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Mojlnir

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I do like Terry Pratchett as well, so that here in Spain they only go for "Men at arms", and when I was living in Northern Ireland I read "The Truth", so the translations of his books are going a bit slow here... The first one I read was "Small Gods", and the way the book is introduced was so extraordinary to me I read the whole series afterwards, from beginning to end. Extremely good those books, yes, they are.

 

Anyway, I don't know if anybody has mentioned the Harry Potter series (not that they actually need to be mentioned at all). They are all good books, and the last two (counting The Order of the Phoenix) are not children-themed at all, they seem to treat also adult themes.

 

Also, Cristian Jacq's books set in the ancient Egypt are very good. There is a trilogy called something like "Egypt's judge" that it's very, very good.

 

Good reading...

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I am a huge Eddings fan - I saw them listed here before and I recommend them to anyone who wants to game. It's the best fantasy series I've seen in the last 20 years. I re-read them every two years (on the off years for LOTR, which I also re-read every two years)

 

Robert Asprin's 'Myth' series - funny as heck, but at the same time they make a certain amount of sense (there are a bunch, maybe five or six)

 

Ursula K Leguin - Earthsea Trilogy (three, or four if you add the newer one)

 

Poul Anderson - All of those silly pun-titled books - I forget the series name at the moment (I lost count at about ten)

 

For non-fiction - I just read Al Franken's Lies and the liars who tell them, a fair and balanced look at the right. This is the one Fox news sued him over and they literally got laughed out of court.

 

Stephen Donaldson's Thomas Covenant series - not if you don't like a very flawed hero. (three of them)

 

I saw the Hitchhiker's guide to the universe aready listed. Babelfish, anyone?

 

I'm sure I'd list more if I went into the basement and started rooting around in all of my shelves.....

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Forgot the Demonwars Saga. Excellent work there. First time a book ever made me cry. War of souls, from the fasmous Dragonlance saga is very good. I like my books with a little political twist.

 

Just reading this book- Animal farm. I love this book. I think Orwell is now my favorite Author.

 

And I believe ...that... harry.... thing.... *shudder* wasn't mentioned because it is an unmentionable. against the rules there.

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Erm - embarrassment.

 

The book I am currently reading is about a search for a book called 'The Hundredth Name' set in 1665. The actual title is Balthasar's Odyssey and it is by Amin Maalouf.

 

Harry the Potter? Hmm. Each to his own, I suppose.

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One series I forgot to mention is the Ghormenghast trilogy by Mervyn Peake. It is weird, and wonderful, and much better written than most fantasy novels out there.

 

 

I also agree with recommending the His Dark Materials series by Philip Pullman - well worth reading.

 

Another author I rather like is Patricia McKillip - I like her lyrical style of writing, and enjoyed the Riddlemaster Trilogy very much.

 

 

 

With that many book recommendations you're bound to find something you enjoy as there seems to be quite a variety. Personally, I found David Eddings' first two series somewhat drawn out and irritating, and haven't bothered reading them again....they are currently languishing in the pile of books the kids might enjoy reading at some point. Stephen Donaldson's flawed hero lends his books a lot more depth, particularly in the second trilogy, which also introduces some interesting new concepts. I've just finished reading the Wheel of Time series, and I'm starting to wonder whether the author gets paid by the word....I'm starting to get a bit impatient that after 10 books the series still hasn't come to the point. :blink:

 

IMO there are few books which can rival the Dune series - our copies have been read and re-read so many times they're starting to fall apart. :lol:

 

Can I remind everyone who recommended HP that they are in breach of the ToS and may wish to go into hiding.... :P

 

:lol:

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Burnination7, might I guess you to be a fan of the esteemed Trogdor? Wow, I must say my hunch was right! There are so many books here a person doesn't even know where to start. There's a little of everything here, including many favorites I forgot about. I dug through my selves and pulled out a few titles that might be of interest to people who are following some of the current goings on in the world.

 

Thomas Friedman: "From Beruit to Jerusalem" Friedman is now an opinion editor for the NY Times, though he was in the Middle East for 10 years, several as bureau chief...this book chronicles his time spent in Israel and Lebanon...a very interesting read

 

Thomas Friedman: "The Lexus and the Olive Branch" This is an attempt to understand the forces of globalization, through the eyes of a journalist. Very easy to read and explained through the eyes of people he meets

 

Judith Miller, Stephen Engleberg, William Broad: "Germs" An investigation into the clandestine world of bio-weapons. This book details both the Soviet and US bio-weapons programs and the horrors they created. This book will give the stoutest person shivers. Read "The Hot Zone" later to ensure you never sleep again.

 

Michael Walzer: "Just and Unjust Wars" An excellent book that confronts the morality of war. This is a fairly academic book, so it might be a dry read, though it is worth it for the conversation it creates. Just War Theory is a Christian construct designed to legitamize war, and Walzer takes a long hard look at it. He argues that wars are judged twice; once on the reasoning for war, and again on the means adopted.

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Tad Williams Otherworld (or something like that) is a four volume epic in which what is real, virtual and pure code in a computer game becomes completely mixed up. I found it a little too long and the explanation at the end rather tedious but it raises interesting concepts. The idea that the NPC's we are so happy to wipe out may be representations of gamers who die in the real world as well as in the game is fascinating. Think on that you shashers and choppers!
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