Frustrated Father
08-28-2005, 02:12 PM
As you might have picked up on another thread here, I am an avid reader, something I think I picked up from my mother (she puts me to shame really) and something that I have passed down to my second daughter.
I read something between one to three books a week, depending upon the subject, my interest and my time. Once I pick up a book, I don't put it down, I always finish, even if I find that I don't care for it when I'm halfway through it. Just how I am.
I used to be very heavily into fantasy, that's all I would read. The more Sword and Sorcery the better in my opinion though I have moved more towards science fiction and modern day horror over the last few years.
Some of the favorites that have stuck in my mind over the years are:
Gary Gygax:
The first books I read (outside of school and See Spot Run) were by Gary Gygax, his old Greyhawk series with Gord 'the Rogue'. His first two when he was with TSR were classics for me, and to this day, I own four copies of each, as for some odd reason I bought them everytime I was in a second hand store. I picked up all his books that continued the series as well when he left TSR (Gord the Rogue series).
Dennis McKierinan:
Another favorite of mine, which I picked up directly after the Gord books were the 'Iron Tower Trilogy' and the 'Silver Horn Duology' by Dennis McKierinan (I might have butchered his last name). Fantastic books if you have never read them, and they take a very heavy nod towards Tolkien.
Which funny enough - I have never never liked, Tolkien that is. I know, I know, I'm about to be spitted and roasted for saying that, but I never did like his style of writing. For that matter, I didn't like the movies either (dodging the stones and running).
Robert Jordan:
The Wheel of Time series. I absolutely loved that ... up until book six. My gawd, end the series already. He plans to take the series out to 13 or 15 books, he hasn't decided yet. Personally, I think there are too many 'main' characters in the book and it has gotten too political. I understand it gets better around book ten, but I just can't bring myself to pick them up anymore. Maybe when he is done with the whole series I'll give it another shot.
David Eddings:
The MAN when it comes to fantasy writing in my opinion. He has done ... oh I figure around twenty or so books, probably more. Did the Belgarath and that whole series of books (two sets of five) and they are absolutely fantastic. Read them. Now. More importantly though, his latest books that start with the Elenium series that cover 'Sparhawk' are some of the best fantasy writing in my opinion. Think of a pious paladin who has no problem strangling someone with chicken wire and you'll understand why everyone loves this character and the series in general.
Ed Greenwood:
I like his first five or six books, and being that I was a real D&D geek at one time, I thought the world of the writing. They still hold a certain nostalgia with me now, but in truth, I think he has a ghost writer doing his work for him now, 'his' writing has changed so much in the last few novels and you can just 'feel' it. I could be wrong, but his latest stuff really doesn't impress me at all.
Robert Asprin:
Author of the 'Myth' series, they they are lite fantasy with a serious low key humor that gets you laughing everytime. Think Piers Anthony, but slightly more low key. He started the books over twenty years ago and I think he has managed about ten or eleven books. His latest one is a collaboration and I'm in the midst of it right now - not sure what I think of it.
Laurell K. Hamilton:
I found her first book on an airplane when I was working for the airlines as a mechanic and I quickly got interested in her Anita Blake series. Modern day, vampires, were creatures, magic and lots of action. Also a duff-load of sex and sensuality, which really isn't my boat, but I can get around that easily enough. Damn good books - think she has 13 from the Anita seires out. She also has another one out over a fairy - but about every third page has someone quivering in feminine pudding ectasty (thanks Duende) that it is more soft porn than actual litiature. I don't really recommend those.
Jim Butcher:
Author of the Dresden files. I've only read three of these books, but I hopped over to Amazon the other night and ordered the whole series which is up to seven at the moment. I like them. Again, modern day magic done very well.
Simon R. Green:
He does the 'Nightside' books, think he has six or so of them out at the moment, and I've only read two of them, but I found that they captured my interest very quickly and were easy fast reads. I bought the rest of them last week too - so now I've got something to read for the next couple weeks! See a trend here though - modern day magic.
Sandy Mitchell:
Who actually happens to be a guy writing under the pseudo name of a woman - don't ask me why. Still that being said, she (he) writes my favorite WH40k books, those dealing with Ciaphus Cain. If you haven't read these - you must! Think of an imperium hero, someone who is supposed to move the troops to amazing feats and keep order and discipline ... and he's a complete and utter coward (well, I think he thinks he is, but you have to read the books). There are three books out on Cain at the moment and I certainly hope there are many more, though I do have to say that the last book ended rather abruptly and not as clean as I would have liked.
I could go on, but these are the ones that stick out in my mind the most of course. I'm curious as to your thoughts on these authors and anyone else that you might suggest. I'm always up for a good book - so give me some options!
I read something between one to three books a week, depending upon the subject, my interest and my time. Once I pick up a book, I don't put it down, I always finish, even if I find that I don't care for it when I'm halfway through it. Just how I am.
I used to be very heavily into fantasy, that's all I would read. The more Sword and Sorcery the better in my opinion though I have moved more towards science fiction and modern day horror over the last few years.
Some of the favorites that have stuck in my mind over the years are:
Gary Gygax:
The first books I read (outside of school and See Spot Run) were by Gary Gygax, his old Greyhawk series with Gord 'the Rogue'. His first two when he was with TSR were classics for me, and to this day, I own four copies of each, as for some odd reason I bought them everytime I was in a second hand store. I picked up all his books that continued the series as well when he left TSR (Gord the Rogue series).
Dennis McKierinan:
Another favorite of mine, which I picked up directly after the Gord books were the 'Iron Tower Trilogy' and the 'Silver Horn Duology' by Dennis McKierinan (I might have butchered his last name). Fantastic books if you have never read them, and they take a very heavy nod towards Tolkien.
Which funny enough - I have never never liked, Tolkien that is. I know, I know, I'm about to be spitted and roasted for saying that, but I never did like his style of writing. For that matter, I didn't like the movies either (dodging the stones and running).
Robert Jordan:
The Wheel of Time series. I absolutely loved that ... up until book six. My gawd, end the series already. He plans to take the series out to 13 or 15 books, he hasn't decided yet. Personally, I think there are too many 'main' characters in the book and it has gotten too political. I understand it gets better around book ten, but I just can't bring myself to pick them up anymore. Maybe when he is done with the whole series I'll give it another shot.
David Eddings:
The MAN when it comes to fantasy writing in my opinion. He has done ... oh I figure around twenty or so books, probably more. Did the Belgarath and that whole series of books (two sets of five) and they are absolutely fantastic. Read them. Now. More importantly though, his latest books that start with the Elenium series that cover 'Sparhawk' are some of the best fantasy writing in my opinion. Think of a pious paladin who has no problem strangling someone with chicken wire and you'll understand why everyone loves this character and the series in general.
Ed Greenwood:
I like his first five or six books, and being that I was a real D&D geek at one time, I thought the world of the writing. They still hold a certain nostalgia with me now, but in truth, I think he has a ghost writer doing his work for him now, 'his' writing has changed so much in the last few novels and you can just 'feel' it. I could be wrong, but his latest stuff really doesn't impress me at all.
Robert Asprin:
Author of the 'Myth' series, they they are lite fantasy with a serious low key humor that gets you laughing everytime. Think Piers Anthony, but slightly more low key. He started the books over twenty years ago and I think he has managed about ten or eleven books. His latest one is a collaboration and I'm in the midst of it right now - not sure what I think of it.
Laurell K. Hamilton:
I found her first book on an airplane when I was working for the airlines as a mechanic and I quickly got interested in her Anita Blake series. Modern day, vampires, were creatures, magic and lots of action. Also a duff-load of sex and sensuality, which really isn't my boat, but I can get around that easily enough. Damn good books - think she has 13 from the Anita seires out. She also has another one out over a fairy - but about every third page has someone quivering in feminine pudding ectasty (thanks Duende) that it is more soft porn than actual litiature. I don't really recommend those.
Jim Butcher:
Author of the Dresden files. I've only read three of these books, but I hopped over to Amazon the other night and ordered the whole series which is up to seven at the moment. I like them. Again, modern day magic done very well.
Simon R. Green:
He does the 'Nightside' books, think he has six or so of them out at the moment, and I've only read two of them, but I found that they captured my interest very quickly and were easy fast reads. I bought the rest of them last week too - so now I've got something to read for the next couple weeks! See a trend here though - modern day magic.
Sandy Mitchell:
Who actually happens to be a guy writing under the pseudo name of a woman - don't ask me why. Still that being said, she (he) writes my favorite WH40k books, those dealing with Ciaphus Cain. If you haven't read these - you must! Think of an imperium hero, someone who is supposed to move the troops to amazing feats and keep order and discipline ... and he's a complete and utter coward (well, I think he thinks he is, but you have to read the books). There are three books out on Cain at the moment and I certainly hope there are many more, though I do have to say that the last book ended rather abruptly and not as clean as I would have liked.
I could go on, but these are the ones that stick out in my mind the most of course. I'm curious as to your thoughts on these authors and anyone else that you might suggest. I'm always up for a good book - so give me some options!