What Books do you read?

[The Sociologist]

I'm feeling a bit left out. A favorite author that might be said to dabble in fantasy is China Mieville ("Perdido Street Station" and "The Scar"). Neal Stephenson's "The Diamond Age" is more tending to futurism.

Other favorites are definitely mainstream sci-fi. Ian M. Banks, Ken Macleod and Peter Hamilton (Night's Dawn Trilogy). Oddly enough, all British authors.

I too like Ursula Le Guin. Another favorite from way back is Brian Aldiss (Helliconia Trilogy). And of course Frank Herbert's "Dune" (but only the first volume, and only by shutting my eyes to the "dune industry" out there).

And I'm seriously thinking of rereading Tolkien--ever since the last movie but haven't got around to it yet.

By the same token I also enjoy historical fiction, and one or two of the suggestions here I'll be looking into.

But this gives me a chance to ask a question. Given my above list, what fantasy authors might I like? Just occasionally browsing shelves in bookshops, a lot seem to be (a) interminable, (b) silly and (c) written by committees. No offense intended, but I must somehow be missing the best stuff. And please take account that I'm not wildly into orcs and elves.

So is there any fantasy that's more... sociological?
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[Thomas Pickert]

Maybe you'd like Fool On The Hill, by Matt Ruff.

[trage]

And I'm seriously thinking of rereading Tolkien--ever since the last movie but haven't got around to it yet.

The books are much better than the movies.

[Zoot]

Has anyone else read Garth Nix?

Sabriel is one of the best fantasy/light horror books I've ever read, 'young adult' or not.


And Harry Potter is a hell of a lot better than most of the kids' drivel coming out lately. Rowling is both unique and engaging, I think. She isn't exactly C.S. Lewis, but hey.

It's pathetic how hard it is to find decent books around my little brother's birthday. They sell either books incredibly dumb for his age, about a potter-clone coven of girl witches, or both... Maybe in a couple years he'll be old enough to read something good.

[The Industriallist]

But this gives me a chance to ask a question. Given my above list, what fantasy authors might I like? Just occasionally browsing shelves in bookshops, a lot seem to be (a) interminable, (b) silly and (c) written by committees. No offense intended, but I must somehow be missing the best stuff. And please take account that I'm not wildly into orcs and elves.

So is there any fantasy that's more... sociological?

Writing in both categories, you might be interested in Alan Dean Foster. He's written everything...some of it isn't very sociological, but then some of it definitely is.

And Mother of Demons my Eric Flint. It's technically science fiction, but more resembles the temporal anomaly type "throw people from one period into another by 'act of god'" books. But it has non-humans, and the world is a lot wierder and more interesting than any period of earth's history. Read it. Very, very good.

I don't have much fantasy lying around at the moment, so I have trouble thinking about it...There must be some, though.

[Psycho Pixie]

you know.. for the large quantity of books i have... there aitn much variety.

Anne McCaffrey.... Jean Auel.....Kate Elliott....


and lots of books about herbal remedies, alternative medicine and some new age stuffs.

no wonder I am a psycho pixie.