Are you trying to develop a palate for a certain genre you don't normally read?

[Danielle The Book Huntress , Literary Adrenaline Junkie]

I like to read different genres because it makes life interesting, and also as a writer, I think it helps to develop your writing style and ability to read widely. There are some genres I just can't get into, but I do try.

Are there genres you would like to read more widely? Do you need a nudge?

This thread is a place for people to make suggestions in certain genres and for discussion in general reading in novel genres.

[Danielle The Book Huntress , Literary Adrenaline Junkie]

I have to admit I am not a big Sci-Fi reader. I would like to enjoy it more than I do. I think my problem is I can have a short attention span and I get bored with too much technical detail.

Curmudgeon seems to be a huge Sci-Fi fan and I want to develop my taste for it since he seems to enjoy it so much. Would love some suggestions. Probably more low brow and lo-tech and high on action.

[Danielle The Book Huntress , Literary Adrenaline Junkie]

I use my review gigs to help me to expand my reading and it has helped. It can be a chore at times. I have read more of certain genres I wouldn't normally read, such as Woman's Fiction, and Literary Fiction. I've come to the conclusion that I still don't enjoy those genres though. :)

[Jim]

'palate' instead of 'patate'?

No, I read what I like & have never tried to like a genre. I seem to like most, but vary depending on my mood.

[Danielle The Book Huntress , Literary Adrenaline Junkie]

Yeah, that was just a typo. Sorry!

[Danielle The Book Huntress , Literary Adrenaline Junkie]

I'm definitely a moody reader and I don't like to get bored with reading too much of one kind of book. That's why I like to switch things up.

[The Pirate Ghost, Long John Silvers Wanna-be]

I'd say, see if there is a book that bridges the gap between what you read normally and Sci-Fi... there are some sub genre Sci-fi Romance novels out there, and some Sci-Fi novels that read more like a Medieval Fantasy Novel wiht sky sleds than hard sci-fi.

The ones that come to mind are if you liked Dragonlance Chronicles then maybe Ghost Legion then go to Hung Out (Which is a spin off from the Ghost Legion)


I also thought The Adventures of the Stainless Steel Rat were a lot of fun, with some humor in them. That's practically a classic and, parts of it read like a modern adventure novel.

Or another suggestion might be going old school, with some Dinosaur Planet (which has a sequel to) by Anne McCaffrey and Decision at Doona

and last but not least, Timothy Zahn's Star Wars books (he wrote many of them).

You might even like the Commonwealth Saga Pandora's Star which reads like a sci-fi James Mischner Novel (but, probably better, I mean that kind of scope and complexity.) There are a lot of technical details there though.

There are also some books that have both, like Glory Road by Robert A. Heinlein and The House Between The Worlds by Marion Zimmer Bradley.

And last but not least, The Dragonriders of Pern which is actualy cleverly disguised "Sci-fi" written to look like Medieval Fantasy.

Initially, I'd stay away from hard stuff like Aurthur C. Clark and Isaac Asimove, or even Orson Scott Card Which is generally not like most other sci-fi.

You might also like Conquerors' Pride which has some detail, but less than other books. Heck even the space ship has an Artificial Inteligence that's very human.

Another way would be, look for something written by a Fantasy Writer that you liked (or a writer of any other genre) and try it. That's hit or miss. Sometimes authors just "Do their thing" in a different setting, sometimes they really try to be different.

One last try this one. Dream Park this is near future, but it is technically sci-fi but, well... you'll see.

I hope this was helpful.

[Rizwan]

Recently for me, its Zombie Thriller. I admit, I was never a fan of Zombie movies or pure Zombie Horror or even the thing that is Zombie, period! Never watched the original Night of the Living Dead or any of it's sequels/remakes/knockoffs whatever (the only zombie movie ever watched and liked was Zombieland).

But ever since I started watching The Walking Dead and collecting the comics, not to mention found out about the awesome author that is Jonathan Maberry and his whole arsenal of kickass Zombie-related works, from actionpacked Patient Zero to YA adventure Rot and Ruin series, with the latestDead of Night, I think I'm coming around... Although there still a heavy dose of action/adventure has to be mixed with Zombie fiction for me to like. Thanks to David, got another cool-looking series Arisen, Book One - Fortress Britain.

[Danielle The Book Huntress , Literary Adrenaline Junkie]

Thanks, Hugh! Appreciate the suggestions. You are the man!

@Rizwan, I feel you on the zombie genre. Not my thing. I did love Patient Zero, and I think adding some good action to a zombie book definitely increases my interest.

[Eileen]

Lady D, that's a excellent question. I'm going to think about what books I have a hard time getting into.

[Danielle The Book Huntress , Literary Adrenaline Junkie]

Would be curious so see what you come up with, Eileen.

[The Pirate Ghost, Long John Silvers Wanna-be]

@Rizwan, yes, Patient Zero was a really good book to use to bridge into science fiction. For that matter, the Sigma Force books are science fiction set in a modern setting (with some ancient mysticism thrown in) too.

@Lady D, your welcome. I'm glad I could help.