Post: #1

I've never really read a fiction book before, and never really had any motivation to. Normally I read travel memoirs, or try to read self improvement stuff. However, today I got very excited about reading some fiction books. Primarily epic fantasy, I believe it is called.

After a bit of research, I am leaning towards reading A Song Of Fire And Ice (Game of Thrones books) or possibly The Dark Tower, but I'm leaning towards the former.

I'm also a bit interested in Sci Fi. Something a long the lines of Star Trek, but more gritty. Intergalactic war, many different planets and species of aliens, etc.

Not into anything too PG. War, violence, drugs, booze, sex, cursing, etc. are all good with me.

So, what books do you guys think I should start with?

Post: #2

Count of Monte Cristo personally. I've no gone into reading the fantasy books myself.

Post: #3

I've tried The Dark Tower and absolutely hated it. Something in Stephen King's style just rubs me the wrong way. I would recommend the Game of Thrones. As far as sci-fi goes, some Star Wars books (the famous Thrawn Trilogy by Timothy Zahn, effectively episodes 7-9) is very, very well written and really stands out from its cousins. It doesn't have as much naivete as other Star Wars things.

For fantasy, I can also recommend the Dark Elf Trilogy by R.A. Salvatore - you could say it's a bit childish, but it's exciting and well-written.



And as for science-fiction, my absolute favorite is the Hyperion series by Dan Simmons. He is a very serious writer that mainly writes dark drama or thrillers and has only occasionally ventured into sci-fi. This series is incredibly imaginative and flows well, but it's very exotic too. It's hard to understand sometimes, but I found it worth it.

Post: #4

I would start with Ender's Game. It's considered a classic sci-fi book from the 80's. It's pretty short and a very easy read.

It's even on the recommended reading list for Marines Corps officers.

I checked it out recently after seeing a trailer for the first movie adaptation. Check it out.

Post: #5

(09-11-2013 07:07 AM)RioNomad Wrote:  I've never really read a fiction book before, and never really had any motivation to. Normally I read travel memoirs, or try to read self improvement stuff. However, today I got very excited about reading some fiction books. Primarily epic fantasy, I believe it is called.

After a bit of research, I am leaning towards reading A Song Of Fire And Ice (Game of Thrones books) or possibly The Dark Tower, but I'm leaning towards the former.

I'm also a bit interested in Sci Fi. Something a long the lines of Star Trek, but more gritty. Intergalactic war, many different planets and species of aliens, etc.

Not into anything too PG. War, violence, drugs, booze, sex, cursing, etc. are all good with me.

So, what books do you guys think I should start with?

Start off with my novel! lol Actually, maybe not sci-fi enough for you. Epic fantasy is the genre I plan to start writing in more though.

The Gunslinger is an amazing book (first book of the Dark Tower series) - one of my favorites of all time. I think that's a great world to start off in - it has a little bit of everything you've mentioned. The the first is very Western-ish in tone, but it has plenty of fantastical elements to keep your imagination soaring.

And King has a very gritty, honest style of writing. A lot of his newer stuff has gotten whack, but with his earlier and mid-career books, you couldn't ask for a better storyteller.

(09-11-2013 09:11 AM)Checkmat Wrote:  I would start with Ender's Game. It's considered a classic sci-fi book from the 80's. It's pretty short and a very easy read.

It's even on the recommended reading list for Marines Corps officers.

I checked it out recently after seeing a trailer for the first movie adaptation. Check it out.

Second that - Enders Game is very solid! I just read it this last weekend. Can't wait to read the next in the series.

Post: #6

Wheel of time by Robert Jordan is worth a read, is complete too unlike song of ice and fire. Robyn Hobb has a lot of worth while trilogies which may be a less daunting time commitment than the 14 wheel of time books. I'd also recommend anything by David Gemell, his fall of troy trilogy is incredible.

The dark tower is a tough series to get through, Stephen King started writing it when he was 17 and didn't get around to completing it until he was past 40 so the writing style dramatically changes across the books. A lot of the ideas are convoluted from his youth. I wouldn't suggest the series as an intro to fantasy.

Post: #7

The Talisman by Stephen King and Peter Struab

Post: #8

Rio.....! WTF?!

Of all the great novels in human history and you want to read some fighting fantasy bullshit?

To be fair, I haven't read fiction for well over 5 years now, maybe 10, so I'm being a bit hypocritical here but man.... there is SO much to choose from!

Buy this:

http://www.amazon.com/1001-Books-Must-Re...re+You+Die

The cover of it is from Bret Easton Ellis's "American Psycho" - why not read that? It's a great book, funny, easy enough, got sex, violence, chainsaws... much better than the film!

http://www.amazon.com/American-Psycho-Br...344&sr=1-1

There are so many awesome books in existence..!

Post: #9

King Solomon's Mines, anything by Edgar Allan Poe, Hemingway, etc.

Edit- HG Wells too.

Post: #10

Atlas Shrugged...

Post: #11

Ice and Fire is excellent. If GRRM pulls off the next two books, the series could challenge Lord Of The Rings for the all-time greatest fantasy series.

LOTR is probably a bit less accessible than ASOIAF, but once you get a taste for epic fiction it should be high on your list.

Ender's Game is very good, the sequels not so much.

Foundation series is quite good.

No aliens or monsters, but The Unincorporated Man is a very cool and thoughtful book. The sequels fall of a bit.

To the haters, reading Great Books is nice, but there's nothing wrong with some escapist fun.

Post: #12

(09-11-2013 07:07 AM)RioNomad Wrote:  I've never really read a fiction book before, and never really had any motivation to.

I cannot think of any particular reason why anyone should read fiction. I've stopped reading fiction after one day realising that all the fiction I've ever read has never contributed anything particularly meaningful in my life.

It's just entertainment.

If you want to give off a vague sense of being cultured, read the ancient novels: The odyssey, the aeneid, the viking sagas, the chinese classics. You could read the illiad but that story becomes a boring list of who-killed-who at several points in the book.

If you really want to read epic fantasy, you should probably start with the book that invented the genre: ER Eddison's The Worm Ouroboros. You'll realise how pretty much every fantasy author (including Tolkein) is basically doing little more than remixing The Worm Ouroboros.

Post: #13

I heartily second HCE's recommendations. The Dark Elf trilogy is excellent.

I also recommend the Avatar series put out by Forgotten Realms. I enjoyed reading nonfiction before I read it, but when I read this series it got in me into fiction.

Post: #14

(09-11-2013 11:46 PM)Thomas the Rhymer Wrote:  

(09-11-2013 07:07 AM)RioNomad Wrote:  I've never really read a fiction book before, and never really had any motivation to.

I cannot think of any particular reason why anyone should read fiction. I've stopped reading fiction after one day realising that all the fiction I've ever read has never contributed anything particularly meaningful in my life.

It's just entertainment.

If you want to give off a vague sense of being cultured, read the ancient novels: The odyssey, the aeneid, the viking sagas, the chinese classics. You could read the illiad but that story becomes a boring list of who-killed-who at several points in the book.

I'm not one of the guys on this forum who tries to bang chicks by talking philosophy, astrology or politics with them. I don't care about classic literature or trying to seem "cultured".

I like to read while in bed to relax, and business or personal development books do not hold my attention that late at night. Normally I read travel memoirs while in bed, but I'm running out of ones that interest me and wanted to try something new. Since I just finished the Game of Thrones HBO series, I thought maybe the books would keep me entertained before going to sleep.

Thanks for all of the recommendations. Well, except those of you who didn't seem to read what I was looking for, and instead just recommended random shit that I'm not interested in in the slightest.

Post: #15

Maybe you cut your teeth on something a little easier?


   

Post: #16

Thomas, what about fiction that isn't fantasy, like Fyodor Dostoevsky, Albert Camus, Franz Kafka...? All completely fictional and extremely educative about life and human mind, plus interesting to read with characters you can relate to.

Or do you seriously mean all fiction?

Post: #17

The bible?

Post: #18

Brave New World? 1984?

Post: #19

Harry Potter?

Post: #20

(09-12-2013 04:41 AM)RioNomad Wrote:  I like to read while in bed to relax, and business or personal development books do not hold my attention that late at night. Normally I read travel memoirs while in bed, but I'm running out of ones that interest me and wanted to try something new. Since I just finished the Game of Thrones HBO series, I thought maybe the books would keep me entertained before going to sleep.

Fiction is the only thing I'll read at bedtime. It's an escape - can particularly be good for curing insomnia. Just read until you're at the point where you know if you set the book down and close your eyes you'll fade away...and boom.

Don't read past that point though or you'll miss it and be up all night.

Post: #21

(09-12-2013 04:41 AM)RioNomad Wrote:  I'm not one of the guys on this forum who tries to bang chicks by talking philosophy, astrology or politics with them. I don't care about classic literature or trying to seem "cultured".

Then you'll never be able to bang a girl from the FSU.

Post: #22

(09-11-2013 09:11 AM)Checkmat Wrote:  I would start with Ender's Game. It's considered a classic sci-fi book from the 80's. It's pretty short and a very easy read.

It's even on the recommended reading list for Marines Corps officers.

Starship Troopers is also on the Marine Corps list. One of the best books I ever read, but a shame the movie made it look so bad. Heinlein was a genius.

Post: #23

(09-12-2013 11:57 AM)Thomas the Rhymer Wrote:  Harry Potter?

There much booze, fighting and fucking in Harry Potter?

If not, probably not my cup of tea.

Thanks though.

Post: #24

I've heard good things about the Dune series, especially the 5 or so by Frank Herbert.

Post: #25

For fantasy: Malazan book of the fallen series.