Sci-fi/Fantasy book recommendations?

[AnaViaSalamanca]

Any sci-fi and fantasy geeks out there? I am in desperate need of a new escapist page-turner.

Books that I have liked
harry potter
farseer trilogies
red rising
fablehaven

Didn't like
Hunger games
hyperion
dune
vampire stuff

I know it's children's, but you list HP, so...
What about Philip Reeve's Mortal Engines series?

YY to Scott Lynch and Becky Chambers. Both are wonderful.

Definitely Brandon Sanderson, I love mistborn and I've just started the 4th storm light book. He's very good at updating how he's doing with his writing.

I fell into the name of the wind trap to, very disappointed that's he's vanished

The Expanse!

I'm sure I read that Patrick Rothfuss had written all 3 books in his trilogy before he released the first one. I think he likes the fact he's achieved a tiny bit of "fame" as far as fantasy authors go, and is determined to never finish it - I can't see how he would wrap it up in one more book anyway!

Magician and subsequent books by Raymond Feist
Belgariad and Mallorean series by David Eddings
Riyria series by Michael Sullivan
Various books by Guy Gavriel Kay

A Pattern of Shadow and Light by Melissa McPhail

N K Jemisin - Broken Earth trilogy. Absolutely extraordinary, an incredible feat.

I've been recommending the Broken Earth series by NK Jemisin to everyone. The first book is called The Fifth Season and she became the first author to win the Hugo award for 3 consecutive years. It feels really original, I think, partly as it's written by a black woman which is a very under represented voice in fantasy/sci-fi. I like lots of the same stuff as you OP so do give her a go.

tencornmaidens was just writing my post as you were, best thing I've read all year.

On a Sci-Fi note - the Honor Harrington books by David Weber are brilliant. It's sort of Hornblower in space. DH got me into them and they're really good - lots of fabulous, non-stereotypical-fantasy, female characters.

I absolutely loved Eddings as a teenager but reread them as an adult and fkund then a bit trite. The later ones, Elenium and the follow up were better. Dragonlance is a massive series with mini trilogies within. Pratchett and Tolkien obvs. Also, depending on what aspect of the genre appeals to you, you might segue into Viking / Saxon stuff like Bernard Cornwall's Warlord chronicles, which was filmed at Last Kingdom.

@HugeAckmansWife

I think Eddings is most definitely the gateway to fantasy. I read the Elenium as a teen, and that was it for me, it's been fantasy ever since.

Neil Gaiman. Douglas Adams. Ian M Banks. Charles Stress

*Charles Stross
Bloody autocorrect

@PhilODox

I know it's children's, but you list HP, so... What about Philip Reeve's Mortal Engines series?

I came back to add these. Very recommended page turning adventure stuff. First encountered them as a middle aged man and loved them. His Larklight books are good too.

Yes sandman I only discovered Reeve through my children- he started writing after my childhood! - and he's just such a good writer. I think I enjoyed the three prequels to mortal engines even more, something really special about the world he has created there.
Will look at Larklight for my DS for Christmas, thank you. He loved Railhead series too. Haven't managed to get him onto Edge Chronicles which I believe is v highly regarded.

And having a character named Shrike was nice after Dan Simmons' Hyperion

I've always enjoyed Clive Barker's books, they're a bit horror though. Weaveworld and Imajica are favourites. Also the Abarat series are good. (less horror-ey)

Ah- weaveworld is on my to read list for Christmas.

Recommend Rachel Neumeier's Griffin Trilogy, Benedict Jacka's series beginning Fated, The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison and Diana Wynne Jones

I would second Lois McMaster Bujold - the Curse of Chalion is the first in her fantasy series, and I’d recommend her Vorkosigan series (SF) as well.

I’d also recommend:
Naomi Novik (Temeraire, Uprooted, Spinning Silver)
Marie Brennan (Lady Trent series),
Melissa Caruso (Swords & Fire series),
Zen Cho (Sorcerer to the Crown & The True Queen)
Robin Hobb
Guy Gavriel Kay
Genevieve Cogman (Invisible Library series)
Ben Aaronovitch
Carrie Vaughn - SF and urban fantasy (about werewolves, though there are a few vampire characters)
Martha Wells - the Murderbot series.

I love this thread. I've got a nice list of books/authors to work my way through now. 😁

Mercedes Lackey’s Valdemar series (starts with the Black Gryphon but doesn’t really need to be read in order)

Naomi Novak’s Termeraire series

Patricia Briggs’ the Raven duology and the Hurog books.

David Eddings except for his Elder Gods series I found that one far too repetitive.

If you don’t mind sex scenes Nalini Singh’s Psy/Changeling and Guild Hunter series are really good.

For those that recommend Terry Pratchett were would you start? Thinking about trying his books but there’s so many!

Pratchett (maybe start with Guards! Guards!, or Going Postal, or one of the YA Discworld books - The Wee Free Men)

Ben Aaronovitch (the earlier books are best)

Douglas Adams

John Wyndham (and if you like Day of the Triffids, there's a Night of the Triffids in the same style by Simon Clark)