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i am getting towards the end of "The Passage" by Justin Cronin (epic vampire/post-apocalyptic story) and need to get something else to read afterwards. There are other books in the series but I don't usually like continuing straight into a similar story so I want something different.
As a guide, some of my other favourite books are:
Most Cormac McCarthy
Good Omens - Neil Gaiman/T. Pratchett
American Gods/Neverwhere - Neil Gaiman
House of Leaves - Mark Danielewski
I Am Legend - Richard Matheson
Swan Song - Richard McCammon
Lord of the Rings trilogy
Wonders of a Godless World - Andrew McGahan
You get the picture.
All recommendations welcome.
- The Warlord Chronicles trilogy by Bernard Cornwell - one of the best Arthurian tellings IMO, starts off in the marshy mists of mediaeval Somerset and grabs you by the leather codpiece from the first page.
- Chronicles Of Thomas Covenant The Unbeliever by Stephen Donaldson. Moderately surprised that Hollywood hasn't picked over this as yet, though it will probably happen in our lifetimes as there surely aren't many (post-Tolkien) epics of this calibre.
Give [i]The Periferal[/i] a look, it's William Gibson's latest book. As is typical for him he chucks you in at the deep end with no exposition so you sink or swim. You get the names of things, but context only comes gradually.
I've read everything of his since [i]Neuromancer[/i] in '81, so I'm used to his style, but it still takes a bit of grappling with.
Definitely worth persevering with, lots of interesting concepts as is usual in his books.
Peter Hamilton's got a new book out, another huge lump of easy-reading space opera. You need to read the previous ones for it to make sense, but if you're a fan of planet sized spaceships and the like it's worth it.
The start of the previous trilogy: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Dreaming-Void-trilogy-Book-One-ebook/dp/B003GK218K/ref=asap_B00287WTBG_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1416767293&sr=1-2
The Vorrh - Brian Catling.
The Master and Margarita - Mikhail Bulgakov
A stone cold classic (and as close to sci-fi/fantasy as I get).
The World of Watch pentalogy - Sergei Lukyanenko. Starts with [url= http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Night_Watch_(Lukyanenko_novel) ]Night Watch[/url]
That reminds me, I really should check Hamiltons stuff out...
Ken Macleod is a good bet, Newtons Wake and The Night Sessions were both good stand alone books, I haven't read any of his other work yet but he seems very similar in style to Iain (M) Banks.
As far as Pratchett co-labs go, I'd give the Long Earth stuff a body swerve. No idea what his input was but it makes for tedious and unfulfilling reading, I'd even go as far as to say it's as bad as the Hunger Games stuff (yes: I did, no: I'll never get those wasted hours back).
I remember reading the first few books in Paul Johnstons Quint series years ago, never got beyond the third but remember they seemed good, set in a dystopian future Scotland (is there ANY other future for Scotland?) but principally a crime novel. http://www.paul-johnston.co.uk/pages/books/quint.htm
After listening to a R4 programme the other day I quite fancy giving Demons by Dostoyevsky a go, will see. World of Watch is gonna have to come first, that's another one on the to-do list I forgot about 🙂
That reminds me, I really should check Hamiltons stuff out...
It's not by any stretch "literature", but it's entertaining traditional SF with aliens 'n space ships 'n stuff. Ideal holiday reading.
Hugh Howey's Wool trilogy...an interesting take on life post-apocalypse...
Judging from your list, I'd recommend The Girl With All The Gifts by M R Carey.
As a fun personal recommendation: Ready Player One by Ernest Cline.
Thanks for the suggestions.
tim: To be honest, that sounds a bit too close to what I'm reading at the moment.
It doesn't have to be post-apocalyptic, by the way.
Maybe Iain Banks "The Wasp Factory" ?. One of my all-time favourite books.
finished Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie this morning. amazing book. real thought provoker! and now for something completely different: Keith Allen Biography!
+1 The Warlord Chronicles trilogy by Bernard Cornwell - his best work imo
You might like some Jack Vance - The Demon Princes is some of his best stuff.
World War Z (don't be put off by the film of the same name they have no connection). A documentary about a zombie outbreak from start to finish and beyond great snippet of how you could see the world responding to it and humanity's reaction etc. Loved every second of reading it.
Looking a the Pratchett & Gaiman stuff on your read list I'd recommend (as I always do in these threads) the Rivers of London books by Ben Aaronovitch.
Funny, a bit fantasy but all taking place in modern day Britain.
Based on your list, Patrick Rothfuss should be a good bet. Start with The Name of the Wind.
Ok I would recommend
Joe Abercrombie aka @LordGrimdark(Last Argument of Kings trilogy or The Heroes if you want to test the waters)
Scott Lynch "The Lies of Locke Lamora"
Mark Lawrence "Prince of Thorns"