Home › Forums › Open Discussion › Book Recommendations, please
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November 27, 2012 at 12:13 am #778259
datamuseParticipantI forgot to mention, Game of Thrones was originally going to be historical fiction, based on the Wars of the Roses. Someone persuaded Martin to make it a fantasy and the rest is, well, not history. ;) If you’re familiar with the period it’s fun to find the parallels…
November 27, 2012 at 12:24 am #778260
luckymom30ParticipantThanks datamuse!
November 27, 2012 at 12:51 am #778261
redblackParticipanthere’s book one of the baroque cycle by local, world-renowned author neal stephenson:
http://www.nealstephenson.com/quicksilver/
dense read, but highly entertaining and informative. sort of a historical fantasy about the advent of standardized money and commerce in western civilizations. and word on the street is that he penned at least the first volume with quill and ink. i think the manuscript is on display at the EMP sci-fi museum.
these books will keep anyone out of trouble for weeks.
his other works are great, too, in my opinion. zodiac is a sort of anti-hero eco-thriller. five stars. snow crash and the diamond age are technological cyberpunk. and i have learned at least one useful thing in every stephenson novel i’ve read.
one of my favorite authors, he has a masterful and extremely witty command of the english language.
November 27, 2012 at 1:02 am #778262
SemeleParticipantThe Hyperion series by Dan Simmons. I can’t recommend these books enough.
— oops, just noticed you mentioned he doesn’t like science fiction. That’s what I get for not reading through all of the posts!
November 28, 2012 at 3:26 am #778263
redblackParticipantfunny, semele: almost all of the recommendations are for sci-fi/fantasy.
and while i’m at it, william gibson is a cyberpunk author who writes in trilogies.
virtual light is a good start to one of them.
a great start, in fact.
picture an earthquake that completely wracks the bay bridge, a little social unrest, and a bunch of disaffected people taking the entire bridge structure for residence and commerce.
but that’s just the setting, scooter…
November 28, 2012 at 4:35 am #778264
SemeleParticipantTrue Redblack, but I know plenty of people who like the fantasy portion of that genre but dislike the science fiction aspect. I have never understood that, but I am just happy that people are reading! I know plenty of people that haven’t read a book since they were forced to in either HS or college, and even some of those are suspect :)
November 28, 2012 at 4:37 am #778265
SemeleParticipantOh yeah, and Game of Thrones is actually called the Song of Ice and Fire series. Game of Thrones is just the name of the first book. :)
November 28, 2012 at 9:28 pm #778266
savoirfaireParticipantI guess this is a little late, but in addition to seconding (or is it thirding?) the ask-a-librarian idea, based on your mentioning his interest in American history I’d suggest also taking a look at M.T. Anderson’s series The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation. There are two books out so far in what I think is planned to be a trilogy. I prefer the first to the second, but they’re both interesting, well-written and well-researched. Not cheerful, but definitely good.
November 29, 2012 at 2:19 am #778267
herongrrrlParticipantIf you’re still considering Earthsea, as a die-hard LeGuin fan I am compelled to say it’s NOT a trilogy! But, the last books in the series were written many years after the first three and are pretty dramatically different in style. Some did not appreciate the change, but I think the 4th book, at least, is essential in wrapping up the story that begins with the first 3.
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