[Cause]

I need books! I need them bad! The PhD thesis is done and the December holiday and the beach are around the corner but I have read my entire to read pile. Including many books I should not have but proscrastination will do that. All suggestions welcome.

I have read and enjoyed:

Update:
Thanks everyone for the suggestions.Some of you have reminded me of more books I have read which I have added below, others have helped me think of clarifications and many of you have given me books which I am adding to my to read pile as we speak. I have months of glorious reading ahead so keep it coming,.


Top Tier
Malazan
Wheel of time
Dresden Files
Prince of Nothing (and the Aspect Emperor)
EX-HEROES
Song of ice and Fire
Kingkiller chronicles
Broken Empire (and the new series)
Stormlight Archive
The Traitors Son
Gentleman Bastards
New Crobuzon
Codex Alera

Middle Tier
The Guns of Empire
Mistborn (And the new series)
Tower Lord
The Old Kingdom

Baottom Tier
Kate Daniels
The Vagrant
The faithful and the Fallen
Powder Mage

Sci-Fi:
I love Sci-Fi on the big screen or TV but normally despise it in book form. I think I struggle to accept the scienctific explanations in book form whereas on TV the special effects cool factor is more important. I do enjoy Sci-Fi/Fanasy
Dune- Middle Tier


Meh-Decided not worth it to continue
Black company
Sword of Truth - The paradies were great though!
The Dagger and the Coin
Joe Abecrombie - Even gave the first law a second chane and still didnt like it, cant say why I disagree with the consesnus
The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant
The Divine Cities
Riftwar Saga

Will Die before I read again
KJ PARKER
The Greatcoats

The list is by no means exhaustive but it gives you a starting point. I appreciate any and all sugegstions. This upcoming relaxation time is too important not to take seriously

This post has been edited by Cause: 22 October 2016 - 10:01 AM

[Macros]

you didn't like the greatcoats? aww man!

Anyhow, I'm going to go for my stock reco's

Troy trilogy by David and Stella Gemmell.
Bernard Cornwell - Sharpe series or Uthred Series (all quite short books, but probably quite cheap to buy bundled on ereader)


Based on your history

Middle tier - Powder Mage Trilogy.


Other -
Black company, try the first omnibus, if its not for you, don't continue
David Gemmell - Legend.. just read it

[worry]

Have you ever wondered what it's like to be a babysitter? In particular, the kind of babysitter who is in a sort of club focused on this uniquely challenging occupation?

If so, I think you're in luck! There's a certain book I think you will find most intriguing!

Spoiler

[polishgenius]

Open with The Gone-Away World by Nick Harkaway, possibly the most fun-per-word book ever written.

Then try:


Thunderer/Gears of the City duology by Felix Gilman
The Craft sequence by Max Gladstone (first book Three Parts Dead)
The Edda of Burdens trilogy by Elizabeth Bear (or anything by Bear really)
Peter Grant series by Ben Aaronovitch
The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August



None of them are proper epic/heroic/grimdark fantasy which most of your list is, but they're all pretty accessible and the sort of thing I think you might enjoy by the tone and style of the things you've mentioned. Not gone full weird, as much as I want to urge you to read Valente or Mieville right off the bat...

For something closer to the medieval stuff, try:

The Acts of Caine by Matt Stover
The Dagger and Coin by Daniel Abraham
Ash: A Secret History by Mary Gentle

all of which are must-reads.

[Esa1996]

The First Law (ASOIAF light edition. This one is probably the most likely of my recommendations to actually be good in other people's opinion. Do read the standalone books after the main series, they are pretty good and tie up some loose ends that the main series leaves open).

Wars of Light and Shadow (Personally I didn't really like the first book but it was mostly a question of style, not the events of the book itself. Said events were good enough that I'm actually considering reading the second book).

Sword of Truth (Don't kill me guys, I liked the series. Basically a mostly unplanned, less epic version of Wheel of Time. Not perfect by any means but I don't regret reading it at all).

This post has been edited by Esa1996: 20 October 2016 - 08:12 PM

[Cause]

Macros, on 20 October 2016 - 07:37 PM, said:

you didn't like the greatcoats? aww man!

You liked the greatcoats? Can you give a reason in words? I would love to hear it. One of the most painful things I have ever read.


Troy trilogy by David and Stella Gemmell - Read it! Middle Tier
Powder Mage Trilogy. - Read it, Bottom Tier. Wasted potential
Black company - Read it. Not good not bad. Too dated maybe
Legend - Read it. Top Tier!


Bernard Cornlwel - Sharpe series or Uthred Series - Alternative history right? Will check it out

I Got Crabs, on 20 October 2016 - 08:13 PM, said:

I reco Sword of Truth series by Terry Goodkind. Enjoy

I dont recognize the screen name. So I cant tell if your messing with me or not!

This post has been edited by Cause: 20 October 2016 - 08:28 PM

[Kruppe of Darujhistan]

Chronicles of Thomas Covenant the Unbeliever. First, second, but not necessarily third Chronicles.

Does it have to be Epic/Dark/High Fantasy?

If not, try Clive Barker's Weaveworld or anything by Neal Stephenson.

[Salt-Man Z]

Yeah, Donaldson and Stover are some obvious holes in your "have read" list.

[Andorion]

Kate Elliott - Black Wolves. If you like that then read her Crossroads series

Robert Jackson Bennett - the City books

Ian Tregillis - The Mechanical

Scott Hawkins - the Library at Mount Char

The Waking Fire - Anthony Ryan

NK Jemisin's Inheritance books and probably 5th Season (I am about halfway through this and its excellent)

Guy Gavriel Kay - The Lions of Al Rassan

Have you read all of Malazan - Dancer's Lament, Kharkanas?

Shadows of the Apt - Adrian Tchaichovsky

A Land Fit for Heroes - Richard Morgan

Rachel Aaron - Eli Monpress, Nice Dragon

[Mentalist]

I don't see any sci-fi on that list..

read Takeshi Covacs novels by Richard Morgan. And the Polity books by Neal Asher.

For Fantasy I'd recommend Jango Wexler's "Shadow Campaigns", Alex MArshalls, "crown for Cold Silver", Stephen Hunt's "Far-Called" sequence, The Ketty Jay books by Chris Wooding.

[Tatterdemalion]

I second Joe Abercrombie. Love it. The three standalones ("The Great Leveler" books) are even better (2/3 are) than the initial trilogy, but the trilogy is mighty fine.

Otherwise, I can recommend What Remains of Heroes by David Benem, runner up in last year's Self-published Fantasy Blog Off competition, and Malazan fan Sean Rodden's Tolkien-esque epic Whispers of War (plus the sequel is coming out soon, too - and I am super confident it's going to be crazy epic).

I also second The Lions of Al-Rassan by GGK.

[Macros]

Cause, on 20 October 2016 - 08:27 PM, said:

Macros, on 20 October 2016 - 07:37 PM, said:

you didn't like the greatcoats? aww man!

You liked the greatcoats? Can you give a reason in words? I would love to hear it. One of the most painful things I have ever read.


Troy trilogy by David and Stella Gemmell - Read it! Middle Tier
Powder Mage Trilogy. - Read it, Bottom Tier. Wasted potential
Black company - Read it. Not good not bad. Too dated maybe
Legend - Read it. Top Tier!


Bernard Cornlwel - Sharpe series or Uthred Series - Alternative history right? Will check it out

I Got Crabs, on 20 October 2016 - 08:13 PM, said:

I reco Sword of Truth series by Terry Goodkind. Enjoy

I dont recognize the screen name. So I cant tell if your messing with me or not!

Don't read sword of truth, it's a trap!!

Re greatcoats, I just found it fun stuff. Bear in mind I enjoy buckled swash.

Sharpe/ Uthred. Historical fiction I'd say. Real events, real people but a fictional central cast that sometimes take on roles in important events or get thrown into made up events in the greater scheme of historical goings on.
Sharpe follows a soldier in the British army from the campaign in India, to Spain against the French and on to France itself.
Uthred the unification if England under Alfred.
For Sharpe I would read the first 3 in India (Tiger, Triumph, Fortress) skip the interludes (Trafalgar, prey) then jump on to the original set, that's with Rifles and chrono from there.
Uthred just read chrono.

Third on Joe abercrombie, big fan.

Have you read Mark Lawrence? Try the broken empire trilo

[Maark Abbott]

If you put SLA in top tier maybe Eddings?

Get some more Bakker in you and dunk off that Stormshite lark. If you've already had Bakker in you, it's Aurang's turn. WHO ARE THE DUNYAIN?

Also Sean Rodden could do with some love. Crown of Stars (Kate Elliott) is a good series, if a little archaic sounding, it also has the best villain ever.

[Kellanved's shadow]

Elric of Melinibone by Michael Moorcock


The Rift War saga by Raymond E Feist. I found that after the serpent war saga that it stopped being interesting.

The Wind on Fire trilogy. This was and still is my favorite book growing up. It is aimed at younger readers but a great story is a great story independent of the target audience.

Going with that line of thought there is the Dragon keeper trilogy.

That and along with all the other suggestions should keep you busy.

[Macros]

I've never actually read any Celtic books, must give one a shot.

Re feist. Seconding the deck, and doubly seconding the stop after serpent war. I'd go one further on the reading reco for Feist.

Read the original Riftwar Trilogy, then read the Empire Trilogy (cowritten with Nanny Where) Then the novella Honoured enemy.
I'd debate what to read before serpent war, possibly the krondor novels (betrayal and......I forget) then Prince of the blood. I would read the kings buchananed even though it draws hate, it's a great set up for the serpent war. Then finish with the first 3 serpent war books and walk away.

[Kellanved's shadow]

There is also the Dune trilogy. I assume that you have already read this considering your reading list above but if you haven't then it is a must read

The old kingdom by Garth Nix is also one you might want to look into as well as the Earthsea Chronicles by Ursula K. Le Guin.

This post has been edited by Kellanved's shadow: 21 October 2016 - 11:33 AM

[Gabriele]

The Curse of Chalion and Paladin of Souls by Lois McMaster Bujold. The books take place in the same world but can be read as standalones.

Ever tried anything by Robin Hobb? The Liveship trilogy is a good start, imho.

C.S Friedman, Coldfire trilogy.

[Gabriele]

Macros, on 20 October 2016 - 07:37 PM, said:

you didn't like the greatcoats? aww man!

David Gemmell - Legend.. just read it

I couldn't get into the Greatcoats, either, and I like Dumas. If you want some swashbuckling combined with the complexity of Malazan and the triple-dealing politics of ASOIAF, try Dorothy Dunnett's Lymond Chronicles.

And I totally second the novels of David Gemmell. Not only Legend.

[Kellanved's shadow]

I third David Gammell's Legend and other books in that world although I didn't particularly care much for "The Sword's of Nigh and Day".

[End of Disc One]

What about Jacqueline Carey's Kushiel series? I've only just started but it seems promising and has rave reviews. It would certainly keep you busy for a while.