The Official Book Thread~!

[Rhowen-Prea]

So, I need books to read, always, and I figure you guys must have SOMETHING like good taste. If nothing else, you must all be reading something. Follow the music format: Post what you're reading, at the moment!

(I wager this thread will fill up slower than the music thread, but I'm always looking for new titles.)

Good Omens - Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett






(Make this thread popular so Mortica will sticky it for me. >.>)

[Athius]

Anything by Terry Pratchett. He did the funny for Good Omens.

Although currently I'm reading Dragon Champion, by author to be announced when I dig out the book from my recent cleaning...

[Thaena]

Fluke, Island of the Sequined Love Nun, Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff- Christ's Childhood Friend and The Stupidest Angel by Christopher Moore.

Great books, I'm not as fond of some of his other ones, but those are great. They have a little differant humor than Pratchett, more slap-stick and a little cruder, not quite as dry and witty. But still funny none the less.

And of course, almost anything Neil Gaimen. I just finished listening to his short story collection Fragile Things, and it was wonderful. (Who knew Neil Gaimen soounds just like Alan Rickman?)

[Daala]

Beloved by Toni Morrison. Nobel Prize winner, I'm currently reading it, highly reccomended.

Watchmen by Alan Moore. Arguably the best graphic novel ever.

Ender's Game Series by Orson Scott Card. Astonishing sci-fi.

More as I think of them.

[Niethan]

We read a Toni Morrison novel in each of my Lit classes at college, and it was well worth it. Highly recommened author.

[Danyxandra]

My favorite sci-fi series, "Arthur C. Clarke's VENUS PRIME" series, except it is NOT written by Arthur C. Clarke. He wrote a little novella that was the basis of this series, written by Paul Preuss. It's not currently in bookstores so you have to Amazon.com to find it. I think there's like six books to the series, and you probably won't find it by the author. I found it originally in the "C" section for Clarke, and Clarke's name is all over it, but he didn't write it.

The hero is a sexy woman named Sparta, it's intelligent, sci-fi, and mystery series all in one. But the series is very hard to find. Hubby is still trying to get all the copies to finish reading it and some of the books are on back order (I read it a decade ago) and you have to read it in order, cuz, it's a connective series. But anyway, it's one of my favorites.

Next favorite, written by Anne McCaffrey, Elizabeth Moon, and Jody Nye, "The Planet Pirates" includes the books "The Death of Sleep", "Sassinak" and "Generation Warriors". Sassinak is my favorite sci-fi character.

Best Hysterical Romance...Knight in Shining Armor written by Jude Deveraux. Her next best is "The Duchess" Most of her books are fippin' hilarious and usually have at least one scene with a food fight or mud-wrestling. One of my daughters had reading problems. She was about eleven and we were struggling with a comprehension problem. She could read all the words, but strung all together they made no sense to her. Teachers were struggling with her. She was struggling. So I figured what could I put under her nose that she'd really WANT very badly to understand...and for a hormonal girl that had just hit puberty, taa-daa...Jude Deveraux. Not only did we get her over her reading difficulties, she started devouring those books. She owns every Jude Deveraux book ever written, turned into an "A" student from then on as all her other classes improved when her reading did too.

Beyond that, I have to put a plug in for my brother-in-law's books. He wrote "The Virgin Suicides" which was made into a movie, and he won the Pulitzer Prize for fiction with his book "Middlesex." If you are looking by author, his name is Jeffrey Eugenides.

[Gloomberry]

Simhasana Dvatrimsika: Thirty-Two Tales of the Throne of Vikramaditya (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0140447482/thedailygrail), Penguin Classics. Hrmm, Amazon doesn't have the paperback, so go to your local bookstore and support them.

The Fox Woman (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0312875592/thedailygrail) by Kij Johnson. Highly recommended.

Luthiel's Song (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0976422603/thedailygrail) by Robert Fanney (http://profile.myspace.com/luthielssong) (( yay, profanity filter didn't censor Fanney! )). Excellent, avoids the usual fantasy cliches.

Hound Dog (http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0224077759/thedailygrail0c) by Richard Blandford. Not available in the USA so order from Amazon UK or direct from Richard (http://www.myspace.com/richardblandford) himself.

Please click on the links, it's how I get paid! :roll:

There, that should distract you from WoW long enough ...

[Muatah]

Raids On The Unspeakable - Thomas Merton

[Sulajin]

Seriously people, I'm going to have to recomend Don's bookstore. He's a family friend and this store is known worldwide. He's shipped to such exotic locals as Brittain, Australia, Japan, and Germany, and probably other's I'm unawares of.

http://www.unclehugo.com/prod/

Plus until recently he had in his employ the most creepily accurate guy that ever lived. He was nice and friendly, but you could walk into the store once and he'd remember you and what you bought at a glance ten years later... Also made exceptionally accurate predictions about where your tastes would lead. Sadly died a few years ago, however.

[turen]

The Emperor Series
Gates of Rome
Death of Kings
Field of Swords
Gods of War



Excellent books if you have any interest in the Roman time. Many characters in these books inflience the characters I have played.


The Hunters Blades Trilogy

The Thousand Orcs
The Lone Drow
The Two Swords

Awesome epic R.A. Salvatore, plus Orcs besieging the Dwarves home land. Helped make me love Dwarf RP.




The Godfather - Mario Puzo


yeah I don't much have an explanation for this one, I just loved it. Its a book you can't refuse.





De Bello Gallico Julius Caesar

What can I say, I'm a roman history freak. Besides, the best stories have historical influences, even in fantasy games.


Starship Troopers by Robert A. Heinlan

Awesome Sci-Fi plus an interesting view on the world, especially for someone like myself who has a fair chance at deciding to join the military.

[Fenyremir]

Philosophy of Mathematics and Deductive Structure in Euclid's Elements by Ian Mueller

The Healing Power of Cayenne Pepper: Complete Handbook of Cayenne Home Remedies by Patrick Quillin

Diaries 1907-1914: Prodigious Youth by Sergey Prokofiev

Children Playing Before a Statue of Hercules by David Sedaris

[Vythica]

Hmmm


Right now I am reading Christ the Lord , Out of Egypt by Anne Rice

I just reread The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley

I have always liked R.A. Salvatore books, the dark elf ones and the Demon Wars

I also read alot of westerns The lonesome dove series is excellent.


Micheal Connelly The Harry Bosch series

Patricia Cornwell Kay Scarpetta series.

=)

[Chingaso]

Myth-adventures series by Robert Aspirin - new book out!

Discworld series by Terry Pratchett - I may catch up to him someday...

Xanth series by Piers Anthony - Funny and pun-laden, but I'm needing longer and longer breaks between books

Currently finishing up Hyperion, and the first Pip and Flynx is next

Oh, and I recommend avoiding the Honor Harrington books. Decent enough space drama, but 'way too much technical detail, unless of course you like that

[Skafloc]

I mentioned this book in my Character Influence for Skafloc.. The Broken Sword.. Poul Anderson (http://www.sfsite.com/12a/br141.htm). Its a classical fantasy, written at the same time as LOTR, but darker and grittier.

I also re-read The Deed of Paksennarion.. Elizabeth Moon (http://www.elizabethmoon.com/biblio-paks.htm#paksomni). Which, if I were ever to roll a female paladin I would soo use as a blueprint. As it is there might be some of Paks in Lupa..

For non-fiction I am finishing up the final chapters of Shake Hands With The Devil. The failure of Humanity in Rwanda...Lt.Gen. Romeo Dallaire (http://www.amazon.com/Shake-Hands-Devil-Failure-Humanity/dp/0786714875). This is the first hand account of the UN Peacekeeping commander who witnessed the Rwandan genocide and the beaurocratic failures that enabled it to happen, and left him powerless. IMHO mandatory reading in the same spirit as Shindler's List is mandatory viewing. (soon to be a motion picture.. a documentary already exists and won awards at Sundance )

[Skafloc]

Myth-adventures series by Robert Aspirin - new book out!

I tried the first few out and kinda fell off the wagon. I <3 the Thieves World series though. With all the sub plots, characters and author collabarations, its as if the TNG Legends forum made it to print! ( without all the spam..).

[Yichimet]

Beyond that, I have to put a plug in for my brother-in-law's books. He wrote "The Virgin Suicides" which was made into a movie, and he won the Pulitzer Prize for fiction with his book "Middlesex." If you are looking by author, his name is Jeffrey Eugenides.

Holy frickin'--when you talk to him next, tell him Middlesex is GODDAMN BRILLIANT. I love that book. There are few contemporary fiction writers who can pull off something that moving, nuanced and imaginative. GODDAMN, that is awesome.

I recently finished reading The Wind-up Bird Chronicle by Haruki Murakami, and it was pretty astonishing too. I picked up another of his books and I'm finishing up a few things then cracking it open too. I've also been reading the whole Hellboy and B.P.R.D line over and over again. I can't get enough of that art.

[Izrail]

In this past week I have finished Astonishing X-Men book one (Whedon/Cassaday), and Fruits Basket books one and two (Natsuki Takaya), and Angel Sanctuary books eleven and twelve (Yuki Kaori), and The Onion Girl by Charles de Lint. So I am not really reading anything right now! But Fevre Dream by George R. R. Martin is next.

[Gloomberry]

Here's the original Book Thread (http://tn.yzeens.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=1111), with lots of recommended books, but Mortica never stickied it and it's lost on page 11, probably because we talked off topic. Awww, there's a post by Enheilras! What happened to him?

The Lore of the Land: A Guide to England's Legends, from Spring-Heeled Jack to the Witches of Warboys (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0141007117/thedailygrail) by Jennifer Westwood and Jacqueline Simpson. Awesome book.

[Sulajin]

Piers Anthony has some really good books, in the beginnings. He starts a series strong, but they allways seem to go downhill. I recomend the Incarnations of Immortality series, especially "On a Pale Horse", though you could fairly safely skip "Bearing an Hourglass". Don't know how he fucked up a book about a man discovering he's Time. But he did.

[Kallindra]

Haruki Murakami is an awesome writer. I've read about 7 of his novels, including the Wind-Up Bird Chronicle. I took an entire literature class in college that was devoted to studying his books.

[Vythica]

Didn't Piers Anthony write On a Pale Horse?

[Lelenia]

Knife of Dreams by Robert Jordan...I <3 Wheel of Time, particularly Perrin.

[Sulajin]

Didn't Piers Anthony write On a Pale Horse?

Yeah, I just said so in my last post.

[Verloran]

The Left Behind series by Tim LaHaye/Jerry B. Jenkins. Not recommended if Christianity represented as fact offends you. I'm not real big on Christian fiction, but I find myself liking this series. Just thought I'd share.

Oh, The Communist Manifesto by Karl Marx.

...

What?

[Yichimet]

Marx was a pretty brilliant historian and observer of society.

Too bad assholes always get in the way of ideals.

I'd love to talk to you about Murakami sometime, Kayllia (Kallindra?)! I go to panel discussions on literature nowadays just because I miss sitting in bars and talking about books with my university friends.

And so as to not get too off-topic with the post, I just remembered that I read Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer right after I finished the Murakami book. He wrote Everything Is Illuminated, probably my favorite novel of the past decade, and while it wasn't as good as that, it was more emotional and contemporary. I, um, cried a few times reading it.

[Chingaso]

Marx was a pretty brilliant historian and observer of society.
Um, sorry, but Marx was a thief. He just took Hegel's work as his own.

Sorry, off topic... :oops:

[Kallindra]

Look me up any time in game. I'm Horde, and my primary character's name is Kallindra. I originally registered at the site over a year ago with my UD warrior that was named Kayllia.

[Rhowen-Prea]

Ah, this thread became a beast all its own! Also.

If you're into some bizarre fiction/non-fiction, read Histories by Herodotus. Is an exceptionally easy read for being classical Greek literature, and is an AWESOMELY good time. I love it.



Ps. Haruki Murakami really is fantastic. I read just about everything he's published back when I was travelling for work a lot. Props to him - recommended author.

PPS. George R. R. Martin blows Robert Jordan out. of. the. water. <3 GEORGE FOR LIFE. But Perrin is cute.

[Skafloc]

Piers Anthony has some really good books, in the beginnings. He starts a series strong, but they allways seem to go downhill. I recomend the Incarnations of Immortality series, especially "On a Pale Horse", though you could fairly safely skip "Bearing an Hourglass". Don't know how he fucked up a book about a man discovering he's Time. But he did.

Actually, I kinda liked "Bearing an Hourglass", mainly because of the interesting way he wrote it with time running "in reverse" for that Incarnation. It took some getting used to, but the idea was original at the very least.

P.S. I totally lost my drive to complete the WoT series 1 1/2 volumes ago. I left off with Faile getting captured (forget which volume that was) and haven't picked it up since.

My opinion, RJ lost his way and sold out to stretching a story that could easily have been made excellent with 6 volumes into a monsterous series that is almost painful to work through. But he knew it would sell and line his pockets with cash. He chose profit over his artistry IMHO.. I'm sure many wont agree, and thats cool. Just my thoughts on it.

[Rhowen-Prea]

P.S. I totally lost my drive to complete the WoT series 1 1/2 volumes ago. I left off with Faile getting captured (forget which volume that was) and haven't picked it up since.

My opinion, RJ lost his way and sold out to stretching a story that could easily have been made excellent with 6 volumes into a monsterous series that is almost painful to work through. But he knew it would sell and line his pockets with cash. He chose profit over his artistry IMHO.. I'm sure many wont agree, and thats cool. Just my thoughts on it.


I've got six pages left in book nine and just absolutely can't bring myself to finish them. It's become too painful. Like how I hit book 6 in the Left Behind series. I just.. can't... do it.

RJ made a world too big for himself to conquer. He is not Tolkien, or Martin, or Herbert. He just doesn't have the talent to pull it off. One of the BIGGEST turnoffs was when I realized I was reading Dune in a fantasy setting. LAME, imo. Also, his writing has just become so boring and predictable and tiresome... I just can't finish it. Doubtful I'll ever finish the series. Maybe when the books are a few bucks a piece at a used book seller. MAYBe. Doubtful.

[Rhowen-Prea]

BUT BACK ON TOPIC.

Currently reading Jhereg, by Stephen Brust. I don't know if I like it, but I think a lot of you would.

[Sulajin]

Piers Anthony has some really good books, in the beginnings. He starts a series strong, but they allways seem to go downhill. I recomend the Incarnations of Immortality series, especially "On a Pale Horse", though you could fairly safely skip "Bearing an Hourglass". Don't know how he fucked up a book about a man discovering he's Time. But he did.

Actually, I kinda liked "Bearing an Hourglass", mainly because of the interesting way he wrote it with time running "in reverse" for that Incarnation. It took some getting used to, but the idea was original at the very least.

Oh, don't get me wrong, that was very very cool. Just the over all plot had less to do with "Sweet, I'm TIME" and more to do with "Let's go over Xanth again". Plus some sci fi thrown in.

Although the first few books of Xanth were really really good. Skip Ogre Ogre, though. Do read Night Mare. I heartily enjoyed it.

[Fallacy]

The Xanth books are a little overwhelmingly sexual, to me.

[Thaena]

I read Jhereg about a year ago, and I'm still not sure if I liked it or not. Cool premise, but the writing style just rubbed me the wrong way. Meh. A lot of fantasy gets to that point with me these days.

I really like Sara Douglass' Axis Trilogy (Battleaxe, Enchanter, Starman) I'd recommend them any day. Just note that there is a sequel trilogy to that series (Wayfarer's Redemption) that is just horrible, it was nothing like the first three. I don't recommend reading it.

And hey, July 21st is the day for all you Harry Potter fiends! Woohoo, book 7!

[Kallindra]

I heard that this morning on the radio, Thaena. I'm excited, and sad because I'll not have another HP to read after July 23rd at the latest. :(

I'm actually reading "Physics of the Buffyverse" currently. It's rather good so far. The author is attempting to give scientific explanations for various facets of the show. I'm currently on her Creature Feature section, and it had a very detailed explanation on how a person could truly create a flesh and blood zombie!

[Sulajin]

I have the "Philosophy of Superheroes" while my mother has "The Physics of Super" or something like that. It's got discussions of how Superheros would have to generate force to do things like "Leap tall buildings in a single bound" and fun stuff like that. I assume it ignores flight, though I don't really know.

[Danyxandra]

Just put my pre-order in for Harry Potter 7. I will be missing from Azaroth for a few days in July >.>

[Nadea]

Just put my pre-order in for Harry Potter 7. I will be missing from Azaroth for a few days in July >.>QFT

[Skafloc]

I can't believe I never checked this out before, but out of curiousity ( and thanks to Rhowen's plug) I picked up " A Game of Thrones" George R.R. Martin, on Friday.

I got about 1/4 of the way through last night, and so far its been outstanding! What a gem!

[Morrigaine]

Right now I'm reading 'The Boleyn Inheritance' by Phillipa Gregory. It's a somewhat fictionalized account of Anne of Cleves, Katherine Howard and Jane Boleyn, written by each in turn.

I'm a sucker for anything that even mentions Anne Boleyn.

Does anyone know when the next George Martin book, 'Dragons something-or-other' is coming out? I love all his stuff.

[Daedraug]

No official release date is set, though there are various pre-order dates floating around randomly. I was letting my fanboy ire get all in an uproar at how long it was taking for Martin to come up :)

If you are through with all the books and need a fix, The Hedge Knight and The Sworn Sword are both short stories that take place in the same world about 100 years prior to the main series starting, and are both very good if you can find them in their various collections. If not, tHK is already available in graphic novel form , and tSS will be coming out in spring.

[Keraph]

Oldie but a goodie, I'm currently re-reading Bram Stoker's Dracula. Great stuff, never gets old.

After that, I've got to finish up R.A. Salvatore's "The Hunter's Blades" trilogy (I'm almost precisely 50% complete), then I move on to the cool Warhammer books Chingaso sent me for christmas!

[Kaldore]

Right now I'm reading a book about Buddy Cianci the former mayor of Providence, RI.


Knife of Dreams by Robert Jordan...I <3 Wheel of Time, particularly Perrin.

I'm the last person to argue matters of personal taste. Preference for one artist, musician, writer, or even food is a matter of personal opinion.... However, I used to feel the exact same way.

That is until...


I can't believe I never checked this out before, but out of curiousity ( and thanks to Rhowen's plug) I picked up " A Game of Thrones" George R.R. Martin, on Friday.

I got about 1/4 of the way through last night, and so far its been outstanding! What a gem!

"A Song Of Ice and Fire" is the most amazing Fantasy series I've ever come across. While it strays away from the typical Sword & Sorcery of the genre, it does immerse the reader in a medieval setting filled with murder, mystery, political intrigue, sex, and desperation. I've read all of the books in this series several times and even though I know who's going to be affected in the coming chapters it always comes across unexpected and drastic. I can't say the same for anything I have ever read. The franchise has been opted for an HBO series and it will be amazing.

Stop what you're doing and go get a copy of "A Game of Thrones."

Do it now.

[Malebrignon]

I can't believe I never checked this out before, but out of curiousity ( and thanks to Rhowen's plug) I picked up " A Game of Thrones" George R.R. Martin, on Friday.

I got about 1/4 of the way through last night, and so far its been outstanding! What a gem!

That's the most recent novel for me, too. I had to see what all the fuss was about. I'm glad I did.

Only other thing I've read lately was a Mechwarrior book that was never released. A friend at Wizkids sent me a copy. Pretty cool stuff the public missed out on.

[Nadea]

Wizard's First Rule by Terry Goodkind

I like it so far, and if I get totally sucked in, there are like, 8 books or so in the series!

[turen]

I am currently reading...AN EMT TEXTBOOK! Hooray for me.

[Cyrus]

Anything by Neil Gaiman (saw him back in november and got my Sandman 1-10 signed, and volume 1 signed, and #50 (ramadan) signed and The sandman companion signed....)


And reading his new book, Fragile Things.



Feel the same way bout the RJ books, by what few i could find helped me get through a lil over a month in jail 2 years ago...


And of course, anything by the late Kurt Vonnegut RIP

[Morgenstern]

Definatly Vonnegut.

Also anything by Christopher Moore or Chuck Palahniuk.

[Izrail]

Right now I am reading Tuf Voyaging by George R. R. Martin. The universe seems to be the same one Dying of the Light was set in, but this does not have the "I wrote this during NaNoWriMo" feel Dying of the Light had.

[Acherontia]

"Fall on your Knees" by Ann-Marie MacDonald. Friend of mine asked if I wanted to borrow it with the words "It gave me nightmares. I had to put it down a lot. If you like it, you can keep it - I don't ever want to read it again." It's horrifying. And terribly beautiful.

She writes these people and...you feel so much for them. Hate, pity, love, anger, humor, sympathy...lots more, so much more. People as me what it's about and I get stuck. "Eh...well, it's um...okay, basically it's like this...ummm...okay, there's this family, see? And...uh...hmm."

I finally got it the other day - it's a love story. Not romance...it's about love, aching and terrible and echoing as it is.

[Morrigaine]

The Virgin's Lover by Phillipa Gregory

This one is about Elizabeth I (Anne Boleyn's daughter) and Robert and Amy Dudley. See, there's that Anne Boleyn link again!

[Acherontia]

The Virgin's Lover by Phillipa Gregory

This one is about Elizabeth I (Anne Boleyn's daughter) and Robert and Amy Dudley. See, there's that Anne Boleyn link again!

Just finished with this one. Liked it better than "The Queen's Fool" but not nearly as much as "The Other Boleyn Girl".

[Vilmah]

Fuck Anne Boleyn. I hate her. I hate her whole family.

Catalina fo' life. *gang signs*

"The Constant Princess" by Gregory kicked ass.

[Acherontia]

Oh, indeed, she was a filthy whore, but the books were good. I wished there were more to "The Constant Princess", but I liked it too.

Have either of you read the "Wideacre" series? I keep wanting to pick those up.

[Valon]

Wizard's First Rule by Terry Goodkind

I like it so far, and if I get totally sucked in, there are like, 8 books or so in the series!

There's currently 10 released books in that series, with another to be released next year.

I got sucked in, read them all inside 2 weeks, and now I'm bouncing around waiting for the final book. Definately a series worth reading the whole way through.

Ummm, Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series, Raymond E. Feist's Riftwar Saga, The Earthsea Quartet by Ursula Le Guin... I have way too much time to read on my hands. I have a big toychest filled with -my- books. I think my sister and my brother have similar.

Anything by R.A.Salvatore is usually good (Dark Elf Trilogy, Hunter's Blades Trilogy), Elaine Cunningham (Songs & Swords)....pretty much anything with a Forgotten Realms label is probably worth a look.

Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman's work is usually worth looking at too (Deathgate series, Dragonlance Books. )

Ummmmm, yeah. I'll stop here, or I'm just going to start repeating people (A Song of Fire & Ice was awesome too!)

[Vilmah]

I love the world that Salvatore created for the Drow, but I hate his writing. The Dark Elf trillogy made Drow society the backdrop for a character I loathe.. BUT, the War of the Spider Queen series was awesome in that it showed people what the Drow are best at being; cunning, evil, and awesome.

Good guy drow are so overrated.

[Valon]

OH MAI GOD!

YOU HATE DRIZZT!

OH MAI GOD!

Can't say I'm a huge fan of Drizzt either. Give me the dwarves! (Especially when Pikel and Ivan Bouldershoulder make an appearance in... A Thousand Orcs? Ivan and Pikel are characters he carried over from another of his series, the Canticle Quintet, along with Cadderly and Danica Bonaduce. See, now Cadderly on the other hand, he's awesome. I guess I just go for the stereotypical good guy.)

Edit: Elaine Cunningham's work with Menzoberranzan was also very good. And her heroine was a little less "pure". (Deceitful, Ruthless, Magic-user, Former priestess of Lloth.., alot more drow. Can't remember the series name for the life of me, but it begins with Daughter of the Drow.)

[Vilmah]

I HATED Daughter of the Drow. Mary Sue if I ever saw one.. she called her character a "princess". A PRINCESS!! Who had two goddesses fighting over her!? Blegh. No thanks.

Give me Hellistra Melarn. She fucked up when she joined Elistrae, and suffered for it. That's how it should be. Not this "have your cake and eat it too" (I'm a bad girl, but I worship a good goddess but my bad powers still work yay!) bullcrap.

[Valon]

Well, being born as a female in House Baenre basically is being born into royalty. House Baenre has been the top house in Menzoberranzan for as long as anyone can remember, and seems likely to stay that way.

Also, I don't remember it being a fight between deities. I thought it was more a rejection of Lloth/Acceptance of Elistrae, but going back to Lloth later on out of necessity. Though I don't really think that Lloth would have made her her avatar (though Lloth is a very possessive goddess, especially when it comes to House Baenre.), it wasn't a too badly written storyline, just perhaps a bit strange.

Just because it's been triggered by the mention of Elistrae, Qilue I believe it is says she has a witch sister named Selune. Does this make her the last of the seven? (Dove, Storm, Laerel, Sylune, The Simbul, Alustriel.)

Edit: Of course, my favourite characters are those mainly explored by Ed Greenwood, Elminster and the Knights of Myth Drannor. I just love that sarcastic old mage :).

[Vilmah]

I have a book that was supposed to be about the 7 sisters.. and it had no ending. It was horrible.

I'm just so tired of all of the stories that involve Drow where they have some sort of redemption and rejection of Lloth. I like the ones where it's just your average cavern dwelling drow whoworships Lloth, does her thing, and kicks ass. I mean, it's the Spider goddess! They have an awesome society, and most people just use it as the background for something else. I loved the War of the Spider Queen, because for ONCE, they showed drow in their natural habitat, doing drow-ish stuff.

[Valon]

Yeah.

I have to say, the drow aren't particulary my favourite race, because for the majority of them, there really is no chance at redemption or even one good deed in their entire lives. I've always been a fan of the good guys, and there are only a few drow who could possibly come under that moniker.

I haven't read that book, though I've read a large portion of the books that have come out under the Forgotten Realms title (I think I personally own 50-60.) and have always been curious about the seven.

And Lloth sucks. Gimme Tymora, or Mystra, or Kelemvor, Tempus, Tyr, Torm, Lathander.... any of those of the light or neutral pantheons. Most deities in the realms have alot more depth to their character than Lloth, especially those who were mortal before the Godswar (Time of Troubles.)

[Vilmah]

Psh, Lloth is awesome! Matriarchal society? Check. The worship of spiders? Check. What the else do you need?

And this is coming from someone who just about ALWAYS plays a good-guy. I love how the drow revolve around subterfuge and cunning, and no matter what, you can never trust anyone. ANYONE. Not family, not friends, nobody. It's a creepy-ass place to imagine living. I loves it.

[Shadowspeak]

And Drizit(sp?)

[Vilmah]

Drizzt is a pansy.

"Woe is me; I come from an evil place, but don't worry, I'm a good guy! And I NEVER LOSE!!" Boo. Gross. He needs his skin bleached. He is no drow.

[Valon]

Actually, he kinda lost to Enteri.

[Vilmah]

Did he? If he's still alive it doesn't count.

[Fynne]

The Princess Bride is good; Jilli and I have been reading it aloud to each other the last few weeks when we have time, practicing for our kid (yeah, we're dorks, whadjagonnado?). Catch 22 and Candid should probably get tossed up onto that list too, but I'm a huge fan of satire.

I know Jilli is absolutely in love with Goodking; she made me read the first one (Wizard's First Rule, I think) but I couldn't get over how pretentious the author is. Still, the Mord-Sith are pretty kinky gals before they get "explained" (so she tells me) in later books, so it wasn't "all" bad.

[Valon]

Yeah, he got beat, but he survived.

We all knew they were building up to some final showdown. So, they get together, they fight, Drizzt beats him (opens a hole in his defenses) and gets owned by a drow psychic in the corner, at which point Enteri stabs him and leaves him to die.

Jarlaxe has his cleric lietenant heal Drizzt and send him on his way due to some friendship he had with Zaknafein.

[Vilmah]

GHEY!

Drizzt should be killed by a cleric of Lloth. Some bitchy chick from Menzo. needs to put him in his place. Snake-headed whip to the throat. That would please me greatly.

[Valon]

What would please me greatly is if the Chosen went down into the Underdark and completely wiped Menzoberranzan out. Perhaps take some of the more powerful clerics of goodly gods down there with them (Deneir, Lathander, Tyr, Torm etc.) and just rip that place apart.

Hmm, except for Gromph Baenre. He's an Archmage, and a pretty powerful one, so he's alright in my book.

Edit: I need a new DnD game to play, so I can go back to my half-elven mage. He was awesome.

[Vilmah]

Please. We'd kill the Chosen with giant spider golems and then use their bodies for zombie soldiers.

And then we'd make Mystra cry golden tears.

After the blood orgy, of course.

[Valon]

The drow have spider golems?

Hmm, that's pretty cool I guess.

You know the Chosen (Especially Elminster, Blackstaff and Laeral) would completely rip through pretty much anything Menzoberranzan had to throw at them.

Oooo! We can get some sverfneblin in on it too! Make a day out of it, with a packed lunch.

[Vilmah]

Yeah, right.. the Chosen would do their pansy little good guy thing and be wiped out by about a bazillion clerics of Lloth, plus the driders, plus the spider golems, plus the draegloths and all of the other demons that the drow use at their disposal. It would be fantastic.

I want to see the Symbul get raped by a glabrezu.

[Valon]

A bazillion?

There's only like, 10,000 drow in the whole of Menzoberranzan.

The entire city is like a mile across.

And the drow can't control the driders. The few specially bred ones they can (Which involves alot of magic, and having a spider mate with a human female (they'd never defile a drow female like that.)), but the majority of driders are those who sinned against Lloth, and were transformed for it. With the transformation also comes the decent into madness.

And just read 'Elminster in Hell.' and you'll see what happens to demons who get in Simbul's way. And Thayvian Red Wizards. And personages of Shade. And Phaerimm.

[Vilmah]

The Driders hate outsiders, and recently, most of them converted to become followers of Selvetarm, Lloth's male consort. They all became champions of Lloth.

Also, after the war of the Spider Queen, Lloth got her own domain. She's no longer bound to the Demonweb Pits, she's got her own fraking dimension, putting her on level with the rest of the major gods.

[Valon]

Pfft.

She's a minor deity.

I also didn't know that about the driders. But, I'm glad I do know now.

[Keraph]

I've been kindasorta reading the Hunter's Blade trilogy (Thousand Orcs, Lone Drow, Two Swords) Over the past few months. I'll pick it up, read a few chapters, and sorta forget about it for a while. I'm somewhere near the end of the second book, and see far it's a great read! I just lack the time for too much reading.

Anyways, this is my first exposure to Drizzt or any of his companions (Yeah I started ass-backwards in the overall series) and in that I am therefore detached from his cliche behavior, I have to say that he's not a bad character in the setting. I'm like like "omgdrizzt" nor am I "lol good drowz r lamez0rz". I'm just "Yeah, that's cool". Now granted, he IS emo as hell, and I certainly prefer the dwarves (And actually, Obould and his cronies) over the guy, but if I could stomache watching all of Evangelion, then I can handle one emo character >:D

[Keraph]

Oh, and I could be wrong here, but from my exposure to the Forgotten Realms setting (I've got all the rulebooks somewhere) the Driders actually loathe the Drow, because they're all "failures of Llolth" or whatever. Though from what Vil said, that may have changed.

[Vilmah]

Not a minor diety anymore! She's on par with Mystra and the rest of those bitches, now.

[Valon]

That's what it was originally Keraph, I'm trying to source what Vil said right now.

She could quite possibly be right, I don't know. I've been caught up in WoW for the last 2 years, and have neglected my DnD studies.

[Vilmah]

In 1372 DR, Lolth fell silent, not answering the prayers of her priestesses, and causing chaos amongst the drow, particularly the drow of Menzoberranzan—led by House Baenre, whose own High Priestess of Lolth, Triel, commanded her sister Quenthel to investigate—and Ched Nasad—which was destroyed. These events are detailed in the War of the Spider Queen series.

At the culmination of War of the Spider Queen series Lolth achieved Greater divinity after choosing her Yor'thae (Chosen One), Danifae Yauntyrr.

-- From Wikipedia, which is all true 'cuz I have the entire series.

The thing with the Driders happened VERY recently, in a book which is the sequel to the War of the Spider Queen series and centered around Hallistra Melarn.

Also, Qilue is in it, but is her usual boring self.. :P

[Valon]

Not a minor diety anymore! She's on par with Mystra and the rest of those bitches, now.

Hardly.

There is the 10 greater powers, which are counted as those most powerful amoung the gods, and who control key domains/portfolios. These 10 sit the council, and basically try to administrate the pantheons as much as possible without resorting to calling on Lord Ao.

This is constructed from memory, but the list is something like this:

Mystra - Goddess of Magic.
Tyr - God of Justice.
Oghma - God of Knowledge.
Tempus - Lord of Battles.
Sune - Goddess of Love and Beauty.
Talos - God of Stoms and Destruction.
Lathander - God of Rebirth, Morning and Beginnings.
Cyric - (Cyric was on the council as of 'Prince of Lies.' before he lost the portfolio of the dead to Kelemvor. Kelemvor may have taken his place.
Chauntea - Goddess of Agriculture and Growth.
Shar - Goddess of Night.

The last two I'm not too sure about, but I know Lloth wasn't on the council of the Greater Powers. Neither was Corellon Larethian (God of the Elves, Leader of the Sehanine), Moradin (God of the Dwarves), nor any other races (besides humans.) primary deity.

Edited for accuracy.

[Valon]

Ahhh, it looks like I am wrong then.

That must have happened post-Cyric losing the portfolio of the dead then.

[Valon]

Also, Selvartarm is dead.

He was slain by a follower of Eilistraee wielding the cresent blade.

Not sure if the driders will still follow Lloth now, as they only did so begrudgingly as the servants of Selvartarm, who only served Lloth because he was too weak to oppose her.

[Valon]

Also, I'm kind of curious as to how Lloth achieved greater divinity.

At the end of the Time of Troubles, Ao decreed that a god/goddess' power would be based on how many worshippers they had.

Seeing as Menzoberranzan is the only recorded city of the dark elves who actually worship Lloth as a primary deity (Chad Nasad is run by a council of wizards who worship Vhaeruan.), and this only numbers 10,000 or so drow, I'm kinda curious as to how she ascended.

I'm guessing she's probably about Corellon Larethian's equal in power now.

[Morrigaine]

The Virgin's Lover by Phillipa Gregory

This one is about Elizabeth I (Anne Boleyn's daughter) and Robert and Amy Dudley. See, there's that Anne Boleyn link again!

Just finished with this one. Liked it better than "The Queen's Fool" but not nearly as much as "The Other Boleyn Girl".

'Other Boleyn Girl' was my favorite, since it had Anne actually in it. I thought the Queen's Fool was good.

[Izrail]

Tuf Voyaging was excellent. If you like Ice and Fire I recommend it.

Currently reading:

Fragile Things, by Neil Gaiman. I am not a fan of the Cthulhu mythos but putting it together with Sherlock Holmes was beautiful!

[Gloomberry]

Glass Soup by Jonathan Carroll (Amazon (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0765311801/thedailygrail)).

I'm loving it, and I think you'll love it too Rhowen. Shades of Good Omens, with a little bit of Haruki Murakami and Jorge Louis Borges, but even that fails to describe it. Ack, read the book, you won't be disappointed.

[Yichimet]

I picked up the new issues of B.P.R.D.: Garden of Souls (#2, is #3 out yet?) And Hellboy: Darkness Calls #1.

The BPRD convinces me that Guy Davis is, as the series editor says, the best creature illustrator in the business. It took me until the last collection to be convinced that he was the right dude to be drawing BPRD, but boy is he the fucking MAN right now.

New line artist Duncan Fegredo on Hellboy is going to take a bit to get used to, even if he IS just aping Mignola for the most part. It's a bit slower than most Hellboy issues, so I'm interested to see what the next one will lead us to. But it's got all the Hellboy charm: awesome folklore, badass goddesses, and a brewin' fight.

Hellboy is my favorite comic series going. I wish the publication schedule was more regular!

[Kallindra]

I've been reading American Gods. Good book so far. Nuin made a deal. I'd read this book... and he'd read the Harry Potter series!

[Thaena]

American Gods is really good, although I liked Anansi Boys just a tiny bit more. Make sure to check that one out when you're done! It involves some of the minor characters from American Gods.

Better yet get it on book on CD and listen to it. The guy who does the reading is just FAN-Freakin'-Tastic!

[Kallindra]

I'll look into the other book, but I'll probably pass on the book on tape/cd. I prefer reading at night with some ambience music. It helps me envision everything better.

[Yichimet]

I poo-pooed on books on tape for a long time, also, and then I listened to Everything Is Illuminated on cd and it was a fucking revelation. That book makes me die inside (in that soul-crushingly good/sad way) every time I read it, though, so I'd probably have had the same reaction to the text as well.

[Thaena]

I can't stand books on tape if the reader is just terrible. I don't understand why anyone that talks in a monotone would ever be hired to read a book aloud.

But when a book and a reader are well paired.. wow. It really added to my experiance in having read vs. having listend to a number of books recently. I started listening to books on tape when I was working heavily on my art finals in college. Lots of hours staring at a screen or at a table while coloring and inking flew by with a few hours of good books on tape. Now I enjoy them in the car to break up the monotony of the daily grind.

And to stay on topic... is anyone else into young adult/ kids series? I've really enjoyed the following series.

Spiderwick Chronicles by Holly Black and Tony diTerlizzi
The Edge Chronicles by Paul Stewart and Chris Riddell
The Sisters Grimm by Michael Buckley

[Mauguin]

I'm reading the Sword of Truth Series by Terry Goodkind. I'm on book titles Naked Empire. Love the series.

[Yichimet]

So the new BPRD did, in fact, come out last week. Thaena, I know you're a fan of the Hellboy universe at least. GODDAMN I love these stories. Mignola can write almost as well as he can draw!

[Izrail]

I just read Troll: A Love Story by Johanna Sinisalo. I could not put it down. It is absolutely fucking brilliant, pardon my French.

[Tindary]

The true drawback of living in a town of 400, surrounded by other small towns...no good libraries in a 40 mile radius.

I used to read constantly. I miss reading.

Clan of the Cave Bear series by Jean Auel (sp), Dragonriders of Pern series by Anne McCaffery; Anne Rice, Stephen King, Laurel K Hamilton, Lincoln Child, etc etc.

A trip to Barnes and Noble is called for. I want to get Middlesex but I wonder if it won't be sold out. It's now the Oprah book club selection.

Oh, and for those of you with tons of books you don't know what to do with? www.bookcrossing.com

[Morrigaine]

And to stay on topic... is anyone else into young adult/ kids series? I've really enjoyed the following series.

Spiderwick Chronicles by Holly Black and Tony diTerlizzi
The Edge Chronicles by Paul Stewart and Chris Riddell
The Sisters Grimm by Michael Buckley

I love the Artemis Fowl series by Eoin Colfer and anything by Philip Pullman.

And for Vilmah, what I am reading now:

The Constant Princess by Philippa Gregory (no Anne Boleyn, YET)

[Edit] Completely forgot Jonathan Stroud. The Bartimaeus Trilogy is frelling brilliant!!

[Amurth]

Not sure if these have been mentioned or not, but Ive found both the Keys to the Kingdom series and Abhorsen trilogy by Garth Nix to be very good fantasy read.

Keys to the Kingdom is a very good non-traditional fantasy. (no elves, dwarves, fairies etc).

Abhorsen is a bit more tradition, but still very unique. Anyone that finds necromancy fantasy slightly interesting must read these books!

Neither of these get much attention, but they are definitely around the top of my list.

Lastly to echo Morrigaine I must say the Artemis Fowl series make great quick reads and they seem to get better with each new book. (The Lost Colony was great!)

[Qabian]

I just finished reading Lady Chatterley's Lover. On vacation. With my parents and grandmother. Ehheh. It was awkward, especially since my father and grandmother had read it before. I had to finish it, though, and I thoroughly enjoyed it even if it is classic smut. :D

Before that I read Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke. Loved it to bits. :D

Currently reading The Last Light of the Sun by Guy Gavriel Kay. I couldn't stand the Fionavar books. Gave them away before I finished them. But I loved the Sarantine books, so I thought I'd give him another try. So far so good. :)

[Alphaeus]

I'm reading Anne McCaffery's Pegasus in Space.

I've been trying to read this from start to finish for seven years, but a more interesting book has always reared it's head.

[Chingaso]

Just finished The Golem's Eye, Bartemaeus book 2.

Reading Men At Arms, Discworld series.

Next Saturday plan on starting Deathly Hallows.

[Grolish]

Has anyone read any of the Warcraft books (novels)? I saw them at the bookstore a few days ago and wondered if they were worth reading.

Feist has a new Riftwar series out now that I have to get caught up on. Me and the wife are both hooked on Raymond Feist's stuff.

No fans of David Eddings here?

[Qabian]

I read lots of Eddings. :D It was good when I read it, which was a long time ago. Didn't exactly make a fan of me, though.

The Last Light of the Sun was pretty good, although I still like Sailing to Sarantium better. GGK's managed to make me a fan, though, despite how much I detest his early work. I'll definitely be picking up more by him in the future.

Currently reading The Luck of Ginger Coffey by Brian Moore because that's just how Canamanadian I am, and it was on my shelf, and I hadn't read it yet.

I've considered picking up the Warcraft novels for travel reading or something, but as of yet have not actually bothered.

[Chingaso]

Haven't read the Warcraft books, but I read the Diablo books. Pretty much disposable fiction, but not in a bad way.

[Vilmah]

Lord of the Clans is an awesome Warcraft book for all ya'll orc lovers. Thrall is sexy. Orcish traditions are even sexier.

[Morrigaine]

Just finished The Golem's Eye, Bartemaeus book 2.



Just wait til you read Ptolemy's Gate! It is the best of the three. I actually cried at the end.

Reading the War of the Roses by John Gillingham. It's an historical account of said war and the battles, etc. leading up to it. He also spends quite a bit of time refuting the history that people think they know from reading Shakespeare.

[Kallindra]

Day of the Dragon is a good read Grolish if you want to try the Warcraft Novels. I've got six of them, but I haven't managed to read them all yet. I really enjoyed Day of the Dragon though.

Also, I just finished Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.

[Malebrignon]

Song of Susannah - Stephen King

He finally finished The Dark Tower, a series I started reading about...ugh.. 18 years ago? Amazing stuff. King writing Sci-fi/Fantasy better than 90&#37; of either genre does.

I thought Eddings was genious when I read the Belgariad. Then the Mallorean took as many books to essentially sell me the same story I'd read in the Belgariad. I think I like his more conventional fiction more. "The Losers" was an excellent Eddings book.

[Chingaso]

Read the first twelve chapters of Deathly Hallows yesterday. Once again well written and hard to stop (finally put the book down at 2:30 am).

[Morrigaine]

/hangs head in shame

I haven't read Half Blood Prince yet and I didn't pre-order Deathly Hallows.

/cry

[Lupen]

Currently reading for my next English class, The Lovely Bones. It's absolute crap, a trite and hollow book with pseudo Cristian undertones followed by sex. I can sum it up for you as, "Sex, Murder, Sex, Sex, Cristian Morals, Sex, Sex, More Morals/Undertones, Sex, Sex, Sex."

For pleasure, I'm reading Stephen Hawking's A Brief History of Time, which, thus far, I love.

[Alphaeus]

Currently reading The Virtu by Sarah Monette.

It's delightfully twisted, and I wish I'd caught this series at book one. As it stands, I've slapped up some bids for books 1 and 3 on eBay.

[Yichimet]

I tried listening to that book on tape, LuLu, and it was atrocious. I cannot conceive of how it got the acclaim it did. I'm serious, if fucking Heaven is a suburban school, I would rather go to Hell.

Right now I'm reading The Yiddish Policemen's Union by Michael Chabon, and it's about the best hard-boiled detective novel set in a fictional Alaskan Jewish state that I've ever read. Hah! Seriously, it's pretty awesome. He's a force.

[Swerto]

(i'm a star wars fan)
The New Rebellion by Kristine Kathryn Rusch
Afterward i'm reading Visions of the Future by Timothy Zahn (Best SW Author)

[Qabian]

I got a whole stack of WoW novels for my birthday. If you don't see me around much, it's 'cause I'm sitting in the corner under the lamp laughing at Metzen. If you do see me around, it's probably because I'm procrastinating about work.

My family are enabling my addiction, the bastards.

[turen]

Reading the War of the Ancients right now. Not too bad, considering its mainly abought the Night Elves. Never did like NE's much. Broxigar is the awesome.



Also, I recently read a booc called "Ghengis: Birth of an Empire". Historical fiction, by Conn Iggulden, the guy who did the ones about Julius Caesar. I really reccomend them both. Iggulden is just an awesome writer, and having historical fictions written on ome of my favorite historical figures is friggin sweet.

[Izrail]

I've recently finished Widdershins by Charles de Lint. This is one of the latest books that take place in the fictional North American city of Newford; the series is good-hearted urban fantasy. De Lint usually blends European myths with that of the Native Americans, and this book had a lot to with the conflict between the native spirits and the fairies of Europe. Equally interesting was the ongoing story of Jilly and Geordie, two of my favorite Newford characters. After so many years things finally get resolved. Except the past of the Riddell brothers stays very vague, which was disappointing, since so far I've only read hints about what went on. I haven't read all the Newford stories yet, though.

[Qabian]

I got Widdershins for my birthday, too! I've read pretty much everything CdL's ever written, though. I've been in his house, bwaha! I figure I can wait on the de Lint until I've satiated myself with sanctioned canon WoWfic. I did have to put aside The Lions of Al-Rassan to get to the WoW books, though, which is awkward because I still need to know what happens next! So much reading to do...

[Izrail]

I got Widdershins for my birthday, too! I've read pretty much everything CdL's ever written, though. I've been in his house, bwaha! I figure I can wait on the de Lint until I've satiated myself with sanctioned canon WoWfic. I did have to put aside The Lions of Al-Rassan to get to the WoW books, though, which is awkward because I still need to know what happens next! So much reading to do...

Lucky! When you say you've been in his house, do you mean you've met him? I'd love to meet de Lint and pick his brain for a while.

[Qabian]

Yes, I met him. I interviewed him for a high school project. Still have that tape around here somewhere. I met MaryAnn, too. He's great for brain picking.

He also sat in front of me in the theater at the opening day for The Fellowship of the Ring, haha.

[Izrail]

I repeat: Lucky!

[turen]

Finished the War of Ancients. BI say again Brox is the ultimate.

Now I just got "Make Love* The Bruce Campbell Way"


This is gunna rock.

[Izrail]

I've just finished Wicked by Gregory Maguire. I enjoyed it a lot and am curious about his other books. Has anyone read them? Is their quality as good as Wicked, or is his style the sort where if you've read one book you've read them all?

[Redemptio]

Harry Potter and the Deathy Hallows :P

and i finished "Taken" "Bitten" and now i want to read "Broken". "Haunted" was good...but not may fave. And i want to get my hands on "no humans Involved"

http://www.kelleyarmstrong.com/mSeries.htm


ZOMG SULAJIN!!!! LOOKEI LOOKIE!!!

Broken
When half-demon Xavier calls in the favour Elena owes him, it seems easy enough, steal Jack the Ripper's 'From Hell' letter away from a Toronto collector who had himself stolen it from the Ripper evidence boxes. But nothing in the supernatural world is ever as simple as it seems. Elena accidentally triggers a spell placed on the letter, and opens a dimensional portal into Victorian London, releasing zombies, disease, and maybe a notorious serial killer himself.

[turen]

The Scourge of God- William Dietrich


Novel about Attila the Hun. How can it not win?

[Swerto]

A Brief History of the Dead



Great book

Bout what happens when you die... It is FICTION and is about how the whole world dies except one girl and the plane before the "after" and the "living" is full of all the people that know you or you know until YOU die.

[Solenev]

Breakfast on Pluto - Patrick McCabe.

Plot synopsis is that it's an Irish transvestite who comes to England and it's about the trials and tribulations in her life. Looked like a good read and so got it while visiting a nearby University.

[Daedraug]

I just finished American Gods...I've never been mad at myself before for not having read something sooner.

[Yichimet]

We've let this one fall off the map for a while, so here's what I've been reading lately:

One Hundred Years of Solitude
Re-reading The Sandman series
Persepolis
Ted Berrigan's Collected Poems
Gravity's Rainbow

[Gorvena]

This may have been mentioned already (too lazy to go back and check), but Rise of the Horde should be required reading for anyone playing horde-side on an RP server.

[Arnok]

don't know if someone already said this: Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss

[Brandub]

Don't know if anyone's mentioned them, yet (Sabby and Nethy both got hooked at my urging a couple years ago), but the Prince of Nothing (http://www.princeofnothing.com/) trilogy is one of the best out there. It is very high-level fiction. The author is a philosophy professor and it took him 15 years to complete the first book. It is rife with analogies and symbolism as well in-depth commentaries on human nature. And that is what makes them so great. Hear me on this: they are not casual reading books. You have to pay attention and you have to like absurdly complex worlds. The first 50 pages are kind of hard to get through. He just drops you into a very complex and old universe with no help whatsoever. There's even a little tiny bit of stream-of-consciousness (the only bit in the series) and then the book starts roaring along. Give it a little time and it will swallow you whole. The characters are RIVETING and there is not a single flat character in the whole trilogy. You will love and hate them. You are meant to both love and hate some chars at the same time. Each one has strengths and flaws. They reflect us and speak to us as readers. Nethy and I have the same favorite chars and despise Sabby's favorite. The author's writing is so varied and rich that he leaves room for things like that. The books are undeniably powerful, but they will no doubt speak differently to you than to me or the next person.

It is a fascinating world that breaks a lot of conventions in modern fantasy. It's an epic, a political commentary, a social commentary, a comedy, and a tragedy all in one. This trilogy is highly recommended.

[Mortica]

I just finished the 3rd book in George RR Martin's Song of Fire and Ice series. My roommate got me a giftcard to Barnes and Nobles for Christmas, so I'll be sacrificing that card to get the 4th book "Feast of Crows" tomorrow, hehe.

Oddly enough, I've had the first 3 books sitting on my bookshelfs for years (since shortly after the 3rd book came out). I'm sorry I hadn't read them before now. The reason I had the books was I had gotten an Amazon giftcard for Christmas or birthday right after some friends had raved about the series.

It's actually kind of funny how so many people recommended the series and warned me off at the same time... "it's awesome! but he kills off all the main characters and it's gonna piss you off..."

Let's just say the "major killing off of some characters" that happened in the 3rd book did make me want to strangle someone.

[Netheryn]

Seriously, Mortica, the third book is INFURIATING. Bran got there and threw the book across the room. He didn't pick it up for a few days. I was so mad I stayed up all night and had to finish the book. Couldn't leave the story like that.

Two books back I read The Big U. If you haven't read this, check it out. It's Neil Stephenson's satire of the American University System. It's really REALLY funny, really sad, a little werid, and all good.

I just finished off Horus Rising the first in the Horus Heresy series. It's set in the Warhammer 40K universe. I love it. If you have any feelings about 40K I highly recommend this book. It's kinda the events that the entire universe is built on and it's really cool to see how and why things went down like they did. It actually makes you really sad that Horus turns to chaos as he's a really cool character. And no, that's not technically a spoiler.

I also picked up Tales of the Old World. It's about 800 pages of Warhammer short stories. I'm gonna bone up on my WAR lore and then pass it around to Bran, Sabby and Khaell so we can put together some good RP and a good WAR guild.

[Yichimet]

Things I am reading, or read recently:

The Invention of Hugo Cabret - Richard Selznick - The Caldecott winner for 2008. Very well written young adult book with many beautiful pencil reproductions and film stills included.

Number 9 Dream - David Mitchell - Still reading this, only about 70 pages in, but it's my kind of book. Like Joycean cyberpunk so far.

Biting the Error - by a whole slew of experimental narrative authors - a pretty good anthology about the crossover between experimental poetry and narrative and what happens or can happen when you ride that line between destroying the subjective I and holding fast to it.

Library Research Models - Thomas Mann - I only list this because, while I'm reading this for a class and there are dry sections, it's REALLY well written and should be a good beginning guide to anyone who needs to do research of any kind on any subject. It's a bit old but still holds up. Anyone in or just entering college or grad school and who still is not using their library to its fullest, pick this up.

I'm also about to start off on Storm of Swords, but now I don't know if I want to. If Sansa dies I am going to KILL SOMEONE.

[Fallacy]

Just finished A Feast for Crows. It was alright, despite feeling like I'm missing out on half the story (especially when people are talking about it and you don't really know what happened).

Just to alleviate your fears, Yichi, she doesn't.

[Malorii]

new one i've been reading. I'm a grant morrison nut.

http://www.dccomics.com/graphic_novels/?gn=3717

[Skallagar]

Currently the only thing I can to satisfy my pillage urges without WoW.

"The Bloody Crown of Conan"- Robert E Howard.

[Swerto]

Yuse... play oblivion

[Sulajin]

and i finished "Taken" "Bitten" and now i want to read "Broken". "Haunted" was good...but not may fave. And i want to get my hands on "no humans Involved"

http://www.kelleyarmstrong.com/mSeries.htm


ZOMG SULAJIN!!!! LOOKEI LOOKIE!!!



I actually read Bitten and Taken back in high school, about four years ago. I have Industrial Magic, but haven't read it becaus I realised after buying it that it's a sequal.

What I'm reading now is Bone, the epic comic from the ninetees. The only way to describe it is "What Disney should be." The characters are complex, the art is beautiful, the humor is fun and simple, and the mood can go from light-hearted silliness to absolute horror in an instant.

In particular the "Stupid, stupid rat creatures" stand out. A ravenous race of rat creatures and monster that are someplace between monstrous and adorable.

http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t115/Sulajin/kingdok.jpg

And since I picked it up I've been reading 'till it hurt. Literally.

[Swerto]

Fight Club

Just read it >_>

[Skallagar]

"Heir to the Empire" by Timothy Zahn. Been feeling star-warsy lately.

[Swerto]

oh em gee Yuse, that is the best trilogy found in the SW universe.

[Skallagar]

Beowulf translated by Seamus Heaney


Been getting very into nordic warrior type stuff lately, the concept that the only thing immortal of you is your name, and glory is the only way to make it so. For someone who doesn't really know what they want in life (but is learning that love is most definetly not it), this seems as good a place as any to start.

[Swerto]

A good ol' book named "Pain"

[Gorvena]

Beowulf translated by Seamus Heaney.
Read Grendel by John Gardner for an interesting twist on the Beowulf saga.

Just finished Myth Chief...this series is starting to wear a trifle thin.

Currently reading Interesting Times from the Discworld series. Fun.

[Muatah]

The Screwtape Letters - C.S. Lewis

[Bir]

The Night Watch - Terry Pratchet
(for some reason it took me a really long time to find this one, I read most the others but I've been told this one is really really good)

[RavenReverend]

Thief of Lives - Barb and J. C. Hendee

[Anthek]

Recently picked up Pride of Baghdad, a graphic novel about a group of lions that are set free during the 2003 fighting in the city. I don't often buy anything in comic narrative outside of individual issues, but I'd heard good things about it, and I agree, a lot. It's a unique viewpoint on wartime living, even if it is from a feline perspective, but the lions are rather anthromorphic in how they talk, anyway. It touches on several things, the concept of freedom, living through the war and dealing with the gangs and tyrants who use it to their advantage, conservative traditions versus radical change, and even sex and the treatment of women.

[Faynt]

The Dogs of Babel - Carolyn Parkhurst

Goodness. I read this book years ago and forgot the title and the author, but I remembered the book and the cover so vividly that I found it again after an hour or two of googling what I did remember.

It's amazing. Probably one of my favorite books of all time.

Go forth and read.

[Ansha]

The Children of Hurin. JRR Tolkien, edited by Christopher Tolkien.

[Ellsbeth]

I actually read Bitten and Taken back in high school, about four years ago. I have Industrial Magic, but haven't read it becaus I realised after buying it that it's a sequal.


Ohh! Kelley Armstrong! She was at the last Con I went to and I her panels were really interesting. I thought she was going to clock one of the other panelists for a moment. It was great.

I'm reading Brisingr - Christopher Paolini (http://www.alagaesia.com/). I can only withstand it in short, paragraph stints so it's in the bathroom.

[Ansha]

Oh, another one I'm reading currently. The Black Company series, currently The Books of the South and waiting for them to release the omnibus on The Books of Glittering Stone.

[Aphraelle]

Buddha by Deepak Chopra. Didn't really expect to like it as much as I do, but Chopra brings the Buddha to life in all his humanity and I'm really enjoying.

Introduction to Classical Nahuatl by J. Richard Andrews because I really am that much of a freak. :D

[Skafloc]

Currently reading AntiCancer: A New Way Of Life (http://www.amazon.com/Anticancer-New-Life-David-Servan-Schreiber/dp/0670020346/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1226319963&sr=8-1)

A book I would highly recommend to anyone, not just those that are touched by cancer or related illnesses. This is as valuable a resource for those not affected as it is for those that are fighting it or trying to stay in remission. The author is a neurological psychiatrist who discovered he had a brain tumor in the course of an experiment he was conducting. This book is the result of his 15 years of research into cancer, how it metabolizes and what we as people can do to interrupt that process through diet, fitness, meditation and positive activity.

Bottom line; everyone has cancer, everyone creates mutated cells but only 1-3 will ever have those cells develop in to full blown cancer. The other 2 out of 3 will not as their body's immune systems and resistances deal with those mutated cells. Dr. Servan-Schreiber's research helps to identify those many factors that bolster our immune system to help fight off those cells.

On the lighter side I am re-reading "Restaurant At The End Of The Universe" Douglas Adams. :D

[Zarja]

I didn't bother to check if it's already in the list :P, but

The Dragonlance Series by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman

The first one is Dragons of Autumn Twilight

I haven't read any of the other authors books, based off the "realm" so ... can't say anything about them ..

[Coyotl]

Currently reading: Sunshine (http://www.borders.com/online/store/TitleDetail?sku=0425224015) by Robin McKinley. Never read her before, but I'm glad I picked it up.

Just finished: Raiders & Rebels: The Golden Age of Piracy (http://www.borders.com/online/store/TitleDetail?sku=0061572845) by Frank Sherry, which I absolutely loved and now I get to pick on Anaie for slowly reading it (when he finally starts). And then I read Dreamseller (http://www.borders.com/online/store/TitleDetail?sku=0806530030) by Brandon Novak, because we all need another reason to vilify heroin.

Pondering next: Just After Sunset (http://www.borders.com/online/store/TitleDetail?sku=1416584080) by Stephen King; I love his short stories. And for another non-fiction tilt, I'm thinking of maybe The Irish Americans (http://www.borders.com/online/store/TitleDetail?sku=159691419X) by Jay P. Dolan.

[Ansha]

I didn't bother to check if it's already in the list :P, but

The Dragonlance Series by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman

The first one is Dragons of Autumn Twilight

I haven't read any of the other authors books, based off the "realm" so ... can't say anything about them ..

The Dragonlance Chronicles, you mean. Dragons of Autumn Twilight, Dragons of Winter Night, and Dragons of Spring Dawning.

The latter "Dragons of" books...kinda bleh. I was not a fan of the Dragons of Summer Flame post-apoc crap.

The Elven Exiles trilogy of Dragonlance novels is also good.

[Zarja]

The Dragonlance Chronicles, you mean. Dragons of Autumn Twilight, Dragons of Winter Night, and Dragons of Spring Dawning.

The latter "Dragons of" books...kinda bleh. I was not a fan of the Dragons of Summer Flame post-apoc crap.

The Elven Exiles trilogy of Dragonlance novels is also good.

Well, if you really want to get detailed I enjoyed all of the following ...

The Chronicles Trilogy
1) Dragons of Autumn Twilight
2) Dragons of Winter Night
3) Dragons of Spring Dawning

Legends Trilogy
1) Time of the Twins
2) War of the Twins
3) Test of the Twins

The Second Generation
Dragons of Summer Flame

The Lost Chronicles Trilogy
1) Dragons of the Dwarven Depths
2) Dragons of the Highlord Skies
3) (Dragons of the Hourglass Mage) Isn't out due in Summer 2009, can't say yet :P

and lastly

The War of Souls Trilogy
1) Dragons of a Fallen Sun
2) Dragons of a Lost Star
3) Dragons of a Vanished Moon


But that's just me, /shrug



*edit --> Well, I started with Dragons of Summer Flame and had to back read the others to understand all of the lore and all. Also If you liked the The Chronicles Trilogy you should look into the The Lost Chronicles Trilogy, they're basically a retelling of the first three, just in the "evil" point of view ...

[Gorymoru]

Sabriel, Lirael, and Abhorsen by Garth Nix

Shade's Children, same author.

Halo series ((Preferably the Eric Nylund ones only...William C. Dietz doesn't even compare.))

A few of my MANY favorites....I is love read.

[Ansha]

Well, if you really want to get detailed I enjoyed all of the following ...
*edit --> Well, I started with Dragons of Summer Flame and had to back read the others to understand all of the lore and all. Also If you liked the The Chronicles Trilogy you should look into the The Lost Chronicles Trilogy, they're basically a retelling of the first three, just in the "evil" point of view ...

I've read Dragons of the Highlord Skies. It was so-so. I'm not a Weiss & Hickman fan.

I'm an elf-o-phile, so I love reading books like Tolkien's works, Elaine Cunningham's Forgotten Realms novels, and The Last Mythal trilogy (also Forgotten Realms). I liked the Dragonlance "brand" only for Tanis and Lauralanthalasa, Gilthanas and Alhana.

[Malebrignon]

All that Dragonlance and no mention of Huma? Shameful.

The Legend of Huma and Kaz the Minotaur are easily my favorite DL books. I'm much more of a "high magic" person and those took place before wizards above level three became exceptionally rare within the setting. Now that I think of it, I believe I just had my Huma book in my hands a few days ago.

*wanders off to check the bookshelf*

Edit: Ewwwww.....Elaine Cunningham? Really? I mean, Danilo Thann was a good bard character if a bit stereotypical, but....gah. I'll play nice and just say I believe the FR has much, much better writers than her. Novak, Grubb, and Greenwood spring to mind quickly. Oh, and Drow-master Salvatore, of course, who also writes some damn good dwarves.

[Imara]

Clearly you should all join me over here at GoodReads (http://www.goodreads.com/profile/unboundwolf).

I just started Hex and the City but I have a feeling Wrath may postpone any real reading for the next week or so.

I'm such an addict. >.>

[Kiaransalius]

Raiders & Rebels: The Golden Age of Piracy (http://www.borders.com/online/store/TitleDetail?sku=0061572845) by Frank Sherry, which I absolutely loved and now I get to pick on Anaie for slowly reading it (when he finally starts).

Don't pick on me! I read fast, when I actually have time.... I am always talking to someone online it seems though instead. Not that I mind.

1776 (http://www.amazon.com/1776-David-McCullough/dp/0743226712) I should actually finish it this week finally... then it is either the Blood Angels Omnibus (http://www.blacklibrary.com/product.asp?prod=60100181074&type=Book) or Raiders & Rebels...

[Lascivious]

Stephen R. Donaldson
The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant The Unbeliever (My favorite fantasy series.)
- Lord Foul's Bane
- The Illearth War
- The Power That Preserves

Mordent's Need
- The Mirror of Her Dreams
- A Man Rides Through It

Tim Willocks
- The Religion (Freaking awesome. One of my favorite books. Setting is the Muslim invasion of Malta.)

Jack Whyte
- The Camulod series starting with The Sky Stone (Best Arthur series EVAR)

Frank Herbert
- Dune (My favorite sci-fi book)

Robert Ludlum
- The Bourne Identity (My favorite book - movie was lame.)

Stephen King
- The Stand
- The Shining
(Started reading The Dark Tower series finally. Read the first book. Totally lame. Extremely disappointed.]

Weiss & Hickman
- The Death Gate Cycle series
- Prophet of the Rose series
(Someone said they didn't like their Dragon's of Summer Flame because it was post apoc? That's a little amusing since the original three are post apoc!)

[Redemptio]

The Dragonlance Chronicles, you mean. Dragons of Autumn Twilight, Dragons of Winter Night, and Dragons of Spring Dawning.

The latter "Dragons of" books...kinda bleh. I was not a fan of the Dragons of Summer Flame post-apoc crap.

The Elven Exiles trilogy of Dragonlance novels is also good.

My best friend Amanda Jaquays, is Paul Jaquays 'little' girl and did a LOT of Dragonlance book covers and Magic the Gathering Cards.



And I prefer the Dragon Riders of Pern

Then again I never read Dragonlance.

[Coyotl]

Frank Herbert
- Dune (My favorite sci-fi book)

Stephen King
- The Stand
- The Shining
(Started reading The Dark Tower series finally. Read the first book. Totally lame. Extremely disappointed.]



I'm going to make Anaie read Dune. I keep telling him its a travesty that he hasn't read it yet.

The Gunslinger is a fantastically awful book. If it wasn't for the fact people raved about the series as a whole, I'd never have gotten through it. Actually, I read Wizard & Glass before The Gunslinger, so I *knew* it got better for myself. Even as a 'bookseller' I cannot recommend that book. I tell people, "It starts with 'The gunslinger walked across the desert,' and it ends with 'The gunslinger walked across the desert' and there isn't much in between." There were many years (and many books) written between each of the Dark Tower books, and King's writing matured significantly (average of 7 years between each book) making the middle books considerably better.

That said, I got caught in the middle of Song of Susannah, and never read The Dark Tower .... someday. But yeah, books 2-4 are worth it.

Oooh, and The Stand (his edit, not the original release) is my favorite King book.

[Kiaransalius]

I'm going to make Anaie read Dune. I keep telling him its a travesty that he hasn't read it yet.

Oooh, and The Stand (his edit, not the original release) is my favorite King book.

The Stand is awesome... need to read again... and Im more than willing to read Dune. Just waiting on you to bring me a copy.

[Alivanth]

I'll admit, it's pretty rare when I pick up a book to read, and I'm sure this has popped up more than once in this thread, but here's what I'm reading now:

I Am America! (And So Can You!) - Stephen Colbert

Short and sweet; I love satire. Next on my list is the Alphabet of Manliness.

[Zarja]

Hehe, right on .... need to add in some Edger Rice Burroughs :P, you know Tarzan .... fyi, NOT the Disney one :P

All 24 Tarzan :P
Not going to list, go do your own work :P

Martian series
Namely the first 3 A Princess of Mars, The Gods of Mars, The Warlord of Mars; The other 7 are good, just they don't have John Carter in them a lot :(

[The_Golden_Wolf]

Most of these books are about Nutrition, Anthropology, and Medical Politics... oddly enough most of them written by doctors...

-Nutrition and Physical degeneration: by Weston A. Price, DDS

-Cancer: Disease of Civilization?: by Vilhjalmur Stefansson

-The Cholesterol Myth: by Uffe Ravnskov MD, Phd

-Excitotoxins: The taste that Kills: by Russel Blaylock, MD

-Confessions of a Medical Heretic: By Robert Mendelsohn, MD

-Nourishing Traditions: by Sally Fallon and Mary Enig, Phd

-The Milk book: by William Cambpell Douglas, MD

-The Medical Mafia: by Guylaine Lanctot, MD

-Racketeering in Medicine: The suppression of alternatives: by James P. Carter, MD, PhD

-Inside the FDA: by Fran Hawthorne

-The truth about Drug Companies: by Marcia Angell, MD

-On The Take: How Medicine's Complicity with Big Business Can Endanger Your Health: by Jerome Kassirer, MD

-What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Children's Vaccinations: by Stephanie Cave, MD

-Heart Frauds: Uncovering the Biggest Health Scam in History: by Charles McGee, MD

-Behavioural Problems in Childhood: The Link to Vaccination: by Viera Scheibner, Phd

-The end of America: by Naomi Wolf

[Ellsbeth]

Payback - Margaret Atwood

I recommend this to everyone. It's a history of financial debt written by an author who uses layman terms to explain everything she researches. It's, essentially, an article on crack. I love it. I've enjoyed it as it has explains several nuances on financial debt to me and has made me look at it differently.

I read it quickly, which is something of a miracle since I've been in class this semester and only reading my history text books. I think my only complaint is she dumbs it down a tad and so sometimes repeats herself about certain topics. But that's a good thing for people who aren't literary bound.

It'll make you think about why you have credit cards and who is really to blame for debt. I recommend it wholeheartedly.

[Ellsbeth]

New book I fought valiantly to get through to my breaks at work in order to read it. Now to just find a job where I can read AT work. I'm still looking.

Patrick Rothfuss - The Name of the Wind.

I am anxious for the next installment. Oh please do not make this a never-ending story. I need need need some closure. This book was so well-written it erased the taint of Meyer from me. Oh be gone! Oh foul demon, cast thee out.

[Tillna]

Ciaphas Cain- Hero of the Imperium.

If you have basic Warhammer 40k back round...READ THIS.

I laughed out load on a train

[RavenReverend]

For the first time in a while I picked up a Forgotten Realms book, this one from a series I think called The Dungeons. The book is Depths of Madness by Erik Scott de Bie.

The last few times I picked up anything Forgotten Realms, excluding the War of the Spider Queen, I was sorely disappointed. So we'll see how this goes.

[Zarja]

For the first time in a while I picked up a Forgotten Realms book, this one from a series I think called The Dungeons. The book is Depths of Madness by Erik Scott de Bie.

The last few times I picked up anything Forgotten Realms, excluding the War of the Spider Queen, I was sorely disappointed. So we'll see how this goes.

Well, I've just finished a R. A. Salvatore book about good old Drizzt, called The Lone Drow. I've read all the books about Drizzt and Salatore is just getting better the more he writes this character.

[Gorvena]

Currently:
Mythology 101 - Jody Lynn Nye
The Eye of the World - Robert Jordan
Black - Frank Dekker

On Tap:
Red - Frank Dekker
Maskerade - Terry Pratchett
Myth Fortunes - Aspirin and Nye
Dirge - Alan Dean Foster

and about 8 others I am too lazy to list.

[RavenReverend]

Well, I've just finished a R. A. Salvatore book about good old Drizzt, called The Lone Drow. I've read all the books about Drizzt and Salatore is just getting better the more he writes this character.

I stopped reading at the Thousand Orcs. <_< I honestly got pissed off when they *SPOILER ALERT*








they resurrected Wulfgar and make him so emo sauce I couldn't stand the drama. Cattiebrie and Drizz't needed to get together and make gray skinned mutha fuggin babies goddamn it. Still...RA Salvatore has a copy of a picture I did of Lloth way back when, sitting there reclining, a spider crawling down over her shoulder with a goblet of blood in her hands. He honestly started my drow obsession. ; )

Though I have to say I like Elaine Cunningham's work a bit better, mainly because it's not a saga that drags on and causes me more sexual frustration than ovulating in a room full of gay men.

[Rhowen-Prea]

The Lies of Locke Lamora. Scott Lynch.

READ IT. IT's effing TIGHT.

[Anthek]

Scar Night and Iron Angel by Alan Campbell.

Steampunk plus warring between the gods of Heaven and Hell and everything in between. The author is also a former developer of the Grand Theft Auto series. The last book comes out next month.

[Xaraphyne]

I'm most of the way through Sara Douglass' "The Troy Game" series, and I recommend it. A good doseage of changing and developing characters against an epic but intimate fantasy storyline, woven into real history for a touch of flavor.

If you read her "Wayfarer Redemption" series and liked the first part but despised the latter part, you should like this series. In my opinion, with that series, she lost touch with the characters and they became little more than vehicles for advancing an "awesomely epic" storyline, which while something I eventually appreciated intellectually, didn't really do much for me otherwise. This series, you stay in touch with the characters and the events going on, even when they become "epic."

Also, I can't believe no one has recommended Jacqueline Carey's series...es. The two Kushiel trilogies are simply amazing. It has very graphic and, well, kinky sex, but it's incredibly tastefully done, and the characters are very sensitively written. The storyline doesn't blanch from ugly things but remains beautiful, and it's a good adventure to boot. I admit I like the first trilogy more than the second.

She also wrote the series of "The Sundering," which I found fascinating, because it's a typical Middle Earth-style fantasy struggle story... written from the perspective of the "bad guys." You're kept wondering till the end how things will turn out.


EDIT: Heck... may as well throw out some older recommendations of mine as well.


I love Anne Logston's "Shadow" and "Dagger" series...(es). I read the latter before the former, which probably was a good thing (omg spoilers), and the latter series has more sentimental value to me due to the fact I read it when I was growing up as the character was, but the character of Shadow has remained an inspiration to me all my life in my writing, as lively and fun as she was to read about. The fantasy setting is very light and fun as well.

Logston also wrote the "Guardian" series (Guardian's Key and Exile) which I probably love the most of all her writing, the first more than the second partly because I didn't know she wrote a sequel until maybe a decade after reading the first. The first, however, is simply amazing in how creative it is, and I've never seen any story like it that opened up such a simple, yet wide world of imagination.

Logston's other works are all right, but if you really like her writing, they're there too.

I'm also a fan of old Piers Anthony works (I really loved the sci-fi/fantasy mix "Phaze" novels, and the early "Xanth" ones; the "Incantations of Immortality" series, kind of a modern fantasy series, was pretty good and original as well) although his new stuff is perverted crap. Of his novels, my favorite was probably Geis of the Gargoyle, though the earliest novels were the most original of his Xanth works.

The "Sword of Truth" series by Terry Goodkind, of course. It ended up... I don't know, didactic? The author has emphasized all too much that he didn't really want to write a fantasy story, he just wanted to impart his philosophy, but I appreciate the philosophy enough that when the story became more of a lecture, I could stand it. Definitely has some good characterization moments though; too bad he wasn't more concerned with telling a good story than making a point, because he didn't actually have to sacrifice the story. Still, Faith of the Fallen is amazing book that makes me just want to go "YES!!!" whenever I read it.

I also appreciated a few of the old sci-fi classics, such as they were. Robert Heinlein's Have Space Suit—Will Travel and The Moon is a Harsh Mistress were both pretty cool. I also read Stranger in a Strange Land, but of the points he was trying to make, I prefer how he did it in Mistress. I also read Ender's Game growing up, by Orson Scott Card, and while I've never been motivated to read the rest of the series, the book stands on its own as an amazing and thought-provoking story that is not easily forgotten, if ever.

I admit I've never read "The Lord of the Rings" series (J.R.R. Tolkein of course), but I found The Hobbit to be very digestible and epic and interesting enough to leave a mark.

Back to (somewhat) more recent things, a very overlooked series would be the "Ivory" series by Doris Egan. It's a sci-fi/fantasy mix with stunningly realized characters. If you put down the books for a long enough time, you'll probably find yourself trying to remember what friend it was you heard say something that was actually something a character in the series said.

[Xaraphyne]

I'll add more old recommendations of mine later, after I've had a chance to look at my bookshelves and muse some more. <.<

[RavenReverend]

For Hearing People Only - Matthew S. Moore and Linda Levitan. I'm working on it, it's informative and it actually makes me feel alot more relaxed about my upcoming dealings with the Deaf community.

I'm also going to be picking up I'll Scream Later, but I'm rather dreading that one. It's an autobiographical account of the abuse the author suffered as a "punishment" for being deaf.

[Pyrisath]

Even if you are not interested in Warhammer 40K, read The Last Chancers by Gav Thorpe. It is an excellently written narrative, and is extremely well written for it's length and subject. 765 pages, took me about a week.

[Skaadvik]

Gravity's Rainbow by Thomas Pynchon. It's not easy to describe. It's about WWII and V-2 rockets and paranoia and synthetic plastics... sort of. It's fucking crazy, in a really awesome way.

[Aphraelle]

For Hearing People Only - Matthew S. Moore and Linda Levitan. I'm working on it, it's informative and it actually makes me feel alot more relaxed about my upcoming dealings with the Deaf community.

I'm also going to be picking up I'll Scream Later, but I'm rather dreading that one. It's an autobiographical account of the abuse the author suffered as a "punishment" for being deaf.

Another one that's frequently recommended, especially for interpreters, is The Mask of Benevolence: Disabling the Deaf Community.

I find the parallels between the deaf and queer communities very noticeable:
Both are peer cultures, where the culture is primarily transmitted horizontally between members of the same generation, rather than generational cultures where the culture is transmitted vertically down the generations;

Both are based on perceptions and experience that are different from the mainstream. Hence, outsiders are welcome but there is a certain point at the community's core where an outsider cannot go, simply because (OK, possibly opening a can of worms here, but I do not want this to turn into another round of You're/He's/She's/They're X-phobic ZOMG, mkay?) the outsider does not have the experience of growing up with those experiences and perceptions and can't fully get it in the way that an insider can; and

Both are very "high-context" cultures, where it's of supreme importance to know who is connected to whom and how - the first question normally asked of an outsider joining the group, in both communities, tends to be something along the lines of Who do you know? or Why are you here? In other words, What is your connection to us?

[RavenReverend]

I was actually thinking about picking that one up as well <.< We'll see what we see when I'm up in Bangor this Friday.

[Gorvena]

Finished Arthas; good, but ends in a rush.

Still struggling through Salvatore's The Orc King (could it be any less about Obould?).

This just in, Elric stories are meh...but you can get some free for your kindle/iPhone.

[Serenity]

Not sure how many here are into sci-fi, but I just finished an absolutely amazing series by Elizabeth Moon. Vatta's War, the first book titled Trading in Danger, is very much a space opera with kick-ass characters and a pretty awesome plot. It definitely has the science fiction flavor, but isn't convoluted with hard science or jargon, so you can enjoy the story without wiki-ing anything... x)

Just to set it up very briefly, it's about the daughter of a CEO of an interstellar shipping and trading company who enrolls in Spaceforce Academy as a cadet in the navy. Somewhere along her way, she gets thrown into some trouble around a conspiracy that threatens her entire family! :O

I really don't want to spoil it, so that crappy description is as far as I should go. xD Someone read it and back me up~

[nandien]

I'm sure a lot of these will have been books that have already been mentioned, but I thought I'd chime in with a few of my favorite books/series.

Possibly my favorite book would bee Dune, by Frank Herbert. It has a great plot, a lot of interesting ideas, and is amazing writing. I did up reading the sequels, but they were a bit harder for me to get into. And, as far as I'm concerned, most of the prequels by his son and K. J. Anderson aren't really good, unless you're looking for a random adventure'ish book.

Of course, the Lord of the Rings is a classic, and still enjoyable to reread.

Any book by Terry Pratchett is I find extremely amusing, particularly his Discworld series. They're also excellent parodies about all aspects of life, which makes them quite interesting as well.

My other favorite humor writer is Neil Gaiman. I've been pleased with the movie adaptions of his books as well.

My current favorite series would have to be Song of Ice and FIre by George R.R. Martin. Aside from gripping about when the next book will come out, I love the ambiguity about which characters are "good" and "evil" and I'm always a fan of complex plots.

The Golden Age was an excellent sci-fi trilogy I read some time ago, but unfortunately I don't recall the authors name. If I'm in the mood for more "hard" sci-fi, I enjoy reading Greg Bear as well. Also, Jack McDevitt has a number of good sci-fi/exploration books. I find the Vorsigon books (or whatever) excellent to read as well.

I've read quite a bit of Heinlein, but eventually became quite tired of his writing style/philosophy.

I'm currently in the middle of reading the (unabridged) version of Les Miserables which I highly recommend, although it is somewhat long (and some parts can be very slow). Also, Tale of Two Cities and East of Eden are two of my favorite "classics."

I churn through quite a few books, so I'm probably missing a lot of good ones, but hopefully I've remembered the ones I enjoyed the most.

Edit: I should mention that pretty much any fantasy/sci-fi short story collect will have random, absolutely amazing, crazy wierd, stories from the '40's/ 1800's...

[Gorymoru]

Are you tired of gaytarded wanna-be overly romanticised epic-fail vampire novels? Looking for one that has what vampires really are in it? With the burning in sunlight and being dead, and all that good stuff? Are you tired of the queermo sparkle-vamps that make little girl's giney's tingle? ((Warning: Twilight is not to be confused with Jonas Brothers. While both are on equal levels of retardation, their is a slight difference in what kind of retardation they are. Slight.))

The Noble Dead series by Barb and J.C. Hendee I find has been able to satisfy my angsty teenager lust for vamp novels, while at the same time not being full of fucktard sparkle bullshit.

[Nazshakul]

So I recently finished "The Alienist" by Caleb Carr and absolutely loved it. Anyone else read it? I loved the characters, and it has Teddy Roosevelt being Teddy Roosevelt. ;)

Is the sequel "The Angel of Darkness" as good?

[RavenReverend]

Hm. o_O Caleb Carr huh? Might be worth checking out.

I read a book over this past weekend (sort of...it took me a few hours Sunday morning and a few hours Monday morning) called Creepers that I really enjoyed. One of those relatively cheap paperbacks you get off the shelf at an airport, or better a shelf in Mr. Paperbacks, it was surprisingly good. The book started off with a slightly off group of urban explorers, and then descended like an elevator when the brakes have failed and the cables' been cut, into the delightful realm of "what the fuck-dom".

I'd definitely recommend it for people who want a quick read.

[Kaelindra]

Fairest - by Gail Carson Levine. Yeah it's teen and I'm 35, and it may be nothing like what all of you like to read. But I loved it so much I have to read it again.

[Vyn]

Fairest is Excellent.
Catch-22 - Joseph Heller

^ It's my favorite book of all time.

[Naowyn]

The Mistborn series by Brandon Sanderson. I kid you not, I have never read a novel more intriguing, well written, or exciting than his works. READ IT.

[Gorvena]

Catch 22 is indeed one of the best novels ever.

Finishing Watchmen, starting the latest Myth (Aspirin) and looking foreward to another Pip and Flinx as well as Night of the Dragon.

[Redemptio]

Just finished with

"Acheron" By Sherrilyn Kenyon

Vary good addition to the Dark-Hunter series, I am curious how she is going to continue the rest of her books now that a major plot line in the series has been almost taken out with this story, but this isn't the last of her books so now i get to sit and wait until i can get my hands on something else of hers.


In the mean time i'm going to pick my my favorite Author Kelly Armstrong's new book

"FrostBitten"

[Agnarr]

I made a couple of xmas requests to my g/f, so I expect, this December, to have The Ghost King (http://www.amazon.com/Ghost-King-Transitions-Book-III/dp/0786952334/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1257207122&sr=8-1) and And Another Thing (http://www.amazon.com/Another-Thing-Eoin-Colfer/dp/1401323588/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1257207157&sr=1-1) (which I hope does justice to Adams' work). Meanwhile, I'm in the middle of Road of the Patriarch (http://www.amazon.com/Road-Patriarch-Forgotten-Realms-Sellswords/dp/0786942770/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1257207321&sr=1-1)

[Redemptio]

... i'm going to pick my my favorite Author Kelly Armstrong's new book

"FrostBitten"

After being stalled reading it for a couple of days i finally sat down after work one night and read it.

It was wonderful, as vivid and epic as all her others. :3 I recommend it if you're into this type of read.

[Vyn]

"The Tibetan Book of the Dead"

It's a very interesting read, from a country most people don't know much about. It is kind of a book of scripture and prayer, but if you're interested in learning about other cultures, check it out. And if you're going to get it, get the version translated by Robert A.F. Thurman. It's the most accurate that I know of. (Unless you know Tibetan)

[Raynell]

Reading "The Scarlet Pimpernel", by Baroness Emmuska Orczy. A British nobleman disguises himself and sneaks into Revolution-wracked France to rescue French aristocrats from the Guillotine. Already a chapter or two in, and I'm thinkin' this one's a winner.

[Ansha]

Tales From The Perilous Realm (JRR Tolkien /dreamysigh <3)

[Skallagar]

The Winter King-Bernard Cornwell

Historical fiction, typical post roman britain with Arthur, though very well done. Written from the perspective of a budding young warrior who finds himself in Arthur's service. Merlin, a Druid, is just an awesome character in this, and he's just showed up two chapters ago.

[Cedes]

reading "The Inner Reaches of Outer Space" by Joseph Campbell. Just started it today and I am excited because I love this man, he is brilliant beyond words. I wish I could go back in time and rip apart his brain and discover everything inside... or maybe just interview him.

[Urivial]

Just finished a 6 book series broken up into two trilogies... this will be my 5th time completing them all. They are:


Dragon Prince
The Star Scroll
Sunrunner's Fire

Stronghold
The Dragon Token
Skybowl

[Vilmah]

I just finished a bunch of books I got for Christmas, so here's how I liked them on a scale of 1-10.

The Joy Luck Club - 9 (Beautiful and timeless.)
The Samurai's Garden - 6 (Kinda boring, dialogue got annoying, but not horrible.)
The Scent of Sake - 5 (Very boring, annoying dialogue, and a story meant to piss you off.)
The Secret Papers of Eastern Jewel - 6 (Good dialogue, but a nearly un-likeable character.)
Shanghai Girls - 10 (Lisa See's best work, in my opinion. Bittersweet story with a powerful cast of characters.)

[Arialene]

For romance novels, I've fallen even more in love with Lynsay Sands. She writes Historical and Paranormal romances. Not the Twilightfag vampire romances, I read that series one weekend and took it back. Lynsay at least puts amazing, unbelievable sex in hers to make them quite enjoyable. Her historicals are quite good too, usually starting with an arranged marriage and then awesome sex thereafter. I'm a romance novel junkie though :D.

As far as anything else, I've not really read anything other than a history text for class or a romance novel for several months, so I'm a little behind the times. If you like medieval history or the Great Depression, just lemme know.

[Skaadvik]

romance novels. /puke

my wonderful lady buys me all kinds of great literature. I'm almost done with the HP Lovecraft collection she gave me, and then I'll be moving on to Paradiso. She found a copy of Paradiso in the same translation as my copies of Inferno and Purgatorio, which I have been looking for for quite some time.

After that I'll be reading The Coming of Conan the Cimmerian.

[Lerian]

Silence of The Lambs, by Thomas Harris. I've read most of it and it's great.

[Gorvena]

Silence of The Lambs, by Thomas Harris (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Silence_of_the_Lambs_(novel)) I've read most of it and it's great.
Did you start with Red Dragon? You should have, and you should read Hannibal after Silence.

Finished Myth Fortunes. Last one before Bob Aspirin died. Won't continue to read them if JL Nye continues the series.

Just started the War of the Ancients trilogy. Why in the hell does Metzen like Knaack so much?

[Ansha]

The Return of the Black Company omnibus (specifically reading She Is The Darkness therein), by Glen Cook.

[Lerian]

Micheal Crichton's Jurassic Park, The Lost World, and Prey are all good books, I'm still reading The Andromeda Strain.

[Zultingo]

Winds of Dune-Brian Herbert and Kevin Anderson
Set right after the end of Dune Messiah, and written by Frank Herbert's son and Kevin Anderson (who wrote some drop-down kick-ass Star Wars novels including the Jedi Academy trilogy) based originally on Frank Herbert's extensive notes on the Dune universe.
It's badass.

[Synestra]

Abraham lincoln Vampire Hunter by Seth grahame-smith

picked it up at the airport for Jeeds and then after reading just a couple of pages decided to buy my own copy, very good ready.

[Zultingo]

Sagas of Icelanders-Assorted

[Turnip]

The Return of the Black Company omnibus (specifically reading She Is The Darkness therein), by Glen Cook.
This series was great. I think it's a great example of how descriptive writing can be even with very little narration. Dialogue driven storylines are great!

The Malazan Book of the Fallen series is like a more evolved version of The Black Company and I'd reccomend. Still a lot of dialogue, but a little more narration.

I'm re-reading A Seperate Peace by John Knowles. Phinny is probably my favorite character in fiction.

[Ansha]

This series was great. I think it's a great example of how descriptive writing can be even with very little narration. Dialogue driven storylines are great!

The Malazan Book of the Fallen series is like a more evolved version of The Black Company and I'd reccomend. Still a lot of dialogue, but a little more narration.

I'm re-reading A Seperate Peace by John Knowles. Phinny is probably my favorite character in fiction.

You might also try Glen Cook's Instrumentalities of the Night series, if you liked The Black Company.

[Turnip]

I read about 20 pages of one of those books. I didn't like it. Might've been the overly confusing names though.

[Ansha]

I haven't read them, beyond a preview chapter or two in other Cook books. Something grating about the zealously anti-religious stance the Instrumentality books take. I mean, The Black Company had no use for religion either, but the religions of the world weren't their major enemies.

[Dahnek]

Forged By Chaos by C.L Werner

Now starting up The Color of Magic by Terry Prachett

[Lerian]

David L. Robbins's: War of the Rats (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_of_the_Rats), the best piece of work featuring the greatest Russian sniper of WWII, Vasily Zaytsev.

[Gorvena]

Now starting up The Color of Magic by Terry Prachett
Be careful; you'll end up reading at least 20 Discworld novels before you finally decide to take a break and read something else.

Also, half-way through the War of the Ancients trilogy, then Stormrage and hopefully the new pre-Cataclysm novel will be out by then.

[CytianaMoonarrow]

My middle eastern themed collection..

A Thousand Splendid Suns, and The Kite Runner, by Khaled Hosseini
Prisoner of Tehran, by Marina Nemat
Three Cups of Tea, by Greg Mortenson/David Oliver Relin
The Cairo Trilogy, by Naguib Mahfouz

[CalyCat]

I just finished Slaptsick by Kurt Vonnegut. So. Insanely. Weird. But I loved it.

[Crushem]

Im rereading "When Will Jesus Bring the Porkchops" by George Carlin. Its a hilarious book.

[Ansha]

Just finished Barry Glasner's The Gospel of Food. Prior to that, I finished John Stossel's Myths, Lies, and Downright Stupidity and the final volume of the Empyrean Odyssey trilogy, Thomas M. Reid's The Crystal Mountain.

Now on to GK Chesterton's Orthodoxy.

[Shadowspeak]

The Spiral Dance by Starhawk

(homepage: http://www.starhawk.org/ )

[Lerian]

I don't know if this counts or not, but it's a good story: The Charge of the Light Brigade (http://poetry.eserver.org/light-brigade.html) by Alfred Lord Tennyson

[Aleria Fadeleaf]

Because I hadn't seen this thread until now...

The Wealth of Nations by Adam Smith

[Anthek]

God of Clocks by Alan Campbell

Last in the trilogy, and it got ridiculous and a little hard to follow towards the end. Time travel tends to do that, until they had bring in the number one God to fix everything that got fucked up.