I've been reading the Temerarie series by Naomi Novik, and I'd highly recommend it. It's kind of like the Aubrey-Maturin series (Master & Commander) but with dragons. It's not really fantasy. It's more alternate English historical fiction from the Napoleonic time period, traveling all over the world on different adventures. I've blown threw them and am on the fourth book, awaiting Book 5 coming out this June.
Have you read the Song of Fire and Ice books by George R.R. Martin? The first book is called A Game of Thrones and is supposed to be a six book epic.
I just reread Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl (for about the 10th time) and it, once again, just blew me away. He talks about his experiences in Nazi concentration camps and how even in the worse situations we still have the ability to chose how we react -- who we are. It's only 100+ pages long but it really makes you think.
Sounds amazing. I'm adding it to my queue. I've had the first book for a while and have never gotten around to it. I heard he still has several more to write and I didn't want to get hip-deep in a 5000+ page long series then have to wait several years for more books. Some other excellent books to read: Speaks the Nightbird - Robert McCammon (and its sequel Queen of Bedlam) The Historian - Elizabeth Kostova Shadow of the Wind - Carlos Ruiz Zafon Johnathan Strange & Mr. Norrell - Susanna Clarke The Time Traveler's Wife - Audrey Niffenegger Pastwatch: The Redemption of Christopher Columbus - Orson Scott Card
I was on a rock biography kick for a while, and just recently finished both The Heroin Diaries and The Dirt. Both are great reads, even if you aren't a Motley Crue fan. I just started Requiem For a Dream a few days ago. I've always loved the movie but had never gotten around to reading the book. It's disturbing, as expected.
Third the Martin books. I've been reading sci-fi and fantasy since I was five, and his series is hands down the best ever. Better than Tolkien (who I think is overrated anyway). Second the Erickson 'Malazan Book of the Fallen' series. It's hard to get into, but once you do, it is fantastic. Seven books in, three more to go in the series. R. Scott Bakker's 'Prince of Nothing' trilogy is really good, and there's nothing else like it out there. I don't know if I can classify it as sci fi or fantasty. Extremely adult. David Farland's 'Runelords' series is pretty good, and much lighter reading than the series listed above. Anything Orson Scott Card is great. I love his Alvin Maker series. I always recommend people stay away from Robert Jordan or Terry Goodkind.
I just finished the His Dark Materials trilogy (The Golden Compass, The Subtle Knife, and the Amber Spyglass). It was a decent read. The whole parallel worlds thing reminded me of The Dark Tower.
Can you tell me if the Song and Ice series by Martin is completed? I read it was going 7 with only 4 out so far. I hate reading an imcomplete series (See: Jordan, Robert). You should really check out Pastwatch if you like Card. It's not like his other works, and I think it's probably the best. Speaking of incomplete series. I think the Inkheart trilogy is pretty cool if you liked the Harry Potter books (although this is nothing plot-wise like those books). The last book, Inkdeath, is being translated from German now and should be out October 1.
Nope- Ice & Fire isn't complete. It has three books to go, with book five -probably- coming out this year. Martin is the slowest writer I've ever waited on. I hate waiting on series to finish too. But these are worth a read. Each book is a -tome- and they're worth re-reading a few times. But I doubt the series will be done in the next six years, even if the fifth book is done this year. Erikson's series is also unfinished, but he cranks out these complex 1000 page books yearly. He's a machine. So the series will probably be done in 2-3 years since book 8 is already due out in two months.
I think I'll probably wait to read Martin then. It's always so much more fun when you can read straight through the whole series. Otherwise you have to reread them all again when each book comes out to remind yourself of all the fine plot points. I know how difficult writing a series can be. I've been working on the first book (The Sun and the Swan) of a multi-book series for a few years. Hopefully, it'll be done this year. Between work, my 4 month old daughter, and this damn Playoff race, I haven't had quite as much time as I'd like to work on it. I'm optimistic the second will go easier, since I've got all the storyboarding and research worked out as well as establishing the tone. I write therefore I am.
Freaking amazing series....book 5 is coming out in the Fall....HBO bought the rights to the series. Its actually going to be a 7-book series: A Game of Thrones A Clash of Kings A Storm of Swords A Feast For Crows A Dance With Dragons The Winds of Winter A Dream of Spring
