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Sci-Fi and Fantasy Books

I go really old school and like Edgar Rice Burroughs a lot. The original Tarzan novels for fantasy are right up there with some of the best if you ask me. If you read them you can never look at any other interpretation of Tarzan as other than crap. Also his Princess of Mars series. He wrote for serial publications at the time of the depression so the prose and action are tight and fast-moving. Easy read, but very fun. They are all public domain now and you can get them on a kindle for free.

Another of my favorites who is not so mainstream is David Brin. The Uplift series is high-level hard sci-fi. He will also expand your vocabulary.

I also loved the Dark Tower series right up to the last book. Trout and I disagree here and have discussed it already, but I thought the ending and most of he last book was a big cop-out. Ruined the series for me although I still re-read the gunslinger from time to time.

I have read the lion's share of both lists actually and own most of them. This discussion could go on and on.
 
LogGrad98 said:
Another of my favorites who is not so mainstream is David Brin. The Uplift series is high-level hard sci-fi. He will also expand your vocabulary.
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David Brin gets two big thumbs up from me as well. Startide Rising is on my very short list for "Possible Best SF Book Ever". And The Uplift War is nearly as enjoyable. The first one in that trilogy (about the creatures in the sun, I forget the name) (and it's not really a trilogy) wasn't nearly as good. The sort-of sequels to The Uplift War (same universe, later time, but not really "sequels") were also very good, but not quite as good as Startide Rising and The Uplift War in my opinion.
 
If you guys get the chance, read this book. I loved it. Very dark, very entertaining, and moving.

book+of+lost+things.bmp


If you read it, or plan on reading it, let me know. I would like to hear others opinions on it.
 
I have to double post because the thought of A Dance with Dragons coming out this year makes me forget all about the Jazz!
 
Reaching back a ways, one of my favorite fantasy series of them all was the Riddlemaster of Hed trilogy by Patricia McKillip. Good story, characters, great magic. Covered the gamut of emotions and suspense and danger. I really wished she had gone back into that world and created other stories as there was such a rich tapestry of history and legend to draw on.

I know that, like the bulk of fantasy seems to be, it was aimed at young adults, but I re-read them recently and still found the same enjoyment. After all it is not about whether it was written for adults or children, rather whether you enjoyed and were entertained and maybe even changed a little bit by the story.

https://www.amazon.com/Riddlemaster-Hed-Patricia-McKillip/dp/0345331044
 
LogGrad98 said:
Reaching back a ways, one of my favorite fantasy series of them all was the Riddlemaster of Hed trilogy by Patricia McKillip. Good story, characters, great magic. Covered the gamut of emotions and suspense and danger. I really wished she had gone back into that world and created other stories as there was such a rich tapestry of history and legend to draw on.

I know that, like the bulk of fantasy seems to be, it was aimed at young adults, but I re-read them recently and still found the same enjoyment. After all it is not about whether it was written for adults or children, rather whether you enjoyed and were entertained and maybe even changed a little bit by the story.

https://www.amazon.com/Riddlemaster-Hed-Patricia-McKillip/dp/0345331044
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I have much the same feelings about Lloyd Alexander's Prydain Chronicles. I first heard them when my Dad read them to me as a little kid, and they're largely responsible for getting me into fantasy novels in the first place. They're definitely aimed young, but I re-read them a few years ago, and they still hold up. Some of it's nostalgia, I'm sure, but he wrote good characters who actually grow throughout the books. And like your feeling with McKillip's books, I always wished Alexander would go back to Prydain... but all he ever did was one small book of short stories within that world... not really all that satisfying, unfortunately.

larryselbows said:
Did anybody mention "The Foundation"?
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Gee, I don't know, lemme check...

larryselbows said:
Foundation foundation foundation foundation foundation foundation foundation foundation foundation foundation foundation foundation foundation foundation foundation foundation foundation foundation foundation foundation foundation foundation foundation foundation foundation foundation foundation foundation foundation foundation foundation foundation foundation foundation foundation foundation foundation foundation foundation foundation foundation foundation foundation foundation foundation foundation foundation foundation foundation foundation foundation foundation foundation foundation foundation foundation foundation foundation foundation foundation foundation foundation foundation
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I believe that's a "yes." Several times, in fact.

Is there a point you're trying to make?
 
Although I love wholesome reading on American private wealth, I did indeed mean "Foundation".

I don't even know the names of the books I read. HOW EMBARRASSING!
 
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