I need a good fantasy or sci-fi recommendation urgently!

[AveAtqueVale]

Just finished Deborah Harkness’ Time’s Convert and the preceding trilogy, enjoyed it but definitely wasn’t love bit too much like Twilight.

Brandon Sanderson is one of my favourites but I think I’ve exhausted his oeuvre. Read Wheel of Time, the powder mage books, Tolkien, Pratchett, Ursula Le Guin, most Neil Gaiman and Dan Simmons too as well as a lot of enjoyable shite like the Shadowhunter books..

I’m unsure what next- very grateful for any recommendations. I need something soon though as it’s the first time in ages I haven’t had my next book/ series lined up and am feeling all twitchy!

(For full disclosure I do actually have an entire shelf of unread books but they’re not ‘speaking’ to me at the moment .)

Adrian Tchaikovsky's Shadows of the Apt, 10 book series that blew my mind. Top notch fantasy, just started his Children of Time (which I see someone has already recommended).

@FlibbertyGiblets what exactly would you like me to elaborate on xx

Gregory Benford "Martian Race" or the Ben Bova series

I would like you to elaborate on why you recommend the film, that is all. Thank you.

Another vote for Robin Hobb :)

I've also just finished a fantasy series called The Immortal Descendants by April White. It's very good, although slightly young-adult (which is fine with me, means an easy read).

Double yes to Nowisthemonth's suggestions!

There is no way Boy in the Striped Pajamas is sci-fi. And I'd wish it were fantasy but it's far too close to reality.

Robin hobb. Start with the assassins apprentice. Make sure to read the liveship traders.

Another recommendation for Robin Hobb and Patrick Rothfuss. I was also advertised a new book by Brandon Sanderson recently (for once the Facebook algorithms might have got it right!) I haven't looked at it yet, but that might be worth keeping an eye out for?

g00dmum could you also elaborate on how the boy in the striped pyjamas is sci-fi?

Or am I being sucked into a deliberate ploy?

The Dresden Files by Jim Butcher - ds introduced me to them, and I am currently on my 5th re read of the whole lot.

Just a heads up, Marion Zimmer Bradley was a pedophile. A lot of people have stopped reading her books as a result.

Sneaking in a placemark to third Children of Time. That book really wasn't what I was expecting, from the blurb. And - forgive vagueness, but those who've read it will understand - he managed to make them sympathetic despite my phobia. I was impressed!

Look into the author Nnedi Okorafor- she's written a series of novellas called the Binti series that has won the Hugo award and it's good. She's written other similar things as well.

The Wool Trilogy by Hugh Howey
The Sparrow & Children of God by Maria Doria Russell
The Forever War by Joe Haldeman
The Girl with all the Gifts by M R Carey

Definitely Dresden series - very well written and good characters.

Try the Kate Daniels books by Ilona Andrews. Actually, anything by Ilona Andrews is really good.

Hellequin Chronicles is good, too.

If you want something totally different - try the Chronicles of St Mary's books by Jodi Taylor - a good twist on time travel and very funny!

*The Demon Cycle - Peter V Brett. - Fantasy - bloody-damn AMAZING!!!
*Red Rising Series - by Pierce Brown - Sci-fi - series not yet complete and I dying for the new books!
*The Bone Season Series by Samantha Shannon - series also not yet complete and I dying for the new books!
*Daughter of Smoke and Bone Series - Laini Taylor - Fantasy
*Court of Thorns and Roses Series - Sarah J Maas - Fantasy
*Newsflesh Trilogy - Mira Grant (If you like post apocalyptic Sci-fi - smarter than your average zombie end of the world stuff)

What? Marion Zimmer Bradley was a pedophile?

If you haven't already, read

Robert Heinlein's Starship Troopers
Then Joe Haldeman's Forever War
Then John Scalzi's The Old Man's War

In that order.

They're basically takes on the same concept, but written by authors a generation apart each time. The similarities and the differences in the viewpoints are fascinating all on their own, to say nothing of the fact that all three are excellent books individually.

On the pulpier side: 'Unwind' and 'Scythe' by Neal Shusterman are solid entries, albeit written for the young adult market.

And - on the really pulpy but still a great world build and a lot of fun - Black Dog Blues by Rhys Ford. It's (technically) also gay romance but you shouldn't let that put you off. It's a very frustratingly slow burn, with the focus definitely on the plot and not the romance!

@upstartcrow I've just looked it up. My heart is broken. I'm so shocked.

I know you said you've read most of Brandon Sanderson, but have you read his post-apocalyptic YA series, The Reckoners? Highly, highly recommended!

Second Patrick Rothfuss (though he's being a tad slow about getting that third book out! )

It's not to everyone's taste, but I love all of David Eddings, particularly his Belgariad and Mallorean series. They're two five-book series', but they are slow burners - the 3-book Elenium series is a bit more fast paced.

For newer rec's, my brother likes Jim Butcher's the Aeronaut's Windlass (steampunky fantasy) and VE Schwab (A Darker Shade of Magic.) These are on my list, so I couldn't vouch for them personally but he likes them.

David Gemmell is also pretty enjoyable (if you can ignore the fact that the women in his books are more often than not cardboard cut-outs.)

I remember Raymond E. Feist's Magician being good.

YA fantasy - the Sabriel Trilogy is pretty good (plus there's a new one isn't there? runs off to Amazon to check ) I enjoyed Tamora Pierce's Alanna books, though they are a bit childishly written, but again, I hear there are newer and better books from her...

The Innocent Mage and The Awakened Mage by Karen Miller are also excellent.

If you like Robin Hobb, she has a lot of short stories published under the name Megan Lindholm too which are generally still fantasy.

Another voice for Lois McMaster Bujold - Curse of Chalion and the rest of the 5 gods books are great, and the Vorkosigan saga just goes on getting better the more you read. If you love character-driven stories that are both dramatic and funny I've yet to find better.

Rivers of London is good though it feels a long way from a real resolution.

I love name of the wind but Rothfuss has built up huge narrative debt that I don't know if he will ever be able to do justice too.

Diana Wynne Jones A sudden wild magic and Deep Secret are great - I love her YA stuff too.

Tanya Huff's Enchantment Emporium series is good,as is the Iron Druid chronicles by Kevin Hearne (the wolfhound has all the best lines!). Seanan McGuire's InCryptid series is also very funny.

And finally the Steerswoman series by Rosemary Kerstein are very satisfying reading and there do seem to be signs that the last two books might get written.

I don't know if they are still in print but I really enjoyed the Patricia Kenneally Morrison books. There were six man ones in two series of three, anda couple of odd ones set in the same universe. They were called the Keltiad. I really loved them.