Recommendations Thread

[Lancer, Warden of the Slums]

Hello D and J'ers I need some information. I just finished a book and am having a hard time deciding what to read next. I've narrowed it down to a reread of The Name of the Wind or to start Peter V. Brett's Demon Cycle series. It's the end of the year so I can't decide if I want to start yet another series (beginning with The Warded Man) or a reread one I vastly enjoyed and start fresh in the new year.

If you have read The Warded Man let me know if I should say screw it and dive In or do a year end comfort read and start it in January instead!

[Wayland, Ernest Scribbler]

Name of the Wind was great, but I found the follow up a bit disappointing.

I'm really enjoying the Demon Cycle. I'd suggest that.

[Rinn, (Retired mod) Captain of the SSV Normandy]

I LOVED both books so erm... I'm a bit useless. I'll try and be helpful and say The Warded Man, such a great one :)

[Lel]

I would say go with the new ones.

[Roger, Knight Radiant]

Wayland wrote: "Name of the Wind was great, but I found the follow up a bit disappointing.

I'm really enjoying the Demon Cycle. I'd suggest that."

I liked it but got really annoyed with the completely unnecessary rapes in the book. I am not someone that thinks rapes have no place in books but they were pointless in this book. They did not add to the plot or character development and seemed to just be thrown in.

[Lancer, Warden of the Slums]

Well, I was going to start The Demon Cycle but last night I made the mistake of pulling The name of the wind off my shelf to just peek at. ended up reading the first chapters and now I'm hooked again.

[Paul, A wanderer in unknown realms]

Trapped

[Freya, Dragon Rider]

My fellow D&Jers - I have a quest!

A colleague of mine is leaving for pastures new on the 9th March and has never read Sci-Fi or Fantasy before. We were having a chat about the sci fi genre today and she feels somewhat inspired to try to read some now.

She has asked me where would be a good place to start. She probably doesn't have a lot of time to read and she needs something which will grab her attention, so much as I would like to recommend something like 'Red Mars', it might need to be a bit lighter in tone (not too many high-brow scientific concepts).

I am hoping to give her a list of a few authors / series with a sentence to say what they are about on Monday that she can then check out. But when put on the spot I couldn't give her one starting place for someone new to Sci-fi. So I turn to the wisdom of this lovely group - what sci-fi would you recommend? :)

[Paul, A wanderer in unknown realms]

For me I think Hugh Howeys Wool is a great one to grab her quickly. The start was originally a short story which pretty much went viral. And the story and characters are very accessible

[Shawnie]

For SciFi, I recommend Ann Aguirre's Sirantha Jax series starting with Grimspace. It's not too technical and has great character relationship building.

[Jim]

Freya wrote: "My fellow D&Jers - I have a quest!

A colleague of mine is leaving for pastures new on the 9th March and has never read Sci-Fi or Fantasy before. We were having a chat about the sci fi genre today ..."

A personal favorite that might be a good introduction with elements of space opera and good character development by C. J. Cherryh:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...

A fairly quick read in contrast to many current ponderous tomes. However, if so inclined, your friend might opt for the entire trilogy in one volume:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5...

[Shawnie]

Great recommendations! I really want to read C.J. Cherryh this year. :) And, Wool has been sitting on my RL shelf for over a year now, unread, for shame.

[Lancer, Warden of the Slums]

I totally agree with Wool and would also day may Pierce Brown's Red Rising series that we all seem to have really enjoyed.

[Melanie]

Honestly, I recommend The Hobbit as an ideal introduction. It's amazingly written, not at all intimidating, and episodic (which allows it to be easily read in pieces).

Ray Bradbury short stories would make a good sci-fi introduction because you can pick and choose.

[Jim]

Melanie wrote: "Honestly, I recommend The Hobbit as an ideal introduction. It's amazingly written, not at all intimidating, and episodic (which allows it to be easily read in pieces)."

I think the request was for SF books. But Bradbury might still be a good suggestion, e.g., The Martian Chronicles or The Illustrated Man.

[Nick]

Hmmm, what sort of sci-fi do you picture them enjoying?

Space opera?
Leviathan Wakes, Revelation Space, The Reality Dysfunction

These might be a bit heavy going to start with though, the sci-fi equivilant of big doorstop epic fantasies, so something lighter, more adventure-like...

A Talent for War: Archeologically minded antiquities dealers, travelling the galaxy and solving long hidden mysteries. Light enough to read, with some surprisingly deep ideas mixed in.

Diving into the Wreck: Follows a professional zero-g wreck diver and her team, unravelling the dangerous mysteries of an ancient wrecked ship.

Stardoc: Space doctor with a strange past, trying to make a life for herself. Very interesting series that took what I thought was an unfortunate turn four or five books in.

For Love of Mother-Not: Almost-pulpish space adventure, in this first novel the young hero meets his soon-to-be-lifelong companion, the flying alien dragon thing Flinx, and hi-jinx ensue.

Mindstar Rising: An ex-member of the psychic special forces gets drawn into an investigation.

If your friend likes crime stories however, one of the best ways I know of to add a little sci-fi to the diet is a series that is beloved even by people who otherwise never touch sci-fi. The in death series: Naked in Death.

This is a great police procedural series in near-future new york city, the series itself has more than 40 books in it now, and though in my opinion it doesn't really hit it's stride until the third or fourth book they are great reads all the same. The audiobooks have excellent narration too, if that matters :)

[Rinn, (Retired mod) Captain of the SSV Normandy]

Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? is pretty short, and also amazing :D

[Lel]

I only started reading sci-fi since joining this group. So for a newbe recommendation I loved A Scanner Darkly, Old Man's War andLock In

[Paul, A wanderer in unknown realms]

Great recomendations Lel. Its too easy to recommend new readers your own favourites instead of a book thats accessible to a rookie. Definitely think those would work. I passed Old Mans War to a sci fi virgin Few weeks back. I'll be curious to see what they think

[Roger, Knight Radiant]

How about The Martian or Lock In? Two short reads that are good (just saw now that Lel recommended Lock In but I'll leave it since it's good to know more than one person suggest it)

[Lancer, Warden of the Slums]

I was Going to mention The Reality Dysfunction because I enjoyed it a lot but decided bit to because as a first dive into sci fi it's a bit much.

[Lel]

It's definitely a genre to take baby steps in, Red Mars was way to sci-fi and political for me. And ilium was hard to stay with although the end was much better.

[Paul, A wanderer in unknown realms]

I have Lock In on my shelf since Christmas. I'll read Redshirts first but then Lock In.

[Shawnie]

Lock In was my first Scalzi book and I loved it, another great D&J botm.

[Freya, Dragon Rider]

Thank you everyone! This has been a real help :)

I'll compile the list for her tomorrow and hopefully she'll find something in it to grab her attention!

[Jeff]

Wool is great.DUNE.

[Roger, Knight Radiant]

Jeff wrote: "Wool is great.DUNE."

While I definitely like Dune, I wouldn't say that it's a good stepping stone or a light introduction to anything...

[Anthony]

For those readers wo like fantasy with a slightly crude sense of humor, I recommend Critical Failures by Robert Bevan. It was seriously laugh out loud funny.

[Anthony]

The Martian is another good starting point.

[Jeff]

Roger wrote: "Jeff wrote: "Wool is great.DUNE."

While I definitely like Dune, I wouldn't say that it's a good stepping stone or a light introduction to anything..."

Agreed.Its just my favorite.

[Roger, Knight Radiant]

Jeff wrote: "Roger wrote: "Jeff wrote: "Wool is great.DUNE."

While I definitely like Dune, I wouldn't say that it's a good stepping stone or a light introduction to anything..."

Agreed.Its just my favorite."

I'm curious about your opinion on the rest of the series, including the stuff written by his son. I like most of it, the stuff written by his son is obviously nowhere near the quality of the originals but if the stories were what his father planned then I'm glad I got the extra and find out what happens. If they are just stuff that was made up then I'm not happy with it.

[Jeff]

Roger wrote: "Jeff wrote: "Roger wrote: "Jeff wrote: "Wool is great.DUNE."

While I definitely like Dune, I wouldn't say that it's a good stepping stone or a light introduction to anything..."

Agreed.Its just m..."
I enjoyed all of the original Dune series by Frank.The first 3 the best,but I liked them all enough for a couple rereads all the way up to chapterhouse.I also enjoyed the stuff done by his son.You are right,they are not as good.I liked them anyway.I have read all of those as well,except for the two latest.I will get to those.

There are many who are critical of his sons work,but I find the worst thing I can say about it is that it isnt quite as good as his fathers.I think The original series is one of the greatest works of speculative fiction in the 20th century,so its hard for anyone to NOT fall short of that.

[Gary]

I see people discussing space opera in previous messages. That discussion could well start with the authors who more or less created the genre, E.E. "Doc" Smith with his Skylark series and the Lensmen series and Edmond Hamilton, who wrote among other things the Captain Future series. Hamilton was married to Leigh Brackett who was not only a skilled fantasy and SF author in her own right, but was one heck of a screen writer. She wrote Rio Bravo the classic John Wayne movie. Her last credit as I recall was a little movie with a score by John Williams, The Empire Strikes Back.

[Jim]

Gary wrote: "Hamilton was married to Leigh Brackett who was not only a skilled fantasy and SF author in her own right, but was one heck of a screen writer. She wrote Rio Bravo the classic John Wayne movie. Her last credit as I recall was a little movie with a score by John Williams, The Empire Strikes Back."

Not to mention the Bogart/Bacall classic, The Big Sleep (along with William Faulkner).

[Gary]

Jim wrote: "Gary wrote: "Hamilton was married to Leigh Brackett who was not only a skilled fantasy and SF author in her own right, but was one heck of a screen writer. She wrote Rio Bravo the classic John Wayn..."

And El Dorado and Rio Lobo and yes Lawrence Kasdan co-wrote the screenplay for Empire Strikes Back.

[Lancer, Warden of the Slums]

What's this Empire Strikes back toy speak of, never heard of it.

[Gary]

Lancer wrote: "What's this Empire Strikes back toy speak of, never heard of it."
Some obscue movie no one ever saw. :) It is still the best of the first 6 movies. I attribute that to Leigh Brackett's input on the script.

[Lancer, Warden of the Slums]

I've always been partial to A New Hope but I know that's just a nostalgia thing

[Lancer, Warden of the Slums]

I've seen the original 3 50+ times and agree it's the strongest but new hope still my favourite

[Lafayette]

Hi all, I have the video game The witcher 3 (not played yet) and access to a few books written by Sapkowski, as the last wish or blood of elves.

In your opinion, should I play the game or read the books first, and which one ?

Thks for your advices.

[Lancer, Warden of the Slums]

I've never read the books but have played the games and never felt like I've been missing information. If you haven't played witcher 1 and 2 I would recommend reading it summaries for them before beginning 3 or yoy may feel a bit lost. Amazing game though, definitely a great of the year contender for 2015 for me.

[Cupcakes & Machetes, Hybrid Creature]

Lafayette wrote: "Hi all, I have the video game The witcher 3 (not played yet) and access to a few books written by Sapkowski, as the last wish or blood of elves.

In your opinion, should I play the game or read the..."

I have read the first book but have not played the game. To me, the book read a lot like a video game. I would imagine that it doesn't really matter. Each chapter read like a separate quest/adventure so I don't think it would spoil it either way.

[Jim]

Hybrid Creature (devours books instead of brains) wrote: I have read the first book but have not played the game. To me, the book read a lot like a video game. I would imagine that it doesn't really matter. Each chapter read like a separate quest/adventure so I don't think it would spoil it either way.
"
I had a similar impression of the first novel. Frankly, I didn't really care for it: too formulaic. The game was the main goal all along, so go for it.

[Rinn, (Retired mod) Captain of the SSV Normandy]

I don't think it really matters, there are plenty of gamers out there who haven't touched the books.

I am stuck on Witcher 2 :(

[Lancer, Warden of the Slums]

Rinn even if your stuck on 2 and feel like your in a run I would recommend playing 3. It is by far better than 2 and 2 was a great game. 3 though... Just wow

[Lafayette]

Lancer wrote: " If you haven't played witcher 1 and 2 I would recommend reading it summaries for them before b..."

Ok, I will do that. Thanks for comments.

[Rinn, (Retired mod) Captain of the SSV Normandy]

Yeah, I'm planning on buying it when it goes on sale :)

[Roger, Knight Radiant]

I loved The Witcher 3, I might play it again soon.

[Lancer, Warden of the Slums]

So the wife and I have been watching The Musketeers from the BBC on Netflix and very much enjoying it. It had peaked my interest in the time period which has in turn had be get the free ebooks for The Three Musketeers, and The Count of Monte Cristo.

I'm just wondering if anyone has read either of them and of so of they had anything to say about them.

[Paul, A wanderer in unknown realms]

I loved the Count of Monte Christo when I read it. Such a well structured and paced story. The revenge plot is up there with the best.
Three Muskateers I enjoyed as well but its been a while. Dumas writes the political side really well and the fights are quite good.