Game of Thrones?

[Mindi]

Has anyone read "Game of Thrones"? Would you recommend it to someone who has just started dipping her toes into science fiction and fantasy? Thanks.

[Melani]

I read the first novel and got about halfway before I realized that it really wasn't the book for me. I did not like it, though for some reason I find the HBO show a little more bearable- again though not exactly a must see for me.

I think it depends on what you're looking for in fantasy and what you've read so far in the genre. Martin is responding to a lot of older fantasy with his 'gritty realistic fantasy setting' and to my mind he failed more then he succeeded.

Also the rape plotlines sort of drove me batty for all that they're supposed to add to the 'realism' of his settings.

This is totally a YMMV situation as I know many many people who rave about the books.

If you're looking for things to read I'd totally be willing to give you some suggestions.

[Mindi]

Hmmm, "rape plotlines" gives me serious pause...

Melani, if you have some suggestions that would be great. Here's what I've read so far:

Mercy Thompson series and Alpha & Omega series by Patricia Briggs
Shards of Honour & Barrayar by Lois M. Bujold
Parasol Protectorate series by Gail Carriger
Books of Bayern series (Goose Girl, etc.) by Shannon Hale
The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
The Hero & the Crown by Robin McKinley

Fairly light stuff, looking over it. :)

Anyway, thanks for any suggestions!

[Melani]

Lets see, Briggs has some older high fantasy stuff that's pretty good if you liked her writing style.

Patricia McKillip is my favorite writer ever, and her stuff is fantastic. The Forgotten Beasts of Eld is a really good starting place, but everything she's written is amazing.

If you liked Brigg's urban fantasy, then I'd definitely say you should try Seanan McGuire's Toby Daye series about a modern half-elf in San Franciso. They are fantastic.

The rest of Bujold's science fiction is really fun. And she's got a few pretty good fantasy books out there as well.

The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings really are good books if you haven't read them.

The Diskworld novels by Terry Pratchet are worth considering if you enjoyed Good Omens. They aren't my cup of tea, but I'm definitely in the minority on that.

I enjoyed American Gods and in fact would reccomend Neil Gaiman in general.

On the science fiction front Philip K. Dick is very good. A Scanner Darkly is my favorite of his.

The Left Hand of Darkness is amazing. I love LeGuin in general but this book is really amazing for what it says about gender.

Parable of the Sower is also really good, but hard. It's one of the scariest, most nerve wracking books I've read in a while, but worth it. I haven't read any thing else by Butler, but I need to.

And um.. that's probably a good start.

[Mindi]

Thank you! Looks great!

[Derek]

Oh, Melani, you *must* read Butler's Exogenesis series. Brilliant.

Along with many of yours (I would encourage *The Man In the High Tower* of Philip Dick's), I would suggest reading Michael Moorcock, especially the Elric series, the Von Bek series, and the Runestaff series. They ultimately all fit together in one great metaseries. Such fascinating explorations of morality, law and chaos, the idea of multiple realities (the multiverse), and balance. They are somewhat dark, but brilliant. I'd recommend either *The Warhound and the World's Pain* from the Von Bek series, or *The Eternal Champion*.

[Melani]

yes, I definitely am going to read more Butler. I was super impressed with Parable of the Sower, and I want to see what else she's done.

[Melissa]

Have you read any urban fantasy? I love the Hollows series by Kim Harrison (Dead Witch Walking is the first one) and the Harry Dresden series by Jim Butcher.

[Tatiana]

I read a story by GRRM years ago which was so creepy and disturbing that I couldn't get it out of my head. The story was Sandkings and it ran in Omni magazine. Because of that, I've never read any more GRRM, though everyone says he's great. They also say don't get too attached to his characters because he has a penchant for killing off even very important ones.

So I can't weigh in on A Game of Thrones. Some of my favorite SF writers are Octavia Butler and Ursula K. Le Guin. Butler's Xenogenesis trilogy, which is outstanding, is sold in one book now as Lilith's Brood and I highly recommend that one. Some great Le Guin books are The Left Hand of Darkness (seconded), The Lathe of Heaven, and the whole Earthsea cycle which is five books now. I've read these over and over. She's one of my very favorite writers of all time.

[Tatiana]

Another good SF writer is Lois McMaster Bujold. I love her whole Vorkosigan Saga, starting with Cordelia's Honor.

[Melani]

Melissa wrote: "Have you read any urban fantasy? I love the Hollows series by Kim Harrison (Dead Witch Walking is the first one) and the Harry Dresden series by Jim Butcher."

I love urban fantasy. I haven't read Harrison's series, but I've read Butcher's and enjoyed it lots. Patricia Briggs has two series out, interconnected and I just started Carrie Vaughn's Kitty books. Both are awesome.

[Lisa]

I think Bujold is my all time favorite writer. She's just so darn much fun. And you learn stuff too, but mostly, she's the most fun I've ever had reading a book.