Books / Lit Books.

[Bandicoot]

I’m a bit of a bibliophile. Let’s talk books. Favourite authors. Current reads. Best books. Recommended series’. Etc.

Pratchett, and Discworld, will always be my GOAT and my go to. Sanderson is my top living author and I’m looking forward to Secret Project 3, which should drop in a number of hours now. I’ve got my fingers crossed that I’ll get my physical copy in the next 7-14 days.

I also have a soft spot for Reacher, but I’m finding the last few very formulaic, which concerns me as it kinda lines up with Andrew Child taking the reins from his brother Lee.

 

[A Maybe Baker]

Oh man the Sanderson stuff.

Are you in on the secret novels he's putting out from the kickstarter? I'm in the middle of the second one right now, 3rd coming soon.

 

[Bandicoot]

Oh man the Sanderson stuff.

Are you in on the secret novels he's putting out from the kickstarter? I'm in the middle of the second one right now, 3rd coming soon.

Yeah man. Couldn’t justify the year of Sanderson - that was about £900 with international shipping, but I backed for the four novels. Only a few hours for #3 to come out. That Kickstarter was fucking nuts.

 

[VashTheStampede]

My preferred books are typically fantasy series. Some favorites:

Malazan Book of the Fallen
The Dresden Files
The Black Company
The Traitor Son Cycle

One day I'll finally get around to reading Sanderson because I always hear how amazing he is and his worlds always sound right up my alley...but I have this weird thing where it's hard to get motivated to get into any media that is mega popular.

 

[Bandicoot]

My preferred books are typically fantasy series. Some favorites:

Malazan Book of the Fallen
The Dresden Files
The Black Company
The Traitor Son Cycle

One day I'll finally get around to reading Sanderson because I always hear how amazing he is and his worlds always sound right up my alley...but I have this weird thing where it's hard to get motivated to get into any media that is mega popular.

It is likely that I will go back to Malaz some time, but I tapped out halfway through book 2.

 

[The Eye in the Sky!]

I'm a Sanderson fan girl, I've read everything he has done Cosmere wise and a few of the non-Cosmere. Introduced to him by reading the Wheel of Time as he finished it. I loved Triss and the Emerald Sea, the second one... eh... I'm eagerly waiting for the next Skyward book.

I'm not currently reading anything, though. I go through phases of reading constantly and then months of not touching a book.

 

[Bandicoot]

I'm a Sanderson fan girl, I've read everything he has done Cosmere wise and a few of the non-Cosmere. Introduced to him by reading the Wheel of Time as he finished it. I loved Triss and the Emerald Sea, the second one... eh... I'm eagerly waiting for the next Skyward book.

I'm not currently reading anything, though. I go through phases of reading constantly and then months of not touching a book.

Was it you that went to a Sanderson WoT launch and possibly got a minor character? I’m certain I’m thinking of someone from GW who that was.

 

[VashTheStampede]

It is likely that I will go back to Malaz some time, but I tapped out halfway through book 2.

Funny enough, it was the back half of book 2 that really hooked me. The last quarter of each book almost feels like a magic trick with how they come together.

 

[Raposuh]

My preferred books are typically fantasy series. Some favorites:

Malazan Book of the Fallen
The Dresden Files
The Black Company
The Traitor Son Cycle

One day I'll finally get around to reading Sanderson because I always hear how amazing he is and his worlds always sound right up my alley...but I have this weird thing where it's hard to get motivated to get into any media that is mega popular.

If you like Malazan & the Black Company I can definitely recommend you check out The Way of Kings by Sanderson. It definitely has that same vibe of military company gets stuck into insane magical situation that sprawls out from there.

 

[shortkut]

Was it you that went to a Sanderson WoT launch and possibly got a minor character? I’m certain I’m thinking of someone from GW who that was.

That would be awesome if it was true

 

[Bandicoot]

That would be awesome if it was true

Someone from gw but I can’t remember who.

 

[kid_a]

I'm currently reading some Leigh Bardugo, and then on to the latest Grady Hendrix (only one I haven't read yet, How to Sell a Haunted House). I love spooky shit, fantasy, paranormal and mystery. Also inherited my mom's Agatha Christie collection, so I'll be starting one of those this year I imagine!

 

[Bandicoot]

Not read any of that. I wouldn’t mind trying some Christie some time. I discovered Stuart Turton in recent years when he released his first book. Waiting for his 3rd (which has definitely been handed in) but he’s a good modern mystery writer. I would recommend his first, “The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle” (or 7 and a half in America). Pretty good concept.

 

[A Maybe Baker]

Okay, as for other authors I've enjoyed:

N.K Jemisin: The Broken Earth Trilogy is one of the best I've read...got so taken into it. The Inheritance trilogy was also really good. I'm partway through the Dreamblood Duology and that's been good so far, but I've listed them in my preferred order.

David Estes: he's got a good couple of series out there you should read them. He's also super nice. One night after drinking I logged into facebook and saw an ad posted by him, and responded to it saying I really enjoyed the read. He reached out to me personally and then sent me signed bookmarks. Then later reached out to me by email (in response to the thread we had exchanging information, not one of his blasts) to let me know in advance of a new book release date. Cool dude.

Bryce O'Connor: Child of the Daystar series and a Mark of Kings. Both enjoyable ones.

 

[Nae'blis]

Pratchett will forever be my go to author. The man was a genius! I'm reading A Life with Footnotes at the moment, actually!

Otherwise, Sanderson is always a good read, so is Steven Erikson.

I really enjoyed Rothfuss' Kingkiller Chronicles, just (still) waiting for the third book..

 

[Raposuh]

I really enjoyed Rothfuss' Kingkiller Chronicles, just (still) waiting for the third book..

Rothfuss and GRRM are cut from the same cloth. Wrote really interesting and enjoyable books right up until they wrote themselves into a corner.

 

[A Maybe Baker]

Yeah...not sure that third book will ever be finished. I would be extremely happy if it did get there though...loved the first two.

 

[Raposuh]

First two were great reads, start to finish. I didn't mind the Mary sueing of Kvothe as much as some others towards the end of book 2, marking it up to an unreliable narrator that would be revealed in book 3, but damn.

 

[Kat]

Weird, I haven't read any of the books you've all mentioned.

I'm currently working on Anathem by Neal Stephenson. I'm reading it based on a recommendation and it's a lot denser than my usual fare, but I'm enjoying the philosophical aspects of it. It uses a lot of made up words for real things (like movies and cell phones), which I found annoying at first, but now I'm starting to feel like it was done to distance your existing feelings about things common in our world so he can present a fresh perspective on them.

With all the recent hype about ChatGPT and similar, I recently got into a classic sci-fi kick. I hadn't read "I, Robot" before, and found it fascinating as a technical person. If you've only seen the movie, it's related only in that they're set in the same universe and deal with similar themes. In the book, it's a collection of stories about robot experts troubleshooting and fixing problems that arise with robots with AI. If the robot doesn't do what you expect, how do you figure out why, when no one understands exactly how it works in the first place? If it does do what you want, but for completely different reasons than you intended, is that okay? How do you get them to prevent serious harm to people while also preventing it from sacrificing itself when you're possibly about to stub your toe?

 

[Bandicoot]

Weird, I haven't read any of the books you've all mentioned.

I'm currently working on Anathem by Neal Stephenson. I'm reading it based on a recommendation and it's a lot denser than my usual fare, but I'm enjoying the philosophical aspects of it. It uses a lot of made up words for real things (like movies and cell phones), which I found annoying at first, but now I'm starting to feel like it was done to distance your existing feelings about things common in our world so he can present a fresh perspective on them.

With all the recent hype about ChatGPT and similar, I recently got into a classic sci-fi kick. I hadn't read "I, Robot" before, and found it fascinating as a technical person. If you've only seen the movie, it's related only in that they're set in the same universe and deal with similar themes. In the book, it's a collection of stories about robot experts troubleshooting and fixing problems that arise with robots with AI. If the robot doesn't do what you expect, how do you figure out why, when no one understands exactly how it works in the first place? If it does do what you want, but for completely different reasons than you intended, is that okay? How do you get them to prevent serious harm to people while also preventing it from sacrificing itself when you're possibly about to stub your toe?

We’ve mainly been talking fantasy. I wouldn’t mind reading Reamde at some point, but it’s not very high on the list. I did do the Expanse series last year. Such a bummer they didn’t do the Laconia sequence on the tv show. The pinnacle of the series imo.

 

[Danny]

I'm currently reading a book on EVERY Mega Drive/Genesis game ever. It's pretty fun and informative.

 

[BigDaddy]

I'm currently reading the Harry Potter series for the first time. I had a coupe friends who couldn't believe I had never read them and offered to let me borrow them. So I've been slowly working my way through them for the last year and a half. I'm about 600 pages into Order of the Phoenix at the moment. While I didn't get the experience of growing up with the characters from book to book, they have still been a fun read.

I discovered the Libby app earlier this year, which lets you check out books (including audiobooks) from your local library, and you can listen to the audiobooks in the app. So I've been listening (while driving) to a lot of books I have read before to get the audiobook experience of them, which has been fun. Recently finished Brandon Sanderson's original Mistborn trilogy, and am now taking a break before diving into his other work. I am currently listening to The Hobbit, which I have read multiple times in the past.

 

[Boots]

Max Barry - I have all his books. I really need to get around to finishing his latest 2 novels.
Jonathan Lethem - Gun, with Occasional Music is my favorite. As She Climbed Across the Table was also very good.
Charles Bukowski - Perhaps my favorite poet. I own several anthologies. Yes Yes is a favorite.
Kazuo Ishiguro - Never Let Me Go. I love this nicel. Andrew Garfield starred in a film adaptation.
Angela Carter - subversive gothic fantasy. Uncanny valley stuff. She's a trip.
Albert Camus - the Stranger is a short and solid read. I need to read more of his stuff. He's a Nobel Prize winner for a reason.
Stephen Chbosky - The Perks of Being a Wallflower is an old favorite. I read it the first time as a teenager.
Cecelia Ahern - Rose Dunne aka Love, Rosie aka Where Rainbows End is a guilty pleasure. The book was way better than a movie. It's the same lady who wrote PS I Love You. The entire book is letters, chats, and emails.
Jennette McCurdy - I'm Glad My Mom Died was my most recent (audio book) read. It was really good. The book is about her career as a child actress and her difficult relationship with her abusive mother who died in 2013.

 

[Crazy Jamie]

I read a decent amount during normal times, but as it happens this year I've read a lot of books. My go to historically has been sci fi and fantasy, though in the last couple of years I have been reading a lot more non fiction. No real pattern to that, basically anything I find interesting, comes recommended, or I think I can broaden my horizons with.

Like others in this thread, I'm a big Sanderson fan. He's the most consistent fantasy author for me. I read Elantris recently and thought it was comfortably the worst book of his that I've ever read, but it still wasn't bad by any means, and it made sense when I found out that it was his first published book. But he produces consistently at an 8/10 level, and then now and again produces something really good, and for me Tress of the Emerald Sea was an example of that. As much as very obviously borrowed a lot from the Wizard of Oz, it actually read more like a Neil Gaiman book than a Brandon Sanderson book. So much really good use of language and imagination.

In terms of other authors that haven't been mentioned so far, I've recently read a few books by Adrian Tchaikovsky, and he's basically the sci fi version of Brandon Sanderson in terms of the sheer volume of books he writes. I read Dogs of War, which I thought was fantastic, and then the Final Architecture trilogy. I'm definitely moving on to his Children of Time series relatively soon, which is apparently his seminal work.

I also like Mark Lawrence's books. He's written a lot of different types of series within the fantasy/sci fi genre. The Prince of Thorns series (Broken Empire) is quite visceral, but his Impossible Times trilogy is a much lighter read. I've just finished his Book of the Ancestor trilogy and really enjoyed it. Again, the next trilogy in that world is on my list to read.

The one other author I want to mention is Joe Abercrombie. Again, it's visceral and explicit fantasy, but he's right up there with the very best pure fantasy writers in terms of the worlds and characters he creates. It's been a while since I read the First Law trilogy, but a couple of the characters from that have stuck with me more than some other notable series. The follow up trilogy is, again, on my list to read.

I'm happy to give people recommendations in terms of non fiction, but there've been a few books that have had a really profound effect on me in the last year or so. Why We Sleep by Matthew Walker is fascinating and made me change my sleeping pattern and habits. Food For Life by Tim Spector has made me change my eating habits, and The Authority Gap by Mary Ann Sieghart has completely opened my eyes to day to day women's issues. I've read quite widely on women's issues now that I have a daughter (both feminist literature and just books on women's issues more broadly), but the Authority Gap is incredible. I genuinely think it's a book that every single person should read, men and women.

 

[Crazy Jamie]

Kazuo Ishiguro - Never Let Me Go. I love this nicel. Andrew Garfield starred in a film adaptation.

I've read Never Let Me Go and Clara And The Sun recently, which have been my first experiences of him. They're both books why I entirely recognise the skill in writing them, and why Ishiguro won the Nobel Prize for Literature, but I just didn't enjoy either of them as much a lot of other books in the same genre.

Actually, on classic books, I did start to read some classic sci fi as well. I read some Orwell recently (1984 and Homage To Catalonia) and thought both were genuinely excellent. I also read Starship Troopers, which I thought was awful, though I'm kind of glad I did read it. I'll be sticking to the film in future though. And Childhood's End by Arthur C Clarke, which again I thought was pretty incredible considering how old it is.

 

[Spiner202]

I'm currently reading a book on EVERY Mega Drive/Genesis game ever. It's pretty fun and informative.

This sounds really interesting. What is the name of the book? I wonder if similar books exist for other systems.

 

[Fire Queen]

i know one does for the N64 because i own it. not sure if it's by the same people but the demand is definitely there as is the supply

i fell off of reading pretty hard recently but i'm trying to get back into it. my favorite book (series) that i've read in the last five years is The Traitor Baru Cormorant by Seth Dickinson. three books out with a fourth supposedly on the way. incredible worldbuilding, prose, and storytelling. it honestly ruined other books a little bit for me, it was the first ever time a book has made me cry and the series has done it more than once lol. the author has also worked on Destiny/Destiny 2 as well as Subnautica so if you like the storytelling in those games (for the record i haven't played them) then this is for you

the last book i read was A Room of One's Own by Virginia Woolf. Woolf is probably one of my favorite "classic" authors--To The Lighthouse is my favorite of hers but i also really liked Orlando and Mrs. Dalloway. this was the first nonfiction i've read from her and, man. she was making fun of fascists for not being able to produce art in 1929. and also speaking at length about lesbianism and genderfluidity even if she wasn't really aware of those terms

next on my list is All Systems Red by Martha Wells, the first in the Murderbot Chronicles series. people have said i'd like it so i'm excited to sink my teeth into it!

 

[VashTheStampede]

This sounds really interesting. What is the name of the book? I wonder if similar books exist for other systems.

I've got a couple similar books but focused on genres instead of systems. Big ass books that detail every JRPG ever and every side-scrolling beat-em-up.

 

[Danny]

This sounds really interesting. What is the name of the book? I wonder if similar books exist for other systems.

The Sega Mega Drive/Genesis Encyclopedia.

I believe the author has done the same for NES and SNES

 

[A Maybe Baker]

In terms of other authors that haven't been mentioned so far, I've recently read a few books by Adrian Tchaikovsky, and he's basically the sci fi version of Brandon Sanderson in terms of the sheer volume of books he writes. I read Dogs of War, which I thought was fantastic, and then the Final Architecture trilogy. I'm definitely moving on to his Children of Time series relatively soon, which is apparently his seminal work.

Highly recommend children of time. First of his stuff that I read and I thought it was great.

 

[Quagmire]

i fell off of reading pretty hard recently but i'm trying to get back into it. my favorite book (series) that i've read in the last five years is The Traitor Baru Cormorant by Seth Dickinson.

This has been high on my list to read

I kind of like Sanderson, but I feel his last two novels (cosmer not the secret projects) were big steps back and they are with a new editor so I feel like I can tell

Robin Hobb is my utmost favorite. Her Realm of the Elderlings is my all time favorite series. No series has come close to making me feel for these characters like this. Untold amount of tears have been shed

I am currently reading the second Hyperion book and loving it. The first really lived up to the hype for me

A few of my other favorite authors are GRRM, Abercrombie, Lois McMaster Bujold, Vonnegut, Pratchett and Asimov to name a few off top of my head.

 

[VashTheStampede]

I am currently reading the second Hyperion book and loving it. The first really lived up to the hype for me

Dan Simmons?

 

[Quagmire]

Dan Simmons?

Yep!

 

[VashTheStampede]

I really enjoyed the whole Cantos but that first book was a masterpiece on its own.

 

[Quagmire]

I really enjoyed the whole Cantos but that first book was a masterpiece on its own.

It really is, lived up to the hype, sat on my shelf for over a year before I finally cracked it open. Easy 5/5

 

[Crazy Jamie]

Robin Hobb is my utmost favorite. Her Realm of the Elderlings is my all time favorite series. No series has come close to making me feel for these characters like this. Untold amount of tears have been shed

Where would you recommend I start with Robin Hobb? I've always wanted to read something of hers but she's written so much that it's difficult to know where to start.

 

[Ryan!]

It's a typical answer, but I love Tolkien. Everything. LotR, the Hobbit, the Silmarillion, Unfinished Tales, and I'm starting the three stand alone great tales.

I love the Wrinkle in Time series by L'Engle.

The Honor Harrington series by Webb is basically competence porn with a Mary Sue, but it's still entertaining.

I've been getting into the Kingkiller Chronicles as well. Also the Drizzt series.

 

[Quagmire]

Where would you recommend I start with Robin Hobb? I've always wanted to read something of hers but she's written so much that it's difficult to know where to start.

Start with Assassin's Apprentice, it's the Farseer trilogy. That is the first series in the Realm of the Elderlings.

Some "warnings", Fitz is an assassin, but most assassinations happen off page. The name was picked by the publisher. The series is a slow burn, especially the first book, it's still a good book, but for me the second book improved a lot of things.

If you end up loving that, read the whole RotE. There are 5 series, 4 are trilogies, and 1 is a quadrilogy. If you have any questions ask!

 

[The Eye in the Sky!]

The Farseer trilogy was a hard read for me. It was so slow and there is so much sadness about it... but it is a really good series. I haven't started the rest of her work because it was so hard to get through. Very good writing but I don't want to be bummed out all the time.

 

[Quagmire]

The Farseer trilogy was a hard read for me. It was so slow and there is so much sadness about it... but it is a really good series. I haven't started the rest of her work because it was so hard to get through. Very good writing but I don't want to be bummed out all the time.

Haha you may not like her. I enjoy the sadness, I'd describe it as bitter sweet and not predictable. Too many stories are too happy with no stakes or cost. But the sad moments make the the good moments even better, everything good that happens is earned and for me makes it more special

 

[Raposuh]

I really enjoyed the Liveship Traders series by Robin Hobb. The rest of her works I've read were a bit rough for me, at a certain point it felt like I was as miserable reading about them as her characters were in their situations. Which of course, props to her for being able to evoke that, but it wasn't what I was looking for at the time.

In terms of other authors that haven't been mentioned so far, I've recently read a few books by Adrian Tchaikovsky, and he's basically the sci fi version of Brandon Sanderson in terms of the sheer volume of books he writes. I read Dogs of War, which I thought was fantastic, and then the Final Architecture trilogy. I'm definitely moving on to his Children of Time series relatively soon, which is apparently his seminal work.

I'll have to check him out, a scifi author as prolific as Branderson sounds right up my alley.

The one other author I want to mention is Joe Abercrombie. Again, it's visceral and explicit fantasy, but he's right up there with the very best pure fantasy writers in terms of the worlds and characters he creates. It's been a while since I read the First Law trilogy, but a couple of the characters from that have stuck with me more than some other notable series. The follow up trilogy is, again, on my list to read.

Dogman as well as The Bloody Nine live rent free in my head forever. Not to mention Glokta.

 

[Quagmire]

I really enjoyed the Liveship Traders series by Robin Hobb. The rest of her works I've read were a bit rough for me, at a certain point it felt like I was as miserable reading about them as her characters were in their situations. Which of course, props to her for being able to evoke that, but it wasn't what I was looking for at the time.

I'll have to check him out, a scifi author as prolific as Branderson sounds right up my alley.


Dogman as well as The Bloody Nine live rent free in my head forever. Not to mention Glokta.

Love me some Glokta

Some people do enjoy the Liveship Traders more, the multiple POVs help. It overall was my 4th favorite in the series, I really loved Fitz and his relationships with the Fool, nighteyes, Burrich and Chade. Liveship was good, but there were still too many characters I didnt care about, but god damn Kennit what a villain, and then of course Kyle, an even bigger asshole

Love me some Etta though!

 

[Crazy Jamie]

Dogman as well as The Bloody Nine live rent free in my head forever. Not to mention Glokta.

As much as the Bloody Nine is clearly just the epic fantasy version of Wolverine, he really is great. It's all about Glokta though. Quite possibly my favourite fantasy character.

 

[Tirith]

The last thing that I read (and was a re-read) was Rothfuss. And I regretted reading it even more than I did the first time. Guess I'm a glutton for punishment.

I've always been an avid reader, and I think anyone that was anyone in C&CW back in the day wanted to become at least a hobby writer. One day, I'm gonna get a book published. I just have to write it. Again.

 

[Quagmire]

The last thing that I read (and was a re-read) was Rothfuss. And I regretted reading it even more than I did the first time. Guess I'm a glutton for punishment.

I've always been an avid reader, and I think anyone that was anyone in C&CW back in the day wanted to become at least a hobby writer. One day, I'm gonna get a book published. I just have to write it. Again.

I cant imagine re-reading or starting that now until the 3rd book is announced. I will re-read if he ever does complete the trilogy. I am very curious to see how I still feel about it, I devoured those two books and they were some of my first fantasy and books I read once I got into reading as a hobby, but thats been over a decade now

 

[Crazy Jamie]

I'd never got round to Rothfuss, and I don't think I will now unless he completes the series. I'd suggest the same to anyone who is considering starting Game of Thrones. I actually think it's quite an inconsistent series there are a lot of authors I prefer to read over Martin, but irrespective, if he's not going to finish the series I don't see why people would start it now.

 

[Tirith]

At least Rothfuss has been coming open about his mental issues and struggles recently, on his youtube/twitch streams (The Eolian). Whether it's all lip service or not, only time will tell

 

[Quagmire]

At least Rothfuss has been coming open about his mental issues and struggles recently, on his youtube/twitch streams (The Eolian). Whether it's all lip service or not, only time will tell

I do believe him, just sucks. The series was also marketed as completed when the first one came out

 

[Tirith]

I do believe him, just sucks. The series was also marketed as completed when the first one came out

Yea.... That was the dumbest part of it. I actually read NotW before WMF even came out, so I should have been prepared for a wait.

I think he has too much to write into one last book, though.

 

[Quagmire]

I think he has too much to write into one last book, though.

I've heard quite a few theorize this, which may be part of the delay, he just doesnt know what to do and feels stuck to the trilogy. I've also heard that this trilogy could be an intro to an even bigger series