Kevin's Watch

Running out of ideas for new books to read? Read something you liked and want to find similar novels? Want to try out something new, but don't know where to start?

This thread is here to help you. Whenever you need help finding more SFF, post what you're looking for in this thread, and let the rest of us Watchers do the work for you.
Or maybe you don't need help yourself, but want to share a recommendation with others who might not have been lucky enough to come across the book themselves. This thread's for you too.

Sharing the good stuff we've read is what this place is all about, after all.



[Thanks to Fist for suggesting a recommendation thread way back in November--I got around to it eventually. ]

Historically, I would start with Lord Dunsany's The King of Elfland's Daughter for fantasy and From the Earth to the Moon by H. G. Wells for Sci-Fi.

Recommendations...hmmm...yes, lets see, if you like your fantasy with:

Humor -> Discworld by Terry Pratchett
Sex -> Gor by John Norman
Secrets only Allanon knows -> The original Shannara Trilogy by Terry Brooks
A Political Agenda -> The Sword of Truth by Terry Goodkind
Braid Tugging -> The Wheel of Time by Robert Jordan
Sciene Fiction elements -> Darkover by Marion Zimmer Bradley
More Sex -> Anything by Storm Constantine
A Lot of Islands -> Earthsea by Ursula K. LeGuin
Albinos -> Elric Saga by Michael Moorcock
Borderline Copyright Infringement -> Mithgar by Dennis L. McKiernan

But Seriously,

Even More Sex -> Watership Down by Richard Adams (rabbits ya know)

Borderline Copyright Infringement -> Mithgar by Dennis L. McKiernan

How about Eragon?

Reading it to my six year old

Mostly Lord of the Rings and David Eddings' stuff....but I just passed a line reading:

"Leper! Outcast!"

Seriously though, as a REAL recomenation.
If you're tired of fatasies with magic swords, wizards, and elves (or elf like creatures); and if you're tired of fantasies about awkward pre-teen boys who have to save the wolrd...try The Last Light Of the Sun by Guy Gavriel Kay. Dubbed as Historical Fantasy; it was a great story, and very well written.

drew wrote:Mostly Lord of the Rings and David Eddings' stuff....but I just passed a line reading:

"Leper! Outcast!"

Er...didn't SRD use that because it's what people used to say to lepers?

-Yeah, but to see it in a fantasy novel, makes one think that the author borrowed it from another (beter) fantasy novelist.

And since the rest of the book is filled with other blatent rip-offs...it makes one think that this line was borrowed from Donaldson, not from history.

I highly recommend George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire series. He's been acclaimed the American Tolkien. Though be forewarned that he is still writing books in the series.

I am a big Dan Simmons Fan I would recommend the Hyperion Cantos (Four books total) and also Illium/Olympos duology.

The Terror is next on my list to read from DS.

You need to go to Ahira's Hangar, it's Kevin Watch's sister site and my site. We have a Simmons forum there run by duchess of malfi. (click my www to get there )

I'll have to check that out - only Simmons can compare to Donaldson in my book. The Hyperion/Endymion Saga is Sci-Fi's counterpart to Covenant.

By the way - finally reading Ilium now (though I bought the book when it came out - these kids have set my reading back years!!! )

Donaldson and Simmons are two of my favorites also. I am halfway through Olympos and I have 4 boys so I tend to never read the most current books either. Illium took a few chapters to get comfortable but the story really takes off. I love Simmons for his very original writting.

Although the Buckyfiber term has not been one of my favorites in Sci Fi. but I will let it pass

Beyondthebreach wrote:The Hyperion/Endymion Saga is Sci-Fi's counterpart to Covenant.

Well said.

Mary Stewart's Arthurian trilogy (The Crystal Cave, The Hollow Hills, and The Last Enchantment) is an extremely good blend of fantasy and historical fiction. It manages to split the difference so finely you will frequently catch yourself forgetting it *is* fantasy.

I consider it to be *the* best version of the Arthurian Legend.

The Dreaming wrote:Mary Stewart's Arthurian trilogy (The Crystal Cave, The Hollow Hills, and The Last Enchantment) is an extremely good blend of fantasy and historical fiction. It manages to split the difference so finely you will frequently catch yourself forgetting it *is* fantasy.

I consider it to be *the* best version of the Arthurian Legend.

Have you read TH White and did you like his version?

If the answer to those two questions is yes I MUST get this series. I will probably get it sometime anyway.

I read him So long ago it barely qualifies, Stewart is more embedded into my mind. (I guess it's time for me to dig up a copy of "The Once and Future King")

Also keep in mind that this is fairly Adult fantasy, taking a realistic look at the Medieval world. (Circa 800 ad or so, much earlier than usually depicted) As such, a lot of the more lurid themes of the legend are dealt with in good detail. (Arthur's illegitimate origins, Guinevere and Bedwyr, Mordred)

i'm reading kate forsyth's witches of eleanan .. or something .. its cool and has a nice scotts flavour ..

ooh but i am loving Zindell's EA cycle series .. and waiting eagerly for the next installment

another one to recommend

OMG! Sky is back on the Watch! Major happy dance! Tam says hi as well!!!!

hey Tamara .. *hugs* on me!!!!