SciFi/Fantasy recommendations (examples included)

[Amun]

Hello,

I hope this kind of thread is allowed here, but I would very much like to get some advice on what books I might possibly enjoy.

I've only recently began reading fantasy and scifi (about 3 years ago). I am looking for either Fantasy or SciFi. Though I've come across the term 'hard scifi' and 'fantasy scifi', so I am a little confused as I don't know what defines either.

First, some overall things I like and dislike in a story:
+ Spiritual/philosophical undertone (deeper meaning rather than superficial spectacle)
+ Grand scope
+ Character Driven (focus on characters own experience)
+ Mystery element

- Focus on war and huge battles/power struggles
- Long-windedness (story can be detailed, but only if it matters)
- Rampant use of magic
- Focus merely on technology or earthly matters (politics etc)

Belgariad Chronicles & Malloreon Chronicles - David Eddings:
Read both saga's about three years ago so memory is a little foggy.
+ Spiritual undertone
+ Character driven
+ Not too rampant use of magic

Illium, Olympos, Hyperion and Endymion - Dan Simmons:
First SciFi I've read, enjoyed all books, though liked Hyperion and Endymion the most.
+ Character driven
+ Mystery element
+ Grand scope
+ Amazing imagination
+ Philosophical/spiritual undertone

- Could have done with fewer characters and storylines
- Occasionally long-winded (too much detail) and heavy read

Northern Lights Trilogy - Philip Pullman
+ Mystery element
+ Mix of science and magic in contemporary world
+ Lighthearted and easy to read

The Liveship Traders Trilogy - Robin Hobb
+ Focus on the character's inner world. Meaning thoughts, feelings, motivation, intention of characters are clearly portrayed and used to get to know them as if you were them.
+ Character development

- Often too long-winded, with too much text being spend on trivial matters which slows the story down tremendously.
- Little mystery
- Too small a scope
- Too little magic

I hope this will help some to maybe give me some recommendations. I welcome your help and thank you for it

Kind regards,

 

[Hari Seldon]

Try The First Law Trilogy by Joe Abercrombie. An excellent series with great characters and intrigue. Not long winded or predictable.

 

[thatollie]

A Song of Ice and Fire by George R.R. Martin ticks most of the boxes of what you want and leaves behind most of what you don't.

 

[Amun]

A Song of Ice and Fire by George R.R. Martin ticks most of the boxes of what you want and leaves behind most of what you don't.

I've come across this trilogy before, but on amazon it says: "The first volume of George R R Martin's glorious high fantasy tells the tragic story of treachery, greed and war". So this falls, for me in the, "Earthly matters" and of course War. Can you tell me why you'd think I could like this book?

 

[gfdgdg]

Harry Potter is the best I've seen magic.Do you like it?

 

[Amun]

Harry Potter is the best I've seen magic.Do you like it?

Well I've already seen the movies so...seems a bit redundant

 

[biodroid]

Brent Weeks - The Night Angel trilogy has a lot of philosphical IMO about the anti-hero and great story as well. Challenges a lot of the main characters morals etc. Peter V Brett's - The Painted/Warded (US version) Man is very good with some of those aspects you mentioned as well.

 

[thatollie]

I've come across this trilogy before, but on amazon it says: "The first volume of George R R Martin's glorious high fantasy tells the tragic story of treachery, greed and war". So this falls, for me in the, "Earthly matters" and of course War. Can you tell me why you'd think I could like this book?

Well, there is a war but the main focus is the interaction between characters. The scope is magnificent, almost (IMHO) to the level of Frank Herbert's Dune.

I would say that it ticks all your positives and doesn't have any of your negatives, but that's just how I feel. It does, at least, come out well when checked against your list.

 

[Amun]

Well, there is a war but the main focus is the interaction between characters. The scope is magnificent, almost (IMHO) to the level of Frank Herbert's Dune.

I would say that it ticks all your positives and doesn't have any of your negatives, but that's just how I feel. It does, at least, come out well when checked against your list.

Ok, well I just ordered the first book. Am very curious to find whether I'll like it or not. It sure does get a long of praise. Thanks

 

[Fried Egg]

Amun

I noticed that you indiciated that a "Rampant use of magic" would be a negative for you and yet you scored in favour of the Belgariad for not being too rampant in it's use of magic and scored against The Liveship Trader's Trilogy for having too little. I haven't read the Liveship Trader's Trilogy but I would have said the Belgariad has shed loads of magic in it. If you don't consider that rampant, I don't know what you would?

 

[Amun]

Amun

I noticed that you indiciated that a "Rampant use of magic" would be a negative for you and yet you scored in favour of the Belgariad for not being too rampant in it's use of magic and scored against The Liveship Trader's Trilogy for having too little. I haven't read the Liveship Trader's Trilogy but I would have said the Belgariad has shed loads of magic in it. If you don't consider that rampant, I don't know what you would?

Well it has been a while since I've read Belgariad, so I might very well be wrong. But from what I remember, magic was used in a restricted manner, which kept it a bit mysterious. It was not like Harry Potter, where magic is not that 'special' anymore, because it is used all the time. The Liveship Traders on the other hand, has hardly any magic at all. But again, might be wrong about Belgariad.

 

[Heck Tate]

I loved Illium and Olympus, but then again I'm a bit of a Greek mythology geek. If you want something that combines the fantasy and science fiction genres i would seriously recommend the Otherland saga by Tad Williams. Being new to the genre, cyberpunk might not mean much to you, but even if it does this series takes it to an entirely new level.

It takes place in the future where computers are hardwired to the brain so that electronics can simulate various different senses. (i.e. sights, sounds, smells, tastes, feelings can all be fed directly into the brain via computer) The main characters eventually find themselves in a simulation that is so real that your brain cannot differentiate it from reality, much like the concept of the Matrix movies. Their journeys in this world take them to various literary places such as the battlefield outside of Homer's Troy, a bizarre role-playing Wizard of Oz simulation, and a twisted version of Lewis Carol's Wonderland.

There are 4 books total in the series, the first of which is City of Golden Shadow. None of them are stand-alone novels, but once you finish the first one it's pretty much impossible not to pick up the other 3.

 

[soulsinging]

I've come across this trilogy before, but on amazon it says: "The first volume of George R R Martin's glorious high fantasy tells the tragic story of treachery, greed and war". So this falls, for me in the, "Earthly matters" and of course War. Can you tell me why you'd think I could like this book?

ASOIAF is recommended almost on reflex in every thread seeking recommendations. For the most part, that's just because it's a great series of novels. That said, I'll be curious to hear your reaction, because I'd disagree with the recommender in saying it meets all your pro/con criteria. It's very focused on earthly things... namely political power struggles. It also has almost no elements of spirituality or philosophy. Otherwise though, it fits the bill. Very little magic, epic scope, and some of the most interesting characters in fantasy.

 

[nj1]

Have you had a look a David Gemmell? some of his work are battle based but try his WAYLANDER or JERUSELUM MAN series, both excellent fantasy triolgies and neither have too much magic.

 

[murphy]

Sharon Shinn's Samaria series:

Archangel
Jova's Angel
The Alleluia Files
Angelica
Angel Seeker

Mary Doria Russell:

The Sparow
Children of God

 

[elvet]

I loved Illium and Olympus, but then again I'm a bit of a Greek mythology geek. If you want something that combines the fantasy and science fiction genres i would seriously recommend the Otherland saga by Tad Williams. Being new to the genre, cyberpunk might not mean much to you, but even if it does this series takes it to an entirely new level.

It takes place in the future where computers are hardwired to the brain so that electronics can simulate various different senses. (i.e. sights, sounds, smells, tastes, feelings can all be fed directly into the brain via computer) The main characters eventually find themselves in a simulation that is so real that your brain cannot differentiate it from reality, much like the concept of the Matrix movies. Their journeys in this world take them to various literary places such as the battlefield outside of Homer's Troy, a bizarre role-playing Wizard of Oz simulation, and a twisted version of Lewis Carol's Wonderland.

There are 4 books total in the series, the first of which is City of Golden Shadow. None of them are stand-alone novels, but once you finish the first one it's pretty much impossible not to pick up the other 3.

I agree. I recently read the Hyperion books and was struck by the resemblance to the Otherland series, not the same story (of course), but more the 'feel' of the way it's told.

 

[williamjm]

There are 4 books total in the series, the first of which is City of Golden Shadow. None of them are stand-alone novels, but once you finish the first one it's pretty much impossible not to pick up the other 3.

I liked the series overall, but I think it might fail the original poster's "not long-winded" criteria. There were long periods, particularly in books 2 and 3, where hundreds of pages seemed to go past with little significant forward momentum in the plot.

Well, there is a war but the main focus is the interaction between characters. The scope is magnificent, almost (IMHO) to the level of Frank Herbert's Dune.

Dune could be a very good recommendation for what he is looking for, few books match it for spiritual/philosophical undertones or grand scope. Roger Zelazney's "Lord of Light" would be another SF classic that I'd recommend.

 

[thatollie]

ASOIAF is recommended almost on reflex in every thread seeking recommendations. For the most part, that's just because it's a great series of novels. That said, I'll be curious to hear your reaction, because I'd disagree with the recommender in saying it meets all your pro/con criteria. It's very focused on earthly things... namely political power struggles. It also has almost no elements of spirituality or philosophy. Otherwise though, it fits the bill. Very little magic, epic scope, and some of the most interesting characters in fantasy.

I would disagree with my disagreer and say that there are some spiritual and philosophical ideas in ASOIAF, but that would be pedantic.

 

[Hilarious Joke]

I think you made the right choice in getting A Game of Thrones! It's excellent! Let us know how you go.

 

[Amun]

Wow, didnt expect any more replies after the long silence I've yet to receive A Game of Thrones, and I will let you know what the verdict will be