What Science Fiction/Fantasy books would you recommend to other SFF readers?

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What Science Fiction/Fantasy books would you recommend to other SFF readers?

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Contributor: Ivy Wilde Ivy Wilde
I am a total bookworm. I read lots of different kinds of books, but science fiction/fantasy books are probably my favorites. I'm always looking for new and interesting books and series to read. So I would love to find out what other SFF readers here on EF would recommend.

Here are my recommended books and series (in no particular order):

Vlad Taltos books by Steven Brust (fantasy -- snarky)

The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss (literary fantasy)

Wise Man's Fear by Patrick Rothfuss (literary fantasy)

Chanur books by C. J. Cherryh (science fiction)

The Fionavar Tapestry trilogy by Guy Gavriel Kay (high fantasy)complex and surprising

Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card (science fiction)

The Riddle Master trilogy by Patricia McKillip (epic fantasy)

Od Magic by Patricia McKillip (lyrical fantasy)

Song for the Basilisk by Patricia McKillip (lyrical fantasy)

The Alphabet of Thorn by Patricia McKillip (lyrical fantasy)

Fall of Ile-Rien trilogy by Martha Wells (steampunk fantasy)

The City Not Long After by Pat Murphy (science fiction/magical realism – post apocalyptic)

The Dresden Files books by Jim Butcher (urban fantasy - snarky)

Dragon Bones by Patricia Briggs (fantasy)

Mercedes Thompson books by Patricia Briggs (urban fantasy)

Miles Vorkorsigan books by Lois McMaster Bujold (military science fiction) Most of this series has some humor, but is not exactly hysterical. However, A Civil Campaign had me rolling off the couch.

Valdemar books by Mercedes Lackey (fantasy) Some are better than others, but all are good.

Bride of the Rat God by Barbara Hambly (fantasy mystery)

Dragonsbane by Barbara Hambly (fantasy)

Magician: Apprentice and Magician: Master by Raymond E. Feist (fantasy) His next few books are still good, but his later books go downhill in quality.

War for the Oaks by Emma Bull (urban fantasy)

The Liveship Traders books by Robin Hobb (science fantasy)

The Book of Kells by R. A. MacAvoy (fantasy – Irish history/mythology)
06/24/2011
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Contributor: Chilipepper Chilipepper
The Parasol Protectorate Series by Gail Carriger (paranormal romance steampunk) (All elements I consider fantasy and science fiction.)

The Gods of Light and Darkness by Roger Zelazny (sci-fi/fantasy)

Wyrms by Orson Scott Card (sci-fi/fantasy)

The Number of the Beast by Robert A. Heinlein (sci-fi heavy/fantasy lite)

Most all of my books are in storage, so I know I'm forgetting a lot of titles ...
06/24/2011
Contributor: El-Jaro El-Jaro
Le Guin's Wizard of Earthsea series was good.

Tolkien's Lord of the Rings series, complete with The Hobbit.

R.A. Salvatore's Drizzt works are amazing.

I cannot recommend Christopher Moore enough.
06/24/2011
Contributor: Petite Valentine Petite Valentine
John Scalzi's Old Man's War series
(Old Man's War, The Ghost Brigades, The Last Colony, Zoe's Tale)

Scott Lynch's Gentlemen Bastards series
(The Lies of Loche Lamora, Red Seas Under Red Skies, et al)

George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire series
(A Game of Thrones, A Clash of Kings, A Storm of Swords, A Feast of Crows, et al)
06/24/2011
Contributor: missdizzy missdizzy
I really like the Sword of Truth books.
06/25/2011
Contributor: Cedarlooman Cedarlooman
I like many of the ones already suggested. A couple of fantasy series I like in addition:

Dragonriders of Pern by Anne McCaffrey.

Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time (sprawling story with a big cast, draws a lot on global history and armies to build the nations).

I have heard the Shannara series by terry Brooks is excellent.

Fred Saberhagen's Lost Swords series is a good one I haven't read for a while.
06/26/2011
Contributor: Ivy Wilde Ivy Wilde
Quote:
Originally posted by El-Jaro
Le Guin's Wizard of Earthsea series was good.

Tolkien's Lord of the Rings series, complete with The Hobbit.

R.A. Salvatore's Drizzt works are amazing.

I cannot recommend Christopher Moore enough.
Christopher Moore!!! Yes, I didn't think of him. I loved "A Dirty Job". I guess I just tend to think of him more as a humorous writer rather than an SFF writer.
06/26/2011
Contributor: Chilipepper Chilipepper
I just remembered -

'The Callahan Chronicles' by Spider Robinson (sci-fi) Most wonderful series about a pack of drunks that do everything from being weirdness magnets to saving the universe, all from the comfort of their pub. Although the series does reek with puns.
06/26/2011
Contributor: Noira Celestia Noira Celestia
I love Kim Harrison's Hollows/Rachel Morgan series. They're dark fantasy and if I remember correctly each book has at least one sex scene some more kinky than others. You can read the first chapter of the first book on her website link
06/27/2011
Contributor: Ivy Wilde Ivy Wilde
Quote:
Originally posted by Noira Celestia
I love Kim Harrison's Hollows/Rachel Morgan series. They're dark fantasy and if I remember correctly each book has at least one sex scene some more kinky than others. You can read the first chapter of the first book on her website link ... more
I really enjoy Kim Harrison's books. I met her briefly when she was in Texas for a signing tour.
06/27/2011
Contributor: ss143 ss143
Sword of truth series by Terry Goodkind
Meredeth Gentry series by Laurell K Hamilton
Otherworld Series by Yasmine Galenorm
Novels of the Fading Land by CL Wilson
Black Jewels Series from Anne Bishop
Dark Series by Christine Feehan
Riley Jensen series by Keri Arthur

I could keep going and going but those are some of my fav
06/27/2011
Contributor: Noira Celestia Noira Celestia
Quote:
Originally posted by Ivy Wilde
I really enjoy Kim Harrison's books. I met her briefly when she was in Texas for a signing tour.
I met her once too, she signed my Outlaw Demon Wails book.
06/27/2011
Contributor: UnknownGirl UnknownGirl
American Gods by Neil Gaiman

Actually, anything by Neil Gaiman rocks.
06/27/2011
Contributor: alliegator alliegator
I love it when people start discussion like this; I always get awesome recs Some of these it's been so long since I've read them, but just their mention brings back memories of curling up with them and being completely absorbed, or fangirling them with friends. I second the recs of Mercedes Lackey's Valdemar, Terry Goodkind's Sword of Truth, and Anne Bishop's Black Jewels. The Sword of Shannara by by Terry Brooks was what introduced my to the genre way back in middle school.

Mercedes Lackey and Ellen Guon's Bedlam's Bard
Mercedes Lackey and Andre Norton's Elvenbane
Tanya Huff's Quartered books
Charlaine Harris' Sookie Stackhouse books (what HBO's True Blood is based on)
Frank Herbert's Dune

If you don't mind young adult fiction, or just are feeling nostalgic:
CS Lewis' Chronicles of Narnia
Madeleine L'Engle' A Wrinkle in Time
JK Rowling's Harry Potter
06/28/2011
Contributor: El-Jaro El-Jaro
Quote:
Originally posted by alliegator
I love it when people start discussion like this; I always get awesome recs Some of these it's been so long since I've read them, but just their mention brings back memories of curling up with them and being completely absorbed, or ... more
I wasn't really a big fan of the A Wrinkle in Time in the later books. It got too religious for my tastes.
06/28/2011
Contributor: Ivy Wilde Ivy Wilde
Quote:
Originally posted by alliegator
I love it when people start discussion like this; I always get awesome recs Some of these it's been so long since I've read them, but just their mention brings back memories of curling up with them and being completely absorbed, or ... more
Andre Norton's "Year of the Unicorn" was my introduction to SFF. I still love her books. She was such an inspiration to so many writers in the SFF community. She was the first woman to be awarded Grand Master status from the Science Fiction Writers of America. She also received the Gandalf Award for lifetime achievement in fantasy. She is often referred to as THE Grande Dame of science fiction.

Have you read "Moonsinger's Friends" edited by Susan Shwartz? It's an anthology of short stories put together by some the successful writers that Andre Norton mentored and/or inspired in some way, including: Marion Zimmer Bradley, Diane Duane, Tanith Lee, Poul Anderson, Sandra Miesel, Meredith Ann Pierce, Jayge Carr, Nancy Springer, Anne McCaffrey, C. J. Cherryh, Jo Clayton, Diana Paxson, Judith Tarr, Katherine Kurtz, Jane Yolen and Joan D. Vinge. I know of very few writers who have been honored in this way BEFORE they shuffled off this mortal coil.

As I was re-reading the introduction to "Moonsinger's Friends", I was literally crying. Her books and the ideas of equality and acceptance portrayed in them were such a major influence on creating the person that I am today. I feel guilty for not including any of her books in my recommended list. But her books are aimed at the young adult market, and I'm not sure that adults would appreciate them the way I did when I was growing up.

But for those who don't mind reading young adult fiction, I highly recommend starting with her "Witch World" books.
06/28/2011
Contributor: Ivy Wilde Ivy Wilde
Anyone else have books that they would recommend?
07/19/2011
Contributor: Noira Celestia Noira Celestia
A series that's more for children I got into in elementary school and the last book just came out last year is Bruce Coville's Unicorn Chronicles

Also I do like the Eldest Trilogy (Christopher Paolini) and the Abhorsen Trilogy by Garth Nix
07/19/2011
Contributor: EJ EJ
-Tolkien's Lord of the Rings trilogy
-Rowling's Harry Potter series
-Harris' Sookie Stackhouse series
-Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire series (Game of Thrones)
-Brooks' Sword of Shannara series
-Bradley's The Mist of Avalon
-Stroud's Bartimaeus trilogy
-Gabaldon's Outlander series
10/10/2011
Contributor: AndroAngel AndroAngel
I second Neil Gaiman!

I'd recommend "Neverwhere" by Neil Gaiman and "Good Omens" By Gaiman and Terry Pratchett, especially "Good Omens" because I sincerely believe everyone should read it at least once (even though I never loan out my copy, if you loan out a copy of "Good Omens" you never get it back.)
10/10/2011
Contributor: RonLee RonLee
Replay by Ken Grimwood was quite the page turner. A time-loop concept where a 43-year-old man dies and awakens back in his 18-year-old body with intact memories of the previous 25 years.
10/10/2011
Contributor: Ivy Wilde Ivy Wilde
Quote:
Originally posted by RonLee
Replay by Ken Grimwood was quite the page turner. A time-loop concept where a 43-year-old man dies and awakens back in his 18-year-old body with intact memories of the previous 25 years.
That one sounds really interesting! I'll have to check it out.
10/10/2011
Contributor: Reiyth Reiyth
This is a pretty old thread, but it is a topic near and dear to my heart so I had to pitch in. A lot of my favorites have been mentioned but I will second
Enders Game by Orson Scott Card
The Pern Series by Anne McCaffery
The Valdemar Series by Mercedes Lackey
The Dark Jewels series by Anne Bishop
The Legend of Drizzt Books by R.A Salvadore

These are all books I regularly re-read in my permanent library.

I enjoyed some of Neil Gaiman's books too, but I feel where he really shines is his graphic novels. I love his Sandman series. I own the entire collection, it's fantastic.

I'd also like to add
The Symphony of Ages series by Elizabeth Haydon
The Xanth series (humorous light/ young adult reading) and the Incarnations of Immortality series by Peirs Anthony
06/11/2012
Contributor: Petite Valentine Petite Valentine
Quote:
Originally posted by Reiyth
This is a pretty old thread, but it is a topic near and dear to my heart so I had to pitch in. A lot of my favorites have been mentioned but I will second
Enders Game by Orson Scott Card
The Pern Series by Anne McCaffery
The Valdemar Series ... more
Ender's Game is a great book. I need to read the other three in the series, Speaker for the Dead, Xenocide, and Children of the Mind.
06/12/2012
Contributor: Reiyth Reiyth
Quote:
Originally posted by Petite Valentine
Ender's Game is a great book. I need to read the other three in the series, Speaker for the Dead, Xenocide, and Children of the Mind.
They aren't as good as the original, but are satisfying in that they give you more of the story and where it leads to. Other than the 4 in the original series that you've mentioned there is also 5 more books featuring Bean which are Ender's Shadow, Shadow of the Hegemon, Shadow Puppets, Shadow of the Giant and Shadows in Flight. Of those I've only read the first two, but they are pretty good too.
06/13/2012