Books!

[Serio]

(Another case of "I could swear we had this thread before".)

Surely I'm not the only person here interested in books? Not only writing them, mind you. Reading them. It's only in the last three years I've actually begun reading books, having preferred other media prior. It was quite an accident I started reading, as I found a book with a name I could remember, and a summary that I recognized. I picked it up, and began reading. Haven't stopped since.

They were pretty lightweight, however, and easy reading. But then I decided to venture on the net and find new literature, on which I stumbled upon a book series with a strange subject; Napoleonic Wars. Napoleonic Wars with an airforce of dragons.

The name of the series is Temeraire. To quote the summary for the first book;

Captain Will Laurence has been at sea since he was just twelve years old; finding a warmer berth in Nelson's navy than any he enjoyed as the youngest, least important son of Lord Allendale. Rising on merit to captain his own vessel, Laurence has earned himself a beautiful fiancee, society's esteem and a golden future. But the war is not going well. It seems Britain can only wait as Napoleon plans to overrun her shores.

After a skirmish with a French ship, Laurence finds himself in charge of a rare cargo: a dragon egg bound for the Emperor himself. Dragons are much prized: properly trained, they can mount a fearsome attack from the skies. One of Laurence's men must take the beast in hand and join the aviators' cause, thus relinquishing all hope of a normal life. But when the newly-hatched dragon ignores the young midshipman Laurence chose as its keeper and decides to imprint itself on the horrified captain instead, Laurence's world falls apart. Gone is his golden future: gone his social standing, and soon his beautiful fiancee, as he is consigned to be the constant companion and trainer of the fighting dragon Temeraire!

Despite it being fantasy, there isn't any magic(at least, not as of yet). And the dragons aren't all big, smart, fire breathing monsters that devour everything. They vary greatly in size, ability, and (most importantly) intelligence.

While I'm only on the first one so far, I can most definitely say I'll be getting the rest of the series as soon as possible. I can highly recommend this to anyone interested in intriguing plot, high quality writing, alternative history, low fantasy, or any combination of the four. Look for it at the library, take a read.

(As a bonus, after reading halfway through the first book I went and read the author background at the beginning. Turns out, Naomi Novik was actually a programmer on Floodgate/Bioware's Neverwinter Nights: Shadows of Undrentide.)

[Daggers]

I've recently started reading Discworld books again :D

Decided a few weeks ago I don't read nearly as much as I'd like to (also what might have brought this on is I have only read 15/100 on the BBC book list so I felt uncultured xD).

Currently about halfway through Guards Guards then got a couple of other books to read which I got for christmas. Not sure which TP book to move onto next but this is the first of the "City Watch" stories I've read and I'm thoroughly enjoying the book, the plot and all the characters! I'll probably pick up the next watch focused discworld book after I finish it.

Generally I like fantasy/sci-fi more than any other genre, though I find a lot of it samey and unoriginal...this generally results in me taking a long time to read so I tend to only read things on recommendation of others. The last time I went into Waterstone's I picked up the Black Magician Trilogy which I finished in about 2 days xD.

[Archangel]

I've been reading since I was about 5. Conceivably, not difficult books when I was 5, but I've just about always maintained a reading level higher than was the norm. I read the Lord of the Rings Trilogy when I was about 9 or 10, the Tomorrow When The War Began series in its entirety by age 11, and read most heavily around when I was 13, as I'd moved to High School and had access to a library that held more than children's books.

The Magician series by Raymond E. Feist is a personal favourite of mine for some good, solid fantasy novels; and there are alot of books in the entire series. Like, 30 of them. Lots of trilogies and the like all set in the same universe weaving together in a whole bunch of awesome.

My inclination for reading dropped in recent years, though, with school being all wanting me to work, and the rest of the time me not wanting to read any more because that's largely what I just did in school. This past year I have picked up in reading though, largely due to the Horus Heresy 40K series (It's pretty much Fantasy meets Sci Fi with lots and lots of warfare) which is just a whole bunch of win. Granted, I'm going through it reasonably slowly, but I've got 3 months of holidays yet, and I need to pace myself at least a little.

[MyNameDidntFit]

Same boat as the above here. Though I tend to favour thriller, mystery and action novels (and thoroughly enjoy it when these come together) set in worlds where magic and the like that is usually seen in your more fantasy genre novels is kept to a minimum.

I've been reading Koontz, King, and a host of other 'adult' writers since I was relatively young as my mother goes through books like an addict through crack. I've yet to have a lull in my reading, though, I've always had a book or two sitting around that I'm either reading or about to read.

As far as favourites go, there's nothing that can match the work of Stephen King in his Dark Tower series--or, really, King's writing in general. Dean Koontz comes in second for me with his novels that are dark and gripping whilst somehow being surreal and light-hearted: I've yet to read anything by anyone else that can bring to bear such dark themes as he uses and keep them from being more than another black, macabre horror--hell, I've read thrillers of his that have made me feel better than most books aimed at being upbeat without losing a scrap of the integrity of the story.

Anyway, I'm sure that's enough from me.

[socko25]

As far as favourites go, there's nothing that can match the work of Stephen King in his Dark Tower series--or, really, King's writing in general.

I tried reading the Dark Tower series but I couldn't get past Wolves of the Calla. Several time I tried to go back to it and for some reason I can't even remember I couldn't get into it. Then the basement flooded and I lost 90% of my books so I can't even go back and try again. I thoroughly enjoyed the series up to that points though.

[MyNameDidntFit]

Have you read much else of King's novels? The more King you've read, the more you'll enjoy the Dark Tower novels seeing as he linked a good few dozen other novels into it with things that you'll only notice if you've read those books. If you haven't, it's still a great series, but there will be moments where you go "huh?" and then move on instead of going "ahh".

One such link of particular note for the Wolves of the Calla would be having read Salem's Lot from which the character of Callahan is drawn.

[Eden]

Oh, so many books... Not enough... :(
Well, I am bookseller, so you can guess I love books :)

[socko25]

Have you read much else of King's novels? The more King you've read, the more you'll enjoy the Dark Tower novels seeing as he linked a good few dozen other novels into it with things that you'll only notice if you've read those books. If you haven't, it's still a great series, but there will be moments where you go "huh?" and then move on instead of going "ahh".

One such link of particular note for the Wolves of the Calla would be having read Salem's Lot from which the character of Callahan is drawn.

Yes I have, though admittedly not Salem's Lot. I love his work.

[MyNameDidntFit]

In that case I'd highly recommend Salem's Lot--more on it's own merit than anything to do with the DT series--it's a damned fine vampire novel if there ever was one.

[Jason]

Currently about halfway through Guards Guards then got a couple of other books to read which I got for christmas. Not sure which TP book to move onto next but this is the first of the "City Watch" stories I've read and I'm thoroughly enjoying the book, the plot and all the characters! I'll probably pick up the next watch focused discworld book after I finish it.

I'm a big PTerry fan, and I've read almost the entire Watch story arc. The next one in the series is 'Men At Arms', which isn't a bad one. As the series has gone on (off the top of my head it's at some 6-8 books now), it gets fairly dark - Night Watch is one of my favourite books in the series, but it's so different to Guards, Guards! that it's almost a different writer.
I also highly recommend checking out Mort, which is another early book, introducing Death as a main character - he's brilliantly written and a genuinely funny one to boot.

[Eden]

Men at Arms, Feet of Clay, The fifth Elephant, Night Watch, Thud, if I remember correctly at the moment. I love them. Samuel Vimes is actually one if my favourite characters of all time ^^
Granny Weatherwax books are great, too. If you want something without so many related books, I would read Going Postal.

[Tiny Cy]

Have you read much else of King's novels? Now I would really love to try with his novels! But alas I'm lazy and have seen the films instead, and now I don't think I have the will power to go there. I did start with The Dead Zone, then accidentally I caught it on tv one night and that was that:(.
A few years a go here in the uk there was a 100 greatest books list published
http://www.bbc.co.uk/arts/bigread/top100.shtml This sent me into a book buying binge!Most of them lay unread still. Although I'm still trying to figure out if I have a genre I can definitely say I like.
Since leaving school these are the few books I can say have really affected me:

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
Watership Down
1984
I Am Legend
Haunted
Animal Farm
The Plague Dogs

Just noticed they all have animals in!:lol: maybe I like books about hard done by animals and bastard humans.

[Eden]

1984 impressed me a lot, too. So dark...

[Daggers]

I'm a big PTerry fan, and I've read almost the entire Watch story arc. The next one in the series is 'Men At Arms', which isn't a bad one. As the series has gone on (off the top of my head it's at some 6-8 books now), it gets fairly dark - Night Watch is one of my favourite books in the series, but it's so different to Guards, Guards! that it's almost a different writer.
I also highly recommend checking out Mort, which is another early book, introducing Death as a main character - he's brilliantly written and a genuinely funny one to boot.

I've been meaning to re-read Mort actually, I read it when I was about 12/13 and I remember absolutely loving it! I'm gonna hit ebay later this week and see if I can get the rest of the watch books cheap.

[Jason]

Men at Arms, Feet of Clay, The fifth Elephant, Night Watch, Thud, if I remember correctly at the moment. I love them. Samuel Vimes is actually one if my favourite characters of all time ^^
Granny Weatherwax books are great, too. If you want something without so many related books, I would read Going Postal.

I think Jingo is a watch book too, although I don't know if it's in the official series - it's certainly based around the Watch, although with plenty of asides.

I loved Going Postal, same with the sequel, Making Money. Moist is probably one of my favourite PTerry characters. :)

[Eden]

Yes, Jingo, I totally forgot about that. It should be right before Fifth Elephant.

I agree, Moist is superb and the humour in those books is really sophisticated. Amazing how Terry can weave a strong and a humorous story into one book.

[Wally]

I'm currently reading Towers Of Midnight, book 13 in The Wheel Of Time series, which is the single largest epic fantasy series ever written. The hardback version of TOM is about 850 pages long and that is average for books in this series - several of them top out over 1,000 pages. But if you like to read and you like your fantasy EPIC in proportions then Robert Jordan is the guy for you. It's got multiple wars, intrigue, and about 30 or so main characters all leading their own lives.

[Archangel]

Of course, the issue with the Wheel of Time is that the series outlived the auther, and the latest two books aren't even written by Robert Jordan.

That part has put me off really getting into the series for now. I'll not doubt have a blast re-reading the start and reading the rest of it for the first time once I've gotten through what I'm reading for now, though.

[Wally]

That's true, Robert Jordan did die and Brandon Sanderson has written the last two books. However, that doesn't tell the whole story. Jordan knew he was dying and had several years to prepare for it. He made stacks of notes as well as taped dictations of what he had planned for the rest of the series. From what I've read Sanderson merely had to go in and polish up the story so to speak; that these last books are indeed Jordan's vision of the conclusion of the series.

[Eden]

This month a new Joe Abercrombie book will be released. I can't wait to get it in my hands ^^

[CemeteryGates]

I started reading at about age 10, when my father wanted me to pick up the habit and got me the first Harry Potter book, a few months before it became as famous as the series now is, I seem to recall.
The first 80 pages were so boring, but I started to really enjoy it after that. I followed the series, and finished the 4th book a week after it had been released, and then I started reading other stuff while waiting for the 5th book. I think the only classic or otherwise basic books I've ever read were The Lord of Flies and The Little Prince, and didn't like either at the time, though I've learned to appreciate them over the years.
I think I reached my peak when I was about 13. I must have read dozens of books that year.

I lost the habit soon after and didn't really pick it up until 2009.
Lately I've been reading books on psychology, a little Koontz, Clancy and a really cool book my ex gave me, about the Norwegian black metal scene, called Lords of Chaos.
At the moment, I'm reading the 7th Harry Potter book that I borrowed from my friend's sister.

Some of my favorite authors are Stephen King, John Grisham, and Jeff Lindsay. My favorite book is Les Fourmis by Bernard Werber.

[MyNameDidntFit]

Koontz, King, Clancy and Grisham? My friend, we have some similar tastes, it seems.

If you like Clancy, I'd recommend Matthew Reilly, I've read one or two of his novels and they're of a fairly similar vein--not as technical, but still pretty damn good military novels.

[Jason]

Matthew Reilly writes ridiculously fast-paced books - Scarecrow was pretty much the most relentlessly action-filled book I've ever read. Truly insane. Good read though.

[Wally]

I've haven't heard anyone mention Jim Butcher yet. His Dresden series is a hell of alot of fun; sort of a noirish arcane detective theme. Harry, the main character, seems to be eternally broke and in trouble.

[Jason]

Oh, now THAT has piqued my interest. Googling right now!

[Eden]

I have only read one of the books, but enjoyed it quite a lot.

[socko25]

I've haven't heard anyone mention Jim Butcher yet. His Dresden series is a hell of alot of fun; sort of a noirish arcane detective theme. Harry, the main character, seems to be eternally broke and in trouble.

I'm assuming that these would be books that the short-lived "Dresden Files" TV show was based on? If that's the case, I may have to make a trip to the library because the show was pretty cool.

[Wally]

Yep this is indeed the series that the Dresden Files TV show was based on. However, the TV series took alot of liberties with the story (as they always do). Still if you liked the TV show I'm betting that you will love the boooks.

[Eden]

Wasn't there a movie about it as well?

[Archangel]

Yeah, I watched the TV miniseries, but unfortunately haven't gotten to the books yet. It's another thing on my list to read, because the TV series was pretty great (though I remember very little of it now, actually... I should rewatch that, methinks), and I've heard the books have alot more crazy and fun in them.

[Wally]

@Eden: If there was a movie I missed it. I’ll have to check on that later.

@Archangel: The books are most definitely a much wilder ride than the series was. For example the guy Harry always talked to in the TV series is actually an enchanted skull in the books. It has a perverted spirit that loves trashy romance novels bound to it and he has to keep it hidden because the White Council would destroy it if they knew it still existed. (You could think of it as an arcane version of a supercomputer with a highly advanced AI that was full of hundreds of years of military secrets.)

[Eden]

It is quite difficult to get the books in Germany, which is a shame.

[Daggers]

Well I finished Guards! Guards! today.

So while I wait for my bank account to fill up so I can order the next couple of discworld books I am about to start reading The Angel's Game by Carlos Ruiz Zafon.

Apparantely it's awesome.

[Jason]

Unless you're a big collector or have OCD or something, I HIGHLY recommend checking out Amazon.co.uk's used/second hand side of things - you pretty much only pay the postage in some cases - there's always plenty of Pratchett books there.

[Daggers]

Unless you're a big collector or have OCD or something, I HIGHLY recommend checking out Amazon.co.uk's used/second hand side of things - you pretty much only pay the postage in some cases - there's always plenty of Pratchett books there.

Yeah I'll be on there or ebay like a fly in a shitstorm.