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Stark's War series by John G. Hemry. Pretty awesome, it's scientifically accurate (pretty much) and is a brilliant commentary on society and media in today's world (corporationism etc.). The fact that it's written by retired US Navy officer ensures that combat is depicted very nicely too.
I found it better than Starship Troopers or Ender's Game.
On July 21 2013 09:26 Garfailed wrote:
So i was wondering..
What's the best place to start on Warhammer 40k books? I really like the universe, and want to get more in depth on it, however there are so many different novels, i cant decide which to read, any suggestions?
Start with the Horus Heresy series. First 5 are pretty much obligatory, after that it's a bit of a Wall Street when it comes to quality of writing by different authors. Safe bets are always Dan Abnett, Graham McNeill, Aaron Dembski-Bowden and Gav Thorpe, maybe James Swallow. You can skip other authors without any loss as far as main plot goes. Collected short stories can also be pretty hectic when it comes to quality and content. Fulgrim, Legion, Mechanicum, A Thousand Sons - this are the Big Four at first (only read 19 books from the series so far), absolutely fabulous and mindblowing.
Oh, and skip Prospero Burns. It's by Abnett but he was very sick when writing it (delayed by 1 year) and it feels in the writing, not the quality he makes you used to.
That's the most important thing. Other books you should read if you're really interested in certain faction. Authors mentioned above and Anthony Reynolds will be your friends if you don't want to get into books that might seem interesting but are written so poorly that they're unreadable (like Blood Angels omnibuses by James Swallow).
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On October 19 2013 12:32 Xxio wrote:
I heard that he's going to continue writing stories set in The Four Corners, but not about Kvothe. I don't know anything about another planned trilogy. Where did you see that?
Hmm i can't remember where i read that, perhaps i am mistaken but i could have sworn...
Skilledblob
definately read book 3 it's a great
Was busy for awhile, but read the final 2/3's of it since sunday. Good series, ending leaves you wanting more and
+ Show Spoiler [The First Law Trilogy Ending] +I kind of wish at least one character had some happy closure, everyone is essentially miserable and/or in a bad spot in life, except presumably Bayaz. But i guess that would go against the author's point wouldnt it lol
I am either going to read the three stand alone novels by Abercrombie next or start into something else for a bit and leave those for another time. I like his world so i do not want to read it all up at once then be left all sad that i have to wait, especially since it seems it is going to be a few years before he writes more in this world.
Way of Kings by Sanderson and the Gentleman Bastard sequence by Scott Lynch both have my attention, but both series are very early in their planned 10 and 7 book length, respectively, and I prefer not to start a series and thenhaving to wait 5 years for a sequal if i can avoid it.
Other current books that i am interested in is either sanderson's mistborn series or Robin Hobb's Farseer. Thoughts?
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the black company is pretty fun so far, readin 3rd book, not as good as malazan, book of the fallen but still pretty decent
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On November 21 2013 05:26 TheAura wrote:
Other current books that i am interested in is either sanderson's mistborn series or Robin Hobb's Farseer. Thoughts?
What exactly are you looking for?
Those two authors are polar opposites so it's rather hard to pick between the two series. If you're looking for more light reading, go with Sanderson. If you want better prose and you're okay with slogging chapters, Hobb is your choice. IMO, both were pretty generic (not bad, but solidly average).
I'm a total Abercrombie fanboy though so that should give some idea of my preferences.
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Netherlands19137 Posts
On November 21 2013 05:38 {ToT}ColmA wrote:
the black company is pretty fun so far, readin 3rd book, not as good as malazan, book of the fallen but still pretty decent
Didn't find that series to be good, but then again I found it to be FUN! :D Very entertaining but it doesn't hold up to other series, especially the one you refer to.
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Before reading black company, I'd suggest you go to amazon and read a few pages first. Glen Cook has a somewhat unique writing style, make sure your fine with that before you start.
Also, Glen Cook is not the only fantasy author to do so - Abercrombie for example did it as well - but in my opinion, if fantasy authors write a novel about a continent wide military campaign, it would be great if they would at least bother to draw a map...
The story itself is great though.
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On November 21 2013 05:26 TheAura wrote:Show nested quote +On October 19 2013 12:32 Xxio wrote:
I heard that he's going to continue writing stories set in The Four Corners, but not about Kvothe. I don't know anything about another planned trilogy. Where did you see that? Hmm i can't remember where i read that, perhaps i am mistaken but i could have sworn... Was busy for awhile, but read the final 2/3's of it since sunday. Good series, ending leaves you wanting more and + Show Spoiler [The First Law Trilogy Ending] +I kind of wish at least one character had some happy closure, everyone is essentially miserable and/or in a bad spot in life, except presumably Bayaz. But i guess that would go against the author's point wouldnt it lol I am either going to read the three stand alone novels by Abercrombie next or start into something else for a bit and leave those for another time. I like his world so i do not want to read it all up at once then be left all sad that i have to wait, especially since it seems it is going to be a few years before he writes more in this world. Way of Kings by Sanderson and the Gentleman Bastard sequence by Scott Lynch both have my attention, but both series are very early in their planned 10 and 7 book length, respectively, and I prefer not to start a series and thenhaving to wait 5 years for a sequal if i can avoid it. Other current books that i am interested in is either sanderson's mistborn series or Robin Hobb's Farseer. Thoughts?
Sanderson is a pretty quick writer as far as epic fantasy series go. I think in the mid 2000s he was releasing novels at yearly clips and the second stormlight archive book is supposed to be early 2014 (even though he was working on finishing out the last WoT for this year). As for way of kings itself I found it quite enjoyable despite its lengthy character/world-building.
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On November 21 2013 17:02 ssxsilver wrote:Show nested quote +On November 21 2013 05:26 TheAura wrote:
Other current books that i am interested in is either sanderson's mistborn series or Robin Hobb's Farseer. Thoughts? What exactly are you looking for? Those two authors are polar opposites so it's rather hard to pick between the two series. If you're looking for more light reading, go with Sanderson. If you want better prose and you're okay with slogging chapters, Hobb is your choice. IMO, both were pretty generic (not bad, but solidly average). I'm a total Abercrombie fanboy though so that should give some idea of my preferences.
Abercrombie is turning out to be one of my favorites as well. Read the 1st third of BSC last night.
Thanks for your thoughts on Hobb and Sanderson... I have also been considering abrahams' the long prince quartet, and if i like that the coin quintet (or something like that).
For now i will finish off abercrombie's works i think. BSC then heroes and red country.
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On November 21 2013 19:25 Nesto wrote:
Before reading black company, I'd suggest you go to amazon and read a few pages first. Glen Cook has a somewhat unique writing style, make sure your fine with that before you start.
Also, Glen Cook is not the only fantasy author to do so - Abercrombie for example did it as well - but in my opinion, if fantasy authors write a novel about a continent wide military campaign, it would be great if they would at least bother to draw a map...
The story itself is great though.
I remember I read an interview where he said he didn't like to put maps in books because he liked to let the reader be more imaginative or something. Which is actually nice, but can also be frustrating when you're like "ooh I thought place was north, but nope it's actually south."
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On November 22 2013 05:26 TheAura wrote:Show nested quote +On November 21 2013 17:02 ssxsilver wrote:On November 21 2013 05:26 TheAura wrote:
Other current books that i am interested in is either sanderson's mistborn series or Robin Hobb's Farseer. Thoughts? What exactly are you looking for? Those two authors are polar opposites so it's rather hard to pick between the two series. If you're looking for more light reading, go with Sanderson. If you want better prose and you're okay with slogging chapters, Hobb is your choice. IMO, both were pretty generic (not bad, but solidly average). I'm a total Abercrombie fanboy though so that should give some idea of my preferences. Abercrombie is turning out to be one of my favorites as well. Read the 1st third of BSC last night. Thanks for your thoughts on Hobb and Sanderson... I have also been considering abrahams' the long prince quartet, and if i like that the coin quintet (or something like that). For now i will finish off abercrombie's works i think. BSC then heroes and red country.
I'm a big fan of Daniel Abraham's writing and he's the GRRM protege so that should pique some interest.
I couldn't get into The Long Prince Quartet (gave up after book 2), but The Dagger and the Coin is really good, and The Expanse is fantastic (although it's sci-fi). He writes fairly quickly so if you really want to get into another traditional fantasy series then The Dagger and the Coin should be fine.
Anyhow, I'm finding that the downside of preferring these "new school" fantasy writers is just that there's not a whole lot in terms of completed series =(. If you don't mind bouncing between open series, I'd recommend The Gentleman Bastards (3 books), The Kingkiller Chronicle (2 books), and Demon Cycle (3 books) in addition to newer ones like Raven's Shadow (1 book), The Shadow Campaigns (1 book), and Moontide Quartet (2 books). Collectively, that's 12 books out that should eat up a good chunk of your spare time.
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Hmm so boys and girls, looking to find a teen book series that I read many years ago, more for the nostalgia than anything. So wanted to see if any of you knowledgeable folks could help. The series had a protagonist who I believe was born on the turn of the century, 1900, and lives exactly a hundred years, and cannot die until then, ages slowly, and is chasing some conspiracy group or something, planning to..do something terrible. He has (I think) an Indian butler when he is young, he goes to Japan at one stage (I think), and I don't remember tons else, other than him traveling back in time for a few years toward the end so that he can live out the rest of his life with his wife..probably a bad book series, but would like to find it again to see just how bad.
Just finished reading the first book of the Foundation series, good stuff, though Asimov's writing might not be for everyone.
Now reading The Dispossessed by Ursula Le Guin, only 50 or so pages in, but has me interested. Also is science fiction, so beware.
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He may have been mentioned already but for science fiction I would recommend everything by Iain M Banks
Here are 'A Few Notes on the Culture', an overview of the civilization that most of his sci-fi books are set in.
(He also did non sci-fi under Iain Banks)
http://www.vavatch.co.uk/books/banks/cultnote.htm
You can read the books in any order.
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On November 21 2013 17:20 Nyovne wrote:Show nested quote +On November 21 2013 05:38 {ToT}ColmA wrote:
the black company is pretty fun so far, readin 3rd book, not as good as malazan, book of the fallen but still pretty decent Didn't find that series to be good, but then again I found it to be FUN! :D Very entertaining but it doesn't hold up to other series, especially the one you refer to.
i enjoy the last book (soldiers live) a lot cuz the writting style changed a bit and the pov has more variety. its hard to find a series as good as malazan thou, have yet to find one that draws me in like eriksons books.
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On February 08 2014 01:27 Startyr wrote:He may have been mentioned already but for science fiction I would recommend everything by Iain M Banks Here are 'A Few Notes on the Culture', an overview of the civilization that most of his sci-fi books are set in. (He also did non sci-fi under Iain Banks) http://www.vavatch.co.uk/books/banks/cultnote.htmYou can read the books in any order.
I second this. Iain M Banks is ridiculously good.
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On February 08 2014 03:23 Just_a_Moth wrote:Show nested quote +On February 08 2014 01:27 Startyr wrote:He may have been mentioned already but for science fiction I would recommend everything by Iain M Banks Here are 'A Few Notes on the Culture', an overview of the civilization that most of his sci-fi books are set in. (He also did non sci-fi under Iain Banks) http://www.vavatch.co.uk/books/banks/cultnote.htmYou can read the books in any order. I second this. Iain M Banks is ridiculously good.
Really liked Player of Games.
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If you want to read one of his non-culture sci-fi books, I think The Algebraist is considered one of the best, and just one of his best books in general. I've read and it is really good.
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I throw in for Sci-Fi Dan Simmons Hyperion and the fall of Hyperion and for Fantasy i chose David Eddings The Belgariad and Malloreon.
These are good books....just need time to read them all, as there are so many good books out there. :/
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i am in the process of finishing forge of darkness and am in need of another fantasy book, best would be a huge series were i can immerse myself in.
ve read so far malazan stuff, black company and sidekick books, prince of thorns series, joe abercrombie stuff and the game of thrones books.
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On June 28 2014 03:37 {ToT}ColmA wrote:
i am in the process of finishing forge of darkness and am in need of another fantasy book, best would be a huge series were i can immerse myself in.
ve read so far malazan stuff, black company and sidekick books, prince of thorns series, joe abercrombie stuff and the game of thrones books.
You could try Wheel of Time or the Dark Tower series.
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stormlight archive and kingkiller chronicles, i highly recommend (neither are finished series, two books each so far i think)
i also enjoyed first formic wars series (100 years before ender's game)
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EPT
