Recommend me some books and I shall do the same

[m_mcgregor]

Being rather ill lately has made me want to curl up with a good book (or audiobook, thanks to migraines), but the problem is I tend to have a hard time finding a book I can really get into. For the last two years I've asked all of you out there to recommend TV shows to me, and I've gotten into some great shows because of that - Avatar: The Last

Comments

[booster17]

Most of the ones I was going to recommend have been done already. So, seconding the love for Lois McMaster Bujold's books (both Vorkosigan and other), Diane Duane's Wizard series, Jim Butcher's Dresden series (and the Furies of Alera books).... actually everything that draconin said.

I do also reccomend the Kushiel books by Jaqueline Carey - lushly written and expertly plotted, they draw you in and don't let go.
A massive fantasy tale about the violent death of an old age and the birth of a new one. Here is a novel of grandeur, luxuriance, sacrifice, betrayal, and deeply laid conspiracies. Born with a scarlet mote in her left eye, Phedre no Delaunay is sold into indentured servitude as a child. When her bond is purchased by an enigmatic nobleman, she is trained in history, theology, politics, foreign languages, and the arts of pleasure. Above all, she learns the ability to observe, remember, and analyze. Exquisite courtesan, yet talented spy, she may seem an unlikely heroine...

[m_mcgregor]

Intriguing. I will look into it, and I'll take into account the double-recommendations of all of draconin's recs.

[wobin]

A new fellow I've just come across and quite enjoy, Patrick Rothfuss, has started a rather epic seeming tale in The Name of the Wind. It has everything you want in a fantasy novel, mystery, magic, romance, a dashing hero with a story to tell...

I double recommend Terry Pratchett and anything... -anything- by Mr Neil Gaiman.

L E Modesitt Jr writes some fantastic fantasy series (Recluse), along with fascinating alternate history political dramas (Ghost series), brilliant sci-fi (-any- of his stand alone scifi), and all. Overall a utterly fantastic author and I highly recommend any of his books (except the Soprano Sorceress one... I have no idea where he went wrong with that lot...)

[m_mcgregor]

Neil Gaiman has always been hit or miss with me, in comics as well as novels. In comics he ruins good concepts with ridiculously overblown violence (a serial killer convention, for fuck's sake). In novels he tends to be a little less nutty.

Then again, I never did finish American Gods, despite liking the premise. It just never grabbed me and it all seemed a little too obvious. I know a lot of people love it, and I certainly didn't dislike it, but it just didn't do it for me.

Isn't Recluse the story about the protagonist whose primary motivation is that he's bored? I remember trying to read that years ago and agreeing with him that his life was indeed pretty boring, and didn't much fancy reading about it.

[nycorson]

Hmm... you have gotten a lot of great rec's that I heartily second, so here are some I have not seen

[m_mcgregor]

A complete and total story in one book!? That's blasphemous!

That Liaden Universe sounds intriguing to me, sounds like it's of a massive scope. I'll probably look at that one first out of the recommendations you made, although oddly enough that Jane Kindskold story you mention sounds pretty interesting too.

[selene2]

I really enjoyed The Stand. You should give it a try. If you have a lot of free time.

I also enjoyed Mainline, by Deborah Christian. Set way in the future it's a book about an assassin that can shift realities. It's better than I can relay to you. I swear. :D

I have to chime in and say that both the Mary Stewart books and Raymond Feist books were recommended to me... I am staring at the pile of books right now. I just haven't had the time to read them. We could be in the most unofficial book club ev-vah!

I hope you find something to read in this post. I know I am looking into a few of the suggestions. Thanks!

[m_mcgregor]

Jeez, if I can't find something to read out of this massive list, I don't know what else I'd do. You people are just as psychotic about reading as I am, and it's fantastic!

[anonymous]

Codex Alera: Someone already mentioned Jim Butchers other series the Dresden Files. This is his other fantasy work that he did. I highly recommend it

[m_mcgregor]

I've actually got the first two books of the Keys to the Kingdom series sitting on my table right now. I read the prologue and liked what I saw (M. McGregor liking pages of abstract representations of mystical forces? You don't say!). It's on my short list of books to check out, because I've liked a lot of Nix's other work, although shamefully I still haven't tried out Sabriel or the rest of that series.