Science Fiction/Fantasy recommendations

[NadiaWadia]

Can anyone give me any recommendations?

In the past I have enjoyed writers like Ursula Le Guin, Philip K Dick, John Wyndham, Sheri Tepper etc.

In fantasy I prefer quirky stuff, not so much the dragon-y type, IYKWIM.

Definitely Robin Hobb's Apprentice trilogy its fantastic!

I liked all the ones that dinkystinky said. Year of the Griffin in particular is one of my absolute faves.

I really didn't get on with Gentle's Grunts I'm afraid - it was supposed to be near the knuckle or outright offensive I think and it certainly got to me.

I really love the Amber books by Zelazney, too, though in a slightly embarrassed should-I-really-be-reading-this sort of way Great stories though and Corwin is just such a fab character, I always envisage him in a 70s open necked shirt with a big medallion and probably flares . . . .

I think I read the amber series in the early 80s so your description was probably right.
I used to go to Forbidden Planet as it was very difficult to find science fantasy in normal book shops. It's my dcs favorite shop in London now.
I also liked Marion Zimmer Bradley, Elizabeth A Lynn and Katherine Kurtz.

I previously mentioned but didn't link to the SF Mistressworks blog - today's review is a Joanna Russ book (not everyone's cup of tea but she did write some amazing stuff, not all of which will suit everyone!):
sfmistressworks.wordpress.com/

Another similar blog worth linking to - Daughters of Prometheus covers SF written by women since 2000:
daughtersofprometheus.wordpress.com/

D'oh. Didn't tick 'Convert links automatically'.
I previously mentioned but didn't link to the SF Mistressworks blog - today's review is a Joanna Russ book (not everyone's cup of tea but she did write some amazing stuff, not all of which will suit everyone!):
sfmistressworks.wordpress.com/

Another similar blog worth linking to - Daughters of Prometheus covers SF written by women since 2000:
daughtersofprometheus.wordpress.com/

Thanks for the links, comix.

In the past I've spent too much time following up (& too much money buying) books listed on here

I do like China Mieville (Perdido Street Station and others) as a more modern sci-fi writer. Have you tried Arthur C Clarke? He's a bit light on writing style IMO but the plots are good :)

Good list, takver! I think I've seen a link to it before but never sat down and looked thru it properly. Which ones out of it have you tried and really loved? Apart from Octavia Butler who I already mentioned above, and Ursula Le Guin mentioned by others, I really rate Ted Chiang (I've got his collection of short stories), and would also definitely recommend James Tiptree, Jr. I like Connie Willis too but her inaccuracies in writing British people annoys me; her slim book set in the US, Bellwether, is my favourite, and doesn't suffer from that flaw.

I know China Mieville is deservedly popular but I didn't get on with the one book of his I tried (The Scar). Can't remember the details but I just didn't go for it really.

Comixminx, Thank you for the link to sfmistressworks, I will enjoy trawling through

I adore Sheri Tepper, she is in credible. I have all her books in paperback or hardback and I'm going to add some on Kindle for my holidays.

Can I recommend Starhawk's Fifth Sacred Thing, a wonderful book

Hi, love the league series by sherrilyn kenyon well recommended and very difficult to put down!

Coming in late here, but I second/third/fourth whoever suggested Dianna Wynne Jones. Have read the Howl's moving castle series and the Dark Lord of Derkholm and some others. Light but not lightweight, and so insightful. How have I not come across them before??

China Mieville-all of his. But dont expect anything to be explained. Fabulous.
Terry Pratchett-i know-impossibly popular, but the whole philosophy of discworld is stunningly complete.
i used to love Michael moorcock when younger, but you know what? now i'm grown up it is such a load of pretentious blocks.
Have you tried graphic novels? i know-a bit teenage boy, but Alan Moore is a genius.

Fantasy - Robin Hobb, Neil Gaiman, and Patrick Rothfuss' The Name of the Wind. Wonderful, but infuriating because he is still writing the third!
SF - M John Harrison, and Iam M Banks. Unsurpassable.

Thanks for all these suggestions!

Has anyone read the brilliant Graham Joyce? "The Facts of Life" is probably his best. Just watch out for reading level, as he does write Young Adult stuff as well.

Ian M Banks is unsurpassable? I don't think so. He is not even in the all-time Top 10, imo.

I don't even know who John Harrison is, and I'm a big sci-fi fan and have been since I first learned to read (30+ years ago).

OP - I'm not a fantasy fan, but I can give you sci-fi recommendations if you could help me understand your preferences a bit better.

Have you read any "old school" sci-fi like 2001: A Space Odyssey, Stranger In A Strange Land, and Foundation books? The authors of these 3 books (Arthur C Clarke, Robert Heinlein, and Isaac Asimov were all scientists and quite a few of their books are classics.

The classic book of sci-fi, which you have to read if you haven't already, is Dune. Forget the movie and the tv series, this is one book you must read.

I really like Philip K Dick, too but not sure who I can recommend to you that will equal his wit & mind-boggling plots.

Sci-fi has taken a different turn in the last 20 years or so, starting with William Gibson's book Neuromancer. His initial books are very good (Idoru, Mona Lisa Overdrive etc) although he went off the rails with the last few, imho. Then came Neal Stephenson and he is now probably the most consistently brilliant sci-fi writer out there. His Snow Crash was selected into Time magazine's "100 Best English Language Books of All Time" list (there wasn't much sci-fi there), Diamond Age, Cryptonomicon, and more recently Anathem are all masterpieces.

Let me know if that helps.

The name of the wind by Patrick rothfuss- amazing.

His blog& site is also quite interesting, very quirky guy

Flowers for Algernon - Daniel Keyes. Mentioned up thread is really, really good.

I enjoyed Dune far more than I thought I would. Only took DH ten years of nagging for me to read it - he was right she says between gritted teeth

I am legend - Richard Matheson. Is an awful lot better than the film and worth a read.

If you don't mind reading kids book I really enjoyed reading the Garth Nix's Sabriel, Lirael and Abhorsen books.

DH is reading Iain M Banks on and off at the mo and is really enjoying them.

I bought this collection for dh for xmas which has a few of the books mentioned in it www.gollancz50.com/
I liked the justina Robson quantum gravity series although the heroine can be a bit irritating. Annoying how few of the books on here are available on kindle.

I was recently recommended Diamond Dogs and Turquoise Days by Alastair Reynolds. It is two short stories rather than one novel. Although the stories are linked a little bit. Cannot remember the last time a book unsettled me in such a profound manner. I keep thinking about it and having a superb shudder with a hint of the splayed toes. Brilliant book. Will certainly be reading more if him.

Ditto Cote with Dune.

On the fantasy side Hobb, Gaiman, Pratchett

Have you read Lois McMaster Bujold's Miles Vorkosigan series? I really really enjoyed all of them.
Here is a list of the books in chronological order: www.dendarii.com/biblio.html

They are SF set in various different planets with different political systems etc. The characterisation is very good as well.

I haven't read any of her fantasy but would love to since I enjoyed the Miles books so much.