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  Favorite Kind of Sci Fi/Fantasy(get specific!)

  What kind of Sci Fi/Fantasy do you like? Aliens? Dragons? I really like dragons , and any other kind of creature that doesn't really exist. What about you?

  Zander Flessan started this discussion 12 months ago. ( reply )

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  musicalpoetry42 

  I'd have to say classic dystopian science fiction, although I've only really read two from that genre--1984 and Fahrenheit 451. However, any dystopia is great. In fantasy, I guess I like anything that's kinda off-the-wall and unique.

  posted 12 months ago. ( reply )

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    Zander Flessan 

    Yes, 1984 is an amazing book about the human mind and society.

    posted 12 months ago. ( reply )

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    Zuly Ortega 

    Have you read The Dispossessed by Ursula K. Le Guin? This is my favorite utopian/dystopian novel. Dystopian science fiction is also my favorite.

    posted 10 months ago. ( reply )

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    Zander Flessan 

    No, I have not, might try it!

    posted 10 months ago. ( reply )

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    Supervic 

    I liked the older SciFi for dystopian vision - but there have been some others. The Four Lords of the Diamond by Chalker is set in a seemingly Utopian Society but each world (esp vol 4) is a somewhat dystopian center stage.
    You're All Alone by Fritz Leiber is an off-the-wall variety, probably not classical dystopia but a very neat concept and very much the same feel for me.
    Probably not dead on for the 1984 comparison but you might enjoy.

    posted 8 months ago. ( reply )

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    Supervic 

    I completely forgot to include CyberPunk as a genre that carries this flavor forward pretty well for me. William Gibson painted a graphic vision of our future "society of plenty."

    posted 8 months ago. ( reply )

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    Dreimutter 

    I enjoy alternate history (1632), military sci fi (David Weber, Tanya Huff, Ender's Game), alien sci fi (CJ Cherryh, Julie E Czerneda), epic fantasy (Jordan, Goodkind, Williams, Feist, Kurtz)....actually, almost ANY kind of fantasy, including paranormal and urban.
    
    I'm not big on grim dystopian sagas like 1984 though. I prefer happy endings, or if not happy, then at least HOPEFUL.

    posted 5 months ago. ( reply )

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    Simon m 

    You might want to take a look at We by Zamyatin, a Russian novel from the twenties which was a definite influence on 1984 and Brave New World. Or how about a really old one - The Sleeper Wakes, by H. G. Wells. It's still really fresh.

    posted 2 months ago. ( reply )

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  Seawolf 

  For Science Fiction, I tend to like Military Sci-fi such as Devid Weber's Honor Harrington series, John Ringo's Posleen series, Weber and Ringo's March series, and Lois McMaster Bujold's Vorkosigan series. I also tend to like stories like Robert Heinlein's Friday or Time Enough for Love that really make you look at and question society. A book that successfully combines both of these elements is Freehold by Michael Z. Williamson.
  
  As for fantasy, I tend to like series with unique worlds and many books, so I can spend as much time exploring them as possible. Some of my favorites have been the Wheel of Time series by the recently departed Robert Jordan, the Sword of Truth series by Terry Goodkind, and the Valdemar books by Mercedes Lackey.
  
  

  posted 12 months ago. ( reply )

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    Zander Flessan 

    Aah, so does my friend Ted Fielding.

    posted 12 months ago. ( reply )

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    ~Raj~  

    check out david eddings brilliant series belgariad and mallorean if you havent and yes The wheel of time is phenomenal and unforgettable.

    posted 11 months ago. ( reply )

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    Seawolf 

    I have read the Belgariad and I enjoyed it.

    posted 11 months ago. ( reply )

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    Colin W 

    For military scifi, I like David Sherman and Dan Cragg's STARFIST series. Sherman also wrote a fantasy series, Demontech, which is worth checking out, though, alas, it is incomplete at 3 books.

    posted 9 months ago. ( reply )

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    Supervic 

    Have you read any of L.E. Modesitt Jr. ? While written from a first person perspective and not focused on a large theatre of operations, his Parfaith War and the Forever Hero Trilogy have a definite military flavor.

    posted 8 months ago. ( reply )

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  JenineW 

  I love urban fantasies. The idea of the fantastic mixing with everyday life is very compelling to me.
  
  I don't have a specific creature fetish, I'm open to just about anything.

  posted 11 months ago. ( reply )

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    Bart G 

    You should check out Charles De Lint, if you haven't already. His Newford books are phenomenal.

    posted 9 months ago. ( reply )

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    Bafut 

    I agree- the mixure is entrancing. Neil Gaiman is great for that as well- Anansi Boys for example. Urban fantasy tends to throw up quirky characters, and shapeshifters- maybe because of living/participating in two worlds- and I love that blend of strange and ordinary. It's ne thing that appeals to me about Mercedes Lackey too (the eccentricity of some of her characters, their not totally predictable responses). Robin McKinley's blue sword books were similar- but a long way from urban.

    posted 9 months ago. ( reply )

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    Supervic 

    I also found the Patricia Briggs shapechanger (Moon Called) to fit in here very nicely. I would also second the Charles DeLint recommendation - Jack the Giant Killer is a favorite of mine.

    posted 8 months ago. ( reply )

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    Sofia F 

    I totally agree! I love the idea of doing magic really fasinates me... Modern witchcraft and Wicca books are also some of my favorites like those by cate teirnan. Author of the sweep seeries.

    posted 7 months ago. ( reply )

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    Cliff 

    Make sure that you check out Jim Butcher's Dresden Files

    posted 4 months ago. ( reply )

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  Lylah 

  It is so hard to narrow it down. I think one of the things that really gets my attention is when the lead character is an ordinary person who gets into extraordinary circumstances and is forced to deal with it and grows, becoming something more than he was to begin with. It is almost like if a person was already a hero to begin with, it doesn't give it that extra something. Of course that can happen in any genre and I certainly like heroic fiction too but if the lead character keeps making the same mistake, over and over, and never learns anything I get turned off.
  
  

  posted 11 months ago. ( reply )

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    musicalpoetry42 

    Oh yeah, I love it when the main character is ordinary and gets flung into all sorts of problems too.

    posted 11 months ago. ( reply )

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    Heather G 

    I also like the regular person who has to be a hero. Along with that I like the stories where the underdog triumphs. In Lois McMaster Bujold's Vorkosigan series the main character has some handycaps yet he out-smarts his enemie every time (and in a fun way too). In David Brin's Uplift books the newbie Earthlings keep showing up all the aliens. Those are books I have read many times.

    posted 10 months ago. ( reply )

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    Supervic 

    I love yor description. i do not think it was a casual decision to place the "hero in all of us" comment in the Spiderman movie - I believe we all love heros, especially underdogs, and ESPECIALLY the possibility that we can be one too!

    posted 8 months ago. ( reply )

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    Luella S 

    Thomas Covenant really fits this in the first trilogy by Stephan R. Donaldson.

    posted 2 months ago. ( reply )

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  Tommy WinBear 

  I like human colonization of space with extraordinary circumstances. Anne McCaffrey, Piers Anthony and Elizabeth Moon all have explored some very cool scenarios across multiple series/universes. It's all about the indomitable human spirit.

  posted 11 months ago. ( reply )

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    Heather G 

    This is a theme I like as well. Jack McDevitt and Kim Stanley Robinson also do some books on that line.

    posted 10 months ago. ( reply )

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    bjgryphon 

    I love the McCaffrey and Moon books. Marion Zimmer Bradley's Darkover novels fit in here as well. Start with Rediscovery if you haven't read any.

    posted 10 months ago. ( reply )

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    RavenHawk 

    this is the theme i like also, I have just started Anne McCaffrey Freedom Series, and am looking for more books and authors that have colonization themed books.

    posted 9 months ago. ( reply )

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    Cliff 

    Piers Anthony's "But what of Earth" is a good twist on this genre. The Earth is depopulated and we are left watching a few of those left behind.

    posted 4 months ago. ( reply )

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    Anjanette M 

    I second the votes for Anne McCaffrey and Piers Anthony! In fact, I just finished re-reading her short novel "Dinosaur Planet" again. Then there is the Pegasus series, the Freedon series and the periennial favourite - Dragon Riders.

    posted 2 months ago. ( reply )

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  etl_echo 

  I love first contact fiction, preferrably with much strife, conflicts, and luuuuv :-) Like weber's Apocalypse Troll
  
  But I also like Space Opera, and Hard SF (Trying to make me look like less of a wuss)

  posted 11 months ago. ( reply )

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    Seeker of Truth 

    I like Sci-Fi with a spiritual theme like Star Wars, I loved the Jedi Knights and the Dark Side. My favorite book Character is Elric of Melnibone...a Michael Moorcock character. His books are about immortal characters with supernatural powers.

    posted 9 months ago. ( reply )

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  Dolf 

  to much to answer.
  
  dragons, dwarves...ergo..the whole shabang

  posted 11 months ago. ( reply )

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  Hima 

  I like science fiction that is plausible, scientifically accurate, and hopefully a little scary. Future of our planet, new discoveries, cloning, other planets. I enjoy a wide variety of topics and interests. Even the classic stuff from Ray Bradbury like The Martian Chronicles,lol. Hima

  posted 11 months ago. ( reply )

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    Kipple 

    You'd like Ted Chiang, then.

    posted 5 months ago. ( reply )

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    Yggdrasil 

    I, too, love that kind of stuff.

    posted 5 months ago. ( reply )

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  KissTheBride 

  For sci-fi, i love reading hard sf stories with strong emphasis on techical details.
  For fantasy, well, i simply love books which delve into the world of d&d.
  
  Character development is always an important factor in my choice of book though.

  posted 11 months ago. ( reply )

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    Author Shane Moore 

    I love EPIC fantasy! (That is the genre I write in. he he)
    
    ~Shane

    posted 10 months ago. ( reply )

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    Christophe J 

    Love the hard sf too, i have a pretty good science background so it's ruined me for sci fi in which the science makes no sense. Love Arthur C Clarke since his science fiction is plausible at some point in the future.

    posted 7 months ago. ( reply )

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    Anjanette M 

    agreed on this one, that for plausible sci-fi, you can't beat Clarke RIP

    posted 2 months ago. ( reply )

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  Zuly Ortega 

  When it comes to fantasy, I will read anything that has to do with dragons...it's almost an obsession.

  posted 10 months ago. ( reply )

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    Zander Flessan 

    YES!!!!!!

    posted 10 months ago. ( reply )

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    Gashlycrumb 

    Check out Gordon Dickson's Dragon Knight series. It's a lot of fun, especially the first two books.

    posted 10 months ago. ( reply )

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    Anna J 

    Mercedes Lackey's Jousters series is a nice read if you like dragons and a good war.
    For something a little different try Melanie Rawn's Dragon Prince triology.
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    

    posted 9 months ago. ( reply )

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    Zuly Ortega 

    Anna J., it's funny you should mention the Joust Series, just read Joust last week. I enjoyed it so much that I ordered Alta from Amazon a couple of days ago. I really enjoyed Rawn's series. :)

    posted 9 months ago. ( reply )

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    JenaRey 

    The first three of the Melanie Rawn Dragon Prince set are really really good. The second three made me want to reach through the book and strangle her as her heroes became almost as bad as the bad guys.

    posted 8 months ago. ( reply )

  • technophobe removed this reply 5 months ago.

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    technophobe 

    You might try the Temeraire series, alternate history with dragons, by Naomi Novik. Margaret weis wrote a trilogy with dragons, I can't recall the titles. Jane Yolen has a YA series, Dragon Blood. Anthony Alongi and Mary Janice Davidson has a series about people who can also turn into dragons, the Jennifer Scales series. (also YA) I always loved the Enchanted Forest Chronicles by Patricia Wrede, and the Pern series by Anne McCaffrey!

    posted 4 months ago. ( reply )

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    claudia l 

    Make sure you check out E.E. Knight's Dragon series called The Age of Fire...the first book is Dragon Champion.

    posted 4 months ago. ( reply )

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    technophobe 

    Also the series by Shana Abe that starts with The Smoke Thief. I believe Margaret Weis also had a trilogy around dragons.

    posted 3 months ago. ( reply )

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    technophobe (edited)

    I also enjoyed the Eragon books by Paolini, and Naomi Noviks alternate history series which has dragons used in British combat! Margaret Weis has a Trilogy with dragons, and Deborah Cooke has a series with dragon shifters.

    posted 1 month ago. ( reply )

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  Ted F 

  I like stuff by Michael Crichton.

  posted 10 months ago. ( reply )

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  Mark S 

  Love the classics.
  
  Q Squared - for one idea taken to extremes. The perfect Trek novel. Harlan Ellison for short stories, both F/SF.

  posted 10 months ago. ( reply )

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  unicdreamer 

  I like anything dragons and/or unicorns. I also like books in a series because if the books are really good I don't have to leave the characters so soon - Goodkind's Sword of Truth Series; Zelazny's Amber Chronicles, Stephen Donaldsons Thomas Covenant books to name a few.

  posted 9 months ago. ( reply )

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    Bart G 

    I think Wheel of Time might be the most massive series out there. The Amber series has more books, I think, but they aren't as large individually.

    posted 9 months ago. ( reply )

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  Smirking Revenge 

  I love urban/contemp fantasy the most (Simon R Green, Jim Butcher, Charles de Lint, Neil Gaiman, Ilona Andrews, Robin McKinley, Patricia Briggs, and others to name a few), but am kind of a sucker for magic users and the Fey, especially the Fey (anything that even comes close to courtly intrigue makes me a happy little geekie girlie).
  
  When it comes to Sci-fi I tend to enjoy a dystopian future or anything that has an edge to it I havent seen or read before. Alternate histories can be quite fun as can the Phillip K Dick sort of story.
  
  Basically, I will read anything once.

  posted 9 months ago. ( reply )

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  seagreen 

  Fantasy? the ordinary kid somehow finds themselves in a magical world kind of thing. in particular garth nix's keys to the kingdom and c.s lewis' chronicles of narnia.

  posted 9 months ago. ( reply )

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    emeraldfire 

    I like when a person from our world gets brought into another world. Also, worlds with magic & unusual creatures

    posted 9 months ago. ( reply )

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    Trea 

    If you like that type of fantasy, may I suggest Piers Anthony's Mode Series? Those are wonderful books!

    posted 2 months ago. ( reply )

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  Linda S 

  some one lent me "queen of Dragons,by shana abe.I havent read it but she said it was good.

  posted 9 months ago. ( reply )

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  Paul G 

  Im a fan of historic fantasy like Eric Flint with the Belisarius series and the 1632 series.
  
  I like sword and sorcery like David Gemmel and George R.R. Martin
  
  AAAND
  
  I like satire like Terry Pratchett and the Discworld Series

  posted 9 months ago. ( reply )

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  Jim W 

  I like epic fantasy, and by that I mean stuff like George Martin's Song of Ice and Fire series. I just wish the dude would write faster!! And of course my favorite novel, Tigana, by Guy Gavriel Kay.
  
  As for scifi, I tend to like more space opera-y stuff as opposed to hard scifi. I guess it's because I think most hard scifi authors are great at technical detail, but many times their characters come across as wooden cutouts. With 'softer' scifi, the story is usually more engaging, and the characters are better. Prime example: Simon Green's Deathstalker series. Just a great, fun read.

  posted 9 months ago. ( reply )

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    Jacks 

    I like fantasy that intermingles a little with reality, too: urban stuff. But my kudos to high fantasy classics fans, i.e.: dragons! I've done a good bit of writing in that vein, though not so much reading, which sounds like a dichotomy, I suppose. I also love humor, and I have Pratchett on my reading list (for the first time).

    posted 8 months ago. ( reply )

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  Dreimutter 

  I read all kinds. C J Cherryh and Julie Czerneda are the Queens of Alien SF in my opinion, David Weber's Honor Harrington saga is one of the best in the military SF field although Tanya Huff's Valor series is also good, Eric Flint's 1633/Ring OF Fire/Grantsville series is the epitome of time travel I believe. The late Marion Zimmer Bradley's Darkover, P C Hodgell's Kencyr universe, Katherine Kurtz' Deryni, Katharine Kerr's Deverry, Raymond Feist Midkemia and Kelewan, Terry Goodkind's Sword Of Truth, Lynn Flewelling's Nightstalker books, Fiona Patton's Branion saga......I guess you could say that aside from alien SF, military SF, and time travel/alternate history SF, my favorite type of fantasy is the epic saga sort of thing.

  posted 8 months ago. ( reply )

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  ModernGrammar 

  Favorite kind? Noir with lots of sex. Erotic sci-fi if that's a classification. Also, with fantasy, it has to be dark and erotic.

  posted 8 months ago. ( reply )

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  Supervic 

  I have some definite favorites in both SciFi and Fantasy. In both cases, I like entertaining dialogue, strong internal consistency (especially if the author is sending a message), slightly superhuman lead character - i.e. just at the upper edge of believability for strength, endurance, luck. In other cases - the topic itself drew me in - William Gibson.
  I am/was drawn consistently to Zelazny , Eddings, Modesitt, Gibson, Miller/Lee (Liaden Universe) - all were an automatic read for me.
  I also love martial arts so Steve Perry's matador series was a light but consistent draw as well.
  

  posted 8 months ago. ( reply )

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  Christophe J 

  Plain and simple ... the excitemet and uncertainty and wonder of Exploration, whether it's a new planet, derilect space ship like "Rama", anything in which you have no idea what you will find or what it will lead to.

  posted 8 months ago. ( reply )

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    Jim W 

    You should read Helix, by Eric Brown. A colony ship stranded on a huge helix in space, containing literally tens of thousands of individual worlds. Great read.

    posted 8 months ago. ( reply )

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  Dreamcatcher 

  I just love dragons and wizards. Favourite authors there are Anne McCaffrey and her Pern series, and David Eddings regarding wizards. I also love the Valdemar ones by Mercedes Lackey.

  posted 7 months ago. ( reply )

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  Cheryl  

  My favorite fantasy series out right now are the Study (Pison Study, Magic Study and Fire Study) by Maria V. Snyder
  
  You can check out my interview with her at my blog http://cherylsbooknook.blogspot.com/
  
  Thanks

  posted 7 months ago. ( reply )

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  golemnist 

  I like old-school cyberpunk(Gibson, Sterling, Rucker), the so-called New Weird(Vandermeer, Mieville, KJ Bishop), and my own vaguely defined literary fantasy/sci-fi (Wolfe, Borges, etc.)
  Other than that I just like anything that's different and hasn't been done a million times already.

  posted 5 months ago. ( reply )

• ramya.k83 removed this reply 5 months ago.

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  ramya.k83 

  For both Sci fi and Fantasy, I love books with complicated plots and exaggerated explanations of how the magic or science work, haha. My favorites are among the Sword of Truth series, Ender's books, the Odyssey series, Rama series as well as the Sevenwaters Trilogy.
  
  I also love books that make statements about humanity and civilization, such as Octavia Butler's Lilith's Brood or Orwell's 1984/Animal Farm.
  Hope thats specific enough :)

  posted 5 months ago. ( reply )

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  HBee 

  I like Sci Fi like that written by James P. Hogan. I also like fantasy with magic or animals that commuicate with people. The Ghatti series and the Valdemar series are among my favorites. I also like time travel.

  posted 5 months ago. ( reply )

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  ken s 

  Personally I like any kind. I have a hard time picking just fantasy or sci-fi or the older fantasy or sci-fi. If you ever look at my shelf you would know what I mean. I have a great many books that I have read that I know longer have for one reason or another.

  posted 5 months ago. ( reply )

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  Alisa B 

  My favorite type of SF is post apocolyptic. How does the world change if something wipes out most of humanity. How do the survivors survive? What challeges do they face? I guess growing up a child of the cold war makes you want to delve into the possibilities.

  posted 5 months ago. ( reply )

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  0p2 

  Personally, i like anything with a good story in either genre.
  
  Ive really enjoyed the Dune series for sci/fi i was eating those books up! I like to read in chronological order from the story POV so im not a purist in that i like the books that Brian Herbert wrote as well as the ones his father wrote.
  
  Fantasy-wise i like the traditional stuff, magic, magical races, dragons, demons stuff like that. WOT in my opinion has the best magic system. I love the idea of there being a single source of energy and you tapping into it to "weave" its energies. I also, like how its complex without being complicated. However, i also like the the idea of different kinds of magic as evidenced by the divine magic and arcane magic of the Forgotten Realms.
  
  I also like mixing that stuff with modern day stuff like The Dresden Files, and The Dark Tower series. I also like the mix that King put in The Talisman and Black House.
  
  I wanna start reading from the Star Wars universe but i wouldnt know where to start, lol
  
  Any suggestions would be helpful...I would like to start @ the beginning if there is one.

  posted 5 months ago. ( reply )

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    jiro m 

    you can start anywhere actually as long as you've got the gist of the universe down pat, i suggest splinter in the mind's eye though it's set between a new hope and the empire strikes back

    posted 2 months ago. ( reply )

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  Grumpy Bat 

  I think that my favorite kind of Fantasy is Medieval fantasy. The kind that is set in a medieval world but with magic and fantastic creatures.

  posted 5 months ago. ( reply )

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  Cliff 

  I think my favorite would be the Genre-mixing style of books. Wizard of 5th St and the Dresden Files are good examples of a mage type character in the modern world. The reverse style, The Inadequate Adept for example, of a modern man in a fantasy setting is also appealing.

  posted 4 months ago. ( reply )

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  Trang The Troll (edited)

  I am an avid fan of all sci-fi(fantasy to a lesser degree) and read mostly in the classic, golden age, hard, military genre's. I have read fairly extensivly in each area, but currently am reading Military Sci-fi, series I have completed:
  
  Ian dogulas (william Keith Jr.) heritage, legacy, Inheritance trilogies (live with new book out this fall)
  
  David Sherman and Dan Craig, Starfist (live series two books due out this fall)
  ****also devoured Demontech Military fantasy series by David sherman, series is stuck at 3, author has outline for more but sales were poor so publisher dropped contract, need word of mouth to pick up sales, and might get more****
  
  David Feintouch, Seafort Saga
  
  Heinlein, Starship troopers (this was my 6th time reading)
  
  Joe Haldeman, Forever war, Forever free, Forever Peace(4th time thru these)
  
  Currently reading Rick shelley, have completed Dirigent Military Corps series, have his 3 other trilogies, 13th spaceborne (on last book), Commonweath series, and spec-ops squad.
  
  In the pipeline to read is pretty extensive list, since I hadnt been aware this genre was so prosperous, will just list the authors I have books for (half price book stores are godesend):
  David Drake, David Weber, Chris Bunch, Harry Harrison, Gordon R dickson, Frederick Pohl, Jerry Pournelle, Larry Niven(man-kzin wars), Jack Cambell, Ann McCafrey, CJ Ryan, William Deitz
  
  I also have stacked up in my reading que books for golden age authors:
  HG Wells, Jules Verne, Edgar Rice burroughs, George Orwell
  
  Classic authors books as well in my que:
  Arthur C. Clarke, Frank Herbert (other than dune), Ray Bradbury, Robert Heinlein, Issac Asimov, robert silverberg
  
  Hard sci-fi I have left alone for a while, two many others to read up on. I will break once in a while for a good one though, on the target is Neal Stephenson's Cryptonomicon, many friends have said it rocks, just havent got a copy yet. William Gibson also.
  
  Few straglers on the list, Tad williams and John Varley.. my list is too big, and I havent even mentioned fantasy yet
  
  Well, fantasy I prefer series and human focus characters, Hero's vs evil I guess,I hate elves (drizzt is exception) and all I can say about dragons is they make good luggage and they are the other white meat!!
  
  Have read all these folks in fantasy: tolkein, dave eddings, Stephen R donaldson, phillip jose farmer, john norman, robert adams, robert howard, cs lewis, Neil Hancock, fritz leiber, robert Silverberg, Terry Brooks (not shannars its LOtr ripoff, his Magic kingdom for sale)
  never got around to wheel of time, I have the first book, Its on list.
  
  Thats about the size of it I guess, the more I look the more I want to read, Im getting thru about 3-5 books a week, but it doesnt seem fast enough.
  
  Ah well, maybe the above sparks some interest in other authors you see that you havent read.
  
  Fairday,
  Trang
  
  
  
  

  posted 4 months ago. ( reply )

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  Sandeep D (edited)

  I like ending of the world kind of books in which our technological hubris is swept aside by the power of an indifferent nature. Recently I read the book Dust by Charles R Pellegrino and it left me shit-scared for a couple of days and it made me realize that humans completely and totally depend on ecosystem and that we are just one of the species in a complex ecosystem and how we take our comfortable silly little lives with all its myriad everyday issues so much for granted.

  posted 4 months ago. ( reply )

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  Sey W 

  Well i spend usually an hour or two just looking for a new book, unless someone has recommended me a certain book. If they do i take a list of possible books to read, and just really look at the story and the way its told. I get really annoyed quick with books in first person.
  I like Sci fi more than fantasy, but i like the sci fi that is space related. Like City of Pearl by Karen Traviss, Enders game by orson scott card, dune - frank herbert. I like those type, hehe i dunno what to call them other than spaceish?

  posted 4 months ago. ( reply )

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  Gabrielle 

  This is so hard to say. I'm willing to try just about any fantasy.... I generally like series, as opposed to stand-alone books. I love completely unique worlds. I'm not big on urban fantasies or aliens... :P

  posted 4 months ago. ( reply )

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  Douglas 

  Definitely enjoy the the epic stories (sometimes space operas) that introduce portals into strange new worlds. I prefer the fantasy elements of a story rather than the hard scifi. Hyperion by Dan Simmons is probably my favorite series. Otherland by Tad Williams is also excellent....a completely mindbending series in the realm of cyberspace.

  posted 3 months ago. ( reply )

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  deactivated member 

  I like a wide variety of books, though I read mostly things with an element of fantasy over 'hard' sci fi - I started off reading mostly stuff like Brian Aldiss, Ray Bradbury and Larry Niven (thanks to my sci fi-loving older brother) but my tastes have long since been more diverse than his.
  
  I think it's always a shame when people restrict themselves to one genre since it usually involves putting down others, and the whole sci fi/fantasy universe is such a massive playground. I might well have got bored with the more scientific-based novels had I not discovered excellent writers like Phillip K Dick and Ursula LeGuin who gave me more stories with characters rather than scientific hypotheses at their centre. And isn't that what a good story is about, the personal growth (one way or another) of the central character(s)?
  
  I have to admit, however, that a more traditional fantasy of the elves/dragons/wizards/dwarves/swordsmen type has to really have something about it to keep my attention (see Joe Abercrombie and Scott Lynch for details...).

  posted 3 months ago. ( reply )

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  Lost_Jolin 

  I like dragons too and mythology based stuff. Also, supernatural sci-fi/fantasy is cool.

  posted 3 months ago. ( reply )

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  Rebecca 

  I love dystopic novels. Orwell, Huxley, Atwood, etc. Most are good. Fahrenheit 451 was probably the first dystipic novel I read. Herbert's Dune and Card's Enders Series are some of my all-time favorites.
  
  But I like fantasy as well. I think Jacqueline Carey is an excellent writer. I loved her Sundering novels as well as the Kushiel Legacy series. The Sundering novels gave a different perspective so the reader sympathized with group of people who were considered "evil." In the Kushiel's series, I loved the weaving of history, elements of cultural regions, and religion to add flavor to this world.
  
  I enjoyed Anne Bishop's Black Jewels Trilogy. I have read the assorted books related to it for mere enjoyment, though I would have to say that the Trilogy, itself, is decent writing.
  
  I loved Susan Cooper's The Dark is Rising series; it got me back into reading, and I enjoyed the King Arthur undercurrents. The Wizard of Earthsea series did got me back into reading again as well, so I have enjoyed them.
  
  Of course I've read and enjoyed Tolkien's LOTRs and C.S. Lewis's Narnia series. I loved Pullman's The Golden Compass series. I have also enjoyed Salvatore's series with Drizzt and a few of his other book series. I loved Rowling's Harry Potter. It can relate to kids and teaches good morals and the reading level steps up a notch for each book as does the child reading the series. I've found and enjoyed Neil Gaiman's work for the sheer absurdity of some aspects of his books.
  
  I don't know. I like something that is realistic yet can relate to humanity and the good and unsettling aspects of life. Where life is explored and experienced in all its glorious messiness.

  posted 3 months ago. ( reply )

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  Kelly M 

  I also really like dragons. Have you read the Dragon Champion series? It's one of the few books I could find that pictured a dragon as the 'good guy', and I really enjoyed it.

  posted 3 months ago. ( reply )

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  Brett F 

  I'm new to the group and new to Shelfari, but I'd like to add my two cents worth to this discussion if I may.
  
  I'm more of a fan of good writing, than of any specific type of science fiction or fantasy. I look for an author who has a good command of the English language and an ability to create believable worlds and characters. Robert Heinlein, C.J. Cherryh. Anne McCaffrey, J.R.R. Tolkein, Spider Robinson are all authors who meet those criteria.

  posted 3 months ago. ( reply )

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  Trea 

  My favorite fantasy is epic "sword and sorcery" fantasy, like Jordan's "Wheel of Time", Goodkind's "Sword of Truth", Tolkien's "Lord of the Rings", Feist's Magician, ect. Lots of plot twists and you don't have to leave the characters too soon.
  
  Sci-fi, hmmm, let me think. . .
  I like my sci-fi with integrated aliens, a good engaging story, and something fantasical in the plot. C. J. Cherrhy's Chanur, McCaffrey's Acorna and Dinosaur Planet, and Asimov's Foundation are good examples.

  posted 2 months ago. ( reply )

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  anke s 

  There are things I'm looking forward to when reading fantasy...dragons, dwarfs and wizards/witches....Can't imagine one without the other....

  posted 2 months ago. ( reply )

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  jiro m 

  For Fantasy books I like stuff by Margaret Weiss, David Eddings and Mercedes Lackey. Their characters are well rounded, earthy and easily empathic. For Sci-Fi I like the classics Arthur C Clarke and Robert Heinlein. I'm more into Eutopic than Distopic futures but as long as it's well written i'll read em

  posted 2 months ago. ( reply )

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  Mai J 

  epic fantasy! almost all kinds of sci-fi, think david brin..

  posted 2 months ago. ( reply )

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  Luella S 

  Add humor and I'm happier.

  posted 2 months ago. ( reply )

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  Bryan B 

  Sci Fi: I tend toward Space sagas where humanity is pushed against the brink of destruction and battles through it. Some of my faves: Saga of the Seven Suns, Kevin J. Anderson. The Ender Wiggins novels by Orson Scott Card (with the exception of the godspoken girl in the Speaker for the Dead. I couldn't stand that character!). Nancy Kress had a great series too, Probability Moon (?) was the first one I believe. Issac Asimov and Alastair Reynolds are good too in this category.
  
  As for Fantasy: I usually like the first 3 or 4 books of any of Piers Anthony's series. After that it is kinda a dead horse for me. Same with L.E. Modisett. Enough already! Tad Williams is brilliant. I've loved everything he has done, but the Dragonbone Chair series is probably my all time favorite. David Eddings series were good as well. I also liked Raymond Feist's series. Oh and Stephen Lawhead.
  
  O.k. seriously this question is too hard. I could go on for hours!

  posted 2 months ago. ( reply )

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  lin j 

  my favorite is about the possible future.they are so creative , and it makes you think about whether it could really happen.

  posted 2 months ago. ( reply )

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  Luella S 

  I tend to gravitate toward fantasy and prefer a bit of humor.

  posted 1 month ago. ( reply )

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  Renee C 

  I like all Sci Fi/Fantasy. I just read anything. I am currently rereading all the Tolkin books.

  posted 1 month ago. ( reply )

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