book recommendations (stuff i can find in my local library rather than the bookstore)

[Sleepy Weasel]

and of course, anything recommending my rog should be read without question.

Sometimes it pays off to question him though. I'll help you out.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/AS...964403-1823826

P.S. Hi conc. How's WoW going? How about a ss reunion tour?

[ConcreteSchlyrd]

Hey homey. Yeah, I might make a slight return to the spaceship game for a little bit. Been thinking about it, but WoW and the little woman have been taking up a majority of my time (well, outside of work, but you know how that is).

[Reclusion]

If you like nonfiction, check out Tony Horwitz. "Confederates in the Attic" is an entertaining read if you have any interest in Civil War memory. Even if you don't, the stories are well written and funny. The guy knows his stuff.

Oh yeah, Nick Hornby's "High Fidelity" is a good read, too... like someone said.

[Rion.]

I haven't read the rest of the thread I admit, but William Gibson's Neuromancer is absolutely incredible.

Read Chapter One.

Here is the novel that started it all, launching the cyberpunk generation, and the first novel to win the holy trinity of science fiction: the Hugo Award, the Nebula Award and the Philip K. Dick Award. With Neuromancer, William Gibson introduced the world to cyberspace--and science fiction has never been the same.

[Morgan]

I haven't read the rest of the thread I admit, but William Gibson's Neuromancer is absolutely incredible.

Read Chapter One.

Here is the novel that started it all, launching the cyberpunk generation, and the first novel to win the holy trinity of science fiction: the Hugo Award, the Nebula Award and the Philip K. Dick Award. With Neuromancer, William Gibson introduced the world to cyberspace--and science fiction has never been the same.

Pattern Recognition is an amazing, albeit non-science fiction book by Gibson.
I reccommend any Gibson book, I've read most of them. Mona Lisa Overdrive, Virtual Light, Idoru, All Tommorows Parties, Burning Chrome, and Count Zero.

I think that's all of them.

[1ight]

Oo oo! Teh Bible, try that one!

offtopix: Rion - Noir, <3

[Darkmoor]

For fantasy books I would recommend everything by Raymond E. Feist (including those few with co-authors as well). If you begin to read them, it would be good to read them all in a chronological order.

Dune series by Frank Herbert if you like sci-fi. The 3 'House' books by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson are also good. But the new Legends of Dune trilogy is shit. Also the Babylon 5 books are good if you liked the series.

Any book by James Clavell, like Shogun, Noble House, Tai Pan etc. Could also add some by Eric Van Lustbader, Ninja for example.

A mention of the NUMA guy Clive Cussler as well. Usually quality stuff.

[Pressure Drop]

The Hitch Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy - by Douglas Adams

My favourite book - warning don't read on a buss you'll be laughing and ppl will think your crazy
Its great comedy sci-fi and even if you don't like sci-fi bits, the comedy is more about life itself so its for everyone.



Red Dwarf (Omnibus: Infinity Welcomes Careful Drivers & Better Than Life) - by Grant Naylor (actualy grant naylor is 2 ppl)

Again comedy sci-fi, if you ever saw the early series of red dwarf and liked them then read these books, they are similar but its a good read and brings back memories and made me laugh. though i read it about 10-5 years ago so my memory is hazy.



Catch-22 - byJoseph Heller

Man this is one fucked up book! Its great and you have no idea what is going to happen next
Its about world war 2 from a made up italian island, and follows the main character yosarin (spelt wrong) as he tries to get out of the war and it is a satire on how crazy the system and war is. At least i whink it was , it also made me laugh



Rendezvous with Rama - by Arthur C. Clarke (the dude who did 2001 a space oddessy )

If your really into Sci-Fi then this is some of the best stuff. When i was younger i was and read all the Rama books (think there were 3) and although they've blended in to one hazy book in my memory, i remember i liked them . There where some good concepts in them and made you think about the greater univierse rather than our own little world.



A Brief History of Time: From the Big Bang to Black Holes -by Stephen Hawking


if you want your brain to hurt try to get some of these concepts into your head. If you liked Physics at school or spent many a night thinking but surely if a big bang created equal amounts of matter anti-matter, like it should have done, wouldn't the universe simply annilate itself ? Then read this book (btw can't remember if it dealt with that issue or not)

Lord of the rings
Fantasy no point me saying anything about this one.

[tahkis]

..."A song of Fire and Ice" series (currently 3 books, he's working on the 4th) by George R. R. Martin is much better. The first book is called "A Game of Thrones". Everyone I know who has read both series agrees with me on this. It's fantasy, but trust me it's really good.

My friend just recommend Georges books to me. And of course I'm about to order that series now.

[bloodzombie]

little woman have been taking up a majority of my time .

I don't know how you can call a 327 pound woman "little" with a straight face.


Also books... I went through a Clive Barker phase a few years ago. I really like his his books, they're sort of a horror fantasy mix. The Great and Secret Show is a fantastic book.

[Ewan]

I know you said you want fresh stuff, but I'm just going to list books I have read and enjoyed, some of which come under what people would call Classics.

1984 - George Orwell
Was a great read, definitely got me engrossed and it's not too long.

Space Odyssey series (2001, 2010, 2061 and 3001) - Arthur C Clark
A great set of books, again got me completly engrossed. All four books are quite small so don't expect to spend ages on these. 2010 was my favourite, and I must admit, 3001 was a bit of a disappointment.

Halo series
I know books from a video game aren't generally that good, but these three were all a surprisingly good read. The first and last are nicely written and the middle (written by a different author) is good, but seems hasty at times.

Foundation Series - Isaac Asimov
I'm only half way through the second of 5 in this series, but what I've read so far I've enjoyed. I haven't read his robot stuff, but that is also very good according to my Mum.

Jack Ryan series - Tom Clancy (e.g. Hunt For Red October, Clear and Present Danger).
You've probably seen some of these on film (And probably read some too), I'd say the books are 10x better. I read Hunt for Red October before seeing it, and although it's a good film, there were so many major parts missed (I know this often happens in films, but this was a major part in the book).
If you can get over his pro-American writing they are definitely a good read (and some of them are pretty big books too).

My Mum would probably recommend the Master and Commander series by Patrick O'Brien. I've never read them but I know she thoroughly enjoyed them.

[Vykromond]

A couple of people have mentioned "A wheel of time" by Robert Jordan. It's not bad, well until the last couple books, but the "A song of Fire and Ice" series (currently 3 books, he's working on the 4th) by George R. R. Martin is much better. The first book is called "A Game of Thrones". Everyone I know who has read both series agrees with me on this. It's fantasy, but trust me it's really good.

completely agreed

[Ewan]

I assume you've read Foundation Vyk, did you like it?

[Jason]

now i'm just going to read it even sooner than i had originally planned, sleepy

[warportal]

if u liked Robert Jordan and George rr Martin, I'm sure you'll like Stephen Erickson too.

And why hasn't anyone mentioned Terry Goodkind yet? His Sword of Truth series is awesome!