Books that are not well known/not talked about often

[Christine]

One more, and I'm not sure how well-known it is. Robin McKinley is a well-known fantasy author, but this book is older:
* Spindle's End - a stand-alone retelling of Sleeping
Beauty, very quirky and well-done.

Again, sorry for not being able to link!

[Chavelli]

The book of strange new things by Michael Fabre. Totally captivated me, totally not a book I would ever have thought I would like!!! Highly original and thought provoking.

[Gary]

I was looking at a list of the novels I read between March 1990 and November 1994 and six of them stood out.
The Broken Sword by Poul Anderson, Lord of the Rings before Lord of the Rings in a single novel
Tau Zero by Poul Anderson, Interstellar voyage went wrong
Glory Road by Robert A. Heinlein, a fantasy novel by Heinlein, very cool
Dream Park by Larry Niven and Steven Barnes, Virtual reality with holograms before VR was a real thing
The Man Who Folded Himself by David Gerrold, the ultimate time travel novel
Hyperion by Dan Simmons, an SF version of Canterbury Tales with the pilgrims headed to a distant planet to see the Shrike
It was fun remembering these great novels. I hope they won’t be forgotten.

[Kateb]

Gary wrote: "I was looking at a list of the novels I read between March 1990 and November 1994 and six of them stood out.
The Broken Sword by Poul Anderson, Lord of the Rings befo..."

wow I had forgotten about most of those, and they are in my book cupboard. That is what I will be reading next week.

especially poul Anderson and of course Glory Road

[CBRetriever]

Gary wrote: "The Broken Sword by Poul Anderson, Lord of the Rings before Lord of the Rings in a single novel"

Being that both The Broken Sword was published in 1954
and Lord of the Rings was published from 1954-1955, I'm not sure it would be considered a before , but it definitely was a single novel without as many characters. The Broken Sword was a good book, but I didn't like it as much as LotR which I love and have reread multiple times.

[Carro]

Pixiegirl105 wrote: "Kateb wrote: "love Sherri S Tepper

Sherri is such an underrated author. I've only ran across you who've read anything by her. Unless I made someone read her stories. Sighs, seriously her stories a..."

Add me in as another Tepper fan. My favourite is The Fresco - it is one of the happier ones - not delirious joy all through at all :) but some of hers can be very dark. I do find they linger in my mind a long time after reading.

[Hayley]

Chavelli wrote: "The book of strange new things by Michael Fabre. Totally captivated me, totally not a book I would ever have thought I would like!!! Highly original and thought provoking."

I love that book so much!!!!!!! I

[Dj]

Frank Herbert wrote another book, which I found quite intriguing which had nothing to do with his Dune works. It was

The Dosadi Experiment

[Erica Taylor]

One of. my favorite series ,still have some of the books are the Dragon Prince by Melanie Rawn

[Karin]

Chavelli wrote: "The book of strange new things by Michael Fabre. Totally captivated me, totally not a book I would ever have thought I would like!!! Highly original and thought provoking."

I agree! I read this and while I only gave it 3 stars--which means I did like it--(low for me for this author) it was very well written and a great book to make one ponder.

[Kateb]

Erica Taylor wrote: "One of. my favorite series ,still have some of the books are the Dragon Prince by Melanie Rawn"

I had forgotten about her, I have a cupboard of books and this is in there. Looks like I will be re reading it soon. I like a lot of her books

I often think we forget about the older authors and some of their books were very good and still good today

[Beth]

Erica Taylor wrote: "One of. my favorite series ,still have some of the books are the Dragon Prince by Melanie Rawn"

I read the first of these a couple years ago. Great scenery-chewing melodrama... and dragons! I'll have to go back and finish up the first trilogy.

[Trike]

Dj wrote: "Frank Herbert wrote another book, which I found quite intriguing which had nothing to do with his Dune works. It was

The Dosadi Experiment
"

The way you phrased this makes it sound like you’re unfamiliar with Herbert’s work outside of Dune. Is that so?

Dosadi is fourth (or fifth?) book in that series. I forget the main character’s name, George or something. He has another series featuring a godlike AI spaceship. The first one is Destination Void. It delves into a lot of the issues he visits in Dune, and most of the sequels take place on the planet Pandora which is populated by intelligent vegetation. (Which might sound familiar to folks who’ve seen Avatar. James Cameron only steals from the best.)

[CBRetriever]

Soul Catcher, while neither scifi nor fantasy is also interesting

[Jan]

Pixiegirl105 wrote: "A Plague of Angels
I really like Sherri S. Teppler but I never hear anyone talking about her. This was the first book I read by her and seriously, her books never end up the way I exp..."

The late Sheri S. Tepper wrote some fabulous and really memorable books, although she is a bit hit-or-miss for me, and I haven't liked all of hers I've tried. But I agree, she is under-appreciated. I liked:

Grass and
Raising the Stones

The Gate to Women's Country is also one of her better known books, although I struggled with that one a bit. Interesting ideas, though, and I would consider a reread at some point.

[Jan]

Christine wrote: "One more, and I'm not sure how well-known it is. Robin McKinley is a well-known fantasy author, but this book is older:
* Spindle's End - a stand-alone retelling of Sleeping
Beauty, very quirky a..."

I read Spindle's End a few years ago, and I remember really liking it. McKinley is a quality author.

[Jan]

Dj wrote: "Frank Herbert wrote another book, which I found quite intriguing which had nothing to do with his Dune works. It was

The Dosadi Experiment
"

I'm a massive fan of Dune, but I haven't read too many of Herbert's other books. I haven't read The Dosadi Experiment, or any of that series. But I do have a soft spot for one of his older standalones, The Santaroga Barrier. It's probably a bit dated now, but I remember finding it an interesting and powerful read (years ago LOL). One of his shorter books. An interesting concept. Does anyone else remember 'Jaspers'????

[Marie]

It depends on how far out of your comfort zone you want to go. There is an urban fantasy vampire series that is loaded with action, intrigue, conspiracy, lethal vampires, and secret organizations. This is the first book in the series and in my honest opinion this is the best vampire urban fantasy series out there.

Here is a link to the first book:
by Graeme Rodaughan

So far there are four books in the series with the fifth one being written right now. There is supposed to be maybe nine books in the series before all is said and done.

Reviews for the series are running from three to five stars. These books are excellent and I would recommend them to anyone that loves edge of your seat action mixed with vampires that can kick some butt! :)

[Dj]

Erica Taylor wrote: "One of. my favorite series ,still have some of the books are the Dragon Prince by Melanie Rawn"

I enjoyed those to start, although it did drift into Soap Opera range for my taste. Still it was very well written. I might have to give it a second try

[Dj]

Trike wrote: "Dj wrote: "Frank Herbert wrote another book, which I found quite intriguing which had nothing to do with his Dune works. It was

The Dosadi Experiment
[bookcover:The Dosadi Experiment|2..."

I would say, Yes and No. I have read some and skimmed some, but for the most part Dosadi is about the only thing besides Dune that caught my interest

[Gabi]

Although I'm not through with the book yet I can definitely add The Way of Thorn and Thunder by Daniel Heath Justice here. It has less than 100 ratings on GR and I can't understand why.

As far as I'm in, this book already is better than 95% of everything I've read this year.

[Kateb]

just finished Anne McCaffrey's Freedom series . I always forget how good a writer and so many books

[Kirsten]

One of my favorite series is James White's Sector General series.

[Geoff]

A true forgotten gem of science fiction is The Fortunate Fall Raphael Carter never published another book, but I re-read this recently and I think it 98% holds up.

[Bonnie]

Yes, I still think about "The Fortunate Fall" sometimes - how journalists worked and how people consumed news.

And wasn't there a straightforward lesbian relationship, sort of "early"?
I read that when it was new, I may not remember that correctly but it seems like it was the case.

Anyway it is worth reading. The author certainly thought about technology / networking / media consumption and zoomed into a future with it.

[V.W.]

Sleeping Planet by William R. Burkett Jr

The entire world is put to sleep by a chemical attack by aliens. Only a small band who were naturally immune remain to fight. Recently re-published on Amazon.

The "Wizard" books by Christopher Stasheff.

An agent from an interstellar civilisation is posted to a strange planet where magic seems to be real. With an AI horse!

All Judgement Fled by James White.

A huge derelict alien ship enters the solar system. A team is sent to examine it only to discover that it seemed to be a zoo ship in which all the very dangerous creatures had escaped. But where was the crew? Could they be hiding amongst the animals?

"Transit" and "Sea Horse In The Sky" by Edmund Cooper.

Both novels of humans snatched by aliens and find themselves in very odd situations.

[John]

I find Sherwood Smith's Inda series (which begins with Inda is really underrated and under-discussed. There's something a little off-putting about the narrative, in that it has an omniscient POV that head hops a bit, but it's a great world, great characters, great story. Highly recommended.

[Michelle]

The Inda series is one of my favorites, too.

[Dj]

V.W. wrote: "Sleeping Planet by William R. Burkett Jr

The entire world is put to sleep by a chemical attack by aliens. Only a small band who were naturally immune remain to fight. Recently re-published on Amaz..."

I enjoyed the Wizard series, or at least what I read of it in the 80s. I even still have a copy of the original King Kobold that I have hung onto due to the fact that it is so hard to get ahold of.

Now days they have all the other books in Kindle format, but not the original King.

[KIM]

I went through multiple pages of comments looking for one of my favorite series. Indie author Hadena James and her Brenna Strachan series. Dark Cotillion introduces you to demon witch Brenna Strachan her demon father Lucifer (yes that Lucifer) her witch mother Elise and a her eight siblings along with a whose who of mythical beings. This book starts during WWII but quickly moves to a present day storyline which had me laughing myself into tears. When I need to just chill and lighten up these are my go to books. HJ also has a series about a team of US Marshals who are as crazy as the serial killers they chase. Nothing says fun like a psychopath crossed with a sociopath who is doomed to be targeted and/or admired by every killer within a hundred thousand miles.

[Judy]

Carro wrote: "Pixiegirl105 wrote: "Kateb wrote: "love Sherri S Tepper

Sherri is such an underrated author. I've only ran across you who've read anything by her. Unless I made someone read her stories. Sighs, se..."

Hi, I like Teper very much too. I loved The Gate to Woman's Country and another book by her but I cant recall the title. It is an alien species that goes from world to world correcting problems such as gun violence or drug addiction, whatever. Do you know what book that is? There is a cave painting involved so I am thinking it might be The Fresco.

[Michelle]

I may have missed it in this thread, but Janny Wurts wrote a phenominal series called "The War of Light and Shadow". She certainly knows how to tell a tale! It's really surprising that she's not more well-known. Very addicting story, although I am worried as to how everything could possibly be resolved at the end. Right now I'm immersed in book 4: Fugitive Prince. I think there are nine books in all.

[Kateb]

oh I forgot janny wurts, I have the whole series in my book cupboard.

looks like more bks to add to the reading list. I did love her series

[Jan]

I'm loving this thread too. Lots of great ideas to go and have a look at :D

[Noor]

Laura wrote: "Oh! I love this thread!!

I am just setting up a blog of book review and cover art that is dedicated to Fantasy and Romance and in particular to the Underdogs. Those great books that people don't r..."

Oooh, your website looks great, thanks for sharing! *goes to explore*

[John]

Michelle wrote: "I may have missed it in this thread, but Janny Wurts wrote a phenominal series called "The War of Light and Shadow". She certainly knows how to tell a tale! It's really surprising that she's not mo..."

Another great recommendation--very good, very underrated!

[Laura]

I second Janny Wurts. Her books are brilliant.

@Noor - Thank You!! :))

[John]

I did a quick search and did not see this author Ken Goddard and this is the first book a mystery/science fiction trilogy First Evidence

Have read 2 of the 3 and think they are underrated with a different take on CSI

[Nicole]

For complex characters, and superb writing may I add Guy Gavriel Kay's "The Lions of Al-Rassan" and
I just finished (and hugely enjoyed) the "Rivers Of London" series, by Ben Aaronovitch.

[DivaDiane]

Oh, I have a lot to add to this thread (how did I not know it was here earlier?!?). I apologize for lack of links in advance. The app sucks that way.

I second Sheri Tepper.

Another under appreciated author for sheer good feels in Spider Robinson. I loved his collected shorts, “The Callahan Chronicles.” He also finished a book originally by Heinlein, which I quite liked.

Suzette Haden Elgin wrote a trilogy which starts with Native Tongue. A dystopian future not unlike the Handmaid’s Tale (but predating it), where the women are used as linguists to communicate with an alien race. They create a women’s language Laàdan.

Also, Vonda McIntyre is an under appreciated writer. She wrote The Moon and the Sun and Dreamsnake.

Carol Ermschwiller, Nicola Griffith, Alice Nunn. I could go on, but I’ll have to look at my shelves because the names are escaping me.

[Craig]

I am not sure how well talked about either of these are but it seemed like David Hair 's moontide quartet flew completely under the radar a few years ago, i know i couldnt pick up the last one ni waterstones on the day it came out.

Also i loveMichael J Sullivan, i know he regularly gets in the top 10 lists for fantasy on GR but dont think he has the base to get near winning it, despite them seeming pretty ferocious

[Evaine]

An author who deserves far more attention than she gets is Blair MacGregor. I love her Sand of Bone and Breath of Stone duology.

And I'd love to see more talk about KB Wagers and her Indranan War Trilogy starting with Behind the Throne. Interstellar gunrunner turned Empress, I mean, come on!

[Monica]

The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield...not really sci-fi or fantasy, but trippy and somewhat disturbing. This book threw me for a loop when I was at the point in my reading when it felt as if I could predict what was going to happen in most books.

[Don]

"Cast under an Alien Sun" by Olan Thorensen is a pretty good book followed by the beginnings of a pretty good series so far and I've not heard much talk about it.
Someone mentioned Nicola Griffith, her book "Hild" was excellent, yes it got a big award nomination but not many mention it in conversation much.

[Jemppu]

Poul Anderson's The Broken Sword seemed something of an unassuming one at first, but turned out to be quite a masterfully crafted and compactly packed epic in it's category of fantasy based on Norse sagas.

[Oleksandr]

Jemppu wrote: "Poul Anderson's The Broken Sword seemed something of an unassuming one at first, but turned out to be quite a masterfully crafted and compactly packed epic in it's ca..."

I've read it ages ago but back then I also was quite impressed.

[Mary]

I would however warn that The Broken Sword is distinctly grim.

Even by Anderson's standards.

[CBRetriever]

Jemppu wrote: "Poul Anderson's The Broken Sword seemed something of an unassuming one at first, but turned out to be quite a masterfully crafted and compactly packed epic in it's ca..."

it's on sale on amazon.com today in Kindle version for US residents at $1.99

[Bonnie]

Micah wrote: "I could do up a pretty huge list but here are a few that I really liked from authors who have received too little attention:

Forgotten Suns by Judith Tarr: Tarr simply writes characters very well, and wisely focuses most of her attention on character dynamics and personal interplay... The various characters are well drawn individuals, and the teenage protagonist is extremely well played: quite the strong character.

Micah I bought this after seeing you mention it. I hit some doldrums in the middle so it took me a while to finish it, but I did. Enjoyed the family of archeologists, the relationship between aunt and niece, the tension with Psi Corps, and the living Ship. Thanks for the recommendation.

[Micah]

Bonnie wrote: "Micah I bought this after seeing you mention it. l..."

Glad to be of some service!