Dragons & Jetpacks discussion

Got a book you think we'd really enjoy? Is there a series or standalone novel you just have to share with others? Post it here, and why you think we'd enjoy it!

My original plan was to just let everyone put them on the bookshelf under 'recommended', but it won't let us put them on there unless they're also under read, currently reading, or to read. So it's probably just easier to do it this way =)

I'm looking for ways to procrastinate right now, so I'll be happy to offer a recommendation :)

Probably my all-time overall favorite SF book is Gene Wolfe's Litany of the Long Sun series. I bought the first book on a whim about 10 years ago, and it has become my most reread book.

The Long Sun series seems to be much more approachable than most of Wolfe's work. The characters are wonderful, and the plot is epic and multi-layered, but not quite as heavy with themes and ideas as the other books in the "Sun" cycle.

It's also a good choice even for fantasy fans, because the world is a bit fantasy-like. Technology is not universal in the book's society.

I really loved The Ill-Made Mute (Bitterbynde trilogy) by Cecilia Dart-Thornton. I have probably recommended it to loads of people by now :D

I like the story, but the two things I like most about it are that it is packed full of creatures and tales from folklore, and that she is so detailed and varied in her choice of words and in describing scenes, people and things that I can imagine everything so vividly.

I have read a few reviews where her love of words irritates some people, but this book and the other two are remaining firmly on my bookshelves :)

I recommend The Darwath series by Barbara Hambly. It has a cranky but loveable Arch-mage and two main characters from the real world who slip into a world where magic and swords are the way of life. I have had to replace my copies numerous times due to how much I read them.

I really recommend Gardens of the Moon (I'm not sure how to work the link magic on my iPad so please bear with me). It's the first book in The Malazan Book of the Fallen. I haven't even finished it yet but I have to recommend it. Even though the start was a bit slow and confusing I was completely hooked by page 80-something. All the narrating characters are intriguing and there were moments where I came close to yelling at the book because WHY WOULD YOU CHANGE THE POV WHEN IT JUST GOT SO GOOD?!?! Erikson's writing is simply frustratingly awesome. It is definitely one of the best high fantasy books I have read.

I just have, have, have, to recommend Robert Jordan and the Wheel of Time series starting with The Eye of the World. I have recommended it to a number of people, after being recommended it myself. I loved the series, and the 3 or 4 people I recommended it to have also enjoyed it.

The world is so big, there are many characters (I realise that some people may take this as a negative), but I see it as a positive. With 14 books (another negative for some I'm sure) you can get so immersed into the world and the characters, even after 14 books I didn't want it to finish. It's fantasy, and quite high fantasy, although there aren't many types of fantasy "creatures" like elves or goblins etc. It maybe an obvious recommendation for fantasy lovers, and I'm sure others can articulate in better words why everyone should read it!

In short: IT'S GREAT READ IT.

I agree with Kristy. I read WOT last winter and was totally wrapped up in it. Now I have my father ( rich, he's in our group ) reading it and he loves it too.

A long series and a long book for me is a plus.

And I recommend Mistborn by Sanderson and The Time Master by Louise Cooper.

Britt wrote: "I really recommend Gardens of the Moon (I'm not sure how to work the link magic on my iPad so please bear with me). It's the first book in The Malazan Book of the Fallen. I haven't even finished it..."

Have to agree with Britt. The start is kinda slow but makes a good foundation for the rest of the read. Involving ruthless assasins, grey morality and frustrated pinocchio unleashing hell on earth... just read it already :-)

Hello!
I recommend earthgirl (#1 and also 2) and "The law of tashima".
Oh and I stumbled across this, maybe it is of interest?
https://iversity.org/c/6?r=16bf0

Ooh, I've heard lots about Earth Girl - in fact Janet Edwards is at the con me and Freya are going to on the weekend, so I'm planning on buying the first one and getting it signed =)

Rinn, Wow! I would love to meet her! The novel is sooo great. The characters are so original and TRUE. I love it.

I was wondering whether anyone had any recommendations of books relating to norse mythology?

Not a recommendation as such - I think I've only read this one as it was in the school library yonks ago and I gave it 3 stars Ice Land, actually, I've also read this one The Sea of Trolls, again many years ago.

But I would also like some recommendations for norse mythology for the Avengers challenge :D (and in general mythology is pretty fun :D )

It would be very helpful for the challenge, we are also planning to go to Norway on our Honeymoon so i'm trying to get myself in the mindset :D

I came across The Gospel of Loki yesterday - looks good. I'll check out your recommendations :)

Ahh so jealous!! How long are you going for? :) A sibling once went there to go walking and brought me back a bust/statue/figurine of Freyja - my grandmother saw it and said "Oh how ugly dear, is it a troll?" :D

Oh that one looks cool :) Yeah mine are more YA ones

We are planning 11 nights or so. Oslo, Bergen and Tromso. Very excited indeed. Awww bless her, can't beat grandparents!!

Oh wow! Have fun :D

This might help us? https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/6...

Two books/series I just need to push on everyone. Hehe.

Wool Omnibus Great Sci-fi in my opinion. Always intriguing.

The Way of Kings The start of a great series. Book two coming in march 2014.

Rob wrote: "Two books/series I just need to push on everyone. Hehe.

Wool Omnibus Great Sci-fi in my opinion. Always intriguing.

The Way of Kings The start of a great series...."

In full agreement with The Way of Kings recommendation. No doubt the start of a truly epic series!

Kirsty wrote: "In full agreement with The Way of Kings recommendation. No doubt the start of a truly epic series!"

I have the first part of the first one - can't wait! :D

Freya wrote: "Kirsty wrote: "In full agreement with The Way of Kings recommendation. No doubt the start of a truly epic series!"

I have the first part of the first one - can't wait! :D"

Hope you enjoy it :)

Hello! I recommend a new release fantasy adventure by an AUSTRIAN author. remarkable desriptions and characters that will pull you into the story almost instantly at any page. Enjoy!

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...

http://www.amazon.com/Red-Axe-Black-M...

So I'm pretty new to this group, and fantasy in general, but there are a couple urban fantasy series that I've been exposed to that I haven't seen recommended in this thread.

The Dresden Files starting with Storm Front - Jim Butcher. Wizard detective kicks butt and takes names. The series starts off as feeling like stand alone detective stories with fantastic elements, but as it progresses you get a really good feel for a larger story arc going on. Really well done.

The Iron Druid Chronicles starting with Hounded - Kevin Hearne. Great main character, great fight scenes, lots of gods, mythology and of course vampires and werewolves. Plus it has a dog who can communicate with Atticus (the main character) and their back and forth is pretty funny ... at one point the dog, Oberon, wants to be Ghengis Khan and take over Asia.

I just read Hounded, it was quite an enjoyable book, I added it for the challenge and plan on continuing to read it. I have read the first two of the The Dresden Files and found them quite enjoyable as well.

Is it me or are there a lot more female protagonists in Urban Fantasy then males?

It does seem to be that way ... not sure why.

Roger wrote: "Is it me or are there a lot more female protagonists in Urban Fantasy then males?"

That does seem to be the case. I also think there are a lot more women writing in that particular subgenre than there are men. Why that is, I wouldn't know. But I feel like urban fantasy partly spawned out of the paranormal romance genre, which might explain it. Urban fantasy just doesn't (usually) make the romance part front and center.

Noel wrote: "Roger wrote: "Is it me or are there a lot more female protagonists in Urban Fantasy then males?"

That does seem to be the case. I also think there are a lot more women writing in that particular ..."

That's true, and that romance part is the part that bores me :) Though it is interesting to see how a female author puts motives to the simplest actions of the main protagonists significant other. It's a constant thing in their head about what their guy is thinking. In my experience as a male I don't have half the motives as what the author thinks a male has... (sorry if that isn't clear, it's early and I don't think well in the morning)

I was going to recommended Wheel of Time. But someone already beat me to it. I will just add my praise. I'll admit the series has become the standard that I usually end up comparing everything else to. It's one of those series that you can truely get lost in.

Then I was going to recommend The Way of Kings... But someone beat me there, too. I've actually just started rereading it so that I'll be done in a couple weeks when the next book comes out.

I will say that Warbreaker, from Brandon Sanderson, was really good too.