xylia

[Jerle]

I thought it might be interesting to swap book favorites. I'll stick the authors in the little {} thingies for ya so you can check it out at the library if you want. My favorites are the Dune series {Frank Herbert} (1-3 were the best out of em, although I've read the entire series about 1000 times over), the Shannara series {Terry Brooks, great guy btw, I met him once when I lived in WA} (historical type fantasy based in the future, interesting concept and quite well done, check it out. My sn is based on the main character in the prequel to the series), Lord of the Rings {J.R.R. Tolkien, if you didn't know that, you should be shot} (who doesn't like them some little hobbitses? My own... My preciousssss), Sphere {Michael Crichton} (a very psychological book. I found myself rereading some parts just because I didn't understand it the first time around, but it's well worth the read), Jurassic Park {Michael Crichton} (after reading the book, the movie just kinda seems dumb), The Lost World of Jurassic Park {Michael Crichton AGAIN} (same thing with this book. I actually read it before I went and saw the movie), Eaters of the Dead {Michael Crichton} (The Thirteenth Warrior was the name of the movie, I guess Eaters of the Dead seemed more of a horror title and that's not what they were shooting for. The movie and the book are actually equally good), The Hardy Boys Series {Franklin W. Dixon, but it's actually 6-7 authors using the same pen name} (been around since the 20's and they're kind of cheesy compared to modern detective books, but a very good read. I've been reading em since I was 9) and lastly, The Chronicles of Prydain {Lloyd Alexander} (There's 5 books to this, The Book of Three, The Black Cauldron, The Castle of Llyr, Taran Wanderer, and The High King. VERY good series. If you like Xylia, you'll love this series. It follows the main Character, Taran, as he grows into adulthood and he finds that his dreams of adventure aren't really as cracked up as he thought they were.)

That's really all the books that I can think of right now. Occasionally I'll pick up a Star Trek book, but I'm not really as big of a fan of trek as I used to be. I grew up to it, that's my excuse.

[Krozam]

Ha! I knew your name here was from Jerle Shannara! Shannaras are great series', especially since Brooks improves with each book like no other author I know. The Heritage series was is a completely different level than Sword of Shannara.

Prydain was pretty good, too, I think... although it's been about ten years since I read that series. Maybe I should read it again? But I haven't had much time to read lately, my re-read of Ursula LeGuin's original Earthsea trilogy is advancing slowly. Great series, by the way, one of the must-read fantasy classics.

My time's a bit short, so I'll just mention two of my absolute favourites: J.K. Rowling (Harry Potter) and Robin Hobb (The Farseer, The Liveship Traders and The Tawny Man). Especially Hobb: with The Farseer she (Robin Hobb is just a pen name, she's a woman) proved that she can create the most real characters I know and make quality fantasy with depth and plot. With The Tawny Man she proved that she had improved as a writer to the point where she need not make anything important and entertaining happen for hundreds of pages to keep the reader in her grasp (don't worry, there is important and entertaining events after the first half of the first book), and also make the characters age like real people. All in all, I'd say characters are her strongest point - nobody but a couple of mangakas is even close to her level - but I've always appreciated the ability to write compelling text, and besides those two only Anne Rice is on the level where I just can't stop reading as long as I can keep my eyes open.

I'll add more of my favourites (expect them all to be fantasy, it's kind of my specialty) later, when I've got the time.

[Hagar]

I work at a book store, & all day long I do this.
NO WAY I'M GONNA DO THIS ON MY FREE TIME.
Maybe after university starts, & I'll work less. maybe...

[Jerle]

How positive of you. Well at least now you have some reccomendations to give if somebody asks you.

[Silvara_Dragontear]

Hmm I have alot of favourites, eh let me think for a moment.

The Fionavar Tapestry (trilogy) {Guy Gavriel Kay} Love this trilogy have read it several times and I still cry at the sad parts, my favourite of the three books is the third one: The Darkest Road.

Yes I agree about the hobbits and points out that Tolkien is a god. I must buy The Children of Hurin soon so I can read it.

Eragon {C. Paolini} It was a pretty good and thick feel good book. I probably would have liked even if it was bad just because it had dragons I love dragons. But to my everlasting shame so haven't I had time to read the second book.

The Prydain serie is good but it was a long time since i read it.

The Chronicles of Narnia {Lewis}, my favourite fantasy serie when I was a kid and probably the first fantasy serie I read and it got me hooked on the genre.

Since I mentioned Narnia as the serie that got me hooked on fantasy I guess it's only right and proper that I give some space to the fantasy serie that truly made me sell my soul to genre.
The Belgariad {David Eddings}, I know it's not the greatest piece of litterature ever written but I was young and silly. But I still have some fondness for the series and the writer.

The Malloreon {David Eddings}, another of those feelgood things that I like.

The Elenium and The Tamuli {David Eddings}, I loved this six books because they where a bit more serious and grown up than Belgariad and Malloreon but still had some of that sparkly fun that Belgariad and its sequel had.

Belgarath the Sorcerer and Polgara the Sorceress {David Eddings}, Yes I was such a geek that I actually read these and I adored them, still do infact.

The Redemption of Althalus {David Eddings}, another of his feelgood books that are excellent when you are sick and don't want to think on serious stuff.

Bored of the rings, thanks to this little book my best friend that also share alot of my reading habits thinks that I have sold my soul to the devil and have no shame and alot of other bad stuff. He loves the LoTR books with a passion so he kinda see Bored of the rings as an insult to its greatness.

Hitchhikers guide to the galaxy {Douglas Adams}, I loved this book and when I read it I laughed alot. Who do not like the crazy scientist in form of two white mouses.


I think I will stop now but I probably will write some more later if I remember some more books that I like.

[Krozam]

Fionavar is great, and so is Tigana. Sure, Fionavar is a patchwork quilt of clichés, but I've never minded clichés as long as they're used well. After all, if an idea becomes a cliché it means it's a good idea, since so many use it. And I know no other author as skilled in using clichés as Kay - although he uses them little in his other works. He created a great and, in a way, original story from all those clichés. And the characters... Cool characters are rare in western literature, but Paul is one of the best.

The Belgariad was the first fantasy series I read. It got me hooked to fantasy and made me decide that I want to become a fantasy author. It holds a special meaning to me, and except for the latest one I still find all Eddings' fantasy series highly entertaining and re-readable. I know they're not quality fantasy, but often it's more fun reading entertaining stuff that doesn't require thinking than deep quality fantasy. Only one thing has begun disturbing me lately: the killing. It's not gruesome, it's just done so lightheartedly and without concern, as if the bad guys had no soul at all (well, sometimes they don't, but...) I guess it's the mangas/animes like Rurouni Kenshin and Trigun, where the main character avoids killing at any cost, that have made me detest such lighthearted killing...

Sorry, still a bit short of time...

[Merekat]

I have found in my experience that the best fiction adventures are always in the young adult section. on that note, I'm in love with Garth Nix's Sabriel, Lireal and Abhorsen trilogy. A bit of a dark story, but it's filled with determination, strength, love and finding your place in your world. I suppose that's the Saturday-morning cartoon explanation, but the main gist of the book series is the story of a family-line of necromancers that walk the line of life and death to fight evil that wishes to cross back into the world from the other side. It has rich worlds full of a nearly ying/yang style balance of industrial-technology england (they have electricity, but that's about the level), and a magic/fantasy side of royal bloodlines and mystics.

HIGHLY recommended.

[Elle]

Animorphs.






I need not say anymore.

[Jerle]

*sends you to the same doctor as claude*

[Elle]

SWEET.

Now I don't have to bribe that Tijuana doctor for those pills...

I mean. WHAT ARE YOU IMPLYING, GOOD SIR.

[Mira of the Avin]

Ok there are so many books to list where to start...

Well first off I must say that if you ever need a laugh The Princess Bride {Goldmen} is the best book out there...I had just missed my train and was milling around in the bookstore in the station and came upon it. I'd read it before, but for the next hour I really read it. Now I find that whenever I'm between books I can pick it up and just start reading anywhere and feel better....also the movie is the best!

On to other books...

The Sword of Truth series {Terry Goodkind} is a good series and I can't wait/don't want for the last book to come out in November (it can't end, NO!)

Okay and so I have an obession with King Arthur/Merlin legends and have read so many different series on it:

The Camulod Chronicle {Jack Whyte} it starts off a few generation before Arthur and continue to just before the legends begin. Includes Skystone, Singing Sword, Eagles Brood, Saxon Shore, Sorcerer, Uther, The Lance Thrower....oh oh my I just found out the next book is coming out by Christmas...and what's this the first chapter on his website...

Umm I might have to get back to ya'll on my favorite books...

[Ceridwen]

I just started a book that came in the mail from one of the book-clubs today. It is called "The Book Thief" and is written my Markus Zusak. I haven`t gotten very far yet, but it is set in the WWII times in Germany. I think what made me read beyond the first few pages was the fact that he is actually giving Death itself a voice.

So far it seems promising, and like a nice story, so I`m looking forward to read further.

[Jerle]

*cough* look, they made a board for it!
Did I mention all the mods are sexy?
>.>
*cough*

[MisterSpook]

Last few reads:

The Great Gatsby (an all time fave)
The Sound and the Fury
The Sun Also Rises

[Jerle]

Another read you might check out is the Art of War {Sun Tzu}