06, 2006 10:45 am

Oooh i love assasins can you give me a short summary?

Post by **Vicissitude** » Tue Jun 06, 2006 4:34 pm

I'm in the middle of R A Salvatore's Dark Elf books. Sure, it's Dungeons and Dragons, but he does a damn good job of putting together excellent characters and a great story. I'm about to start the War of the Spider Queen series.

Also, why has nobody recommended anything by H P Lovecraft?

Post by **ddem1** » Tue Jun 06, 2006 4:50 pm

The complete Amber series by Roger Zelazny. It's great fun with a good story , characters and tons of twists.

Zelazny rules

Post by **Khelegond** » Tue Jun 06, 2006 5:22 pm

Hmmm...curiously, never saw any mention to J.R.R. Tolkien. His works are the most beatifull fantasy stories I ever read, with special compliments do Silmarillion.

Now...someone said Tom Clancy - you forgot Rainbow Six.
Crichton is good, Dune is great, Asimov rules...

Dan Brown it's a marketing tool, not a writer. I mean, his book draws you into it, but...c'mon, it's fiction! I think he's overrated.

But what I'm quite fond of now is Bernard Cornwell's books.

Sharpe's books, the Artur trilogy, the Archer trilogy, Gallows Thief...everything is perfect. You love his characters, you love the story, and you get quite interested in history of battles. Great if you, like me, love war and strategies. And just to end this comment...Sun Tzu's Art of War.

Tue Jun 06, 2006 5:32 pm

Sun Tzu's Art of War is probably the best book about war tactics :
it shows why,even if you are the ruler of the world,you must never go on the fight too long and why destroying completly an ennemy is a sure way to be defeated later.

Post by **Loeviz** » Tue Jun 06, 2006 9:36 pm

Libaax wrote:Oooh i love assasins can you give me a short summary?

Ok the short summary is the following:
The main character Fitz gets dropped of by his mom at the castle where his father is staying. His father is the next in line to be the king and since Fitz is a bastard son outside of his marriage his father forfeits his kingdom to be and leaves Fitz with his closest man to raise him.
When he gets older the king (his grand father) brings forth a proposal that if he undergoes an assassins training he will let him stay in the castle forever. Because they are of the same blood he will never ponder over if his assassin is being loyal or not towards the crown. So basically he begins his training and gets a few missions.
Fitz being a bastard brings a few surprises later on in the story

I promise you that.

Post by **halfnhalf** » Tue Jun 06, 2006 10:20 pm

if you havent, read the Bourne series. This is what the movie was based off of. The books are great.

Post by **Libaax** » Tue Jun 06, 2006 11:19 pm

Loeviz wrote:
Libaax wrote:Oooh i love assasins can you give me a short summary?
Ok the short summary is the following:
The main character Fitz gets dropped of by his mom at the castle where his father is staying. His father is the next in line to be the king and since Fitz is a bastard son outside of his marriage his father forfeits his kingdom to be and leaves Fitz with his closest man to raise him.
When he gets older the king (his grand father) brings forth a proposal that if he undergoes an assassins training he will let him stay in the castle forever. Because they are of the same blood he will never ponder over if his assassin is being loyal or not towards the crown. So basically he begins his training and gets a few missions.
Fitz being a bastard brings a few surprises later on in the story I promise you that.

Its sounds kewl its a series right? Which book do i start with?

Is Assasins Apprentice the name of the first book or the series?

Post by **ryusenka** » Tue Jun 06, 2006 11:21 pm

I'm starting to see why you guys all suggested Asimov, I'm half-way through I, Robot and I'm loving it so far. I curse at the movie for making me think the book was overrated and leaving it on my bookshelf for a year.

Post by **Libaax** » Tue Jun 06, 2006 11:37 pm

The Rule of Robotics: Rule nr.1 Never judge a book by its movie version

Post by **Loeviz** » Wed Jun 07, 2006 12:35 pm

Libaax wrote: Its sounds kewl its a series right? Which book do i start with?

Is Assasins Apprentice the name of the first book or the series?

"The Farseer Trilogy" Swedish "Berättelsen om fjärrskådarna".

Volume 1 Assassin's Apprentice
Volume 2 Royal Assassin
Volume 3 Assassin's Quest

Enjoy

Post by **Libaax** » Wed Jun 07, 2006 12:44 pm

Tackar for all info

By the way have you read Foundation if not? There isnt a better book in the world to recomend for any book reader.

Post by **Loeviz** » Wed Jun 07, 2006 12:53 pm

No havent read that one actually. Gonna look it up right away

Edit: Just read about it, and well I ordered it right away

haha
by the way, how many books are there in total in the series? Ive found 7 books so far

Post by **Libaax** » Wed Jun 07, 2006 1:04 pm

You find them very cheap about 100 kr in pocket form in Svenska Bokhandeln oir Sci Fi Bokhandeln.

The main series are 5 books then there are a prequal and one that comes after the series.

This are the ones are really part of the story and this order. I have all of them but the first two in pocket form.

Foundation
Foundation and Empire
Second Foundation
Foundation's Edge
Foundation and Earth

The prequal is Prelude to Foundation and the last book is Forward Foundation.

You know Foundation is the only series in history that have won The best Novel series ever award. I mean a real book award not a mag award that some readers vote.

Which is cool they made the award only for this series in 1966.

Foundation is series i hope none ever makes a movie of cause its way too complex for Hollywood. You will why they cant make movie out of it when you read it.

My top ten fav books.

1.Foundation's Edge
2.Foundation and Empire
3.Foundation
4.Second Foundation
5._____
6.Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy
7.Count of Monte Cristo
8.Rain Storm
9.Rain Falls
10.Hard Rain

P.S Foundation and Earth has a reserved place cause im reading it right now. It will surely be my nr.1 cause so far its better than Foundation's Edge

Post by **MsNomer** » Thu Jun 08, 2006 3:22 am

If you are going for light, amusing, entertaining, and funny with a plot that moves right along... I would go with any of the diskworld novels. You don't need to read them in any specific order and while they will make you think, it will not be about anything earth shattering... How seriously can you take a world that is flat, round and riding on the back of a giant turtle resting on the backs of 4 elephants travelling through space? You just might laugh though.