[Closed] New book time

My usual two recommendations;
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Both are factual, but both read like thrillers in their own right. Fascinating, gripping storytelling.

Neverwhere - Neil Gaiman
King Rat - China Mieville

Two absolutely cracking reads, probably two of my favourites.

The Passage - Justin Cronin
The Twelve - Justin Cronin

First two parts of a trilogy. Not sure when the third one is out though. Strongly recommended.

The Passage - Justin Cronin
The Twelve - Justin Cronin

Read my OP

Oh, and read Neverwhere: Excellent book.

The Circle by Dave Eggers gets a lot of praise (not read it yet myself) - near future dystopia about what might happen if google keep up all their good work.

Had it recommended by a few people, all qualified by saying he's a bit of a journeyman writer, but in terms of ideas and resonance to today he absolutely slays it. Will be picking it up next.

Seeing as how you enjoyed Kate Griffin, or at least [i]A Madness Of Angels[/i], have you followed up by reading the rest of the Matthew Swift books? If not, (and why not?), then make a start right now, and then read [i]The First Fifteen Lives Of Harry August[/i] and [i]Touch[/i], by Claire North, who's real name is Catherine Webb, but who also writes as Kate Griffin. As Catherine Webb, she's written a bunch of Young Adult books, which are hugely enjoyable regardless of the reader's age; the first two [i]Mirror Dreams[/i] and [i]Mirror Wakes[/i], are very reminiscent of Roger Zelazny, one of my all-time favourite authors, all the more remarkable considering she wrote the first one during her school holidays, and had it published the following year, when she was fifteen! She's still only in her twenties.
I'm a huge fan...
Speaking of Zelazny, I can't speak highly enough of him as a writer, if you've not read any of his books, then make a start now, although, TBH, there aren't too many currently in print, AFAIK, but if you can track them down, [i]Lord Of Light, Today We Chose Faces, Roadmarks, Damnation Alley, The Doors Of His Face, The Lamps Of His Mouth and Other Stories, Isle Of The Dead, This Immortal, Doorways In The Sand, Eye Of Cat, A Night In The Lonesome October, The Chronicles Of Amber, Creatures Of Light And DarknessTo Die In Italbar, My Name Is Legion[/i] would all be very well worth the effort. He also did some collaborations, two that are very well worth seeking out are [i]Deus Irae[/i], with Philip K Dick, and [i]Psychoshop[/i], with Alfred Bester, whose books, [i]Tiger, Tiger[/i], and [i]The Demolished Man[/i] are absolute classics, and if you haven't read them, the now's a good time to get them.
The thing is, unlike today's huge doorstops of SF Novels, none of the above are very long books, apart from the Amber book, which is a collection of ten original books.
Happy reading, I still enjoy a copy of [i]Today We Chose Faces[/i] I bought in 1973! 😀

If you're not averse to a little bit of sci-fi/fantasy (which I'm guessing is true based on your list) then The Bone Clocks by David Mitchell would be well worth a look.

Ah, yes: I could carry on with the Matthew Swift books. Are the follow-ups as good? I've heard they become a little repetitive.

mikey74 - Member

The Passage - Justin Cronin
The Twelve - Justin Cronin

Read my OP

Oh, and read Neverwhere: Excellent book.

OK! Go read "King Rat" then smartarse. 😉

If Lord of the rings is your thing , then have you read anything by Terry Brooks ? His Shanara series is superb and I also like his Magic kingdom of landover series . Shanara actually starts with Running with the demon set in modern times and runs through a post apocalyptic and on to a fantasy future over all the many books .

No, I haven't but I'll have a look. Cheers.

For a bit of mild fantasy then Joe Abercrombie has fast became one of my favourites. The First Law trilogy is excellent and the Half a... Trilogy is also very good.

Name of the wind, and wise man's fear? Patrick rothfuss is two books into a (not even close to finishing it all in three books) trilogy with the third out next year.

Has anyone read the Dark Tower series, by Stephen King? Are they worth checking out?

My usual recommendation: The Vorrh by Brian Catling. Makes most other fantastical writing seem rather childish.

mikey74 - Member

Has anyone read the Dark Tower series, by Stephen King? Are they worth checking out?

My brother, a huge King fan did, and eventually gave up on King because of them 🙁 IIRC I could do a spoiler, that depressed him most about the series but doubt you'd appreciate it

YoKaiser (or Mikey) if you enjoyed Joe Abercrombie The First Law trilogy, can I suggest Richard K. Morgan A Land Fit For Heroes trilogy

Smudger666 - Member
Name of the wind, and wise man's fear? Patrick rothfuss is two books into a (not even close to finishing it all in three books) trilogy with the third out next year.

I'm going to do my normal thing in these threads of not making any suggestions but criticising instead. 🙄

These two books should be good, they really should. He's a good writer, he's got a good story. But then he hides it in all sorts of pointless rubbish that doesn't need to be there. And big parts of the 2nd book are truly dreadful. Get on with the story, Rothfuss!

(When did it become acceptable to publish an 800-1000 page book that only has 200-300 pages of decent content? I'm looking at you as well, Mieville. And especially you, Stephenson. 😉 )

Oooo controversy **pulls up chair and popcorn**.

I actually did my usual thing and read all the advice above, took it all in, and then went and did my own thing

I've ordered a copy of the first Dark Tower book, despite z1ppy's advice, as `i got a copy cheap and I've heard lots of good things about them. Hey, it's only short, so it shouldn't be too unbearable if it's rubbish.

Idlejon, you are going to [i]hate[/i] [url= http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1473209323?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s00 ]this[/url]

Idlejon, you are going to hate this

😆

I flicked through a copy last week. It's short enough that some of the pointless filler might be missing . 😉

Ah, yes: I could carry on with the Matthew Swift books. Are the follow-ups as good? I've heard they become a little repetitive.

Not really, it's an ongoing story, with an increasing cast, the first four books directly involve Swift, but in the last two he's a periferal character, the emphasis falls onto another who becomes increasingly more involved as the series runs.
I've read the complete run two or three times, but not recently, so many other books to read, both 'virtual' and dead-tree; taking half a dozen recent ones away on holiday next week to try and catch up without other distractions.
Well, apart from the pub...
...but I can read while drinking anyway. 😀