Your One and Only

[Ryan]

To go really basic, I'd tell people Ender's Game.

It's a quick read, I find it very thought provoking, and teens and adults can all read it.

[Kevin]

Ryan wrote: "To go really basic, I'd tell people Enders Game.

It's a quick read, I find it very thought provoking, and teens and adults can all read it."

Yeah, that is what I recommend too to just basically about everybody, no who they are.

[terpkristin]

Kevin wrote: "Ryan wrote: "To go really basic, I'd tell people Enders Game.

It's a quick read, I find it very thought provoking, and teens and adults can all read it."

Yeah, that is what I recommend too to just basically about everybody, no who they are."

Totally agreed. It's super-approachable. Still one of my all-time favorite novels.

[Warren]

Gary Ballard- The Bridge Chronicle
(Cyber punk series)
http://www.bridgechronicles.info/

Mainly because their so good
and and so few people have heard of them

[Michal]

Tamahome wrote: "Kushner's Swordspoint is one of Neil Gaiman's audiobooks. It's partly full cast. http://www.audible.com/pd?asin=B006FJ..."

The audio book is wonderful (I loved hearing Ellen Kushner read her own words, and the voice actors were nearly perfectly cast). I think it's best as a re-read, however--that is, read the book first, listen to the audio book afterwards, to get a full appreciation of what the folks who put together the audiobook actually did.

While I think Swordspoint is the better book, Privilege is a lighter, faster read, and I was deliriously happy while reading it.

[Tamahome]

Ellen was just on the coode street podcast. That's how I know about it.

[aldenoneil]

Michal wrote: "to get a full appreciation of what the folks who put together the audiobook actually did."

I'm curious what they did do. The Audible page says the audiobook's unabridged, but does that mean the author's interjecting "he said" or "she said" between every line of dialogue?

[Ozzy]

Tassie Dave wrote: "Wow, only one. I could think of dozens.

I will fudge slightly and choose a 5 novel series, which has a 5 novel sequel and 2 prequels.

My pick would be The Belgariad by [author:David ..."

I'd pick The Belgariad too. It's first book is what got me hooked into fantasy and I never get tired of rereading the series.

[Paul]

[Author:Iain M Banks] Look To Windward, just a great SF novel. Every F&SF fan should read Banks, especially that one.

[Terry]

Ed, I've only read Book of the New Sun and I have to agree those 4 books are awesome. If I had to pick one series I would need to pick something else since I haven't finished the entire Gene Wolfe Sun series.
So. My choices would be between John Varley's Gaea Trilogy [Titan (1979), Wizard (1980) and Demon (1984)] and Cordwainer Smith's (or Paul Linebarger's if you don't like pseudonyms) Instrumentality of Mankind series (includes one novel and several short stories). For the sheer beauty of the writing, Cordwainer Smith's Instrumentality series wins for me.

[Colin]

Since someone has already said LOTR and The Hobbit, and they better have mentioned The Guide as well, i would recommend The Dark Is Rising Sequence.
If someone already mentioned that, I would suggest

Beowulf: A New Verse Translation

[Kevin]

Ozzy wrote: "Tassie Dave wrote: "Wow, only one. I could think of dozens.

I will fudge slightly and choose a 5 novel series, which has a 5 novel sequel and 2 prequels.

My pick would be [book:The Belgariad|..."

My problem with David Edding's book is that like Terry Brook's and many of the authors who wrote around that time is that they are all a traditional quest story. None of their books ever changed from that.

[Rick]

I'm going to cheat.

My One and Only for people new to SF? Hitchhiker's. Runnerup: Ender's Game.

For experienced SF readers? Iain M Banks Player of Games.

Oh and... hi.

[Ozzy]

Kevin wrote: "Ozzy wrote: "Tassie Dave wrote: "Wow, only one. I could think of dozens.

I will fudge slightly and choose a 5 novel series, which has a 5 novel sequel and 2 prequels.

My pick would be [book:T..."
It is fun to read a traditional fantasy book once in a while though :) What I like about the David Eddings fantasy books is that I cared a lot about the characters even if the story is traditional. Also it was my first fantasy book when I was young so it being traditional wasn't really a problem for me.

[Ed]

Terry wrote: "Ed, I've only read Book of the New Sun and I have to agree those 4 books are awesome. If I had to pick one series I would need to pick something else since I haven't finished the entire Gene Wolfe Sun series.
So. My choices would be between John Varley's Gaea Trilogy [Titan (1979), Wizard (1980) and Demon (1984)] and Cordwainer Smith's (or Paul Linebarger's if you don't like pseudonyms) Instrumentality of Mankind series (includes one novel and several short stories). For the sheer beauty of the writing, Cordwainer Smith's Instrumentality series wins for me."

I've always been interested in Varley's Gaea Trilogy. Your comment got me to add it to my to-read list. And what little Cordwainer Smith I've read has impressed me a great deal. I'd like to read more, so thanks for the recommendation for The Instrumentality of Mankind. Cheers!

[Mysterio2]

Russell wrote: "I would have to say Steven Erikson's Malazan book of the fallen"

This would be my choice also. An incredibly detailed and intricate world with an equally profound internal history/mythology; many, many unique and well-drawn characters; moral complexity; a truly unique magical system; gods, empires, wars, loves, tragic and heroic losses; profound philosophical (ontological, metaphysical, epistemic, ethical and meta-ethical) underpinnings. Has it all.

[Kris]

Mysterio2 wrote: "Russell wrote: "I would have to say Steven Erikson's Malazan book of the fallen"

This would be my choice also. An incredibly detailed and intricate world with an equally profound internal history/..."

I just discovered this series and it is awesome....couldn't agree with you more...

[Omar]

Well for me, on the sword side was the Wheel of Time Series by Robert Jordan. Its what got me into the fantasy genre and become my measuring stick to all of the other fantasy books or series I as for scifi probably Ender's Game.

[Arroyo0]

Dune, full stop.

[Charles]

Time of the Dark by Barbara Hambly. It's got it all magic, sword fighting, demenional travel and aliens. I come back to this series again and again.

[Michal]

If someone already mentioned that, I would suggest

Beowulf: A New Verse Translation

Meh, if we're going to include national epics, how 'bout The Epic of Gilgamesh, yo?

[Kris]

Charles wrote: "Time of the Dark by Barbara Hambly. It's got it all magic, sword fighting, demenional travel and aliens. I come back to this series again and again."

Love Barbara Hambley...

[Martin]

No contest. Guy Gavriel Kay's The Fionavar Tapestry, that starts with The Summer Tree.

I read this series at a very emotional time in my life, which I know has coloured my feelings towards them (for the better), but they are definitely what I reach for when asked to recommend something.

[Martin]

Fudge - for SciFi, it has to be David Brin's Startide Rising.

[Colin]

Meh, if we're going to include national epics, how 'bout The Epic of Gilgamesh, yo?"

If that is the one book you'd recommend to someone above all else, go for it.

[Michael]

I know it will make a few people twitch to mention it, but honestly it's A Song of Ice and Fire for me. It came into my life at the right time, and it hit just the right notes. I even got emotional reading some parts, which honestly does not happen very often with books.

[Kevin]

Mike wrote: "I know it will make a few people twitch to mention it, but honestly it's A Song of Ice and Fire for me. It came into my life at the right time, and it hit just the right notes. I even got emotional..."

Its a near choice for me, but I could not pick an unfinished series.

[Mary]

This has been an interesting read. Some folks recommend their "gateway" books, others go for the one they read over & over, still others aim for classics.

The question is a little vague, since you almost never recommend the same book to every other person you meet. You take into consideration their age, their sensibilities, everything you know about them.

I agree with so many of these choices.

If I have to name one, my go-to book, it would have to be Ender's Game. This book really struck a chord with me.

There, no fudging, as much as I truly want to. :)

[Paul]

Ender's Game, nuff said.

[Mike]

Tough call for sure, but I'm going with Hitchhiker's Guide.

[Keith]

I'm surprised nobody mentioned my favourite series considering how much attention it's had in this group. Without doubt my favourite is A Song of Ice and Fire. I've never cared more for a group of characters or been more taken in by a world.

If I has to pick one book in the series it would be A Storm of Swords. Many people find book 4 & 5 a bit slow but I have every fate that when the series is finished they will enjoy these books too.