Archive Posted January 20, 2003 Report Posted January 20, 2003 DoctorEvil65 Weenie Awardee Posts: 43 (10/14/01 7:55:26 am) Reply Good Books -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Doctor is an avid reader....actually, the Doctor doesn't have as much time to read as the Doctor use to, but.... Here are some of the Doctor's favorite books/series... Jhereg by Steven Brust This follows the expliots of an assassin named Vlad Taltos in a unique crafted fantasy world. Jhereg is the first in a series of about 9 or 10 books. Trust the Doctor, you won't be able to put it down. Rating: 5 Evils The Black Company by Glen Cook The chronicles of a mercenary company on a fantasy world dominated by ultra powerful wizards. The Black Company is the first in the series. Again very compelling reading. Rating: 5 Evils The Magic of Recluce by L.E. Modesitt Actually, the Doctor highly recommends all of Modesitt's work, but this series is one of the best. A very unique look at magic. This is a very long book, in a very long series. Rating: 4 Evils Thieves' World edited by Robert Asprin An anthology of stories by different authors, all set in the same common city/world. The surprising thing is the tight conitunity that all the authors hold to. 12 books in the series Rating: 4 Evils "The Metal" Series by Glen Cook Glen Cook, the author of the Black Company series, also has a lighter series about the adventures of a hard boiled, old fashioned detective named Garrett set in a fantasy city teeming with every race imaginable. Some of the scenes are laugh out loud funny. The first book is Sweet Silver Blues. Rating : 4 Evils .....that's all for now....more later ***************************************** Rating System 5 Evils: One of the Doctor's all-time favorites. Most of them have been re-read 3 times by the Doctor. 4 Evils: One of the best. Highly recommended 3 Evils: Very Good. A worthwhile read 2 Evils: Just Average. A fairly cliche book 1 Evils: Don't waste your money ******************************* Sincerely, DoctorEvil
Archive Posted January 20, 2003 Author Report Posted January 20, 2003 peredhil31 Elder of Lists and Manners Posts: 239 (10/16/01 2:17:29 pm) Reply More Good Books -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Lord of the Rings trilogy by J.R.R. Tolkein Begins slowly and builds to a series of climatic events. Had numerous firsts - Orcs, Treants, non-cutsie elves, legendary histories that added realistic depths. One of the foundations of modern Role Playing Games. The EarthSea Trilogy by Ursula K. LeGuin Introduced a mysticism to magic that still reads well. Gave definition to the concept of True Names. One of the few western fantasies to not have a caucasian as the main character without being preachy about it. The Amber Chronicles by Roger Zelazny The father of Multi-universes and the whys of them. Also the father of Chaos vs. Law later perfected by Modesitt in the Recluse books. Delvish the Damned by Roger Zelazny Straight fantasy read. Great visualizations. The Elric Sagas (and all the Eternal Champion books) by Michael Moorcock. One of the FIRST anti-heros and the first vampiric weapon. The mother of Chaos vs. Law and Multi-Universes.
Archive Posted January 20, 2003 Author Report Posted January 20, 2003 Falcon2001 Initiate Posts: 56 (10/16/01 2:56:14 pm) Reply Even More Good Books -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- *Cioden comes in carrying a list, while Falcon comes in after him, almost buried under a pile of hardback edition books* Ahh...let's see here...I read at 600 words a minute(Really, I'm not joking!), so I've read a LOT of books in my life...here's some of my favorites. Ender's Game - Orson Scott Card This is a sci-fi, but beautifully made, and one that I hope will be around for generations. The story of Ender Wiggins, a genius that grows up to save humanity...and lose a part of himself. (*****) The Legends Trilogy (Time of the Twins, War of the Twins, and Test of the Twins) - Margaret Weis + Tracy Hickman These two are some of my all-time favorite authors. This is a wonderful series following Raistlin's rise to power, and his brother Caramon's loss thereof. (****1/2) The Chronicles Trilogy (Dragons of Autumn Twilight, Dragons of Winter Night, and Dragons of Spring Dawning) - Margaret Weis + Tracy Hickman This is undoubtedly a MUST-READ for all fantasy readers. This is the basis for the entire Dragonlance series, detailing everyone's favorite characters, and the War of the Lance. Dragons, magic, Kender, what more could you ask for? (*****) Windhaven - George R. R. Martin + Lisa Tuttle Both of these authors are mostly unknowns to me, but my father reccomended this book. I am currently 9/10 of the way through it, and love it! It is the story of a planet of mostly water, where a starship crashlanded hundreds of years ago. The solar panels off of the ship were made into wings, and due to low gravity and high air pressure, certain people are able to ride the winds from island to island, sharing ideas and culture. (****) The Dragonriders of Pern (There is NO WAY I'm going to put all the books here) - Anne McCaffrey This series is legendary in it's glory, and while it starts off as a science fiction, it blends from sci-fi to pure fantasy with almost poetic grace. Great characters, realistic plotline, and a series that will keep you reading for months! (****) The Wheel of Time - Robert Jordan The best book series ever. Period. This is a nine-book series, with each book averaging 950 pages. The characters are undescribably beautiful, the tone is exsquisite, the plot is staggering, and the sheer size and magnitude of the series is earth-shaking. The story centers around three young boys, Rand Al'Thor, Matrim Cauthon, and Perrin Aybara, all who grow up in the sleepy farming town of Two Rivers. However, Rand is much more than he seems at first, and the Aes Sedai are soon visiting. The first book in the series is called Eye of the World...READ IT NOW!!!!!!!! (******) Will's Choice Award! The Deathgate Cycle - Margaret Weis + Tracy Hickman One more wonderful series from a pair of authors that are world-renowned for their work in fantasy. In this, the world has been sundered into four parts, the worlds of water, air, earth, and fire. The plan was to allow each world to support the others, but something has gone terribly wrong... (*****) Stranger in a Strange Land - Robert Heinlein Classic science fiction, and a wonderful story to boot. I'm not going to spoil this by telling you the plot, but make sure to read this! (*****1/2) Will's Choice Award! The Number of the Beast - Robert Heinlein Another great story from one of the masters of science fiction. Takes the multiple univers theory exploited so well by Zelazny and adds a scientically sound(Or so it seems) background to it. Join Zeb, Sharpie, Jake, and Deety on a trip through places you've been before, and some you shouldn't! Plus, this contains one of the best instances of an author insulting his own works I've seen in a while. (*****) Job - Robert Heinlein The story of Job, the man who God took everything away from, but he kept his faith; but this version is more modernized, and also takes advantage of the multiple universe theory. Once more, a very good book. (***1/2) Well...that's all the ones I can think of right now. CiodenDarkeye Initiate of The Pen Hopeful Patron Saint of Impatience
Archive Posted January 20, 2003 Author Report Posted January 20, 2003 Zool47 Elder Posts: 101 (10/16/01 9:22:06 pm) Reply Re: Even More Good Books -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Yes! Another Heinlein fan! You go Baby! ~Zool~ Elder of Elders, The Pen is Mightier than the Sword. Bard of Terra, Patron Saint of Aspiring Bards. Elder than dirt, more foolish than a jester, able to trip over the smallest logic in a single step. It's... Oh, you know.
Archive Posted January 20, 2003 Author Report Posted January 20, 2003 Falcon2001 Page Posts: 65 (10/19/01 3:03:13 pm) Reply MORE GOOD BOOKS! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Whew...I totally forgot a few... The Chronicles of Narnia - C. S. Lewis This is a classic. Anyone who hasn't read this should be beat with a fish. This is the story of Narnia, an imaginary land with very deep religious ties. The final book, in my opinion, is the best. (******) Will's Choice Award! The Space Trilogy - C. S. Lewis Once again, a classic, but less widely known than the CoN. The Space Trilogy includes That Hideous Strength, Perelandra, and... oh dash it all, I forgot the last. Anyway, once again a great series. (******) WCA! Desperation - Stephen King Aside from having one of the coolest bookcovers ever, it's a thriller that kept me entertained the entire time! Well over 600 pages in length, and well worth the size. (*****) ANYTHING BY ROBERT HEINLEIN This man is a genius of science fiction. If you ever see anything by him, do yourself a favor and read it. Zool: see above! CiodenDarkeye Page of The Mighty Pen
Archive Posted January 20, 2003 Author Report Posted January 20, 2003 Gyrfalcon25 Bard Posts: 74 (10/19/01 5:26:10 pm) Reply Re: MORE GOOD BOOKS! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Here are some of my takes, and another series... Heinlein: I leave you to your obsession, but I just don't like his work. ANY of his work. Number of the Beast: Boring, and I at many points wondered if he was on happy drugs or wrote this over a decade or two, what with how it skips around and ignore what *was* the storyline a few pages before. (**1/2) Narnia: an excellent fantasy series for kids, though the books are a little short for adults, some books are MUCH better then others, but still a good series. (****) Ender's Game and Ender's Shadow: Both are very, very good. Ender's shadow replays Ender's Game, but from the perspective of Bean and his life... (*****) Wheel of Time: No end in sight, and I'd like to end before the author dies of old age, but an excellent, LARGE series. READ IT! (*****) Gyr's Choice Award now for a new two: Memory, Sorrow and Thorn: An excellent trilogy by Tad Williams, following the life of Simon, a simple cook's helper, and how his life changes as a result of three magical blades and a prophecy... (*****) GCA The Sword of Truth series: The adventures of Richard, which all begin when the simple wood's guide one day meets a mysterious woman persued by four assassins... *NOT for children, some of the descriptions are... graphic (not sex. =P) (*****)
Archive Posted January 20, 2003 Author Report Posted January 20, 2003 Falcon2001 Page Posts: 66 (10/19/01 6:09:09 pm) Reply Re: MORE GOOD BOOKS! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sorry, Gyr, but the Sword of Truth series, from the second book on, steals a LOT of ideas from Jordan. Sisters of the Light, Dreamwalkers, Han (Saidin, Saidar) Blood of the Fold(Whitecloaks)...I enjoy the series immensely, but it's getting a little repetative due to him repeating a bunch of stuff. (Wow, that was redundant) Jordan could have fit thirteen times the story plot into the same space of a chapter of goodkind...but he's still good. AND HEINLEIN RULES! So there CiodenDarkeye Page of The Mighty Pen
Archive Posted January 20, 2003 Author Report Posted January 20, 2003 Rezure Quill-Bearer Posts: 20 (10/19/01 7:41:01 pm) Reply And, once again, books -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Well, if we're keeping it to Sci-Fi & Fantasy Robert Heinlein: I'm sort of wary of anyone who is too big a fan of him - ever since Mr. Ryan, our chem teacher in grade 11 Chronicles of Narnia: First book is actually very good(****) (from what I remember) but the rest of them aren't(**). Earthsea: What a horrible, horrible book (the first one). That they'd actually make us read that in school is very, very weird. As someone said "If you're going to do the exact same thing someone else has done, you should at least do as well a job, or else, why bother?"(1/2) Ender's Game: Interesting, I guess. I sort of don't as much like the cockiness of the author, however. (***) Lord of the Rings: It's not like you haven't read it. But if you haven't, do it (*****) And now some more Good Sci-Fi Books: The Illustrated Man, Ray Bradbury: Though I don't like Ray Bradbury's "preachiness" as Peredhil would call it, it's much more palatable in short story form! And besides, some of the short stories are actually pretty scary, which, I guess, is what he was going for (***1/2) A Ticket to Planet Tranay, Robert Sheckley (This is what my book is called in Russian, but since it's a collection of short stories and "A Ticket..." is only one of the stories, it may be called something different in its original): It's a wonder somebody came up with some of these ideas. Like, for example, the "Prize for Peril" - about the idea of reality game-shows - actually almost is coming true with today's TV, right? And the idea of state-sponsored muggings is pretty original. Overall, funny while not being humour-based, which is usually a good idea (****) Fairytales for Robots, Stanislaw Lem: First off, you can't honestly tell me you can think of funnier names than Klapaucius and Trurl (the heroes of most of these stories). Second off, Lem is just good at every sci-fi book he does, it seems... I liked Solaris, I liked Pirx the Pilot, I liked Journals of Ijon Tichiy (I especially liked the one where he attends a neeting where every other attendee is a washing machine, and I also liked the ones about Kurdles having to be hunted from the inside) (****) Cat's Cradle, Kurt Vonnegut: for some reason it sounds really wrong to me to like Kurt Vonnegut, but Cat's Cradle is an excellent book (which is also a veritable repository of cool quotes). (****1/2) Also good is slaughterhouse five, but that one's way too weird, even for a science-fiction book (and it's not really a science-fiction book, although it has aliens and a guy being stuck in an alien zoo forced to (although its not like he wouldn't want to, really) have sex with a porn-star for the aliens to watch the weird earth rituals) (****) (I think I'm using too many brackets (way too many, in fact)). Good Fantasy Books: (okay, I'm not sure all/any of these qualify under fantasy, but probably they do) Mummi Troll, Tuvve Janson: okay, so it's a book for small kids. It was read to me when I was three. But still, its a very good fantasy book. Even the whole idea of a Morra creature - I'm surprised it's not in any games (well, it is in "alienation," but that's cause I was asked to come up with the creatures for that - and it's still called a Decoid, not a Morra) (****) Children of Captain Grant, Jules Verne: I don't remember any of it, I just remember it was really interesting for some reason... (***1/2) Master and Margarita, Mikhail Bulgakov: The absolute most interesting book I've ever read (so far.) About what happens when a magician named Voland (who is really the devil) and his entourage of Demons (the descriptions come in handy for doodling when bored in history class) comes to 1920's Moscow. Also about a bad poet, the workings of a local variety theatre and its employees, a fat black cat, Russian Bureaucracy, and I haven't even mentioned the title characters. Also involves parallel storyline about how horrible it is to be Pontius Pilate. Sounds quite tacky from my description, but its not at all (plus it was written before the whole Tolkien-ADD (no, not attention deficit disorder, I mean AD & D, there.)-etc. thing, so its very, very original. This book is amazing (I don't know whether it was well translated, but still). If you believe me on one thing, believe me on this, and read this book! (Impostor's Choice Award: *****+)
Archive Posted January 20, 2003 Author Report Posted January 20, 2003 Gyrfalcon25 Bard Posts: 75 (10/19/01 9:23:10 pm) Reply Re: MORE GOOD BOOKS! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Okay, yeah, I noticed that too... (I'm reading Wheel of Time again, and just noticing all the similarities.) BUT! The mark of great minds is that they think alike. Besides, the differences are interesting, and the next book out might veer away from WoT. Gyr shifts between hating the Mord-Sith and thinking that they are cool homicidal dominatrix women.
Archive Posted January 20, 2003 Author Report Posted January 20, 2003 Falcon2001 Page Posts: 70 (10/20/01 12:26:53 am) Reply Re: MORE GOOD BOOKS! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Actually, I think I might be masochistic...my neighbor's ideal job is a Mord-Sith... Now she's Mistress Jessica, and I'm working on translating the father rahl devotion to the mistress jessica one... Or, of course, I lose most of my hair due to her pulling it out, and I also go through the rest of my life looking like I got in a fight with a wolverine... CiodenDarkeye Page of The Mighty Pen
Archive Posted January 20, 2003 Author Report Posted January 20, 2003 DoctorEvil65 Weenie Awardee Posts: 45 (10/20/01 7:21:10 pm) Reply Re: MORE GOOD BOOKS! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- More of the Doctor's Reviews Any Book by Robert Heinlein The Doctor HATES Heinlein....nuff said Rating: 1 Evils The Magician Series by Raymond Feist Great books, especially the first, Magician. Tells the story of young Pug, who discovers his innate magical abilities. Beautfully crafted fantasy setting. Rating: 4 Evils Any Book by David Gemmell David Gemmells books all follow the same basica storylines. A hero of epic porportions and his cohorts battle and evil of epic proportions. But damn, it always works for the Doctor. Rating: 4 Evils The Kingless Land by Ed Greenwood This book was painful. Seriously painful. But the Doctor forced the Doctor's self to finish it. Don't waste your time. Rating: 1 Evil Sincerely, DoctorEvil
Archive Posted January 20, 2003 Author Report Posted January 20, 2003 Arlequin Visitor Posts: 3 (10/21/01 12:49:54 am) Reply Re: MORE GOOD BOOKS! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Heinlein is great ... I like a lot 'Etoile Garde a vous' (original title : Starship Troopers) --- The Black Compagny (by Glen Cook) ... 6 evils ;p What's ashamed !!! In france there are crually long to translated them... In April, I read the 4th books or the 1st of the South Annals. Now I'm waiting the 2 last annals of the South... --- From Hyperion to The Rise of Endymion, Dan Simmons was amazing. Never I read something as interesting as these Cantos. Ranting : 5 Evils. --- Sorry Gyrfalcon, but I have the impression that you forget the last one of the Ender's Serie. Ender's Game / Speaker of the Dead / Xenocide. It's an amazing triology and I learnt some thing about SF within those books. Rating : 4 Evils. --- Gateway, Beyond the blue event horizon ... by Frederik Pohl Interesting, even if I don't read all this serie, I like those that I have read. Rating : 3 Evils. --- Lovecraft's stories : No Comments... read them all... Rating : 5 Evils. --- To yours Scattered Bodies Go, and The Fabulous Riverboat... plus other of this serie, by Jose Farmer. More and More big the books. Pretty Impressive. Joe Farmer was crual with my free-time. Rating : 5 Evils
Archive Posted January 20, 2003 Author Report Posted January 20, 2003 Cheye69 Quill-Bearer Posts: 41 (10/21/01 7:21:26 am) Reply Not even of the same level of you all -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I read books a little different than you all... My favorite author right now is Jeffery Deaver He writes such books as "The Empty Chair", "Praying for Sleep" and "The Bone Collector" Everyone of his books I would personnally rate at 5 stars of 5 stars... My second author would have to be Jonathan Kellerman He writes such books as "Dr. Death", "The Clinic" and "The Butcher's Theater" His rating would be (usually) 4 stars out of 5. If you can't tell, my type of books to read is murder mystery.
Archive Posted January 20, 2003 Author Report Posted January 20, 2003 Gyrfalcon25 Bard Posts: 77 (10/21/01 4:58:55 pm) Reply Re: MORE GOOD BOOKS! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Sorry Gyrfalcon, but I have the impression that you forget the last one of the Ender's Serie. Ender's Game / Speaker of the Dead / Xenocide." No, I didn't. I never liked the two books after Ender's Game, but Ender's Shadow was good.
Archive Posted January 20, 2003 Author Report Posted January 20, 2003 Ozymandias the Elder The Founder Posts: 73 (10/21/01 7:05:10 pm) Reply Re: MORE GOOD BOOKS! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- *aak* Gyrfalcon...speaks...heresey... SMITE HIMMMMMM! Ozymandias draws his sword and charges Gyrfalcon, a wild look in his eye. Not like the next two books in the Ender quartet? For shame!!! Why, man?! WHYYYYYY????? And aren't you forgetting Children of the Mind? Ender's Game Xenocide Speaker for the Dead Children of the Mind Mine own recommendations: The Wizardry novels by Rick Cook * * * * (4 out of 5) One of the freshest aproaches to magic and some of the most impressive uses of programmers I've ever seen. Almost every modern twist on the medieval fantasy in these is a joy to read. Freakin' funny, too. Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom * * * * * (5 out of 5) The story of an incredibly wise man. I had to stop myself a few times and remember that Morrie Schwartz was actually real, and not a fictional hero. It's a short book, too, for those of you with schedules from Hell. Villains by Necessity by Eve Forward * * * * * (5 out of 5) Good wins. That's the first page. The last six evil people need to save the world. That's the plot. Almost Zelazny-level originality. Highly recommended for diehard fans of the dungeon crawl. ;>) Ender's Game, Xenocide, Speaker for the Dead, and Children of the Mind by Orson Scott Card * * * * * (5 out of 5) Yep, me too. D Wonderfully, amazingly precise looks at morality that will change the way you look at the story with each passing book (the far-reaching plots were never what I expected). He's very skilled at keeping you guessing and making you think. At least when he writes child main characters... The Holy Bible by various * * * * * (5 out of 5) I included it for the simple fact that the teachings in it touch everyone's lives, whether you look at it from a standpoint of belief in God or not. Simply, they are useful to everybody. Jingo by Terry Pratchett * * * * (4 out of 5) The most unique (fictional) war I've ever read. Hilarious and a good suspense yarn too. Hogfather by Terry Pratchett * * * * * (5 out of 5) You know a damn good writer is somone who can make you root for Death. One of the best fantasy novels I've ever read, and maybe one of the best books I've ever read. One of the most original evil plots a villain's ever had, certainly. I make the bet you won't see the end coming. At all. It also stars our friend The Grim Squeaker. Edited by: Ozymandias the Elder at: 10/21/01 7:32:07 pm
Archive Posted January 20, 2003 Author Report Posted January 20, 2003 Wyvern00 Elder Posts: 216 (10/21/01 8:13:36 pm) Reply An honorable mention... -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Lone Wolf and Cub a manga series written by Kazuo Koike and illustrated by Goseki Kojima. I say that this is an "honorable mention" since many would argue that it isn't literature. Personally, I think it is. The suberb writing of Koike is accompanied by the astonishing visual flair of Kojima. The result is an absolutely shocking manga series... One capable of displaying true drama and characterisation, and one unrestricted by the normal bounds of the imagination. The entire series is made up of seperate stories based around the same character (Lone Wolf, a traveling ronin assasin) which can be read seperatly and be totally understood. What's amazing is that the stories come fresh and original, bursting with emotions and excellent plots, every time. For those who enjoy manga, this is essential. For those who don't read manga or anything of the sort, pick up a volume of this series and give it a try. You'll find yourself pleasantly surprised... May I note that this manga series is also one of the central inspirations for a campaign setting I created, called "Demon Century Japan". Five stars in my book. (Note: not at ALL for children)
Archive Posted January 20, 2003 Author Report Posted January 20, 2003 Arlequin Visitor Posts: 6 (10/22/01 2:33:04 pm) Reply Re: MORE GOOD BOOKS! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Okies... I understand your opinion about the ender's series, dear gyrfalcon... Ender's game is totally different that the 2 others... in the 2 others Ender is no more a kid and he is more mature. Me I liked the 2 others for this difference
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