What shall I read next?

[Mouse]

I'm stealing this idea from Perp, who did it ages ago.

I'm not writing a great deal at the mo, or reading any WiPs for anyone, so I've got a bit more time to read.

I'm almost at the end of Anne Lyle's Alchemist of Souls. Now, I love Ned and Gabriel but I can't stand Coby. Entirely my problem - I just don't like female characters much.

So, I'm hoping for a book with some decent female characters (is it possible? Do they exist?)

I've got quite a big to-read pile so I want to avoid buying a new book if poss. So, out of my list here, can anybody recommend any of them? I'm not really into epic/medieval fantasy any more...

The Merchant of Dreams by Anne Lyle (do I read this next, before I forget what happened in the first?)
Running with the Demon by Terry Brooks
A Knight of the Word by Terry Brooks
Angel Fire East by Terry Brooks
Jarka Ruus by Terry Brooks
Tanequil by Terry Brooks
Straken by Terry Brooks
A Dance with Dragons by George RR Martin
Windhaven by George RR Martin and Lisa Tuttle
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams
Uncle Montague’s Tales of Terror by Chris Priestley
The Summer Tree by Guy Gavriel Kay
I, Corriander by Sally Gardner
The Black Angel by John Connelly
Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman
City of Masks by Mary Hoffman
Green Thumb by Tom Cardamone
The Walking by Bentley Little
Cirque du Freak by Darren Shan
Nights of Villjamur by Mark Charan Newton
King Rat by China Mieville
Legends by Terry Pratchett et al
The Death Trilogy by Terry Prattchett
Slights by Karen Warren
The Death Collector by Justin Richards
Henry VIII Wolfman by A.E. Moorat
Shade’s Children by Garth Nix
The Seventh Tower by Garth Nix
Snow White and the Seven Samurai by Tom Holt
Gods Behaving Badly by Marie Phillips
Around a Dark Corner by Jeani Rector
Dragon Keeper by Robin Hobb
The Steel Remains by Richard Morgan
The Supernaturalist by Eoin Colfer

 

[Brian G Turner]

Go for Merchant of Dreams before you forget the backstory.

Well, I'm sure you'd be reminded easily enough because it flows smoothly from it, and references any important points as required.

But it's a fine book, with ships and pirates and Venice. Hard to go wrong with that.

 

[Mouse]

Go for Merchant of Dreams before you forget the backstory.

That's kinda what I'm thinking, Brian, especially as I have a terrible memory! One of the reasons I'm not keen to start ADWD is because I can't remember what happened in the other books (I'm waiting for the TV show to catch up).

 

[ratsy]

Mouse, The Nights of Villjamur was a good read. It was very original and dark. It touches on racism and some really odd things. After reading it I found it hard to categorize as I had never read somethi g like it. I did read the second in the series as well.

Sorry to say other than Martin and Gaimen, I have no experience with the others in your TBR.

 

[hitmouse]

Go for Hitchhiker's Guide and Anansi Boys if you haven't read them.

Hitchiker is short and brilliant and it has a very useful female character. Anansi Boys is good, though no obvious female players that I canrmember.

Not read King Rat, but have read several of Mieville's other books which I like a lot. The Scar is possibly his best, and has a female lead.

 

[Mouse]

Mouse, The Nights of Villjamur was a good read. It was very original and dark. It touches on racism and some really odd things. After reading it I found it hard to categorize as I had never read somethi g like it. I did read the second in the series as well.

Sorry to say other than Martin and Gaimen, I have no experience with the others in your TBR.

Ooh, that's interesting! I've not really considered Nights of Villjamur before (I got it free in a swap) and thought it was just another epic/medieval type story.

Go for Hitchhiker's Guide and Anansi Boys if you haven't read them.

Hitchiker is short and brilliant and it has a very useful female character. Anansi Boys is good, though no obvious female players that I canrmember.

Not read King Rat, but have read several of Mieville's other books which I like a lot. The Scar is possibly his best, and has a female lead.

I do quite fancy Hitchhiker's Guide, ta.

 

[HoopyFrood]

I would be a poor Hoopy Frood if I didn't also back Hitchhiker's

 

[Jo Zebedee]

You haven't read Hitchhiker's -- I'll third it! The Ned and Gabe arc got stronger in the second, Coby irked me even more in it, to the point of skipping her sections.

 

[Mouse]

Looks like it might have to be Hitchhiker's then! Maybe I'll read Merchant of Dreams after that. (Pleased to hear there's more Ned and Gabe!)

 

[Abernovo]

I'm reading The Merchant of Dreams now, Mouse. So far, so brilliant. Definitely recommend it.
The only other one out of that list that I could say is brilliant is Hitchhiker's.

You've got a few names that are on my to buy wishlist, but who I've not read yet.

 

[Lady of Winterfell]

That's kinda what I'm thinking, Brian, especially as I have a terrible memory! One of the reasons I'm not keen to start ADWD is because I can't remember what happened in the other books (I'm waiting for the TV show to catch up).

If you need help refreshing your memory, you can check out Tower of the Hand. They have great chapter summaries.

As for the books on your list, I haven't read a lot of them. However, I do have a lot of the same ones on my TBR list.

 

[Christopher Lee]

I would recommend Running with the Demon by Terry Brooks. That was the first of his I ever read, back in middle school, and I loved it. I was actually thinking about rereading that one recently. Along with Angel Fire East.

 

[Mouse]

Who's that then, Aber?

Grizz - I actually started Running with the Demon ages ago and put it down for some reason and didn't pick it up again. Not sure why. I hadn't got very far in anyway.

LoW - Ta for that!

 

[Montero]

Not read most of the ones on your list

Depending what you like about female characters The Summer Tree might get you want you want - there are several different female characters so you have variety and more introduced as the series progresses. Fionnovar trilogy happens to be one of my comfort re-read trilogies (which given it is not a cozy read at all is slightly contradictory )

 

[vanwolf]

Go for Hitchhiker's Guide and Anansi Boys if you haven't read them.

Hitchiker is short and brilliant and it has a very useful female character. Anansi Boys is good, though no obvious female players that I canrmember.

Not read King Rat, but have read several of Mieville's other books which I like a lot. The Scar is possibly his best, and has a female lead.

King Rat is a decent read but not of the standard of Perdido and the Scar. So if you're just going to read one of his, I'd make it one of those.

 

[Hex]

Me too, Montero!

I lliked Shade's Children, Mouse. Though it's one of those children's books that's pretty dark and grim. I think there's a cool girl character but I can't remember.

Hitchhikers' has an excellent woman character, though I admit I found her a bit annoying.

 

[Mariella]

Why be linear? I have too many books to read and far too little time. So I don't finish one book before starting another and generally read several books concurrently. It may take longer to finish that way, but also extends the pleasure of a really good title.